Saturday, December 31, 2011
Horse-shoe shaped kitchens (link)
Sometimes you have to settle for a kitchen like this, but my kitchen is a galley kitchen with doorways at both ends. I don't like being trapped in a kitchen full of people--and pets--with no way to escape...
Sparkle note: If you drag a treat from the box, and click on it again, Sparkle will jump up and catch it!
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Sofa pillow samples (link)
Frankly, I'd start fresh with a different style and different colors, but the photos may help you decide on color combinations in your home.
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Free ebooks for Christmas!
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Walk-in closet design ideas (link)
They can include shelves, drawers, doors, cubbies, niches, shoe racks, bins and baskets, seating--and color--and even fancy windows.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Christmas movie homes (link)
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Kitchen storage (link)
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Get an e-book for Christmas!
And including its sequel, Hot Yellow Planet, would save them the trouble of tracking it down at: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/94029
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Decorating ideas
Another idea involving books (remember the woman who collected books with red covers?) has a blue and ivory-painted secretary full of books with blue covers (p 49). That is beautiful! The same home, however, has a room full of large patterned fabrics (duvet and pillows). Too big and busy.
Their recipe selection includes a meat loaf and mashed potatoes sandwich. Much as I love meat loaf and mashed potatoes, I don't want them combined--unless it's something like Shepherd's Pie.
Sparkle note: If you drag a treat from the box, and click on it again, Sparkle will jump up and catch it!
Monday, December 12, 2011
Christmas decorating and design ideas (link)
Our home is full of Christmas bows, bells, cards, etc., and the wreath on the front door is so big, I had to go out and buy a yard sign at the hardware store to put our house numbers on.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Christmas cards and newsletters

I have some fun Christmas cards that I usually send, including sabre tooth kittens playing amongst a shepherd and his sheep and unicorns. Thank you, Tiger Moon Press. (She added the tigers for me.) These all go out by snail mail, btw, so I can add enclosures and use stickers from my sticker collection.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Kitchen cabinets (links)
Link: Cabinet Types: Which Is Best for You? : Kitchen Remodeling : HGTV Remodels
Sparkle note: If you drag a treat from the box, and click on it again, Sparkle will jump up and catch it!
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Glass countertops (link)
Monday, December 5, 2011
Remodeling: Buying and Updating a Foreclosure (review)
An eBook on Buying, Remodeling, and Real Estate
Joy V. Smith’s recently released ebook, Remodeling: Buying and Updating a Foreclosure, is creating a wave of comfort in today’s stormy market of defaults and foreclosures. And, it turns out, it’s also an unexpected shot in the arm for those pursuing a real estate license or a real estate continuing education.
Remodeling is a close-up account of how one woman and her family navigated the tricky sailing of selling a house, looking for and buying a new one, and, ultimately, completely renovating it. It sets the model for anyone who’s thinking of braving the daunting task of acquiring a foreclosed house and turning it into a home—even if the house came originally without a sink. It also points the way forward for those looking to have a career in real estate.
Here’s how the buyer did the story from one buyer’s point of view:
Our home was on the market for a few years because we weren’t in a hurry. We loved our house, but wanted to downsize from five acres to less than an acre. We dropped our price a few times and finally got a good offer, though it was less than our current asking price. However, it was for cash. This, of course, makes buying simpler because you don’t have to apply for a mortgage. On the other hand, we couldn’t afford to build, which we would have preferred. We were told that because of all the cheap homes on the market we could get a good deal. Right. Well, fortunately it didn’t take us very long to close, look, and buy; of course, once we sold, we didn’t have a lot of time to look at short sales, since that can take months! We found a house we liked, but it needed lots of work. Find out how we did it and what you should look for.
Remodeling: Buying and Updating a Foreclosure beckons to anyone coping with a remodeling project—whether you’re an ordinary house owner in Conneticut, an aspiring agent looking to get a real estate continuing education or an out-of-town broker trying to land a New York real estate license.
Link: TheAnalyst - Best Apple App for Real Estate Practitioners agentcampus.com