Formal living room conversion...

Our home has the need for an office space. We have a 5 bedroom home and I am sure any one of the secondary bedrooms would make a great office. However, the inn is full. We have a large master bedroom and there is room to create a small office space for paying bills or sifting through coupons. However, hubby is now officing from home part time and he likes to start early (5:30 a.m. EARLY) and I don't want to wake up that early. So what to do?With the idea of re-think, re-design, re-use, the basis for green living. Not to mention budget friendly. I took a tour of our home. We currently have a loft that we use for the kids computer space, crafts & study area. Problem it isn't user friendly for the more sophisticated professional...i.e. the hubby (he doesn't like sharing his space with glue and art paper!) Solution a new office space that meets all current needs. We are placing the house on the market soon so it needs to look good as well as function.

I invite you to follow me along over the next week or two as I tackle this challenge and make the transformation from formal living to effecient office.

This is the way the room looks as I begin. Lovely, comfy, cozy living room.

Working with what we have I took simple Closet Maid light Maple cabinets which would not translate well in the new office with our other furnishings in the downstairs rooms.  So, I turned to paint and a little molding and gave them a distressed beachwood look.

Things are coming together....more to come!

Getting ready for Fall!

The last few summer days are fading fast! With school starting and everyone getting back into a more structured routine comes the thought of fall.  Well maybe not on our lingering 95+ days but little signs of it like our enjoyable 75degree nights.


Things to help around your home now....

Change your Central Air/Heat air filters - Keeping those filters clean will really make a difference in your units efficiency.

Change the batteries in your smoke detectors.

Move the Furniture - Allergies for most people are seasonal and many of us take the time to move things around for deep cleaning in the spring but don't think about it in the fall.  Fall allergies can be reduced by cleaning under those beds, couches, tables, etc...get the dust & spiders cleared out and make your home easier to breathe in!

Caulk around doors & windows - Most homes windows and doors are caulked when they are installed to help improved energy efficiency.  However, over time weather and age shrink and crack caulking.  So checking and refreshing it in the fall is a good way to keep your home as energy efficient as possible. 

Clean your outdoor/indoor windows - Spring cleaning is a natural time to do this but doing it at the beginning of fall will make the windows easier to clean in the spring and clear out any spider eggs or bug nest that might be hiding in the corners!

Compost & Mulch - Adding a fresh layer of compost will help feed you perennials and shrubs during the winter months and adding a fresh layer of mulch will protect the roots as the colder months approach. Prepare a spot in your garage or shed for any potted plants that you will need to overwinter.  Having a spot ready will make it easier to move them when the lower temps dip to near freezing temperatures.

Reset those Sprinklers - The cooler temps mean you don't need to water as often.  Reset your timers and consider turning off unneeded zones.  It's a good time to go ahead and wrap any exposed or free standing water pipes, you might also consider a thermal wrap on your hot water heater. Disconnect the water hose and get it ready to store.  You may still need it but disconnecting it from the faucet will let you know how much you are still using it.

Clean, Clear Out & Cover -  Now is the time to dry brush all your outdoor furniture, clean the furniture with a mild soapy solution and check for any paint or rust repair that may be needed.  After everything is looking clean and ready cover the furniture with an outdoor cover with sturdy tabs to ensure a snug fit.  Spot clean cushions and take a shop vac to vacuum them well.  You can either store the cushions on the furniture under the cover or put them in their own box in your garage, attic or shed.  An indoor space will keep the fabric more conditioned and help the life of the cushion last longer. When covering a table that is not under a covered space put a bucket upside down on the table so that water or snow will easily slide off.  Clean and check all outdoor toys.  Wash all toys with a detergent and bleach solution and dry well.  Any broken or damaged toys can be tossed.  Any outgrown toys can be donated. Summer balls can be cleaned and deflated for storage.  Pack away the remaining summer toys in a plastic storage container with secure lid.  Now everything is in good shape and you will know where it is when the warmer outdoor days return!

Energy Rates - http://www.powertochoose.com/ Make sure you have the best rate for your family to ensure the biggest savings for your fall/winter power usage!


Veggie Garden - Consider planting lettuce, greens, squash, and beans for veggies that will thrive in the cooler temps.

Fall, Seasons in the Home, Vegetable Gardening: Spring and Fall

Kids Rooms ORGANIZED?!?

Yes, it can be done.  The first thing to remember is that any kids room is going to get dirty and messy.  It's the life of a child and the way they learn. 

However, that doesn't mean that you have to accept it as a lost cause.  Most children as well as adults are more productive, creative and calmer with order.  So how do we find that happy medium.

1) Take stock/inventory of the child and their needs.  What does that mean?  It means you have to take the time, and with kids this means at a minimum two times a year, realistically with younger children it means more like 4 times a year, to sort through all clothing items, toys & even decor to assess what the child uses and needs now. 

2) Minimize.  Success comes with being able to manage what is there.  Children really need only a few various types of toys and clothing. Contrary to popular belief they don't need a different outfit for everyday of the month and more toys does not equal happiness.  If you have a play room keep larger blocks, doll houses, large plastic toys & cars in the play room.  If not then select an area in the child's room and limit these large items to 1 or two. 

3) Sort like with like.  Put stuffed animals with stuffed animals, blocks with blocks, cars with cars, small dolls with small dolls, large dolls with large dolls, dinosaurs with dinosaurs, etc... Putting the items in bins that are easy to handle and carry by the child is important.  They will try to move these around the room even at a yound age unless they are attached to a shelf or wall.  Having clear bins makes it easier for a child to recognize and sort.  If you use colored or dark conainers put pictures or easy recognized words on tags of the conatiners.  Take the time to show the child each container.  If they are at least 18 months of age have them help you sort.  Using the words and names of each item you put in the container. 

**With clothing this means seperate clothing according to item.  socks in a small drawer, underwear in their drawer, shirts in their own drawer, pants, etc...If you have large or limited drawer space you can use one drawer for two clothing items and put drawer dividers in to keep things seperated.  Closets for younger children can be used to hang dressy clothes, jackets and sweaters and to house shoes.  Some closets are large enough to hold the dresser and the additional space can be used for shelves for bins of toys or large toy items.

3) Rotate.  IF your child has a lot of clothes and toys then separate them into the according bins and drawers and then every two weeks or every other month rotate the items that are available to the child.  This will help give variety and also to gauge what items the child prefers to play with or wear.  It also helps limit what is available in the child's space so that they don't become overwhelmed with choices.

4) Limit decorative items in the room.  A picture or two on the walls and a few items on the shelves is all a child needs.  You don't want to over stimulated a child in their space and all items in a child's room can become an object to play with or in other words another toy.

5) Be realistic to the child's age and ability.  The younger the child the shorter the attention span and motor control.  So large easy to play with toys for younger children.  Small toys and multiple pieces become choking concerns and also are more likely to be strewn all over the room.  Help younger children put things away by encouraging them to sort or put things in the right bin or basket.

6) Keep things within reach and at eye level that you want the child to have access to.  This lets them know what is available to play with and it also makes it easier to help clean up.  Toys or clothing that you want them to use only at certain times or with supervision should be put out of reach. 

7) Establish a routine.  Set aside 15 minutes a day to "tidy" up.  Schedule twice a week to vacum and dust. Once a week to clean toys.  Most childhood viruses are spread from contact with dirty toys.  All plastic toys can be put in a plastic tub with warm water & a few cap fulls of bleach, wiped off and then laid out to dry. Large toys can be wiped with disinfecting wipes.  Once a month stuffed animals need to be washed and hung to dry or sooner if they are heavily soiled.  Remember younger children put almost everything in their mouth.  Twice a month change bedding.  Once a week is preferred but twice a month is sufficient unless the bedding is soiled or the child has been sick.  Clean all bedding immediately if soiled and/or sick. 

8) Involve your child.  Having a child help and participate in cleaning and caring for their room is what will teach a child how to clean and care for their room as they grow.

9) Don't leave empty space under the bed!  Put large plastic containers under the bed with seasonal clothing or with large sorted toys.  Otherwise the space under the bed becomes a magnet for all things the child does not want to put away.  Out of sight out of mind.  Help your child learn to put things back where they belong by limiting places to hide & easily stash their items.

10) Stick with it! Once you have everything sorted, cleaned and in it's place you are not done.  Sticking with the routine and plan is key to making a tidy and organized room a success.  If you ignore even the cleanest most organized room for weeks then it can become an overwhelming task for everyone.  A few minutes a day really is all it takes and setting aside a time when you first get in for the day or 15 minutes before bath time will help everyone stay more organized and feel more at peace with their space.

Enjoy your beautiful new rooms and have fun with your kids. :)

New Year....look for the savings!

Wow, it's 2010! Time for reflection and evaluation. It's a great time to look towards your home and see where you can save! The economy continues to be tight and every little bit makes a difference.




If you have not taken the time to visit your local county tax office to homestead your house this is the time to do it! A few minutes of your time can give you a return savings that is offered to Texas residents for claiming their primary residence as their homestead. Continuing with that thought while you are there ask where the county appraisal office is and check your home appraised value. This is what the county uses to assess your taxes. These rates are often inflated values and if left uncontested they will stay at a high rate. If your home value is higher than area homes in your neighborhood are selling for ask for a form to contest the rate. This may take a little follow up but it is worth the savings!



Other home savings can be found in further efforts to stop those heating & cooling leaks!! Energy bills are at all time highs. Check the door seals, install insulation in the outlet covers for all outside walls, check your insulation levels in the attic, replace ordinary roof vents with turbine vents, make sure the roofline air flow soffits are not blocked. Consider installing storm doors. Keep those receipts for all energy updates, the government is allowing many tax breaks for improvements that create better energy effiecency and greener living. That is a double savings and worth it in my book!

Next check those insurance rates.  You may have found the best quote when originally shopping but rates can change over time and sometimes a few phone calls can reveal big savings on your insurance without sacrificing on the coverage. 



What cost savings have you found worth it?

Cyber stalking!

My blog is living up to it's random name!

I have been experiencing my first incident that I know of cyberstalking.  It's a creepy and unnerving thing.  Something you expect to see at your local screening of Mission Impossible with some gadget geek who has figured out how to get all the personal information and hacked into someone's life to cause them grief.

My situation is not from your typical gadget geek or tech savvy guru.  It's a middle aged woman and mother.  Yes, an everyday housewife, who became obssessed with me & my life and decided to try to create a little havoc in my world.

Where I first messed up:
1. Giving a virtual stranger an email address.
2. Not securing my wireless internet because I live in the burbs with harmless neighbors!
3. Thinking that the casual drops of private information about my life were a coinscidence or my imagination.
4. Thinking it just couldn't happen to me.

What next:
1. Secure your wireless router. Call the tech control & go through the steps to change your SSID, IP Address, passwords, and set the security as high as you can.  Then be prepared to change it frequently.
2. Change all passwords on your personal emails and online accounts...yes, even your blog.  My new rule of thrumb is every 60 days.
3. Notify your bank and change all your passwords there.
4. Clear your browser history & cookies often & run your antivirus and spyware scans frequently.
5. Document, document, document, any breech of privacy that starts seeming a little too convenient.
6. Take these measures as a healthy dose of prevention "Even if this could never happen to you." ;)

Cyber stalking is real and a growing concern in our environment.  Easy information and quick access has made some people think that applies to everything....including just your average nosey neighbor! This is not something to take lightly it is envasive and in some cases illegal.  A cyber stalker can use information to try to discredit you, find out your personal information about your life to hold for their own benefit, they can use it to try to manipulate you or to just show you that they have the power to invade your space.  Which is mostly the case with my dear stalker....I'm sure she loves reading today's post!  There are those people in our world who can't be happy living their own lives so they consume themselves with gathering information about others and trying to use that information to push themselves into that persons life either in a positive way...trying to find that new best friend or in a negative way...trying to make sure you have no friends!  It is important to protect yourself.  The right to choose who is privy to your private life and/or internet habits should be your own.  Not the nosy neighbor! A few of the interesting things my neighbor created.

© All Rights Reserved *No re-use or re-prints permitted without written consent.

My paper was printed in the Waxahachie Daily Light!!

I wrote a paper about the turn around of my new neighborhood.  It was printed and they have a writer for the paper that is going to do a follow up article on how the neighborhood has survived the fraud, squatters & recession to continue to move forward as a great neighborhood to live in!  They will be highlight several families and taking pictures of the improvements.  LOVE it!

This is a copy of my article, happy reading.

Happily Ever After….


By Teresa Harvey



That is what every new home owner hopes for. However, just a year ago that dream seemed far, far, away for homeowners in Honeysuckle Estates, an upscale neighborhood, located in the town of Midlothian just a few short miles from Waxahachie.

The neighborhood was riddled with fear, fraud and terms like squatters. There were approximately 17 homes for sale mostly due to foreclosure as of January 2009. Realtors would steer their clients to more “desirable” neighborhoods. This is what our family found when house hunting a year ago.

We were visiting friends here in Midlothian and were looking for a new home and not finding a lot of options, in our town or in our price range, when my friend said we should take a look online to see what might be available in Midlothian. It was a Sunday afternoon and immediately our search, for a new home, led us to several really nice large homes on anything from a regular interior city lot to really nice size lots of ½ - 1 acre. The prices were a little less but not much less than our town until one popped up that was way below the other listings and was listed as “new” on 1+ acres with 4800 sq. ft. WOW. I thought it was a typo, but took a chance and called the realtor. The realtor answered and said she couldn’t show me a property out “there” but I could call the office. Strange. We found a realtor who agreed to show us the home but wanted to show us 3 others first. I loaded up the kids, my hubby and our friends and took off for location number 1. We liked the 3 homes we were shown but the lots were smaller or the prices were over double of the home we were holding out for. So, the realtor finally said, “You really don’t want that neighborhood. Look, I have to tell you it’s had problems.” I assured him I didn’t scare easily and was looking for a diamond in the rough.

Our first drive into Honeysuckle Estates was on a cloudy cold January day approaching dusk. Looking like we had found the local version of a ghost town rather than a residential neighborhood, we drove into the driveway of the home on the listing. After a few calls to find the right code for the lockbox we made our way inside. Amazing! It wasn’t finished but there were beautiful hardwood floors, granite countertops, custom wood cabinets and SPACE! The home was just under 4800 sq. ft. with 4 bedrooms, 4 baths, a game room, a media room complete with a Texas size lot of just over an acre. The price was dirt cheap for anywhere. I felt sorry for the builder but was intrigued by the possibilities. As we walked around we noticed home after home for sale. We immediately decided we wanted to see them all. The next day after taking my children to school I drove the hour drive that would become an almost daily trip out to Honeysuckle Estates from our current home to see what was there. I found homes in all states of disrepair, completion or vandalism. It didn’t add up. I was told the builder had financing problems and the homes had been foreclosed on. A little web search of the area and neighborhood led to more details. It seems the prestigious neighborhood, which started off with a bang of families looking for that true dream home or investing in their retirement home, became a nightmare as mortgage fraud and an almost unheard of term for today “squatters” took over. A neighborhood with custom upscale finishes and elite living had been hijacked!

By the time I started exploring the possibilities there were no more squatters but the evidence of their presence was everywhere in the homes that were left behind. Our family decided we would gamble on the amazing deal and bid on a home. We didn’t get the first home we bid on but won the 2nd. Foreclosures are not always a quick method of buying. It took us from March 1st until June 5th to finalize our closing and take possession of our “new” home. We took possession of a home that was missing a cook top, had a busted water heater, was lacking caulking on all the windows, had a hole in at least one wall of every single room, leaky roof, missing insulation and a big dirt & rock back yard! Rolling up our sleeves we got busy turning the negatives to positive and making this our home. Those first few weeks were busy but almost eerie as no one was ever outside! Finally more and more of the foreclosed or for sale homes sold. By mid July we were down to about 5 houses left on the market. People were starting to come outside. Children could be seen playing, sprinklers were running, and flowers were popping up from the stingy rock with hope and beauty. Hope. That is the feeling people started to share in our tiny little neighborhood. We started meeting neighbors. A group of neighbors started sharing stories about fencing cost, where to buy sod, who was a good pediatrician. I started a Yahoo Group for neighbors to have a central place to get information and share ideas. We had our first block party on Halloween. It was a BIG success. 23 families from our neighborhood of 46 homes showed up. Kids had a blast decorating pumpkins, showing off costumes, participating in the cake walk, fishing game, pumpkin toss & hayride. Adults mingled, talked, corralled kids, and laughed at the kids playing. Speaking to a few of the “pioneer” families we learned of the long road they had endured to reach this moment of hope. Many of the first home owners may still be a little upside down on their investment but things are definitely moving in the right direction for Honeysuckle Estates! As of September all our homes are sold. Fences are going up, yards are sporting beautiful landscape, several new pools have been carved out of the rock, beautiful new doors have replaced the builder specials, and everywhere you look you see families working hard to turn these houses into homes and creating their version of “Happily ever after”.

Everything in it's place...

I don't know about all of you but this is something I continually strive for.  I have been studying Interior design & home organization for years and find there is always room for improvement! 

Coming soon I will share tips for budget friendly kids rooms and how to get them on top of their game with taking control of their own rooms!  Keep in mind I'm not a miracle worker & age appropriate expectations have to be the focus.

Kids rooms can look great and they can keep it that way!  From elementary to college I will highlight rooms that are truly lived in.

SOLD! 4221 Addington Pl., Flower Mound, TX. 75028

4/2.5/2 3450 sq. ft. $344,500.00 **SOLD**Home sold in 48 hrs!
Located in Glenwick Estates in Flower Mound, TX.
Large 4 bdrm 2.5 bath home with an open loft gameroom with custom built in cabinets, bonus room off of Master bedroom suite. Formal living & dinning room. Beautiful backyard oasis with Texas size diving pool perfect for entertaining. Turn on the outdoor speakers to your favorite music and relax on the back deck with friends & family. Plenty of room for all.

2004 Roof replaced
*2004 Replaced A/C Upstairs Unit
*2006 Pool resurfaced & re-tiled
*2006 New cook top with indoor grill
*2007 Replaced A/C Downstairs
*2007 Replaced heater & Air Exchanger
*2008 New front walk path
*2008 Updated tile in Master Bath & Kids bath
*2009 Textured walls in Kitchen & Master Bath
*2009 updated Kitchen & Master Bath with Granite
*Texas Size Diving Pool
*Jacuzzi tub
*Custom Cabinets in Open Game Room
*Green Belt/Dry Creek Lot

Master Bedroom: 20x18/Level 2
2nd Bedroom: 11X10/Level 2
3rd Bedroom: 12X13/Level 2
4th Bedroom: 12X13/Level 2
Downstairs Study: 11X10/Level 1
Bonus Room: 18X9/Level 2

LISD Schools: Bridlewood/Downing Middle School/Marcus High School

http://www.flickr.com/photos/randomlytj/sets/72157617300445989/show/