Saturday, November 14th, 2009
The Home Stylist has been doing a monthly e-newsletter since 2004. (yep – 5 years)
Are you a subscriber? Do you want to get the fabulous e-zine/e-newsletter/blog-o-letter?
It comes to you once a month (on the first of the month) right to your e-mail box. And the best part? It is FREE.
You get additional decorating ideas, home staging tips, more fun before and after photos and cool new trends or websites to check out.
Want to join? (don’t worry I won’t share you e-mail with anyone)
Look for the button on upper right corner of our website: www.thehomestylist.com
Thanks!
Thursday, November 12th, 2009
As you have seen from previous posts, I recently volunteered at Extreme Makeover Home Edition when it came to the Buffalo, NY area.
One of the rules when you sign up as a volunteer is "NO CAMERAS". I certainly understand that because if all the volunteers brought a camera you would get nothing done. So…true confessions…I took a few discreet photos with my camera phone. PLEASE don’t tell.
Yeah – I know they are not the greatest photos but they are taken on the sly remember?
The "blue shirts" (aka volunteers) finishing the demolition of the house. See the camera above them?
More blue shirts pulling the salvage materials out of the way.
Ty talking to the family on the video camera.
See Paige wearing a pink hardhat and vest?
I hope to have more sneaky photos later. Be sure to check back.
Wednesday, November 11th, 2009
This week the TV show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition was in my town, Buffalo New York. If this wonderful event comes to your area and you are thinking about volunteering, here are a couple pointers for you:
1. You need to be 18 years or older. This is a construction site and really not the place for children. In most cases, there is a public viewing area where you can all watch but if you want to work, get a sitter.
2. You must wear proper clothes. This includes closed toe shoes – not sandals, flip flops etc. This is not the place to wear your best clothes. You will be sweating, painting and working hard. Keep the jewelry at home too. This should be self explanatory on a construction site but I guess not.
3. You only get one EMHE t-shirt. If you come back for a second day, you need to wash it and wear it again.
4. You do have to wear the provided hardhat but those are returned at the end of the work day.
5. Don’t bring a purse or backpack. You’ll need ID to check in but just slip what you need into your pockets. They provide water bottles, snacks and meals so you can travel light.
6. You can not interfere with the celebrities or camera crew – as in "no autographs" and "no cameras". If all the volunteers asked for autographs and took photos, no one would get any work done. (OK true confession time – my phone has a camera so I did very discreetly took a couple quick photos. I felt like any minute someone was going to confiscate it from me)
7. The more hours, days, and times you offer to help; the more chances you will have of being asked to help. If your assignment is not at the main house, please still go. It is such a worthwhile project and the show’s celebrities visit those off site places too.
8. Don’t be surprised if they have to do several takes of a scene as in "knock on the family’s door" or "move that bus". Yes, they retake those if necessary. It is show business baby
It was a wonderful experience. I highly recommend getting involved !!
Tuesday, November 10th, 2009
This week the TV show, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition was in Buffalo, NY. Buffalo is often called "the city of Good Neighbors" and the proof is the Buffalo show has had more volunteer sign ups then in any other city in the county. The extra workers meant that extra properties, not just the selected TV house, can have mini-makeovers. In the surrounding blocks; yards were raked, porches were painted, and new roofs put on. This neighborhood had definitely seen better times and finally got a much deserved boost.
I was fortunate enough to help them on Monday. I was assigned to the "community revitalization team". Yes, I raked lawns and scraped old paint off a house. I was a part of something that could possible turn that whole area around. The team I was on was proud to do this work and felt great about our contributions.
Not to diminish this part of the day in any way but…
A little before lunch our group was asked to be extras in a scene the on-site director was shooting. In the scene, Ty Pennington was demonstrating how a piece of furniture will be made and included in the new house. They blocked out the scene, rehearsed, tweaked, and re-shot the scene a couple of times. In two of the takes, Ty was standing right beside me! Yep – I was elbow to elbow with him! And yes, he is as energetic and goofy as he appears to be.
In case you didn’t know – No, he does not do a lot of the physical manual labor but he did seem to know a lot about the woodworking and creative process that goes into creating a room. (above photo not taken by me)
With all my luck, my part will be on the cutting room floor but that’s OK. Helping the area, assisting those who need help and just being part of this terrific program was enough for me.
It was a great day. I definitely plan on going back later in the week. I’ll keep you posted.
Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009
Quite a while ago I met a lovely woman named Karen for lunch. She wanted some advice on starting her own interior redesign and home staging business.
As a result of this Business Consultation with The Home Stylist, she launched her own company and now her own blog to go along with it. (I love helping people find their bliss – and make it profitable)
Please welcome Karen to the fun and challenging world of blogging about redesign and staging – and life. She has great enthusiasm and great talent.
Please check Karen’s blog out: "Yeah, that works..!"
Julie
Tuesday, October 27th, 2009
Not long ago I was contacted by a company to review a product and then to blog about it. I told them -fine I would love to as long as I can be totally honest. Within days the product was in my mailbox. (I think it is a good sign when a company has no fear about what their customers will say)
Around my own my home, I select the paint colors and my husband paints. He is a very particular (that is a good thing) and very frugal (that also is a good thing). He always does the job correctly and with great care.
We needed to repaint the mantel in our living room. As the focal point of the room, it needed to look great. I picked Benjamin Moore’s King Arthur’s Court 1081. He used a 2.5" angled Purdy brand paint brush. If you have ever painted a shelf you know what a pain it is -sides, top, underside etc . The Prudy paint brush worked beautifully. It brushed the paint on smoothly, was easy to clean and it just handled like a quality product should. I liked that it came with a cover to keep it in.
What did my finicky, budget-minded hubby say about it ? "This paint brush is one you take care of because it will last for forever"
(hey wait a minute - he says the same thing about me!)
Julie
