Photo bags

With the holidays approaching fast and lots of fall birthdays, I wanted to share a great website with lots of wonderful gift ideas. www.bagettes.com has all sorts of cute bags that can be personalized with a favorite photo. I guarantee your gift recipient will be impressed! Everyone loves to get custom created gifts.
It is very easy to upload your photos and in about 3 weeks you will receive your bag!
Get to shopping now-it is so hard to choose!
Key/coin clutch is great for the movies, going out or just running errands.
Photo purses are perfect for a first time mom or grandmother.


How cute is this cosmetic bag as a bridesmaid gift? Love the personlized ribbon zipper pull.

Back to school supplies (for adults!)

Why should kids have all the fun buying new school supplies this year? Here are some great grown up goodies to keep you organized, on time and sane as another school year kicks off.

This mail sorter from www.seejanework.com will help you tackle the mounds of bills, catalogs, fliers, you name it accumulating in your home. Empty your mailbox into the Mail.sorter: Its pre-labeled slots-"notice me," "respond to me," "read me," and "pay me." Also includes a side compartment for storing stamps and your checkbook. Your next project: deciding what to do with all your extra counter space!
This 3-way note pad is pretty much the bomb. I purchased one for myself last year while out Christmas shopping. I figured I spend 8+ hours a day at work, might as well try to cut down on the excessive post-it notes littering my desk. Although the pic doesn't show it real well, each of the sections are separate note pads. So if you finish your Tasks first (as if!) you can tear that one off and start fresh. Love it! Especially the little boxes to check off things as you complete them. So satisfying.
Get your own at www.organize.com

The Neti Pot

Today's post is a little off the wall, but I just have to share!! I recently purchased a Neti Pot, and it has been life changing for me! Sinus pain and pressure is a thing of the past now. For those of you that aren't familiar with this device, check out this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8sDIbRAXlg
Has also helped greatly with my allergies. It looks pretty weird/gross and takes a few days to get used to, but it provides so much relief! I use mine daily now and won't travel without it.

Sparkle and Shine

I'm baaaack! Sorry for the blogging hiatus. Life has been a little crazy lately!

During my home staging course, I learned about a lot of easy cleaning secrets that are just too good not to share!



Krud Kutter-gets out all kinds of stains. Even removes those dark spots on the carpet around the edges of your rooms. For a list of everything it can remove, visit www.krudkutter.com

Dealing with a smelly litter box? Add baking soda to absorb odors.




Got a dingy dishwasher? Fill the soap dispenser with Tang or Lemonade flavored Kool-Aid and run cycle while empty.




Have you ever re-arranged your furniture, only to be left with unsightly carpet indentions?
Melt an ice cube on indention and fluff carpet with a fork while wet. Problem solved.


Mr. Clean Magic Eraser works so well on baseboards, doors, light switch plate covers-basically anything white! Thrilled me so much the first time I used it, I even cleaned the door from the garage into our basement. Made the whole garage look cleaner! These are super cheap and you get 2 in a package.



And I have saved my favorite tip for last....I HATE cleaning glass shower doors. The job is much easier though when you use dryer sheets to remove the soap scum. Sheets that have been used work the best. Just scrub away while letting your conditioner work and your shower doors will be sparkling in no time!

Announcing....details event and home staging!

Just in case you were wondering about the recent blogging neglect on my part it is because my home staging biz is finally a reality and is off to a great start! Check out my website and lots of before and after pics. www.detailsstaging.vpweb.com
If you know someone in the St. Louis area that is getting ready to put their home on the market, let me know!

I say tomato...

With Topsy Turvys everywhere producing tomatoes right now, thought I would share a delicious tomato pesto pizza recipe from Pillsbury.

Tomato Pesto Pizza
INGREDIENTS

	1 can (11 oz) Pillsbury® refrigerated thin pizza crust 1/4 cup refrigerated basil pesto
	2 large plum (Roma) tomatoes, chopped
	1 cup shredded Italian cheese blend (4 oz)
	2 tablespoons fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced

DIRECTIONS

	1. Heat oven to 400°F. Spray or grease 15x10-inch or larger dark or nonstick cookie sheet. Unroll dough on cookie sheet; starting at center, press dough into 15x10-inch rectangle.
	2. Spread pesto to within 1/2 inch of edges of dough. Top with tomatoes; sprinkle with cheese.
	3. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until crust edges are golden brown and cheese is melted. Sprinkle with basil.

This recipe would be great prepared on the grill using the Mario Bataldi Piastra.

Cooking on a piastra is an Italian tradition that has withstood the test of time. Alla Piastra means cooking on a flat griddle over a hot fire. Although piastra's may be found in a variety of materials, this granite version conducts heat in a similar manner to cast iron and will not rust. Part of the great Italian cooking tradition is handing down heirloom pieces from generation to generation.

Features:

• Solid granite conducts heat evenly
• 10-in. x 14-in. double-sided with both grill and griddle surfaces
• Easy to use--simply pre-heat on grill, add a little oil to your food and sear
• Ideal for seafood and flatbreads
• Oven and microwave safe

Available at http://www.cooking.com/products/shprodde.asp?SKU=790526

I am expecting.....

I know that title probably caught some of your eyes! Well, I am not expecting an actual baby, but a new blog instead. That's right ...the gifted life is getting a little sister! It has been an exciting week in our house, with me completing my Accredited Staging Professional (ASP) certification. I can hardly wait to start staging houses around the STL area! I have attached a few before and after pics of the room I staged in class this week. It was an incredible experience! Not only for us stagers, but for the seller too. She was so pleased with our work! To check out all the before and after pics of the house, visit this link http://picasaweb.google.com/betvos/StLouisJuly152009?authkey=Gv1sRgCMSAnrGY7dzzpwE#
and check back often for the birth announcement of my new staging blog!