“tag and i’m it!” - round 2

Welcome to All in the Detail... I am so glad you are here! 

Here’s the scoop.... 

Tina from The Enchanted Home "tagged me". The reason I have Round 2 in the title is because I was also tagged by Pam @ Simple Details earlier - different  questions, additional fun. And because this game is so much fun, I have accepted Round 2 from Tina! 

The idea here is that a blogger "tags" another blogger and gives them 11 questions to answer in a post, then that blogger "tags" another 11 bloggers, and comes up with their own 11 questions and so on. 

Tina, thank you for including me in this great merry-go-round of a game and as you said, I now have an excuse to sit and relax and ponder these fantastic questions!

1. Do you have a hobby? Tell me about it, if not tell me a hobby you wish you had! I wish I had a hobby: collecting something really cool – nah, probably not - I am a minimalist; golfing, swimming, skiing…. actually, I do a lot of these things but not on a regular-enough basis to qualify it as a ‘hobby’. I have so many irons in the fire with our companies that I don’t really make time for myself – WAIT, I blog! Is that a hobby? It’s time for myself and I enjoy it! Can I make that my hobby?

2. What's worse, failing at something or never trying to begin with? Life has taught me that lesson all too well (some may say I haven’t learned it yet) I believe that it’s worse to never try than to try and fail... looking back on something and saying, “I tried” is so much more satisfying than looking back on something and saying, “ What if I had tried…” And to quote from a poem written by Alfred Lord Tennyson, 'Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.'

3. Would you rather be a great cook or a great designer? I honestly don’t think I can choose that one. I love to do both…. Can I pick what’s behind Door #3?

4. If you could only have two rooms in your house which would they be?  Does the bathroom count as one?  Maybe I could ‘add’ a bathroom area to one of the two rooms? If so… First room: I am a sleeper! Hours, on hours, on hours… and sleeping in my bed in my bedroom is just not the same as sleeping on my sofa in the living room, so it would have to be BEDROOM. Second room: I love to cook (see Question #3 above) My family time (the most precious time ever – see Questions #10) revolves around meal time… long meals and enjoyable conversations with those I love, so it would have to be KITCHEN. Oh no… wait… long meals with my family and friends… now I need a dining room. Could I ‘add’ a dining area to the kitchen?

5. Tell me which 2 famous people you would choose to have dinner with (dead or alive) This is a tough one… no one person jumps right out at me at the moment.

I know I would enjoy sitting down and talking to Princess Diana. What a strong, wonderful woman. I admire her for fighting her insecurities and her adversaries to become the person she was: a loving mother, a successful philanthropist and worldwide role model.

The second person would have to be someone who makes me laugh. I enjoy spending time with someone who is witty… I always tell my boyfriend, “the way to a man’s heart may be through his stomach, but the way to a woman’s heart is to make her laugh!”

Oh, I know – George Clooney… I hear he is a “character” AND he ain’t too bad to look at for an evening! – just killed two birds with one stone there. BONUS: He’s a successful philanthropist too so what a wonderful conversation the three of us could have together!

6. What are four descriptive words that describe you well? It is really uncomfortable for me to describe myself, this is probably the most difficult question anyone could ask me (beside What’s your best quality? Whew – dodged that bullet, thanks Tina!) OK, I pride myself on being a hard-worker, an honest person, a loving mother and girlfriend, and a loyal friend…

7. Best book or two that you read in the last year? I have a stack a mile high by my bed waiting for that ‘me-time’… one day. I just re-read Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo and Lynn Vincent. Amazing… This book found me at the perfect time in my life and has helped me through so much these past couple years. I highly recommend it.

8. What do you miss most about being a kid? My parents. They are both gone now and I would love to still have them in my life.

9. If you had a freaky Friday experience and had to trade places with one person for one day, who would it be? Why that person? …Someone with a beautiful singing voice. I wish I was able to belt out a song; unfortunately, I can barely carry a tune in a bucket. If I could SING for one day – I promise you, I would be hoarse by the end of the day! 

10. Describe a perfect day for you from morning till evening.....That’s an easy one: it would be spent with my children. They both live out of state, luckily they live together so they have each other close. My daughter is in graduate school and my son is in undergraduate school. I miss them both terribly and do not feel 100% without them.

11. A place in the world you have never been that you would love to go... Greece. My dream vacation is to rent a yacht and sail the Greek Isles. There would be just enough sleeping room for a few of my closest friends to enjoy the moment. The yacht would be equipped with a captain and a wonderful 5-star chef… all that would be required of us is - to sun, to drink, to swim… to swim, to drink, to sun… and so on... and so on...

Rules of the Game

**You must post the rules

**Answer the 11 questions that the tagger posted for you; then create 11 questions to ask the people you've tagged

**Tag 11 people and link them in your post

**Let them know you have tagged them and they should acknowledge that they have been notified.

Thanks Tina, and to all these unsuspecting bloggers. :) Enjoy, its a fun exercise and lets keep this going. It’s always great fun to get to know a little more about your fellow bloggers!

Here are the 11 Bloggers I’m Tagging:

La Dolce Vita

A Country Farmhouse

Lisa Roy

Inspiring Interiors

LLH Designs

The Apothecary Shop...

Providence Ltd. Interior Design

coastal-colors

hampton hostess

Splenderosa

Conspicuous Style Interior Design Blog

Even if you weren't tag - you can have some fun and play along. Answer these questions too!

Here are their 11 Questions:

1. What is your favorite place in the whole world? Why?

2. Would you prefer to eat in or eat out?

3. Which would you choose: a good book or a good movie?

4. What is your favorite thing about your home?

5. What characteristic to you look for most in a true friend?

6. Tell me something about yourself that you don’t think anyone else knows.

7. What would you like to change about yourself?

8. What is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for you?

9. Do you have one all time favorite item in your home?

10. What is your dream vacation?

11. How would you describe your décor style?

keep your home safe

Welcome to All in the Detail... I am so glad you are here! 

Prevent burglars from making themselves at home 

It's easy to avoid thinking about a burglar in your home. Fortunately, according to the FBI, the number of home burglaries decreased last year, but they’re still frequent enough that the Bureau’s "one-burglary-every-15-seconds" estimate still holds true. That means every home is at risk of a burglary or break-in, especially those offering easy entry to thieves through neglected details. 

Now I'm not saying you're in danger, nor do I want to put anyone in a 'panic' mode... but I do believe "better safe than sorry". So...... here are some ideas to think about if you want to improve your home security. If installing a top-of-the-line home security system is beyond your budget, don't worry - there are still many cheap home security tricks to do to keep your family and property secure.

Your Lights A well-lit home is much less likely to be broken into, so make sure the exterior of your house is fully illuminated with motion-detector spotlights and other lighting fixtures.

When you’re away from the house for long periods of time, be sure to use timers on interior lights to give the impression of life as usual. Manual and digital timers can be found at your local hardware store or home center for a few dollars.

Your Landscape Tall trees can be accessories to crime when dense branches come close to your home and create pockets of darkness where burglars can hide. Keep trees well-trimmed to avoid giving thugs a place to hide.

Dense shrubs can also create a hideout, so keep hedges low and plantings near your doors and windows neat. It's easy to avoid thinking about a burglar in your home. Fortunately, according to the FBI, the number of home burglaries decreased last year, but they’re still frequent enough that the Bureau’s "one-burglary-every-15-seconds" estimate still holds true. That means every home is at risk of a burglary or break-in, especially those offering easy entry to thieves through neglected details.

Your Doors A door with just a handle lock is an easy mark for a thief armed with finesse and a plastic credit card. Instead, add a good-quality deadbolt at each entry.

The best deadbolts require a key on the outside and incorporate a thumb latch on the inside. Further strengthen every installation by substituting long, heavy-duty screws for those provided by the manufacturer.

No matter which lock you choose, it’s only as strong as the door itself which is generally the weakest around the lock. To make doors more secure, add a decorative door reinforcement plate (starting for as little as about $10) to make this area more secure.

Improve home security at a patio sliding door by adding a bar, which can stop the inside door from sliding open or being pried off if the lock is broken. A sturdy piece of wood strategically placed in the open track can also improve door security.

Always remember, when leaving home for day trips or longer, keep your garage door closed and locked to intruders. 
If your view is obstructed at your entry, install a wide-angle (200-degree) peep hole in your front door so that you can easily see who comes knocking.

Your Keys Never hide spare keys in “secret” places outside your home, smart burglars know where to look. 

Be smart about issuing spare keys. Even though you may be careful about who they’re issued to, you can’t control the paths they cross or situations in which your key may be exposed to duplication. 

Your Windows Windows can be the weakest link in home security, especially if left open and unattended. Make sure all units are closed and locked before you leave home for even the shortest errand, and add window dressings and shades to discourage prying eyes.

Modern windows include sash locks, but you can improve security by drilling a hole from front to back where the top and bottom windows overlap and installing a long nail in the hole (something a contractor will be able to do for you). If the integrated window lock breaks, the nail will stop the window from sliding open. Security bars on ground-level windows are also an option, but make sure they’re fitted with quick-release mechanisms that allow them to be opened from the inside in an emergency.

Your Inventory Perhaps the most important home security measure of all is to document your home’s contents, particularly the valuables. Get out the video camera and take a thorough tour of your home, and then deliver a copy of the tape and any other helpful documentation to your safe deposit box. If your home security is ever really threatened by a burglary, you’ll have the proof you need to supply to the police and to your homeowner’s insurance company.

This post is a repost from a previous date – the original post has been lost.

what $21 million buys Jennifer Aniston

Welcome to All in the Detail... I am so glad you are here! 

Have you updated your Map of Celebrity Homes lately? Well, be sure to make a note: Jennifer Aniston has reportedly scooped up a new mansion for herself in Bel-Air, California. The pristine 8,500-square-foot four-bedroom was designed in 1965 by noted Los Angeles modernist architect A. Quincy Jones; after first hitting the market for $29 million in 2008, the house was reduced to $24 million, at which point Aniston swooped in and scored it for even less: $21 million.

Here is what $21 million can buy these days: More than three acres of land, views of the city and ocean, a pool, a koi pond, a guesthouse, a wine cellar, and—last but certainly not least—a vineyard.

Views of the Exterior



  
 
 






Want to take a look inside? The midcentury-feeling interiors boast gleaming wood floors, full-wall expanses of glass, and some pretty stunning fireplace details.

Views of the Interior



 

What do you think… was it really worth it?

“…and the Oscar goes to…”

 

I am the biggest movie fan EVER - I LOVE THE MOVIES… can’t help it. I drink in a movie like taking a drink from a fire hydrant, I notice the scenery, the dialog, the costumes, the symbolism, the undercurrent of intent, the stars (old and new)… I am all about it. So when it’s time to pay tribute to this industry – I am front row, center waiting in anticipation for every single glittery second of entertainment.

Now, the gargantuan night of glamour, Hollywood's annual love fest is here. The night when the stars emerge from their limos in their most attention-getting outfits, tasteful or not, (we all know there is no such thing as bad publicity) - cue "Fashion Police." I love to snicker at the unflattering outifts. I groan as the stars rattle on endlessly during their thank-you speeches... while I scream at the television “play the music already!” Talking to the television during the Oscars is almost as much fun as yelling at "The Rocky Horror Picture Show". I cringe in anticipation of the musical acts - will they be impressive or a snooze - who really cares? But love it or hate it, I'll be glued to the television tonight watching the Oscars.

Are you planning a party? It's a great night to share with other movie buffs. So if you are planning an Oscars Viewing Party, here are a few fun ideas for making your own night of excitement.

Buy, rent, or make a red carpet, out of fabric or carpet remnants, to welcome your guests at the door.

Purchase inexpensive, glamorous Hollywood sunglasses for all partygoers to don as they step over your threshold.

Be ready to snap an instant photo of guests so that they too can feel hounded by the paparazzi (and to use as a souvenir of the party).

Before the big show begins, play the soundtrack from your favorite Oscar winning movie in the background. While the song is playing, add a BONUS Question to your trivia (see below),  
"What movie has this song as its soundtrack?"

 

Decorate with large silver and gold star cutouts either purchased or homemade. Decorate your buffet table with star confetti and glitter.

Dangle unwound rolls of film from your ceiling.

Prepare an Oscars trivia game to play with your friends during the commercials.

Here's a start: 

Question: What Movie Has Earned the Most Oscar Nominations?

Actually, two movies are tied for the title of Most Nominated Film. What are the two movies and how many Oscars were they nominated for? Here's a hint: "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" isn't one of them.

Answer: In 1951, Joseph L. Mankiewicz's "All about Eve" was nominated for 14 Academy Awards. "All About Eve" won Oscars for Sound, Best Director, Actor in a Supporting Role, Costume Design, Best Picture, and Writing. It was also nominated for Music, Cinematography, Art Direction, and Film Editing. Bette Davis and Anne Baxter each earned Best Actress in a Leading Role nominations for their work in "All About Eve." Best Actress in a Supporting Role nominations went to Celeste Holm and Thelma Ritter.

James Cameron's "Titanic" (1997) earned 14 nominations and won 11 Oscars. "Titanic" took home Academy Awards for Effects (Sound Effects Editing), Film Editing, Best Director, Best Picture, Cinematography, Music (Original Song), Original Dramatic Score, Art Direction, Effects (Visual Effects), Sound, and Costume Design. "Titanic" was nominated in the Makeup, Actress in a Supporting Role, and Actress in a Leading Role categories but did not win.

Question: Who Has Received the Most Acting Nominations?

Answer: Meryl Streep stands as the most nominated actor with 17 nominations. Streep won Academy Awards for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in "Kramer vs Kramer" and Best Actress in a Leading Role in "Sophie's Choice." She was also nominated for her work in "The Deer Hunter," "The French Lieutenant's Woman," "Silkwood," "Out of Africa," "Ironweed," "A Cry in the Dark," "Postcards from the Edge," "The Bridges of Madison County," "One True Thing," "Music of the Heart," "Adaptation,", "The Devil Wears Prada", "Doubt", "Julie and Julia," and"The Iron Lady". Three of Meryl Streep's 17 nominations were in the Best Supporting Actress category.

Award prizes at the end for best and worst scores.  Hand out ballots before the ceremonies begin, and after tallying all the scores at the end, hand out awards for most and least correct picks.

7:00 PM Eastern Standard Time: Dim the lights and enjoy the show.


Oh yeah... I almost forgot (not really but that was dramatic, right?) 

One of the best things about this year's Oscar's?  Billy’s back!

He is one of the most popular Oscar hosts, having been at the helm for a mammoth eight times. 

It is going to be awesome, hope you have a fabulous evening!