Kit Davey, Interior Designer
18 Years in business - Over 2,600 homes transformed!
Newsletter: Spring 2007
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Contents:
1) Quote
2) Interesting Websites
3) Recipe
4) Wrap up
5) Clutter Reduction
6) Need a Realtor?
7) Special Classes
8) Bet you didn't know
1) Quote of the Quarter:
“Why should we use our creative power? Because there is nothing that makes people so generous, joyful, lively, bold and compassionate.”
Brenda Ueland.
2) Fun Websites to visit:
- Angieslist.com is a word of mouth network for finding services you might need for the repair or remodel of your home. If you become a member you have access to the service listings, which can only be submitted by a consumer---not by a service provider. You can submit good and bad reports on those services (and read what others have said, too).
- FoundMagazine.com. Are you one of those people who loves finding things on the ground? Well, there is a great website (and a book, too) devoted to sharing stuff people find. People send in photos, shopping lists, love notes, signs---whatever. The site posts a “Find of the day”, and has a huge archive of the strange and touching objects that give you a glimpse into the lives of strangers.
- GiveSomethingBack.com sells and delivers business products for less and donates the profits back to the community. They’ve donated over $3,000,000 to worthy causes since their inception. If you need anything for your home office, or the company you work for is open to conscious spending, please purchase your office supplies from this site!
3) Recipe
Fast, Easy Chicken Mole
Ingredients:
1-13 oz. jar of Trader Joe’s Red Mole
1-lb.chopped chicken (already boiled, broiled, fried or otherwise cooked)
Directions: In a medium-sized pot, dump all ingredients and cook over medium heat. Stir until hot enough to eat. Serve with brown or white rice, couscous or other grain.
4) Do an End of Year Wrap-Up
Here’s a way to stay on track for the coming year:
- Review last year’s calendar and make a list of accomplishments. No matter how small or large, every achievement goes on the list. It’s surprising how long the list can be!
- Jot down “disappointments” for the past year and what you learned from them. Usually this list is short, and by the time you analyze what you gained from the experiences, they are no longer disappointments.
- Make a list of your desired outcomes for the coming year, by category: Health/Fitness, Social/Relationship, Career/Work, Spiritual, Emotional/Personal Growth, and Financial. Keep the list in your calendar and review it once a week to keep on track.
5) Tips: Clutter Reduction
- Don’t buy books CD’s or DVD’s. They are available at the library for free. Or, you can set up a regular trade with friends.
- Tame the junk mail monster: Visit www.recycleworks.org/junkmail for tips and links to stop the deluge.
Make a mini “COMPACT”. I read about a group of people who committed to stop buying new stuff as a life style. The article is posted at: www.sfgate.com/cgibin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/02/13/BAGH3H7DH71.DTL. They permitted the purchase of food, gas, hygiene items, and buying second hand at the flea market, garage sales, Goodwill, etc. Why not try NOT BUYING ANY- THING NEW for a week or a month and see what happens? Here are some Web links to the Compact: groups.yahoo.com/group/thecompact and sfcompact.blogspot.com.
- Set up a donation spot in your home. Pick a shelf in a closet, a box by the back door or somewhere in the garage to place donations. When you run into anything that you don’t like, haven’t used for a year or more, is a duplicate, or doesn’t fit, walk it to your donation spot. Put the box in your car when it’s full and deliver it when convenient, or call to have it picked up.
- Are you a collector? Pick a number and stick with it. If you find yourself with too many pairs of socks, hangers, pens, bags with handles, or whatever, ask yourself how many do I really need in order to function? Pick a number that you vow to maintain and donate or give away the excess. If you find yourself accumulating more, then you know you must relinquish some in order to maintain your number.
6) Need a Realtor?
If you are thinking of selling your home and don’t have a Realtor, give me a call. As a stager, I work with the most qualified and experienced agents on the Peninsula. I am happy to refer you: 650-367-7370.
7) Special Class: "Stage Your Home For Sale: How to Maximize Your Profits"
Wednesday, Feb. 28, 7:00-9:00 pm.
Thinking of selling your home in the next few months or years? Find out how to invest your time, money and energy so your home sells quickly at the highest possible price. You'll learn what potential buyers are looking for in a new home, which improvements and updates give you the most bang for the buck, how to give your home "curb appeal" and how to stage each room of your house.
To be held at Foothill College,
12345 Moody Road.
Los Altos Hills.
Cost: $39, plus $5 materials fee payable in class.
To register on line: www.shortcourses.fhda.edu, or by phone: 408- 864-8817
Decorating Class: "Room ReDesign:
Take Your Home from Blah to Beautiful in 8 Hours or Less!”
Wednesday, April 18, 7:00-9:00 pm. Learn how to redecorate your house by creatively rearranging the furniture and artwork you already own. You'll discover how to define your personal style, how to create new furniture arrangements, and how to balance a room with color. Quick, easy accessorizing techniques for bookcases, artwork and displaying collections will also be shared.
To be held at Foothill College,
12345 Moody Rd.,
Los Altos Hills.
Fee: $39, plus $7 materials fee, payable in class.
To register by phone, call (408) 864-8817.
To register on line, go to: www.shortcourses.fhda.edu.
8) Did you know?
I can consult with you on how to give your home curb appeal, give you ideas and a plan for landscaping your front or back yards, help you select interior and exterior paint colors for your home or help you organize your home office or any other area that causes you stress. Call to set up an appointment: 650-367-7370.