The Lifestylist® Blog
Your Life. Your Style. Your Way.
A Greener Earth Day
Apr 22nd
The Green Evolution is in full swing, and Earth Day is the perfect time to reflect on where we are and where we are trying to get to. Just think about how much more acceptance the green movement has now, even compared to last year. Consumers no longer hope they can buy a green product – they expect the products they buy to be green.
Housing is a great example – it’s exciting to see more and more builders using green practices as a standard part of their building. Energy Star appliances are more common than ever, and Whirpool has stepped to the front of the line with their commitment to making our world a better and healthier place to live.
Whirlpool’s focus on green is at every price level, and last week they were a major sponsor of the Manufactured Housing Industry Congress. They brought Mark LaLiberte to the event to educate participants about going green, and Mark did a fantastic job of explaining how just doing the small things can make a big difference.
At the International Builders Show in January they showed their Sustainable Kitchen. Beautiful, inviting, efficient and green! Going Green doesn’t have to mean having solar panels on every roof – it can be as simple as making the home you live in more energy efficient and purchasing the right Whirlpool appliances for your lifestyle.
There’s so much to talk about, and thanks to Whirlpool and advocates like Mark we’ll continue to have great accomplishments to talk about in the future.
Easter Lily
Apr 11th
This has been a great week – we got 3 kittens adopted and have a wonderful neighbor that’s willing to adopt a German Shepherd! It feels great to find loving homes for these animals and to educate people about adopting instead of buying pets from puppy mills and pet stores.
While I was looking for a dog for my neighbor I was shocked at how many purebred animals there are out there looking for a home – even more of a reason to get the word out about adopting.
Lily is one of our rescue pets, and she loves walking the neighborhood and seeing all of the kids. She’s a big ham and is always up for dressing for the occasion!
Vertical Living
Apr 9th
Next week is going to be a really fun week – I’m off to Las Vegas to speak at the Manufactured Housing Congress and at the meeting for the Las Vegas High Rise and Condo Association. It’s really beginning to feel like the housing market has hot bottom and people are starting to think about buying their dream home again.
The Vegas market is amazing, and I love visiting the new high-rise communities and learning more about vertical living. There are so many advantages, and I’m excited to see the latest and greatest. They are fascinated with my Lifestylist brand, and I’ll also be sharing with them what the heck a Lifestylist is and how we approach the design and marketing process.
Scene at Savor Dallas
Mar 14th
Savor Dallas is finally here again and it was a perfect evening! If you weren’t able to attend you truly missed out, but at least you still have a chance to enjoy the Grand and Reserve tastings tomorrow.
People truly had the opportunity to “stroll” during the arts stroll that visited the Nasher Sculpture Gardens, Dallas Museum of Art and the Meyerson Symphony Center. Fine wine paired with incredible art – how could life get any better?
We all moved on to Victory where there was an abundance of opportunities to sample great wines, spirits and food offerings while listening to great music and enjoying the evening.
Photographer Lisa Stewart did another amazing job of getting great shots, and there were so many choices it was hard to choose which ones to share here. Be sure to check out her site to see others.
Savor Dallas 2009
Feb 19th
I’m so excited that it’s almost time forSavor Dallas! This is the 5th year for the event, and I’m proud to say that I’ve attended every one and wouldn’t miss it this year for anything.
This two day event features the best in food and wine, and it’s the perfect opportunity to sample those wines that you’ve always wanted to try. As aLifestylist® I always view this as a great opportunity to find out what the latest trends are in food, wine and beverages as well. Last year there was a grapefruit infused vodka that they mixed with grapefruit juice that was fantastic – not too sweet, and the perfect option for a unique spin on a Mimosa.
Photographer Lisa Stewart is responsible for the photography of this event – be sure to take a look at her images from previous year and I promise you you’ll wish Savor started tomorrow!
Alas, the event won’t be held until March 6th and 7th in the Victory area, Arts District and downtown Dallas. If you can’t wait until then to sample what will be offered this year be sure to take a look at th elist on the Savor Dallas site of who will be attending. There are also “Tasting Notes” by some of the wines that will be offered that will give you a preview of what to expect. Tickets can be purchased on the website for all of the events.
Partnership Marketing
Feb 11th
I just got back from installing a new model home, model apartment and clubhouse in Upstate NY and thought I’d share how it turned out. This client is a wonderful innovative, market-driven builder and developer and is always looking for something in his communities to create a memory point and set his homes apart. These homes were a great example of how we work together.
Riedman Development is very involved in the community – especially the Seneca Park Zoo which is one of the best run small zoos in the country. To play up the zoo we created a child’s room that focused on the zoo and animal conservation complete with graphics that played up the zoo’s animals and logo. The kids bath was a “penguin palace” which featured one of the favorite exhibits at the zoo. We also geared the buyer profile so that the wife was a volunteer at the zoo and we have marketing materials from the zoo in her home office. The builder plans on having some fundraisers for the zoo at the home. As is the case with most of us these days, budgets were a huge concern so this model was done “recycling” furniture and accessories from the builders previous models to keep costs down.
Timber Banks which was the community with the clubhouse and apartment model was designed to introduce visitors to the builder who was new to this market and let them know about the amazing features this community and location have to offer. The community sits on the Banks of the Seneca River and has it’s own enclosed harbor. Within a 1 to 3 hour drive, you can experience the Adirondack Mountains, the Thousand Islands, and Finger Lakes wine country. Lakes Ontario, Onondaga and Oneida as well as the Erie Canal provide true sailing and boating opportunities on a grand scale. To play this up we focused in on the antique boats that you can see cruising down the river, and the Antique Boat Museum which is nearby. Furnishings and decor were geared to show the lifestyle and quality that people coming to the community would experience.
The Lifestylist’s Resolutions for 2009
Dec 31st
One of my favorite things about starting a New Year is being able to leave this year behind and look forward with optimism and a renewed set of goals. True, this shouldn’t be something that happens just once a year, but it’s a great time to really focus on what you want your new year to hold.
Below is a recap on what I think 2009 will hold – I’ll go into more detail as the year progresses, and change these as the world changes I’m sure in ways we could have never expected. Happy 2009 from your favorite Lifestylist® !
Your Life – Your Style
Make this the year that you break out of the stereotypes about how you should live and dress and do it your way. Paint your walls purple, embrace that favorite sweater – if it makes you happy and enables you to feel better about yourself, go for it!
Save a Life
One of the best things I ever did was start rescuing animals. We now have quite a menagerie, but they bring so much joy and happiness into my life, I can’t imagine what my life would be without them. When you have a really rotten day, nothing makes you feel better than having your furry friend curl up in your lap and make it all better.
Attitude is Everything
I predict that 2009 is going to be the year where people really start taking a hard look about how they spend their very hard-earned money and start supporting local businesses and rewarding places and individuals that offer superior customer service and make you feel like your patronage is appreciated.
Re-Purpose and Save the Planet
This year I’m going to be very careful about how I spend every dollar, and I’m already making decisions on how badly I really need something. So many times it’s just easier to go out and buy what you need instead of putting the thought into how you can use what you already have to serve that purpose. This year is going to be about less disposable things and more recycling. Not only will I save some money, I’ll also help save the planet!
Playing Dress Up
We are turning into a very casual society in dress and in the way we live. In many ways this is a good thing, but every once in awhile it’s a great idea to put on that dress, host a tea party or bring out that good china. I found a great company - lia sophia – that sells jewelry that is unique and well priced. My daughter introduced me to them, and I loved what they offered so much I have begun selling their line myself! Working out of the house makes it too easy to dress down every day, and so now that I am involved with lia sophia I make a conscious decision to wear my jewelry every time I go out, whether it’s to the grocery store or to a client meeting. I get so many compliments on it my self-esteem has been boosted and the day is much brighter.
Hang Ups
I love art – especially art by someone I’ve had the pleasure of meeting or has been picked up on a trip. Living in The Idea Factory means that I have very solid cement block walls, and because of this I’ve put off hanging most of my artwork. Art is very personal for me, and today I’m going to start putting a few holes in my walls so I can be surrounded with the color and memories that make me very happy.
Organize Your Digital Life
Have you noticed that the external hard drive is becoming the new catch-all? I’m realizing that I have tens of thousands of images and articles, but when I’m looking for that one that I need it’s never anywhere to be found. The start of a new year is the perfect time to evaluate what you need and how you store it. Take the time to remove the clutter on your desktop and put the things that you need right where you can find them. For those lucky Mac owners, the Apple stores are a great resource for getting your live moving in the right direction. It’s more important than ever to work smart and manage your time wisely.
Shake Things Up a Little
Do you feel like you are in a rut? I know I have lately – with all of the gloom and doom in the news about the economy and the other craziness out there maybe it’s time to jump out of that comfort zone and try something different for a change. I’ve been spending way too much time reading and worrying and I decided it was time to plug in the Wii fit I bought 6 months ago. I love it! It’s making me get out of my desk chair and literally breathe. Doing a little bit of exercise every day has renewed my spirit and now I’m ready to take on some new challenges.
Giving Thanks
Saying thank-you or letting someone know about exceptional service doesn’t cost a dime but can have great rewards to the person who bestowed great service on you. The next time someone goes out of their way to be gracious or helpful be sure to let them know you appreciate their help and when possible let their superiors know of their good deeds as well.
Family First
With all of the insecurity in the World right now, make sure to take time for family and remember what’s really important. A great dinner and evening at home can be priceless.
De-Constructing Construction
Nov 16th
The great news about deciding to build a new home these days is that you have options and choices like never before.
Current technology has made it possible to build “Factory Built” housing that not only meets the quality that site built housing offers, but in many cases can exceed the quality and value that is available.
For the next few weeks I’m going to go more in-depth about the different choices, and how they compare. The building types that I’m going to review are the following:
Trailers
Mobile Homes
Manufactured Homes
Park Models
Double Wides
Modular Homes
PreFab Homes
Panelized Kit Homes
SIPS Homes (Structural Insulated Panels)
Please let me know if you have interest in other building processes and I’ll be happy to do the research and share it here.
Re-Defining Country Curtains
Nov 16th
Sometimes it really pays off to keep an open mind. I had the manager of the Rochester Country Curtains call me about the Ronald McDonald Homearama House I’m doing with @Home Builders, and express an interest in being included in the home. The name scared me because the home is anything but country, but I told them to send me a catalog and I’d take a look.
What a pleasant surprise! The colors were right on trend, the styling was beautiful and the prices were great. They have been an absolute delight to deal with as well, and I’m looking forward to seeing everything installed.
Falling for Your Homes
Nov 16th
It’s hard to believe that Fall is around the corner when the temperature is still in the 90′s, but Fall is a great time to sell houses so it can’t get here soon enough! School has started, and there are lots of holidays coming our way that focus on the home.
Now’s the perfect time to walk-thru your homes and make sure that everything is in it’s place, and if things are missing or damaged replace them. When people are looking for a new home they often times are moving because the home that they are in is showing it’s age and may be looking a bit worn. A model home with dirty carpets, burned out light bulbs and overgrown or dead landscaping is not going to help convince them that your home is the house of their dreams.
Warm colors can really warm up how cozy your model home feels. This can be accomplished by just changing out pillows on your sofas, and it’s amazing how a small change like this can change the way your home feels. Adding seasonal accessories to your homes can make them feel like a home and get the buyer into the mood of buying and being in their new home by the holidays.
Ask your merchandiser about working with you on a seasonal maintenance plan where they will come back in 2 or 4 times a year and help you keep your models opening day fresh.