When organizing your childrens closets before selling your home or for everyday use, it's a great idea to put matching pants, shirts, socks, and even their underwear (for children) on one hanger.  Getting dressed then becomes a matter of grabbing a matched clothing "outfit" from the closet and then putting it on.  No more kids in "mis-matched outfits", no more plaid shirts with striped pants and black socks.

Parents will need to put the "outfits" together for them.

To organize children's dresser drawers, put entire "matched outfit" in a large zipper plastic bag and put in drawer.  It makes children feel more confident picking out their own clothing.

No more battles on what to wear, everything will be ready to go.  It's also a huge time saver and a great way to get rid of clothes they may not be wearing anymore.

 

See below for more "Home Staging Tips."

How to Hang Framed Artwork

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Here's this weeks Recipe coming to y'all from deep in the heart of Texas Kitchens.

My Aunt LaNora makes a huge batch of candy during the holidays, and this is my favorite!

                                                                             

Ingredients:

• 1lb. Butter
• 2c. sugar
• 1c. almonds (toasted in oven & grated)
• 1 large pkg. of chocolate chips

Recipe:

Cook butter and sugar to 250 degrees.   Turn out butter and sugar on a cookie sheet and spread with a spatula.  Add 1/2 large package of the melted chocolate chips.  Turn, add other half pkg. of chocolate chips.  Sprinkle grated almonds over chocolate.

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For more "Texas Recipes of the Week" check these out!

Peanut Butter Cups

Texas 8 Layered Dip

Sweet Hot Pinto Beans

Easy Chile Rellenos

Copper Pennies

My Moms Frito Salad

Salad with Goat Cheese Apples & toasted Pecans

Cindy's Blackened Tilapia

Death By Chocolate Cake

Snickers Salad Dessert

German Potato Salad

Texas Longhorn Salad

Texas Jack

Homemade Gnocchi

Texas Spicy Dip

Coconut Cake

Fried Okra Salad

Broccoli Salad

Jumbo Shrimp Stuffed with Cilantro & Chiles

 

                                                                     

This weeks home staging tip:  How to Hang Framed Artwork.

Picture hanging is not a simple task, it can be quite frustrating.  Some people "eyeball" it, use lasers, rulers, tape and various other methods.  By following this tip you get it right the first time.

Cut a sheet of paper to the exact size of the frame.  Position the pattern on the picture's back side and pull up the picture's hanging wire taut so that you will see an inverted V.  Mark the V point on the pattern and poke a hole through that marked point. 

After you determine where you'll put the picture, place the pattern on the wall, and use the V point hole to make a pencil mark showing exactly where the nail should go.  The picture will hang precisely where you want it.

This works well if your'e using two or more pictures that need to be hung close together or the ones that have a hook on each side. 

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This weeks home staging tip:  How to hang framed artwork.

Picture hanging is not a simple task, it can be quite frustrating.  Some people "eyeball" it, use lasers, rulers, tape and various other methods.  By following this tip you get it right the first time.

Cut a sheet of paper to the exact size of the frame.  Position the pattern on the picture's back side and pull up the picture's hanging wire taut so that you will see an inverted V.  Mark the V point on the pattern and poke a hole through that marked point. 

After you determine where you'll put the picture, place the pattern on the wall, and use the V point hole to make a pencil mark showing exactly where the nail should go.  The picture will hang precisely where you want it.

This works well if your'e using two or more pictures that need to be hung close together or the ones that have a hook on each side, instead of a wire across the back. 

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This weeks home staging tip:  How to Hang Framed Artwork.

Picture hanging is not a simple task, it can be quite frustrating.  Some people "eyeball" it, use lasers, rulers, tape and various other methods.  By following this tip you get it right the first time.

Cut a sheet of paper to the exact size of the frame.  Position the pattern on the picture's back side and pull up the picture's hanging wire taut so that you will see an inverted V.  Mark the V point on the pattern and poke a hole through that marked point. 

After you determine where you'll put the picture, place the pattern on the wall, and use the V point hole to make a pencil mark showing exactly where the nail should go.  The picture will hang precisely where you want it.

This works well if your'e using two or more pictures that need to be hung close together or the ones that have a hook on each side, instead of a wire across the back. 

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Houston Symphony & Grace Mass Choir in concert together at Grace Community Church south campus. Friday, December 4 @ 7:30pm. All tickets are general admission.

If you have trouble purchasing tickets or would like more information about this event, please call 713-363-2515.

Start time:	Friday December 04, 2009 at 7:30 PM - Central Time
End time:	Friday December 04, 2009 at 9:00 PM - Central Time
Where:	Grace Community Church, 14505 Gulf Fwy, Houston, TX 77034 map it

 

Ingredients:

1/3 lb. Graham Cracker Crumbs

1/2 Butter or Margarine

1c. Peanut Butter (Smooth)

1lb. Confectioners Sugar

2 c. Chocolate Chips

Recipe:

Combine crumbs, butter, peanut butter and sugar, work together until smooth.  Press this mixture into a 9X9-inch buttered pan, or a larger pan if you want thinner bars.  Melt chocolate chips over hot water.  Spread over Cracker mixture.  Refrigerate until firm.   Cut into squares.  Enjoy!

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League City's Historic Homes Tour will be December 12 from 10am until 5pm.  There will be six homes on the tour.  The League City Historical Society will sponsor the Homes Tour.

What a great way to get into the "Holiday Spirit".  Stories about League City will be told along the way.

Advance tickets are $12 and $15 the day of the tour.  Tickets are available at Nana's attic, Park Avenue Show Place, League City Chamber of Commerce, and West Bay Common School.  For more information call 281-554-2994.

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The Bay Area Houston Ballet and Theatre, South Shore Harbour Resort will be the venue for the Sugar Plum Fairy and her kingdom of sweets court. Brunch will be part of the festivities, as well as a picture with the Sugar Plum Fairy in her sleigh.  An unforgettable experience for your children.

South Shorre Harbour Resort is located in League City, TX.

For more information click here.

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Does your home need a little pizazz for "Holiday Parties"?  The right accessories are "the icing on the cake" when trying to give your home that homey feel.  Wow, your guests with a new look for your home.  Take the stress out of wondering what will work in your home.

No time to shop for those accessories for that extra touch?  We offer a shopping service for all of your home decor needs.  An easy solution for those that just don't have the time. 

Call us for details!

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Houston Home Stagers are you going to the Real Estate Staging Association Conference in Las Vegas January 24-26?  Speakers will include Matthew Finlason from HGTV's  "The Stagers", and  Bethany Souza from HGTV's "Designed To Sell." 

Check out the RESA website for information on who will be speaking and workshops.  Register now for "Early Bird" pricing!

See you in "Vegas"!

 

                                      

When selling your home, there are so many things to think of, one being curb appeal.  The reason this is so important is because, a potential buyer makes their decision whether to look at your home by it's outdoor appeal when driving by and on the mls photos. 

Yes, the exterior is extremely important and must get the attention of the buyer, but something else that is just as important is to not have multiple cars in your driveway, street, and garage.  In some areas of the country people have 4 cars per house, two for the adults and two for their kids.  And at any given time if friends are there you could have 5-6 automobiles parked around your home.  

You don't want your home to look like a used car lot. In this market first impressions are everything, and having too many cars parked around your house can not only be an eye soar, but a distraction as well.

So what do you do with all the cars?  Ask neighbors, family or friends if you can park your cars in their driveway while your home is on the market.  A hassle, yes, but well worth the added effort!

Need an instant makeover of your sofa, chairs, carpet, or car's interior?  Well, here it is...Simply Spray.

Have you heard of this one?  A spray paint that can change the color of an old sofa.  I'm not sure of the details of what kind of fabrics this can be used on or how well it wears, or the coverage, but none the less an interesting concept. 

If it does work, I could see that this would be a great solution for some, especially, if a new sofa and chairs are not in the budget right now.

It's suppose to work on material that absorbs water, including carpets and car interiors.  Non toxic, and safe to use indoors.  It's also suppose to leave fabric feeling soft not stiff, and one can covers 17 square feet.

May have to give this one a try!

Upholstery paint, $13; spraypaint4fabric.com.

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When they say the "nose" knows, it's really true.  I have been into alot of homes that were emitting some strange smells.  Pet odors, body odor, dirty house odors, dirty laundry odors, food/cooking/spice odors, smoke, dirty linens odor, and some strange unidentifiable odors.  There's more, but you get the idea. 

Unfortunately, we get used to the way our homes smell.  Have you ever gone into someones house, and walk through an area and catch a whiff of something, maybe from the dirty laundry hamper?

This is one of the biggest turnoffs for buyers when looking at homes, even over cleanliness (it's a very close 2nd).  The difference is, a house can be cleaned, but odors penetrate into carpet, padding, walls, linens, draperies and fabric of any kind.  And it can be quite a chore to banish them.

One examples of the worst cases I've ever smelled was from pet odors.  I walked into the front door and it hit me like a ton of bricks.  I thought maybe it was isolated in that area, but the further in I got the more intense it got.  I literally got a migraine, and went outside a few times, it was that bad.

They explained their kids had brought down a couple of dogs and a cat.  The dogs were long gone, but the cat was still there.

Here was the puzzle, this house had been practically gutted because of some water damage.  The floors were down to concrete, the walls had been stripped of all wallpaper, there was no fabric type materials left, and no draperies.

I felt extremely bad for these sellers, as it was an odor free home before, and now they are plagued with this extreme odor.  The sellers didn't smell it, but I guarantee a buyer will and turnaround and walk right out!

Luckily, it's being updated and we will be replacing everything and will make sure sure the odor goes away.

Sellers... you can't smell your own odors. 

Don't lose potential buyers, have a home stager give you a consultation and see what their opinion is.

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We realize that Hurricane IKE victims and damaged homes were widespread through our Galveston, Houston region.  What we are finding is property owners have 2nd homes here, but live somewhere else.  This is a problem when trying to get your home put back together. 

I recently came across a home that was damaged, the homeowner was stressed with all of the decisions, and going from store to store.  The problem was the stores don't know what your house looks like, or what style you will need.   So, the homeowners are ordering tile that doesn't go, carpet that doesn't match, and the list goes on and on.  Local stores can only guess.  The homeowner had picked out rust carpet and tile that didn't go or match their traditional home, and was going to mix it with some existing tiles that were very outdated.  Don't make this mistake, or take the risk!

You can make the trips from your residence back and forth, making quick decisions about flooring, wall colors, counters, carpet, fixtures, etc. but under pressure.  And the decisions are usually under pressure, and may not be the right choices.  You don't have the time to find the best deals, and it's stressful dealing with your loss and time constraints.

We at Redesign Etc., can help.  We can help pick out all of your interior finishes, and have service vendors that can usually install just about anything you need. 

We do the legwork, save you the time, and avoid costly mistakes from making snap decisions.

Need a roof?  We have roofers that can install a superior roof at an afforable price!

Just tell us what you need and we will do our very best to help put your home back together the right way!

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CrimeReports.com is a new website that participates with over 800 law enforcement agencies to give you near real time data crime reports for your area.  You can enter your address and find out crime information on your street by date, time or crime.  You can also register your name for crime alerts for your neighborhood.  They can send emails about criminal activity for you to view.

For more information visit CrimeReports.com.

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The NutcrackerShoppe will be in El Lago for its 29th annual Christmas Bazaar.  This is a must for anyone buying Christmas gifts with an original design.  The shoppe will feature holiday decorations, handmade gifts, art, soaps, jewelery and decor items. 

Where:  Taylor Lake Christian Church

When:  November 6, 9am-5pm (friday)  November 7, 9am-3pm (Sat.)

Free admission

For more information on The Nutcracker Shoppe

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Here's this weeks Recipe coming to y'all from deep in the heart of Texas Kitchens.

Ingredients:

• 1 pkg. Taco Seasoning Mix
• 1 pd. ground beef
• 3/4 c. of water
• 1 can of refried beans
• 1/2 c (2oz.) grated cheddar cheese
• 1 can (2-1/4) sliced ripe olives, drained
• 1 medium tomato, chopped
• 1 large avocado, peeled and coarsely mashed
• 1/2 c. dairy sour cream
• 1/2 c. chunky salsa
• 1/4 c. thinly sliced green onion

Directions:

In a medium skillet, prepare Taco Seasoning Mix with ground beef and water according to package directions.  Add refried beans and heat 5 minutes.  In 1 qt. bowl, spread beef and bean mixture.  Layer remaining ingredients in order given above.  Serve immediately.

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Here's this weeks Recipe coming to y'all from deep in the heart of Texas Kitchens.

Ingredients:

• 1 pkg. Taco Seasoning Mix
• 1 pd. ground beef
• 3/4 c. of water
• 1 can of refried beans
• 1/2 c (2oz.) grated cheddar cheese
• 1 can (2-1/4) sliced ripe olives, drained
• 1 medium tomato, chopped
• 1 large avocado, peeled and coarsely mashed
• 1/2 c. dairy sour cream
• 1/2 c. chunky salsa
• 1/4 c. thinly sliced green onion

Directions:

In a medium skillet, prepare Taco Seasoning Mix with ground beef and water according to package directions.  Add refried beans and heat 5 minutes.  In 1 qt. bowl, spread beef and bean mixture.  Layer remaining ingredients in order given above.  Serve immediately.

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This year The Velvet Stocking Christmas Craft Bazaar will be held at the Webster Civic Center on Nasa Rd. One Parkway.  This year the bazaar will feature artists showcasing their crafts, decorations and gifts.  A great place to do your Christmas Shopping.  Homemade crafts will abound, whether it be food, crafts or jewelry. This event has been going on for 28 years!

Dates:  November 12, 13, & 14

Hours:  Thursday 9am-7pm 

Friday & Saturday 9am-5pm.

Where:  311 Pennsylvania, Webster, TX

Velvet Stocking website for more information.

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