WHAT DO TRAVEL AGENTS & INTERIOR DESIGNERS HAVE IN COMMON?

October 19, 2012 By Leave a Comment

“Hiring a professional to do something you could yourself can be a good idea or a bad one. It comes down to the value you receive.”The Seattle Times, July 2011

 

I just got off the phone with my travel agent. 

Yes, I might be one of the few who still resort to this ‘dated’ practice, when it’s so easy to book your own travel plans online.

But here’s the thing.

Spur of the moment, my husband and I decided to plan a trip to Hawaii.

We called our favorite hotel and were told there was limited room availability at the start of the holidays – plus prices would be higher than usual.

Then we attempted to reserve a flight on the airline’s website, only to learn there was only room for one of us on any given flight.

Clearly, this wouldn’t do.

Enter the travel agent.

The beauty of working with a travel agent is that, for a minimal fee ($35 in our case) she was able to book a flight – for both of us – plus a hotel room at a reasonable rate.

She did all this, and saved us about $2000.

I compare hiring a travel agent to hiring an interior designer. I think you’ll be amazed by the similarities!

 

Expensive? Says Who?

Hiring a travel agent, or interior designer – or any professional, for that matter – won’t necessarily cost you more.

Changes are, you will even save money in the end.

This is because interior designers not only know the ins and outs of their business, they also know where to find you the best deals.

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Does Gluten-Free Food Taste Bad?

October 5, 2012 By 3 Comments

A client of mine recently commented that the gluten-free oatmeal she’d eaten for breakfast was “pretty awful”.

That surprised me.

Gluten-free oats shouldn’t taste any different from regular oats.

The primary issue with oats (which are inherently gluten-free) is cross-contamination from other grains.

This means that oats labeled as specifically gluten-free have been grown in dedicated fields – without any danger of cross-contamination.

Does that affect the taste?

Not that I’m aware of, but I’d welcome any feedback on this issue!

So, does gluten-free food really taste bad?

In a word, no.

Sure, there might be some products that are below par, but isn’t it that way with everything?

For those of us who are gluten-free, it’s a fairly common complaint that gluten-free cookies, breads and so forth pale in taste when compared to the “original”.

In our minds, we can still “taste” the fluffy pancakes or artisan breads that we were accustomed to eating, before we gave up gluten.

We’re forever making comparisons.

And disappointed by the results!

I think there’s another way to look at this, which is that gluten-free baked goods may taste different, yes.

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5 WAYS TO SHIFT THE ENERGY IN YOUR OFFICE

September 28, 2012 By Leave a Comment

A recent article on creating Harmony in ones’ work place, has inspired today’s post.

Perhaps you’ve wondered how you might improve the energy in your workspace.

Whether or not your office is in your home, these simple design suggestions will give you something to think about.

By no means are these ideas limited to just your office – you can apply this to any place in your home.

 

Do Aim for Clean, Uncluttered Surfaces

We don’t always realize how important it is to have our work areas impeccably organized, with a designated place for everything to be stored.

The tendency is to have little piles on our desk, each one representing a portion of our To Do list for the next day.

Do you really tackle each of those little piles on a daily basis?

I know I don’t.

And yet, I’m fearful of storing things away, being very guilty of an “out of sight, out of mind” mentality.

Here’s the thing, though:  according to Chinese Feng Shui, having too many things on your work surface can impede the flow of energy, or chi.

There is a lot of truth in this ancient wisdom, so take heed.

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A Tribute To Blueberries

September 21, 2012 By Leave a Comment

A few days ago, I shared this picture on Facebook.

A number of people wanted to know “What is that?!”

And “Can I have the recipe?”

Well, “that” my friends, is my favorite summertime Blueberry Tart, and yes – I’m here to share the recipe!

By the way, if you’ve landed on this page, you’ve probably noticed that I like blueberries.

And as summer winds to an end, I realized with a shock that our weekly supply of locally grown, organic blueberries is also coming to an end.

Yes, we’ve been making regular trips to the Farmer’s Market this summer, especially while fresh berries have been in season.

And indulging in lots of them!

Strawberries, raspberries, and – of course – blueberries.

Blueberries are SO good for you!

Not only are they full of antioxidants, they are said to aid in memory function and reduce the effects of aging.

Works for me!

(Did you know that any deeply colored fruits and vegetables are really good for you? It’s Nature’s way of telling us.)

In the off season, you could easily resort to frozen blueberries.

Maybe you’ve even planned ahead, and bought extra flats to freeze some of your own.

If so, I take my hat off to you!

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THE SECRET LIFE OF SOFAS

September 14, 2012 By 4 Comments

I’m guessing that you have a sofa somewhere in your home.

Most likely it is one of several focal points in the living room (the others being a fireplace or TV), and the one piece of furniture that everyone gravitates towards.

Perhaps it is incredibly comfortable, inviting you to cuddle up in a corner with a good book?

Then again, maybe it is the style of your sofa that is so appealing?

Or perhaps it’s the well-worn fabric and cushions, that have seated generations of your family before you?

Do sofas really have a secret life?

Well, maybe not in the sense that some people lead secret lives, but if your sofa has any kind of history, who knows?

Let me share with you a little bit about the origins of the sofa, and you will see what I mean.

Sofas have been a standard fixture in our homes for only a little over three hundred years.

The sofa made its first appearance during the reign of King Louis XIV, of France, during the late 17th century.

The sofa was a French invention, ushering in a new age of greater comfort in home furnishings.

It wasn’t long before it became all the rage among the upper levels of society. Of course, the royal household benefited first with the Queen, herself, an avid promoter.

With the arrival of the sofa, this was the first time in history that an upholstered, padded piece of furniture was available that could actually seat two people!

At the time, this was considered incredibly daring.

The sofa developed a reputation of being rather racy.

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How to Stay Gluten-Free & Still Be the Most Popular Person at the Potluck

September 7, 2012 By Leave a Comment

 

This week, I’m excited to announce another Guest Blogger and friend of mine – Janelle Holden, President & Founder of The Gluten Free Life Coach. You can read more about her by scrolling to the bottom of this post – but be sure to read the article first, as Janelle shares some excellent advice on How to Be the Most Popular Person at the Potluck! 

Last month my mother’s best friend spoke the six words I dread hearing the most at a potluck.

“I made this special for you!”

With a deep smile she delivered into my hands a “special” bowl of creamed corn bread casserole that had been made without dairy. I looked at the pretty concoction and noted it contained at least three other ingredients that I do not eat: Corn, wheat flour, and sugar.

I looked up and smiled.

“Thank you!” I said. “That’s really kind of you.”

And it was. Clearly, she had made an effort on my behalf because I have food sensitivities. She wanted to make me feel included in the gathering.

But, there was no way in hell I was going to eat that corn bread casserole.  I would be sick for days if I ate even a small bite, and as much as I loved her, I wasn’t about to get sick to please her.

The tricky part was telling her that.

 

What Happened Next

At first I thought I could simply admire the dish from my place setting and not say a word. After all, I had given her thanks, hadn’t I? I didn’t really need to tell her that I wouldn’t be eating it.  Maybe she wouldn’t notice I wasn’t eating it.

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Hitting the Road

August 31, 2012 By Leave a Comment

By the time you read this, I will have just wrapped up a two week vacation in Eastern Washington.

And happy to be home again!

The great thing about a road trip, in my humble opinion, is that you can take everything you need with you without having to deal with baggage limits or airport security.

Which is why a road trip strikes me as the ideal vacation for anyone who is Celiac, or dealing with food allergies.

That’s because you can bring along food and other supplies, relying on local groceries only to stock up on fresh produce and other necessities as the need arises.

Of course, that also means you might not exactly be traveling light.

In fact, if you’re like me, the words “travel light” might not be in your DNA.

But that’s exactly what makes a road trip so ideal!

For this annual escape, we always stay at the same place – a comfortable time share condo, that is ours for exactly one week.

When we arrive it is always sparkling clean, with everything neatly arranged and orderly.

The place is tastefully furnished with your basic seating, tables and beds – even a hide-a-bed for extra guests – plus a well stocked kitchen.

Yet, even though the condo comes with a fully equipped kitchen, in the last couple of years, I’ve started bringing more and more of my own equipment.

Perhaps you can relate.

The big concern here, is cross – contamination.

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HAVE YOU CLEANSED YOUR HOME?

August 31, 2012 By Leave a Comment

We hear a lot about Cleansing and Detoxing the body.

But have you ever considered a Cleanse for the home?

It’s the same idea, really.

You’re getting rid of the old to make way for the new.

A friend recently suggested that I read a book called “Soul Space” and I’m sharing with you here, because I was absolutely captivated by it, as it so closely resembles my own design philosophy in an uncanny kind of way.

You see, a few weeks ago, if anyone had asked, I would have said there are very few things in my home I don’t love.

The idea of celebrating the beauty around you and surrounding yourself with things you love is something I’ve written about many times.

After all, it’s a key step in writing you Bio.

(You know, the one that’s written without words).

Until I read this book, I never thought twice about the living room chair that I ‘inherited’ from a former retail space – along with the business – when a former business partner and I parted ways.

So here’s the thing.

I don’t love that chair.

Do I use it?

No.

It’s too big and deep for me, and I avoid sitting in it whenever possible.

When you look at it that way, it’s kind of silly to keep it, isn’t it?

Do you have anything similar to that in your own home?

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How to Travel in Style

August 24, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Back in the day, a gentleman or lady of means typically traveled with something like this.

Perfectly appointed with a travel size knife, fork and spoon and a pair of scissors – for what, I’m not exactly sure.

Fast forward to modern day travel.

Yes, travel in this day and age is certainly challenging as we navigate airports and our busy schedules.

For anyone living a gluten-free lifestyle, your travel woes are likely compounded by the constant worry of what are you going to eat?

Two weeks ago, I was in Austin, Texas followed by a few days in Asheville, North Carolina.

While I wouldn’t call myself a seasoned traveler, I do have a go-to system that I rely on whenever I travel, a system that ensures I have will have enough to eat.

Most of the time, anyway.

Because I have additional allergies, to both dairy and eggs, along with gluten, I’m unable to enjoy even a breakfast of scrambled eggs while on the go.

So I always include individual packets of gluten-free oatmeal, or a bag of gluten-free granola in my travel kit, then rely on restaurant fare for fruit or juice.

Better still, after I reach my destination, I like to stop in at a local health food store to stock up on fruits and healthy snacks. If you have a mini refrigerator in your hotel room, that’s ideal.

As for the plane trip itself?

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A TRUE STORY – MY STINT ON HGTV

August 17, 2012 By 4 Comments

A few days, I was talking to a business coach and the conversation went something like this:

She: “You were on HGTV??!!”

Me:  “Oh, that…yes, I was.”

She:  “How come you never talk about it? I mean, you were on HGTV!!!!!”

Me:  “It was such a long time ago.”

I have a tendency to play things down, I know.

But yes, I really was on HGTV – about eight years ago now, if memory serves me correctly.

I’d practically forgotten.

She was right, though.

And so, I thought I’d take some time today to share that experience with you.

The way this came about, HGTV was contacting local designers to see who might be interested in being featured on the show “Designer’s Challenge”.

They already had a local family lined up, who were eager to get some professional design advice for their somewhat traditional living room.

The premise of the show was that three different design teams would present a completed concept to the homeowners.

By concept, I’m referring to a fully fleshed out solution to their design challenge, complete with drawings, furniture and fabric recommendations, and any other finishes or materials required to complete the project.

So, I partnered with another designer, and together we took on this project.

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