Spruce Street

Spring Is In The Air!

03/04/2012 14:58:00

In many parts of the Southern US states (especially Florida), spring comes really early. It's barely March and our gardens are screaming to be SPRUCED! I love this time of year. It's the perfect time to rethink, re-plan and re-do our outdoor spaces and container gardens.

Look at what isn't working in certain areas and either dig up and replant in a better suited spot or get rid of all together if your plant style or color palette is going in another direction.

Gardening requires knowledge of soil conditions, light, nourishment needs and balance among many other things (like luck and a certain amount of trial and error). Gardens are ever changing and evolving with or without our help and input. In order to keep them looking their best, they require our tending to (SPRUCING).

Don't forget the weeding, mulching, trimming, watering, etc. These things are not nearly as much fun as the planning & planting but without these necessary ongoing steps our gardens would just be big jumbled up messes. I think of the weeding, mulching, trimming, watering steps as the foundations of a great garden. All of the flowering plants and scrubs as the pretty accessories. Balance and editing is key to a beautiful garden.

List and plan in hand...I'm off to my favorite plant suppliers!

My garden is calling my name....

Happy 2012!

01/11/2012 15:42:00

My 2012 is off to a fully Spruced year (so far, so good). After all the outside holiday lights are carefully stored away for use next year and all of our interior Christmas decorations have been gone through, sorted, organized, edited (very important!) and again stored away for next years use...WHEW!!...it's then time to get down to the other list of "To Do's".

This year, we decided first on the "To Do" list was pressure washing then painting the exterior of our home.

That done (awesome) lead to all of the windows being cleaned inside and out. That lead to a complete over haul; cleaning, organizing of our garage (this chore seems to be an ongoing project at our house for some reason).

Next, we turned to the inside. First on the list was a cleaning out of all clothes and coat closets. Amazing the things we found to donate. All in great condition but as with most people, way too many things that were not being worn and hopefully found their way to people who may need or want these articles of clothing, shoes, purses, etc. and actually put them to good use.

After that chore, I tackled our spice cabinet and our very large pantry. Everything was taken out, all surfaces wiped clean and then re-organized. Lots of items tossed out. I do not like to waste but lets face it, there's not much you can find to do with expired spices or even those items that you have not used and see at no time soon doing so. Just toss them. You'll feel better with a clean slate and getting rid of those items taking up space. Less is more.

Next on the agenda, interior painting. First, our kitchen (same exact Benjamin Moore color-Bridgewater Tan as it is now...just refreshed), then our back guest room then our master bedroom (both BM-Affinity Harmony). I will then have all of our bedrooms painted the same exact color which I have come to love over the last few years. A nice , clean, neutral color that blends wonderfully with most any color of bed linens. After those rooms are finished we are starting a HUGE project (two actually). We are having our master bath basically gutted AND one of our guest baths shower re-tiled. Thank goodness the floor tiles in this second bath are in great shape and still in style so the only thing needing help in that room is the actual shower walls and floor).

Of course this means new shower enclosures too. Going with the frameless style this time.

Once we have survived those major projects (fingers crossed) we then will tackle our dining room and formal living room walls paint color. I love to paint so this will actually be a stress release for me. I'll need something to look forward to after having all the workers in our home for the two bathroom remodels (I am NOT good with workers in our home...actually, who is?). I've been told this will take 3 weeks maximum for both baths. I'm counting on 4 to 5 weeks from start to finish. Let's be realistic, things always come up so it's best to add a little cushion so I'm not going crazy (and making the workers crazy) when they are still here on week 4.

I love checking each project off of our "To Do" list as we go along. It's a great feeling of accomplishment AND the end results are so rewarding as well. In these trying economic times, we are all spending more and more time at home. It's a win/win! Every project brings more value to our home and more value to our way of living as well.

Good luck with your "To Do" list this 2012. If it seems too overwhelming, just start small. Choose a weekend or a week night and just jump in. If you need help with ideas or getting started (or getting finished), call SPRUCE. We love everything home and garden related and are happy to help you in your ventures to get SPRUCED for 2012!

~Happy Sprucing

MERRY, MERRY, PEACE, PEACE, MERRY, MERRY, PEACE

12/23/2011 11:47:00

Wishing you and yours a happy, healthy holiday season. Peace and blessings for the New Year!

Is It Really Already That Time Of Year Again?

11/29/2011 17:13:00

"My how time flies", my grandmother used to always say. My grandmother was a little over 100 years old when she passed away so I always thought of this saying as an older persons saying. Guess who is evidently an older person now? Or at least feeling very much like an older person!

It's not just me. On a nearly daily basis I over hear some version of this same statement, especially this time of year. Why is it that the holidays always seem to sneak up on us?

Even as organized as I pride myself on being (almost to a fault if that is possible) this time of year is still always somewhat stressful.

The tree(s), the lights, the shopping, the shipping, the cards, the parties, the cooking, the cleaning, etc., etc. It can become overwhelming and stressful to the best of us AND can at times bring out the worst in us.

Staying organized and working from a list (or several list as it may be) is a life saver for me. Do not put off what you can do today! Putting off only adds to the stress and snowballs into a whole new beast.

I am by nature very list and task driven. For those who are not, just try it. It may just save you from a lot of panic attacks this holiday season.

Pick a day (or weekend) to put the tree and outside decorations up. Another day to do nothing but wrap all of your gifts, write and send your Christmas or holiday cards, another day to do nothing but get all of your packages shipped, etc. I try every year to start my shopping very early, I mean like no later than October 1st. Sometimes even months before that if I run across just the right gifts for someone. I actually found the perfect gifts for my sister- in -law back during the summer. I keep a list of all gifts I have already bought and things I am looking to buy and mark them off the list as I go along. Sometimes these gifts change as I'm out shopping and find something I like better than I had on the list but at least I have a goal and an idea to work off the list from.

With any luck and a bit of planning (don't forget your LISTS), you will be kicking back, relaxing and actually enjoying your holidays this year a good week or so before the big day. Find a good book, put your feet up and enjoy a stress free holiday this year for a change.

Cheers~

Happy Fall Y'all!

11/03/2011 20:17:00

I absolutely love this time of year. Finally, fall is in the air...YIPEE! Here in Florida, it is a welcomed relief from the hot, muggy, dog days of summer (which creep into late October, early November here). I actually get a little gittie the first day I actually need to put on a jacket or sweater.

Okay, I also have to admit that I have a thing for pumpkins. This year instead of going all out with the Halloween gear, I only put out my little witches (about 6 here and there...all very cute in their own right if I do say so myself). I also put all of my different pumpkins around that can stay out through Thanksgiving because they are fall not Halloween pumpkins. This made the day after Halloween clean up a snap!

I reworked several of my fall arrangements. Some were getting a little "tired" looking, and some I was just getting a little tired of looking at! It didn't take much time or money and now these arrangements are like new. You have to love that!

Outside we planted pansies, johnnie jump ups, a mum here and there and of course spruced up our potted plants. The very large mums go a long way by themselves in pots...lots of bang for your buck. I also like to add pansies and violas in and around the edges of mixed containers this time of year. Just keep your colors consistent in blending or coordinating with your color theme.

Any containers near your front entrance, back patio, pool area, etc,. can also carry more of the seasonal theme with added accessories like a little faux pumpkin tucked down in a potted plant. Just be careful not to over do it. A seasonal accessory at the front and maybe one around back goes a long way. You don't want to over do it because more than likely you already have a nice fall wreath on the front door and now a lot of nice fall flowers too. Step back several times as you work and see where you need to add or edit.

Happy Sprucing!

Live With What You Love!

05/14/2011 17:05:00

My best advice that I can give to anyone is, to live with what you love. No cookie cutter design. You want your home to reflect you and your style. Interesting trumps perfect every time!

Now having said that...edit, edit, edit. If you have LOTS of things you love, you have to reign it in so that your pieces stand out and become special, not just another piece. You may want to consider rotating your things at different times of year or for special occasions (holidays, etc.). If that sounds like too much work or you have a storage shortage problem, go through your pieces and pick just the things that truly speak to you (and jive with the whole design scheme too) and the things that really make your home unique and special. This can be a great time to pass along some of your things to family members, friends or donate to a charity.

I recommend doing a room at a time. This way your entire house is not a mess and you can pull things from one room that may work better in another, as you go along (or not work at all any more and you can give away or donate to a charity...remember?). Grab a box for keepers, a box for give aways and a box to donate to charity (a fourth box or bag may be needed for items that need to be trashed as well).

It's hard for most of us to see things through a fresh set of eyes when it comes to our own homes. After all, we see our homes everyday and become very comfortable with our surroundings. This is another reason I believe taking on one room at a time is the key. Once you see the transformation in one room, you'll want to keep going until the entire house is in harmony.

Now keep in mind...these things I suggest only if you are planning on staying in your home. If you are trying to sell your home, then you want to still edit, edit, edit of course but you also want to really, really depersonalize your entire home too.

Call SPRUCE if you need any help in your redesign, organizing, or staging ventures.

Happy SPRUCING!

SPRUCING INTO SPRING

03/24/2011 11:27:00

Happy Spring! We are now a couple of days into Spring 2011, and not a minute too soon. Wow...it seems it was a really long winter (even for Florida).

I have been spending a lot of time digging up, replacing, redoing, repotting and generally SPRUCING up both my place and others in great appreciation of the wonderful weather we have been blessed with over the last few weeks.

I am a great lover of potted plants. I love to have several varieties of plants within one pot. I believe the trick is to find plants that work together color and texture wise (and, of course shade or sun wise too). Remember, potted plants need water every day in the warm months. Sometimes twice a day on extremely hot days.

One of my favorite potted plant looks is; variegated ivy (I prefer the white and green over the yellow and green) with one or two birds nest ferns, a maiden hair fern, with sweet potato vines. It gives you a wonderful, calming variation of shades of green and wonderful textures as well. Find a nice shady spot and try this combination out for yourself...I think you'll love it too.

Happy Sprucing! ;)

Scarlett

Happy 2011

01/10/2011 11:48:00

Well, we are now 10 days into 2011...Happy belated New Year!! Like so many others, I am deep into cleaning out closets, and "junk" that has been cluttering up my spaces and mind.

So many blouses, pants, shoes, home decor, etc., that I have not worn or used in recent months (or ever, tags still attached) will soon find a new home with someone who hopefully will put these things to good use.

I try every year as I put away my Christmas decorations and ornaments to go through all of them as well and weed out the things that are not used or no longer fit into my holiday theme/decor.

This is difficult because we of course have sentimental attachments to our Christmas/holiday decorations because of the family memories attached to them.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying you should get rid of your grandmothers heirloom ornaments that she passed down to you or all of your childrens handmade ornaments that you cherish and enjoy looking at every year. I am however saying that you probably have several things that you are holding onto that have seen better days. They have become faded, frayed or just plain worn out. Those are the pieces and things that can go. Or the things that just do not fit into your theme any longer. Things that are in bad shape should just be thrown out, not donated.

When I cleaned out this year I realized that I was holding onto enough garland to wrap the White House! All of it is in great shape and could be put to good use by several families, HA HA. I also donated a Santa suit that has not been used by our family in several years. I know why I was still hanging on to these things, even though they have been stored away in our attic and have not seen the light of day for quite sometime. Every year I would think...well, maybe next year (or some year) I will want to use all of this garland (Santa suit, etc.) and if I get rid of it I'll just have to go re-buy all of this again.

Christmas and holiday decorations are so very easy to keep and hang onto year after year. Out of site, out of mind...right? Since most all of us buy and add to our holiday decorations every year, this is another great reason to weed through and get rid of things every year when you are putting things away until next year.

If you know someone in your family (your adult children, sister, etc.) who you think would really want and or cherish these things then ask them first before donating them. This way they stay in the family and you still get to see them when you visit for the holidays.

At one point several years ago, I collected the Dickens Villages and spent lots of money and time doing so. I no longer display these villages and haven't in some years. I am planning on passing these along to my sister-in-law as she and my brother have 3 little ones and these villages would look wonderful on their fireplace mantle. AND I still get to enjoy them...but my sister-in-law gets to dust them!!

Since I did indeed get rid of several boxes of holiday decorations (including a couple of really pretty wreaths...I bought new ones this year) I feel good about my attic now being in good order.

Great rule of thumb is when you bring something new into your home, get rid of at least as many items as you bring in new.

Heres to a lighter, less "stuff", less cluttered 2011.

Happy Sprucing!!!!

SPRUCE YOUR HOLIDAYS!

12/02/2010 12:00:00

Happy Holidays to all.

The decorations, stockings and tree are all up. Most of the shopping is even done (wow)! Now the wrapping, shipping, baking, etc. can begin.

The goal this year is to be finished (or mostly so) weeks before Christmas so that I can actually take a breather, relax and enjoy the holiday season... instead of running around like a crazy person. Our son will be home from college the second week of December and I truly look forward to having a stress free, slow stroll into the thick of the season.

I am by nature an uber organized person. I live by "THE LIST" year round but especially during the holidays. Having a list and sticking to it (except for the occasional change of a Christmas present here and there) makes life less overwhelming. It also gives a huge sense of accomplishment everytime I get to mark something off the list. My list helps keep me sane! It lets me wrap my mind around all of the things left to do so that I can break them down into managable "to-do's" everyday.

I believe this time of year we can all let ourselves get a little overwhelmed, especially those of us who tend to over do things. Even though I am an organized person, I am also a perfectionist. I have to really rein myself in this time of year so I don't make life unbearable for my husband and son.

I have learned over the years that less is most certainly more.

In years past it took me nearly a week to decorate, everything had to be just perfect (perfection is in the eyes of the beholder of course). Then the baking would start (several days). I would drive myself crazy looking for the perfect gifts for each and every family member. Christmas cards out to friends, family, business associates, etc. (at least a 3 to 4 day job, after of course the several days of shopping for the perfect cards).

Even though all of the above was very well thought out and organized, at some point it zapped the spirit out of the holidays (and ME!). My new motto is EDIT, EDIT, EDIT. Less is more!

I still of course try to find great gifts for loved ones, but perfection is edited out of the thought process. Let's face it, what is the perfect gift anyway...you can make yourself crazy trying to figure that out. Believe me I know! HA HA

I have streamlined the amount of decorations I put out which I think in many ways makes what I do put out more special. My husband used to say that we had so much he couldn't see it all! HA HA

Also, I now bake one day only and just make the things that are the absolute favorites of my son and hubby.

Life is too short and time is too precious!

Here's hoping you all have a wonderful stress-free holiday season. Remember less is more in many cases. Pace yourself and edit. Work off of a list to keep you organized and on task. Hopefully this will allow you time to sit back, relax, have a cup of coco, read a good book and actually enjoy your loved ones and the season.

After all...isn't that what its all about anyway.

Happy Sprucing!

Staging To Sell

09/09/2010 12:19:00

You have decided to put your home on the market to sell. It can be a nerve racking time to say the least!

First, you will need to decide which Realtor you want to list your home with. If you want to sell your home yourself, be aware that you must market and show your home whenever someone wants to view it. The more people through the door, the more likely you are to sell it. It is a lot of work to sell your home yourself! Plus, you must price and market it correctly. You can not sell your home if no one knows it's on the market or if it is over priced for the market.

It is my opinion that it is well worth the commission you will pay a Realtor to sell your home. They are the experts in this field of marketing and setting prices compared to other homes in your area.

People always (of course) want to get the most money for their homes...even in this down housing market. However, please remember the prices of a few years ago are not likely to be had in todays market (not for some time at least, if ever again).

I find this a positive! Guess what? You may not get the price you could have gotten for your home if you had sold it 5 or 6 years ago BUT you will also not pay those high prices for the new home you will be purchasing. It's a win/win as I see it.

Having your home staged is a proven method of selling your home for top dollar and fast! Staging highlights your homes finer details and draws attention away from areas that are not so fine. Staging also cuts the clutter and unnecessary items so that potential buyers can envision themselves living in your home. They will notice the home not the stuff!

Staging sets your home apart from the other homes for sell in your area. Be sure and use a Certified Professional Stager. Some Realtors claim that they can help a seller stage their homes, unless they are also trained and certified in staging...let the Realtors stick to what they do best which is marketing and selling.

Staging is a specialty. Stagers are trained with tried and true methods (that only Professional Stagers are privy to) that will help get your home sold fast and for top market dollar.

Some Realtors will pay for the cost (or split the cost with the homeowner) of having your home professionally staged.

Realtors know staged homes sell faster than nonstaged homes.

The price of staging your home is peanuts compared to the cost of having to drop the sales price of your home because it sits on the market too long.

At SPRUCE, we start at your front curb and evaluate every detail of your home inside and out. We make suggestions on things that need attention and/or change. We then can either give you a detailed list of what needs to be addressed and you can do the work yourself OR you can have us do the work for you. A typical home takes on average about 4 hours to professionally stage. Of course, some homes have much more decluttering than others which will require more time. Some homeowners want the main living areas of their home professionally staged and then ask for us to leave a detailed list of what the homeowner can do to finish the remainder of the home (closets, pantrys, painting, outdoor areas such as pressure washing and sprucing up plants).

Please consider SPRUCE if your home is on the market or is about to be. It can mean the difference in selling your home fast or having to drop your price because buyers walk in and your home is not the best it can be. We make your home shine from the inside out!SPRUCE..."It's all in the details".

Happy Sprucing!

Scarlett

www.spruce-us.com

904-662-3003