In the latest edition of one of my favorite magazines, House Beautiful there was a really great article titled “101 Designer Secrets”. There were so many amazing ideas in the article, some of which I had heard before, others I had not. To save you time, I decided to share my “Top 15″ designer secrets from the entire list.
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Professional Home Decor Tips
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Brighten Up Your Home
One of my favorite ways to add interest with layers is through a lampshade. Gone are the days of the plain white lampshade. Now professional and amateur decorators are finding fun ways to dress up those shades. Look around your house. Got any plain or bare lampshades? If so, here are three easy ways to transform them without spending a lot. -
Pretty Planters
I keep thinking that we will have one more round of cold temperatures, but the warm weather seems to be hanging on. I guess spring is here! In my pre-children spring days I used to do a lot of gardening. Now, much of that has fallen by the wayside. But, one thing I try to do is put planters by my front door.
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A Central Place for All Your Jewelry
Like most other women, I too LOVE jewelry. However, I grew frustrated with the typical storage options for my jewelry. While there is nothing particularly wrong with the standard jewelry box, I found that my necklaces would get tangled and I tended to wear the same pieces over and over again since they were always placed on top. So, I set-out to create a few pieces that not only allowed me to display all of my jewelry, but also served as a more efficient storage option. -
A Closet Organizer for Him
My husbands closet has needed a makeover for some time. Our closets are in the bathroom, he has his own and I have my own. I love having our own closets but his was becoming a catch-all for all things that did not need to be in the closet. I created this system to help him get ready in the morning and have everything at his fingertips instead of walking around looking for things that were just all over the place. See how I did it. -
Welcome to My Craft Room
I am so excited to share with you my personal little paradise…my craft room. With the help of my father (thanks Dad!), I converted one of the extra bedrooms in our home to a place where I go to create, blog, craft and escape the stresses of life. Let me take you on a tour…
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It’s a Handmade Holiday…
by Missy Allaire It’s the time of year when we begin to think about decorating for the holidays. I enjoy decorating for all seasons, but especially the Christmas holiday. Christmas decorations not only look great, but also help to create a spiritual and festive environment. Whether it is Halloween, Easter or Christmas, I always [...]
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A Merry Christmas Welcome…
by Missy Allaire The cooler weather in Texas is the first indicator that Christmas is just around the corner. The front porch is usually the first thing I decorate, and yes, I do it before Thanksgiving. While I am far from a professional, let me share with you my front porch for the upcoming [...]
meet our contributors
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Victorya Rogers
Victorya Michaels Rogers is a Life & Love Coach, equipping women to create and keep healthy relationships. Rogers’ authored four books, including Finding a Man Worth Keeping and The Automatic 2nd Date. Her latest release is the DVD “Straight Talk About Sex for Christian Couples” co-written with Sex Therapist Debby Wade. Victorya has been seen and heard on national TV, Radio, and print—from MTV to Focus on the Family, Cosmopolitan to Woman’s World. This former Hollywood agent is also an active REALTOR® at Coldwell Banker Residential. She’s part of First Friday Women and lives in Southlake with her husband, Will, and their two children. Learn more about her coaching services at www.Victorya.com. -
Samantha Conner
In my “past life” I earned a degree in Education at TCU and taught elementary school. But these days, I am working as a super stay-at-home-mom with a serious craft addiction. During naptime, I am an avid blogger, runner, and nester. My blog is the place where I chronicle my journey in homemaking and sell my fabulous handmade bows, tutus, and hair accessories. I have a loving husband and two young daughters. Their enthusiasm and support is what drives my creativity in home decor, unique crafts, party planning, holiday fun, and all things girly. I am dedicated to creating a warm, loving home for my family. And to me, that means a lot of 'crafty how-to’ projects along the way. I believe that life can be more fabulous with the use of polka dots, tulle, ribbon and rhinestones! I hope you enjoy sharing in our adventures and that I can inspire you to 'get crafty' in your own home. Follow my crafting journey at craftytexasgirls.blogspot.com -
Rhonda Sargent Chambers
Rhonda, a former model and owner of RSC Show Productions, considers herself a “naturalized Texan”. After moving to Texas from San Francisco, she began her modeling career at a young age walking runways around the world from Japan to Mexico. She transitioned from full-time modeling to fashion show production with the creation of RSC Show Productions. As an instructor and speaker in the modeling community for over 30 years, she is a respected figure who consults with modeling agencies to develop criteria and guidelines for professional models to follow. Rhonda and her husband Kit have been together more than 20 years. The busy mom’s schedule is somewhat flexible since she owns her own business, but it’s the couple’s two boys, Callahan, 12, and Ford, 10, who now shape Rhonda’s daily routine. She is active in the community both personally and professionally giving her time to organizations such as Children’s Cancer Fund, Mane Gait Therapeutic Center, Child Abuse Prevention Center, Big Thought and The Elisa Project. She is passionate about fashion, and her forte will offer wonderful shopping and wardrobing tips for busy moms on the go! www.rscshow.com -
Maxi Erdmann
I am Maxi Erdmann, and I reside in Keller, TX with my four sweet babies and my husband, Nathan. A University of Oklahoma grad, I love all things SOONER! I love food, but I don’t cook, I love music, but I don’t sing, (except in the shower), and I have a ridiculously expensive obsession with make-up. I have been writing since I could form letters and my mother put a pencil in my hand. Prior to having my third and fourth baby, I was a teacher at Southlake Christian Preschool. Before moving to Texas, I lived in Oklahoma where I spent my days as a full-time mom of twins and part-time make-up artist. I have also lived in Nashville, TN where I worked for Gaylord Entertainment and Springhouse Golf Course. My other interests include all things sports related and a new endeavor as an aspiring (learning!) photographer. It seems, along with my pencil, I have always had a camera around my neck. My days are filled with loud kids, tons of laundry and enough extra-curricular activities to keep six people busy. I’m up for the challenge, and I love every minute of it... -
Brooke Hortenstine
Brooke Hortenstine is a Dallas-based editor, writer and charitable volunteer. As editor-at-large of PaperCity magazine, Brooke chronicles the evolving Dallas social scene and writes about all things luxurious — fashion, food, beauty, and interior design, to name a few. She has appeared as a style authority in television segments, and has been published in periodicals such as In Style and Four Seasons Magazine. Contemporary art, dining, travel, music, modern furnishings, and southern customs — think iced tea, old monograms and SEC football — top her lists of likes, as well as giving back to her community. She sits on the Board of Directors of the Dallas Contemporary artspace and the President’s Advisory Council to the AT&T Performing Arts Center, and serves as a member of Cattle Baron’s Ball benefiting the American Cancer Society. Her family includes her husband Blake Hortenstine, a ranch real estate broker, and their two-year-old son, Rollins Hortenstine.
