3 What A Hoot

A Sunday closet cleanout can go one of two ways…



1. You spend half of your weekend stirring up dust and trying to figure out how on earth you are going to squeeze a trip to the Goodwill donation station into your week…

OR

2. You have the wonderfully enjoyable experience of finding the most precious owl garland your sister gave you two years ago, stumbling across a long lost picture of your parents on their wedding day and giggling as you read through the 1948 edition on Vogue’s Book of Etiquette.



I prefer the later.

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0 Birthday Wishes

Yesterday I turned 27, and it was the first time I really felt a birthday. At 16 I didn’t actually feel like I belonged behind the wheel even though I was dying to get there. At 18 I was nowhere near ready to face the real world as an adult. And 21 meant nothing as I still have a hard time looking a bartender in the eye when he asks to see my ID. This year was different. This year I felt 27.

So much has already happened in the first seven years of my twenties, and yesterday when I turned another year older, I felt like I was exactly where I was supposed to be. Loving a life filled with the best family and friends that a 27 year old girl could ever dream of.

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0 First Day of School Flashback

Even though I’m long past my school-aged days, I still get butterflies when back to school time rolls back around each year. While the need to sharpen pencils and organized folders by class subject is long gone and no carpool is honking outside to pick me up for another day of pop quizzes and reading lists, the desire to keep on learning is still going strong. After all, that’s what do-it-yourself is all about.

In the DIY world, very few of us know exactly where to start when it comes to changing out a light fixture or revamping an old dresser, but with a little research (mainly in the form of Google) and a smidge of elbow grease, we learn something new and have the amazing “I did it!” feeling as our version of an A+. The proud feeling that comes from completing a project is what every DIY-er will tell you keeps them coming back for more. So to all the DIY-ers out there, keep on learning. Keep on creating. Keep on making every day the first day of school.

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0 Advertising Dollars At Work

I’m not afraid to admit that on more than one occasion commercials have reduced me to nothing more than a 5’9 puddle of tears. Especially when socked in the guts with one minute and three seconds of preciousness. Exhibit A…

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2 Just A Thought: Really, Martha?

Martha Stewart and I have a serious love-hate thing going on. Of course it’s completely one-sided and goes without saying that the woman has absolutely no idea our relationship even exists. Nonetheless, I jump for joy when her magazines land in my mailbox and can’t wait to sop up all of the DIY goodness inside while simultaneously cursing her the entire time I’m flipping through the pages. 

My favorite “really, Martha?” moment from the latest issue jumped right at me why reading over what makes for an A+ hotel stay.

This has to be some kind of overly domesticated humor that was lost on me…or she’s 100% serious.



I get the handheld shower part. No one likes a grimy bubble bath, but making the bellman open the shower curtain? D-to-the-IVA.

A quick turn of the page and it got even better…



How about you don’t run around ruining life for the rest of us? Never mind the welcome letter, but double up on the chocolates, sister. Not all of us can wave our magic wand and an assortment of meringue creations with a striking resemblance to farm animals fall from the sky.

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1 H-O-T Up In Here

One of the major perks of my job is that every now and then a day completely free of appointments rolls my way. Sure my cell phone still ring-a-lings its little heart out, emails have to be answered and paperwork still hangs over my head, but a complete day of working from home means laundry can be folded between text messages, my toenails have a decent chance to getting painted between voicemails and those obnoxious dust bunnies I’ve been kicking around all week will finally meet their death. A day of pure productivity!…until your AC decides to stop cooling and you and your sweaty ponytail feel too disgusting to do anything but dream of cooler weather and count the minutes until the repairman works his way to your casa.

 

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1 Three Happy Thoughts

1. Knobs on cabinet doors…




2. A way to bake cookies…



3. Progress.

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2 Just a Thought: Like Martha Like Daughter?

Whether you are like me and worship the ground she walks on or live to love to hate her, the creative genius that Martha Stewart can whip up with a glue gun and a few yarn scraps cannot be denied. And while I’ve found myself cursing her up-down-left-and-right after spending two hours in the kitchen only to have my culinary creation turn out substantially different than what is staring back at me from the glossy magazine page, I stick up for Martha. She’s my girl.

So when I read a few excerpts from Martha’s daughter Alexis’s tell-all book about growing up under Martha’s wing, I had to roll my eyes. Apparently Martha made her take off her shoes inside the house and turned off the lights on Halloween to pretend like they weren’t home to deter trick-or-treaters…but I bet you ate a killer pumpkin trifle on Thanksgiving and had the most organized closet in all the land. Pick your battles, sweetheart. I guarantee if you came to my house on Halloween, the front porch light would be off and you’d be leaving your muddy boots by the front door as well.

But what really kicked my protective instincts for my domestic goddess into high gear? This quote:

She used to make me wrap my own presents. She would hand me things right before Christmas and say, "Wrap these but don't look inside."

My mom also had me wrap my own presents. Not because she was missing a maternal Christmas gene, but because she knew I was a better gift wrapper, bigger bow tie-er and fancier tag signer than she. Take it as a compliment Alexis. If Martha Stewart trusted me to wrap the presents displayed under her fabulous 15 foot frasier fir, you could ship me off to sea Eskimo-style on a block of ice because my life would be complete.

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6 Just a Thought: What’s in your fridge?

I’ve always been amazed by people who are able to keep a fully stocked fridge. My friend Kristin is one of those people, and every time she wins the friend-of-the-year award for cooking dinner for this poor little do-it-yourselfer, I’m amazed at what she has tucked away in that refrigerator of hers.

My sister is one of those people, too. Whipping up fabulous soups, dips and (most importantly) mac & cheese on command. I think about returning the favor, but then I remember what’s in my refrigerator…




So what’s your fridge style? Are you a bulk buyer, meal-by-meal shopper or dedicated fan of the Chick-fil-A drive thru?

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6 Just a Thought: There’s no way I’m alone on this one…

Normally, Martha Stewart can do no wrong in my book. Jail time? Her soufflé makes up for it. Neglectful mother? Possibly, but she (and that killer kitchen of hers) wins my heart over every time…but when I got around to reading her Oct 2011 issue, my own personal Martha fan club took a hit.

Don’t get me wrong, the recipes looked fabulous and her pumpkin carving party made me want to hop back into second grade…

…but when page 21 rolled around and Martha’s taxidermy collection took center stage, my Martha-worship took a beating. Somehow I just can’t stomach the thought of a smattering of birds perched next to my chicken dish, a porcupine in my liquor cabinet and a brown bear in my bed snuggled up with my latest loaner from the library.



Thanks for the nightmares, Martha.

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4 Just a Thought: To Mr. Jobs…

With the passing of a visionary mastermind, Steve Jobs, I want to take a moment to get a bit more serious than usual on this normally light hearted blog of mine. Don’t worry. It won’t last long.

Last night after finding out about Mr. Jobs’ passing on my iPhone, the very device he created, I took a moment to read his enormously powerful commencement speech to Stanford University’s graduating class of 2005. (If you haven’t had the honor of reading it, stop what you are doing and click here. Your boss will understand.) In his speech, Mr. Jobs harps on two main points: everything happens for a reason and find what you love and do it. I’ve always been a big believer in the first point, and as for the second, I want to take up one smidge of your day to thank you for letting me do what I love every single day. Not only do I get to help my client-friends find their perfect home while simultaneously tearing apart and reconstructing my own, but I have the wonderful opportunity to write about it every step of the way…and even more than that? You actually show up to read the adventures I’ve thrown into the blog-o-sphere. My biggest thank you and an enormous hug goes out to all of you reading this right now on Live the Home Life, the wonderful At Home in Arkansas magazine crew for taking my ramblings from my own casa to the rest of the state, and my friends at eHow.com for somehow buying into the notion that I actually know what I’m talking about. Not only do you let me spend my days creating and writing, but you enable me with open arms.

And the biggest thank you to  Mr. Jobs for all he’s done for the worlds of technology and mass communications. We blog nerds are more grateful than our keyboards can possibly express.

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4 You think too much and no one cares about you…

Today I’m super tied up with the boring real estate hum drum that I love to pieces, but does not an enthralling blog post make. I have no killer before & after or spectacular tidbit of DIY advice. To make matters worse, I (gulp) skipped out on posting yesterday. Please pretend for my own wellbeing that you didn’t notice my absence…sigh…What good am I? A blogger turned bad.

Down on my blogging abilities for sure, it’s time to turn the tables on myself.

You see, I have a wonderful bunch of close friends from all walks of life that I thank the big guy upstairs for every single stinkin’ day of my life, and in return for their spectacular support, I do my very best to be a good friend and lend an ear when needed. At which point I offer the same two pieces of advice to every friend for every problem…

A. You think too much

B. No one cares about you


…before you write me off as a heartless shell of a human being, allow me to explain…


A. You think too much: Basically you think too much. So stop it.

B. No one cares about you: People are wired to think about themselves. Sure, we worry about our friends and help the world when we can, but the plain truth is that no one thinks about us as much as we think about ourselves. No one sits at home and spends hours staring at a picture of you with the worst haircut of your life, nor do they replay a conversation over and over again to judge you for your misuse of the word “pugnacious”.


So today I’m taking my own advice for my epic failure in LTHL blogging history...I am thinking too much and no one cares about me…Good golly, that feels good. Go ahead and send the friend of the year award my way. I’ve clearly earned it.

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2 Just a Thought

Two things we all need a little more of in life.

 

Fresh flowers…

    
…and super secret hiding places so that no one can steal your bone.

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2 Just a Thought: Before & After Pictures

The best part about this little blog-o-mine is it doubles as my own personal soapbox. While I’m not particularly vocal about religion or politics, you betcha I have an opinion or two when it comes to all things home.

Just ask any family member/friend/stranger-turned-friend who has ever sought out my amateur how-to advice and they will tell you, every helpful hint ends with a sermon from yours truly: Take before pictures! Do you hear me? I don’t care how messy your (insert space to be rehabbed) is. Do it…I don’t believe that you are going to do it. Go get your camera. Now. Take those stinkin’ before pictures.

It’s true. Not only am I a major nag but also your furniture rehab/home remodel guardian angel. You’ll thank yourself (and, ahem, me) for having proof of the dreadful before scene when friends are ooh-ing and ahh-ing over your progress.

Take for example, this guy. One of my earliest rehabs and I don’t have even a smidge of a before shot. I liken myself to a careless mother without baby pictures of her first born.

I can’t even discuss the shame I feel.

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2 Just a Thought: Paint Pants

Let’s talk about paint pants for a moment. You know. Paint pants? The pair of jeans/sweatpants/PJ bottoms that you dig out of the back of your closet when it comes time to whip out the old brush and roller.

 

They are minimum of five years old and for most of us serve as an unfriendly reminder of how we used to be able to slide right into them. Now we have to shimmy, squat and suck to button those suckers.

But the trusty paint pant also makes us feel just a smidge more handy. Paint pants are your cheerleader. Your backup when no towels are to be found and you have to get that smudge off your wall stat. You’re out of painters tape and have to cut in commando style? With paint pants you can. With paint pants you are a weekend warrior.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

-Cara

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1 Just a Thought: Best Mail Day Ever

Mr. Postman gave me an early Christmas present. Imagine my surprise when I opened up the mailbox to find the first issue of Real Simple for 2010 and a couple of Christmas cards. No bills. No credit card applications. No Pottery Barn catalogs that might as well have BUY ME stamped across the front. Just a few good reads and happy notes from friends.

-Cara

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0 Just a Thought: Throwing away money on throws?

Maybe it is the lovely cooler weather we’ve been enjoying lately or perhaps the magic of back-to-school time, but during a window shopping trip on the world wide web, I noticed an abundance of stores peddling throw blankets.

Everywhere I looked, ads depicted happy mothers covering sleeping children in a soft sheet of cashmere and women snuggling up with a cup of tea and yet another luxurious throw. I mean these blankets were everywhere, and I’ve got to tell you, those ads were convincing. I immediately began to feel a drafty chill tickle my own feet. That settled it. I too needed a new throw for fall.

I immediately found one in a lovely burnt orange—I believe the technical Williams Sonoma Home term for the color was “Autumn Glaze”. Oh yes. That was the one.

Then I caught a glimpse of the price tag. Whoa! More than I wanted to spend, but my new throw was worth it, right? It would keep me warm all winter, right?

When it came time to check out, I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. Yes, those ads were wonderful, but what they didn’t show was how my new throw would most likely become my little handsome Ralph’s snuggle buddy. Somehow I don’t think spending hours picking the little white puppy furs off of alpaca was the activity the ads had in mind.

So off to Target I will go in search of a less expensive alternative. My wallet (and husband!) will thank me for it. Maybe not Ralph, though.

-Cara

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1 Just a Thought: Why Recline?

As Realtors, Eric & I parade through dozens of homes per week, and we are always intrigued when we happen upon a home theater. While a home theater is a fun bonus, I commonly find myself slightly disappointed when I walk away.

I like the idea of a fun gathering place where friends and family can hang out and watch a movie together, and I adore the idea of Brad Pitt’s face plastered across an entire wall of a room. So what’s the deal?

Then it hit me—it’s the abundance of leather recliners. Don’t get me wrong. If a recliner floats your boat, I’m on board, but why limit yourself and your home theater?

Check out the swanky home theater below. Here they used chaises for ultimate relaxation and even worked in leather with a comfy couch…


Just a thought.

-Cara

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