Being Myself

When I go on a first meeting with a new design client I am always nerveous. With so many shows on TV that have Interior Designers on them you are not quite sure what someone is expecting. For me I have to be who I am and just be myself. This week I had an incredible first meeting with a potential new client. They welcomed me into their home and made me feel very comfortable. By being myself it was not only a great meeting but I got the project and left their home with a handful of gifts from where they work. This was very unusual for me and a first. You know you have made a connection when you leave a person's home feeling like part of the family.

Olympic Spirit

I love the Olympics winter, summer I don't care. Now I can't say I watch every sport (thank God for DVR's) but the one thing I try not to miss is the Opening Ceremonies. This is not where you only see but feel the true Olympic Spirit. When those athletics come out on the field not only representing their Country but the pride of being the best in their sport you can't help but be overwhelmed by some kind of feeling. This past Friday was even more emotional as we found out one of the Luge competitors from the Country of Georgia lost his life in a practice run. My heart goes out to his mother, family and fellow Countrymen. God Bless

Staying Motivated

Even with the hope of a New Year it isn't easy to stay motivated. This week I lost a very big design project, they gave it to the contractors designer. Wow what a surprise that was when I didn't even know the contractor had a designer bidding for the job. It is not necessarily about your ideas or how well you connected with the client but it is about who you know, that is just the cold hard truth.

So you pick yourself up dust yourself off and move on to the next potential client. For me it is not trying to figure out what I did wrong which is always my first thought, but it is about how I can stay motivated.

A few of the things I do is stay current with new design materials, styles and trends. Anytime I can attend seminars on information or education in the design industry it is important to me to fit that into my already busy schedule. I show up to my weekly networking groups it is an opportunity to build those relationships, remember it is not what you know but who you know.

I find new way's to better myself as a person, by doing at least one charity project. giving back is very important you will find the more you give the more you get back.

Any questions or comments please feel free to contact me at valeriepugliese@yahoo.com

Growing Old

Last week I received a call from my cousin who was looking for my mom and thought she was with me. Of course she was not because I live here in Simi Valley California and she lives in Sutherlin Oregon. I had to call a neighbor and ask them to go over and see if my mom was in her home. Let me tell you that was the longest 10 minutes of my life. I had to hope for the best but get ready for the worst which of course would have been finding my mom dead in her home. Why because she lives alone with no family near her. Her sister died this past summer which left her completely by herself. Under normal circumstances that would be fine except that she has MDD (macular degenerate disease) which means she is disabled and does not see very well. She is very independent as far as that goes. She just needs someone to check on her and take her shopping.
But now that has all changed and she was not found dead on the floor in her home she had called 911 and was taken to the hospital. She had a severe case of pancreatitis and now we are working on getting her strong enough to come live with us. The point of all this is that there comes a time in all of our lives that we need help. It is not always when we are young and struggling with money or a place to live. Sometimes it is when we find out that we are just too old to take care of all the things we use to do. It is an honor and a prievledge to be able to help my mom at this time as there have been so many times in my life that she has helped me without question.
So if you get the opportunity to help out someone who is ageing please remember all the times they were there for you. You must treat them with respect and dignity for they might be stubborn and hard to deal with but they are so worth it.

DYI wallpapering should I? or shouldn't I?

DYI wallpapering should I? Or shouldn’t I?
So you want to do something different in your home then just paint. Great wallpaper can be used to transform a room with color, pattern and texture. Wallpaper can also be the best solution for disguising less than perfect walls. Wall papers are available in a wide variety of designs, patterns and styles. The material can also vary such as vinyl, paper, fabric etc.
The most important steps you need to learn are how to prepare a wall, estimate materials, and how to hang paper. Installing wallpaper is far from an easy task. But if you follow some do’s & don’ts on how to hang wallpaper, you can ensure your wallpapering job will come out looking good.
Do: 1. Assess the state of the walls you want to wallpaper before doing it. Are they smooth and flat? Or do they need a little work before hanging wallpaper?2. Do remove the old wallpaper first, fill in with polyfiller any nail holes you have from hanging pictures or photographs.3. Do use drop cloths over your furniture, pack knick knacks away so they don't get broken in the process.4. Do buy pre-pasted wallpaper. It’s a lot easier to install, just needs wetting.5. If your walls are rough or uneven choose a thick wallpaper to cover this.
Don'ts:1. if you’re a first time wallpapered do not choose a difficult pattern to match.2. Don't buy dark wallpaper if it’s for a small room, it will just make the room look smaller.3. Don't forget to buy the proper wallpapering tools; a scraper, a wallpaper pan to wet the wallpaper, a sharp utility knife for trimming edges and a step ladder.
Now if all of this sounds like more work then you wanted to do please seek professional help. We all remember what happened to Lucy & Ethel when they wallpapered themselves.

Rembering 9/11/2001

Remembering 9/11

I know on this anniversary we must remember where we were and how far we have come. I will never forget the morning of September 11, 2001 and I am sure neither will you. I remember waking up to Mark & Brian and thinking it was one of their skits on the radio. Wondering why would they being doing that? It was only moments later that the phone rang and someone on the other line was saying to me have you seen it have you seen what is happening in New York?

My first reaction was shock and not being able to take my eyes of the T.V and then the second one came and the third and all I could think is oh my God what is happening how can this be. We are supposed to be safe after all this is America it happens in other countries but not ours not the United States of America.

For weeks maybe even months I was very scared I was afraid that they would hit Los Angeles next I mean if they could hit a big city like New York we were definitely next. But thank God it never came and now we are here September 11, 2009 8 years later. As I read the news paper or see headlines on the internet I am very moved by the people of this country and there acts of kindness and compassion. Here are just a few of them that took place today

Volunteers marked 9/11 Friday by tilling gardens, writing letters to soldiers, setting out flags — and, at ground zero, by joining the somber ritual of reading the names of the lost.

We honor all those who gave their lives so that others might live, and all the survivors who battled burns and wounds and helped each other rebuild their lives," Obama said. He said the day was meant also as a tribute to the "service of a new generation."

Across the country, Americans marked the anniversary with service projects.
At a plaza adjacent to the World Trade Center site, volunteers — from soup kitchens, advocacy groups, the Red Cross, the United Way — joined relatives of the lost to read the names of those killed in the twin towers.

Moments of silence were observed at 8:46, 9:03, 9:59 and 10:29 a.m. — the precise times that jetliners struck the north and south towers of the trade center and that each tower fell.

The memorial, to be partially complete by the 10th anniversary in 2011, will ultimately include two square pools evoking the towers' footprints, with victims' names surrounding them and waterfalls cascading down the sides.

These are just a few of the many ways people of this country paid tribute to other people of this country that gave their lives 8 years ago.
Do you remember where you were and what you were doing on 9/11/01?

This weeks Color is BLUE

Blue Is the color of consistency and truth it can slow the perception of time. It can create a calming effect and even cool down the body temperature.

Navy is a great color to use in business. That is probably why so many people choose a blue suit for job interviews. Interiors done in blue will be pleasing and tranquil by using blue paint on walls you can make a room feel distant and receding.

SHADES & TINTS
Bright Blue - Electric, energetic, vibrant, happy, dramatic
Navy - Credible, authoritative, basic, classic, conservative, strong, dependable, confident, professional

Turquoise - Ocean, tropical, jewelry
Aqua - Cool, fresh, liquid, ocean, refreshing, healing
Light Blue - Calm, quiet, peaceful, cool, water, clean
Sky Blue - Calming, cool, heavenly, constant, faithful, true, dependable, happy, restful, tranquil
Teal Blue - Pleasing, rich, classy, expensive, unique