Dog Accessories: All Bark, No Bite

Posted on | August 11, 2010 | 2 Comments

      I’m always looking for interesting home accessories, particularly ones that reflect something about the owners–where they’ve traveled to, where they’ve lived, or something which reflects their hobbies or interests. Recently I purchased three hand carved wooden jazz musicians, for example, for a client’s soon to be completed recreation room. She and her boyfriend have always loved New Orleans and what a better way to represent the love of the Big Easy than to accessorize with a little of the culture.
     This same client asked my opinion on if she should custom frame two candid photos of her beloved Yorkie dogs. I thought the idea was perfect and the only advice that I gave her was to make the photos sepia, versus color, to tie into the color scheme of the space.
     I will admit to displaying a few pet accessories in my home. Years ago a close friend gave me two small, bronze, dachshund figurines shortly after one of our family pets had passed away. I grew up with Snooky, followed by Pappy, and eventually Buffy as beloved dachshund pets, so to me, proudly displaying them in my Dad’s guest room reminds me of the love that I had for each of them. And yes, in my great room, I do have a photo of Seinfeld, my Garfield wanna-be cat that I had dearly loved for over seventeen years. And, recently a houseguest gave me a hostess gift which is a framed photo of my rescue cat Skipper who is the newest addition to the house.
     But, small unobtrusive pet figurines and a few tastefully displayed photos of my furry roommates are where I draw the line. We all love our pets, but do we have to go overboard? A couple of weeks ago, I was shopping for a client, and in a few short hours, I came across a handful of dog accessories that I thought were both hilarious and tacky and definitely were all bark and no bite.
     First, take a look at the dog lamp to the left.  Ask yourself, “Do dogs really need to be in clothes?” Granted, Paris Hilton dresses her little pooches in the cutest of clothes, but she can get away with it. She’s Paris Hilton for Pete’s sake. But, do we really need to see a lamp with a dog holding a staph in a gentleman’s jacket? What vibe do you get when you look at the lamp in the photo below? Classiness? Protection? I’d rather see a live dog playing fetch with a tooth-marked stick than I would a pursed lipped, staph holding, gentleman’s jacket wearing pooch.

     You think that’s bad, check out the dog soldier in the picture to the left.  At least the doggie lamp above had some functional purpose but this beauty is just a dust-collecting figurine one might display on the top of a sofa table or in a lit built-in. Seriously? When I saw this I immediately thought of the Gamorrean guards that protected Jabba The Hut in George Lucas’s Return of Jedi movie. (See the resemblance?)   Lucas’s character is much more intimidating and it’s actually a pig, not a dog, but with all of the clothes on the thing, it’s no wonder I couldn’t tell the difference. Again, animals should not wear clothes, people, unless they are in a fictional movie.
    

     Finally, one of my favorite dog accessories of the day is this doggie umbrella stand. (At least I think that’s what this is.) I don’t know about you, but I’ll keep my wet umbrella outside on the porch or dump it in a cylinder shaped container. If I am invited over to someone’s house that has purchased this accessory, first I’d bark, roll over, and then quickly ask for a double dirty martini with three olives before I make my way out of the foyer.

     I appreciate the need for folks to symbolize their love of pets in their home accessories, but perhaps they should stick with their favorite snapshot of Fido in a unique frame or showcase a few, small unobtrusive accessories. Decorating doesn’t have to be boring, doggone it. So I beg of you, don’t roll over and give into the temptation of a pricey accessory resembling a pet.

Part III: Outdoor & Lake Toys: Getting Ready for Summer Guests

Posted on | June 17, 2010 | 2 Comments

Part III in my three part series:  Getting Ready for Summer Guests.  This time we’re talking outdoor prep and lake toys.

Part II: Kitchen: Getting Ready for Summer Guests

Posted on | May 22, 2010 | 2 Comments

     I sat out on my dock today, breeze on my face, waves lapping against the dock.  I fed and watched my new duck friends Barney and Alice II (video below), followed by another five chapters of a Nicholas Sparks novel  as I worked on my savage tan.  (Not that a blonde haired, blue eyed, freckled gal can really look savage, but I did give it my best try sporting my SPF 15 sunscreen).    I decided to spend this perfect day by myself, as I realized that this weekend is the last quiet weekend that I’ll have for a while as the summer visitors start arriving next week.

    My quality quiet time lasted for about four hours, of course, before I realized that I have more chores to finish to get this lake house ready for visitors.   In my first article of this series, Part I:  Bedroom and Bathroom:  Getting Ready for Summer Guests, I provided an extensive list on how to get guest bedrooms and bathrooms ready for summer guests.   Next area of extreme importance to get ready is the kitchen which is what I’ll be talking about in Part II of this series.  Because when folks visit on Lake Keowee, South Carolina, or another other lake in the country, they want to eat, drink, and be merry, and we’ve got to be ready for them.

Below is a list of all of the things that I like to have ready before I open that front door and say, “Welcome to the lake!”:

Kitchen

1. Paper Towels  – I don’t know what it is about living on the lake and having a slew of visitors, but I go through more paper towels than Lucille Ball and Henry Fonda  did with their eighteen children in the movie “Yours, Mine, and Ours.”  To save money, I buy paper towels in bulk when they are on sale and keep a huge stash on a shelf in my garage for easy access.  I also opt to buy the Bounty sectional paper towel variety (2 perforated sheets which equal the size of one sheet) to try to help myself from going to the garage too often for another new roll. 
2. Zip Lock Bags (all sizes) – Just like paper towels, I also go through a ton of zip lock bags.  I think it is probably because storing quick leftovers in a resealable bag is easier than having my guests root through my plethora of mismatched storage containers and lids.  Buy sandwich, quart, one gallon, and my new favorite the two gallon size varieties and you won’t be sorry.  Tip:  buying in bulk at Sam’s or Costco will save you a ton of cash.
3. Plastic Storage Containers – when the resealable bag isn’t suitable (fruit salad, potato salad, e.g.) then have these on hand as well.  All sizes are great to have depending on the size of crowd you are serving or the amount of leftovers you may have.
4. Bottled Water – A case of bottled water is something that I buy every time I go to the grocery store as it seems that no one thinks he should ever drink out of a faucet again.  Our tap water here in Seneca, South Carolina is surprisingly delicious, but in case my guests don’t believe me, I like to keep plenty of bottled water freshly chilled in my beverage container and also in my extra refrigerator that I keep in the recreation room, so that they can be loaded quickly in a cooler to take on the boat.
5. Bags of Ice – Kudos to those who own ice makers that can produce fifty plus pounds of ice in the blink of an eye.  But, for those of us who are not blessed with this appliance, suck it up, head to the store, and grab bags of ice and store in your freezer or extra ice chest.   As our forefathers realized, ice is a luxury, and you can never have enough of it—especially if you’re loading up coolers and making margaritas or slushies (more on this later). 
6. Disposable Plastic Cups – I am a firm believer in owning Tervis Tumblers (the best sweat-proof glasses in the world), but I do like to have disposable plastic cups on hand when I’m entertaining on the dock or on the boat.
7. Triscuits/Crackers/Nuts –   When there are ‘two-fer’ sales at the grocery store, load up on these staples and store in your pantry.  You’ll be happy you did, so that you can serve cheese and crackers or nuts in a jiffy when your guests need a quick snack with pre-dinner or after dinner cocktails.
8. Cranberry  Chutney – this is one of my new favorite things.  My friend Tammy introduced me to the cranberry chutney on top of cream cheese served with crackers appetizer, and I don’t mind telling you that it is delicious.  Many times, I’ve been served the marmalade and nut on cream cheese appetizer, but the cranberry chutney with cream cheese has my vote hands down.
9. Cream Cheese – On bagels, used for other spreads, dips, and appetizers, you just can’t go wrong with having this in your refrigerator.   Also, see cranberry chutney above. 
10. Olive Oil, White Balsamic Vinegar, Sunflower Seeds, Dried Cranberries – Ronda’s famous salad is composed of field greens drizzled with olive oil and white balsamic vinegar; sprinkled with kosher salt and cracked pepper; topped with sunflower seeds and dried cranberries.   It’s light, refreshing, and a real crowd pleaser.
11. Load up on meat, pork, chicken, and bacon – At the beginning of summer, I go to Sam’s and spend a few hundred dollars on ribs, pork tenderloin, chicken, and bacon.  Then, I store all of it in my freezer chest in the basement.  Having meat products on hand and buying in bulk is a huge time and money saver.  You’ll notice that I did not mention steak, as I think that the best tasting steaks are never frozen. 
12. Maple Syrup and Pancake/Waffle Mix – Sometimes eggs, Danish, and toast get boring. 
13. Soda – all kinds even though most guests bring their own.
14. Alcohol— all kinds and a lot of it.  (Note:  see item 11 in Part I article—have plenty of Aspirin/Advil on hand in case of hangovers) Hot items for summer are Ice-tea flavored vodka, white rum for Dad Ringo’s “Slushies”, and plenty of beer.  Don’t forgot Bloody Mary mix.  My favorite is Zing-Zang.  Dad Ringo’s infamous “Slushies” have been enjoyed by so many throughout the years that it has to be shared.  As you’ll see from the recipe below, it is super simple, but it tastes absolutely delicious!

Dad Ringo’s Slushies

1 – can concentrated Limeade (large for two batches; small for one)

White Rum (fill ½ to ¾ of can of rum for large batch—split for each batch, or fill 1 to 1 ½ small cans with rum) (or add whatever amount of rum you think you can handle.)

½ blender filled with ice (to start)

1 T. Powdered Sugar

• Fill the blender halfway to the top with ice and add in half of the large can or all of the small can of frozen limeade.  Add in powdered sugar.  Pour in the rum on top of the ice and frozen limeade.  Note for large batch, only pour in half the rum as you will be making two batches.
• Turn the blender on medium setting and pulse until fairly smooth.
• Stop blending.
• Add in more ice until ice reaches about ¾ to the top of the rim. 
• Turn on the blender again, pulsing at first, and then switch to puree speed until smooth.  The slushie should be similar to an Icee—not liquidy. 
• Spoon into Tervis Tumbler or plastic glass and enjoy.  Dad will be proud!

 So, again, everybody, get shopping and get prepared!  I promise that I will, too!

Barney and Alice II (my new duck friends)

Pollen, a Bucket List, and a Tiger

Posted on | April 9, 2010 | 14 Comments

     My dad, who turned seventy-three this year, came up with his “bucket list” shortly after my mom passed away a couple of years ago.  At the top of that list was a visit to the Masters in Augusta, Georgia.  Last year’s tournament came and went, and unfortunately, he got no closer to a seat at the Masters than his La-Z-Boy watching the azaleas at Augusta National on his flat panel, Sony television.

     This year, I was determined to get him there.  I quickly scoured the web for tickets, and $566 later, I came up with two passes for the Tuesday practice round for he and me . 

     Like other fans, we woke up at the crack of dawn and arrived at Augusta at 7:15 a.m. on Tuesday.  I wanted Dad to get the most out of the day, and I wanted us to be there as soon as the gates opened.  We quickly met another “bucket lister” in the parking lot who traveled all the way from Canada to check off the Masters from his list.  I’m not sure who was more excited, the Canadian or my dad, but I instantly knew that this was going to be a special day.

     As we trekked from our parking spot through the main gate we were greeted with nothing but smiles and hospitality by the folks at Augusta National.  I had heard that no one hosts a golf tournament like the folks in Augusta, and whoever had told me that was spot on.  Throughout the day, the marshals, concession, and golf shop employees were gracious, expeditious, and genuinely wanted each and every visitor to have an experience they’d never forget. 

     Dad and I took our time as we got our bearings.  We quickly followed Tiger Woods at holes one through three, but we also wanted to check out as many holes and players as we could.  After too many years of smoking, Dad had developed COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) a few years ago, and we took frequent breaks so he could catch his breath as we walked the hills of the course.  I didn’t mind.  I was just glad to share the experience with him.  The tree pollen didn’t make it any easier for him.  For anyone who lives in the south, you know what I’m talking about.  In April the tree pollen is always over the charts, and on Tuesday, it was one of the highest counts of the season.  But, my dad didn’t complain about the tree pollen.  In fact, he didn’t complain about anything.  He was like a kid in a candy store, and he wanted to take in everything.  Throughout the day, he kept repeating, “I never thought I would get here in my lifetime.  This is spectacular.  Awesome!” 

     We made our way to Amen Corner, and Dad took plenty of shots of Hogan’s bridge that crosses over to the green at twelve.  I’ll have to admit, it was a gorgeous hole with the azaleas, dogwoods, and tree shadows positioned in a picturesque backdrop.  And, as we headed over to fourteen, fifteen, and sixteen, Dad and I were even in more awe.  Dad said, “That dang Sony TV just doesn’t do this course justice.”  He was right.  We have been watching the tournament the past few days on my HDTV, and although the course looks gorgeous, it just does not compare to seeing it person.    Dad and I snagged a spot with an excellent view of the green at sixteen, and I couldn’t believe how soft the grass was.  My Karastan carpet cannot even compete with the soft grass at Augusta.  We sat at sixteen for a good forty-five minutes as we watched the players easily drive across the pond.  We soon learned of the practice round tradition, where many of the players try to skip the ball across the pond and up on the green.  Mickelson, Mahan, D. Johnson, and O’Hair were the most fun to watch at sixteen, as they all teed off at the same time trying to skip their balls up onto the green.  Three of the four made it with a near miss of a turtle, sitting at the edge of the pond.

     Even Tiger, who teed off prior to the foursome, joined in the fun and tried to skip the ball up onto the green with his buddy Mark O’Meara.  Love Tiger or hate him, he was a real treat to watch.  And, to see up close one of the best golfers of all time perform his craft, was simply amazing.   I’m so thankful that he decided to attend the Masters this year so that my dad and I could see him in action.  Even with his disappointing, personal choices and tarnished reputation, he still drew quite the crowd.  I think we’ve all heard more than we really want to know about this phenomenal golfer’s private life—at least I have.  Don’t get me wrong, my dad and I are more than disappointed in Tiger’s choices.  But, we choose to celebrate the athlete, not the man.

     After watching Tiger finish at sixteen, we decided to take a break from the sun and grabbed a quick soda and buck fifty sandwich at a nearby concession stand.  (Kudos to Augusta for not jacking up food, soda, and beer prices.)    We finished our lunch, it was after one in the afternoon, and I could tell that Dad was getting tired.  So, we made our way to the golf shop, purchased $350 of Masters paraphernalia, and made the trek back to the parking lot. 

    We sat in the car for a few minutes, waiting patiently for the car air conditioning to provide us some relief from the hot day and tree pollen.  I looked over at my dad and asked, “Can you believe we were at the Masters today?”

     “I can’t.  That was absolutely awesome,” he said followed by a kiss on my cheek.  “Thanks for sharing this with me, Peanut.”

   I thought to myself.  I’m the one that was thankful.  It was all about you today, Dad.

Dad and Me - Masters Practice Round - April 6, 2010

Part I: Bedroom and Bathroom: Getting Ready for Summer Guests

Posted on | April 2, 2010 | 4 Comments

     Hitting eighty-five degrees on Lake Keowee, South Carolina, yesterday was the first day that actually resembled summer. Birds were chirping, fish were jumping, and ducks were quacking—the sounds of nature were everywhere. I sat outside for a couple of hours, body slathered with sunscreen and sweat quickly beading on my brow, but I didn’t complain. I was more than happy to get a taste of summer. I listened to my iPod, read my trashy romance novel, and as I got a jumpstart on my summer tan, I started making a mental list of weekends where friends and family will be visiting me in my house on the lake.
     I’m so anxious to make new memories with my loved ones (check out my latest inspirational video: Make A Memory With Lake Living). I love company, and that’s one of the main reasons that I built a lake home. And, as expected, if you build it, they will come. In droves. Last summer, I had company every weekend from early May through mid-July with a few week break, followed by more visitors for another three weeks. I do get an occasional winter guest, but when warm weather approaches, guests queue up for summer visits like an assembly line at a Ford factory, and I plan on being ready for them.
     As I prepare for my visitors, I wanted to share with you a three part series on some of my ideas that I’ve collected that make my house welcoming and functional for my houseguests. If you have additional ideas that I haven’t listed, feel free to comment on this article and share them with me and my readers.
     For Part I, let’s focus on getting ready for summer guests in the bedroom and in the bathroom. When decorating guest rooms, consider yourself sleeping in the room first. Think to yourself, “Would I feel comfortable in this space?” If you answered no, then re-think it. If it’s not good enough for you to sleep there, then it’s definitely not good enough for your guests. And, in the bathroom, do your best to supply toiletries and items that your guests may have forgotten to bring or do not need to bring for their visit. They will be oh so grateful to have room in their luggage to stow away an additional outfit for their stay.

Below is a list of all of the things that I like to consider and put into each guest room and guest bath:

Bedroom.

1. Two sets of sheets – Two sets because one will be on the bed, and the other readily available to do a quick change. Depending on the guest, some offer to pull off the dirty sheets and make the bed for you. Take them up on it! Doing laundry isn’t that labor intensive but changing beds is. Also, purchase the softest sheets possible. I’m a fan of high thread count percale or cotton. I am not a fan of the sateen type of sheets only because any time I’ve ever purchased sateen sheets, the dang things pill up which defeats the purpose of the original softness.
2. Extra blanket or throw – Easily accessible at foot of the bed for chilly nights.
3. Pillows – Feather, foam, or multiple firmness options—hopefully, your guests will find one that is comfortable.
4. Books/Magazines – For reading.
5. Bedside lamp – Ample reading light is best. Also, make sure your guests can reach the lamp to easily turn off without getting out of a cozy bed.
6. TV and remote – I have a TV and remote in most of my guestrooms. Everyone needs a little quiet time to watch the news or catch a movie.
7. Icing on the cake – Go all out and showcase fresh flowers from your local market or garden and place a chocolate or two on the night stand. Your guests will love it!

Bathroom.

1. Towels – tons o’ towels are best: bath, hand, and wash cloths. Occasionally you’ll have a guest who likes to have a fresh towel every day, so it’s best to be prepared.
2. Night light – Night light or little lamp in bathroom so guests can find their way to the bathroom when it’s dark.
3. Bathroom cleaning supplies – Many guests offer to clean up after themselves, and by all means take them up on it. Supply them with tub and tile cleaner and glass cleaner. Be careful of bleach products, though. Sometimes when you or your guests wipe out a sink that has been cleaned with bleach, your towels will be ruined.
4. Shampoo, conditioner, body wash— For the shower or tub, buy bulk sizes of shampoo, conditioner, and liquid soap. Ditch the bar soap for guest baths. No one wants to share a bar of soap that a previous guest has used. A friend of mind provides little hotel bar soaps, and I used to do that. I have just found it more economical to provide liquid body wash or liquid soap dispenser by the sink for my guests.
5. Blow dryer – Smaller, high wattage blow dryers are not that expensive. Your guests will appreciate it that they don’t have to load theirs’ into their suitcase.
6. Brush/comb – Who doesn’t want to look pretty or handsome?
7. Lots o’ toilet paper—Buy septic safe variety if you live on a lake. Warn your guests about septic systems and what they can/cannot flush down the toilet. You’d be surprised at how many people flush things that shouldn’t be flushed, and to avoid a backup, it’s worth having that uncomfortable conversation with your houseguests about septic etiquette. Rule of thumb: tell your guests to intermittently flush, only flush toilet paper, and don’t flush too much toilet paper down in one shot. I recently wrote an article about toilet paper holders which lists the easiest ones that allow for a quick roll change.
8. Toothpaste & Toothbrushes– Buy a big tube of toothpaste and keep it in the bathroom vanity drawer. Don’t bother with the little ones. Also, buy extra toothbrushes in case your guests forgot theirs’.
9. Razors/Shaving Cream – Disposable razors and a large can of shaving cream or shaving gel.
10. Q-tips & Cotton Balls – Guests will welcome the opportunity to clean the lake water out of their ears.
11. Aspin/Advil – In case of headaches or hangovers
12. Claritin – In case your guests have allergies.

So, get shopping and get prepared, everybody. Having items stocked and ready makes it easy for all of your summer guests and for you!

Make a memory with lake living.

Posted on | March 23, 2010 | No Comments

As spring has arrived, below is an inspirational video to get lake lovers excited for the season.  Enjoy!

Decorating With Green – Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Posted on | March 17, 2010 | 4 Comments

In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, here are a couple of quick tips on how you can decorate with the color green – either as the main palette or as a pop of color in your space.

As defined by color-wheel-pro.com:  “Green is the color of nature. It symbolizes growth, harmony, freshness, and fertility. Green has strong emotional correspondence with safety.”  “Green has great healing power. It is the most restful color for the human eye.”  “And, it is one of the most commonly used colors to decorate with because it is easy to use.”

I started off thinking about green this morning, as I realized that I have nothing green to wear on St. Patty’s day except an old, Kelly green, Polo T-shirt.  Then I started thinking about the color green and how I might decorate a room with it.  I’ve put together some examples of some color and fabric families below to give you a visual on what I’m talking about.  In the first picture below, in the simplest case, I envision a white duvet cover in a bedroom with Kelly green and chocolate brown accents—pillows, sheets, window treatments, blankets, for example.  Then, I went through fabric samples that I keep on hand, and I put together two fabric families with green as the key color.  You’ll see in one fabric family that I leveraged a brighter palette (notice the white background on two of the samples)—perhaps to be used in a bedroom or an enclosed porch area.   And, in the other fabric family, I toned things down with a soft lime and chocolate vibe—perfect for a family room.   Although I did use white as a complementary color in this family, white was not a key background color of the fabric.   

If green doesn’t suit you as your main color, kick things up a little with a touch o’ the Irish and accessorize with green where it makes sense.   Add some new pillows to your family room or sofa that have a little green in them.  Find a seamstress or have a fabric store make them for you.  They really shouldn’t run you more than $75-100, and it’s an inexpensive way to change up the room instead of changing out expensive furniture. 

How do I decorate with green?  In my early childhood, my mom decorated with green as her key focal color in the family room and kitchen.  Then she took a rust detour for a few years, and eventually, she went back to green as the main color of the home.  I can’t blame her.  From the definition above, green is one of the most commonly used colors to decorate with, and who doesn’t want to portray growth, harmony, freshness, and fertility in a home?

Like mother like daughter, my second round of sofas that I purchased were green, too, consisting of a comfortable, casual twill fabric that was olive green and piped with a rust paisley fabric.  I’ve since deviated from green as the main color of my home, but I do have an apple-colored inspired room in my house .  One of my sisters loves green, and I wanted her guest room to feel comfortable and at home when she visits. 

As far as accessorizing, one of my favorite things to do is to use vibrant, green limes as a centerpiece on the table or one of my kitchen islands when I am entertaining weekend guests or throwing a dinner party.  First, I use a simple wood bowl toss in a dozen limes.  Or, I use a large glass square vase, arrange my dozen limes inside the vase, and then I pour in some water to add another element to the arrangement.  Using the limes will highlight a dark table and bring in a feeling of spring and summer to the space.  As I was doing some research, I did come across this picture where lime slices are lined a glass vase.  This centerpiece was suggested for a wedding reception, but you could do something similar to add that touch o’ green to your home. I think it’s absolutely gorgeous!

For you leprechauns, lads and lasses, green may or may not be your favorite color, but it can easily be used as the main color in your space , or you can add a touch o’ green to symbolize many things—St. Patty’s Day or not.  Make a space that you love, everybody, and enjoy the holiday!

Reinvention: The Revival of Small Businesses for Those Who Have Lost Their Jobs.

Posted on | March 12, 2010 | 6 Comments

     Whether you’ve seen the movie Up in the Air or not, you probably know that George Clooney’s character has the misfortune of informing people that they have lost their jobs.  Director Jason Reitman made the brilliant decision of documenting actual people facing some of the fallout of the Great Recession.  I saw Reitman appear on an episode of Oprah, and he said that he just couldn’t imagine filming anyone other than those who have faced the harsh reality of receiving the axe.  As you watch the movie, you can see the pain, disillusionment, and heart-wrenching, raw fear in their faces.  You cannot help but empathize with them as you share the moments when they are told, “You no longer have a job.” With those few words, their whole lives change in an instant.

     Like Clooney’s character, for years I had been a frequent flier traveling to companies peddling software and consulting services for a large software provider.  I worked nights and weekends, I felt the pressure of hitting a sales quota, and I spent more time away from home than I care to admit.  To me, it was all about making money and hitting my quota.  It was all about the company.  The kill.  The win.  And, to thank me for my efforts and long work weeks, I didn’t get a pat on the back.  Instead, I got a pink slip.  Last year I was yet another casualty of a company that chose to reorganize and downsize.  “This isn’t based on your performance, Ronda,” I was told.  “You, unfortunately, are just in the wrong geographical location at the wrong time.”  I didn’t have the pleasure of looking into Clooney’s eyes when I was let go.  Instead I was disposed of swiftly in an abrupt, thirty minute phone call with a person from human resources and a sales director.  “Never let them see you cry, Peanut,” my dad always advised me when we discussed business, and I was thankful that I could deal with the news in private.  I’m sure if I would have had to have walked into an office and been told that I lost my job of eight years by a stranger and a sales director that I barely knew, I would’ve had a meltdown much like many of those in the movie had. Read more

Oscar Night: Adding Some Bling, Spotlights, and Setting the Mood in Decorating.

Posted on | March 7, 2010 | No Comments

Thinking about all of the bling, camera flashes and spotlights inspired me to write about how those concepts apply in interior decorating.  I’ve come up with a few thoughts of my own, and I’d love to hear other ideas via your replies, as well. 

First, let’s talk about what I don’t want to see:  a burlap gown.  Nothing in Hollywood would surprise me, but I really hope that the Project Runway episode that featured burlap designs hasn’t inspired any celebrity to go out and follow suit.  Burlap does not equal formal wear which does not equal Oscars.  I had written an article a few weeks about burlap in design, and I have since seen a couple of pieces that even I would even consider buying, but let’s not wear it on the carpet, ladies.

Bling.  As for bling—who doesn’t love to wear a little?  And, in decorating, a little bling can go a long way.   Recently, I was at a friend’s house who had designed her own custom window treatments.    She had designed long panels where the top third of the panel was made in one fabric, the bottom two thirds of the panel in another fabric, and she separated the two fabrics with beaded trim to add a little texture, visual interest, and sparkle.  I loved it!  It drew your eye right up to the top of the panel and the color she chose tied the two fabrics together perfectly.  In addition, beaded trim is always a great and inexpensive way to add a little character to old lampshades.  Just grab a hot glue gun and a pair of scissors and you can easily change the entire look of the lamp in very little time.  Don’t go out of control, though.  Gluing can be fun, but you don’t want your space to look like a belly dancer’s costume. 

Spotlight.  Oscar night is all about being in the spotlight:  bright lights, camera flashes, and hours of primping to make the stars look their best.   In decorating, high wattage lighting can be strategically used to highlight art in your home.  If you look at the pictures below, you’ll see two different types of high wattage lights used to highlight art in the home.  In my first video blog entitled “Start Building That Portfolio and Dream List Today“, I had talked about a resort I had stayed at in the Turks and Caicos and how a spotlight was placed on a gorgeous piece of art in the bathroom.  When you walk by highlighted art, bathroom or not, you just cannot help but look at it.  So, show off your art, and add a spotlight!

Bathroom Art Spotlight

Nook Art Spotlight

  Read more

Toilet Paper Holders: The good, the bad, and the ugly.

Posted on | March 4, 2010 | 1 Comment

     I remember the time I had to select toilet paper holders in my first house.  As a homeowner rookie, I made my decision entirely on the look of the apparatus, and I completely ignored the functional aspects of my options.  I settled on solid brass toilet paper holders with the spring rods in the middle that separated two colonial looking end pieces that mounted to the wall.   I’d grown up with the spring-rod type, so I figured I might as well go with something familiar.  I didn’t feel like investing a ton of money on hardware in my 2 ½ bathrooms, so I ended going with the prettiest and most inexpensive brass toilet paper holder I could find.  Brass, by the way, was ‘in’ at the time –check out my article on Ode to Apolo:  Go For the Gold, Silver and Bronze in Interior Decorating.

At that time, I was clueless as to how to use a cordless drill, so I borrowed my dad who painstakingly hung all three toilet paper holders snugly to the wall and within reach. (It’s always a good idea to do a mock bathroom reach before installing, by the way.  You’ll thank me later.)  Within a few days when it was time to change the roll in my master bathroom, I quickly realized that I had made a mistake with my toilet paper holder purchases.  That dang solid brass, embedded spring rod was so hard to dislodge that I pinched my finger trying to get the empty toilet paper roll off to replace with a fresh roll.  After I finally did get the old roll off, I had the same problem trying to get the fresh roll installed and back into place.  I endured the process every couple of days over the next nine years until I made a move into my next home.

The next time I was determined to make my choice based on human factors and usability instead of entirely on looks.  So, I began my research.  It’s that research that I want to share with my readers to possibly save you time, and give you some advice on things to consider before changing out your old toilet paper holders or before selecting ones for your new custom home. 

Read more