7 Best Home Improvement Tools to Start With

I’m a handy gal that likes to save money while enjoying the satisfaction of doing some of my own home improvements. Sometimes I get asked what a good starter set of tools would be for someone just starting out or the new home-owner. Investing in well-designed tools can save you an arm and a leg, and your first tool kit doesn’t have to cost a fortune.

A good starter kit of tools should include the following:

Screwdriver – Leave the butter knife in the cutlery drawer! Get one good multi-bit screwdriver with at least two sizes of Robertson (square head) bits, a Philips and a flat head.

Hammer – Choose a 13 oz all-purpose claw head hammer. Look for one that has a non-slip rubberized grip handle because it won’t slip in your hand (a big confidence booster).

Tape Measure – You’ll need one for most tasks. A 16ft tape measure is often just right, or if you expect to be working in larger spaces, get a 25-ft tape measure. Great features to look for are a rubber case (won’t make you yelp if it’s sitting in the hot sun during an outside project) and clear metric and imperial measurement markings. Remember: measure twice, cut once!

Utility Knife – This will come in handy for opening all packages, trimming carpet, and more. Look for one with a non-slip, rubber grip so you’ll have better control, and space in the handle for your spare blades.

Needle Nose Pliers – These are the “tongs” of the toolbox, great for holding small nails so you don’t smash your fingers when hammering. They should include a wire cutting feature too.

Torpedo Level Pliers – Great for hanging pictures, but also a must for getting fridge doors to swing shut on their own and washers to stop shimmying across the laundry room floor! Look for one with a magnet along one side so it’ll stick to the appliance.

Drill/Impact Driver – This is the first power tool you should invest in. If you want to install shelving, racks, rods, closet organizers – you’ll need a drill. The new age drill is actually not a drill at all. Impact drill/drivers are the new norm. Instead of using rotational torque, the impact drill uses thousands of tiny impacts to sink and remove hardware, or to drill holes. No more wrist kick-back, and with lithium-ion battery technology, they can be lighter and fit in your hand, allowing you to go longer with greater comfort.

Getting a good starter tool kit together in a handy tool bag will make turning the place you live in, to the place you LOVE an enjoyable adventure.

Karen Donaldson is an independent consultant for Tomboy Tools Canada. A unique and ground breaking business, Tomboy Tools sells high-quality hand and power tools designed with the ergonomic needs of women in mind. Visit www.tomboytools.ca/yayme for more information.

All About Nails and Screws. The fasteners we all use at some point.

Ever wondered about our most basic of fasteners: nails and screws? Well, here's the best article about them that I've ever read. Here's the beginning:

"Nailing is the most basic and most commonly used means of

attaching members in wood frame construction. Usually, nailing is

used as a structural connection and appearance is not a factor.

Exceptions to this are nails used for cladding, decking and finish

work, where care in the selection of the type of nail can lead to

enhanced appearance.

Screws rely on their threads to develop resistance to withdrawal.

Nails are faster to install but rely mainly on friction to resist

withdrawal. For this reason, designs should ensure that nails are

loaded laterally and that withdrawal loads are kept to a minimum as

shown in Figure 1 in the previous section."

To see the rest of this article complete with images, click here.

Save a bundle when you start your Tomboy Tools business before Feb. 14/11!

Earn up to 50% back on your Starter Kit. Achieve and receive additional rewards!

Achieve Fast Start Level 1 Receive $25.00

+ Regular Fast Start = $75.00 in GCs + 5 Order Form + 5 Catalogues

=OVER $100.00 in gifts certs and collateral

Achieve Fast Start Level 2 Receive $50.00

+ Regular Fast Start = $100.00 in GCs + 10 Order Form +10 Catalogues

=OVER $150.00in gift certs and collateral

Achieve Fast Start Level 3 Receive $100.00

+ Regular Fast Start = $200.00 in GCs + 20 Order Form +20 Catalogues

=OVER $300.00 in gift certs and collateral!

Rewards are paid in Tomboy Tools Gift Certificates at the end of the Fast Start eligibility period.

These bonuses are in addition to regular Fast Start bonuses.

All standard Fast Start Benefits still apply (see below).

FAST START LEVEL 1

Bronze

Submit order of $450.00 or more in your 1st 45 days and receive $50.00 in Tomboy Tools Gift Certificates, 5 order forms and 5 catalogues.

FAST START LEVEL 2

Silver

Submit order of $1,000.00 or more which includes 3 party orders and receive $100.00 in Tomboy Tools Gift Certificates, 10 order forms and 10 catalogues.

FAST START LEVEL 3

Gold

Submit orders of $2,000.00 or more which includes 5 party orders and receive $200.00 in Tomboy Tools Gift Certificates, 20 order forms and 20 catalogues.

Contact me if you have any questions and for the agreement form.

Women. Tools. Knowledge. Pass it on!

All agreements must be receive by February 14, 2011 at midnight.

In the Spotlight: Karen Donaldson (Tomboy Tools)

I received the Tomboy Tools Consultant Newsletter today. Made me feel proud to be a Tomboy. I am featured in the "In the Spotlight" article! Here's how it read:

It started with my search for a home-based flexible business. None of the direct sales companies I checked out had everything I was looking for. I was surprised when I stumbled across the Tomboy Tools website. In all my years of doing home improvements, it never occurred to me that I could work with better designed tools! I could share that with other women and get paid for doing it with my own business.

I had been to other home parties, but never considered being a consultant. I have worked as an employee in retail sales, restaurant, construction (commercial/industrial general contractor), customer service, small business and project management. I had the skills, I just had to bring them all together to give this a go.

Some things have definitely changed in our world. We always have a good set of tools in our house now! Better than pawing through the shelves of everything-under-the-sun in the garage, hiking out to the look in the tractor shed, or borrowing from hubbie's custom cabinet business shop.

I have big plans for my business in 2011. I have a very full and busy life now but there's always room for more. I work full-time in the IT Dept. of a print, publishing & manufacturing company. Andy and I have been together for 27 years and we have 2 teenage boys.

I'm learning how to prioritize and do what's absolutely necessary to run a successful small business. It's a never-ending learning curve. My favourite quote says it all : "Ready, fire, aim". My goal is to have a steady demand for parties and online orders while leading a growing team so I can quit my day job! 2011 Here I come.

New Tool Set from Tomboy Tools!

I'm so excited! I just received the feature sheet for the newest tool to be added to the Tomboy Tools product list.

It's a 19pc. Pink Socket Set!!!

Check out these features!

• Top-quality, high grade steel
• Unique ergonomic design that offers a more comfortable holding position.
• The ratchet system contains 72 teeth which provide more strength and durability.
• The ratcheting mechanism allows the nut to be tightened or loosened with a reciprocating motion, without requiring that the wrench be removed and refitted after each turn.
• The small switch behind the socket easily switches the wrench between tightening and loosening mode.
• Comes with standard inch (3/4”, 11/16”, 5/8”, 9/16”,1/2”, 7/16”, 3/8”) and metric sockets (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 19)
• Comes with spark plug socket (S.P.K. 5/8”), two extensions (75mm and 150mm) and a wrench (3/8” drive).

If this is something you've been struggling without at home, contact me for more details and to order. I can have it shipped within Canada. You can even order it securely online using Web ID# B0131.

For shipments outside of Canada, find your country here.

Travelling Light: with only 1 bag!

If you're planning a trip, visit this website, Leisure Travel Bags :: One Bag, for tried & tested details on how to travel with ONE BAG. Trust me - that's how I travelled through Asia, and on many trips since, and I swear this is the only way to go.

Happy Trails!

Super Special Event! Wine Garden Ladies' Night (Wed., October 27, 2010)

Hello Everyone!!

Mark October 27th on your calendar as Ladies’ Night returns to the Wine Garden. The evening starts at 7:00PM and we think you will agree this is the best one yet. It is time to pamper the Ladies in our lives as we get ready for the Holiday season. We have a great line up with some new services to offer. The Wine Garden will have many special events especially designed for those special women in our lives; including draws, refreshments, International cheeses, pates and hot appetizers all evening.
We are excited to have Viviane Abonte owner of Viva Viva Spa & Boutique. Viviane is formerly of the Versace Mansion in Miami Beach and will be providing her expertise for our ladies’ with eye brow shaping & mini facials. You will have the same experience at her location as the stars on South Beach!!

Psychic Marilyn of Kingstonpsychic.com will be offering a taste of the Tarot and Crystal Ball with mini readings. Mini readings are great when you want a direct answer to a question now! More in depth readings are available at the Purple Door 613-549-2438. For the curious, check www.kingstonpsychic.com for more about Marilyn.
Susan Jennings RMT, IARP is a registered Reiki Master/Teacher. After years in the corporate world Susan found her passions; Reiki, Writing and Teaching.. She is an experienced and gifted practitioner and teacher in Usui/Tibetan Reiki and she is certified in crystal healing. Susan is also a published author and fiction writer.

Reiki (ray-key) is a Japanese technique discovered by Dr. Usui Mikao in the early 1900s. Rei means universal energy—spiritual energy and Ki means life energy in all living things. Life Energy is paramount for good health. Low or blocked energy will lead to in-balance and illness. Reiki energy is channeled through attuned and trained practitioners. By lying of hands (with or without touching) allows the energy to flow freely and heal. Check out her website to learn more http://www.reiki-life-energy.com!!

Allie Fairfax, a certified Reflexologist, will be offering mini sessions to relax and revitalize you. Reflexology is a natural healing art, based on the principle that there are reflexes in the feet and hands which correspond to every part of the body. By stimulating and applying pressure to the feet or hands, you are increasing circulation and promoting specific bodily and muscular functions. You can book a session directly with Allie by calling 613-692-3025.

Margaret Stubbe of Stubbe Chocolates will be returning once again with her world class chocolate. Stubbe Chocolate on Hazeldean Rd. has quickly become the place for the finest Belgian Chocolate. Stubbe uses the finest ingredients and 52% cocoa content to make their mouth watering treats. Margaret will be bringing her tempering machine to make the perfect chocolate to coat fresh strawberries. Tempered chocolate is chocolate which has been heated and specially cooled so that it forms a precise crystal structure. You will taste the difference.

The Carp Ridge Eco Wellness Centre will be onsite offering food sensitivity testing as well as tongue and cornea readings. The mission of Carp Ridge Eco Wellness Centre is to teach, model and facilitate healing and sustainability, with emphasis on our local community. CREWC is a place of many opportunities and a hopeful vision for the future based on several core values:
- Long-Term View, Cooperation Respect, Empowerment, Holistic Wellness, Practicality, Diversity, Integrity, Accountability, Earth wise Choices.
They invite you to learn more about CREWC at www.ecowellness.com.

Jan Smith will be on hand as an Independent Consultant with Epicure Selections. She will be sampling yummy snacks and will have many products on hand to see and smell. Be sure to stop by and sample the Hot Tomato Artichoke Dip! From appetizers to soup, main courses to dessert, Epicure Selections has what you need to make outstanding meals for your family and for entertaining. Are you looking for simple ways to spice up your meals? Do you need to reduce the sodium in your diet? Are you in search of gluten-free seasonings and spices? Look no further! Jan can help with making the everyday gourmet, simply by opening a jar! You will get hungry looking at her website www.epicureselections.com.

Janet Potter of The Glass Case will be returning with her dichroic glass. Janet is a glass artist who has been working with glass since 1981. Her current company, The Glass Case, has been in operation since 1996. She designs custom glass doors, transoms, sidelights, cupboard door inserts and hanging panels for your home or business. In addition to her custom work, she works with "kiln-crafted" glass, creating one-of-a-kind dichroic glass Jewellery pieces - pendants, earrings, brooches, barrettes, and bracelets. Samples of Janet’s work can be seen at www.theglasscase.ca !!

Ann Rickey of Partylite is a fragrance expert bringing you custom scents that you'll only find here. She has a fragrance for every space and every taste. Partylite is one of the largest manufacturers of fine scented candles in the world! Their exclusive formulas call for only the finest ingredients to create the best burning candles available today. Transform your home with the welcoming fragrance and flattering soft glow of candlelight. Choose from 42 fragrances, including 9 new seasonal scents, to set just the the mood you are looking for. Plus, with over 70 items $30 and under, gift giving is more affordable than ever. A complete list of products can be seen at www.partylite.com.

Isabelle Cayoutte of It’s a Belle Creations will be including a chocolate truffle for everyone’s gift bag. It’s a Belle Creations is a home based business offering everything from baby shower cakes to custom wedding cakes. We also make a wide variety of pastries including truffles, cookies and pound cakes. Everything is from scratch and made fresh to order. If you have a sweet tooth you can see more at www.itsabellecreations.com.

Wanda from Wicked Wanda’s Adult Emporium will be on site displaying her wares. She will be here bigger than ever displaying Lingerie & toys. At the last event each of the Ladies received a gift that was well received. I am sure that there will be something in store for you this time around. Shop ahead at http://www.wickedwandas.ca!!

A new addition this year is Stephanie MacWhirter, a transplanted Maritimer and 5 year resident of Riverside South has blended her backgrounds in esthetics and dental hygiene to open The Smile Spa. Your smile is important. It’s one of the first things people notice when they meet you. A brighter, whiter smile can help you feel better about yourself and leave a lasting impression, not to mention making you look younger! Stephanie will be offering smile evaluations as well as ultrasonic jewellery cleaning. At The Smile Spa we believe in adding value for your money. Our manicures, pedicures and facials would be considered "spa" treatments at most other salons or spas... we offer spa services at basic prices. More information is available at http://www.thesmilespa.org/default.html.

Rose Murdoch & Bruce Ford from Ability R.M.T. will be on-site offering short chair massages. As registered massage therapists we are trained in the assessment, prevention and treatment of soft tissue and joints of the body including muscles, ligaments, tendons, fascia, lymphatics and blood vessels. Using various techniques our massage therapists can help to bring about a better quality of life either in your work, play or sports environment. Check out their website www.abilityrmt.com for a complete list of services offered.

Daring to do things differently because it is time to do things differently is a challenge. Tocara is a Canadian company that was founded to create a line of exclusive fine jewellery marketed direct to customers through independent Consultants. Each exclusive Tocara product has designer styling and quality at affordable prices.

Products are created from sterling silver, gemstones, and our exclusive DiAmi™ stone and other natural materials. Every product is backed by the Tocara guarantee. This includes a 30-day refund with no questions asked and a lifetime warranty against defects. Marcel Dansereau will be here to answer any questions you might have and you can check out http://tocara.com/en/ to view his complete line.

Karen Donaldson is a Sales Manager for TOMBOY TOOLS® which is the company that provides unique designed-for-women hand and power tools for home improvement projects. We encourage women to become confident and competent caretakers of their homes at In-Home Tool Parties! We give hands-on demos with a tell-show-do-feedback approach to home improvement projects. We tell you how it's done, show you how to do it, give you a chance to try it yourself and then provide feedback so you can recreate the project in your own home. Turn the place you live, into the place you love! You can find out more at www.toolpartiesbykaren.com.

Once again A Floral Solution will be providing each of the Ladies with flowers. A Floral Solution is an Ottawa based florist specializing in fresh cut floral arrangements for any occasion. A Floral Solution specializes in wedding flowers; let us help make the most special of days perfect for you. Call now to book a free bridal consultation, 613-482-0649 or www.afloralsolution.com

Linda Hay RN and Certified Hypnotherapist will be offering a mini Hypnosis session to show you the many benefits of helping yourself change a habit through Self- Hypnosis. This can be done at home or work in 3-4 minutes helping you relax and ward off stress. Hypnosis is done through relaxation and guided imagery allowing our sub-conscious mind to come to the forefront of our mind to make change. Hypnosis can be used for many things such as Smoking Cessation, Migraines, Stress, Anxiety, Weight Management / Cravings, Chronic Pain, Insomnia, Nail biting and many other habits. There are no side effects and all that is needed to be hypnotized is "the desire to make the change".

Marilyn Matheson is designer and owner of Yellowbird Creations. Yellow Bird Creations, offers unique handcrafted jewellery which is designed and created using semi-precious stones and beads. Jewellery pieces are created so as to reflect the many facets of individual personalities and tastes, and to imbue a sense of reflection and spirit of the beads within each piece. Gemstone beads and stones; various glass beads, e.g. murano glass; lamp work beads; ceramic hand-painted beads and various crystals, including Swarovski are used in the creation of unique and one-of-a-kind jewellery pieces. Gifts of created and custom- designed jewellery are great for those special events in a person’s life as well as to celebrate the person within.

Pierre A. Burelle is the creator of "Scintillante" . This is a NEW finding for this Years Show, and let me tell you, their creations are stunning.Hand Blown Glass Ornaments of all kinds, edge glass with 24 karat gold details making every piece one of a kind. Scintillante Co. was born In Cairo, Egypt while Pierre was living abroad with his family for 4 years where he learned the art of glass blowing from the masters themselves since the beginning of time. Pierre has been back in Ottawa for the past 2 years producing works of art and selling them to public at different crafters events. One being the Biggest Craft Show in you're area on November 6 at All Saint Catholic High School in Kanata. You can see more of Pierre's pieces on display. Pierre has great gift ideas for all occasions. You can also reach Pierre by e mail at www.scintillante@ymail.com or 613-424-4332.

Allyson Melanson will be back again with Silpada - Sterling Silver Jewellery. Silpada is hand crafted by artisans around the world and made from Italian leather, Cultured Freshwater Pearls, Semi-precious stones and .925 Sterling Silver. Most designs are proprietary or exclusive to Silpada Designs. Slight variations in silversmith work or stone colours are characteristic of the unique and fascinating charm of the jewellery. Available only from your Independent Silpada Designs Representative.

Sarah-Jane Scrivens of Mary Kay will be here offering Silky Lips treatment which is a multi-step softening treatment making your hands and lips silky smooth. Mary Kay develops, tests, manufactures and packages the majority of its own product at its state-of-the-art plants in Dallas and China. In a typical year, Mary Kay spends millions of dollars and conducts more than 300,000 tests to ensure that Mary Kay® product meets the highest standards of quality, safety and performance. See and fell the difference of their cosmetics.

There are several other exhibitors and services on site during the event. As usual we will be holding several draws including a Night in the Penthouse at Extended Stay Deluxe Hotel generously donated by David Burkitt. Plus everyone goes home with a gift bag filled with presents and coupons valuing over $100.

The cost of the evening is $85 including a 12 bottle batch of our world blend wine. Space is limited so reserve early by calling us at 613-270-9083.

Looking forward to seeing you there.

Matthew & Kevin

The Wine Garden Warehouse
4B-100 Schneider RD.
Kanata, ON K2K 1Y2
613-270-9083

www.thewinegarden.ca