Advent Magic

I found a new blog this weekend with the most amazing Advent calendar idea that I have ever seen!  I just had to share it with you.  The blog is called Just a Girl  and the owner, Chris, is so very talented.  You must take a little time to peruse her blog.  She has a great take on things.   

Here is a quick picture of her Christmas Advent Jar, but you have to read all about it.  She has a very creative list of "treats" to include in each day and most of them are free! 

http://www.justagirlblog.com/2010/12/christmas-advent-jar.html

So, as usual, this post got me thinking about Advent and how we celebrate it.  We have an Advent calendar at our house (but no gifts, just the days of the month).  I think it is the single most exciting thing that happens each day in December prior to Christmas morning.  My kids scamper every morning to put that date on the calendar.  It really does encourage them to remember the "waiting" of Advent.  

Here's a picture of one similar to ours, except we have the actual dates on each piece.  I'm so tempted to do something new, but my kids get such a thrill out of the one we have I think I'll stick with it at least one more year.  

Here a few others just to get your mind brewing!

I like the different size containers on this.  It allows for a variety of treat ideas.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Advent-Calendar/

If you can knit, this is a cute option (of course since we are eight days in, you may want to start on it for next year!) How cute would these be strung on a small christmas tree in your breakfast room.  Each light has a small matchbox inside.  

http://www.chicaandjo.com/2008/12/05/feature-friday-advent-calendar-inspiration/

How about a virtual Advent calendar!  You will have to go to the blog site to actually see how it works.  But basically, you click on the current date and get an Advent thought of the day!

http://adventcalendar.geneabloggers.com/

This one would be perfect if you had older kids or no kids!  It is very sophisticated.  From what I can tell this was a Pottery Barn product a few years ago, but from the looks of it, you could easily make it yourself.  I also love the ornaments they have included.   Notice the 22nd - it looks like maybe a fun family outing or a scavenger hunt for a present!  

http://mckevitts.blogspot.com/2009/11/christmas-ideas.html

So maybe you aren't super crafty.  Here are three very simple ideas for you to consider.  You can order them from Etsy!

This one is a series of small paper lunch bags on a jute string.   

http://www.etsy.com/listing/62388717/advent-calendar?ref=sr_gallery_13&ga_search_query=advent+calendar&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_page=&order=&includes%5B0%5D=tags&includes%5B1%5D=title&filter%5B0%5D=handmade

 You can find these small treat boxes in the wedding section at the Dollar store!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/62383669/diy-advent-calendar?ref=sr_gallery_14&ga_search_query=advent+calendar&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_page=3&order=&includes%5B0%5D=tags&includes%5B1%5D=title&filter%5B0%5D=handmade

This Advent calendar is downloadable from Etsy, so you don't have to wait another minute to get it! 

http://www.etsy.com/listing/62225534/starry-trees-advent-calendar-printable?ref=sr_gallery_37&ga_search_query=advent+calendar&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_page=2&order=&includes%5B0%5D=tags&includes%5B1%5D=title&filter%5B0%5D=handmade

Virtual Staging?

Most of you know that I own a staging company.  Along with our interior design work, we prepare homes for the real estate market.  On the staging side of our business, we provide consults for homeowners and give them the news they sometimes don't want to hear from their agents about their property(i.e., you will need to tone down the paint colors in the entire house).  

We also do empty stagings where we go into an empty space and provide all the furnishings to enhance how the property shows while on the market.  So needless to say, when I saw this New York Times article, I was more than floored.  

Virtual Staging - All the Rage

The article stated that in other parts of the country, "brokers are using a service that furnishes rooms virtually with the decor of the broker's choice, adding color and life to the photographs of otherwise bland blank boxes."  

"To avoid having a potential buyer arrive at a listing and be surprised to find an empty apartment, both agencies label their online photos as 'virtually staged' and pair them with photos of the unfurnished rooms."

The article goes on to say, "Empty spaces often seem small - because there’s no scale in the room.  But with virtual staging, a photo can show whether a room is large enough for a king-size bed and a triple dresser, or can hold only a twin bed and a bedside table."

Question?

Call me crazy, but I have a couple of pretty practical thoughts about this.  If you are going to go ahead and include the before pictures of the space with the "small" (their word) rooms, why bother staging it.  And secondly, what happens when the Buyer decides he wants to see it in person and shows up to a "small, bland, blank" (their words) property.  Does the virtual staging really help you, then?  

Lastly, here is a picture they provided of a "virtually staged" space with before and after shots.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/31/realestate/31posting.html?_r=1&ref=interior-design-and-home-furnishings

Really?!  If you have virtually [sorry for the pun] any furniture available to you for staging, would you pick these pieces?  Stop it.  Sometimes I am amazed by what people will buy. 

Finally in the Spirit

I have had a difficult time getting into the Christmas Spirit this year.  For some reason, it's just seemed too early for Christmas. But, over the weekend, I did a little decorating, and it transported me into the mood.  I put on a Christmas CD and got busy both inside and out.  I still have a bit more to do, but here are the results so far.

This is an arrangement in our entry way.  Since the greenery is fresh, it will not last the entire season, but it is so enjoyable at the moment!  Over Thanksgiving, we traveled to my parents house in Mississippi.  They live outside the city limits of Laurel on about 40 acres of land.  It's very serene and relaxing, and their property is beautiful.  My Dad and I went out early Saturday morning and cut all this greenery.  To help keep it fresh longer, I used floral foam in a container hidden inside the wrought iron basket and covered it with moss.  

BTW, that's our dog Lottie on the right.  She loves this time of year.  Even in this picture she is looking out the front doors for the UPS guy.  She goes crazy when he rings the doorbell - attack mode!

Here's a closer look at the arrangement - I included some dried pomegranates, pheasant feathers and some curly willow in with the magnolia and wild pyracantha.  My Dad brought the feathers back to me from a hunting trip he and my brother took this year.  

This is our fireplace.  Notice I did not say mantle!  We do not have a mantle (really wish we did).  So, I have to be creative in how I hang our stockings each year.  As an aside, my very sweet Mother needlepointed all these stockings for me over the years.  She did mine when I was in college, John's when we got married, and then one for each of the kids.  They are all different, but have a common Santa theme on them with a green background.  Well, all except one -  I bought the one on the right (with the white background) for our dog, Lottie.  My Mom put her foot down when it came to making one for the dog! 

From this close up picture below you can see there are two very large deep holes under the TV (I think the previous homeowner used these for their TV components).  So, I stuff these full of greenery.  Here's a little tip: in order to keep the magnolia fresh longer, I use bud stem vases on each magnolia stem. (I get the stem vases from a floral wholesale place here in Birmingham that is open to the public - Davis Wholesale Florist)  Once the greenery was in place, I added ribbon and some artificial gold berry branches to complete the look.  

Here's a closer look at the berry branches.  I picked these up at Garden Ridge for a dollar! 

I then worked on the outside decorations.  I pre-order all my outside greenery from Davis.  The prices are good and the quality is great.

I decided to add garland and a large badge at the top of the door this year.  (And yes, I do realize that our shutters need painting :)  I have a color picked out, but just have not had time to contact the painter to get it scheduled!) 

I just learned how to make the badge.  I was helping work on decorations for our church and this wonderfully talented woman showed me how to do it.  She worked for Southern Living for years, and I loved watching her make such beautiful arrangements.

This is a shot of the windows of our dining room.  Here's another tip: I start by hanging the wreaths on fishing line, and then I wrap the ribbon around to cover it.  This keeps the ribbon looking pretty and not crimped from the weight of the wreath. 

I am still working on our Christmas tree and will try to post about it later this week.  I would love to hear from you on all the things you have done to get your house ready for the holidays!! 

Happy Decorating! M.

Link Parties!

I often get the question, how do you find all those interior design blogs? Well here is one of my secrets. 

 Listed below are other blogs that host link parties.  Link parties are opportunities for other blogs to link up - thus creating a road map to find hundreds of blogs.   The blogs I have listed below have tons of other blogs linked to them for the party.  All you have to do is click on the link listed below, scroll down to the bottom of their post and look at all the blogs at the bottom of the post.  Then, click on any blog that interests you.  Have fun!

http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/2010/12/feathered-nest-holiday-time.html

http://simplydesigning.blogspot.com/search/label/Link%20Party

http://whilehewasnapping.blogspot.com/search/label/Weekend%20Wander

http://funtocraft.blogspot.com/2010/12/look-at-me-party.html

http://www.fingerprintsonthefridge.com/2010/12/feature-yourself-friday.html

http://www.bedifferentactnormal.com/2010/12/show-and-tell-saturday-12410.html

Dear Santa

Just wanted to send you a quick note.  I know you are very busy this time of year -  all the toy construction, employee interactions, not to mention the administrative burdens associated with all that double checking that's going on up there.  In fact, I'm surprised you find the time to read all these letters.  

Listen, I want to keep it real simple here at the Smith T house.  All I want is this.

http://www.lisasherryinterieurs.com/portfolio/figure_8.html

http://www.lisasherryinterieurs.com/portfolio/figure_8.html

That's right . . . a modest little ole beach house.  In fact, if you grant this request, I promise to never ask for anything else from you again.   And while we're on the subject, it would be great if you could find a place with some of these features. . .

An outdoor area sort of like this.  Just to take in the beautiful views.  Note the pool to the right (in case the rip tides keep us out of the ocean).

http://www.sherrillcanet.com/

It would also need a private outdoor shower area as well.  Wouldn't want to ruin the floors with all those wet, sandy feet.

http://www.mdesignla.com/residential/residence_5/9.html

Maybe you could also squeeze in a nice place for gathering in the morning, just before we all venture out into the day.

http://www.sherrillcanet.com/

Along with a place to hang out in the evenings (after we have watched the sunset on the beach, of course). 

http://www.sherrillcanet.com/

 We could play a few board games and have some margaritas - you know, just relax.

http://www.mhjinteriors.com/gal_5.html

Oh, and I almost forgot.  It would be really great if you could include a bedroom like this.  It's always so relaxing to have a snooze just after lunch when the sun is at its hottest.

http://www.womackinteriors.com/index.php/photos/3.html

And Santa, it goes without saying - you're welcome anytime you and your sweet wife need a little get-a-way.  Maybe even a place to celebrate New Year's Eve! 

PS: The kids have been pretty good this year too. M.

What it Takes to Make a Guest Bedroom Work

I just completed our December tip of the month for my staging company and thought you might like to see it.  I have included lots of ideas and tips to get your guest bedroom ready for the holiday traffic.

Click on over and check it out -  Interior Staging Services.

Also, I am working on getting my Christmas decorations up, and I'm taking lots of pictures.  I will post them sometime next week.  Hope you have a great Thursday.  

Girls Day Out!

One of my favorite things to do this time of year is to get a group of fun girls together and do our local holiday house tour.  This year, in Birmingham, the Independent Presbyterian Church Holiday House tour is going to be held on December 11th & 12th.   So, if you happen to be in town that weekend, it really is a must see.  If not, I would encourage you to do a little research in your city and find a house tour to check out.

Also, for the friend who has everything, consider giving them tickets to a tour as your present this year.   In fact, you could pre-order your tickets as a surprise and kidnap them for the day!  It's really fun, and the money goes to a great cause.   

I remember when I first moved to Birmingham a friend called and asked if I wanted to do the tour.  I remember thinking when we walked into the first house, "Where are all the Christmas Decorations?"  I quickly realized that it's not about the decorations, it's about the homes.  Now, to be clear, some homes have very minimal decorations while others are over the top, it really just depends on the homeowner's taste.  In fact, I remember a home on the tour one year that was beautifully decorated for Chanukah.  That's what makes the tour so interesting.  Each home is unique and is full of ideas on interior design.  

Early in the year, a committee at the church puts together a home tour of the most stunning homes in Birmingham.  These very generous homeowners open their homes to thousands of people who will walk through taking in every detail.  

The event only last one weekend in December, but the number of volunteers it takes is staggering.  All the proceeds go directly to church missions for the next year.  Some of the homes are extremely large while others are quaint and cozy.  There is usually a wonderful mix of styles and interiors on the tour.  It will definitely put you in the holiday spirit.   

The IPC tour starts at the church with tons of gorgeous floral arrangements, amazing treats with hot tea, and songs being sung by their choir.  After these festivities, you continue on to the homes at your own pace.  It truly is a wonderful way to kick off the season!