Staging New Hampshire

I have never been a fan of scones, finding them dry and unappealing for the most part.  Last weekend my husband decided to make scones, much to my delight.  NOT.  I wasn't delighted, I was confused...why would anyone want to make scones?

Well he did...and they were fabulous!  I don't know how he does it, but he has the uncanny ability of searching through recipes and combining them to create a great end result.

 BERRY SCONES by Rick

Place stick of butter in freezer for 1/2 - 1 hour prior to starting. 

2 C flour (we used all purpose)

1/4 C sugar

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp salt

1 stick butter (8 TBSP)

3/4 C blueberries

3/4 C strawberries (about 5 berries) cut into small pieces

1 large egg

2/3 C milk (we used unsweetened vanilla almond milk)

1 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.  Use a grater to grate the butter into the flour mixture.  Work butter in, using fingers to create a crumbly mixture.  Add berries.

Whisk together egg, milk and vanilla.  Use a fork to mix milk mixture into flour mixture forming large clumps.  Press dough together and form a ball.

Place dough on a lightly floured surface and form into an 8" circle about 3/4" thick.  Sprinkle lightly with sugar and cinnamon.

Cut circle into 8 triangles and place 1" apart on lightly greased cookie sheet (we used parchment paper).

Bake about 18 minutes.

At a recent home staging consult, I was asked if home buyers really are influenced by the placement of furniture when they look at houses.  

Yes, furniture placement does influence buyers...when they search MLS photos and when they go to a showing.

Something most sellers don't take seriously is the importance of furniture placement.  How your furniture is arranged could be the deciding factor as to whether a potential buyer chooses your house or chooses another house nearby.

Sellers get used to their furniture a certain way based on their lifestyle and needs.  What's convenient and comfortable for the sellers is not usually what's going to be the most appealing to potential buyers.

The arrangement and the amount of furniture in a room can:

• determine how large or small the room looks
• help clearly define the purpose of the room
• highlight positive and minimize negative features of the room

When arranging furniture in preparation for sale, remember...

                   the best arrangement is one that highlights positive features

and clearly defines the space and function of the room. 

Condition of your furniture is also very important to consider.  If it's worn or dated it could create the impression that your house has not been regularly maintained.

OK Already!!  I Surrender!  I got TAGGED by Kathy Streib.  Kathy wasn't alone.

 Pat Haddad and Valerie Sagheddu and Cynthia Bartch and Nancy Conner also tagged me!

I feel so popular!  Or...could it be there is no one else left to tag?

Here's the MeMe Rules (please paste the following paragraph into your post if you are tagged):

"I'd like to know what YOUR Big Hairy Audacious Goal (BHAG) is for 2011. I'd also like to know more about you, and your background, what is it about you that makes this BHAG so important?  What experiences are you bringing with you into 2011 that will make this BHAG work? So I'm asking you to please share 5 or 6 things about yourself, and then tag 5 or 6 more people so we can learn about them too!"

Here goes:

My BHAG for 2011 is to face and conquer fear in order to enjoy life more fully.

I worry.  I am a worrier.  As long as I can remember I've worried about everything and anything.  I have allowed fear to control me. 

Maybe I'm a worrier becauseI died in a fire.

At least this is what I have been told by a psychic.  One of my past lives ended as a result of a fire.  It's pretty interesting...hearing that actually made sense to me. For as long as I can remember, I've had a fear of fire.  When we bought our first house I purchased an escape ladder because our bedroom was on the second floor.  I've always been nervous about leaving Christmas tree lights on and using extension cords for fear of starting a fire.  I've never like the idea of electric blankets...too dangerous.

Maybe I'm a worrier because I was once given only a couple weeks to live.

At the age of two, I was diagnosed with Leukemia and my parents were told they should say their goodbyes and make arrangements for my death.  Turns out it was a mistake...oops!  I can't imagine the pain my parents suffered as a result of such a "mistake." 

Maybe I'm a worrier simply because anxiety runs rampant in my family.  I really never stood a chance. 

I've come a long way over the last couple years.  Starting and building my home staging business was the most frightening thing I've ever done.  It still remains a challenge...constantly having to leave my comfort zone. 

Getting on the back of a Harley was a big milestone for me.  My family and friends never thought they would see that day.  I am so glad I faced that fear because it was the beginning of a whole new chapter in my life. 

This year I want to spend less time worrying and more time laughing and enjoying quality time with those I love. 

 Now...for the "know more about you" part of the assignment:

My family is my life.  I was very lucky to spend 10 years as a stay-at-home mom and now I am very lucky to be caring for my two grandsons three days a week.

One of my greatest thrills was being asked to join a Murder Mystery cast.  I have only performed a couple of times, but I eagerly await the next opportunity.  So much fun!

I believe dairy is poison.  Don't misunderstand...I have the occasional ice cream.  I eat some cheese and products with dairy in them now and then.  That said...humans were not meant to consume cow's milk.  I do NOT believe dairy does a body good.

I have a really small comfort zone.  I am usually either "freezing" or miserably hot.  It is so hard to make me happy when it comes to temperature. 

My vacation of choice is a cruise.

I have recently discovered Tosh.0 on Comedy Central and I'm a huge fan.  Daniel Tosh's show is irreverent, shocking, disturbing, racist, sometimes disgusting.... and yet,  I just can't get enough.   

My greatest wish would be to sing or dance.  There is no chance of that happening.  The singing and dancing gene went missing.  My brother and I used to lip sync to records using hair brushes as microphones while doing a simple box step.  Ironically, our favorite song was "Wedding Bell Blues" (won't you marry me Bill).  Today my brother is married to a man named Bill. 

Anyways...back to me...there is something emotional that is triggered when I watch someone perform, there is such a desire there that I have to wonder....before I died in that fire, was I a performer?

Now the really fun part...Who do I TAG to tell us more about them?

  John McCarthy, Judy Jennings, Steve Loynd, Julia Maher, and Diana Young

My Portsmouth, New Hampshire home staging consult's house was featured this morning on the Today Show.

I just received a call from one of my favorite Realtors, Marion Barron, informing me that one of her listings was featured in Barbara Corcoran's Today Show segment "5 Great Homes Around U.S. For Less Than $400K".

Marion had recently hired me for a home staging consult for this property so I was very excited to hear it's getting such great exposure. 

Marion has already received calls today, and has at least one showing scheduled because of the mention on TV.  She has no idea how the property was chosen and had no prior knowledge it had been chosen.  It was a great surprise!

 See Listing

For more information on this beautiful Portsmouth, NH home call Marion Barron at

 Tate & Foss Sotheby's International Realty

603.964.8028

Todd Bieber, a NY filmmaker, recently found a canister of film in the snow in Brooklyn's Prospect Park.  He developed the 35 mm, black and white film which contained some great pictures of the recent blizzard. 

Todd has made a YouTube video in an attempt to find the photographer who shot the pictures.

It's a great story, like an old time mystery....who are the people in the pictures and will Todd find them?

ABC News has run the story, as well as The Huffington Post and the NY Examiner. 

Todd claims it's for real, but there are skeptics who believe this to be a hoax.  Todd Bieber does have experience with making viral videos.

I would like to believe Todd is telling the truth and I hope his video gets enough attention to reunite the lost pictures with their photographer.

If this is a publicity stunt...I give Todd credit for his creativity and hope it gets him the attention he wants and deserves. 

Either way....well done, Todd Bieber!

Take a minute to visit Bournival Group on facebook and click "LIKE" before January 31 and you will help the animals at Cocheco Valley Humane Society in Dover, New Hampshire.

In memory of Dick Bournival

for every person who "likes" Bournival Group between now and January 31st, Alissa Bournival will donate $1.00 to Cocheco Valley Humane Society!

 Cocheco Valley Humane Society

Promoting the humane treatment of animals and strengthening the human-animal bond

Losing weight is typically the number one New Years resolution and getting fit and eating healthier are usually in the top ten.  This year, instead of torturing yourself on some deprivation diet for a short period of time and then feeling guilty when you fail, opt for a lifestyle change. 

 Make better choices and you will change your life. 

Eating healthier simply means cutting out processed foods.  I know it's not really "simple" but it will change your life.  You don't have to give up everything at once...BABY STEPS! 

Whenever possible buy fresh instead of packaged.  (extra credit for Organic)

Choose water or unsweetened iced tea instead of soda. 

Choose fresh fruit or nuts for snacking.

Eating healthier will make you feel healthier...not only will you lose weight, you will sleep better and have more energy.

Here are some of my favorite "healthy" recipes to get you started: 

Breakfast Smoothie

Oatmeal Apple Muffins

Homemade Pizza

Turkey Meatball Soup

Ginger Turkey Stir Fry

Chicken and Olives

Baked Haddock with Almonds

I intended to post this photo Wordless, but I can't do it.  There is just too much to say about it...

I am sure my cousin and I were wearing bikinis while painting the house because we wanted to get some sun...but what was my thought process on adding the June Cleaver apron?

With all that debris on the ground, I have to question our choice to go barefoot.

What is the chair for?

Lets talk about my brother.  Which is worse...the dress shirt with a bathing suit or the black socks with the sneakers?  Or how about...the dress shirt and black socks with the bathing suit and sneakers?  It's like he couldn't decide whether to go to church or to the beach.

Those legs next to my brother belong to my mother...obviously the foreman on this job...although my brother's body language says he believes to be in a position of authority.  Why are neither of them working?

Interesting that  only the females are barefoot.

Just noticed we are standing in the shade...there goes my explanation for wearing the bikinis. 

Have I missed anything?  What do you find most interesting about this photo?

Why should I remove all personal photos when preparing my house for sale?

The following post written by Janice Ankrett answers the question many sellers ask when advised by a home stager to remove family photos.  Thanks Janice for the perfect follow up to my most recent post, "What Can I Do To Prepare For A Home Staging Consult?"