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My Life~My Styles

~ Every life has a story, make yours Beautiful!

My Life~My Styles

Monthly Archives: November 2011

Home Staging Tip: Paying Attention to the Details

30 Wednesday Nov 2011

Posted by mylifemystyles in Home Staging Tips

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Home Staging Tips

The listing says this home has a long list of recent home improvements;

they apparently fixed the ceiling but forgot to cover up the improvements. More than likely they were covering up cracks but with an older home it is hard to match paint.  As a stager I would most definitely point this out to them as something that needs to be addressed. One quick coat (hopefully) over the entire ceiling should do the trick.

Even if you had to hire a professional, fixing the ceiling the right way would be much less costly than a price reduction or lower offer on your property. Always remember the details when preparing your home for sale or find someone who will pay attention to those details for you, like a professional Home Stager. Or, as my husband said, “I guess there is the hope that they never look up!”

 

Thanksgiving Recovery

29 Tuesday Nov 2011

Posted by mylifemystyles in Christmas

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Christmas, Holiday

Whew!!  Was anyone else just a little on the slow side when it came to getting back to reality today? I was!

Part of my recovery process today (after working this morning) was spending the afternoon putting up my small tree in the living room. It is a 7′ slim tree and by slim, I mean skinny! I really like it though. The living room is small and it seems to fit right in. The family tree goes in the basement and this year I think I am going to go with a real tree. So, all the other decorations will go up first. I don’t want to buy it to early and I don’t like to make a huge mess so I decorate room by room after work or when I can squeeze in some free time until everything is up, hopefully by Thursday.

Tree Right Out Of The Box~

My Slim Tree After~

I got to spend part of the Thanksgiving weekend on our annual girls getaway shopping excursion. This year we drove a couple of hours and spent the night. We had tons of fun, ate until we hurt and walked until we just couldn’t walk anymore. But I really got a good start on my shopping!

I found some cute monogram ornaments at Pottery Barn that I am going to use on my table for Christmas dinner. I usually plan my tablescape early in December so if I need to purchase anything I can. And since I didn’t buy anything for Thanksgiving I feel like I can splurge a little for Christmas. Love them! Can’t wait to put it all together. Not sure if they’ll be tied on their table gift or used as a place card/napkin ring, time will tell. That’s what I’ve been up to, now back to work.

Thanksgiving Vignette

23 Wednesday Nov 2011

Posted by mylifemystyles in decorating, my home, Thanksgiving Vignette, Uncategorized

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Decorating, fall, Thanksgiving

In an effort to make things simple this Thanksgiving, I have vowed not to buy anything new for my table or any other decorations. And since tomorrow is Thanksgiving, I think I’m safe. I have managed to use things that I have on hand and it has been a ton of fun.

I always try to set the table as beautiful as the budget allows. I was doing it long before the word tablescape became the newest catch phrase. And I don’t like to have tons of fall decorations everywhere. I like to focus on a couple of areas and make nice presentations.

This year I chose my smaller kitchen side counter, the table of course and my family room. I don’t have the table set as of this post I will be doing that this afternoon as well as tidying up the house and prepping the food.

Because my kitchen is so small I need every inch of space to serve food. The answer was to set up a Thanksgiving vignette on the side counter while leaving a little room for the deserts. I wish I would have lit the candles before I took the pictures but you get the point.

Here’s to all your last-minute prepping!

Monday Motivation

21 Monday Nov 2011

Posted by mylifemystyles in Monday Motivation, Quotes

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Motivation, Quotes

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.

So, throw off the bowlines.

Sail away from the safe harbor.

Catch the trade winds in your sails.

Explore..Dream..Discover..”

~Mark Twain

 

 Happy New Week!

Thanks for stopping by.

Christmas Tree Shaping

17 Thursday Nov 2011

Posted by mylifemystyles in Christmas Trees, Visual Merchandising

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Christmas tree, Visual Merchandising

Just recently, I fluffed (my term) and shaped 50 Christmas Trees for a national home improvement store. I am kind of pro at shaping trees so I thought I’d share some of my secrets because if you don’t have a nice fat fluffy tree before you decorate well…… you won’t have a nice fat fluffy tree when your done!  And yes, you can even make a skinny tree look fat and happy if you try.

1) Assemble it fully by putting each section in the stand. (That’s a no brainer right?)Then loosen the screw at the bottom of the tree (the one holding it in the stand.) If you can turn your tree around as you go it is much easier, if your tree will not turn then leave yourself enough room to walk around it. Yes, you have to fluff the back if you don’t it will not be full.

2) I always start at the bottom. I don’t know if this is the correct way but it is the way I like to do it.  It is especially easy if the tree doesn’t fully drop when you take it out of the box and you can drop each branch, fluff and turn as you go, bottom up.

3) Touch each stem of each branch. This is a must and the most important step. If you skip it you’ll notice it. Yes, it takes time but it will pay off in the end.

4) When you get to the top, take it off to fluff unless you can spin it. Another must. People notice the top. I can’t tell you how many bad tops I see.

5) At this point step back and look it over. There always seems to be an empty spot just like with the real ones. You can fix this usually by taking that section and giving it a half turn in either direction to fill in the gap.

6) Take your time. To create a full, beautiful tree it will take time. The trees that you see in stores that look sort of “Charlie Brownish”, look that way because someone was in a hurry or didn’t really care what the tree looked like. And really, how can you not care about a Christmas Tree?

These are the some of the trees I shaped, it was really hard to get a good shot. These trees were already lit and put up on the decking, really glad I didn’t have to do that. I concentrated on making sure that for the most part you could not see through any tree. What do you think? Did I succeed?

Listening to Christmas music in October was not really all that fun but I will have it back on next week the day after Thanksgiving.

Happy Christmas tree decorating!

Five Minute Friday: Unexpected

11 Friday Nov 2011

Posted by mylifemystyles in Five Minute Friday, Quotes

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Five Minute Friday, Motivation, Online Writing, Quotes

Today, I am doing something that scares me and that’s why I am doing it.

For five short or long minutes; however you may look at it, I am going to write on the topic of choice by Lisa-Jo…..aka the The Gypsy Mama.

On her blog she describes it as stop, drop, and write. She encourages others to join in and link up so we all can share our stories. No editing, no over thinking, no back tracking, just writing from the heart on the topic of the day and today that topic is; Unexpected. I’m already having trouble not wanting to edit what I have written but here I….

Go

8:45

I have to tell you that I am not always a big lover of all things unexpected. I am a planner. I like to make my plans for the day and execute them. And you can guess how often they actually come to fruition exactly the way I planned. Depending on the particular unexpected, I usually try really hard to deal and get on, this week I have had some things that are requiring superwoman force to deal with and get on so it is fitting that this is the word for today.

Having said that a quote came to mind and hopefully I get it right, it goes something like, “We either make ourselves miserable or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same.”      ~Carlos Castaneda (I ended up looking it up)

A good reminder to me that when dealing with the unexpected to make my choice wisely.

Stop 8:50

Wow, that wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be!

If you want to see posts from others please join up at

The Gypsy Mama.

DIY Simple Wall Treatment

08 Tuesday Nov 2011

Posted by mylifemystyles in Bedroom, decorating, Projects

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Bedroom, Decorating, projects

A very simple DIY wall treatment to add texture and color to otherwise plain walls.

I just purchased some very inexpensive matchstick roll up shades at my local Lowe’s. ($15.95) They came in two colors, I used the darker color.

Unrolled it and nailed it to the wall using the hangers that were attached and cut off the strings. It rolled down to about the middle of the bed…perfect length. I even left the top just as it was because I liked the look it gave.

And this is how it looks in my space;

How easy was that?

The two green polka dot frames attached to the shade were also something I put together. Just stretching coordinating fabric over white canvas frames and stapling on the back.

I previously posted about this in my 31 Days of Decorating with $31 Series that the Nester  hosted and today I am linking up over at the Tip Junkie and Thrifty Decor Chic Thanks for stopping by!

 
 all crafts Homemade Projects ~ Add Yours {11/8}

Monday Motivation

07 Monday Nov 2011

Posted by mylifemystyles in Monday Motivation, Quotes

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Motivation, Quotes

I get a daily quote delivered to my inbox. Some days that quote is exactly what I need that day. Over the next couple of days I am putting together a vacant home staging proposal and woke up really doubting everything about what I’m doing. Then I went to my inbox and read my daily quote. Seems fitting for today for sure!

 So if you woke up doubting yourself today, this is for you too!

“And will you succeed? Yes! You will indeed! (98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)”

~Dr. Seuss

Are you a Dr. Seuss fan? I’d love to hear from you.

Happy New Week Everyone!

Vacant Home Staging on a Budget!

05 Saturday Nov 2011

Posted by mylifemystyles in Home Staging Tips, Vacant Home Staging

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Home Staging Tips, Vacant Home Staging

I want to share a very funny attempt at what I guess some would call home staging. This is home staging on a budget for sure that an agent in Houston, Texas came up with and used in their marketing.  Well, let’s just say that you almost have to see it to believe it. I found these photos on the Hooked on Houses blog. I hope she doesn’t mind me sharing but as a Home Stager, I just couldn’t resist.

vases-entry

Aren’t those flowers just the touch the entry needed?

vases-dining rm

There they are again on the window sill…they really add to the space, don’t you think?

vases-kitchen

….and in the kitchen, just adds that layer of nature and beauty.

vases-bedroom

Placed closer now, so visually appealing!

vases-backyard

It’s so much cheaper than patio furniture, don’t you think?

These pictures just made me smile.

 

Let Your Dreams Take Flight

02 Wednesday Nov 2011

Posted by mylifemystyles in Gifts, Shopping

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Gifts, Shopping

I wanted to share a link today of a place that is near and dear to my heart.

I am sharing because Bagolitas has some really cute handbags, home decor, gifts and accessories.

I am sharing because Christmas is coming!

Most importantly, I am sharing because Janice is a friend of mine.

Please go to the Bagolitas website and learn a little bit about Janice, her newest journey, creations and her entrepreneurial spirit.

 Here’s a just a small sampling of her products;

/images/catalog/products/MCR005_1319774539_295x295.jpg

~Mini Clutch

/images/catalog/products/MCR007_1319774706_295x295.jpg

~Mini Clutch

/images/catalog/products/MTR002_1318927420_295x295.jpg

~Mini Tote

/images/catalog/products/FA3-002_1318930306_295x295.jpg

~Home Decor Frame “Artful”

/images/catalog/products/FA4-006_1318932046_295x295.jpg

~Home Decor Frame “Take Flight”

/images/catalog/products/SCB003_1319773839_295x295.jpg

~Small Clipboard ( I have something similar she made and LOVE IT)

/images/catalog/products/TVC002_1318932966_295x295.jpg

~Trivot

/images/catalog/products/APK001_1318932314_295x295.jpg

~Childrens Apron

Once she sells out of the current stock , she will have new items on the website so visit often.

Have you ever met someone that you had an instant liking and connection to? Not that we are best, call each other every day girfriends but there is just something about Janice that has touched me. Her creative spirit, her kindness, her determination. She has been through so much and is truly one of a kind.

 She didn’t ask me to put Bagolitas on my blog and doesn’t even know I am doing it. That’s the fun part!

If your looking for the unique piece for yourself or someone else, just go visit Janice at the Bagolitas site.

Bagolitas Billboard Image

Thanks for stopping by!

Every life has a story and each one is unique. Welcome to my home staging, merchandising, always looking for something to make beautiful life. You'll also find reflections on my family, my home and of course my pets!

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houzz- kitchen design, bathroom design, landscaping and more

Inspiration for Decorating

"Create your own visual style...let it be unique for yourself and yet identifiable to others." ~ Orson Wells

"Good Design is a lot like clear thinking made visual."~Edward Tufte

"Design is a plan for arranging elements in such a way as best to accomplish a particular purpose." ~ Charles Eams

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"Home is a place you grow up wanting to leave, and grow old wanting to get back to." ~John Ed Pearce

"Home is where one starts from." ~T.S. Elliot

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