A Guest Post...or why we seem to have a magic travel card.

A special guest post from my special man on why he loves his wife so much.


We have this magic when we travel.  I can't explain it nor do I want to try.  When we travel I leave all the arrangements to my internet savvy, travelocity diva. 


It all started in Atlantic City.  We arrived on a weeknight internet special and were treated like a Mr. Napoleone I don't know.  We were shown to a private elevator that took us to the penthouse floor we shared with two other guests.  Then there was Foxwoods in Connecticut.  We were ushered out of the registration line into the "special guest" line and taken to our suite with two baths, wet bar, sitting room, and floor to ceiling windows.  Again, there is a Mr. Napoleone, that I REALLY need to meet.


So tonight, after a wonderful four day getaway in San Antonio Tx, on another internet special, we arrive at the Dallas-Ft Worth airport for our connection to Philadelphia.  We had a little seating problem but decided to just wait a little and let it work itself out.  When we got back to our gate we were handed new boarding passes that had upgraded us to first class.  I have never flown first class.  This is what is great about first class.


1. They ask you if you want more vodka.
2. It's free.
3. You get a warm, moist, towel before dinner.
4. I had a four course dinner with an entrée of tortellini that was restaurant quality.
5. They ask you if you want more vodka.
6.  The vodka if free.
7.  The seats are enormous.
8.  They ask you if you want more free vodka.


Life is good.

I never get tired

of reading other blogs.  While I do sometimes feel that I need a bloggy break, I still try to get out there to read old and new favorites and find something interesting.


I have been reading a lot about SWSX, like this article in the New York Times, which discusses how so many of us on Twitter (devonshiredeb) are tired of hearing about SWSX and have some envy going on.  I haveno envy as I never expected to attend, but I must admit, it did sound like something geeky and techy and interesting.


Today, the sky has been abuzz with the death of Elizabeth Taylor.  I though she was an amazing actress and woman.  She lived her life as she wanted and in her later years, did so many amazing things for AIDS - creating AMFAR and raising so much money - in addition to the awareness she pushed out to the general public.  Elton John made some wonderful comments about her - I heard this morning on the Today show about how Elton felt she was at the "forefront" of the AIDS awareness work.


What I find most interesting about blogging is how many blogs that I read two years ago are no longer active.  I know that it's hard to come up with new posts - especially if your life situation changes.  If someone started a blog to work through or tide them over through a job change or new baby, maybe they have reached a point that it's no longer the same....


It's somewhat frustrating to find a great blogger that suddenly stops posting and there is no reason why.  Not that they owe me an explanation, but it's sort of that that high school friend that suddenly stops talking to you!


Well, I may take breaks, but I promise not to stop without warning.  I really do enjoy this - I hope you do too.

3 Tips on Staging your Home

While I am a professional Home Stager and feel that you need someone like me to get you home ready for sale, I do believe there are three things you can do yourself - before hiring me!


No one wants to believe that their beautifully decorated home is not appealing to everyone who walks through the door - but guess what? - not everyone has the same taste you do, nor do they want to see your family in their new home.


So without further ado....


1)  Go visit some high end boutique hotels.  Look at how the lobby is decorated, look at the art, the plants, the use of mirrors and tabletops.  Check out the bathroom and see how the counter is set up - notice the candles/towels or baskets.  Ask to see a room, and make note of how the bed is made - the pillows the window treatments.  That's what people want to see.


2) Take the personal away.  Now is the time to remember that this is the house you want to sell, it's no longer your home.  Take your personal ideas and use them on your new home hunt.  Remove the 20 pictures of your kids,pets or other family.  Paint most of the room a neutral color, pack away everything you can live without and then PACK MORE!


3) CLEAN, CLEAN and CLEAN!  And when you think the cleaning is done, clean again.  Buyers will open every closet, cabinet and look behind furniture.  If they find dirt, they wonder what else you have not taken care of in the home.  A dirty home is a signal to most buyers of bad things.....


So these are three easy things you can do to get started when you are considering selling your home.  Then you can call me, Devonshire Design, Ltd and I will come out and finish the job and help get your house sold quickly!

You may be right...I may be Crazy

But it just may be a lunatic your looking for....


Sometimes I think that is my theme song.  You know, that kind of crazy manic life we have.  It seems even more so since the old "peri" has kicked in.  


Have you all gotten that kind of thing going on?  Or am I all alone here out in the "peri" or is it full on menopause life?  And by the freaking way - what really is menopause and why is it call "menopause" - I am not pausing in my love of men....I just don't get it....


Any way, since Daylight Savings time has started I just feel off my game and a bit crazy.  Waking up at odd hours, migraines back and not being able to fall asleep at my normal times.


Maybe I am the female Charlie Sheen .....Winning!!!!!


But enough of my ranting.....tell me how you cope with this whole "peri" thing...please.


While I stay crazy!

Happy Spring!

Well, I am celebrating a happy spring.  Why, because I just got back from visiting my DS at college.  And my sister came with me on the trip and we all had a really nice relaxed visit.

Well, almost totally relaxed.  My sister was not thrilled with the drivers in the south, and that led to some colorful conversations - but overall it was fun.

My DS is loving Coastal Carolina, he really feels comfortable there, likes the students (for the most part) and his classes/profs.  He is getting involved in college life and I can see how he has matured in the last 8-9 months he has been away.  Even his grades are good!

As a parent, I don't know that you can ask for more.

And to top it off, he is coming home for spring break!  he misses some of his friends and wants to go visit them and since his break is early, he can take his car on a few road trips (local only - have you seen those gas prices?#$*(!@)

Then off on a short hubby/wife trip (thank you for a good tax return-another benefit of college!) to San Antonio, TX - so excited to see a new place and experience the local culture.  Any ideas on places to eat, visit or dance?  Please let me know!

See, this is why it's a.....

Happy Spring!

The water was cold!