I was completely flattered, of course.   There are other more established area designers and decorators, and I was thrilled that I was chosen over the others. 

     “Your website is awesome,” Emily’s mom said, “And, Emily loves your blogs.”

     Wow.  What a compliment that was, and I couldn’t wait for my special day with Emily. 

     This past Friday job shadow day had finally arrived.  Before Emily showed up on my doorstop, I had decided that I would start the day by showing her design boards and photos of my completed design projects and also some that are work-in-progress.  After that, I would walk her through the process of re-decorating one of the rooms in her home.   No money to spend, it was going to be a simulated project, but I figured that would be the best way for her to experience the design process.    I also decided that I’d stay away from the business and accounting part of being in the interior design field—accounting is often overwhelming enough for a college student let alone a twelve year old.  

     When Emily arrived, she let me know that for our project, she’d chosen her family’s music and craft room—a very cluttered 6’x6’ space where her drum set, cupcake supplies, and her mom’s sewing machine and other craft items were stored.  Oh boy, was I in for a challenge.         

     We started off by me asking her my typical client questions (colors she loved, colors she hated, what she liked about the space, what she hated about the space, etc.)  Next, we did a floor layout and quickly decided that floor to ceiling cabinets would hide the clutter and provide more area for items to be stored.  Immediately, Emily had great instincts.  She was the one that suggested that we design the cabinets with a fold-down desk, to allow for more space when she was practicing the drums.   Next, she chose her wall color, a very bright teal blue which would inspire her when she was working. 

     I told Emily that I typically get inspired by fabric, so we pulled out all of my fabric swatches that I had on hand and started to sort them into groups.  Again, Emily had impressive instincts.  After I explained a little about color theory and pattern, she quickly put coordinating fabrics in the correct pile.  Eventually, we whittled down her selection to her top choice—a black and white zebra print for the upholstered craft room chair which would pop and go perfectly with her wall color. 

     The last thing that I wanted Emily to pick out online before we headed into town for a corporate lunch and some research was a marquis piece of art, or focal point for the room.   I directed her to my newfound and favorite art website and quickly, she found something that she loved—a coordinating abstract piece of art that felt artistic, inspirational, and tied all of the room colors together.  Way to go, Emily!   

     We headed into town, grabbed a quick lunch, and started to make our rounds for final selection of additional materials and furniture to finish the room.    Four stops later:  we decided on a black/white wallpaper backsplash between the desk and the upper cabinets since it would be more cost effective than tile.  We decided on simple, white flat-front cabinets with unique hardware to give the room a more contemporary and modern feel.  A black countertop, quickly chosen by Emily (again, her instincts were awesome) would hide any dirt, and provide a perfect complement to the white cabinetry.  We decided on a counter height stool covered in her beloved zebra fabric.   A coordinating black frieze rug, lime-green accessories, and flowers would complete the room. 

     Every store that Emily and I visited, she didn’t hesitate on what would work best for her simulated design—I was impressed to say the least.

     Eventually, we ended job shadow day and I dropped Emily off at her home, and we said our goodbyes.  Immediately, I popped on the phone to catch up with some missed calls from my corporate job. 

     “How was it?” my co-worker asked.  “Did you teach her anything?”

     “Gosh, I hope so,” I replied then paused.  “Truth is, I think I learned more from her.  That Emily has incredible instincts.”

     “Wow!  That’s awesome.”

     “I know.  I think she probably made more of an impact on me than me on her.”  

Emily and Me

     Thank you, Emily.  It was truly a treasure being your mentor for the day. 

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     When people think of the 2009 Disney movie Up, they might think of hundreds of balloons lifting a quaint, little house to travel to an exotic, far away land.  However, when I watch the movie, I think of it as more than a ‘G’ rated children’s movie.  To me, the most important part of the movie is the life-long love story between characters Carl and Ellie that grows from childhood friendship and ends seventy years later with Ellie passing away.

     My friends always joke with me because I say that I don’t want love unless it’s what Carl and Ellie have in Up. I explain to them how I want a lifelong partner who I can always count on, share my dreams with, and also be my best friend, and that is exactly the kind of love that is portrayed between Carl and Ellie’s relationship in Up.  What my friends don’t know is that I aspire to be like Carl and Ellie because they remind me of a love which I have witnessed.  A love that I hold dear.  It is that kind of love–full of one simple dream and a life-long commitment to each other–that really inspires me.

     Early in the movie, a montage of Carl and Ellie’s life-long journey of friendship, falling in love, partnership, and marriage is shown.  And, as the montage reveals, year after year, their dream of travelling to Paradise Falls in South America somehow never happens.  Life always gets in the way.  After Ellie dies, Carl is a lost soul without his beloved Ellie by his side.  Carl eventually makes the decision to take a wild journey with an unexpected and annoying boy scout, Kevin.  Later, we find out that Ellie, although she always wanted to travel with Carl to a far away land, was fulfilled simply by Carl’s love for her and their life they created together.  Ellie didn’t need exotic travels. All she needed was Carl’s love, and she treasured his love every day with no regrets.

     What inspires me even more about the love story in the movie is the similarity of Carl and Ellie’s relationship to that of my grandparents’.  Much like Carl and Ellie, my grandparents, Ron and Carol, were childhood sweethearts.  My grandfather’s sole purpose in life was to make my grandmother’s dreams come true and simply to make her happy.  That was Carl’s dream, too.  It was my grandfather’s choice to hand off his life into my grandmother’s hands, and she kept his heart right with hers until the day she died, just like Ellie in Up.  But as with Carl, my grandpa had a hard time letting his “Ellie” go.  Both Carl and my grandfather were left as half a person when their wives died and both men didn’t know what to do without their life partners.  Carl decided to take a journey to a far off land to find his way, and my grandfather found new hobbies and expanded new friendships to find his.  Both men went through an emotional adventure in order to heal and become happy.  Although both men cherish the memory of their wives, their one true loves, both pushed forth to continue to live their lives without regrets. And both men did this out of love.

     Up inspires me mostly because it is a cartoon version of what I’ve witnessed in my own family.  This movie shows me that sometimes Hollywood films are more than just fiction.  And, with a little touch of Disney magic, love stories and dreams really do come true.  And that is what makes life worth living.

Note from Ronda:

If you like the essay Carrie wrote, please click on this link and rank it.  This is for a scholarship to B.G.S.U. (my alma mater that I hold near and dear to my heart).  Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

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     So, tonight  I sit here on my screened-in porch on Lake Keowee, South Carolina, listening to the dimming hums of boat engines and chirping crickets gearing up for the evening, competing with some light music playing on my stereo, and once again I catch myself getting all schmaltzy.  My feet propped, a light breeze blowing through the trees, zero humidity, it feels as if the first hint of southern fall has arrived, and I’m taking it all in.  Perfect weather easily reminds me of the good things in life, not the bad.  Forget the corporate job search, forget the stack of bills sitting on my desk, forget the declining bank account.  Right now, I’m thinking of nothing except what a perfect day it was, how lucky I am to live on a lake, and what a great summer it has been.   And, bingo, the tears come. 

     I reflect on each summer weekend that I entertained out-of-town visitors and think about how great it was spending time with friends and family from near and far.  I think about all of the laughing, reminiscing, and enjoyment I got from being with those I love most.  I think about the boat rides, delicious meals, game nights, night swims, and even the hangovers.   But, even those made it all worth it.  Good times. 

     As I head down memory lane 2010, I make a sharp turn down summer memory lane 2009 which leads me to many summer lake memories, both here on Lake Keowee and my beloved childhood summers spent on Indian Lake, Ohio.  As I reminisce about all of the great summer, lake memories, I can’t help but get a little choked up.  Once a lake-lover, always a lake lover and that’s one of the major reasons why I built my house on the lake.  Because I wanted to build a place where loved ones could sit back, relax, and help create memories that last a lifetime.    

     Even if the southern summers last longer than those that I’ve spent up north, to me Labor Day still labels itself as the end of summer milestone.  And, without question, almost all of my Labor Day weekends have been spent on either Indian Lake or Lake Keowee.   I am one lucky girl. 

     This Labor Day weekend, however, I cannot help but feel a little melancholy as I unfortunately have no visitors to entertain for the long three day weekend.  Sure, I’ve enjoyed the solitude and flexibility of doing what I want when I wanted all weekend, but I think this is the first Labor Day weekend that I have spent alone in my life.  When I try to remember all of the fun Labor Day weekends I’ve spent on Lake Keowee since I’ve moved to the south, coupled with the many spent on Indian Lake, Ohio, not one of them was spent alone but with friends and family.   That’s when I get even more sentimental about being alone on the holiday.

     I sit here and look at the patio table with four empty chairs remembering a cut-throat Euchure game between my two older sisters and father during last Labor Day’s impromptu Father/Daughter weekend.  They had all visited me earlier in the summer with their families, but my dad suggested, and we all agreed, that it would be nice just to have the immediate family get together for the long weekend:  Dad and his three girls.  So, they all re-arranged their schedules, and just like that, they traveled from Ohio and Florida to have some good ole family time.  My mom, who passed away a little over two years ago, was sorely missed of course, but her spirit was with us as we teased each other incessantly, played games, drank cocktails, boated, swam, and enjoyed each other’s company.  But, I’m confident that she was looking down on us and was comforted seeing Dad with her girls. 

     When my mom was alive and years after we sold our summer cottage on Indian Lake, Ohio, she used to always get sentimental during summer holiday weekends, too.  She’d say, “It’s just not like it used to be back when we owned the cottage.  The extended family never gets together anymore.  We don’t have the crowds of 25 people to feed.   Times have just changed.  It makes me sad.”

     Mom was right. Times have changed.  Our immediate family might get together once a year, but long gone are the days when we have large family reunions.  That makes me sad, too.  Oh I’m sure there are some families that still love to have larger get-togethers.   I just don’t know of any but one, and that family is Greek.   But, that’s what Greek’s do.  They hang out in pods.  It’s in their blood.  Rent the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding, if you haven’t, and you’ll understand what I’m talking about.  I tease my Greek friends about me converting to Greek so that I can be part of their large family unit, but frankly, I couldn’t blend into their family.  My blonde hair and light blue eyes would make me stick out like a sore thumb compared to their dark haired, dark eyed crowd. 

     Maybe my large family gatherings are long gone, but as I sit here alone in this unique situation of a company-less holiday weekend, I make a pledge that I’m going to keep the lights on for any family member or friend who does want to make weekend visits on the lake an annual event.  I promise that they’ll be plenty of food and drink, as well as, laughs, snorts, deep-talk, and sometimes tears that can only be shared by people you truly love and trust.   This is what my mom would’ve wanted me to do, and I still want to make her proud.  I’ll always remember her advice:     

• Tell your friends and family you love them.
• Enjoy the time when you are together—life often gets in the way and it’s easy to make other things a higher priority.

     Mom was right as most moms always are.  Cherish those you love and make a memory, people.  Memories are the one thing that can be recycled over and over.  Get busy and start making some. 

     The phone rings, and it’s my oldest and dearest friend Teresa asking if I would mind an impromptu visitor for tomorrow.   “I’d love it!” I tell her. 

     I’ll keep the lights on for you, my friend.

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     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.

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    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)

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     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

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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!

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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!

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