Welcome to the last day of Home School’d! Thats right! Todays the final episode of season 1!

We’ve had such an amazing time learning with you, and today we’re recapping some of our favorite episodes, PLUS we’ll see how much information we actually retained.

This year we covered everything from emergency preparedness to maximalism (yes, that is a thing!) and watched our show name take on a whole new meaning as we shifted our recording set-up from in-studio to quarantined at home.

We’re so excited to chat about some of our most memorable moments and celebrate our awesome school year.

Today’s guest instructor, Friday Apaliski worked for six years at San Francisco’s Department of the Environment. In her time there she witnessed first-hand just how complicated and nuanced being environmentally conscious and sustainable can be.

For anyone looking to green their home this amounts to a firehose of overwhelming information that leads to confusion and inaction. Not many have the countless hours required to research the products and programs best suited for their goals. They want an expert to talk them through options, in plain English, and assure them that their choices are in fact beneficial.

Friday’s company, The Sustainability Concierge does just that! She is passionate about the environment and an unrelenting optimist, who jumps at every opportunity to make the sustainable choice both obvious and easy.

By the end of this class you’ll have Friday’s take on emergency preparedness and creating a less toxic home.

The cleaning products Friday recommends: meliorameansbetter.com

HOMEWORK: Watch "The Story of Plastic" and "Mossville".

FIND FRIDAY:

WEBSITE

INSTAGRAM

FACEBOOK

Today’s guest instructor, Friday Apaliski worked for six years at San Francisco’s Department of the Environment. In her time there she witnessed first-hand just how complicated and nuanced being environmentally conscious and sustainable can be.

For anyone looking to green their home this amounts to a firehose of overwhelming information that leads to confusion and inaction. Not many have the countless hours required to research the products and programs best suited for their goals. They want an expert to talk them through options, in plain English, and assure them that their choices are in fact beneficial.

Friday’s company, The Sustainability Concierge does just that! She is passionate about the environment and an unrelenting optimist, who jumps at every opportunity to make the sustainable choice both obvious and easy.

By the end of this class you’ll have Friday’s top tips for becoming more energy efficient and a breakdown of light bulbs (because there are so many!)

The video Aaron referred to: https://www.thisoldhouse.com/lighting/21124559/how-to-understand-the-lighting-facts-label

FIND FRIDAY:

WEBSITE

INSTAGRAM

FACEBOOK

For many homeowners, refinancing their mortgage can be a difficult decision. There are costs to consider, applications to complete, and the process requires time and energy that’s hard to come by these days.

On top of that, we are in uncertain times- which has people wondering if it’s a good time to get involved with anything real estate related at all!

Today’s instructor, Matthew Garland is the Division Manager at United Northern Mortgage Bankers Limited. He is passionate about real estate financing, and uses his multiple platforms and speaking engagements to educate and empower homeowners.

By the end of this class you’ll have a better understanding of refinancing, a break-down of the costs involved and an inside look at the current real estate market.

FIND MATTHEW!

INSTAGRAM

YOUTUBE

WEBSITE

Today we’re going to talk about how homeowners can improve water efficiency and reduce costs.

Our instructor, Paula Henson has worked in landscape design, water conservation and environmental education since 1998. She loves teaching and writing about water, soil, gardening, education and urban design. 

She has contributed to Pacific Horticulture magazine, the Green Gardens Group, the Urban Water Group and The Designer magazine- just to name a few- and currently she is running the environmental education program at L.A. City Kids School. We are so honored to learn from her today.

By the end of this class you’ll know what rain water harvesting is and if it’s an option for you, have action steps for conserving water with more efficient irrigation, and some basic tips for water friendly landscape design. 

Today’s instructor, Arta Nubani of Junglecasita is a self proclaimed crazy plant lady who started an Instagram account to document her plant growth and obsession. She’s created a space where plant lovers can feel inspired, learn more about plants, and get tips for incorporating them into their home decor- and today she’s spilling it all.

By the end of this class you’ll have some basic tips for plant care, answers to your most common plant woes and some next level ideas for plant styling.

FIND ARTA:

INSTAGRAM- @junglecasita

YOUTUBE- Jungle Casita 

WEBSITE- junglecasita.com

Put on an addition or move to a new house? It’s a question that crosses the minds of many homeowners who’d like to make a change to their current living situation.

Adding on or expanding a home can sometimes be just as stressful as moving. There are contractors to hire, important decisions to make and in many cases, a lot of money to spend. 

On top of that, many families find themselves living in the construction zone- which isn’t always ideal. But sometimes finding what you’re looking for in a new home or changing locations just isn’t possible. 

So if you're dreaming of a home addition, this episode is for you.

Today’s guest instructor David Hopkins is currently the VP of construction for Welker Properties in Dallas and also runs the popular DIY YouTube channel, Tough Guys TV. We are thrilled to talk about things to consider before starting a construction project, with someone who is equally supportive of DIY and contracted work.

By the end of this class you’ll have the pros and cons of adding on vs buying a new home, a checklist for starting the process and tips for taking on some of your own construction work.

Class is in session.

FIND DAVID:

Instagram: @toughguystv

YouTube: Tough Guys TV

Home ownership is part of the American Dream and to some that means having the biggest house on the block. While the size of one’s home is truly a matter of preference, today we’re going to explore the benefits of living small. 

With larger homes comes the responsibility of maintenance and upkeep which takes up time and money, especially if you have a busy life-plus there’s  pressure to fill the space with more stuff- so perhaps on the home front…bigger isn’t always better.

Today’s guest Laura Fenton is the author of The Little Book of Living Small and the former lifestyle director at Parents magazine, where she oversaw all the home content for the publication. 

A writer with more than fifteen years of experience, her work has appeared in major publications including Better Homes & Gardens, Country Living, Good Housekeeping, and on leading home websites including Remodelista, HGTV.com, ElleDecor.com, Curbed, and Refinery29. 

Through her writing she has explored the topic of living small for more than a decade. She lives small with her husband, a photographer, and their son in Queens, New York.

Her book The Little Book of Living Small is A comprehensive guide to small-space secrets and real-life solutions for living in 1,200 square feet or less- but today we’ll also cover if it’s possible to “live small” in our existing spaces.

By the end of this class you’ll have actionable tips for down-sizing, motivation for making changes in your everyday life, and advice for maximizing your square footage.

FIND LAURA:

Instagram: @Laura.alice.fenton

Book: The Little Book of Living Small 

On this episode we're sharing a bonus clip of our interview with Stephanie and Jeremy Puglisi of The RV Atlas. We're discussing the ins and outs of buying or renting your first RV.

New parents Stephanie and Jeremy Puglisi worried their days of traveling were over―with full-time jobs and infant twins, taking time off to go exploring hardly seemed possible. But they missed the way that travel brought them closer together and knew it would help them grow as a family. 

So, they bought a pop-up camper and embarked on the adventure of a lifetime. The campground was their vacation destination, and Stephanie and Jeremy became experts at creating lasting family memories without breaking the bank. 

Whether you’re new to camping or a seasoned pro, today’s guests Stephanie and Jeremy are going to teach you the different ways that camping can lead to a happier, healthier family. 

From trip planning tips, to navigating RV dealerships and even exploring in this new time of social distancing―these campers are going to cover it all. 

Their book See You at the Campground is packed with personal anecdotes, packing lists, site recommendations, and recipes that will foster a love of the outdoors, and today we’re going to get the low down on all of it.

By the end of this class you’ll understand the benefits of camping, have a guide to growing closer as a family and tips for packing and set-up―whether it’s in a cabin, tent, or RV. 

Class is in session!

What are some different types of campgrounds?

Private Camp Grounds- Amenities, hotel type experience, more expensive, perhaps a little farther from the “destination”.

Public Camp Grounds- More rustic, less amenities, beautiful surroundings/premiere location.

Do your research this year to see what facilities are open- call campgrounds directly.

Can you share some of your trip planning tips?

How much time do you have? How long do you want to travel? Pick a destination first and then pick the best camping opportunities to support that.

Read a ton of reviews! Some campgrounds might be more suited for a party weekend, and others for families.

What are some of your packing tips?

Get a checklist! You can find some great ones here: thervatlas.com

Pack tubs and even color code according to person/category that you can easily swap in and out. Stock the RV for the season and then just replace items as needed.

What are the benefits of camping for kids?

They can be “free. You don’t have to try to control the environment the way you would in a hotel. Parents can enjoy time together once the kids are asleep and not get held “hostage” in the hotel room.

Homework:

Rent a cabin as a first experience! Buy See You at the Campground!

Find Stephanie & Jeremy:

Podcast: The RV Atlas

Website: TheRVAtlas.com

Book: See You at the Campground