How a Fallen Soldier Should be Welcomed Home - 04/30/07 08:00 PM
In Willmar, Minnesota  the body of Army Sargeant Joshua Schmit was flown in to the Willmar Municipal Airport by charter jet.  Members of the Minnesota Army National Guard , the retired Brigader General Dean Johnson and members of the Schmit family watched as Joshua's casket was unloaded. His father flew with the body from the Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. Joshua Schmit ,26, was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq.
Hundreds of people lined up along the 19th Avenue in Willmar and waited for over an hour as the  body was carried to the Harvey Anderson Funeral home.  There were … (9 comments)

They Said It! - 04/30/07 02:51 PM
"Only the Lord Almighty makes a prison safer."
-Burt Cain, warden of the 5,100 inmate Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola in World 
 
Photo by Prison Chaplin  - Alonzo Young
"Our prisons desperately need the flexibility to try new ways to change the hearts and habits of offenders...Prison Fellowship developed the IFI program to help end the high return rate of released prisoners."-Former Attorney General John Ashcroft advocating the InnerChange Freedom Initiative in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch 
Looking for a ministry to be involved in?  Check out your local jail, teen group home, half way house, or prison.
How hard could it be - you  … (1 comments)

How a Home Stager Can Help You in a Slow Market Year - 04/30/07 12:58 PM
     The Multiple Listing Service of the Greater Lakes Association of Realtors just released their latest tabulations for our county.  Numbers don't lie or do they?  Last year  in the first quarter of 2006, 177 homes were sold in Crow Wing County at a median price of $156,200 and their time on the market averaged 131 days . This year for the same quarter  period the homes  are at $159,200 and are taking an average of 142 days to sell.
     According to Kevin Goedker, president of the MLS and an agent with Century 21 Brainerd Realty, new construction and existing homes … (0 comments)

10 Luxury items for You - Yes, that is right YOU - 04/27/07 07:40 PM
          
              After a hard day of home staging in the Brainerd Lakes area of Minnesota- I, Kathleen Lordbock of
                           Re$ale  Design, like to come home to my family , of course- first & then pets and then.....
Votivo candles - absolutely the best (my favorite Red Currant)Bose Home Theater System - the bass tones make my heart thumpBath & Body Works Aromatherapy Stress Relieving Sandalwood Rose body wash- ahhh best with warm waterDecorative night light with shades - no bumps in the nightAquafina bottled water - chilled, of courseReal orchid plants - they live for years and routinely put out … (13 comments)

No-Smoking Ban for Minnesota? - 04/27/07 01:53 PM
 
While our cities of Brainerd and Baxter are failing to establish smoking ordinances - other Minnesota cities have been bravely stepping up to the plate. A statewide smoking ban is expected to get a vote in the Mn. House.  This would threaten those determined to smoke in public regardless of the rules and those proprietors who allow them to do so, with fines of up to $300.  At the present in St. Paul at least ,the fines start at $500 and can jeopardize their liquor licenses. The history of local smoking bans in six counties and 10 cities would lead one … (2 comments)

Is Russia Changing? - 04/27/07 01:16 PM
When the former President Boris Yeltsin of Russia was buried, he had a Russian Orthodox service.  This is the first time in over a century that in Russia a deceased head of state was bid a religious farewell.
The memorial service was held in central Moscow's Christ the Savior Cathedral and was attended by our former U.S. Presidents George H.W.Bush and Clinton along with dignitaries from many countries.
Was the name of Christ spoken-was the plan of Salvation talked through- did those in charge of the religious parts of this service speak truth to the living?
Funerals are for the living. At a funeral … (1 comments)

GOING GREEN-BRING BACK WICKER & BAMBOO - 04/25/07 01:20 PM
 Wicker furniture can be fashioned out of willow, rattan, bamboo, or reed.

The use of wicker for household objects dates back to when ancient civilizations used it for baskets and chair seats. The oldest wicker pieces still in existence are storage boxes and hassocks dating back to the time of Cleopatra. During the Victorian era in the mid-1800s, wicker furniture came back into vogue because the Victorians believed that its smooth surface was more hygienic than upholstered furniture.
Despite that belief, caring for wicker furniture can be difficult.  The very nature of their woven surfaces causes them to be … (8 comments)

Back to M.A.C. - 04/25/07 12:08 PM
 
I'm just assuming that most of us home stagers and interior designer types do a little something with our own appearances. Hair done up, try and keep the nails at least tidy and a little makeup to have the WOW factor directed at us.  I always think Spackle and paint.  For those of you who use the M.A.C. products - they have a little incentive to recycle offered. 
Once you have used up any 6 M.A.C. items, go to any M.A.C. counter and deposit the empty containers.  In return, you get a free tube of lipstick.  Since 100% of the retail … (2 comments)

Minnesota Horse Expo is Coming - 04/24/07 08:49 PM
 
One of my favorite events is coming on April 27th - April 29th.  That is THE MN HORSE EXPO.  It almost hits my fav page as high as The Mn State Fair. There are free lectures and demonstrations every day from the top trainers in the nation. This year Scoot Hanson covers Self Defense for Trail Riders.  Richard Shrake is The Ultimate Coach. Curt Pate speaks on AQHA Professional Horsemanship.  Brenda Imes is presenting as a Gaited Horse Clinician. Dr. Temple Grandin who authored Animals in Translation will be there. Charmayne James will be also and she is an 11 time … (0 comments)

Fabulous Fakes - 04/24/07 01:56 PM
 
 
 
Here are some things that I have used for stagings:
battery operated tealightsbattery operated wax candlesMetallic - spray on, paint on, hand applied gold leafing etcantiquing patinacrackle finish aged silver worn edges and distressinggreeneryorchidsfaux flowers with a few real ones tucked in ( stems in plastic floral vials)Fake water geljewels, rhinestones animal prints & fursroom size illusions created with mirrorssmell  of bread-  pre-made store bun baked in ovensmell of chocolate -chocolate chip cookie heated in microwave Anyone have their own favorites?
Re$ale Design
Kathleen Lordbock 
Specializing in Property Presentations 
… (1 comments)

I DARE YOU - 04/24/07 10:16 AM
                                               The Proverbs Challenge
     We are all busy and yet we all spend time in God’s Word daily or at least admit that we should. So I am going to make this challenge easy to follow.  In the upcoming month of May or for those eager to start now, read one chapter of Proverbs everyday.  With 31 days in May and 31 chapters in Proverbs—you simply read the chapter that corresponds to that day of the month.  Proverbs can be read in the middle to the end and beginning to the middle so you can start today or wait until … (29 comments)

Check out the Decorator's Alliance of North America - Open to Stagers - 04/20/07 08:23 PM
 Copied from their website with permission from:Nika Stewart Director, Decorators' Alliance  MEMBER BENEFITS
Decorators’ Alliance of North America (DANA) is an organization that that supports professionals in the home fashion industry.  The Alliance’s goal is to provide members with opportunities to enhance their expert status through continuing education, certification programs, networking and mastermind groups, and interactive forums.  Members enjoy significant and broad-based benefits including:
 
·      Enhanced credibility through professional certification.
 
·      Greater purchasing power with major supply partners.
 
·      Research on the latest decorating and design trends, developments, and topics.
 
·      Marketing support, … (12 comments)

Tea for Two or One - 04/20/07 08:07 PM

After a hard day of home staging, or selling real estate or counting up the green stuff - what could be more relaxing than a nice cup of tea? OK, that was a rhetorical question and I'm not really expecting you to answer or maybe I'm hoping you won't. With a new teashop opening up in the Greater Brainerd Lakes area, I thought maybe someone would like a tea making lesson. Our local teashop owner suggests that the trick is in the making.  She should know.
Always use cold tap water and boil water on the stove instead of using the … (1 comments)

Minnesota Home Stager Reports -Starbucks Coming to Baxter - 04/20/07 07:12 PM
Sometime this summer on Edgewood Drive and #371 North in Baxter another coffee experience will be opening up. Area residents have watched and wondered what was going into the 1,835 square foot building next to Arby's.  Now we know.
The site ,as described by Starbucks, will have a drive through to make those coffee runs even more convenient. It is to have "comfortable upholstered furniture, cafe tables with chairs and an outdoor patio."  They will be selling coffee (of course) coffee beans, pastries and other merchandise. If you are interested in one of the 20 or so jobs that will be … (0 comments)

BLACK IS BACK - 04/18/07 09:30 AM
 To create drama and dress up any room, consider adding touches of black. It works in virtually any color scheme and with any decorating style.  If you are going for major drama, inject even larger doses of this dynamic color in your window treatments, upholstered furniture, bedding, flooring or floor coverings, decorative wall moldings, shelving, cabinets, or your wooden furniture pieces.  Lime green, white, orange, red,  yellow and aqua all pop when positioned on or near black pieces.  Paint artwork frames, mirrors, or add black painted pinstripes.  Decorative boxes hung on the wall or open shelving to hold accessories in black … (9 comments)

Bataan Death March Memorial - 04/17/07 09:30 AM
About 100 people were in attendance at Monday's ceremony held at the Veterans Memorial next to the Crow Wing County Courthouse.  Three surviving members of the march were in attendance. Walter Straka, Ken Porwall and Henry Peck placed a wreath of 61 flowers on the memorial in remembrance of the soldiers of the area's 34th Tank Company. Peck suffered a stroke two weeks ago and wasn’t sure that he would make it to the ceremony. “But I’m here, that’s the main thing,” he said.  “I was planning on coming, but I didn’t know”.
This memorial ceremony marked the 65th Anniversary of … (0 comments)

You Can't Sell What You Don't Own- or Can You? - 04/13/07 09:46 AM
The Brainerd School District is in the process of selling the former Franklin Junior High School to Artspace Inc. Tom Fitzpatrick who is the school district's attorney  told board members Monday, that there may be a small problem with this.   It was discovered in establishing the site description that .288 acres of the property was and is still owned by the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway.This comprises a portion of the east wing of the building and part of a driveway with a total square footage of around 12,000 square feet.The BNSF Railway headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas , is one … (0 comments)

It is Severe Weather Awareness Week in Minnesota - 04/12/07 08:54 PM
While driving through Brainerd today, I was startled to hear the tornado sirens blaring.  It wasn't a "first Wednesday of the month drill "and the skies were certainly clear.  I called my husband on the cell phone and asked if he knew what was up. It was the first of two tornado drills of the day -one at 1:45 p.m. and the next at 6:55 p.m.  I was relieved to hear it was only a drill but was reminded again of our 2001 tornado that destroyed 20 homes (ours included), damaging many more, killing livestock and some of our horses. Amazingly, … (0 comments)

"Belly Up to the Bar" or "Tracking Inventory using Barcoding" - 04/11/07 02:47 PM
Having read several good ideas from Active Rain members on handling their inventory - I've haven't come across anyone used the bar-coding system and bar-code scanners. Couldn't find it upon doing a search either - so here we go. It appears  that you can embed a lot of information in your numbers as to the items number, description, price paid, rental price you would ask for.  Not having any experience with this system, but knowing that if I keep building inventory I'll need to change out how I do things . I'm asking for input from all you stagers out there.  … (6 comments)

How I Found My Long Lost Twin on Active Rain - 04/10/07 02:10 PM

     First let me introduce myself.  My name is Baylin and I am a long haired German Shepherd, who also happens to be an honorary police dog. I was adopted by Kathleen Lordbock (Re$ale Design) and given to her daughter for a birthday present.  Boy was she surprised !  Kathleen took Allison to the Heartland Animal Rescue  Team site in Brainerd, Minnesota to walk the dogs.  There I was way down on the end with a sign on my cage reading “Happy Birthday, Allison—I’m your new best friend.”  There were ribbons and everything.  The nice people at H.A.R.T. had me … (10 comments)

WHAT WAS IN, IS NOW OUT - 04/09/07 02:21 PM
 
Cooking, entertaining, reading, relaxing and sleeping for many decades in the USA have been activities that homeowners did inside the house.  Now, the trend for many is to move activities to the out spaces.  Just as formal  sitting rooms indoors are passé, formal gardens are out and the lived-in garden is very chic.       Kitchens for the patio come complete with fire brick pizza ovens, refrigerators, ice makers, sinks, and the traditional favorite BBQ grill in a fashionable streamlined stainless steel model.  Entertainment tents, screened in  3- season rooms and gazebos move the crowd from the main indoor living … (11 comments)

Vowed To Never Forget - 04/07/07 11:38 PM
The Brainerd area citizens are keeping true to their vow taken 65 years ago.  This April 9, they will hold a memorial ceremony marking the 65th Anniversary of the Fall of Bataan.  The 34th Tank Company left Brainerd with 82 officers and men.  Of these, 61 accompanied the 194th overseas to the Philippines. 28 died in POW camps, 3 were killed in action, one man was wounded and evacuated and 29 survived captivity.  Out of the original 61 guardsmen who left  with the Brainerd unit only 29 returned  to Brainerd after the end of WW2. The 194th was awarded three Presidential … (0 comments)

Got Skunked? Did you get "it"? - 04/07/07 03:18 PM
Although it is still early spring with a foot of snow on the ground here at our rural
Brainerd, Minnesota ranch, we know that "it" will happen.  With two large German Shepherds and a lovable but nosy mutt "it" could happen soon.  One of these days, while checking under a wood pile or shed , at least one of the dogs will encounter a peppermint kitty and he will let them have "it".  Skunk spray , one of the most obnoxious smells, works quite well for the sprayer.  The sprayed upon however have burning eyes, nausea, and owners who no longer want … (3 comments)

FIDDLING AROUND - 04/07/07 12:13 PM
  Miss Minnesota - Nicole Swanson & Allison Lordbock- Miss Brainerd Lakes
My neighboring town of Pillager , MN. in Cass County recently held their annual Fiddle Contest.  This was the 23rd year of this event and was held again at the Pillager High School.  It was a wonderful blend of both the young (6 years) and the not so young (90 years) with a wide range of talent not necessarily lining up with their years of life.  This year's event drew 28 fiddlers from around the State of Minnesota.
If you play the violin or want to learn, check with your … (0 comments)

Daughter to Dad - One Kidney & Life - 04/06/07 10:00 PM
 As Easter is a celebration of spiritual life through Christ- the Monday following Easter will be a new chance at physical life for a Brainerd man. Marv Milliam at 69 years of age will receive a kidney from his 32 year old daughter, Vindy Pulak.  If successful, this gift will enable Marv to say goodbye to his three times a week dialysis treatments that take three hours per treatment. He will be able to travel and visit his son in Montana. As his family enjoys yearly elk hunting trips in Colorado, Marv also went but needed  to travel  every other day … (7 comments)

THE LORD'S SUPPER - 04/06/07 02:57 PM

Painting by local Brainerd artist, Ashley Bast,
 -posted with her permission
The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks,
he broke it and said,"This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." 
In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood;
do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me."  For whenever you eat this bread and drink
this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
1 Corinthians 11:23-26 NIV
Until he comes,
Kathleen Lordbock 
Re$ale Design & Home … (6 comments)

The Staging of a Marriage Proposal - 04/04/07 02:59 PM
Once upon a time, a Prince called from Wisconsin asking if  in a few weeks he could propose to his girlfriend on our frozen beaver pond in Minnesota. Since he, his girlfriend and my daughter had all gone to school together in Florida, I said yes (like I'd say no?) After he secretly asked her father for her hand (& the rest of her as well) they would come to our place to say hello.  Late on the appointed night  from inside my nice warm kitchen, I could see their car lights coming up the driveway. I efficiently  called the crew … (6 comments)

What Is In Your Tool Bag? - 04/04/07 12:21 PM
As a Home Stager & Interior Redesigner, I carry a number of tools in my Re$ale Design tool bag.  Here is a list of my personal favorites:
One 16 foot FatMax retractable tape measure by StanleyOne 25 foot retractable tape measureOne small  carpenter's level with attached magnetic stripOne FatMax Laser Level kit One medium weight  claw hammerOne light weight ball-peen hammerTwo needle nose pliersOne slip-joint plier Makita 12V Cordless drill  with light and a variety of bits - slotted & phillips  -all sizes Two batteries for above  Battery chargerStud finderHot-Glue guns and lots of sticks for each -both low and high temperature Staple gun- … (19 comments)

Tornado season-are you ready? - 04/03/07 08:35 PM
 
No laughing matter-  you need to be aware of the power!
 This is what was left of our 70' trailer home in Brainerd, MN.  We never found the appliances, furnace, etc -  but our blue toilet was found intact  several miles away. The trailer was inside a 80x170 indoor riding arena - also gone! Fencing &  building in the background put in after storm.  The following information  was found on the FEMA site : see link
  Tornadoes are nature’s most violent storms. Spawned from powerful thunderstorms, tornadoes can cause fatalities and devastate a neighborhood in seconds. A tornado appears as … (12 comments)

I Told You It Was Going to Snow!! - 04/03/07 10:30 AM
     I told you it was going to snow! 
In a previous post, I was commenting on the everlasting rain we were receiving in Brainerd, MN. where my  Home Staging & Interior Redesign company, Re$ale Design, is located.  Well. it stopped!  Is snow this time of year unusual in the Brainerd Lakes area? Not really, we have had snow on the 4th of July! Actually, I prefer snow to rain, as it is very difficult to cross country ski on water.  Now, where are my skis- I'd better get going before it starts raining again. 
Kathleen Lordbock
Resale Design - President 
… (0 comments)

Stop- don't use those towels!!! - 04/02/07 11:25 AM
    How do you keep  visitors & Realtors at open houses and showings from using your nicely folded, perfectly hung, and oh so clean and dry towels?  I have read that some suggest tying them in ribbons or raffia and therefore signal that they are off limits.  Does everyone know how to read raffia?    A sign "Do Not Use Towels" along with "Do Not Use Toilet or If in the case of an Emergency :  please close lid & flush (or maybe flush and then close lid)", "Do Not Sit on Bed" ,  "Don't kiss the Mirror", "No eating or drinking … (18 comments)

When will the rain stop? - 04/01/07 09:19 PM
 
       Here in the Greater Brainerd Lakes area of Minnesota - it is raining.  It has been raining for days.  With a very low amount of snowfall, this is a good thing.  For me, I'd rather get the snow!  Rain for days is depressing (sorry- Seattle residents). You can't do anything in a rain this cold and when you try - soon you are back in the house changing clothes. 
        Since we have 14 horses, I need to put them in the barn so they get a chance to dry off and warm up.  They certainly appreciate it and I feel … (3 comments)

 
Rainmaker_large

Kathleen Lordbock Keller Williams Realty Professionals

Kathleen Lordbock

Brainerd, MN

More about me…

Broker/ Short Sale Specialist

Address: 10718 Greenwood St, Brainerd, MN, 56401

Office Phone: (218) 831-8001

Cell Phone: (218) 831-8001

Email Me

Information on the Brainerd Lakes area of Minnesota. Real Estate help for buyers and sellers. Home staging tips and help for owners who need to sell fast. Postponing foreclosure and short sale help. </a


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