Guest Bedroom Makeover - Sneak Peek

Now, there is still some serious finish work to do, but I have been talking about this Guest Bedroom Redesign alot and so...

I wanted to share some updates on how the work was progressing and what was still on the agenda to finish.

But first a before picture. While a nice room, it did not have any real style. I had thrown it together when my sister had to move in with us for a short period of time. I wanted to give her a nice room with blackout curtains (she like to sleep in the real dark!) and this is what I threw together (in about three days). This is also cleaned up - it usually has clothes on the bed and all kinds of junk piled inside. However it is now my goal to not let that happen anymore.




So here is the IN PROGRESS after. (Caps only to let you know it's not done). I painted the walls Afternoon Tan and the ceiling is a lovely light Sky Blue. You've seen the bedding and the light in other posts. The accent color is a bold lime green. I still need to do several things. Cover the white cord, fix the curtain, hang some art, find a way to work in the small TV and maybe a small rug (I also need to get up the blue carpet and soon!)

I am really thrilled with how this looks and the feedback from those who have seen it in person has been very positive. The whole upper level of our home looks more polished.

So. I'd love to hear your feedback too.

And more pictures to come - once it's finished, of course!

We have a Winner!

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:8

Timestamp: 2009-04-27 10:34:34 UTC

And the Winner is.....

ms-texas said...
I love CVS! Congrats on your new Home Staging/Decorating newsletter and marketing campaign -thanks for the giveaway!

Congrats to Ms. Texas!

Yard Sale Saturday Finds

I think for the spring/summer seasons we will start highlighting the great things found at local yard sales. Some items will be for decorating/staging and some just for me.

Today I went to a huge sale in Lawrenceville - over 15 homes on two streets. Lots of good items, but these two stood out for me.

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This is a beautiful shallow bowl that is decorative only. It can be hung up or set on a table. It's from Spain and unmarked as it was done by a local artisan. The colors are quite vibrant and I can see it really perking up a dark space.

This is a small framed print. So why do I like it? It can be used so many ways to coordinate a kitchen and is snall enough to hang under cabinets if needed. Great deal for just $1.00.

So did you go yard sailing today? Any good finds? Let me know.

A REMINDER - please check below and enter my great $25 CVS giveaway plus. It's fast and easy.

Giveaway Time - $25 CVS plus more

Hi Everybody!

I am very excited to have a new giveaway to celebrate my new Home Staging/Decorating newsletter and marketing campaign. Since I would love to have all of my followers also read my newsletter (no more than once a month!) I am going to host a giveaway for the following wonderful things:

An adorable brown and pink coffee mug - oversized for lattes and such. A great set of floating candles in various lovely colors, and a pad from the folks at Knock Knock - the 11 Hours a Day pad.

and the amazing part (for those of us who love the frugal opportunities)...

a $25.00 CVS gift card.

So how do you enter for these lovely items? Three way my friends.

1) Easiest - Leave a Comment (something other than "Enter me")

2) Harder - Become a follower (2 entries) If you are already a follower, just tell me in a separate comment (please). You can also twitter this or blog about this for 2 additional entries each.

3) Hardest, but most rewarding - Sign up for my Home Staging/Decorating newsletter (upper right corner) and leave a separate comment to let me know. That gets you three (3) bonus entries - very worthwhile.

That's TEN entry opportunities folks - so good luck.

Now for the legal stuff....

This giveaway is open to all entries in the US and Canada, (sorry non-US and Canada folks - shipping is a bear) and I will need a valid E-MAIL to get in touch with the winner.

If the winner does not acknowledge within 36 hours of notification, we will use that Random Number Generator to pick a new winner.

This giveaway CLOSES on Sunday, April 26 at 8:00 pm - no exceptions. as I would like to announce the winner Monday morning. (and I can do all the spreadsheet figuring during my favorite Sunday show The Amazing Race.)

Good Luck everyone and thank you for visiting. I so love this blogging community!

This will be Perfect

This light will look just perfect in the guest room. I cannot wait to show you the finished room!

I just don't understand

How is it that my son is almost 17 and I am still 31? It's just not possible is it?

Yet, that's it. I am 31 and apparently caught in some sort of Star Trek like time space continuum that cause me to not age while everyone around me does.

I know this because when we went to visit Elizabethtown College yesterday, I could picture myself attending this college and yet I was looking at it for my son.

Of course when I looked around at all the other parents attending I realized that I was at least 20 years younger than all of them. And my boobs sat higher too (oh wait, that's another post). I kept waiting for the professor to ask me why I wanted to attend his college, or the coach to ask me what sport I wanted to play when I came to her school. I mean my son always tells me I dress cool - that helps, right.

So there I was, in the chapel, at the opening gathering, and I couldn't wait to check out the grounds and the dorms and the classrooms and everything and all the college wanted me to do was attend the "Financial Aid" session. I wanted to go to the High Library (can I indulge there?), I wanted to see the Commons and hang out with all the cool seniors, but no - you wanted me to be deeply depressed about the cost of this school and how I would have to eat mac and cheese for the next five years in order to give my son the education he deserves.

or you say he deserves.

But back to me and the time warp that keeps me at 31. And how it's not possible to have an almost college age son.

But apparently the warp machine is not working anymore.

Except in my mind. And that enough for now.

Random Thoughts - April Edition

What's in my head? Well, here goes....

1) Passover is the hardest Jewish holiday for those of use who don't keep kosher all year around. You need to change over your kitchen, change your diet and not eat out at all. It is easier to me to fast than do this for eight days. However, I would never NOT do it and I am thankful to have these traditions as part of my life.

2) I ordered a new (refurbished) sewing machine and cannot wait for it to arrive. I am going to donate my current one to a community yard sale that my dear hubby's church has each year.

3) Marketing will be moving forward after the holiday is over - I will be visiting open houses as well and talking with the realtor's at each one. Don't forget to sign up for my newsletter (upper right corner) - Not begging, just asking.

4) I am on a organizing binge right now - cleaning out, throwing out, donating and building up the inventory for staging. This summer we need to reorganize the garage so I have more room for the staging/decorating materials.

5) It's almost giveaway time, I can just feel it in my bones. I think that I have some great things available to share with my readers.

6) How is it that no matter how careful with a knife, I always end up with a band-aid on one finger or another?

I hope everyone has a great day today - look for my guest room makeover soon!

We lost our voice....

Today is a sad day for me and many Philadelphia fans as the "Voice of the Phillies", Harry Kalas passed away today at age 73.

He was the Phillies for me. Since I was 11 years old he has been calling the games and I am s glad he was there when all the great milestones happened...Mike Schmidt's 500th HR, World Series wins in 80 and 08 and so many other things....

As much as I loved Whitey, Harry was the voice for me. And the Phillies have to play, not even two hours after his death. I just don't know how these announcers are holding it together. I know I couldn't.

A few quotes (courtesy of the Philadelphia Inquirer)

Rich Hoffman:

"I know I have seen people deal with grim public duty before, but the ashen face of Phillies president David Montgomery -- when he told a knot of reporters in a Nationals Park hallway that Kalas had died -- was indelible. And when Montgomery said, simply, "We lost our voice," the rest was superfluous."

Mitch Williams:

"It was an honor to have Harry call ANY play I ever made. The fact that he called me Mitchy-poo on air. . . I didn't want any one to know about that nickname, but somehow with Harry it was okay. He is probably one of two announcers that you didn't have to see to know who it was. He was the best!"

Well, now he is in heaven with Whitey - calling games with his best partner and friend.

Rest In Peace - You are missed already.

So what's happening to us bloggers?

I love to follow many different types of blogs and I thank SITs for introducing me to many of them. I also have found some wonderful blog via searches on other subjects, like recipes, cooking, sewing and others. I am grateful to find good blogs via the blogs I read - I look at their recommended list and check them out.

Then there are the great blogs I have found because of your comments to me. That's been the most fun, discovering great blogs because you felt compelled to let me know you found me. Wow, is this a cool thing or what?

But I have noticed lately that there are many blogs that have stopped updating. There is a noticeable lack of new posts on some blogs that have been quite popular as well.

For example, one blog that I followed last posted in January about a issue with a neighbor and there has been no new post since. So I am let to wonder - did the neighbor move? Did they just give up? I would love to know more.

Another blog I follow asked for prayers for a family, but there have been no updates on how the family is doing. I would love to know if they are okay...wouldn't you if you followed that blog?

I understand that many of us start this and life gets in the way. I know that there are times it's hard for me to post. But I am curious as to what has happened to many bloggers.

Are you tired of blogging? Do you find it difficult to post?

Next time, back to decorating....

On my way Home

I have been away for a few days visiting family in Columbus Ohio. But we are winging our way home, even as you read this.

So stay tuned for more adventures in decorating, staging, Passover prep and travelling goodies.

I sure have missed you all!

Guest Bedroom Makeover

This is the inspiration piece for my Guest Bedroom Makeover. I am very excited to gather everything together and get started on the transformation.

My darling hubby will be doing the painting - a lovely brown for the walls and a cornflower blue on the ceiling. I found some great fabric for an art piece and will be accenting with green.

I will be adding some new furniture and repositioning what is already in the room.

I will be posting picture when it's completed.

Hopefully, company will now sleep in this room instead of the couch downstairs!