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

What is this blog all about? 

Well I think I’ve chosen the perfect title to describe what I will be writing about, which is all things inspiring.

My two loves for design/decorating and home cooking have always been ‘inspired’ by my surroundings.  Sometimes it was my mother in the kitchen cooking batches of sauce, or the latest edition of House and Home magazine triggering an idea from which I can feed. My inspiration also comes from my family, my husband and two fantastic children.

Life inspires me, as I journey through new stages in my life which I’m sure I will touch on here.  But the blog is mostly about decorating, for living, not IMPRESSING.  I am a Certified Staging Professional and started with the intention of staging homes for sale.  Although I still do that, I’ve found more people interested in staging to LIVE.  This is an important difference because although it is nice to purchase the latest and greatest of everything, I personally try to be as practical as possible.  I’m not afraid to get my hands dirty, try something new, stand back and create something from my own two hands.

That relates to my passion for cooking also – I COULD just buy a bunch of cupcakes for my daughters birthday, but it’s a lot more fun creating them WITH her from scratch.  Not only do I spend time WITH her, I am doing something I love AND teaching her at the same time.

I would sum up what I do as “adapting”.  I use what I have available to make things work.  I hope you enjoy my ideas and inspiration also and maybe we can learn from each other on how easy it is to have the home you’ve always wanted.

So if you are ready to join me on this journey, we will together, create exciting recipes, re-arrange our homes, inexpensively craft everyday and holiday décor as well as share challenges and life insights that I have learned as a dedicated mother, wife, friend and colleague.

Until next time, always remember to take the time to look around...inspiration is everywhere!

“The possibilities of creative effort connected with the subconscious mind are stupendous and imponderable. They inspire one with awe.”  Napoleon Hill