Cool it Down

Am I killing you with my blog post titles that  are songs? In recent posts, I have referenced the Jackson 5, Melissa Etheridge, Bob Marley and now New Edition.  My life will be complete when I work in ABBA, Bon Jovi and Elvis. You know I will make this happen.

I'm in the market for a new fridge.  I am not sure my husband is aware of this yet, and I guess this post will test whether he is actually reading the blog, as he swears he does "all the time."  But my gorgeous, shiny new stainless steel stove is making a mockery of my poor, downtrodden, 1980s side-by-side Winter White refrigerator.  Here she is:

To be fair, I have updated the fridge a bit.  When we moved in, the handles were faux wood grain, which, in the words of Sue Sylvester from Glee "would not stand."  I grabbed some oil-based high gloss Rust-o-leum and painted over the handles to make them white.  Much better.  Still ... the fridge is old and has seen better days.  It may take some serious convincing to get a purchase, which is why I'm doing my research now.

There is an endless array of fridge styles these days.  Top-freezer, bottom-freezer, side-by-side and french doors round out the list.  Below is a round-up of the fridge styles, with my thinking on them.

* Top Freezer * This is one of the older tried and true styles of refrigerator freezers.  Price wise, these are the least expensive.  They are pretty much standard: fridge on bottom; freezer on top; end of story.  I like that the fridge is accessible to the kids, so they can run in and grab their pudding, cheese, grapes and don't always need my help.

* Bottom Freezer * The design of the bottom freezer models makes a lot more sense: you access the refrigerator and the foods therein much more than the frozen stuff, so why give the freezer prime real estate in the device?  I am not sold on this style though - I find it a little awkward.  And with the kids, I'm not keen on the freezer being at their level.  I have visions of Flick on A Christmas Story, I guess.

* Side by Side * This is what we have now, and I am used to it.  I like that there is ample space on both the freezer and fridge side.  It is also a great choice for a slim space, which is what we have.  The kids can reach the fridge easily.  The big cons are it's the least energy efficient style and it is so darn narrow.  It would be nice to have a wider refrigerator to store larger items.  Like delicious cakes. Delicious cakes from Costco.

* French Door * Finally, the newest style on the market, the french door refrigerator.  Jamie just bought one of these for her new place and ohmygosh, talk about swoon-worthy. It combines the really great points of a bottom freezer and a side-by-side all in one.  Jamie's model even has a special spot in the freezer for frozen pizzas and has all the bells and whistles you can imagine (seriously - I think the fridge has actual bells and whistles) .  Hello?  This style tends to be on the larger side, which is a worry of mine.

So I'm stuck.  I am not sure which type to go with.  I would love for you to weigh in on the refrigerator that you have and its pros and cons. And hey, while you're at it, advise me on which style is best for what I want and need!

See you swoon,

All the trimmings

A few weeks ago, I blogged about how different tones of wood flooring can completely change up a space.  Up today is a similar concept with another wood item: trim.  Does anyone really like painting trim?  Really?  Ugh.  I groan just thinking about it.  In the hierarchy of painting, walls are best; trim and ceilings are at the bottom.   But for something that is so tedious to paint, the impact that it has in a room is worth the effort.  Here are a slew of different rooms with different color trim.

White: white is the classic, traditional choice (and the favorite of yours truly).  It makes the woodwork pop and instantly makes a space feel crisp and clean.  Whites can run the gamut from pure bright white to a softer cream.  Choose whichever you like.  You really cannot go wrong with white.

Natural Wood: Notice how stark the contrast is between the above white trimmed rooms and the rooms below.  These natural wood trims give off a warm rustic, yet polished vibe.  If you have this kind of trim, choosing the right wall color is absolutely crucial.  Whereas white trim will work with nearly ever color in the rainbow, wood is a bit trickier.  But when it works, the payoff is huge.

Monotone Wall & Trim Color: And then there are rooms where the trim is the same color as the woodwork.  This is tricky.  When done well, it can knock it out of the park. When not done well ... well, it's pretty grim.  But as you can see in these rooms below, the perfect appointments and decor will make the trim color a non-issue.

Where do you fall on the great trim divide?

See you swoon,

{Images courtesy of (from top):  Dwelement.com; ths.gardenweb.com; vincent furniture;country living, real simple, my notting hill}

Would you give a gift card?

I know this is crazy to think about but the holiday season is upon us and I need your opinions as this time of year approaches.

I personally love gift cards and would be happy with any kind, store gift cards, visa gift cards, whatever you want, I do not discriminate. As I get ready to start thinking about gift giving for the season I cannot help but stop and wonder if everyone feels this way too.

I know gift cards are considered impersonal but to me they are the gift of shopping and having the chance to choose an item that I absolutely love. I get the opportunity to pick an item, think about it and buy it when I am ready, not just by deadline because a holiday is fast approaching. This is not only one gift but an entire experience as you spend the day with your hot cup of coffee browsing items that could be yours and relaxing and escaping from reality for a bit.

What I want to know from you is how you feel about this, do you feel comfortable giving gift cards or not? Either way, tell me why you like or dislike them, I am very curious to hear all of your thoughts on this!

See you swoon,

Home Swoon Home: Hot Hot Hot!

In my next few posts I will be showing you my home just like Shanna has and will do this week, but today I will bring you into my fireplace obsession and show you all the ideas that I have swirling in my mind. Right now I have a wall of exposed brick which I love but I always have the desire just to tweak things just a bit, not even a brick wall can stop me.

Right now I just have one full brick wall that I would like to alter into a design similar to the pictures below. I have grand plans to add two long windows on either side to let the light come in and brighten up the space. There are many tricks I have up my sleeve to make this space warm and inviting but they will have to wait for the warmer weather to make an appearance again so stay tuned (that is if my husband allows me to cut a few holes in the wall).

So which fireplace do you like best?

See you swoon,

Home Swoon Home: Rugs

I have been very grateful for the past few days, they have been nice and warm and have made me forget how cold my house is without rugs! I now have a rug in the bedroom which has made a huge difference and I have also been lucky to find a beautiful Anthropologie rug on sale for my front "sitting room". I am not creating the typical sitting room with a formal setting, my style has more of a comfortable, very lived in feel.

So here you will see the jute/straw rug that I had shown in in my IKEA blog, this one is in our bedroom. The second is the Anthropologie rug and the last couple are some I am considering for the dining room and long entryway.

Let me know what you think and if you have any ideas that we can use to help keep our tootsies warm!

Ikea Tarnby Rug

Anthropologie Meandering Meadow Rug

Pottery Barn Fringed-Hand Loomed Rug

Home Decorators Lauren Area Rug

See you swoon,

What "Wood" You Do?

Whoever loves hardwoods, raise your hand! I think almost everyone loves a beautiful hardwood floor.  They are gorgeous, instantly update a space and are super easy to keep clean (especially if you have pets and kids and/or allergies).  If you notice, though, all hardwoods are not created equal: certain colors of stain can make a room feel incredibly different.  Below are four different color stains - notice how big of an impact they have on the feel of each space.

Dark Stain

Dark stained hardwoods (usually a walnut) feel modern to me.  I love them, and they are probably my favorite color of wood floors.  I have heard they're not as easy to keep clean and show a bit more dirt and dust-bunnies (or fur) than a more medium toned floor.  I just love how crisp the trim and wall color appears next to the darker floor.

Light Stain

Light stained floors (beech or birch) feel modern, cottage and beachy to me.  They're my second favorite floor stain, and I love how clean they look.  They instantly lighten and brighten a space, making the room feel larger and more airy.  I think lighter colors on the wall and furnishings work particularly well with this color floor.

Medium Stain

Next up is the medium stained hardwoods (oak).  These are probably the most common color out there.  They're so versatile and work nicely with any kind of furnishings, from country to modern and cottage to contemporary.  They are a breeze to keep clean because, well, let's face it: the dirt just sort of blends into the floor color.

Red Stain

Last but not least is the red stained floor (cherry).  These are stunning and really warm up a space.  They make a room feel cozy and comfy and add a layer of depth to all of the other tones working in a room.  I think warm colors work best with these floors: creams instead of whites, beiges instead of grays.

Which color floor is your favorite?

See you swoon,

{images courtesy of decorpad.com, cococozy.com, archiexpo.com, blog.dennisandsarah.com, cpluxurycondo.com, dosoates.blogspot.com, genuinestyle.net, blog.wyldfires.com}

Home Swoon Home: Tips for Sellers

Having had my house on the market for over two months, I consider myself pretty well-versed in staging and selling.  Essentially, you are offering up your home on a silver platter to potential buyers.  Here are my tips to survive the process.

* Choose your real estate agent wisely.   In a buyer's market like the one we are in now, the right agent is absolutely key.  Find out how s/he negotiates; research the other homes s/he has listed; ask his/her strategies for marketing.  Don't worry about being aggressive or pushy: you are dealing with your home - a huge investment.

* Do a pre-sale inspection.  It is such a wise investment to have an inspector walk through your home and tell you the issues that will come up in a buyer's inspection.  This way, you can adjust your sales price and your bottom line and also have a realistic idea of what you will be facing from your buyer.  Definitely take advantage and make as many repairs as you can while you can.

* Keep the house showing ready every single day.  Yes, most buyers will give a day or two notice before a showing, but some do not.  In our case, around 4 pm one day, an agent drove by with her clients and asked for an immediate showing.  You just never know.

* Offer incentives.  A home warranty is an inexpensive (@$500) bonus to a buyer.  Another idea is to offer a bonus to an agent who gets in an accepted offer by a certain date.  Yes, you want to appeal to buyers, but you want to get the house on their agents' radars, too.

* Do an appraisal.  It is a good idea to have your own home appraised before the house goes up for sale.  Base your price on this amount and hand it on over to the buyers.  In a market where low-ball offers abound, having a black and white justification for your asking price is a sound idea.

* Talk to friends who have been through it.  One thing that made my selling experience a brighter one was knowing I could talk to a few friends who have been through the selling process.  It is incredibly stressful: more stressful than anything I have ever done in my life (this includes all schools, the Bar exam, childbirth, trials ...).  Talking to someone who's been there, done that and is a calm, reassuring, validating voice of support and reason helps tremendously.

There you go! Just a few tips from me on surviving the selling process. If you are selling, I wish you much luck and a quick and easy sale!

See you swoon,

Yay or Nay: Gifts for Parents at the Wedding

I am going to go with a huge YES on this. Not only is a wedding one of the most important days in a bride and groom's life but it is for their parents who helped to raise them and get them to this happy occasion.

One of my favorite gift ideas to give is the parents photo album. They can be purchased in your photography package and parents love receiving them so that they can share the photos along with you. They will probably look at this album just as much as you and if you get it in a smaller size they can carry it around with them to share with everyone that was not in attendance on the big day.

Another gift idea I love is a hotel night stay in the city and you could always couple it with a gift card to a local restaurant for them to have a relaxing night on the town after the crazy days leading up to the wedding. They will not have a honeymoon like most couples so a night to unwind may be the perfect gift to step back, take a deep breath and reminisce.

Anything that shows your parents you appreciate all they have done for you is meaningful. Even though this is your big day you would never be there without them, the fact that you stopped to think about them will be a beautiful gift in itself.

So here is my question, did you extend a gift to your parents and if so what did you give? I am always up for hearing fun gift ideas!

See you swoon,

Trolley v. Limo

If you are planning a wedding that involves more than one location, soon enough you will have to decide how to get your wedding party and yourself from point A to point B.  Two of the most popular methods of transportation are limos and trolleys.  How do decide which is right for you is simply a matter of personal preference and budget of course.

* LIMO*

Who doesn't turn into a giddy little kid when they get into a limo?  Even as adults, there is something so fun and fancy about stepping into a stretch limousine.  Limos are typically less expensive than trolleys, but if you have a larger bridal party, you may have to rent two of them.   One challenge with a limo is getting in and out.  It's easy enough for bridesmaids and the guys, but a bride with a veil and very full gown may have a bit of a hard time getting in and out.  Most limo drivers will help with this.  You can listen to music and belt it out with your friends and no one will be the wiser - the windows will keep you hidden from view of other cars.  Also, when you arrive at the ceremony location, your guests will not be able to see you in a limo.

* TROLLEY *

I am partial to trolleys because I had one for my wedding.  If you have a large bridal party and want to keep guys and girls together after the ceremony, a trolley is a great choice.  A trolley is fun and festive - when again will you have a chance to ride in one?  I think it is a little easier for a bride to get in and out of a trolley than a limo because it's larger and higher off the ground. However, trolleys are typically a little more pricey than limos and cannot travel as fast.

Which is your choice? Either way, you cannot go wrong.

See you swoon,

Coworkers at Wedding - Yay or Nay?

Deciding on whether to invite your co-workers to your wedding can be a very tough decision. You want to be sure not to offend anyone that you have to see every day but you also have think about your wallet too!  Of course everyone has a different situation and relationship with their colleagues so this is not completely black and white but I can at least share my opinion with you.
Speaking from personal experience, I did not invite any of my co-workers to my wedding, not because I was not close with some of them but because I did not want there to be any hard feelings from those who I was not close with but had to work closely with every day.  So to avoid an conflict I decided that going with none or all was for me, and non it was.  Co-workers should understand this, unless of course some of your co- workers are your best friends.
The other thing I took into consideration was whether I wanted to spend some of my precious wedding budget on inviting people I was not close with and look back on pictures of people I would probably not have in my life for the long term.  I would have loved to invite a couple friends from my former job `since I do still talk to a couple of them but looking back on it now I know I made the best decision for my situation.
So what are your thoughts?  Have you invited work friends to your wedding or are you thinking about it now?
See you swoon,

Cleaning Your House For Sale?

As of the date of this post: day 44 that my house has been on the market.  You could say at this point I am a bona fide expert at keeping my house in tip top, perfectly clean, showing shape.  For those of you in the same {miserable, anxiety-ridden} boat, here are some of my tips for keeping your home absolutely showing-worthy each day.

* Borax *

You've probably passed Borax in the laundry detergent aisle and never gave it a second look.  I love this stuff.  Aside from being pretty darn eco-friendly, it has a host of uses for your home.  I use it for scrubbing smelly trashcans, polishing the utility sink in the basement, getting stains out of rugs (just dab onto the stain), deodorizing diaper pails, and sanitizing a garbage disposal (simply drop a few tablespoons down the disposal  and run).  You can also use it to make your own laundry detergent, which will be a feature of a future post.

* Tilex Daily Shower Cleaner*

I am usually a big proponent of eco-friendly cleaners, but I have to admit that I haven't been ascribing to that when selling my house.  I have to clean my shower and tub every day before I leave for work: so I reach for convenience and effectiveness.  Enter the Tilex Fresh Shower daily shower spray. Love-This.  I spray it in the shower surround, shower doors, fixtures and tub each day after our showers, wipe with a towel and it's done.  It works so well - I recommend for daily use even when not trying to sell a house!

* Murphy's Oil Soap Spray *

I have hardwood floors and use this spray every few days.  It is terrific: it polishes and cleans the floors but doesn't leave them slippery or sticky.  It makes them shine beautifully.  This stuff lasts for quite a while: a little bit goes a long way.

* Bath and Body Works Wallflowers *

I have these Bath and Body Works Wallflowers (scented oils that you plug into an outlet) all over my house.  I want to make sure the house smells good and homey. I use cinnamon or pumpkin scents - something that smells like baking vs. a too cloying scent like a floral or something too sweet.  Believe it or not, we have gotten great feedback in our showings on how the house smells!  If you have pets or children, I recommend these all the more: try as you may to keep the house smelling super clean, it's harder if you have little ones in your home.

There you go!  A few tips from the trenches on keeping your home clean and bright in a jiffy.  Got any tips that I missed? I'd love to hear.

See you swoon,

{note: none of the above products or companies have paid or comped us for mentioning them today}

To Be Heard or Not To Be Heard?

A friend of mine just recently got married and one of the issues she was having with ceremony was that the priest insisted on her wearing a microphone during the vows and entire ceremony so everyone could here what was going on.  Although as a guest it is nice to hear what is going on, in my opinion, and speaking from experience, the vows do not need to be heard by everyone in the audience.  I agree it is special to hear the bride and groom sharing these special words that they will more than likely say once to each other but when it comes down to it, the only thing that matters is that they are heard by the bride and groom.
So since I could not make this special occassion I have yet to find out whether she broke down and wore the microphone which she had been completely opposed to or if she put her foot down and decided that she did not mind if she and her groom were the only pair that heard the vows.
What do you think about this?  Would you be the type to go for the amplified sound or would you keep quiet?
See you swoon,

Yay or Nay: Wedding Program?

If you have been to a wedding or two, chances are you have been handed a program before a ceremony.  Typically, wedding programs will give guests a play by play of the ceremony, including the order of the ceremony, a description of the different rites or traditions and the names and roles of the wedding party.  Some programs are simple one sheet papers, while others are multi-page booklets with information to spare.

Some couples forego the program entirely, especially if they are having a very short ceremony.  Others would never dream of it.   In my view, programs are wonderful but are not always necessary.  In most ceremonies, I would provide something for guests so that they know what to expect.  As a guest, it is nice to have something to hold and read while waiting for the start of the ceremony and even during it.  However, if the ceremony is short and sweet or the guest list is small and intimate, programs are hardly a necessity.  The choice is entirely up to the bride and groom.

What are your thoughts? Wedding program: yay or nay?

See you swoon,


(image courtesy of The Knot)