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HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

"May this Valentine’s Day be filled with love, understanding, and contentment as you journey through life with those you hold dear." Darly Henerson

Valentine's Day Crafts

This past week, my daughter and I had a fun time making some Valentine crafts.  Like most kids, they love doing crafts.  Since Valentine’s Day is around the corner, we decided to look for some craft ideas.

I got some great ideas here.  My daughter loved making the tissue paper flowers.  We made different sizes using all different colours.  My daughter even sprayed them with perfume to make it that much more real.  She went a little crazy with the perfume...my bathroom smelled for quite a few hours. I remember growing up and making these flowers using Kleenex when someone was getting married.  We would spend hours making the flowers to put on cars.

My dining room table is filled with craft supplies since my daughter wants to try the butterfly craft and  heart puppets.  It’s such simple fun and great bonding time.  I highly recommend it!  Happy crafting!

Staging Conference Delivers Big

Well I am back from an action filled conference in Las Vegas.  I had the opportunity to attend both the RESA (Real Estate Staging Association) and CSP (Certified Staging Professionals) conference.  They were amazing events and were filled with great speakers, networking opportunities and useful information.

I was able to meet great people such as Matthew Finalson from HGTV's The Stagers, Kimberley Seldon and Bodine Balasco.

Kimberley Seldon and I



Bodine Balasco



Christine Rae, President of CSP

I was able to network with many other stagers from the US and Canada and learn new things.

There were also a lot of great vendors and suppliers present.  I was able to meet up with Jeff Waltrip, VP of Sales and Marketing for Next Stage Furniture.  I am so excited about upcoming plans we have to work closer together.

Jeff and I loving the cardboard furniture

Las Vegas is a great place to visit.  The conference took up most of my time but I did squeeze in a bit of time to do some gambling and shopping.  I also got the chance to see the Cirque du Soleil Mystere show.  It was amazing and I recommend it to anyone going to Vegas.  I am looking forward to the 2012 conference already!

DIY projects to try

This year I have decided I would really like to tackle some interesting DIY projects.

I have been looking around the web and found some cool ideas.  There are some projects I would like to use for my home and some that would be great for my home staging projects.

One easy project I have done in the past is updating the seats on dining room and kitchen chairs.  If you have chair seats that pop off, you can pick whatever fabric you like and easily change the colour and style.  It takes little time and you can transform your dining or kitchen chairs that same day.  If you want to get a bit more daring, you can repaint your chairs as well.

Here is a sample I found on http://www.diyhomedecoratingideas.com/

Another neat idea that I found is making art work using either wallpaper or wrapping paper.  This is  easy and very cost effective.  You can change your pictures each season.  This is a great idea for home staging as well to add some colour and accessories to a space.

Here are some samples I found on http://www.squawkfox.com/2008/09/15/do-it-yourself-painted-stripes-wallpaper-and-canvas-wall-art/

 

Here is another sample from http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2009/05/wallpaper-art.html

There are also many ideas for DIY headboards.  Here is an example from House and Home.  For instructions click here.

There are so many possibilites...I want to try them all!  I think I will start with my chairs since that can be a quick update and also try some of the art work.  Once I have a completed project, I will post an update!

If you have any other DIY projects that you have tried,  I would love to hear about it and see some pictures!

Nothing beats real homemade tomato sauce

Last week, I went through my regular routine (about every 2-3 months) of making my big batch of tomato sauce.  A lot of my friends will make their tomato sauce on Sundays.  I find making my big batch allows me make portions that I can freeze so anytime I want to make pasta, I have it ready to go.

Each time I make my sauce, I have memories of my mom doing this every Sunday.  We would go to Sunday mass and when we returned, she would make her pot of sauce that would be enough for the week.  It was a tradition to have a pasta dish for Sunday lunch/dinner.

My sauce process takes about two hours since I also make homemade meatballs.  I have been asked by some friends for recipes for my sauce and meatballs.  I really don’t have a recipe.  I just add as I go along.  I have the usual spices and ingredients but as for amounts, I couldn’t really tell you since I just “eye” it. 

The tomatoes I use are those that we did back at the end of the summer with my parents.  That was a 3 day process of canning the tomatoes but nothing beats the real thing.

When I make my big batch, I usually use 10-12 jars depending on how long I want them to last or if I will be needing the sauce for special occasions or making things such as lasagna etc.

For my sauce, my usual spices are basil, oregano, parsley (Italian seasonings), salt, pepper, and garlic powder.  I also sauté some onions and garlic.

The sauce usually simmers a bit with the spices and onion/garlic while I prepare the meatballs.

On this occasion, I used three types of ground meat for the meatballs – beef, veal and pork.  Depending on what is available, I have made them with just beef but I find using a variety of meats gives it a better, richer taste.

I also add some minced garlic and/or onion, salt, pepper, basil, oregano, parsley, eggs, grated parmigiano cheese and bread crumbs.  Again, I can’t give you amounts since I really eye ball it and look for a certain texture of the meat.  I don’t really want it to be “dry” but have some moisture to it.  I usually add at least ½ cup to 1 cup of cheese and at least ½ cup of bread crumbs when I’m making a big batch as I did with this.

Once all the meatballs have been rolled, I have put them in the oven.  I have also fried them in the past when I only have a few.  Baking them doesn’t take as long and I find doesn’t have all the oil from frying.  I usually bake them at about 375 for about 25 minutes or until they are getting browned.  I also turn them during the baking process.  Depending on the size of the meatballs, they may take more or less time.

I will then add the meatballs to the sauce and have the sauce simmer for about 2 hours to infuse the flavour of the meat into the sauce.  Boy, does the kitchen smell great when I am making the sauce!  I remember when my mom made her sauce, she would put some in a bowl, give me some fresh italian crusty bread and I would dunk away.  Talk about an amazing snack while I waited for lunch or dinner! 

I know some of you may be thinking, “I don’t have the time to do this” or "I don’t have canned tomato jars”.  There are other alternatives to making your own.  You can buy canned tomatoes and then make your own pasta sauce.  My process may take a bit of extra time but nothing beats the taste of homemade.  It also allows me to continue my Italian family tradition of making my own sauce.  My goal is to continue this tradition with my kids when they grow up and have their own families!  I hope I have inspired you to try something homemade – Buon Appetito!!!



 

Getting organized after the holidays

Now that the holidays have come and gone, my itch to get the decorations and tree put away has begun.  My husband keeps bugging me to leave it since I got a late start this year and to enjoy it a while longer.  I am just finding that I want some order in the house and the decorations are standing in my way. 

Many of my friends have mentioned that getting organized is part of their resolutions this year.  I have this as a continuous goal.  Staying organized gets to be quite a challenge at times with two kids and a busy household.  I have good intentions but then there doesn't seem to be enough time and things slide unfortunately.  I commit to keep plugging away at this!

Since organization and decluttering can take pages to discuss, I plan to have different posts on ideas and tips that might help all of us.  If you are planning a move this year, the task of decluttering is a key component.  More to follow in future posts.  If you are interested in a home staging consultation, contact me here to see how I can help you get your home ready to sell.

As you get ready to put away your decorations, make sure you look through all your items.  If there are things that you have used and don’t really want any more, consider donating or giving them away.  Why take up space for things you are not planning on using.  I put together a bag before I starting holiday decorating this year and gave it to our local Value Village.  Hopefully someone else will be able to enjoy my items. 

I have found some neat and interesting ideas on Christmas storage.  There are some good ways to store decorations using household items that can be cost effective.  Click here to read more.

Do you find you always have a tangled mess of Christmas lights? Here is a good idea found on Martha Stewart.com.  You keep them organized by winding each strand around a piece of cardboard cut to fit in a plastic bin (picture pieces are 20 by 14 inches). Use scissors to cut a 1-inch slit at the top of one long side and the bottom of the other long side of the cardboard. Secure one end of the lights in a slit, wind lights around, and secure the other end in the other slit. Store stacked light between layers of bubble wrap in bins. 

There are many great storage bins that you can find to store your decorations at stores such as Wal-Mart, Rona, Canadian Tire and Home Depot.  January is usually a great month to find sales on storage containers.

 


Rubbermaid

 

Snapware Corp.

If you have a lot of holiday clean-up to do, don’t try and do it all in one day.  You might find it overwhelming.  I try and do the Christmas tree in one day and then get all my other decorations done another day.   This way you can concentrate on one area at a time and have time to organize well.

Well best of luck if you are conquering the task of organization this year.  If you have any good ideas or tricks that have helped you, please share them!

Happy New Year - Reflections of 2010

Another year has come and gone.  I can’t believe how quickly time passes.  It seems that the older I get, the faster time goes.   I hope this year has been a good one for you full of happiness, success and special memories.

As I reflect back, I always think of what the year has brought.  As with most people, there have been good moments and not so good moments.  I am truly thankful for all the things and people I have in my life.  I have a wonderful husband and two great kids that have supported me throughout the year.  I really could not have done it without their love, help and support. 

This year, I was able to conduct a phone interview on home staging with the REIN group and also presented at one of their meetings to over 350 people.  I am so thankful to Don Campbell and Russell Westcott for giving me this opportunity.  I have been able to meet so many wonderful people because of this.  I hope to continue these relationships throughout 2011. 

I have introduced some great options for home staging with my company Suite Design.  I look forward to continuing to work with investors, agents and home owners on home staging projects.

On a personal note, earlier in the year, I had made a commitment to myself that I wanted to get more active and lose some weight.  I am happy to say that I joined a gym and started working with a personal trainer.  I am still at it and have lost over 10 pounds and am down 2 dress sizes.  I am very proud of this and my goal is to continue this into 2011. 

As I look toward 2011, I look forward to have a wonderful year with my family, friends and business clients.   I wish you and your families all the best for the coming New Year and may all your hopes and dreams come true.  I hope that you have found some inspiration in some of my past blogs and look forward to bring you more in 2011. 

All the best and Happy New Year!!!

Donna

Merry Christmas

Wishing everyone a wonderful and joyeous Christmas!  I hope you enjoy this special time with family and friends. 
Best Wishes,
Donna

"This is my wish for you: peace of mind, prosperity through the year, happiness that multiplies, health for you and yours, fun around every corner, energy to chase your dreams, joy to fill your holidays!"
D.M. Dellinger

Last Minute Christmas Decorating

With Christmas just a few days away, I had a chance to do some last minute Christmas decorating projects. 

I received many compliments on the planters I did for my home.  I had a last minute request from a client who wanted a planter done for her home.   Here is the finished product...

I had some extra greens so I decided to use them around my house.  I had enough to do a mini planter that I am keeping in my front foyer. 

I also placed greens some around a jar I had filled with some Christmas ornaments...

...and here is my mantel - I kept it quite simple with some greens and pine cones.   Even with it being simple, I think it  does the trick...

These simple Christmas decorating projects were fun and didn't take me much time.  I hope you are having fun with any last minute Christmas projects you have on your list...the big day is only 4 days away!!!

Cooking with Sin

Early this week, I had the pleasure of attending Carla Johnson’s book launch for “Cooking with Sin”.  Her book is absolutely amazing! Carla has put together a collection of great recipes that all include some "sin" (alcohol) and each come with personal stories that people have contributed.  The pictures in the book are absolutely amazing - some of which were taken by Carla. 

At the book launch, Carla had samples of the some of the recipes such as “Takin the Piss” Sangria, “Special Delivery” Black Forest Cake, “Comfort of Home” Sherry Potatoes and “Wedding Pudding” Dutch Advokaat.  I sampled a bit of each and boy were they yummy!!!





Carla busy autographing
books!



I am so thrilled to have an autographed copy of her book.  I am looking forward to trying some recipes soon.   One dessert recipe that I definitely want to try during the holidays is “Better than Recess”.  It is a layered dessert that includes hazelnut liqueur.  I will post some pictures once I have made it.

I encourage you to visit Carla’s website here.    This would make a great Christmas gift if you are looking for ideas!

Christmas Traditions

The weekend came and went in such a hurry.  There was so much to do with staging consultations and getting supplies to complete planter arrangements for clients.  In between, I still managed to get two Christmas trees up.  This year we decided to have one dedicated to the kid’s ornaments and special trinkets.  The kids are in charge of decorating this tree.  The other one is going to be our “glam tree”.  We decided on the silver and blue theme with a bit of white throughout. 

Here is a pic of it so far.  There are still more ornaments to add but I think it’s starting to look pretty good…what do you think?

One of our other Christmas traditions has been a village set.  What started out as three little houses under the Christmas tree has now turned into a village that covers the top of two tables on either side of our fireplace.   The kids just love it when it is all lit up.  Here are some pictures...

Once the kids finish their tree, I will post some pictures.  Next tasks on the list will be decorating the staircase and mantel, outside garland for the door and wreath.   I hope to get that done before the weekend.  

Christmas includes many specials traditions for me and my family.  I hope you are having fun with your Christmas decorating and traditions.  If you have any special traditions you'd like to share, I'd love to hear from you.



Christmas Planters

Well after getting some inspiration from the garden centre in my last post and then getting a bit of snow, I got in the spirit to get my Christmas planters done.

I thought this year I would buy a pre-made one to save some time but in the end, I decided to once again do it on my own.  After pricing it out for the size I needed, it made more sense to do it myself.  Plus I got to be creative and I was able to call it my own.

I am very pleased with  my own creations and in less than 1 hour, I was able to make two.  Here they are...

So I hope I have again inspired you to try something new.  Thanks for the emails about the things you've created or tried...keep them coming.  If you decide to make your own planters, I would love to see your pictures.

Christmas Inspiration



Well we are a month away from Christmas and the weather has still been quite mild for November.  I was trying to get into a bit of a Christmas decorating mood the other day and decided to head to Terra Greenhouse to get some inspiration.  I was hoping to create my outdoor Christmas planters soon so away I went looking for some ideas.

Here are some pics of some of the wonderful things I saw…

These are planters they have outside the store...amazing!  Too bad they are too big for my house :)



I have the same container...I like the variety and colours they used.



Lots of poinsettas and plants to choose from



Fun and pretty Christmas tree ideas!

So much inspiration, creativity and great ideas.  There were so many things to see and absorb.  One visit just won't do - I guess I will need to go back for another visit!

Giving Back this Holiday Season

As the countdown to Christmas begins, mall parking lots are starting to get crowded, people are rushing to do their shopping while their patience and tempers seem to be tested.  This doesn’t really sound like a fun time of year does it?  As the years go by, it seems more and more that the true meaning of Christmas is being lost.  It seems more about getting the latest and greatest gadgets and spending way over people’s budgets.

Christmas really should be about spending quality time with family and friends but also trying to give back and help those who are less fortunate than us.  This year our family is trying to make a more conscientious effort to bring some joy to those in need.   Our kids have started by participating in their school’s Christmas Child program.  They placed needed items such as toiletries, school supplies and small toys in shoe boxes.  These boxes will be sent to children in need in different countries around the world.  We are also going to “adapt” a family in our community for Christmas.    We would also like to volunteer at a homeless shelter.   I think this will really open my kid’s eyes and show them how truly blessed and lucky we really are.   I am also going to inquire about making some homemade meals and baked goods and donating them to a shelter. 

If you are interested in helping others, it doesn’t need to only be through donations or money.  Your time can mean the world to someone.

Consider one of these ideas:

• Volunteer at a homeless shelter 
• Visit a senior at a nursing home or in a hospital.  Unfortunately there are many seniors without family who visit.  Giving a senior some of your time can bring so much joy to their day.  Just speak to the nursing home coordinator or a nurse on a long term care unit about seniors that would benefit from your visit 
• Donate used clothing or used toys to a women’s shelter or other shelter.

Here are some agencies that you can inquire about ways to help:

House of Friendship, Good Shepherd Centre, Youth without Shelter, CP24/Chum Christmas Wish, The Salvation Army,The United Way

If you live outside of Ontario or Canada, just search for local shelters in your area or family assistance agencies that can use your help.

Also, don’t forget about the needy animals out there.  There are many animal shelters in need of help throughout the year but especially during the holidays.  If you like to get a pet, visit your local humane society or animal shelter and consider adopting an animal.  We adopted two cats earlier this year and it has brought so much fun and happiness to our family especially our kids.  If you can’t adapt an animal, consider making a donation or bringing them needed items such as cat or dog food, used towels or blankets. 

There are many ways to give back this holiday season.  Just give it a try and see how fast you will get in a true and genuine Christmas mood this year!   Give of yourself...no other gift will compare!

“In helping others, we shall help ourselves, for whatever good we give out completes the circle and comes back to us." Flora Edwards



Art is good

My daughter has been taking weekly art classes at 4 Cats Art Studio in Oakville.  I have been very impressed with what she is learning and the creations she has made.  She has learned about the work of Tom Thomson and now they are learning about Gustov Klimt.  She recently finished her Tom Thomas masterpiece. 

Here she is proudly showing off her finished product.   Pretty great for a 6 year old…don’t u think?

I then had it stretched so I can hang it. I have to find a great place for it…here it is….

I would encourage anyone with kids to check out the great classes they offer at 4 Cats Art studio.  They offer camps and PA day classes.  They also have great birthday packages.  Jennifer Chung is the Curator at the Oakville location.  Check out the website here for  information on the different classes.   You can also reach Jennifer at 289-937-1788.  Tell her Donna sent you!!!