Think of how you feel when you walk into a neon-lit McDonald’s on some busy city corner, versus how you feel walking into a cool, silent Catholic cathedral in a quiet Italian city. There is a profound difference, isn’t there? Our surroundings affect us in a subtle but powerful way.
This is one reason, I [...]
Archive for the ‘Home’ Category
How you feel in your home
Posted in Decor, Family, Happiness, Home, tagged architecture, Beauty, bedroom, house, life on July 12, 2009 | 1 Comment »
Cleanliness is Classy
Posted in Decor, Home, cleaning on April 21, 2009 | 1 Comment »
True “class” and elegance is not relative to money. It’s about serenity, discipline and joy. I think that a clean house exudes those three things. We just moved into a large, gorgeous old house, which was VERY nicely styled by the former owner. But it was not clean at all! As I now clean their [...]
The final decision
Posted in Family, Home, tagged houses on March 7, 2009 | 1 Comment »
It was a great day yesterday, looking at houses. My parents joined us, since they were in town on a business trip.
1. The first house had the perfect yard, but needed many updates –which would be fine, if the price were lower. We could not justify buying such a spacious place with $800 in heating [...]
Choices, choices…
Posted in Home, Uncategorized, tagged cabin fever, choices, real estate, remodeling on March 3, 2009 | 1 Comment »
I have spent many hours examining real estate listings online. It is addicting to search by various criteria in different areas — even in places I’m never going to move to. For example, I’ve gone so far as to marvel at old, neglected places in Detroit that are selling for ridiculously low prices ($450, anyone?). [...]
A Kitchenaid Standing Mixer I do not have
Posted in Decor, Happiness, Home on March 2, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Most of my friends do. I certainly love the idea of having one, and I love all the available colors! But the Kitchenaid Mixer has been somewhat of a symbol for me — a symbol of margin. I don’t need every good thing.
There is no “real” reason why I should not have one in my [...]
Fear Not
Posted in Family, Home, tagged fear, house buyers on March 2, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Prospective buyers recently came through our house. The loved it; they wanted it to be “the one”, but they had one major problem: their 6 (SIX) year old was frightened by the steep stairs up to the third floor attic (which has been remodeled and is our prime play room now). Their agent, incidentally, works [...]
Investment in China
Posted in Decor, Home on February 27, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
No, not the country. I mean investment in fine china — Haviland, Limoges, Royal Copenhagen, and the like. I search out individual pieces at second hand and antique stores, and only if I’m really convinced that a piece is beautiful do I buy it. Every piece needs to produce a precious memory and needs to [...]
1 Minute Room Make-overs
Posted in Home, cleaning, tagged bathroom, bedroom, cleaning, morning on July 25, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Take one minute every morning before leaving your room to make the bed, straighten the books, and get rid of any items that do not belong in the bedroom. The room will be inviting and calming at the end of the day when you return.
Do the same in the bathroom: keep the sink clean and [...]
Only Truly Ours
Posted in Family, Home, Marriage, tagged death, Family, Friends, love on July 25, 2008 | 1 Comment »
When was the last time you were unusually, unnecessarily kind and honoring to your spouse, child, or parent? Why is it sometimes easier to be gentle with a friend, patient with a grocery clerk and funny with the bartender than with your family?
Last week an old friend of the family was killed in a car [...]
It is a gift to be simple… to be free.
Posted in Home, tagged cleaning, organizing, stuff on June 30, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
As I clean around the house today, I’m struck by the various things that sit in boxes, or on shelves, or on the floor, or on our desk. It takes constant work to downsize or to stay at a balance, in regards to stuff. It’s amazing to me how I manage to accumulate [...]
