did you know? ....some fun facts

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

Everyone can relate to this...  you receive tons and tons of emails - most have useless information and you wonder, "Why did they think this was worth forwarding?"  Well, I got the following in an email from my sister (Thanks, Sissy)... and I found TONS of useful information in it! Hope you find it as interesting, too!

You can flip a toaster on its side and grill cheese in it.

Reynolds Wrap has lock in taps to hold the roll in place.

The color on the bread tab indicates how fresh the bread is and those colors are in alphabetical order: b, g, r, w, y.

You can divide and store ground meat in a zip loc bag. Just break off how much you need and keep the rest in the freezer for later. So much easier than dividing and individually wrapping each pound or half pound.

If you place a wooden spoon over a pot of boiling water, it won't boil over.

Marshmallows can cure a sore throat. Perfect for kids who don't like medicine.

Stuffing a dryer sheet in your back pocket will repel mosquitoes.

You can freeze cupcake batter for later use.

You can dye plastic buttons.

You can run a paper bag through your printer.

You can print directly onto fabric.

A dry erase marker can be used on most laminate tops.

You can mail anything that will take a stamp and weighs less than 13ounces without a box.

If you break your blender jar, you can replace it with a mason jar.

Cereal canister make the perfect trash can for your car.

Medicine cabinets are NOT the safest place for medicine.

Place room temperature raw eggs in a cupcake tin and bake at 325 degrees for 30 minutes. Perfect 'hard boiled eggs' every time!

Here are a few more…

Take your bananas apart when you get home from the store. If you leave them connected at the stem, they ripen faster.

Store your opened chunks of cheese in aluminum foil. It will stay fresh much longer and not mold! (But you can scrape off any mold and still eat the cheese without changes in flavor!

Peppers with 3 bumps on the bottom are sweeter and better for eating. Peppers with 4 bumps on the bottom are firmer and stronger flavored.

Add a teaspoon of water when frying ground beef. It will help pull the grease away from the meat while cooking.

To make scrambled eggs or omelets rich add a couple of spoonfuls of sour cream, cream cheese, or heavy cream in and then beat them up.

Add garlic immediately to a recipe if you want a light taste of garlic and at the end of the recipe if you want a stronger taste of garlic.

Reheat leftover pizza in a nonstick skillet on top of the stove, on med-low and heat till warm. This keeps the crust crispy. No soggy micro pizza.

Easy Deviled Eggs: Put cooked egg yolks in a zip lock bag, seal, mash, add remainder of ingredients, keep mashing, mixing thoroughly, cut the tip of the baggy, squeeze mixture into egg. Just throw the bag away!

Expanding Frosting: When you buy a container of cake frosting from the store, whip it with your mixer for a few minutes. You can double it in size. You get to frost more cake/cupcakes for the same price. You also eat less sugar and calories per serving.

Reheating refrigerated bread: To warm biscuits, pancakes, or muffins that were refrigerated, place them in a microwave with a cup of water. The increased moisture will keep the food moist and help it reheat faster.

Newspaper weeds away: Plant your plants in the ground; work the nutrients in your soil. Then wet newspapers, put layers around the plants overlapping as you go, cover with mulch, and forget about weeds. Weeds will get through some gardening plastic they will not get through wet newspapers.

To keep squirrels from eating your plants, sprinkle your plants with cayenne pepper: The cayenne pepper doesn't hurt the plant: squirrels won't come near it.

easy home office improvements

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

It seems that more and more people are choosing to work from their home. I know that a great majority of my design work is now focusing on the redesign of my clients' home offices.

Whether you are self-employed, have the freedom of working from home for a company, or just need a work space to pay the bills and keep up with the home’s paperwork, a few special added touches will create a comfortable and efficient space to make your work day go a little easier.

Here are a few simple updates that I always suggest for improving a work space. These will create a space you'll feel great in and won't mind spending a little extra time in.

Proper Seating

Look for a chair with lower-back support and adjustable height and arm rests so you can sit up straight with your knees level. And lean back now and then: New research says it’s good for you.

A Well-Placed Monitor

Your neck and eyes will thank you if the top of your screen is at eye level and about 18 to 28 inches away from you. To avoid fatigue-inducing glare, don’t park your computer in front of a window.

Room Temperature

Hot office? Cold outside? Or vice versa? Keep a wrap handy so you can stay comfortable.

Soothing Smells

Get the calming effects of aromatherapy at work with a bowl of potpourri, a bouquet of sweet-smelling flowers, a jasmine plant, or a scent diffuser for your office. Flowers can also enhance creativity.

A Pretty Palette

To lower your stress level, work cooler hues, such as aqua or lavender, into your office.

Rest Your Wrists

Prevent carpal tunnel syndrome with a cushioned wrist support (wrists should be in a straight, not bent, position).

Soothing Sounds

Minimize irritating background racket by getting a fan, a sound machine, an iPod, or earplugs to help block it out.

Use Plants

The right plant can add oxygen and humidity to dry office air. Plus the addition of plant life will bring 'life' into any space.

Let in the Light

Natural sunlight can increase the brain’s levels of the calming chemical serotonin and also help suppress the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin.

Channel the Chi

A mini-fountain on your shelf or desk taps into the Chinese practice of feng shui balance; moving water is a symbol of wealth and empowerment.

Task Lighting

Overhead lighting can cause glare and make you look like you pulled an all-nighter. Turn off the overheads and use task lighting.

Phone Improvement

Invest in a headset to avoid neck and shoulder pain from cradling the phone between your shoulder and ear.

A Feel-Good Moment

A special photo of an important person, place, or pet can help make even a bad day tolerable.

are you a bargain hunter? ...and a winner.

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

I love Bargain Hunting... especially at Yard Sales, Flea Markets, Estate Sales, Auctions, even Thrift Stores.... you name it, if there is a deal to be found - I will be there!  When bargain shopping, getting the best deal isn't that difficult, it just takes a little strategy. Here are a few of my favorite tips to help you on your next bargain-hunting adventure.

1. Carry cash.
Even though we live in a society driven by swiping a debit or credit card, when it comes to bargaining, nothing is more powerful than cold, hard cash. So make sure you stop by the ATM before you get to the flea market or garage sale. Not every seller accepts credit cards (some may take a personal check), but everyone willingly accepts cash. 
Carrying cash means you’ll never spend more than you have budgeted. Without the temptation of credit cards, you will only be able to spend the cash you have in your wallet.

2. Do your homework.
Even before you hit the shops, do a little research on the items you're hunting. If you know you want a farm table, look at tables of similar size and style for a pricing guideline. Hit up local antiques and flea markets, or start online with sites such as eBay and Craigslist. Once you have a ballpark number in mind, you’ll know when you are getting a fair price, and even better, when you are getting a real deal. 
Make sure you inspect the item in question. Examine the condition, and use any flaws to your advantage. Pull out the drawers, look at the joints, and hunt for cracks. If you see any flaws, point them out and use them as leverage to lower the asking price.

3. Timing is everything.

Vendors and sellers have taken the time to haul items to antiques shows, flea markets, and even garage sales, and they don’t want to tow them all back home. So if your timing is just right, you might be able to score a deal simply by taking an item off their hands at the end of the day. True, to get the best selection you want to shop early, but if a great price is what you are after, later just might be better.

4. It's all in the delivery.

Initiating the negotiation can be tricky. If an item is marked with a price, you’re ahead of the game. To find out the desired price, try to avoid asking dead-end questions like, “How much is this?” Instead, opt for a more open phrasing such as, “What are you asking for this?” Most importantly, be confident. When you come across as assertive, the seller will take notice. But if you seem unsure and timid, they will without a doubt stick to their asking price.

5. Don’t insult the seller.

Even though you want the item for as little as possible, if you insult the seller by offering a way-too low price, you’ll do more harm than good. A good tactic is to offer about 25% less than the asking price. If the table is marked at $100, then start your bargaining at $75. This is when Tip #2 is extremely helpful. If you know the average asking price for a similar-style item, you’ll make an educated offer, which will most likely be accepted.

AND NOW...
Announcing the randomly picked winner of my very first GIVEAWAY.... Sheila Rambeck.  Congratulations to Sheila, she is the proud winner of our Eiffel Tower Iron Votive Candle Holder. 

As of today, we have surpassed 1000 subscribers on our Youtube Channel. Thank you to everyone for all your love and support - Here's to the next 1000 subscribers!

happy Memorial day

God Bless America and our Troops who keep it Free!

Please enjoy with me this great piece from CBS Sunday Morning on the respect and honor that is being given to our fallen heroes by one American.

sunday in bed

It’s Sunday and everyone deserves a day off.

I present for your enjoyment a snapshot of choosing to be just plain lazy for the day.

Here’s wishing you a restful Sunday.

enjoy your Saturday

window treatments 201

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


Windows not only determine how you look out into the world, they also set the mood for how you feel in a room. Functional, decorative, and architectural elements all play into your choice of fabrics and finishes… and the proper fabric, measurements and hardware are essential to complete a perfect window treatment.
The amount of light and privacy you desire makes a difference when choosing your window treatment fabrics. Think about how the room is used and how you want the sunlight to filter in throughout the day.
VELVET AND SILK work best for rooms in which less light and maximum privacy are preferred. They also preserve heat and block drafts. They drape in lustrous folds with a structured form and will frame a window in softness.
COTTON, CANVAS, AND LINEN provides moderate levels of privacy and light filtration.
VOILE, ORGANDY AND LIGHTWEIGHT SHEERS allow the most light to filter through and are suited to rooms where privacy is not needed. They complement a relaxed atmosphere and add a fresh, free-flowing feel of spaciousness. They also work well layered under a heavier drape to give you additional options for light filtration.
Even the way the drape attaches to the rod plays a part in the overall feel. Tailored pleats and hooks are a great stand-by when hanging drapery… but there are several other options you might want to consider….
A POLE POCKET Drape is one of the most formal options. They have a fabric casing along the top that can be slipped over a rod without the need for hooks or rings.
A RING TOP Drape is less formal than a pole pocket. Rings are sewn directly into the fabric or can be attached with clips. The rod slides through the rings.
A TIE TOP Drape is used for a breezy, casual look. They have fabric ties spaced along the top of the curtain and are then tied directly to a rod or rings.
A TAB TOP Drape is relaxed and understated. They have flat loops (or tabs) that are spaced along the top of the drape and the rod slips through these tabs.
Rods, finials and holdbacks are the finishing touches in hardware for your windows. Wooden hardware gives your window a classic look and pairs well with heavier drapes. Metal hardware is a bit more contemporary. A couple notes about RODS – they’re usually mounted 4" above the window but you can add height to a room by mounting the rod closer to the ceiling.
Now that you’ve chosen the fabric and the hardware, you’re ready to measure your windows for a perfect fit.
When measuring for the width of your window treatments - allow 1-3" on each side of the window for your drapes when they are completely open. Be sure to consider the extra wall space needed for decorative finials, because rod dimensions don’t include this length. For low light-filtration, mount the curtain rod 6" above the trim and allow the rod width to extend 3" beyond the window’s actual width.
When measuring for the desired fullness of your draperies; take the window’s width and multiply it by 1 (for a tailored treatment), by 1.5 (for a standard treatment) or by 3 (for a full treatment). For example, if you want a full, rich look and the window is 70" wide, you’ll need 210" of drapery width (that’s 70" x 3).
When measuring for the length of your draperies, decide whether you want the drape to fall above the window sill, below the window sill or to the floor. And… if you’d like longer drapes that pool on the floor in luxurious folds for added drama, add 6-8'' to the length measurement. 
For more information on measuring and choosing window treatments, click here.
Remember, windows not only determine how you look out into the world, they also set the mood of the room. So the next time you decide to “just hang a set of curtains”, take a little extra time and consider some of these suggestions.