WHAT IS IT?

Can you guess that this is?

I know a lot of you can figure it out now...

Here's another picture that might help.

These are used strings off a dulcimer. I thought they would make cool jewelry. I showed a friend of mine one of my bracelets, and she liked it so much, she bought it. :)  I have all kinds of fun ideas for other jewelry pieces.

HAS HGTV MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SELL A HOUSE?

Ok, ya'll, I'd really like to hear some feedback on this one...

As many of you know, we are--yet again--selling our house. This will make the our 7th house we have sold. Our first house in Nashville, sold quickly. It was a starter home and the market was pretty decent. Our next home in Wilmington, NC sold within days...like the first person who came, bought it. She called it her "dream home." Our next home in Arkansas, went really fast too. Again, the first person came, looked, and paid us CASH. He couldn't get us out of there quick enough. We wound up spending six weeks in a motel until we were able to find our next home in Indiana. 

I loved our home in Indiana. It was perfect for our family of four little stair steps. We even had a nice pool with a deck around it. So many fun memories in that pool and in that home. When my husband lost his job, we found ourselves returning to the South Arkansas/North Louisiana area. Even though he was returning to his old job in Arkansas, we decided to live in Louisiana. We did not wait around to sell the Indiana house, since his new company bought it. I did hear, they had to get rid of the pool and deck area. I guess there aren't too many in North Indiana that want a pool.

Ok, so this brings me to our last two houses. We have such difficulty with selling them, and I believe it has something to do with not just the economy but HGTV. Now, don't get me wrong, I love that channel. It's my go to station, and I find myself there more than any other station. My issue with it is....they make it so hard to sell a house.

I believe that because people have seen so many episodes of...."EWWW, it doesn't have granite counter tops," or "POP CORN CEILINGS!!!!! That's sooooo dated."  Then you hear, " Wow! a 1950's house, how vintage!" Well, how the heck do you think that old house became vintage? Is it dated or vintage? Really!?

Anyway, we just had what I thought was a very successful open house. The weather has been so bad lately, I didn't think anyone would show up. We had seven! Both my Realtor and I were very pleased.  Well, that was the good news, now the bad, they did not like my decor. Yes, they were too fixated on my pictures. My Realtor worked so hard and did such a great job with the adds and all, and then she's told I need to take down all the pictures. Come on, people you are not buying my pictures, you are buying my house.

Now let me make it clear, the pictures they are talking about are not family photos, they are art. And...the art is not funky. Most are beach scenes, or boats in harbor scenes. You see, I grew up in Florida, and I like to decorate my house so I can feel as if home is not too far away. 

I had a similar issue in Louisiana. I would have people come in and comment on my pool table I had in the family area. They could not picture their stuff in that area. Then we took the pool table down, and we'd get, "Oh, they don't have a sectional...not sure we could have our sectional there." It was PLENTY big enough area for a sectional. Then I had the same issue with the pictures. I didn't have enough fleur de lis, I guess. Then when I took them down, someone actually had the gal to say, and get this...."There's no....fru fru? Where's the fru fru?" I'm not lying. My then Realtor and I just laughed...you had too. Fru Fru? what the heck is that anyway? lol

There was plenty of room for a sectional.

I would like to hear what you think about this. Have any of you had similar situations...selling or buying? I've looked at AAAA LOOOOOTTTT of houses in my day, and I have seen it all! I try to not pay attention people's taste. It may not be mine, but there is nothing wrong with their taste, unless there is a naked person in a picture or something, which I have not yet come upon...thank goodness. If everyone had the same tastes it would be a very boring world.

Do you have problems seeing your stuff in a house you are looking to buy? Would it bug you if you went into a house with decorations that depicted the Southwest, and your taste was tropical? Please share your ideas, experiences, etc.

Thank you..... 

Bad Weather = No Lookers

This is why no one has come to see our house. Been socked in for weeks. Looks like the kids will be going to school into July...or longer...

We are scheduled to have an open house Sunday, but not sure that's going to happen...

Sunday, we got over 3 inches of snow, then ice and freezing rain.

NO BODY is getting out in this stuff.

And this type weather has been going on since the first of the year.

EARLY MORNING SEMINARY/CHRISTMAS

 Each morning before school starts, I have a wonderful opportunity to study scriptures with a group of high school students. Yep that's right every Monday through Friday morning, from 6:30 to 7:30 A.M. we meet.

I wanted to do something special for the kids for Christmas, so we met at my house and I made them some of these French Breakfast Puffs. My grandmother and my mom use to make these...the are the BEST!!!!

I also gave them a Thirty One Gifts tote that I sell. I made some goodies to put inside and decorated them with a little ornament. 

After our lesson, everyone munched down on the muffins and headed to school. It was a nice way to start the morning.

THIRTY ONE AND MARDI GRAS

I'm getting ready to host another Thirty One Gift party Saturday. A lot of fun prints and colors have come out for Spring and I know a lot of people are excited about them.

Coral is one of the fun, bright colors. This Vary You Mini Crossbody is one of the new products they have. 

I used this on my last plane trip, and it came in very handy.

They also brought back some old favorites like the Easy Breezy Tote (not in this fabric). This is the first bag I bought from Thirty One and it has been my gym/pool/beach bag. 

For those of you who are local, I hope to see you at my house Saturday Morning (February 8 at 10:00 a.m.); and those of you who can't come, you can still order at mythirtyone.com/terryjeanettecarter.

Oh, and by the way, we will be having our Thirty One party....

Mardi Gras style...

hope to see ya there.

FYI the special this month is a new bag...the Zipper Organizing Utility tote. Makes a great bag for a lot of things from a diaper bag to a craft bag, to a mobile office, etc. You are only limited by your imagination. Oh, and personalization is only $5 this month!

WILL YOU BE MY TWEETHEART?

So what did I do all day on New Years while the boys went snow skiing?

Crafted alllll daaaay!!!

It was so fun!

I have a friend in Idaho that I've know since my Arkansas days. Her sister manages a wood craft store. We had the place all to ourselves.

When I first saw these birds, I thought they were fish, that is until I really looked close. Clearly, they are birds.

I added my own little twist to them. I put the boy bird in a Hawaiian shirt; they are a tropical couple.

EGG IN A HOLE + AVOCADO

Have you ever heard of egg in a hole?

Egg in a hole is a common occurrence in our house.

They are easy to make, delicious...AND good for you!

I had one for lunch and added some avocado on top.

YUMMY!!!!!

Here is how to do it...

1. Take a slice of bread and tear a hole out in the middle.

2. Lightly oil your frying pan and place your bread into it.

3.  Crack an egg open dump it into the hole.

(some of it will run into the hole, and some over the bread)

4. Cook for a couple minutes, depending on how done you want your egg, and flip. 

I like my yoke runny and white done. I salt and pepper and enjoy. You could add cheese, or tomato, or whatever floats your boat...

or not...