Sheron Cardin's Home Staging Blog

What Do I Do? "I Color Your World!". That's a better introduction, isn't it?

Sheron Cardin - how2homestage.com (California Moods Inc) — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 14:00:13 -0500

People are often times put off when I introduce myself as an Interior Designer/artist/feng shui student/home staging instructor (not necessarily in that order). They actually take a step back especially here in the small town of Selma CA.

"I Color YOUR World" really says it all for me. Pleople want to know HOW?

Finding a simple and understandable one liner to identify ones profession is a thrill and what a lucky find and solution to a common problem when I came across the following article. Please pass it on...it could make introductions more enjoyable and colorful for all of us.

Please share us know what you come up with for yourself or any profession for that matter!

Double Your Income With an Unlimited Number of Highly-Qualified Prospects For Free

By: Raymond Aaron

The way to get an unlimited number of highly-qualified prospects for free anytime you wish as often as you wish for the rest of your working life ... is easy and it really is free and anyone can do it. You don't buy anything from me or anyone. You just change the wording of how you introduce yourself! Let me explain ...

The boring way to introduce yourself (which everyone now uses) goes like this: "I am an electrician". What is wrong with this? Firstly, it does not increase your business so why bother saying it. And, it has two errors in it:

1.The first error is that it uses the word "a" or "an" which means that you are just one of many -- indistinguishable and uninteresting.

2.The second error is that you state what you do so that there is no mystery, no excitement.

Here's how you create excitement and have people WANTING more details.

Introduce yourself using the following guidelines:

1. introduce yourself by saying WHAT THEY GET not WHAT YOU DO

2. introduce yourself by creating QUESTIONS not ANSWERS

3. introduce yourself by saying "you" in the sentence 4.introduce yourself by being BRIEF.

Here are some examples:

BAD ........... I am an electrician GREAT ...... I check your shorts!

BAD ........... I am a professional speaker GREAT ...... I double your income!

BAD ........... I am an interviewer GREAT ...... I mail millionaires to your door!

BAD ........... I am a Feng Shui consultant GREAT ...... I color your world!

BAD ........... I am a photographer GREAT ...... I shoot you!

BAD ........... I am a therapist GREAT ...... I get into your head!

BAD ........... I am a dietician GREAT ...... I feed you healthy junk food!

Get the picture? Now, create one for yourself and send it to me by typing it in a comment to this article.

Do you have the courage to use this fascinating way to introduce yourself? Most people don't. I encourage you to develop a fascinating way to introduce yourself and then practice on family members until you are strong enough to do it in the world. Best of success. It works.

Author Resource:-> Raymond Aaron,New York Times Top Ten Bestselling Author, "Double Your Income Doing What You Love" published by John Wiley and Sons, New York City.

Join Raymond Aaron on Twitter @RaymondAaron.

Join "Raymond Aaron Double Your Income" Facebook Fan Page at http://www.FacebookRaymond.com .

Article From Articlebliss

Thank you Raymond!

Be Careful What You Call Yourself!

Sheron Cardin - how2homestage.com (California Moods Inc) — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 16:01:16 -0500

Home Stagers are not alone in the struggle for regulation/non-regulation in their industry as witnessed by RESA and all professional stagers; the interior design industry is fighting to maintain its reputation also. There has been a surge of self proclaimed designers in recent years and consumers have no way of knowing what they are really getting. Seems anyone can call themselves Interior Designers.

The subject has been brought up here in Active Rain as well, expecially in the Stage it Forward group and I am not going to go into that right now but I do suggest that if you are intersted in knowing more about the struggle going on for interior designers and other formal interior design groups, click here; Interior Design Protection Council

TUT is a Great Source for Daily Inspiration!

Sheron Cardin - how2homestage.com (California Moods Inc) — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 10:57:29 -0500

I know I don't know everything but I am pretty sure I have experienced all the angles...at least the large ones. Then I read my daily inspiration from TUT and instantly fell into a new calm.

You are where your feel are by Eiko Michi is one of my favorites and use it often, but this...well, let me know how it makes you feel.

The very feelings you're now feeling, the good, the bad, and the confused, are in large part why you chose this lifetime: To simply feel them.

Let's get this party started,
The Universe

Do We Need Yet Another Group???

Sheron Cardin - how2homestage.com (California Moods Inc) — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 10:16:53 -0500

Inspired by a recent post of mine: Help! Where Should I Post Promotions in Active Rain...Anyone Know? I have seen stagers et all sharing bargains, sales, finds, web sites, and I have seen Realtors show off their beautiful listings, and I have read time and time again about who is the best this and that. What do I do when my business is international.

My business is on the web, I run discounts now and then because I know many people are on the fence and it gives them the push they need. I like your suggestion and will consider a new group. I have neglected American Bandstand which I started a few months ago so I don't think I should be the one to start another one. Are you up for the challenge Virginia? I know localism is hot so as a sister group, how about...

The Price is Right!

Any ideas?

When You Have to Do It Yourself!

Sheron Cardin - how2homestage.com (California Moods Inc) — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 14:30:15 -0500

Anyone can follow instructions, right? Well, save a few people who are completely intimidated by a cooking recipe, but really, we have all followed footprints in the sand when we were kids and we still follow footprints in our lives today.

Perfect for real estate agents who want to help their clients prepare their homes and perfect for FSOB's; Here is what you will find at www.how2homestage.com to prepare a home for a successful sale...

• Home Staging Evaluation Checklist Forms (21 pages) - Leave your worries behind! This is a complete 21 page checklist that identifies every aspect of a standard 5 bedroom home from the mailbox to the door pulls. All the work has been done for you...all you do is circle the action to be taken and it becomes your to-do-list. The checklist also helps you establish a budget by selecting what needs to be done to the home and property to get it resale ready.

Here is a recent testimony from a from one of my clients:

I bought your how2satge DIY program last year and follow your blogs. Your'e great!!! I love activerain, it is a great way to learn from around the country. I have been in interior design for 22 years and we staged before it had a label. Best of the Day to you! Debby Altitude Designs

• Do-It-Yourself Home Staging Instructions (48 pages with 4 phases) - A complete step-by-step tutorial holds your hand through the detachment phase, resurfacing and updating phase, and the all important room identification and decorating phase.

• How To Stage Your Vacant House (27 pages)- You don't need to rent a truck load of furniture...that is costly and can be repititious with all the other vacant homes in the area...boring. Staging vignettes throughout the house as well as hosting open houses from the kitchen puts life where there was only sadness. Used as a companion to the Home Staging Instructions, any of the ideas in this ebook can be implemented into the staging of any home with unique ideas and attitude.

• All from a decorator's point of view! - 27 plus years of decorating model homes, resale homes, high end homes, and everything in between is put into these pages. The premise is "Learning is by doing". Follow in the footsteps of the professionals and achieve a professionally staged home maximized for resale. • Tools, inspirational tips and ideas for room arrangements, outdoor groupings and themes, and everything you will need to do-it-yourself. Save your money for other things! Download your Complete Home Staging Package today!

*** PLUS when you visit www.how2homestage.com, you will find designer links on what to do and what not to do when staging, 100's of photos, tips, and ideas you can use right now in your own home. Don't forget to use the easy tools in the right column!

I know, you don't want to do it yourself. Great! Give me a call or any of the professional home stagers in your area to do the work for you. Just remember that you won't know if they are going a great job for you if you don't know what to expect.

Right now, the Home Staging Evaluation Checklist is on sale!

Color and Feng Shui - Video Makes Feng Shui Easier

Sheron Cardin - how2homestage.com (California Moods Inc) — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 15:05:33 -0500

Bringing Feng shui into our work and into our personal lives can get so bogged down with details (and many of you know how this happens to me) that throwing up your hands is easier than trying to figure it all out.

No, it is not rocket science but if you forget something like leaving out metal, you may find a rocket crashing into your house ;-0

This video I discovered today is simple and direct and I for one am going to do exactly as it says in every room. Watch and learn...hope it helps you.

Do you know what this is?

Sheron Cardin - how2homestage.com (California Moods Inc) — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 09:29:21 -0500

Just when I think I know it all (sure!) I discover something I never even questioned. Let's see if I am the last turnip to fall off the turnip truck...here are some clues;

We buy them in jars
They are used in Chicken Piccata
They are considered a gourmet food
Delicious with fish
Have a lemony flavor

I will post some fun ways to use this berry when one of you identifiies IT.

*** Photo taken from the Fresno Bee***

I walked away thinking "He didn't have to die yet!".

Sheron Cardin - how2homestage.com (California Moods Inc) — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 09:49:57 -0500

I went to a memorial yesterday. We lost a friend whom we all valued deeply; he was a phychologist and a jokester and he will me missed by so many.

I lost my sister to cancer over 12 years ago and she was taken too soon also. You could just feel it...the powerlessness that cancer leaves behind no matter how hard we try to fight it.

Now...we don't have to die of cancer; watch this!

Cancer is not fate but a consequence of modern man. I am proud to be a part of the solution and you can too.

FUNCTIONAL ART - one of the best ideas yet!

Sheron Cardin - how2homestage.com (California Moods Inc) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 11:14:19 -0500

This is by far one of the best solutions to a flat screen TV to come down the pike ever!

Click here to watch the screen in action.

To make one of your own (not automatic) create a shadow box with a print or fabric on the front...and for home stagers; be sure there is a safe place to store the faux print when the TV is in use. Sweet!

If you have created more fabulous solutions for the Ugly Eye syndrome, please share with us. Just the opposite can be acheived for vacant home staging by framing a photo of a flat screen TV to show placement instead of buying the faux version. A framed print is much classier.

Where does road rage come from?

Sheron Cardin - how2homestage.com (California Moods Inc) — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 15:38:40 -0500

I was in San Diego County recently and I was in my car looking for an electronics store when suddenly this truck and trailor (gardener?) shot by me on the right and he was leaning his head out the window shouting obscene words and making obscene gestures and I wondered what had made him like that. All he gained was being in front of me at the next signal but boy, was he boiling over. I felt sorry for him, sent him a warm mental hug, and hoped he would feel it.

What put such a destructive spin on an otherwise beautiful day?

Other than the obvious level of stress caused by a shortage of money or an angry spouse, I believe it begins at home. My guess whatever caused the stress/anger/frustration can be prevented. Can road rage can come from a little thing like not being able to find one's car keys or

They tripped on a toy left on the stairs and couldn't find the bandages to stop the bleeding of their elbow then had to go change clothes
Or a blue sock was paired up with a brown sock because most of the lightbulbs are burnt out in the bedroom?
How about had to stop at the gas station to fuel up because the road rager did not have time to stop last night because he/she was running late all day.

The list can go on and on and on but my point here is being organized, clear of clutter, and prepared for unforseen circumstances has its rewards...all of which a home stager offers.

Could the answer to eliminating road rage be as obvious as living in a professionally staged/decorated/organized home? That is what I am thinking!

My Special Deviled Eggs with Chipotle - YUM!

Sheron Cardin - how2homestage.com (California Moods Inc) — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 14:19:42 -0500

It is time to share my most requested food to bring to any and all occations concerning family and friends. It used to be my potato salad but no one wanted to wait. (I will also share my secret for my prized potato salad at the end of this recipe)

10 hard-boiled eggs (10 minutes)

1 TBSP your favorite mustard

3 TBSP mayonaise

1 tsp white-wine vinegar

3 TBSP minced fresh parsley or chives or a combo of both (optional)

1 tsp chipotle (pureed)

1 TBSP finely chopped dill split (or 1 tsp dried)

2 to 3 TBSP water

Salt and white pepper to taste

Paprika and half the dill to sprinkle on top

All you need to do is split your eggs in half lengthwise and seperate the yolks into another bowl. Pat tthe eggwhites dry.
In the yolk bowl, all all the ingredients and mash to a fairly smoothe consistancy. Salt and pepper to taste.
If you don't have a pastry bag, all I do is spoon the yolk mixture into a ziplock baggie, cut a hole in one corner, and squeeze the paste into each egg. It works really well and you don't have to wash a pastry bag.
Sprinkle with the dill and paprika and share what you don't eat yourself ;-)

Now for the potato salad secret? Just make the deviled egg filling and add that to your usual potato salad instead of just the plain hard boiled eggs.

Would Anyone Like to Join Me for the West Coast Green Expo in Sept?

Sheron Cardin - how2homestage.com (California Moods Inc) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 09:25:44 -0500

I am embarrased to say I have been a very pale green lately. yet on the other hand, I am painting with no VOC paint so I see a pattern in myself, a learning curve if you will, where I embody the new green techniques then want to learn more. I am at the more part. I very much want to go the the green event below and am looking for some of my AR friends who would like to join me.

Click here to find out more.

Mayberry RFD Has Nothing On Us in Selma CA!

Sheron Cardin - how2homestage.com (California Moods Inc) — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 16:38:50 -0500

Selma...I Love Living Here!

There, I said it! May the comfort gods find peace at last...at least for the moment...

My problem? Perfect weather vs. ultimate convenience;

As an example; I picked my brother up from his new little house is Selma to take him to the bank. In those days I was still smoking so he lit up a cigarette in the car and when I pulled up to the bank, he looked at me and asked "Are we here already? I smirked and replied with "Yep!" Then without any warning he coined a phrase for Selma I have used over and over again, He said "Man, this is a two puff town!"

Size is relative, I know, and so is the level of convenience on experiences. I come from Los Angeles and there, convenience was the freeway and the beach. Living in Denver; snow plowed streets early in the day meant convenience. When living in San Francisco, having your own parking space is convenience. Now, convenience to me means walking in to pay a parking ticket with no waiting and 2 minutes back to the house. That's what I'm talking about.

I took these pictures while walking my dog Buddy downtown Selma this last January and I think it is time to share them. I hope to convey the calm quiet feeling of my town as someplace that sounds really good to meander in, live in, and grow in.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<WAKE UP>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Follow in Your Favorite Blogger's Footprints!

Sheron Cardin - how2homestage.com (California Moods Inc) — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 19:45:33 -0500

There are so many groups in Active Rain now it is overwhelming!

I am still learning after 1 1/2 years as a member. I meme'd one of my favorite bloggers Deborah Pearce and what did I find? She posted her meme to a Travel Group. What??? I did not know we had a travel group! How perfect for me, I can write about my travels.

If you are new to AR, it must seem staggering. Here is a good way to start growing your AR family:

Look at the end of the post you enjoyed and see where the blogger posted their post. You will be amazed!
Also, visit your favorite bloggers posts and click on their profile link under their photo. On the left is a list of groups that they belong to. Visit those groups and see if you want to belong to that group.
Click on Join Group and introduce yourself in a post

Awhile back I posted a list of all the groups for Home Stagers for stagers to share with other professional stagers, real estate agents, and curious home sellers. You wouldn't think we would need so many...actually, being who we are, we did de-clutter them at one point.

When you find someone that you resonate with, follow their footprints, see where they post and grow your community.

Bed of Healing Herbs Part 1

Sheron Cardin - how2homestage.com (California Moods Inc) — Fri, 30 May 2008 15:48:24 -0500

I love cooking with fresh herbs from my own garden. I love braking off an aloe vera leaf, split it open, and rub it on a burn to ease the pain or a cut so it won't scar. I love adding rosemary and mint to my bath (and mojito's). I crave a deeper understanding of their healing powers and uses.

Active Rain has become my journal of sorts, for keeping track of certain information that would otherwise be lost. I dream of living a life where I run to herbs as my remedies. If you have insight or information that you would like to include, that would be great!

Rosamary - has a long history as a memory-enhancing herb. rosemary tea and rosemary sprigs in bathwater have an anti-Alzheimer's effect...and it also improves circulation in general.

Basil - is a member of the mint family, and contains antiviral compounds. It's also an ancient folk remedy for warts and for preventing plaque.

Garlic - is the premier plant for heart or circulatory coonditions (not bathwater). It lowers blood pressure; reduces LDL and lowers the incidence of cancer, particularly in the gastrointestinal system. It also bolsters the body's immune system.

Ginger - settles an upset stomach and aids digestion, in addition to lowering cholesterol levels, reducing inflamation from rheumatoid and osteoarthritis, and preventing colds and fly by killing bacteria. (Eaten with sushi)

Hot peppers - contain capsaicin, a powerful phytochemical. When applied in ointment form, capsaicin helps alleviate the discomfort of arthritis and psoriasis. Taken internally as a liduted tincture, it helps keep the blood flowing smoothly and strengthens the cardiovascular syster.

This spring I am creating a kitchen garden in raised planters. The ground is filled with gophers happy to share in my harvest. I have grown everything from brussel sprouts to rainbow chard. Green onions are especially fun to have on hand and nothing is easier than growing all the lettuce one could ever want with no talent at all.

Cilantro is very cheep here in California and so is parsley so I will leave that to the others. If you have had special herbs or veggies that you have had great success with and they also contain healing properties, I would love to know about them.

A New Science to SURVIVING AN EARTHQUAKE: Print and pass it on!

Sheron Cardin - how2homestage.com (California Moods Inc) — Thu, 29 May 2008 11:10:05 -0500

I am a true Californian who was smack in the middle of 2 major earthquakes. The first time I did not know what it was! I thought it rained all night and my house was sliding into the LA River (one house away). By the time I got outside, it was over! The stunned look on all my neighbors faces were a surprise to me since we were all from California yet none of us had ever experience the 'real thing'. None of us knew what to do except to run and get out of the house. We are lucky to be alive according to the information below!

I INCLUDED THE WHOLE EXTRACT FROM DOUG COPP'S ARTICLE..."TRIANGLE OF LIFE"

My name is Doug Copp. I am the Rescue Chief and Disaster Manager of the American Rescue Team International (ARTI), the world's most experienced rescue team. The information in this article will save lives in an earthquake.

I have crawled inside 875 collapsed buildings, worked with rescue teams from 60 countries, founded rescue teams in several countries, and I am a member of many rescue teams from many countries.

I was the United Nations expert in Disaster Mitigation for two years. I have worked at every major disaster in the world since 1985, except for simultaneous disasters.

The first building I ever crawled inside of was a school in Mexico City during the 1985 earthquake. Every child was under its desk. Every child was crushed to the thickness of their bones. They could have survived by lying down next to their desks in the aisles. It was obscene, unnecessary and I wondered why the children were not in the aisles. I didn't at the time know that the children were told to hide under something.

Simply stated, when buildings collapse, the weight of the ceilings falling upon the objects or furniture inside crushes these objects, leaving a space or void next to them. This space is what I call the "triangle of life". The larger the object, the stronger, the less it will compact. The less the object compacts, the larger the void, the greater the probability that the person who is using this void for safety will not be injured. The next time you watch collapsed buildings, on television, count the "triangles" you see formed. They are everywhere. It is the most common shape, you will see, in a collapsed building.

TIPS FOR EARTHQUAKE SAFETY

1) Most everyone who simply "ducks and covers" WHEN BUILDINGS COLLAPSE are crushed to death. People who get under objects, like desks or cars, are crushed.

2) Cats, dogs and babies often naturally curl up in the fetal position. You should too in an earthquake. It is a natural safety/survival instinct. You can survive in a smaller void. Get next to an object, next to a sofa, next to a large bulky object that will compress slightly but leave a void next to it.

3) Wooden buildings are the safest type of construction to be in during an earthquake. Wood is flexible and moves with the force of the earthquake. If the wooden building does collapse, large survival voids are created. Also, the wooden building has less concentrated, crushing weight. Brick buildings will break into individual bricks. Bricks will cause many injuries but less squashed bodies than concrete slabs.

4) If you are in bed during the night and an earthquake occurs, simply roll off the bed. A safe void will exist around the bed. Hotels can achieve a much greater survival rate in earthquakes, simply by posting a sign on The back of the door of every room telling occupants to lie down on the floor, next to the bottom of the bed during an earthquake.

5) If an earthquake happens and you cannot easily escape by getting out the door or window, then lie down and curl up in the fetal position next to a sofa, or large chair.

6) Most everyone who gets under a doorway when buildings collapse is killed. How? If you stand under a doorway and the doorjamb falls forward or backward you will be crushed by the ceiling above. If the door jam falls sideways you will be cut in half by the doorway. In either case, you will be killed!

7) Never go to the stairs. The stairs have a different "moment of frequency" (they swing separately from the main part of the building). The stairs and remainder of the building continuously bump into each other until structural failure of the stairs takes place. The people who get on stairs before they fail are chopped up by the stair treads - horribly mutilated. Even if the building doesn't collapse, stay away from the stairs. The stairs are a likely part of the building to be damaged. Even if the stairs are not collapsed by the earthquake, they may collapse later when overloaded by fleeing people. They should always be checked for safety, even when the rest of the building is not damaged.

8) Get near the outer walls of buildings or outside of them if possible - It is much better to be near the outside of the building rather than the interior. The farther inside you are from the outside perimeter of the building the greater the probability that your escape route will be blocked.

9) People inside of their vehicles are crushed when the road above falls in an earthquake and crushes their vehicles; which is exactly what happened with the slabs between the decks of the Nimitz Freeway. The victims of the San Francisco earthquake all stayed inside of their vehicles. They were all killed. They could have easily survived by getting out and sitting or lying next to their vehicles. Everyone killed would have survived if they had been able to get out of their cars and sit or lie next to them. All the crushed cars had voids 3 feet high next to them, except for the cars that had columns fall directly across them.

10) I discovered, while crawling inside of collapsed newspaper offices and other offices with a lot of paper that paper does not compact. Large voids are found surrounding stacks of paper.

Spread the word and save someone's life... The Entire world is experiencing natural calamities so be prepared!

"We are but angels with one wing, it takes two to fly"

In 1996 we made a film, which proved my survival methodology to be correct. The Turkish Federal Government, City of Istanbul, University of Istanbul Case Productions and ARTI cooperated to film this practical, scientific test. We collapsed a school and a home with 20 mannequins inside. Ten mannequins did "duck and cover," and ten mannequins I used in my "triangle of life" survival method. After the simulated earthquake collapse we crawled through the rubble and entered the building to film and document the results. The film, in which I practiced my survival techniques under directly observable, scientific conditions, relevant to building collapse, showed there would have been zero percent survival for those doing duck and cover.

There would likely have been 100 percent survivability for people using my method of the "triangle of life." This film has been seen by millions of viewers on television in Turkey and the rest of Europe, and it was seen in the USA, Canada and Latin America on the TV program Real TV

Click here to find out how many earthquakes have occured in your part of the world lately...IT IS SHOCKING! Print this out and pass it on to all your clients past, present, and future, family, and friends.

Clever window treatment!

Sheron Cardin - how2homestage.com (California Moods Inc) — Thu, 22 May 2008 10:50:01 -0500

My hats off to Becky Zimmerman, Interiors by Decorating Den for taking First Place at the Window Fashion Envision Design Competition held in Atlanta for 'Whole-Room Integration.

I don't know Becky and she does not know me but her approach to this window is brilliant. No swags, scarves, valances, rods, cornice boxes, etc. Such a simple concept yet I have never seen it before nor would I have ever thought of it.

This is a very easy treatment to use in home staging and very practical. By upholstering simple square boards with foam and a good upholstery fabric then one could use a number of fabrics for the attached panels. A little velcroe, a picture frame hook and viola!

Congratulations Becky!

She also shares her paint color selections: Benjamine Moore: Eucalyptus Leaf, Bryant Gold, Confederate Red, Plum Raisin. (The floor is Travertine)

Raindrops are Falling in France.

Sheron Cardin - how2homestage.com (California Moods Inc) — Fri, 02 May 2008 09:42:28 -0500

Welcome Sylvie Aubin to Active Rain. She is a professional organizer and home stager all the way from France and found me through her research in Active Rain. Sylvie is one of 3 home stagers in all of France. She ordered my forms and materials from my web site to help her build a solid foundation but we know here in Active Rain and especially the Stage if Forward group, that she can count on our support.

Let's give Sylvie a big shout out and make her feel comfortable. Add a link to a particular post that you think will help her get her home staging business a strong start. One of my favorites is Leslie Godbolds post titled Step by Step Tips for Starting your own Home Staging Business. which leads to other important posts on the subject.

And for a guide to all the groups having to do with home staging, click here!

Did I Get Lost Again or "Does Feng Shui Really Matter in Sales"?

Sheron Cardin - how2homestage.com (California Moods Inc) — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 14:48:47 -0500

Don't get me wrong; I know EXACTLY where I am! (if I don't, I have people who will) I'm somewhere between too much metal and not enough wood and I am on the lookout for two turtle doves, really!

How did I get here...AGAIN? Due to my deep interest in feng shui, I decided to Google Alert 'feng shui and feng shui cures' just to see what was OUT THERE and if there was something NEW I would find interesting. New is an understatement!

How far can feng shui go? How about creating good chi for your mobile phone so all your calls are GOOD calls! Yes indeed! I am still trying to find my metal and wood balance in my office...but when I am not taking on the challenges of the LARGE PICTURE, should I get a red cover for my cell with a diamond OX on it?

Did you know that your chance of loosing a beauty contest is greatest when your feet are facing the door while you are sleeping? (see below...this is bad feng shui) You can read why using feng shui to win a beauty contest should not be overlooked.

How about this story - A New York House jinxed? You be the judge...this woman who believed strongly in feng shui, was trying to sell her apartment but couldn't because the front doors were in the wrong place. "My first buyer dropped dead at the closing. The second, with contract in hand, bolted down 47 flights of stairs, never to be heard from again. Why? My building is the one New York Yankee pitcher Cory Lidle flew an airplane into, tragically crashing it five floors below my apartment where my buyer was signing our contract," wrote Boesky, the ex-wife of former Wall Street broker Ivan Boesky who was jailed for insider trading.

If that story doesn't get you to pick up the phone and call a feng shui consultant, I don't know what will!

Oh, it doesn't stop here...the outrageous, silly, extreme, and hysterical alerts keep coming along with the real, practical, caring, sharing, information every day and my interest in not waning the least bit. I am learning to focus on one problem while enjoying the dynamics in the art of persuasion that feng shui holds on me as I keep reading. I would love to be a consultant someday but first we will see if I can get through the maze us lay persons face and the shear confusion surrounding feng shui...then to find the right educators...! Don't get me started on THAT confusing subject...I am going to trust that the best will find its way to me at the right time.

High End Decor - A Home Stagers Nightmare!

Sheron Cardin - how2homestage.com (California Moods Inc) — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 11:24:28 -0500

High end sophistication is an acquired taste but once you have it, you just cannot deny the opulence and the complexity of the style...this room alone would run upwards of $30,000 or more to put together. Don't try this at home kids! Who could sleep in this room...is there a feng shui consultant in the house?

I found this photo on the cover of the latest issue of Window Fashions magazine and it takes me back to a time when everyone wanted coordinating (matchipooh as we say in the biz) fabrics and papers! It is obvious that the window fashion industry is trying to sell the decorators on the look which in turn sells it to the consumer who wants to have what is hot, new, in style. UGH! Home stagers are still stripping off the last wave of paper and fabric from the 70's and 80's. It s a nightmare.

Of course after all these years of texturing and faux painting every surface imaginable, patterns are due to reemerge bolder than ever but for me, this is taking it to the extreme.

The good news is; only the well to do can afford a room like this so they can well afford to have it stripped.

In the famous words of Popeye, "Shiver me timbers".

How we can build our homes out of concrete!

Sheron Cardin - how2homestage.com (California Moods Inc) — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 09:29:32 -0500

Art and architecture in history merge as one but never quite like Stonehenge. The mystery of how the stones were erected has challenged us all. Once you watch this video, you will be wondering why no one thought of this before.

It still holds true; "The simplest of ideas are always the greatest!". It is my hope that we all take a look at how we build our homes and use concrete instead of wood...now that we know how to move it.

Not Everyone Knows!

Sheron Cardin - how2homestage.com (California Moods Inc) — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 17:20:41 -0500

I can't tell you how stunned I was when a forty something woman said she had never heard of global warming And quite honestly, I believe she would never have found out had she not dropped by my home Saturday night.

All my lights were out and candles were glowing all over the house. She asked "whats up?". When I told her that it was Earth Hour, you would think I just told her they found a new planet with people on it and she was the last one to know. She came in and sat down anxious to hear all the details.

How could an American with two children not know the plight of the polar bear or what the new squiggly light bulbs are for? How can this be!!!

My friend said she does not watch TV...nor does she read the newspaper. (I wondered how many people really don't know about global warming?) I happily explained in the warm candlelight all that I could to help her understand. We had such a nice time sharing what ever popped into our heads after the initial update that our girls said they want to do it again...every Saturday. We settle for every other Saturday.

Earth Day is a world wide event where large cities as well as individuals live without electricity for one hour a year. Why once a year I thought! Why not as often as we can...?

Because of this experience, my family and friends are going to have an ongoing opportunity to share with each other and help the planet at the same time.

Testing...testing...are all your senses working?

Sheron Cardin - how2homestage.com (California Moods Inc) — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 18:04:33 -0500

Home Stagers wake up those drowsy home buyers and bring them to their senses with focal points like these!

It is up to us to bring life to a depressed market and liven things up! Agents and their clients are counting on us...so refresh your spring look with bouquets of every fancy. Just one in each home is all you need to get the hearts pumping for all those who enter.

...and How Big is Your Footprint?

Sheron Cardin - how2homestage.com (California Moods Inc) — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 13:44:55 -0500

Home Stager ARE green and here are some reasons why...and other tips

First: 3 ways we eliminate waste and protect our environment:

Reduce it first - A key part of waste reduction is "conservation". #1 use real glass, not Styrofoam or paper cups. 2nd; buy products that don't have a lot of layers of packaging. 3rd; before you buy something, ask yourself, "Do I really need this?" That's right; we say "If you don't need it, don't buy it!"
Reuse is second - Home stagers are good at this: convert what you have for a new use like covering old books and using them on shelves instead of buying new accessories. Also reusing old furniture in new ways and cutting fresh flowers and branches from the outdoors instead of buying fresh. Another think you can do is use your own cloth sacks when you shop at the supermarket and outlets instead of accepting the paper or plastic bags. Paint coffee cans and store small objects on shelves.
Recycle is third - Since recycling occurs when old products need to be transformed, recycling is the least favored thing you can do to protect your environment because it uses more energy and resources than either waste reduction or reuse. The home stager uses the same art, accessories, lighting, and furniture, over and over and over again.

Another important tip is to "precycle" by selecting locally recyclable products and packages when you shop.

(I am still on the fence about using "real plates" vs. paper plates. I would like to know what is more important to do; save water and soap to clean the "real plate" or to recycle the paper plate? Anyone have that breakdown?)

Here are some web sites that allow you to calculate your ecological footprint and at the end, most will show you how many planets it would take for everyone on Earth to live your lifestyle.

Adventures with Bobbie Bigfoot

Best Foot Forward: Bring Sustainablility Down to Earth

Ecological Footprint Quiz

Global Footprint Network

The Green Office: Carbon Offsetting

My New Best Junk Drawer Ever!

Sheron Cardin - how2homestage.com (California Moods Inc) — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 16:29:48 -0500

Do you save dates, information, tips, words of wisdom, ideas, etc., from every walk of life not knowing where it will all fit in?

Me too.

Here is what I want to do...I want to put them in this post in a haberdasher order so I can finish clearing off my desk. Deep down I know I cannot toss them yet until they are recorded...maybe not so much for my own use...but possibly for SOMEONE else's use?

Thank you for humoring me! This might even be a good post to pin your notes to while clearing your desk. You can use sign generator to use these nifty gadgets like these note pads, buttons and signs.

March

27-29: International Window Coverings EXPO; Georgia World Congress Center; Atlanta, GA 651/293-1544 www.windowcoveringexpo.com.
28-31: Miami Spring Home Design and Remodeling Show; Miami Beach Convention Center; Miami, FL; www.homeshows.net
28-April 1: Color Marketing Group International Spring Conference; Montreal, QB, Canada; www.colormarketing.org

April

7-13 High Point Market; Runs: High Point, NC; www.highpointmarket.org.
8-10 Material World: Miami Beach Convention Center; Miami Beach, FL; www.material-world.com
11-13 K/BIS: Kitchen & Bath Industry Show & Conference; McCormick Place; Chicago, IL; www.kbis.com
19-20 Love Your Home Show; Sandown Park; Esher, England; www.loveyourhomeshow.com

May

8-11 Luxury World Exhibition; London, England; www.luxury-world.co.uk
15-17 AIA 2008 National Convention and Design Exposition; Boston Convention and Exihibition Center; www.aiaconvention.com
20-22 Green West Expo & Conference; Los Angeles Convention Center; Los Angeles, CA 222.greenwestexpo.com

Good Advice:

An excerpt from and article written by Paul and Sarah Edwards: lifestyles for the millennium - "Practical ways to get people to your Web site include discussion boards, streaming news, survey and polls, contests and sweepstakes, classified ads, social networkings sites and RSS feeds".

They also advise that business owners take an active role in managing the marketing efforts on their Web site, interacting and following up personally with visitors.

In the new book, The Compassionate Samurai: Being Extraordinary in an Ordinary World, international consultant, speaker and author Brian Klemmer states, "You can be rich and spiritual, wealthy and giving, a warrior in the marketplace, yet a strong-willed, compassionate friend to many." Here are a few of his tips on how a business owner or CEO "can improve the bottom line while contributing to humanity."

Honesty Tell employees what you are working on in yourself.
Contribution Set aside a percentage of the company's profits to give to humanitarian causes, ones the employees help pick.
Courage If your employees get a percentage of the profit as a bonus, tell them at the beginning of the year the minimum profit you are committed to or what embarrassing thing you will do if you don't achieve it, such as having to wear a chicken costume for a day.
Trust/honor Ask employees their viewpoint or opinion on something and take their advice.
Abundance/honor Use a portion of the profits for gifts.

Free events for small businesses, click on this link: www.score.org/open_Events

WINNING THE BID - The art of capturing new business by Peter Fretty:

Research opportunities - Identifying exact requirements lets you proceed with confidence. Asking peers about their experiences can provide insight into the potential client's typical expectations and behaviors. The key is to go in prepared. Always ask the client for as much information as possible regarding unusual stipulations or any other aspect before making the bid/proposal/offer.
Cover the costs - It is crucial to understand all of the costs - wages, supplies, incidentals, etc., before presenting any bid
Write the document - Formal bids should be solid documents that call out all of the included products and services. Also remember that the best quotations are not offers to haggle. While some companies submit their highest numbers, hoping to negotiate further, presenting the best deal as the bid represents a high level of integrity.
Deliver the bid - Make the presentation as memorable, tasteful and professional as possible. However, the bid presentation does not complete the process. While there is a difference between following up and pestering, staying in contact demonstrates attention to detail as well as willingness to meet expectations. The bid and the follow-through combined often craft the prospective client's first impression
Embrace consistency - Successful bidding is best accomplished when one person with an established routine completes the bids each time. Having a bidder's checklist customized to a particular project can plan a key role in establishing consistency. Once a fine-tuned checklist is in place, it is much easier to additional team members to have a role in bidding.

Recycling tip:

Recycler TechTurn Inc. estimates that 600 million to 800 million personal computers are sitting unused in the United States. They contain substantial amounts of lead, among other toxic metals. Costco has a Trade-in & Recycle Program which allows members to recycle computer, LCD monitors, digital cameras, camcorders, game systems and MP3 players free - and in some cases receive a Costco Cash card for any estimated trade-in value.

Important statistics if your going to sell your home:

Invest in bigger improvements. The National Association of Realtors found in 2007 that 59 percent of home buyers remodeled or made improvements to their homes within three months of purchase. Forty-seven percent made improvements to the kitchen, another 45 percent remodeled or improved a bathroom and 43 percent remodeled a bedroom.

In other words, these are the key rooms when you're preparing to sell. Focus on fixing up those "make or break" rooms.

Check www.ofheo.gov which is the Web site of the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight, for quarterly reports on house price appreciation trends in 275 markets...many markets are doing just fine.

Did you know the breaking open of a sake' barrel is a tradition when opening a new business in Japan bringing harmony and good fortune? Now you do!

Things to ponder... It is recommenced to have 5 servings of fruit a day and less than 17% of the population does. Why are we sick? Let me see...hmmm. Oh, and another thing; the Amazon provides 20% of the earths oxygen! Wow!!!