Pick Three Gold Stars - Twinkle, twinkle here we go...
My three gold star picks for the 3 Gold Stars Challenge have to include the people I met up with in person at the recent RESA (Real Estate Staging Association) Conference this past January. After playing on Active Rain for just over a year, it was such a joy and a pleasure to finally meet some Active Rain friends in person. It was as if we'd know each other for years. Here we go...
Valerie Sagheddu - Apostle Art Home Staging & Design
Valerie is from the Poconos - not Pinnocci, the Poconos. I don't really know where the Poconos is, but rumour has it it's in Pennsylvania. How did I get hooked on Valerie's posts? Well, it all started with that fascinating video she did on how to hand curtains without a curtain rod. I still have it book marked to this day. Val has a wicked sense of humour, and doesn't skip a beat. She's an absolute riot to have around, if ever you're at a Conference. Being of strong faith, she has started a group called Praying in the Rain. Ok, it's a tough decision, with so many great posts, but this was one of my all time favourite Val posts. Love ya, Val!
Marianne Cherico - Interiors by Marianne
I was super excited to meet Marianne at the RESA Conference. We'd been emailing back and forth. Marianne is a former Realtor® turned Home Stager, and understands the real estate industry, and also the importance of marketing one's business. Bouncing ideas back and forth has been stimulating and exciting. I'm a huge fan of Marianne's work. Staging all those beautiful, Massachusetts (did I spell that right?) homes would be a dream come true, and Marianne's work is always tasteful, inviting and unforgettable. Marianne always gets the "oozing with charm" homes to stage, as in this post - enjoy! Love ya, Marianne!
Charlene Storozuk - Dezigner Digz
Ok, first off, Charlene needs to learn how to spell. Charlene, honey, it's "designer" and "digs", just so ya know! Tee hee. You may know Charlene from her wonderful staging tips. I'm not sure, but I believe she is closing in on the one millionth tip, isn't that right, Charlene? Another incredibly talented stager, Charlene beckons from Burlington, Ontario. Ah, finally a place I can spell and pronounce! Charlene is a prolific writer, and her articles are featured in the International Business Times and the Women's Council of REALTORS. She is also a Contributing Blogger for REALTOR Magazine. Now, how's that for impressive? This is the second year in a row that I've met Charlene at RESA, and look forward to reuniting next year. I love this post Charlene wrote about a day with Debbie Travis.Love ya Charlene!
Last but not least, an honourable mention goes to...
Cathy Lee - C.L. Design Services Home Staging
When I think of Cathy Lee, I think of bowers of flowers - ah, that San Francisco connection, home to sea breezes, great wine, fresh seafood and great home staging. I was so excited to spend more time getting to know Cathy Lee. Last year, I only exchanged a few words, but this year we made up for it. Cathy Lee loves life and embraces it to the fullest. This shows in her amazing staging designs. She is an absolute sweetheart, with a warm, welcoming heart. Here we are, toasting another fave, San Francisco Realtor®, David Ames. Want to know what Koi, Quails and Hummingbirds have in common? Read about it here. Love ya Cathy Lee!
Note to editor Craig: I really wanted to add Laura Baker - Ready? Set,...Sell! HomeStage&ReDesign & Maureen Bray - Room Solutions Staging, two more amazing stagers I met in Vegas, but they have already been featured by others. Love ya Laura & Maureen!
Connect. Share. Learn.Welcome to ActiveRain, the #1 social community for real estate professionals.
;)
;)
;)
21 Comments on Pick Three Gold Stars - Twinkle, twinkle here we go...
Sally, nice post .
Thanks for the update.
cheers
Nor
Sally- Loved your 3 pics for Gold Stars and I love that you included photos from the RESA convention! It's always so much fun to see other Rainers in something other than their Profile photos. I am so proud of the Stagers here and the exellent work they do promoting our profession, and that includes YOU, Sally.
Sally...you did it! (Does this mean I have to do it now?). And let me guess...is that a margarita in Cathy Lee's hand? ;-) Love Val, Love Charlene, Love Cathy Lee, and now I have to check out Marianne's blog!
Hi Sally~ Looks like you are having fun and giving out so many stars! (We can call you Sally Star: ) Lucky you getting to meet some great Rainers!
Sally - It is good to be recognizedand recieve stars from peers. Thank you for sharing very good blog.
What, you didn't pick ME? Where have I heard that before? Great choices Sally, glad you all connected in Vegas................they certainly are "Gold Stars"..............as are you my dear.
Great idea to pick the people you have connected with personally. Great ladies!
Kristine - You'd love Charlene - she's quite quiet, but under that demure exterior lies a firecracker!
Nor - Thanks!
Kathy - Aww, thanks so much. We certainly have the creme de la creme of home stagers here on Active Rain. I agree, I get tired of the same old profile photos - it's nice to mix it up a bit.
Vickie - Sally Star Stager, I like it! Really, such unfair rules - only giving out 3 stars!!!! I like the way Roger's handling it - he's doing a 3 part series. Meeting Rainers in person is really such a thrill.
John - Craig came up with a great idea, here. It's fun to get to know others and become aware of some amazing bloggers.
Roger - Ha ha ha! I'm crossing my fingers and toes that you'll feature me in your Part 5 - gold star pick post... I'm just sayin'.
Shar - Picking only 3 stars is like saying that you prefer one of your children over the others - I just can't do it - I love everyone equally!!!!!
David - Why yes, that is a Marguerita in Cathy Lee's hand. How did you know?!!! We really were toasting you in that photo - we were trying to send it to you via the iphone, but it wasn't working. I realized afterwards that I'd turned the "roaming" button off, so I wouldn't receive huge charges for leaving the country.
You'd love Marianne - intelligent, great sense of humour, out going and talented. Def check her out.
Sally - I love how you carry the blogging over to meeting some "AR gold star" recipients IRL - love the photos and the personal experiences in meeting them. terrific stuff - now once the challenge is over, feel free to post more just like this highlighting others that you wanted to squeeze into the challenge but my rules wouldn't allow... kudos! great post
FEATURED in the Gold Stars Group
Craig - Oh, I get it! So this is 3 people just for starters... Duh! Oh, and it took me 10 minutes to decipher IRL - In Real Life! I know, sad, isn't it?
Thanks so much for the big gold star and Feature!
Sally: You certainly picked a good group of stars. Their light shines brightly. That conference must have been some fun!
Hi Sally! I haven't been on AR too much lately, there just aren't enough hours in the day. Anyway, I just logged in and went to one of my "staple groups" Stage It Forward but I didn't see anything there recent from you (I was "jonesing" for a post from you), so I searched your name and came to this one. You can imagine my shock! I am SO honoured to be chosen as one of your gold stars. Your other picks: Valerie, Marianne and Cathy Lee are all awesome ladies. Valerie's sense of humour, Cathy Lee's zest for life and Marianne's honesty and genuineness (okay, I think I've spelled that wrong too - I'll look it up while I'm in the dictionary learning how to spell dezigner) made it such a pleasure to be around them. It was fantastic seeing you again this year and hanging out with you in Vegas. We had SO much fun and I'm really glad that you came to see Cher with us! Can't wait 'til next year; we have to plan some fun stuff in advance. Love ya too. You're definitely a star in my eyes :-)
SALLY??????....I can't begin to tell you how honored I am and touched by this. It is truly a reflection of your generous and amazing spirit that you would take the time to say such nice things about your peers....women that I have the utmost respect for. YOU-Sally are such a shining star. You are sooo talented and articulate and generous and smart and fun to be around. In fact ,if there was a Miss Congeniality on AR you would win-hands down. I have LOVED getting to know you!
And the women that you have mentioned are just wonderful- Cathy Lee has been so gracious to me when I needed advice and is always so helpful and kind and talented. And meeting Valerie and Charlene at RESA convention was a special treat for me-both really great women!
Wow....I feel so blessed to have you in my life. Thanks so much for being such a good friend. Love ya! xxooooo
Valerie - I have to say, I'm still trying to come down after the "high" of the conference!
Charlene - Why, hello, guest of honour! You need to subscribe to my blog so you don't miss any of my titilating, exciting, and oh so deep posts... ;-) I have to say, you are in good company here - all great stagers and huge fun to be with. He he he - yes, you may find a dictionary helps... So glad you invited me along to Cher - have to say, that evening really was a highlight. Although, I'm not sure who impressed me the most - Cher herself, or the Cher "look alikes". Yes, let's plan in advance for next year - can't wait!
Marianne - Hello, other guest of honour! I just love the energy we all shared at the conference. And the neat thing is, the tie that brought us all together was Active Rain. It has been great to feed off of and be inspired by each other. I think the saying is true, that like attracts like. I hope you're planning your trip for next year already - we're gonna have fun!
Oh me Oh mY Miss Sally! I have been MIA for a few days here in the rain and I come back to this...tears are welling up...tissue anyone? Your star certainly shines bright in my sky too.
BTW...I didn't get the IRL either until I read your comment...duh! And please don't give poor Charlene such a hard time for her spelling...btw...check your post...you said you loved my post on how to "HAND" curtains without a rod...LOL!!! Just how do you Hand curtains anyway????
Love ya from the Poconos, PA all the way to Vancouver!! Love all your other stars too...I feel so blessed to have met so many awesome AR stagers...IRL!!
:)
I have not been on AR too much lately-you made me cry. I love and miss you Sally!! David knows me too well. Don't think I will make it til Jan, must have a Sally fix before then. Hugs and I love and respect your work more than words can express.
Valerie - "Handing" curtains is all the rage these days, didn't you know? "Hanging" curtains is just soooo '80's. He he he - ooops, I also forgot the 'O' in Pinnochio! My bad. I feel equally blessed, Val - you deserve that big, shiny star!
Cathy Lee - Hope your long staging day went well today! Awaiting photos... Oh, tears are good! I love and miss you, too. Mutual admiration society - love your work, too! Yes, that David sure calls it well, doesn't he?!!!
What a great idea for a blog.. excellent piece on other professionals you connected with attending the conference! Sounds like a great event!
David - Thanks, David - I sure hope your Home Inspection Association has conferences in fun places, too. I like the work/play aspect!