How Lucky Am I!!! Pajama Party Diva's

Last weekend I hosted a pajama party at my house just to celebrate my friends!
Everyone is talking these days about our economy being so bad and my friends and family members are losing jobs left and right. My friends have always been important to me but now more than ever. Things get hard in our lives and we have so many struggles. I feel blessed to have been given such quality friends. Some have been clients that have turned into friends. The last few years, life got so hectic that I stopped entertaining as much as I wanted to. This year I decided that I was going to make being together with friends and family in my home a priority. This was the first of many parties this year to celebrate the people I'm so lucky to have all around me. So many of us are running around busy...busy....busy.....it's so nice to stop....stop.....stop......and appreciate......appreciate......appreciate.....what we have!

I wasn't sure if everyone would actually show up in their pajamas but they did! We had such fun just laughing and enjoying each other. Events like these are such an easy way to sit and take a moment with those you love. It took some planning on my part but everyone brought their favorite munchie and we ordered pizza. We stayed up late catching up with each other and some even spent the night.
WOW, what a fun evening. FRIENDS MAKE LIFE WORTH LIVING!

Ladies Retreat Cross

Thought you'd enjoy seeing this cross that I made for a ladies retreat. The form of the cross was created with big pieces of foam cut to the shape of the cross. I then sprayed insulation foam on it to give it the textured look. I let it dry overnight and then cut it down to the shape I wanted it to be. I then painted it to look old. On the last day of the retreat the ladies turned the cross around and on the on the back side I had painted it white and put tons of glitter on it to make it shine. It really was the focal point of the stage and was enjoyed by all.

Broken Pieces

I found the below picture from many years ago and remembered this treasure....

My step mom opened her Kitchen cupboard on Christmas Day and something you dread happened. The shelf that all her beautiful china was on broke and all her china came tumbling to the floor. We all just stood there and didn't know what to say. She was so sad because she loved this china so much. As we were sweeping it all up I said "don't throw this away, I want to make something out of it". She said, whatever...I can't see how this could be anything".
For her birthday my sister and I gave her this vase that we made from the broken china pieces. It blessed her socks off and now she get lots of comments on the vase and best of all she has a story to tell.
While we're speaking of china, here's a great idea to decorate a plate for a dinner party. I did this for a Christmas Party but it could be done for a birthday or any special occasion. I placed a doily on the plate and sprinkled cocoa powder on the plate, removed the doily and there you have it!

The theme of my table for this Christmas Party was "For the love of chocolate". I made a chocolate tree for the middle of the table and hung crystal ornaments from it. It was a hit and smelled incredible.

Flip That House

Today I met with a client and gave her a "walk thru" for a house she is going to purchase and flip. Clients love this service because it allows them to get a decorator's ideas. They can make wise decisions and spend their money the best way possible. She wrote notes furiously and then she will run with the plan, using me as she needs me. I gave her suggestions about flooring, knocking down walls to open up space, paint colors, lighting suggestions, counter top color suggestions, exterior paint, landscaping ideas, curb appeal ideas, concrete stain colors, deck stain colors, fence colors and much more.
Call me if you have a need like this. Sometimes it's for your own home remodel. You are just stuck and need someone to give you a boost to get you started. Hiring a decorator will be the best decision you make at the beginning of any project. I can give you a vision and a plan that helps you stay focused and enables you to make your home look amazing.
Remember I can also stage any home to sell. Doing a "walk thru" for ideas on how to improve your home to sell is also one of my specialties.
Happy Decorating and Happy Valentines Day to you all!