The Happiness Quotient

Y'all Are the Best!
Happy Monday y'all!  First of all, thanks mucho for the support on the liar-liar-pants-on-fire realtor post. Your comments were a soothing salve to my battered soul. I feel like a million bucks today.

Leigh Anne Butler

This Week's Intentions
I'm going into this week with a set of intentions. These intentions are not monumental but accomplishing them will contribute to my happiness quotient.

Do something for someone else.

• Send flowers to my 83 YO ex-in-laws who are going through medical problems.

Do something unexpected for my husband.

• Put a I-love-you-note in his lunch. 

Do something for business.

• Devote one hour each day to preparing a presentation.

Do something for me.

• Schedule my mammogram. 

Leigh Anne Butler

What intentions can you set for the week that will contribute to your Happiness Quotient?



Let's make it a week of fulfilled intentions!
Linda

Que Sera Sera

Remember this house that I was supposed to stage after it was painted?

Taupy-Pink-Brown Living Room

Blue Dining Room and Red Office

The new-to-me realtor emailed me right before I was supposed to stage saying,"hold the phone...we have an offer.  I'll let you know".  I sent my congrats!  SOLD is always the desired result! A week passed. No word from the realtor. I checked MLS and the house  was still active. Hmmm..... I contacted the realtor.  She told me "the offer is still good".   A few days later, I saw on MLS that the house had been staged.

Yes, I am grousing....just because I hate that she played The Big Fib card.  I've been in biz 10 years and I've never had anybody pull this crap-o-la.  When I sent her an invoice for my prep work she pulled the-big-nasty and retorted that she was not going to pay me, "because you didn't do anything".  

Que sera sera. (Whatever will be, will be.) 

My business is typically referral driven.  No contracts required. (My Daddy always said, 'my handshake is my word').  Luckily, I've always had the pleasure to work with  nice, very honest sellers and agents.  We are a team: owner, agent and stager.  The goal is to get the house sold. I don't intend to change because I had an unfortunate, disingenuous agent.  I'll just keep plugging along.  I will do what I do best.   

Thanks loves, for letting me vent....just kinda needed to!

 Linda

Wishing I Could Do This

Hey guys, I'm reviewing my pictures from a consultation I had yesterday.  Have to share this very cool chest I saw in this newlywed couple's office.  I wish I was this creative!

I assume the wife is responsible for this cutie!  She had craft supplies beautifully organized and stored in a closet.

I love the 3-D flowers.  I've never seen those before.  OK crafters, what are they made of?



....Back to writing my report for them.  Just had to share this!

Later,

Linda

Gaga About Flipping Out!

I am crazy excited about Flipping Out returning tonight on BRAVO.  I am a devotee of Jeff Lewis.  With all his quirks, abuse, anxieties and talent he inspires and entertains me.  When Jeff is in a house and looking around I love to watch his eyes and the wheels of genius turning.  I do the same thing (cancel the 'genius') when I consult on a house. I am 'seeing' the potential of the house and how it can be achieved.

Bravo

I prefer to view a house when no one is home. I know this is not what you see on staging shows.  On those shows, the stager goes it and chats up putting 'this here', 'that there' and moving out 'all the other'.  I like to get the feel of the house.  Houses, like people, have energy.  I can tell if folks are fighting, kids are placated with toys instead of time, or if love and harmony prevail. It's harder to detect when someone is yammering it up about their house and telling me what they know they need to do.


Anywho, I really like Jeff's clean, minimalism in his decor selections and interior renovations.

Jeff Lewis Designs

Jeff Lewis Designs

Jeff Lewis

Truth be told, my only objection to Jeff's style is the crappy draperies he uses.  Jeff seems to have a fondness for tunnel-top and tab-top drapes.  I agree with mixing up price points but window treatments is not the place to go low budget (in the opinion of moi).


I hope you get a chance to join the gang: Jeff,  Zoila, Jenni, Gage and newbie, Andrew, for design and drama on the new season of Flipping Out.

Do you watch Flipping Out?  What is your take on Jeff's style?

Jeff Lewis

Linda

Labor Day Sales!

I love holiday sales! Check out what I just bought on HauteLook.

HauteLook

It is a Laura Ashley Amberly quilt set.  The retail is $240.  It is on sale today for $90.  The toile-like print won me over with its simplicity and beauty.  The darker side is practical for Izzie rooting about in our bed to snuggle.

Izzie

Although I have a Queen sized bed, I always order one size up.  One of my silly pet peeves is skimpy bed treatments.  Ordering a larger size allows complete coverage and easier bed making.

Have you found any great bargains this weekend? 

Happy Labor Day all!

Linda

A Flip-Flop Farewell

Labor Day weekend....the last official weekend of summer.

I had a collection of pictures to show you of  many of the things I will miss come the end of summer: my all time love--the beach (the only place I've found that makes all-things-right-in-the-world), vine ripe tomato sandwiches on white bread with real mayo (it's a Southern thang) , driving with the sunroof open and music ("Call Me, Maybe" to the Beatles) blaring, silly fruity cocktails--this year's fav: pink lemonade and Belvedere, the smell of coconut suntan lotion, crazy pastel toe nail polish (I sported "Lotus" this summer), the smell of charcoal waiting for burgers or shrimp, colorful wide brimmed sun hats, sitting on the porch, and so much, much more.


But then I decided to edit.


The one thing I most will miss the MOST about summer is wearing flip flops.

Pinterest

I am a bare-foot-flip-flop-lovin'-mama.  So the single thing I will hate the most at the end of summer is giving up my flip flops.

How about you, my lovelies?  What will you miss the most about summer 2012?

Happy Labor Day Weekend, all!


Linda

New Hardwood Floors!

House Beautiful

We are getting new hardwood floors!  I am crazy-over-the-moon-excited; the Cowboy--not so much. He doesn't like his world rocked.  The installation means our lives will be topsy turvy for a while.  Three rooms of furniture (and 2 overflowing closets) must be totally evacuated.  The new floors are scheduled to be installed in a couple of weeks.


The foyer and family room have 2 1/2" inch oak.  The dated wood floors have the original honey-orange stain from 1985.  The oak will be striped and stained to match the new floors in the living room and master. 

Chestnut Stain?
My plan is to go with the same oak planks and use a medium chestnut stain.  Our kitchen has dark Chestnut cabinets.  I would love the dark chestnut for the hardwoods.  However, we have pets, rowdy friends, rowdy friends with dogs, and a grandchild.  Also, our house has many windows and skylights which bleach stain.

Do I go for beauty or function.  What do you think?  The living room and family room adjoin the kitchen.  This is an example of the color of the kitchen cabinets.

Mannington Dark Chestnut

 This is an example of the medium Chestnut stain.

Yeah, I know the darker looks prettier......

Later,

Linda