Campus Cool

For many households, this upcoming weekend is a BUSY one! College students are heading back to campus.

Keeping students organized in the space that today's dorm provides can be a real challenge.

Today's student housing is more like a super-sized apartment building.

Back in the day, this was my residence...at a very small school. The "Halls" were originally built either as small mansions (in their day) or multi-unit buildings that were later acquired by the school and outfitted for student housing.

Here's another residence hall from the college I attended.

How accommodations have changed!

While browsing the latest PBTeen and Ikea catalogs, I spotted some really fun AND practical items for back-to-school.

I totally need this fuzzy ball chair BTW!!

If you're sending one off to campus or the classroom, I hope you've had some fun with the process.

There are no students in my household; however, I did find that some of these products will be very helpful in working with my sellers and staging clients to prepare their homes for the upcoming Fall housing market. Even if the potential buyer does not have children, it's really best to show a home that doesn't have any rooms that can be a haz-mat zone (A.K.A. a tween's or teen's room!).

Have a great weekend!

(all decor images are from PBTeen)

It isn't EZ being GREEN!

"It's a cruel Summer..."

I know Bananarama wasn't singing about plants when they did that song back in the day, but it's been a Summer of tough love for landscaping.

Here in the NoVA area, we had a cool, soggy Spring that would NOT end.

Then...there came the 2 weeks of the HHH (Hazy HoTTTT Humid stuff). That's really MY kind of weather, personally. Yes, I know I am a party of ONE!

And, the past couple of days have propelled us into mid October weather.

All of that has not been kind to our plants. If your impatiens are limp and leggy, it's time to replace them. Get rid of the spent plants. Even if you're not planning on putting your home on the market, it's time for some landscape maintenance. Your neighbors will appreciate your efforts as you cut back those spent blooms and brown bushes.

I had to trash some very dead arborvitaes just last eve. "Tree of Life"?? - Not on my porch...anyway!

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There are still many evenings left to enjoy whatever your outdoor space is. Don't let dead plants spoil the mood.

Happy planting.

Need help sprucing up your space? Let's chat about it!

Welcome HOME!

What does YOUR home say when you walk through the door?

Is it like "Oh, you're back...whatevvs?

OR is it more like "WELCOME HOME GORGEOUS! Please come on in...how was your day?

Whether your entrance is your apartment hallway, or side door, or mud room or grand "for-yay" -- it should be welcoming to YOU!

Don't enter your oasis stepping over shoes, or last week's stack of mail or the bag of recycling you meant to take out this AM.

Walk through YOUR portal into an inviting organized space. However tiny or grand, let it WELCOME you.

I'll keep it just 'tween us...I won't tell anyone you put down your Diet Coke to go and do some front door tidying up...

Need some help with YOUR space? Preparing to sell your home? Let's chat about it!

Bed Time!

Ever notice that the bedding in hotels is almost always a nice, crisp white?

It's a blank canvas that has mass appeal.

A whole new look can be derived JUST from adding different accent pillows and a throw. AND white can be washed or even bleached. It's timeless.

And...this one at Overstock.com looks like a good deal!~ Starting at $99!

If you're thinking of updating your bedding or are preparing a home for sale...go for that "Ritz Carlton" effect...go with WHITE!

Photos: Apartment Therapy, DecorPad, Hekco & Overstock.com.

Your OWN Beach!

What are YOUR plans for the 4th of July?

Will you be heading out to see some fireworks? How 'bout a parade?

...OR...maybe you're one of the lucky folks who will be heading to the beach for the long holiday weekend!!!

If you have to be land locked this holiday ~ why not create your OWN beach. A little serenity in a bowl can be a good thing!

Here's a step-by-step how to do it.

Meanwhile, hope you have a fabulous 4th!!

Hello Gorgeous!

What WAS that ONE thing?

...that certain something that called your name, that spoke to you.

What made you choose your current home?

Were you WOW'd by the view, the master bedroom?

Was it the chef's kitchen?

When I walked into THIS, I knew it was THE ONE!

I just had to pet that beautiful wood. I could hear the chatter and laughter at our house warming party. Yes, indeed, I was in LOVE.

...and, after 5 years, I am STILL in love with this kitchen. And yes, I still pet the wood!

Have a great weekend!

Let's Get This Party Started!

The 4th of July is a week and half away…

HOW did that happen. Are you ready? Made any plans yet?

This past weekend, some friends, with their little boys in tow, came by for a casual pre-4th dinner. It was a Chamber of Commerce perfect weather day, so I decided to take that party outside.

The table setting included star shaped wicker placemats purchased several years ago from Pottery Barn. They also work well for Memorial Day and both Christmas and New Years. The table cover is also from PB.

I set up a small table for the boys. Theirs included 2 vinyl placemats that I spray painted with chalk board paint. I thought this would keep them occupied for a least a few minutes. And, they took them home along with sticks of colored chalk.

Several of these tissue paper pom poms were placed around the deck.

Menu included Fresh Guacamole, Paula Deen’s Turkey Sliders, Tricia Yearwood’s Baked Bean Casserole, Pasta Salad, Fruit (I used a star shaped cookie cutter to cut the shapes of the watermelon), Star Shaped Rice Krispy treats (used the same cookie cutter here along with blue and red colored sugar), and KariAnne’s (from Thistlewood Farm) 4th of July dessert ~ (you've GOT to check out her blog!!).

I borrowed Thistlewood's gorgeous dessert photo here...my version was half gone before I could grab the camera!

What are YOUR plans for the upcoming Summer holiday?