Category: Interior Decorating

STAGING YOUR HEALTHY EATING sounds a little strange, right? I have been giving a little advice to a good friend who is preparing to sell her home. She didn’t need any advice on how she had decorated her lovely home. My advice and you may have seen a previous post when we sold our home on staging. This blog post wasn’t inspired in totality from my lending her a hand but it came from looking at some real estate posts on some homes. Both of the homes I viewed had “slashed prices” and drastically reduced prices” and when I looked at the photos, I understood why they were not selling. The bones were good in both of the properties but the photos showed clutter, clutter, clutter. I will spend a few minutes with some tips on how to stage a home and I think you will see how staging a home and staging your healthy eating have a lot in common. Paying attention to details in any stage of our lives is vital to success.

I used to stage model homes for trade shows and there is an art to bringing out the best features while directing the eye away from the negative features. A neutral background is necessary with accents to draw the attention away from the possible show stopper.

Looking at these photos of the rooms, it is easy to see how the clutter is what shows and not the features of the room. This is how Not to Do It examples.

Here are some of my tips for staging a home or apartment and are actually great tips when decorating a new place:

1. As much as we love personal belongings and favorite things, pack them away while selling your dwelling. A potential buyer may think your grandchildren are precious, it is important they can imagine hanging their family’s picture in THEIR home so no family photos. Remember your intent is to sell and if you are successful, these precious belongings will be packed anyway, so get started early.
2. Counters need to be free of clutter. Even if you have to pull all of those fantastic small appliances, mountains of spices, papers, sets of glasses, collections of ceramic mugs, chickens, pigs, or cows; pack them up and away from sight. Think about a certain collection a friend has that turns you off but they love them to death.
3. Clean, clear, and shine. Your home is now a showplace and should reflect a clean and polished environment. A clean and clear home will show off the features of the home. Don’t forget the dust on the baseboards, crevices, and corners. Also glass is such a beautiful reflective asset if smear-free and sparkling.
4. Personal belongings and specific trend decor items are distractions and selling a home is not a time to display everything you own. In selling, more home and less gadgets, clothing, accessories is more appealing.
5. Tubs, sinks, and counters are to be seen and shampoos, cleaning tools, and trinkets are items to be stored. Those dollar store tubs and bins are great ways to de-clutter until the viewings/open houses are completed and a sale is pending. If you place your grooming items in small bins or tubs and put them away temporarily, the rooms will look so much neater and appealing.
6. A good tip is refrain from buying during the selling period. Even if you already have a place in mind, the time for furnishing the new place is when you have sold the current place.
7. Smells are very important. All pet items are to be removed and fresh linens are a must. Air out the home if possible and avoid certain candles as they may be your favorite but as I am highly allergic to a lot of scents and chemicals, the fresher and more natural the better. Bake cookies, but don’t burn them (meant to be humorous but very relevant). Trash is to be continually removed.
8. De-clutter and clean refrigerator and stove. Cabinets are to be organized and clean. These are vital as the future homemaker may love to cook and this is a critical space which can make or break a sale.

Clean counters and floors cleared of clutter can stage rooms to show off the best features. Artwork or nice accessories can be used but never overwhelming. 

I have many more tips and may spend a few blogs on how to stage and maintain a home while selling it and more importantly while you live in it. I promised to tie these tips into how you can stage your healthy living. Here is how I can relate all of the tips and apply them into making eating healthy easier.

1. As much as you like personal snacks and food, remove them from your eyesight by cleaning out the storage areas where you normally and proudly display food that is going to distract you from your goal of “selling” yourself on taking better care of you. Remember your goal is to be successful in improving your health.
2. Counters need to be free of clutter. While focusing on meals, there is no place to see food items or reminders of what not to eat. Take away the temptation and if you have to display items, make sure you have healthy choices handy and visible.
3. Clean, clear, and shine. When you are feeling good you look good. As you make progress with your healthy eating, learn to reward with gifts other than food. A new haircut, manicure and pedicure and an addition to your wardrobe in your best color is better than going out to eat. Non food rewards are the best.
4. Personal pleasures of foods should be avoided. This is not the time to display or go through pictures and ads for the temptation foods. Instead, start building the recipes you can have and make recipe collections to focus on instead of that wonderful pound cake you bake. Also pack up the cake cover, the cookie jar, etc.
5. Restock your personal care items with healthy oils, supplements, and care items. Vanity is not an option but looking at your progress in the clean mirrors and seeing yourself excited about stepping on the scales will keep you on track.
6. Refrain from buying at this time. Give yourself time for your new look. You may drop a lot of sizes and it is okay to wear your clothes as they get looser until it is officially a WOE and not a temporary fix.
7. Smells are very important to eating healthy. If your new WOE contains wonderful smells, it is easier to adjust. Freshness outweighs staleness so be choosy in what you buy and fill your home with great herbs and seasonings.
8. Declutter your refrigerator, pantry, and cabinets. Stock and organize with colorful and fresh food items. Make it an event to walk into your kitchen and open the doors to a wonderful and healthy display of foods.

Colorful foods, clean home and fresh scents of herbs and fruits can guide you on the right track.

As I finish, you may see that I transcend from any part of my life with the same intent. All phases of our lives can intertwine and these rules can apply to a lot of ways to live. I encourage any of you who struggle with selling a home or eating healthy to first declutter, clean, and shine your mind. As I say, “LIVE LIFE, LOVE LIFE, AND LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST by eating well and living the best life ever.”

(C) Copyright 2012-2018 Arline Miller with all rights and privileges reserved. Third party material is sourced if known to original location. All photos are not exclusive property of Sipping Cups unless stated and third party photos are sourced to original location if known for credit.

IS SIMPLE BETTER THAN GLITZ? When I was young, several people stated I missed my calling and I should have been a lawyer since I could see both sides of any argument. I hoped that meant I was open minded and not tunnel visioned. This morning, you will see this side of me when I review the topic IS SIMPLE BETTER THAN GLITZ? I had a friend to say when I posted my Christmas decorations to say she prefers simple. This started my blogger mind to begin an internal debate about Simple or Glitz. Here is hoping that you will see both sides of this discussion but if not go with your instincts and choose whichever you prefer.

Let’s look at Simple first. The web definition of simple:

sim·ple

[ sim-p uhl]

ADJECTIVE [SIM·PLER, SIM·PLEST.]

1. easy to understand, deal with, use, etc.: a simple matter; simple tools.

2. not elaborate or artificial; plain: a simple style.

3. not ornate or luxurious; unadorned: a simple gown.

4. unaffected; unassuming; modest: a simple manner.

5. not complicated: a simple design.

This sounds wonderful and uncomplicated and matches my friend’s personality. She seems to be a person who enjoys nature and I know her to be a person comfortable in simple surroundings. I enjoy seeing the pictures of their remodeled country home and all of their animals. It seems peaceful and unassuming. There is nothing wrong with having a simple life as long as it is a choice and not a result from fear from challenging oneself to set goals to improve a life. As long as the person chooses simplicity as a way of life, that life will be a happy one. I like the idea of simplicity but as I said before; I look at both sides so let’s look at glitz.

The Web gives us this description of GLITZ:

glitz

I would like to throw a monkey wrench into this definition. I rode through the country roads in route to my hometown. Every year at Christmas time and Easter, the yard of a mediocre home a “glitzy” display of blow up characters. I would think most of it came from Walmart or similar retailers. They might have been bought at yard sales. The source is not important except to express the monetary investment. You see glitz does not always have to be diamonds, gold, pearls, or gems. It can be a Simple Soul wanting to express their feelings or even an expression of “pay attention to me”. They may be saying “I may live a simple life but I count in this world.” I go back to the yard adventure. Year after year I would slow my vehicle down to see if they had a new piece and I realized they had caused me to pay attention and I felt a connection with a stranger’s home and felt excitement for them if a new piece of “glitz”.

GLITZ OR SIMPLICITY? Here are my feelings, mine only, and not to change or sway anyone’s thoughts. I think there is room in this world for both and I am not sure which, if any, is better. It is an individual decision and should be accepted. Because a person is drawn to the simpler things or if another is drawn to glitz, doesn’t negate or promote their worth. Both are expressing their individual preference. I only see a negative if either express a dislike of a person who is the opposite. Sometimes I love simple; other times I like a little glitz so maybe that is why I love both kinds of people.

An Additional Note from me: In the last few years, the glitz of the mediocre home disappeared and no more can I anticipate what will be in the yard. It has become simple and it made me sad. I wondered if the person who had lovingly blown up all those reindeer, Santa, candy canes, etc. as well as the big Easter Bunny with blow up colored eggs passed away and this thought brings me to a distinct conclusion.

Life, whether lived simply or extravagantly, ends for all of us. What we gathered, treasured, and adored in life will pass and will not be on display for others who have enjoyed our friendship, neighbor relationship, co-worker, church family, or even strangers who paid more attention to your simplicity or glitz. What is important is not things but how we chose to live and our reflection in the mirror. The acts of kindness and generosity and compassion will forever shine in honor of those who choose those above things, simple or glitzy.

LIVE LIFE, LOVE LIFE, AND LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST by giving of yourself and sharing the gifts of simplicity or glitz with all those who are affected by you.

(C) Copyright Arline Miller 2012-2017 with rights and privileges reserved. Third party material sourced to original location if known. All photos are not property of Sipping Cups of Inspiration unless captioned.

WHEN THE MOVE MOVES YOU is the topic for my blog today after moving to a different town and setting up a new home (or at least new to us) and thinking about all of the changes and how to react to those changes. Years ago, we discussed moving to my husband’s home town and I was a little hesitant. I came from a small town, Douglas, and I had become accustomed to a larger city. It was a double concern since not only is Tifton, even though larger than Douglas but I know very few people here. Now, that move has happened and we are settled in, I felt I would share some thoughts on how this move has moved me and Greg.

We started packing and culling a month before the move. I am not sure that was a good idea or not. It seems as if we have been moving for a couple of months and no moving should go on that length of time (grinning at how much “stuff” we had accumulated over the past 11 years) and even before then as we should have culled a lot before we moved to our last home. As we went through the attic items, a thought hit me when I saw things I thought were precious possessions and I realized I hadn’t even seen those items for 11 years and somehow I had not missed them. Of course, my heart was jubilant at their discovery. It seemed some sort of wonderment that I had made it through many years without knowing where this priceless treasure was. I began to feel the Antiques Roadshow excitement but then I realized they were still the same items I chose to place in the attic. Was this enlightenment teaching me something?

What I did find out was the longer it took to pack, the more I became willing to dispose or donate more and more items. The items’ importance became minimal as hours and boxes became maximal. I think the move was moving my internal relationship with material items.

As we entered the new home, I found myself, instead of feeling excited, I felt a little disappointed. It was not organized; it was not immaculate; it was not the fairy tale home I had envisioned. The move had moved me to emotional disarray. I had to act and act quickly. My daughter instinctively picked up on my anxiety and fell into cleaning and installing cleanliness into the drawers and cabinets. We started unpacking those mountains of boxes. My thought was why didn’t I cull more when I was packing. Did we really need all of that “stuff”?

As days progressed and we stayed determined to unpack and organize, we found Greg and I made a great team. He unpacked the boxes, bagged the packing paper and bubble wrap, and tore down the boxes for recycling. I found places to store and display all of the items we did bring (with some more culling as I went for donations). It began to come together and I began to see a home instead of a house. Our new home became our home and this reaction moved me into a peaceful place.

One of the symbols of our happy life in our former home was our yards filled with a lot of remembrance of my Mother’s green thumb and how she had shared her bounty with us. Of course, part of the sale was an agreement Greg would dig up some of each of the day lilies, spider lilies, and her rhododendron plants as well as some of Greg’s priced purchased ones. As the home came together, it was very important to have love in our yards. Missy had given as a house warming present a beautiful hibiscus, a bright and beautiful yellow so it had to be on display to bring Missy’s love into the yard too. I am happy to say, Greg found some help since it required grass removal and a new, bright day lily bed in our front yard. I smiled as I looked at it and thought The Millers are here.

In summary, I want to express a lesson I have learned during the “move that moved me”. We are given and things are taken in life. Some of those changes are good changes; others are sad changes and may have profound effects on our emotional state. What I learned is to allow life to move you. Staying in the same place, with importance placed on unimportant segments only allows dust to accumulate. Either dust those items off and use them or get rid of them. I use this as an example of word play. Life gives us experiences which we place on the shelves or attics of our minds. We can polish those experiences and use the lessons, good or bad, in our lives to enhance or beautify our world. If an experience is so painful, we tuck it away but not discard it; we are only accumulating dust on our lives. We can either place it into proper perspective or learn to walk away from its memory. REMEMBER: Live Life; Love Life; and Live Life to the Fullest by allowing yourself to be moved.

(C) Copyright 2012-2017 Arline Miller with rights and privileges reserved. Third party material is sourced to original location when known. Pictures are not property of Sipping Cups unless stated.

BRINGING THE BEST TO THE SURFACE has been brought to life with the recent move from Kathleen GA where we had made our home for 11 years. Both Greg and I have taken pride in our home and yards but it was shocking when the furniture pieces were removed and some dusty residue was visible. Yes, there was dust and little items which had escaped our hands and found refuge in a dark and quiet place. It was embarrassing but we had made arrangements for a final clean. Carpets were cleaned, dust all gone, walls, cabinets, and baseboards all freshened and with the house shining the doors were locked until the new owners take residence. I felt pride that we wanted the best to show without those shady reminders we are better on the surface apparently but made a promise to keep the hidden parts cleaner and shinier.  This brought me to the next phase for this topic…..our new home.

We had also arranged for the new home to receive a cleaning but had to rely on a stranger to clean and that was a mistake. However, we have to move past mistakes and make the most of life. When we viewed the home and as I always do, I looked at the “bones” of the home for potential. I had some reservations, which are now unfounded, about some colors on the walls and the layout. Without furniture, I could see the areas that needed TLC and it was pretty much visible on the surface. Now, for the unveiling of our move in adventure:

Missy, my daughter who was the number one trooper involved with the move pointed out the failures of the person who disappointed us with a pitiful job. We slowed down the unpacking and Missy went to work cleaning out drawers and cabinets as well as bathrooms. She replaced old shelf lining with fresh marble design contact paper and I saw the best coming to the surface, not only in the shelves and cabinets but in my daughter’s ability to take pride in any job she does. The love for cleanliness and organization had been passed down and she glowed while she scrubbed and swept along side of her Mom. Yes, things are best when viewed on the surface but she has learned and was practicing those values which are embedded deeply in her mind and body. The house began to shine both on the surface and in us from taking pride in what we do.

As I said in the beginning, we can make the surface appear all is well and pretty but how would we feel if the layers of our mind and soul were peeled away and the hidden places brought to the surface? Would we be happy and content for all to see? Or would we feel embarrassed as I did when the dust bunnies appeared from their dark, creepy places? I hope this is food for thought as we continue to structure our new home with intentions of moving the furniture more often, dusting in the dark corners, we will be conscious of moving our minds and souls to a clean and shiny environment.

Live Life; Love Life; and Live Life to the Fullest by bringing your best to the surface while dusting out the cobwebs of the soul.

(C) Copyright 2012-2017 Arline Miller with rights and privileges reserved. All third party material sourced to original location if known. Photos are not exclusively owned by Sipping Cups unless stated.