#AboutYourHouse News: Inside #AdamLevine’s Hollywood Hills Home. Wish I loved it more. U? #interiordesign http://t.co/zm68BfrC

This image was twitted on Thursday, January 1st, 1970 @ 00:00

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From the amazing site Marc and Angel Hack Life

There is one key factor that can either damage your relationships or deepen them.  That factor is your attitude.  If you’re hoping to grow and maintain positive relationships in your life, read on.  Below you will find a 20 step attitude adjustment guaranteed to help you do just that.

1. Stop holding grudges. – Grudges are a waste of perfect happiness.
2. Stop complaining. – Instead, use your time and energy to do something about it.
3. Stop meaning what you don’t say. – People can’t read minds.  Communicate regularly and effectively.
4. Stop making it all about you. – The world revolves around the sun, not you. Take a moment to acknowledge this truth on a regular basis.
5. Stop lying. – In the long-run the truth always reveals itself.  Either you own up to your actions or your actions will ultimately own you.
6. Stop blaming. – Blaming others accomplishes nothing.  Either you own your problems, or they will own you.  Your choice.  When you blame others for what you’re going through, you deny responsibility – you give-up your power over that part of your life, and you annoy everyone around you in the process.
7. Stop doubting. – If you think that you can’t achieve something, I have some news for you, you’re probably right.  But don’t let your self-doubt interfere with other people’s dreams.  Remember, the one who says it can’t be done should never interrupt the one doing it.  (Read Unstoppable.)
8. Stop interrupting. – Correcting someone when they’re blatantly wrong is one thing, but always interjecting your opinions out of turn gets old fast.
9. Stop being selfish. – You get what you put into a relationship.  Nothing less, nothing more.
10. Stop judging. – Everyone is fighting their own unique war. You have no clue what they are going through, just like they have no clue what you’re going through.
11. Stop gossiping. – Gossiping about others is a lose/lose situation.  It hurts them, and then it hurts your reputation.
12. Stop making promises you can’t keep. – Don’t over-promise.  Over-deliver on everything you do.
13. Stop being defensive. – Just because someone sees something differently than you doesn’t mean either one of you is wrong.  Keep an open mind.  Open minds discover great things.
14. Stop comparing people to others. – No two people are alike.  Everyone has their own strengths.  We are only competing against our own selves.
15. Stop expecting people to be perfect. – ‘Perfect’ is the enemy of ‘good.’  And genuine ‘goodness’ is hard to find in this world.  Don’t overlook it.
16. Stop trying to be everything to everyone. – It’s impossible.  But making one person smile can change the world.  Maybe not the whole world, but their world.  So narrow your focus.
17. Stop screwing people over just because you can get away with it. – Just because you can get away with something doesn’t mean you should do it.  Think bigger.  Do what you know in your heart is right. (Read Life’s Greatest Lessons.)
18. Stop making mountains out of molehills. – People make mistakes.  Crap happens.  There’s no reason to stress out yourself and everyone around you because of it.  One way to check if something is worth mulling over is to ask yourself this question: “Will this matter in one year’s time?”  If not, then it’s not worth worrying about.
19. Stop being dramatic. – Stay out of other people’s drama and don’t needlessly create your own.
20. Stop giving out advice, and just listen. – Less advice is often the best advice.  People don’t need lots of advice, they need a listening ear and some positive reinforcement.  What they want to know is already somewhere inside of them.  They just need time to think, be and breathe, and continue to explore the undirected journeys that will eventually help them find their direction.

And remember, your relationship with yourself is the closest and most important relationship you will ever have.  So pay attention to it, develop it, nurture it, and never, ever stop.

Love Yourself; Love Your House

#AboutYourHouse News: Inside #AdamLevine’s Hollywood Hills Home. Wish I loved it more. U? #interiordesign http://t.co/zm68BfrC

This image was twitted on Thursday, January 1st, 1970 @ 00:00

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Here are my favorite tips for getting maximum value from your design professional:

When working with an architect, interior designer, contractor, landscape designer, or craftsperson:

•              Be clear and communicative about expectations and desires.

•              Do your homework.  Know what you like and what you don’t like.  Be clear on your needs—from wine storage to shelves for your collection of first editions; from dog beds to closet space; from bathroom lighting to a home office.

•              Pay attention, take notes, and listen.  Be willing to perhaps expand your original plan to make it better, bigger, and more satisfying.

•              You’ll be working directly with the designer, who will in turn work directly with a team of specialists, from design assistants to general contractors or architects, tile-layers, painters, and many craftspeople.  The designer will also be ordering fabrics, working with showrooms, and juggling every aspect of the project.   Mistakes can happen. Custom-crafted goods invite the possibility of error, an incorrect measurement or color, a misunderstanding, the wrong beige, a toast-colored wall covering instead of rich cream.  It’s important to have a sense of humor and trust that the designer will make it all work out.

•              Stick to your guns.  Allowing yourself to be talked into something you don’t like—only to decide later you can’t live with it—can be disastrous.  Avoid being wishy-washy and indecisive, and especially don’t change your mind repeatedly.  It’s unnerving to the designer and it can be a nightmare when plans, paint, plumbing, plaster, or tile work has to be redone.

•              An architect or designer is an advisor who does not, ultimately have the final decision.  They do not sign the checks; you do.

•              It’s a creative process.  Stay the course, and remain emotionally involved.

•              Observe with optimism. Be patient.  Creative people are working hard to make you happy.  Don’t antagonize the decorator, and always assume the best.

•              Pay in a timely and considerate manner.

•              Be accountable to all your decisions.  Don’t rush out and buy major antiques, furniture, or art without first discussing it with your designer.

•              Be cautious and pay attention.  Try out fabric samples, paint swatches, and furniture pieces to ensure that you can live with them.  For example, I recommend having two dining room chair samples brought in, if possible. It’s easier to imagine ten chairs with two in front of you.  Spend a week living with a painting or a sculpture.  Spontaneity is fine, but it’s best not to rush major decisions.

•              Minimize the element of surprise.  Don’t make decisions without considering all aspects of the design.

•              If you are not comfortable with a designer’s plans or decisions, make a graceful exit only after considerable thought  Keep the parting amicable and perhaps even open-ended.

•              Your taste should not be steamrolled, but it is also not your job to demean the designer, his or her staff, and their taste or ideas.  The goal is to create beautiful rooms; it’s not a challenge to see who “wins” every decision.

a•              Try not to comment until everything sin place: that is, until the rooms are finished, and the furniture is correctly placed.  Don’t stand by the truck and critique.  Look at everything in context.  A sense of truly “working together” makes a project go well.

Love Yourself; Love Your House

#AboutYourHouse News: Inside #AdamLevine’s Hollywood Hills Home. Wish I loved it more. U? #interiordesign http://t.co/zm68BfrC

This image was twitted on Thursday, January 1st, 1970 @ 00:00

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From our friends at Marc and Angel Hack Life:

Here are 30 of the most satisfying simple pleasures life has to offer:

1. Sleeping In on a Rainy Day – As the rain beats lightly against the window, you nestle your head deeper into your pillow.  The sound is soothing and your bed feels like a sanctuary.  There is no place you would rather be.
2. Finding Money You Didn’t Know You Had – You reach into your pocket and find a $20 bill from the last time you wore these jeans.  You aren’t rich, but you are richer than you were a second earlier.
3. Making Brief Eye Contact with Someone of the Opposite Sex – You pass her on the street or in the subway.  She glances up at you momentarily, making direct eye contact in a way that seems to communicate a subtle curiosity.  For a split second it makes you think… and then it’s gone.
4. Skinny Dipping – There is something mysteriously liberating about being naked in a body of water.  You are naked, but it feels natural, a sense of unrefined freedom.
5. Receiving a Real Letter or Package via Snail Mail – E-mail has become the primary source of written communication.  Most snail mail these days is junk mail.  When you check the mail and find a real letter or package from someone you know, excitement overtakes you as you tear into this rare gift.
6. Making the Yellow Light – It’s one of the most common simple pleasures, the act of beating the pack.  As you blaze through the yellow light you glance in your rearview to see all the cars behind you stopping at the red light.  Yes!  You made it!
7. Telling a Funny or Interesting, True Story – One of the most enticing roles you lead in life is that of the storyteller.  You love to share stories, especially those that will captivate your audience with deep curiosity and humor.  There are few things more satisfying than telling a true story that others enjoy listening to.
8. Seeing a Friend Stumble Over Himself – As you walk across the street with your friend, he fails to accurately address the curb on the other side.  He trips and stumbles around momentarily before regaining his footing, then swiftly attempts to play it off like nothing happened.  This can be a hilarious sight if the moment is right.
9. Hearing the Right Song at the Right Moment – It doesn’t matter what the setting is, hearing the right song for that moment is one of those simple pleasures in life that instantly lifts your spirits. You could be driving home from work, hanging out at a bar with friends, or jogging. When the right song rattles your ear drums the entire meaning of life seems crystal clear.
10. The First Sip of a Beverage When You’re Thirsty – You just finished mowing the lawn or taking a long jog.  The only thing on your mind is an ice-cold glass of water.  When you are really, really thirsty, that first sip of any liquid beverage is sheer bliss.
11. Catching a Glimpse of Bare Skin on the Opposite Sex – For guys, it’s when the waitress bends over a little too far.  For girls it’s seeing that buff guy in a Speedo.  Either way, when you see a bit more skin than you were expecting on the opposite sex, you can’t help but to smirk on the inside.
12. Saying the Same Thing Simultaneously – There is a moment of silence.  Then all of the sudden you and your friend blurt out the same exact set of words simultaneously.  This rare occurrence is something to smile about.
13. The Pull-Through Parking Spot – You pull into a parking spot and are delighted to see the availability of the parking spot immediately in front of you.  You pull through to the spot in front so that when you return to the car you can drive forward out of the parking spot.  Why?  Because driving backwards is a pain in the butt.
14. Realizing You Have More Time to Sleep – Something abruptly awakens you and you think it’s time to get up.  Then you squint over at your alarm clock and realize you still have 2 more hours to sleep.  A warm euphoric feeling shoots though your body as you glide gracefully back to your dreams.
15. People Watching – Sitting there on your bench you can see people in every direction.  Tall people, small people, thin and plump.  Blond, brunette, and redhead alike.  Each of them has a different stride and a unique expression.  As you drift from body to body you are mesmerized by what you see.
16. Putting On Clothes Straight from the Dryer – As soon as the dryer buzzes, you pull out your clothes and put them on.  They feel soothingly warm on your skin and emit a fresh-scented aroma into the air.  A sentiment of ease comes over you as you head out to conquer the day.
17. A Familiar Smell – You just pulled into your parent’s driveway and opened the car door.  You haven’t been home in a long while.  You smell familiarity in the air, the scent of a large pine tree in the neighbor’s yard.  As you head through the front door, more familiar smells consume your senses.  Gosh, it feels good to be home…
18. The Feeling You Get When Your Idea Works – You have been struggling to resolve a complex problem all day and you just can’t seem to get it right.  Filled with frustration, you decide to exercise one last idea before calling it a night.  You’ve had many ideas before that failed miserably… but this time it works.
19. Fresh, Clean Bed Sheets – You yank at the corner of the bedspread to create just enough space to slide your body under the freshly cleaned sheets.  The sheets feel cool to the touch.  Everything seems so clean, like nobody has ever slept in this bed before.
20. A Beautiful View – As the car veers around the side of the mountain you gaze out the passenger window.  It’s a clear, sunny day and you can see the entire valley below filled with wild flowers and bright green vegetation.  The scenery reminds you of something you once saw in National Geographic.  But here it is live, right before your eyes.
21. Reminiscing About Old Times with Your Closest Friends – Pink Floyd once said “the memories of a man in his old age are the deeds of a man in his prime”.  There is no simple pleasure more satisfying than recounting the greatest moments of your life with your closest friends who lived these moments alongside you.
22. Receiving an Unexpected Compliment – It’s been an average day.  Nothing really great has happened, but nothing terrible occurred either.  This monotonous day has put you in a dreary mood.  Unexpectedly, an older, attractive lady taps you on the shoulder, calls you “handsome” and says she loves your shirt.  The day just got a whole lot better.
23. Having a Good Laugh – Laughter is the greatest cure of all.  Life is extraordinary in the moments when you are laughing so hard you can barely breathe.  These moments of deep laughter are divine in the sense that they cleanse your mood and set your mind on a positive track.
24. The Feeling After a Healthy Workout – It’s a giddy feeling of self accomplishment; the one true activity that actually makes you feel better and look better simultaneously. When you walk out the front door of the gym you are on top of the world.
25. The Celebration in the Instant Something Makes Sense – Even now that it has explained to you for the third time, you just don’t understand how it works.  Everyone else seems to understand but you.  Then out of the blue the dots connect in your mind.  You finally get it, and it feels great!
26. Relaxing Outdoors on a Sunny Day – As you relax sprawled out in a lawn chair, the sun warms your skin and a light breeze keeps the temperature comfortable.  Birds are chirping merrily in the trees behind you.  You are at complete peace with the environment.
27. Holding Hands with Someone You Love – Every time she grabs your hand you are overcome with an awareness of how much she means to you.  Holding hands is sensual and physically intimate, yet subtle.  There are few people you allow to hold your hand, so when it happens you can be sure that the moment is special.
28. Playing in the Water – Water marvels people of all ages.  From jumping in puddles as a child, to doing cannon balls in the pool as an adolescent, to enjoying a cocktail in the Jacuzzi as an adult… water is enjoyable.
29. Making Someone Smile – You notice that your colleague has been under a great deal of stress with meeting a deadline, so you take it upon yourself to complete one of her indirect responsibilities for her.   As soon as she realizes what you did, she comes into your office with a big smile on her face.  “Thank you”, she says.  You just hit two birds with one stone, because making her smile just made your day.
30. Finishing What You Started – You just finished up a big project you’ve been working on for the last few months, or maybe you just finished your first marathon… Either way, you finalized what you set out to accomplish.  The feeling of self accomplishment you get when you finish what you started is by far one of the most rewarding simple pleasures life has to offer.

A comprehensive list of life’s simple pleasures would be quite extensive.  My list represents those which are most satisfying to a sample of people in and around my life.  With a few sporadic exceptions, I believe these simple pleasures hold universal appeal.

Love Yourself; Love Your House

#AboutYourHouse News: Inside #AdamLevine’s Hollywood Hills Home. Wish I loved it more. U? #interiordesign http://t.co/zm68BfrC

This image was twitted on Thursday, January 1st, 1970 @ 00:00

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From the amazing site Marc and Angel Hack Life:

“When you stop chasing the wrong things, you give the right things a chance to catch you.

So starting today…

1. Give up trying to be perfect. – The real world doesn’t reward perfectionists, it rewards people who get things done.  Read Getting Things Done.
2. Give up comparing yourself to others. – The only person you are competing against is yourself.
3. Give up dwelling on the past or worrying too much about the future. – Right now is the only moment guaranteed to you.  Right now is life.  Don’t miss it.
4. Give up complaining. – Do something about it.
5. Give up holding grudges. – Grudges are a waste of perfect happiness.
6. Give up waiting. – What we don’t start today won’t be finished by tomorrow.  Knowledge and intelligence are both useless without action.
7. Give up lying. – In the long-run the truth always reveals itself.  Either you own up to your actions or your actions will ultimately own you.
8. Give up trying to avoid mistakes. – The only mistake that can truly hurt you is choosing to do nothing simply because you’re too scared to make a mistake.
9. Give up saying, “I can’t.” – As Henry Ford put it, “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you are right.”
10. Give up trying to be everything to everyone. – Making one person smile can change the world.  Maybe not the whole world, but their world.  Start small.  Start now.
11. Give up thinking you’re not ready. – Nobody ever feels 100% ready when an opportunity arises.  Because most great opportunities in life force us to grow beyond our comfort zones, which means we won’t feel totally comfortable at first.
12. Give up setting small goals for yourself. – Many people set small goals because they’re afraid to fail.  Ironically, setting these small goals is what makes them fail.
13. Give up trying to do everything by yourself. – You are the sum of the people you spend the most time with.  If you work together, you will be far more capable and powerful than you ever could have been alone.
14. Give up buying things you don’t need. – Manage your money wisely so your money does not manage you.  Do not spend to impress others.  Do not live life trying to fool yourself into thinking wealth is measured in material objects.  Read I Will Teach You To Be Rich.
15. Give up blaming others for your troubles. – The extent to which you can live your dream life depends on the extent to which you take responsibility for your life.  When you blame others for what you’re going through, you deny responsibility – you give others power over that part of your life.
16. Give up making mountains out of molehills. – One way to check if something is worth mulling over is to ask yourself this question: “Will this matter in one year’s time?  Three years?  Five years?  If not, then it’s not worth worrying about.
17. Give up trying to live up to the expectations of others. – Work on it for real and exceed your own expectations.  Everything else will fall into place.
18. Give up the ‘easy street’ mentality. – There is too much emphasis on finding a ‘quick fix’ in today’s society.  For example taking diet pills to lose weight instead of exercising and eating well.  No amount of magic fairy dust replaces diligent, focused, hard work.
19. Give up making promises you can’t keep. – Don’t over-promise.  Over-deliver on everything you do.
20. Give up letting your thoughts and feelings bottle up inside. – People are not mind readers.  They will never know how you feel unless you tell them.
21. Give up beating around the bush. – Say what you mean and mean what you say.  Communicate effectively.
22. Give up avoiding change. – However good or bad a situation is now, it will change.  That’s the one thing you can count on.  So embrace change and realize that change happens for a reason.  It won’t always be easy or obvious at first, but in the end it will be worth it.
23. Give up your sense of entitlement. – Nobody is entitled to anything in this world.  We are all equal.  We breathe the same air.  We get what we give.  We get what we earn.
24. Give up waiting until the last minute. – Those who fail to plan, plan to fail.
25. Give up being dramatic. – Stay out of other people’s drama and don’t needlessly create your own.
26. Give up being anti-athletic. – Get your body moving!  Simply take a long, relaxing walk or commit 30 minutes to an at-home exercise program like the P90X workout.
27. Give up junk food. – You are what you eat.  Read The 4-Hour Body.
28. Give up eating as a means of entertainment. – Don’t eat when you’re bored.  Eat when you’re hungry.
29. Give up foolish habits that you know are foolish. – Don’t text and drive.  Don’t drink and drive.  Don’t smoke.  Etc.
30. Give up relationships with people who bring you down. – Saying “no” to right people gives you the time and resources required to say “yes” to right opportunities.  Spend time with nice people who are smart, driven and likeminded.
31. Give up being shy. – Network with people.  Meet new people.  Ask questions.  Introduce yourself.
32. Give up worrying about what others think of you. – Unless you’re trying to make a great first impression (job interview, first date, etc.), don’t let the opinions of others stand in your way.  What they think and say about you isn’t important.  What is important is how you feel about yourself.
33. Give up trying to control everything. – Life is an unpredictable phenomenon.  No matter how good or bad things seem right now, we can never be 100% certain what will happen next.  So do you best with what’s in front of you and leave the rest to the powers above you.
34. Give up doing the same thing over and over again. – In order to grow, you must expand your horizons and break free of your comfort zone.  If you keep doing what you’re doing, you’ll keep getting what you’re getting.
35. Give up following the path of least resistance. – Life is not easy, especially when you plan on achieving something worthwhile.  Don’t find the easy way out.  Do something extraordinary.
36. Give up persistent multi-tasking. – Do one thing at a time and do it right.
37. Give up thinking others are luckier than you. – The harder you work, the luckier you will become.
38. Give up filling every waking moment with commitments and activities. – It’s okay to be alone.  It’s okay to do nothing sometimes.  Think.  Relax. Breathe.  Be.
39. Give up making emotional decisions. – Don’t let your emotions trump your intelligence.  Slow down and think things through before you make any life-changing decisions.
40. Give up doing the wrong things just because you can get away with it. – Just because you can get away with something doesn’t mean you should do it.  Think bigger.  Keep the end in mind.  Do what you know in your heart is right.
41. Give up focusing on what you don’t want to happen. – Focus on what you do want to happen.  Positive thinking is at the forefront of every great success story.  If you awake every morning with the thought that something wonderful will happen in your life today, and you pay close attention, you’ll often find that you’re right.
42. Give up taking yourself so seriously. – Few others do anyway.  So enjoy yourself and have a little fun while you can.
43. Give up spending your life working in a career field you’re notpassionate about. – Life is too short for such nonsense.  The right career choice is based on one key point: Finding hard work you love doing.  So if you catch yourself working hard and loving every minute of it, don’t stop.  You’re on to something big.  Because hard work ain’t hard when you concentrate on your passions.  Read The 4-Hour Workweek.
44. Give up thinking about the things you don’t have. – Appreciate everything you do have.  Many people aren’t so lucky.
45. Give up doubting others. – People who are determined do remarkable things.  Remember, the one who says it can’t be done should never interrupt the one doing it.
46. Give up fussing with every beauty product on the market. – Good looks attracts the eyes.  Personality attracts the heart.  Be proud to be you.  That’s when you’re beautiful.
47. Give up trying to fit in. – Don’t mold yourself into someone you’re not.  Be yourself.  Oftentimes, the only reason they want you to fit in is that once you do they can ignore you and go about their business.
48. Give up trying to be different for the sake of being different. – Nonconformity for the sake of nonconformity is conformity.  When people try too hard to be different, they usually end up being just like everyone else who is trying to be different.  Once again, be yourself.
49. Give up trying to avoid risk. – There’s no such thing as ‘risk free.’  Everything you do or don’t do has an inherent risk.
50. Give up putting your own needs on the back burner. – Yes, help others, but help yourself too.  If there was ever a moment to follow your passion and do something that matters to you, that moment is now.

And remember, mistakes make us human, failures help us grow, hope keeps us going and love is the reason we’re alive.  So keep learning, loving and living.  Never give up on yourself.”

#AboutYourHouse News: Inside #AdamLevine’s Hollywood Hills Home. Wish I loved it more. U? #interiordesign http://t.co/zm68BfrC

This image was twitted on Thursday, January 1st, 1970 @ 00:00

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Launching 01 APRIL, 2011

We launch the new website www.101ThingsIHateAboutYourHouse.com featuring everything you want to know about my new book, book tours, media events, TV and Radio appearances and my Personal Favorites Resource Center. We’ll have contests, daily blog postings, special guests and so much more.

#AboutYourHouse News: Inside #AdamLevine’s Hollywood Hills Home. Wish I loved it more. U? #interiordesign http://t.co/zm68BfrC

This image was twitted on Thursday, January 1st, 1970 @ 00:00

• 

“Never go to excess, but let moderation be your guide.” Marcus Tullius Cicero

Flights of fancy may be fun but at the end of the day the wisdom wrapped in the simple cloak of moderation wins it for me.  There is an elegance found in simplicity, in the clean well edited version of things which never fails to capture my attention. Maybe it’s a reaction to the complexity of our times but on the broader stage of life I’ve come to believe that it’s my own designing North Star guiding me safely home.

Wrong on so many levels

While my heart will always skip a beat at the sight of a monumental decorative flourish honestly I resonate more and more with the beauty found in a graceful line, a well edited vista or the unadorned sweep of fabric exposing a framed view of the world beyond. Looks like I’m just a simple guy after all. Which makes today’s look at the plain silly excesses of tassels, trims and tapes all the more ridiculous. Like the artistry of makeup on a woman’s face these highlighting devices can, by their application, tell very different stories. When appropriately selected and applied a story of grace and refinement is told but with a heavier hand and less constrained taste what began as a lady quickly looks like a working girl.

Love Yourself; Love Your House

#AboutYourHouse News: Inside #AdamLevine’s Hollywood Hills Home. Wish I loved it more. U? #interiordesign http://t.co/zm68BfrC

This image was twitted on Thursday, January 1st, 1970 @ 00:00

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Over the past year our friends at Marc and Angel Hack Life have received countless requests to compile all the life questions shared on their site and place them on a single page that can be easily printed and reviewed.  So here it is.  A whole year’s worth of thought provoking questions to get your mind moving.

Do yourself a favor and settle in for a thought provoking read. You won’t regret this investment of time.

365 Thought Provoking Life Questions

#AboutYourHouse News: Inside #AdamLevine’s Hollywood Hills Home. Wish I loved it more. U? #interiordesign http://t.co/zm68BfrC

This image was twitted on Thursday, January 1st, 1970 @ 00:00

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“Only great minds can afford a simple style.” Stendhal

When a decorative opportunity exists primarily for its own expression there is trouble in River City.  Details that present themselves as extensions of a classical order tend to, when kept simple, find a home in the expansive range of the appropriate. Most anything, when kept simple, can prove harmonious with it’s surroundings and thus tip the scale of “yes” rather than landing squarely in the “no” column.

There are areas in the home which, to the lesser trained individual, offers a carnival sized smorgasbord of mostly bad choices. The tendency toward “silly” seems in direct proportion to the decorating inexperience; boldness and innovation are mistaken for style and taste and the whole thing becomes a comical disaster. One such area, in the making of a home, is the valance. When executed by a knowledgeable hand this tool of design speaks of harmony, scale, proportion and an appropriateness which appears second nature. When these principles are glazed over the results are more akin to images in a decorating fun house mirror.  To this day I cringe when a friend asks me over to see the pretty new valances they’ve just put up.

Love Yourself; Love Your House

#AboutYourHouse News: Inside #AdamLevine’s Hollywood Hills Home. Wish I loved it more. U? #interiordesign http://t.co/zm68BfrC

This image was twitted on Thursday, January 1st, 1970 @ 00:00

• 

“Friends are like bras; close to your heart and there for support.”  Unknown

Often the greatest upfront successes are the direct result of a network of “invisible” support. It turns out that the “overnight” career explosion witnessed and celebrated by the world is the direct result of years of diligent, consistent and relentless effort.  Few manifestations of any worth spring to life fully formed without a labyrinth of intricate systems far in the background.

Like haute couture that looks deceptively simple but belies its complicated internal structure so too is the slight of hand involved in beautiful curtains.  Richly appointed panels are not solely the result of an exceptional fabric selection but rather rely on layers of lining to produce their rich hand, sublime weight and graceful draping.  With very few exceptions a proper curtain requires some form of lining. The choices are as follows:

1. A single-layer lining of cotton (never synthetic) sateen or similar fabric in white or cream. Adding body to the face fabric and providing protection from the exterior elements this simple layer will enhance the life of the curtain as well as its function and beauty.
2. A cotton inter-lining. Typically a felted material this is used between the face fabric and the cotton lining. The inter-lining adds a weight to the curtain’s hand which is unmistakable. It also increases the insulating properties of the curtains while delivering a luxurious drape to the finished product not otherwise attainable. Inter-lining does not block-out natural light.
3. A black-out lining. Similar to the inter-lining but fabricated with a facing which prevents light from passing. This offers complete blocking of daylight when the curtains are drawn and is recommended for all bedroom applications. Weighed similarly to the cotton inter-lining the blackout lining adds greatly to the curtain’s finished presence.

The fabrication of beautiful curtain panels does not happen by chance but rather by the studied application of principles which have been perfected over time. Find a workroom aware of this these principles and you have a workroom worth its weight in decorating gold. Cherish them like the treasure they are.

Love Yourself; Love Your House

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“Life is filigree work. What is written clearly is not worth much, it’s the transparency that counts.” Louis-Ferdinand Celine

In matters of relationship, both public and private, transparency is prized as a virtue. It is a treasure to be sought, mined and cherished as one would a valuable jewel.  Transparency in matters of decoration can be a bit more problematic. Shear curtains by their very name offer a thinly veiled view of the outside world and when used in conjunction with layers of curtains, shades or shutters offer the maker of homes options galore.

Transparency becomes problematic when the time tested approach to window covering layers is bypassed. The hanging of unlined panels on the windows of our life, while often a necessity, is not the ideal. Who among us has not hung a bed sheet over a window in a new home or apartment in an attempt to give privacy during those initial moments of occupancy?  And why not take advantage of the multitude of unlined panels available in stores today when funds are tight but some sense of window resolution is sought. But be warned. These panels should be viewed for what they are; placeholders against which we stack our hopes for a more advanced version of lined curtains. The bleed of light pouring though lightly draped fabric disallows appreciation of color or pattern and creates an odd glare which reminds me of staring into an open flame. And the propensity for sun light to fade and deteriorate fabric is greatly underestimated. Lining aids in protecting your investment and allows for a longer life for your decorating investment. So unless decorating a beach front cottage where unlined linen panels can be desirable, make lining your curtains a goal worth pursuing.

Love Yourself; Love Your House

#AboutYourHouse News: Inside #AdamLevine’s Hollywood Hills Home. Wish I loved it more. U? #interiordesign http://t.co/zm68BfrC

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“People shop for a bathing suit with more care than they do a partner. The rules are the same. Look for something you’ll feel comfortable wearing. Allow for room to grow.”
Erma Bombeck

It has been mentioned to me, on a number of occasions that, while the great fun of “101 Things….” is the dissection of lacking interiors, there should be clear instruction on how to achieve success. It’s hard to argue with this logic and so, in the true spirit of making the world more beautiful a slight change is afoot. In the mornings we will start our day by focusing on the sadly misbegotten rooms we’ve come to love to hate. Balancing this will be our afternoon posts where I shall try to quantify a basic principle and articulate it’s execution in a manner that will encourage more beauty at every turn. I have no doubt that you will continue to find reason to comment on the afternoon’s offerings and I’d be disappointed if you didn’t. I shall also be disappointed if you also don’t share your personal experiences in “getting it right” so we can all learn together.

So in this spirit here are my thoughts on perfectly lovely and delightfully simple curtains on rods.  We shall consider these “Curtains 101”;  basic curtains, beautiful and perfectly appropriate in most every circumstance. To achieve this “simple” success consider the following:

1. Mount the curtain rod as high above the window casing or opening as feasible.

1. If a shear layer is called for mount this layer at the same height.
2. If shades of any sort are used these too should be mounted at rod height (a common mistake is made when installing shades inside the window frame. Great decorating energy is lost when windows are truncated in this manner).
3. Line your curtain panels. Cream or white cotton only. And all curtains in the house should carry matching cream or white lining.
4. Inter-line your curtain panels if your budget allows. The added weight of a felt interlining can offer a blackout possibility and give you a most elegant drape to your curtain panels).
5. Never puddle curtains on the floor. ½” break (think a gentleman’s trouser breaking on his shoe) is all that is needed.
6. If trim is used it is best when applied to the lead and hem edges only.
7. To avoid fabric buckling always apply trim by hand. Machine stitched trims tend to pucker and bunch-up in an unattractive manner.
8. Curtain hardware should coordinate with the room’s décor. Avoid “statement” rods which pretend they are something they are not; the center of attention!

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I really do hate an unsafe home. Most home related accidents can be prevented.

Safety doesn’t take a lot of time, but it does take thought and planning. Not sure how to Commit a Minute to Safety? Pick one, 10 or 100 of the things below and get started today. You’ll see that sometimes it just takes a minute to avoid what could be a lifetime of regret.

1. Test each smoke alarm in your home
2. Replace the batteries in each smoke alarm
3. Count how many smoke alarms you have in your house. If you do not have one on every level and near sleeping areas, purchase additional smoke alarms
4. Designate an outside meeting place for your family (for example: the mailbox) in case of a fire or emergency
5. Blow out candles before leaving the room or going to sleep
6. Use a sturdy candle holder or hurricane lamp
7. Turn down your hot water heater to 120 degrees or less to prevent burns
8. Roll up your sleeves before you start cooking
9. Have oven mitts nearby when cooking
10. Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove
11. Store all matches and lighters out of reach of children
12. Put hot food and drinks near the center of the table only
13. Put down your hot drink when carrying your baby
14. Test hot water with an elbow before allowing a child to touch
15. Post your fire escape plan on your refrigerator
16. Put water on cigarette butts before throwing them away
17. Unplug small appliances such as hair dryers and toasters after using them
18. Use flameless candles
19. Move anything that can burn, such as dish towels, at least three feet away from the stove
20. Practice “Stop, Drop and Roll” with your kids
21. Schedule an appointment to have your furnace cleaned and inspected
22. Look for the UL Mark when you buy appliances
23. Tell kids to stay away from the stove/oven
24. Turn space heaters off before going to bed
25. Remove any gasoline from your home
26. Put non-slip strips in your tub and shower
27. Install night lights in the hallway
28. Put a flashlight in each bedroom
29. Wipe up spills as soon as they happen to prevent slips and falls
30. Use a sturdy Christmas tree stand
31. Water your Christmas tree every day
32. Keep your Christmas tree at least three feet away from any heat source
33. Inspect your Christmas lights for signs of damage
34. Flip over large buckets so water cannot accumulate and become a drowning danger
35. Store cleaners and other poisons away from food
36. Post the Poison Control hotline number (1-800-222-1222 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-800-222-1222 end_of_the_skype_highlighting) next to your phone
37. If you have young children, use cabinet locks on cabinets that have poisons such as antifreeze, cleaners, detergents, etc.
38. Keep medicine in its original containers
39. Purchase a carbon monoxide detector for your home
40. Test your carbon monoxide (CO) alarm
41. Put your infant to sleep on his/her back
42. Remove any soft bedding, stuffed animals and pillows from your infant’s crib
43. Cut your toddler’s food into small bites
44. Use safety straps on high chairs and changing tables
45. Check www.recalls.gov to see if any items in your home (including cribs) have been recalled
46. Move cribs away from windows
47. Use safety covers on unused electrical outlets
48. Test small toys for choking hazards – if it fits in a toilet paper roll, it’s too small
49. Remove all plastic bags from the nursery
50. Pick up any small items, such as coins or buttons, that can be choking hazards for infants and toddlers
51. Write down emergency contact information for your family and make sure everyone has these numbers
52. If young children live in or visit your home, move furniture away from windows so they don’t climb up to look out and accidentally fall
53. Tie window cords out of a child’s reach
54. Check your child’s bath water temperature (use your wrist or elbow) to make sure it is not too hot
55. Remove drawstrings from your baby’s clothing
56. Keep the toilet lid shut to prevent little fingers from getting slammed by a falling lid
57. If you have toddlers, install a toilet seat lock
58. If you have young children, install door knob covers on bathroom doors
59. Use a fireplace screen
60. Put toys away after playing
61. Don’t refer to medicine or vitamins as “candy”
62. Put on safety glasses before any DIY project
63. Put tools away after your DIY project is complete
64. Post emergency numbers near your phone
65. Pick up one new thing for your family’s emergency preparedness kit
66. Use a ladder, not a chair, when climbing to reach something
67. Use plastic instead of glass near the pool
68. Cover any spa or hot tub when it is not in use
69. Purchase a first aid kit
70. Drain the bath tub immediately after bathing
71. Remove clutter from the stairs
72. Use the handrail when you are walking up or down the stairs
73. If the power goes out, use flashlights instead of candles
74. Ask smokers to smoke outside
75. Wear proper shoes when climbing a ladder
76. Check your home for too many plugs in one socket and fix the problem
77. Install baby gates at the top and bottom of stairs if you have young children
78. Never leave food cooking unattended
79. Make sure pools or spas are properly fenced to keep out small children
80. Teach kids to tell you when they see matches or lighters
81. Turn out the lights when you leave the room
82. Unplug appliances that aren’t in use (especially in the kitchen)
83. Take your hair dryer off of the bathroom counter and store it safely
84. Check your electronics for the UL Mark
85. Identify two exits from every room with your kids in case of fire
86. Check your holiday decorations – keep breakable decorations out of reach of young children
87. Replace an old light bulb with a new energy-efficient option
88. Check the walls for loose paint chips and re-paint with low-VOC or VOC-free paint
89. Check all the outlets in your home for overloaded sockets or extension cords
90. Remove any extension cords that are pulled under rugs or tacked up
91. Place fire extinguishers in key areas of your home
92. Place an escape ladder in an upstairs room that might not have an easy exit
93. Remove any painted furniture that is pre-1978 to avoid possible lead exposure
94. Lock medications safely in a cabinet
95. Consider low-flow toilets
96. Check that all major appliances are grounded and test your GFCIs
97. Clean the lint trap and hose on your dryer
98. Check your swing set for sharp edges or dangerous S-hooks
99. Take a tour of your home from your child’s perspective looking for hazards
100. Hold a family fire drill

Love Yourself; Love Your House

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Life isn’t always easy. But if we manage to maintain focus on the important issues while letting go of the rest…then maybe there’s hope for some happiness.

The following is written by Chris Gaddis and my hope it you find it as richly helpful as did I.

Here’s 6 step process to getting what you want out of life.

1. Create a mission statement. – Mine was simply “To translate what gives me joy, fulfillment and makes me genuinely happy into a career that will allow me to work for myself and spend more time with my family.”  This meant starting my own business as a coach to help individuals and small business owners get what they want out of their life and business.  Formulating this sentence allows us to create a short mission statement that summarizes exactly what we want from life, which will help to keep it in the forefront of our minds when we’re making important decisions.
2. Make a list of your primary priorities. – This list will make your decisions easier as you will know what’s most important to you.  Anytime there is a conflict consult this list and make the decision based on your priorities.  Here is an example of my list: Family, Church, Health, Work / Money, Service to Others, Hobbies.
3. Take an inventory. – List every single major entity in your life – the people, organizations, career, hobbies, and anything else you spend time on in your life.  Write a short summary of each.  Explain what each one means to you, what you get from it, and if you are neglecting other areas of your life because of it.
4. Make decisions. – Take this list and make a decision on every aspect of your life.  Decide whether time you spend on certain activities could be spent helping you achieve goals in other areas of your life.  Decide if you will continue some activities, change others, or start a new one.  Time is the most precious commodity we have; do not waste it.
5. Develop a plan. – Develop a game plan of what has to take place to reach your dreams and make things happen.  Setup measurable goals for your life.  Break it all down into time frames of a week, a month, a year and then longer – 5, 10, 20, 30 years out.  These will constantly change and evolve so check them and update them frequently.
6. Schedule it, tell everyone and take action. – The most important step.  By scheduling your goals and your action items it allows you to set definite deadlines.  That gives you a better chance of sticking to it.  If you tell everyone what you are doing you are now creating ownership of your goals.  And of course nothing can stand in your way as long as you’retaking decisive action.  If you find yourself making excuses, stop!

I know it may seem crazy that some dog changed my life, but it was the lessons I learned from Athena’s accident that changed my life.  We all learn differently.  And despite my loss, I’m grateful for the lessons and the opportunities that have risen from it.  If you’re looking for further guidance on creating happiness in your life I recommend the short but powerful book The Four Agreements.

If you liked what you read here please feel free to visit Chris Gaddis’ website at chrisjgaddis.com and subscribe to his blog.  If some of you need assistance in creating your own Personal Action Plan he would be happy to e-mail you a copy of his.  Just email him at gaddis.chris@gmail.com.

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This image was twitted on Thursday, January 1st, 1970 @ 00:00

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30 Ways to Make Today a Good Day

With thanks to Marc and Angel Hack Life for these inspiring words.

Yesterday is history and tomorrow is merely a figment of your imagination.  So if you think about it, today is the only day you’re truly alive.  Here’s how to make it a good one:

1. Get started a few minutes early.
2. Work on something that’s meaningful to you.
3. Complete an important piece of unfinished business.
4. Spend time with positive, friendly people.
5. Do something nice for someone else.
6. Be present. Focus on where you are, what you’re doing and who you’re with right now.
7. Do one thing at a time.  (Read Getting Things Done.)
8. Listen to your self-talk.  When you hear negative thoughts, think about the positive side of things.
9. Smile, even when there’s no pressing reason to do so.
10. Unplug.  Entertain yourself with real-world experiences.
11. Go somewhere new.  See something new.  Meet someone new.
12. Do something that makes you laugh.
13. Challenge your mind.  Learn a new skill.
14. Challenge your body.  Exercise for 30 minutes.  (Read The 4-Hour Body.)
15. Let someone help you.
16. Clear a little clutter by getting rid of something you don’t need.
17. Be honest with yourself and those around you.
18. Don’t compare yourself to others.  Instead, let them inspire you.
19. Spend a few minutes alone in silence, just thinking.
20. Focus on solutions.
21. Keep an open mind to new ideas and information.
22. Handle important two-minute tasks immediately.
23. Stay out of other people’s drama.  And don’t needlessly create your own.
24. Say, “Please,” “Thank you,” “I’m sorry” and “I love you,” when you should.
25. Don’t try to please everyone.  Just do what you know is right.
26. Eat a healthy breakfast, lunch and dinner.
27. Savor the natural joy of simple pleasures.
28. Notice what’s right with the world.
29. Focus on all the things you already have, think about them and appreciate them.
30. Get to sleep a little earlier tonight so you’re well rested tomorrow.

And remember, a smile is the most beautiful curve on the human body.  So go now and strut your stuff.  

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A Story Worth Reading; A Story Worth Telling

A successful business man was growing old and knew it was time to choose a successor to take over the business.

Instead of choosing one of his Directors or his children, he decided to do something different. He called all the young executives in his company together.

He said, “It is time for me to step down and choose the next CEO. I have decided to choose one of you. “The young executives were Shocked, but the boss continued. “I am going to give each one of you a SEED today – one very special SEED. I want you to plant the seed, water it, and come back here one year from today with what you have grown from the seed I have given you.
I will then judge the plants that you bring, and the one
I choose will be the next CEO.”

One man, named Jim, was there that day and he, like the others, received a seed. He went home and excitedly, told his wife the story. She helped him get a pot, soil and compost and he planted the seed. Everyday, he would water it and watch to see if it had grown. After about three weeks, some of the other executives began to talk about their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow.

Jim told his wife that he wasn’t going to take an empty pot. But she asked him to be honest about what happened. Jim felt sick to his stomach, it was going to be the most embarrassing moment of his life, but he knew his wife was right. He took his empty pot to the board room. When Jim arrived, he was amazed at
the variety of plants grown by the other executives. They were beautiful — in all shapes and sizes.. Jim put his empty pot on the floor and many of his colleagues laughed, a few felt sorry for him!

Then the CEO said, “One year ago today, I gave everyone in this room a seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it back to me today. But I gave you all boiled seeds; they were dead – it was not possible for them to grow.

* If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation

So, be careful what you plant now; it will determine what you will reap later.

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This image was twitted on Thursday, January 1st, 1970 @ 00:00

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Worst Possible Holiday Gift Collection

“If instead of a gem, or even a flower, we should cast the gift of a loving thought into the heart of a friend; that would be giving as the angels give.” ~George MacDonald

Gift giving is an art. When practiced and perfected it is an art form which elevates the spirit and nurtures the soul. When handled haphazardly it can do the damage equal to a small bundle of explosives leaving the recipient crippled and deformed.

Never are the damaging results of errant giving more obvious than in the Re-Gifting arena. For those living under a rock for the past dozen years Re-gifting is the redirection of a received gift which, for a variety of reasons, we deem unsuitable or undesirable. While the merits of re-gifting can be debated there are some clear rules of the game as noted in MP Dunleavey’s MSN column “12 Rules for Regifting without Fear”. Read the rules, follow the directions and you may be invited back to next years holiday party after all.

Unless all your holiday giving is done under the auspices of a local White Elephant I highly recommend you avoid today’s collection of gifts that should never be re-gifted; they are just so wrong that no amount of pretense will every make them acceptable. Should you receive one I suggest either burning or burring; but don’t forget to send a thank you note!

See you tomorrow with the next installment of our Worst Holiday Gifts Collection.Love Yourself; Love Your House

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Worst Possible Holiday Gift Collection Part 4

“I asked a man in prison once how he happened to be there and he said he had stolen a pair of shoes. I told him if he had stolen a railroad he would be a United States Senator.” Mary Harris Jones

It has been my belief that the discussion of beauty precludes the discussion ofpolitics and Ms. Jones’ quote, while offering dazzling temptation, reinforces my resolve to avoid the frivolities of national governance and focus squarely on issues of real importance.

Ladies, I must beg your assistance today. Being a card-carrying, out, proud and generally fabulous gay man; one who totes around his fair share of aesthetic acuity, I am at a loss. I was recently told that a dear female friend had only one wish on her holiday list; that for a pair of a certain creative savant’s footwear. Not being one to shy away from a store front I boldly entered this startlingly chic establishment only to be stopped dead in my tracks. Evidently my gay genes weren’t downloaded with the language of the shoe or at least not this very specialized dialect. I suddenly felt like a brick layer at the Tower of Babel (biblical reference; try Google); lost, clueless and slightly annoyed. Fortunately my feet knew what to do when panic freezes my brain; retreat! So from the safety of my sofa I reach out today on behalf of the pitiful few who, crippled by genetic cruelty, can’t discern the haute from the humorous.

See you tomorrow with the next installment of our Worst Holiday Gifts Collection.

Love Yourself; Love Your House

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Worst Possible Holiday Gift Collection Part 3

“I notice increasing reluctance on the part of marketing executives to use judgment; they are coming to rely too much on research, and they use it as a drunkard uses a lamp post for support, rather than for illumination.” David Ogilvy

When a defining image is linked irrevocably to an annual celebration the reoccurring association is powerful and permanent. And so, the “Leg Lamp” from Bob Clark’s circa 1940 holiday delight “A Christmas Story” is forever cemented in the celebratory muck of Christmas. While having nothing to do with holiday giving the illuminating nature of this prize to end all prizes lingers, blurring itself into the fabric of Christmas as certainly as Santa and a Red Ryder BB gun. So close, in fact, is the luminous association that I’ve had clients actually shop for just the right table lamp with which to surprise a loved one on festive Christmas morn. If a loved one of mine gifted me with a lamp for Christmas they would require surgical assistance for its removal, but that’s a different Christmas story entirely.

To head off the stampede of lamp buying madness during the countdown-to-Christmas days I’ve wrangled together a motley crew of cagey, creepy and colossally ugly table lamps you’ll want to avoid on your final shopping sprees!

See you tomorrow with the next installment of our Worst Holiday Gifts Collection.

Love Yourself; Love Your House

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This image was twitted on Thursday, January 1st, 1970 @ 00:00

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“I bought my brother some gift-wrap for Christmas. I took it to the Gift Wrap department and told them to wrap it, but in a different print so he would know when to stop unwrapping.” Stephen Wright

Worst Possible Holiday Gift Collection Part 2

There was a day when the thought of an elegantly wrapped gift box from a prominent jeweler would cause the heart to race with delight. And while an out-of-control cardio-vascular spasm may still accompany the sight of a dazzling red box (or dusty blue..etc.) it maybe for very different reasons. And while we’ll save our list of the worst holiday jewelry for another day; today we’ll cast a wary glace at other bejeweled blunders brought to us by timely craftsmen from around the world. So with shock and awe we look today at our Worst Holiday Gift Collection: Heart Stopping Timepieces.

See you tomorrow with the next installment of our Worst Holiday Gifts Collection.

Love Yourself; Love Your House

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This image was twitted on Thursday, January 1st, 1970 @ 00:00

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And Now For Something Completely Different!

With Christmas just 12 days away I’ve decided to try something new as we slip further into that mad, marvelous and giddy holiday spirit!

Each afternoon between now and 24 December I will share with you an installment on the “101 Things I Hate About Your House” Worst Possible Holiday Gift Collection. With categories befitting every room in the house; I’ve scoured the globe for collections of the most hideous, wretched, tacky and tasteless holiday gifts imaginable.

Each afternoon from now until Christmas Eve you’ll find the latest and greatest waiting for you at “101 Things….”

Sadistic elves are certainly to blame for today’s tidal wave of tacky holiday sweaters. Funny, if people didn’t take them so seriously, these tastelessly bereft examples of DIY gone wrong bring tears to the eyes. As we dry your crying eyes let’s pray to the gods of taste and style we’re not saddled with one of these beauties on Christmas morn.

See you tomorrow with the next installment of our Worst Holiday Gifts Collection.

Love Yourself; Love Your House

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Here’s one of my favorite books, new to my bookshelf this year!

Florence de Dampierre French Chic: The Art of Decorating Houses $50.00

“…de Dampierre provides a context of French decorative history…and architectural elements to provide a blueprint to obtain the je ne sais quoi of French chic.” ~New York Living

“…analyzes function and furnishings, leading readers through (de Dampierre’s) house room by room with the help of lyrical photography…” ~Veranda

Don’t miss the fun of “101 Things I Hate About Your House” on our Facebook page

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About Your House‘s series of simple and chic holiday gifts; a little something for every home.

The Newgate Regulator Alarm Clock

This clock has a metal case, hands, fob and stand. The printed dial has been designed to have an aged appearance which is protected by an acrylic lens.  $65.00

Love Yourself: Love Your House

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Next in our series of simple and chic holiday gifts; a little something for every home.

Scented Drawer Liner by Hermes:

Vetiver scented paper, box of 5 papers. Each measures 24″ x 16.5″

Love Yourself; Love Your House!

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The first in a series of simple and chic holiday gifts.

-Perfect Pencils and Cup

These stocking stuffers from See Jane Work will make the recipient’s work space a happier place all year long. Pencils, $7 for a set of 12, and pencil cup, $7, at www.seejanework.com .

Love Yourself; Love Your House