Leslie Sinclair's Blog, page 10

Activities and Recipes for the Young and Young at Heart

Hi Friends! We hope you’re all taking care of yourselves and your families and enjoying some new activities together! With no school and practicing social distancing, activities to keep everyone occupied and engaged are so important so we thought we would share some activities our staff has enjoyed to handle the challenge!

Segreto Designer, Leslie Simmons, has been coming up with all kinds of activities to do with her kids, Carter and Brynn. So Grab your aprons and plastic table clothes and let’s see what they’ve been up to. Marbleized paper was a big hit at her household!

You will need:

Trays – a cookie sheet will work Shaving CreamFood coloringWhite paper Stick or something to stir with

Fill your tray with Shaving Cream.

Add drops of the first food coloring that you want to use scattered throughout, then add the second color, and so on. Try it out with 2 colors first and then you can add new colors for your next batches. This is a great way to teach kids the color wheel! What makes orange? Red and Yellow! How do you make pink? etc. I love this activity!

Use your stir stick to create the marbled effect then place your paper on top. Press it into the shaving cream.

Take the paper off and scrape off the shaving cream with dry paper towels and Voila! You have a marbled paper! If you like the colors in your tray, you can keep using the same shaving cream mix and continue adding food coloring. If you want to try a whole new color story, you can rinse out the tray and add a fresh layer of shaving cream before trying new colors.

Carter even used the extra shaving cream to practice some ABC’s on the windows! Leslie knows how to make learning fun!

Next, this classic fruit stamping craft can create really interesting artwork and can teach your child about symmetry in nature. Depending on the direction that you cut the fruit, the pattern will be different. Look how cool this lime works as a stamp!

You will need:

Fruit and/or vegetable Different colors of paintPaper or surface to stamp

You could try other fruits and veggies too. Maybe half an apple? Roll an ear of corn in some paint? Use whatever produce you have to spare!

Simply dip the fruit into the paint that you want to use and then press it on the surface you want to stamp.  

Thanks for sharing, Leslie and Carter! What fun crafts to experiment with! There are so many possibilities on what you could do with these techniques at any age.

These techniques don’t have to be for the little ones. Kirby and I had so much fun creating pieces for her apartment. Same concept different look! It all is about your color combinations.

Learn how to recreate our project step by step on this “DIY -Create Your Own Framed Art Pieces! “ blog! Choose colors that complement your décor and they will make the perfect abstract accent pieces.

All this crafting makes us hungry! Another activity that we’ve been doing a lot more of is – cooking at home! These yummy and healthy breakfast cookies are so easy and a perfect recipe to share with your little cooks! The best thing is you really only need 2 ingredients. Cooking is the best way to teach measuring, and counting if you count while you are stirring. You can improvise and play with flavors by adding in different toppings and spices.

I kept it simple for my first batch and just used the banana and oat mixture with some chocolate chips. They were really good but I wanted to make them a little more special. Before I baked the second batch, I added a 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla and a few shakes of cinnamon. YUM! Everyone in the family loved them! The texture is more like a soft, chewy cookie. I think next time I’m going to add some flax seeds or dried cranberries, too! 

Ingredients:

1 large over ripe banana *makes about 8 cookies1 cup of rolled oats or quick oats ( I used Trader Joes Rolled Oats)



Optional Add ins: Here are a few ideas but you can be creative here!1/2 c. Chocolate chips, ½ tsp. Vanilla, ¼ tsp. Cinnamon  Add-In Ideas: Nuts, Cranberries, raisins or other dried fruits, Chia or flax seeds, Coconut flakes, Cacao nibs, Peanut butter chips, M&Ms

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or spray with non stick cooking spray Measure out the rolled or quick oats and use a blender or food processor to grind them down a bit so they are closer to a flour like texture. It does not have to be perfectly ground up! Mix the banana(s) with the oats with a fork or spoon until they are evenly mixed. Then add in whatever extra add ins or flavors you want to try. Spoon round balls of batter onto the baking sheet about 2 inches apart and use your spoon or spatula to flatten them out a bit. They will not spread during baking, so make sure they are roughly the shape and thickness that you want them to be. Bake for about 15 minutes or until the cookies are lightly brown and set.

Let them cool and enjoy!

Delicious with a morning cup of coffee or as a healthy afternoon treat!

Our other favorite comfort food is PIZZA! These little Zuchinni pizza bites are a tasty and healthy alternative that satisfy that junk food craving. They are also the perfect – non recipe- recipe that the kids can help with and have fun eating! You can cut up some mini toppings or just go for a classic cheese pizza bite.

Ingredients: 

Zucchini (1 large zucchini makes about 10 bites) Tomato sauce – any will work, I like MarinaraShredded Mozzarella cheeseOlive oilSalt and pepper Optional toppings- Oregano, Crushed Red Pepper, Pepperoni, veggies

Directions: 

Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit

Spray cookie sheet with nonstick spray

Cut zucchini into slices about 1/4  inch thick.

Put the zucchini slices onto the cookie tray and add salt and pepper and
oregano to taste. Drizzle a tiny bit of olive oil and then mix the zucchini up
to spread the oil around to lightly coat the zucchini 

Spoon a little tomato sauce onto each zucchini and then follow with a little
shredded mozzarella

Add toppings if desired

Bake for about 10 minutes or until the cheese is bubbling and starts to
brown. 

It is so heartwarming to see people coming up with creative ways to reach out to their communities! My sweet mom and her friends at the Village of Tanglewood had an “al fresco” concert where they were able to social distance while having some much needed fun! You can watch the video from ABC 13 here! She says she has been trying all kinds of activities and is even trying out adult coloring books! We’ve been running across a lot of really cool free coloring pages like these from the MET museum and these from New Orleans artist, Ashley Longshore. Need some more ideas for creative activities? There are so many amazing resources including The Houston Center for Contemporary Craft which is posting new craft activities 3 times per week on their website here.

Feeling inspired to do some home improvement projects? There are so many things that can be updated by just changing the colors or updating a finish a little bit. I love to change my house and you can see previous versions of the above picture in this blog. Or take a look at a few of our other before and after blogs, like this one  about a home that was got a whole new look just through new colors and finishes or this one where we updated a few furniture pieces or this recent blog which featured a complete design change with only finishes and no construction and then give our designers a call! We would love to help you bring your vision of home to life!

Stay safe! Till next time! XO Leslie

The post Activities and Recipes for the Young and Young at Heart appeared first on Segreto Finishes.

Small Tweaks make big Changes!

HI Friends! I hope you had a wonderful Mother’s Day! We do a lot of full homes, as well as so many small tweaks which make a big impact. Today I have a few to share.

Moving towards the contemporary, this homeowners wanted to transform the look of her SegretoStone tabletop which originally was set on a traditional iron base. We created a fluted cylinder also out of SegretoStone, which took this table from old world to modern chic.

This beautiful home designed by Burgess Loh Interiors, Inc. is full of unique details which called for subtle enhancements. By softly enhancing the dental molding in this two story entry with deep blues and silver Metallic, the entrance was given importance with colors weaved throughout the home.

The study off the entrance has interesting wainscoting. To pull in the metallic in the silk wallcovering its details was embellished with a silver paint infused with real metal enhancing the geometric pattern.

Already furniture quality, the gold leafing on the faces of the geometric shelves brought this piece to a whole different level.

The butlers pantry with it’s dramatic glass tiles still felt a bit flat. By silver leafing and layering gold on the bead of the cabinetry, the tiles and mixed brass metal of the hardware came to life! Just a little dab will do!

Painting the walls, Jennifer wanted to embellish the barrel vault in the master bath. In instances with no crown, coming in from the edge and painting a line detail to contain the finish lends a finished detail to this beautiful metallic cloud ceiling.

The cool tones of the plaster in this master bedroom designed by Benjamin Johnston Design, lends warmth to a contemporary décor. Select rooms in your home you want to add a particular feeling to and give those walls their own special flair.

This frame was raw wood to start. By painting it black and doing a graphic stencil will give this mirror frame an entirely different look and change a traditional entry to a transitional on or contemporary feel.

I love mixing periods. This design is contemporary but the finish is aged to a worn look. This will allow the piece to lend softness to a contemporary room or a more modern pop to a traditional space.

This light fixtures will go in a restaurant. Starting as plastic, we are plastering over it giving it a whole different perspective!

Super cool, this is done with a texture finish which can be varied depending on the look you are wanting.

Different colors, different texture, different feel.

Imagine this chair in its original state- stained dark!! By stripping and bleaching it this chair is brought current. Replace the seat cushion to a modern fabric and you will have a whole new look!

What do you have a your home that you could tweak, taking some from like to LOVE! I hope you have a wonderful week! Distance, wear a mask when close, wash your hands, disinfect and don’t touch your face. Let’s keep us all safe! Till next week! XO Leslie

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Picnic On The Green! A Spotlight on Following Your Dreams!

Hi Friends! I have been thinking about all of y’all from all over the world and wishing you safety and peace! With Texas opening up, my entire team is back. We are altering office hours and everyone is wearing masks and goggles to stay safe!! We are so blessed to be able to work and social distance. Last weekend I was so excited to see my two girls and son-in-law-to-be for the first time in weeks!! Wanting to give them a big hug, I contained myself and stayed 6 ft. from them. With Mother’s Day approaching and small businesses struggling I thought it might be fun to spotlight how this smart Mom turned her passion into a business.

Meet Carrie Roper in her own kitchen. With over 20 years of experience in Human Resources, she has a gift of motivating others by engaging employees to become successful, productive and profitable members of organizations. She started her own company Pathfinder HR Solutions to support small to mid-size firms with policy/procedure development, employee engagement strategies, benefits, development and administration, hiring, compensation, and performance management programs. That is how I met Carrie-she helps Segreto with all of these ever changing issues!! With a kind heart, Carrie also started a community ministry (Employment Assistance Ministry: jobministry.org) to help job seekers identify their gifts, passions, and true talents in order to find and maintain meaningful long-term employment. While helping others to discover their true passions, she realized she was not fully pursuing her own AND DECIDED TO FOLLOW HER OWN ADVICE!

Carrie will say “Don’t get me wrong, I love my HR business, I just always have been passionate about food.” Maybe it started with her first word, “chicken,” because she loved her Mom’s fried chicken so much! Carrie is no stranger to the kitchen. In high school she worked at Baskin Robbins, then served up espresso & cappuccino at Gloria Jeans (pre-Starbucks days), then rolled out cinnamon rolls with her stepmother’s home-based bakery business, Sheila Partin’s Sweet Sourdough (now a local, state-wide, and national favorite of restaurants). While other kids were going to the mall, Carrie orchestrated a Supper Club for her friends and her favorite book of choice has always been a cookbook! So, in early 2017 with the help and encouragement from friends and family members, Picnic on the Green – Mobile Café was launched. The logo sets the tone of her offerings, American and European food fresh from market and served al fresco (outdoors) “It has proven to be the most difficult work of my life – both physically and mentally, but absolutely an exciting and rewarding adventure!” Says Carrie.

Focusing on events where food options are limited, especially healthy ones, Picnic on the Green began attending antique, décor and art shows where vendors and patrons welcomed fresh and homemade menu items, like Artichoke Chicken Salad, Beef Tenderloin Lettuce Wraps, Greek Pasta Salad, Jalapeño Corn Chowder, and all-natural fruit & herb snow cones.  YUM!!!

While attending Abilene Christian University, Carrie worked for Cypress Street Station which was the first (and only) fine dining restaurant in that part of the state. The owner hired 2 chefs, a husband and wife team that were graduates of the Culinary Institute of America – Hyde Park, NY. She learned new bread making techniques, how to make French tortes, custards, creams, sauces, sponge cakes, mousses, bombes, and many other European and American pastries.

Carrie wanted to create an opportunity to share her love of cooking and business with family and friends. While Carrie leads all cooking and creative efforts, her husband Josh and neighbor John take care of the maintenance. Kids, Grace and Henry, often help on the truck during busy events. Her close friends Priscilla and Vilma, have also been key to the success of the business.

Catering special events in the area proved to be another great market for serving traditional favorites with a twist such as: smoked salmon pate, roasted shrimp with jalapeño cocktail sauce, southwest chicken sliders, candied bacon bites, and an assortment of cakes and pastries – Kahlua Cream Cake being one of the most popular

Packaging has become just as important to her as the food it houses. You know how I love setting a table and I think the presentation allows you to take a breath and really enjoy the anticipation of the delicious food ahead. It makes everything a bit more special! After seeing these, closed and ……..

…………………open, I asked Carrie if she would deliver something sweet as a thank you to our accounting firm who was instrumental in helping us get the small business PPP loan.

With no guidance, look what she came up with. She even signed all the thank you notes from Segreto in handwriting much prettier than my own!

With three different flavors of cheesecake, everyone was thrilled!!!

So, Carrie, what lessons have you learned that would you share with others in their own business ventures?

“My advice to anyone starting a new business is to find a mentor or someone in the business that is willing to share their experiences with you. And, if possible, either work or volunteer in a similar business to obtain first-hand knowledge and exposure to determine whether or not it is a potential success story for you. Often, I’ve invited potential food truck entrepreneurs to work along-side us on the truck. For some, there is a quick realization that it is not fit. For others, it is validation of their true passion – working incredibly hard, preparing delicious food, and making customers happy. “

“Another lesson learned, not only with Picnic on the Green, but throughout my career, is that building a great team is vital to the success of the organization. Chemistry, honest recognition + balance of talents, and candid/thoughtful communication have been the building blocks of our team. We work super hard, but we also have a great time. The moment it is not fun any longer, is the moment we realize we need to change things up. “

“What I’ve learned is that you cannot ask too many questions, nor plan/prep enough, nor make enough friends that are in your industry to share experiences, lessons learned, successes…and a few laughs! And sometimes, as hard as it may be, you have to decline business that does not make sense to take on.“

“Creating something from nothing and receiving a positive response has been extremely rewarding. Meeting people and making new friends across Houston, surrounding areas, and the Hill Country has been even more rewarding. And, if my experience has helped or encouraged someone out there with a passion for food and serving others, that would be the most rewarding of all! “

Right before the Pandemic happened Carrie had set up a permanent location at Kuhl Linscomb here in Houston.I went there on Saturday!! For Mother’s Day they are announcing a new collaboration with the oh-so-chic-home store. Fun, functional, and delicious Picnic Packs! These baskets are filled with Picnic on the Green delectables and beautifully accented with pieces from Kuhl Linscomb’s tabletop collections.

Simply food is super special as well. They all look so Yummy!! Breakfast in a basket Mom? I’m in!

Carrie even has the basket for those Mom’s who would love pouring over beautiful homes while they sip their coffee or perhaps a glass of wine!! Or to order just the books go here and we will ship them right out. All baskets are customized and available for pick-up or delivery. To order call (713-582-5052) or email (carrie@picniconthegreen.cafe) They have had such a great response that these unique gifts they are now offering for any occasion. Support a local small business or two or three and give such a special homemade gift made with love. Carrie you are brilliant!

He is another creative friend of mine. Another, great Mom and author of Design Chic is coming out with her 6th book and just in time to add to that Mother’s Day basket! The book launched last week and If you’re looking for an upbeat read this is what Publisher’s Weekly said, “Harvey’s optimistic tale just might convince readers that bouncing back can actually land a person in a better place than where they started.” GOSH WE NEED THAT MESSAGE RIGHT NOW. I have read and love all of her books- fun inspiring and warm, I am right in the middle now of this page turner. To order go here.

From “the next major voice in Southern fiction” (Elin Hilderbrand) and the bestselling author of the Peachtree Bluff series comes an odd-couple tale of friendship that asks just how much our past choices define our happiness.

I hope you have all enjoyed meeting two of my favorite gal pals, both of which have followed their passions and built a career from something they love all while raising families!!

Happy Mother’s Day to All! I look forward to next week! Xo Leslie

The post Picnic On The Green! A Spotlight on Following Your Dreams! appeared first on Segreto Finishes.

From Traditional Mediterranean to Casual Elegance – Luxe Maison

HI Friends! I hope you are ready to walk into our new normal with a skip in your step! Andrea, one of our talented Segreto designers, completed a facelift makeover of a traditional Mediterranean home into a lighter and brighter elegant version with the talented duo, Monica Simpson and Alma Jane Aucoin, of Luxe Maison. She was so excited about the incredible transformation, she thought we all might like to take a tour.

Antique mirror from Boxwood Interiors

Specializing in creating chic, sophisticated spaces with a casual elegance, Monica and Janie work with each of their clients to tailor spaces that are both beautiful and functional for their lifestyles. The wonderful clients living in this home were ready for a big change! They wanted to move away from the traditional, darker Mediterranean color scheme to a more transitional and light space with minimal construction work.
Above is a sneak peek of the foyer. Let’s take the full tour!

Before:The original foyer had many different elements which stopped your eye including the stained wood, red dome and contrasting colors on the walls and ceilings. Collaborating with Monica and Janie, we came up with a finish scheme to simplify and create elegance while being mindful of the client’s budget priorities. 

And After! To open the space, the walls were plastered in a soft neutral color and the woodwork painted to blend and eliminate the sharp contrasting tones which stopped your eye.

Monica and Janie wanted a chic, dramatic statement in the entrance that says “you’ve arrived”! The dome was first painted black and then layered with a silver metallic paper. Lending the same shimmer and sheen as a silver leaf, this budget friendly option left room to extend the lovely plaster walls into the formal living. To tie in the existing chandelier, aged silver accents and a translucent glaze were applied to lighten up it’s previous dark finish.

Before: Walking through the staircase is a dramatic two story formal living room with a breathtaking view of the backyard.

After: What a transformation! To open up the view and allow the light to reflect off of the newly plastered walls, the draperies were removed and a few new pieces purchased. The clients favorite jewel tone is featured as new upholstery on her existing chairs and a new throw pillow. The chandelier, also original, was redressed with gold accents to tie it in with the new statement antique mirror.

 It is hard to believe this is the same room! I love the choices the design team made in what to keep and what to replace.

Before: Next up is the Dining Room…

After: Expertly mixing in antiques and modern elements, Monica and Janie chose a gorgeous, bold Farrow and Ball wallpaper to dress the dining room. To complement the subtle lavender tone in the patterned paper, we customized a plaster color to match the floral motif and waxed it for a glowing sheen.

 A strong pattern, strategically placed, can really elevate a space! Stenciling is another great option because you can find or design the perfect pattern and completely customize the color selection. On the trim work, we added gold accents and a glaze to give it some interest and pull in just the right amount of gold glitz. 

Before: The kitchen and family room are the heart of this home and were the starting place for the whole project. Monica and Janie developed a beautiful plan to transform the space with color and finishes and a few key new pieces.

After: What a reveal! The countertops and cabinet boxes remained but they brought in a new stone range hood, accent tile wall and new custom lighting from Brown that adds a touch of glamour. The homeowners wanted the grain of the wood to show in the perimeter cabinets. After several samples, we came up with a layered glaze finish for the cabinets that does not completely cover the natural grain but achieves the color they were looking for. Savings were realized because the cabinets did not have to be primed and painted first. Wanting a completely different look for the island, it was painted a darker blue gray and glazed. Scroll back up and look at the pantry door. Notice the difference painting it the color of the walls made in the space. Look at the elements in your own home, if they are not something you want to highlight, then they can be painted to blend.

Before: Even though the breakfast room had lovely views to the back yard, it felt dark and closed in.

Lighting from Visual Comfort

After: Now this cozy and bright update is the perfect spot for the family to enjoy the view of their backyard while comfortably sipping their coffee! Notice how just removing the drapes which blocked the view and created a visual line in the middle of the walls made. Soothing pale blue plastered walls and lighting from Visual comfort paired with a clean contemporary table and soft slipcovered chairs make a timeless combination. Monica and Jaime really brought the outside in!!

Before: The family loves to spend time together in this main gathering area with their crew of adopted pets, so Monica and Janie wanted to make sure the updates would make this room both functional and beautiful! 

After: Continuing the plaster from the breakfast and kitchen opened up the space. They designed a stunning stone fireplace installed by Stoneworks which has a better scale for this two story room. What a game changer!! We refinished the built in shelving in a subtle contrast to the walls to take away that harsh division the stained cabinets created.

Before: Loving how the rest of their home had transformed, they want to do the same for their master bedroom and bath.

After: Carrying the soft blue grays and light neutrals in to the Master bedroom,  they created a truly serene retreat! The layers of texture with the softly patterned wallpaper, velvet headboard, linens and hints of metallic make this space feel luxurious and comfortable.

Before: The Master Bath originally had a dark faux on the walls and ceiling. Not wanting to do a major renovation, they opted to leave all of the original hard surfaces and use color and finishes to give then that spa retreat they wanted for their master bath!

After: A beautiful mural by one of our artists inspired by a Gracie wall covering, accents the freshly painted master bath. It was such a joy to collaborate with Monica and Janie and the homeowners to add in unique details like their favorite butterflies to personalize this impact wall!

Before: And last but certainly not least, her office!

After: This office became Monica and Janie’s favorite room in the house and a beautiful oasis for the homeowner. They chose a Farrow and Ball Paper with pink and gold for the walls and we plastered the ceiling. On the paneling and woodwork we added gold leaf to the bead details and a light glaze to add depth. The backs of the bookshelves are painted soft pink in high gloss pulling out tones in the paper. The chandelier and styling give this room an extra luxurious jewel-box feel! I want to work in here!!

Beautiful job, Luxe Maison Interiors! You are such a talented team and Segreto and Andrea are so thrilled to be a part of this beautiful home and so many other of your amazing transformations! I appreciate the homeowner’s trust during the process and hope you all enjoyed this beautiful remodel tour with photography by French Blue Photography and Wade Blissard. To see more of Luxe Maison’s wonderful design work, you can visit their website here. 

I hope you all have a wonderful week! Till next time! XO Leslie

The post From Traditional Mediterranean to Casual Elegance – Luxe Maison appeared first on Segreto Finishes.

Spring Time Fluff!

Hi Friends! How Is everyone doing in hopefully a once in a lifetime experience for us all?!! What a silver lining to see and hear so many uplifting stories of people helping others. The local news is now full of those stories and entire programs are dedicated to thanking those who are keeping our cites going and us safe!!

Another first-the whole world working together for the good of all. Let’s stay the course, wash our hands, not touch our face, stay 6 ft. a apart, wear a mask, not gather and stay at home if not at work or running essential errands. We can do this and as Gabe Grunewald says so well ” You can still make something beautiful and something powerful out of a really bad situation.“

https://www.piplum.com/life-quotes/funny-coronavirus-quotes/

Now for some Spring Time Fluff!!

I read an article in Shape Magazine that really hit home about how organizing your home and office can improve your happiness and many aspects of your life! With us all social distancing what a perfect time to fluff and organize. So, with the offices, we knocked a few projects off our list to put everything in its place!

Did you know that people who work or live in an organized space are more likely to pick up an apple for a snack than a chocolate bar!! Since pool time weather is approaching us, I felt the kitchen was a great place to start! With open shelving and limited storage space, grouping items in like containers, makes access easy in a beautiful way. The metal baskets I used were from RH Teen. Keeping our flatware in a caddy also saves drawer space. The antique piece from Joyce Horn Antiques purchased years ago has a new SegretoStone top giving more counterspace to this island base.

A pretty glass jar keeps all of our coffee in one place and the dishes are grouped together by height and type. Notice the hand towels and cups?

They both were purchased on line from Personalization Mall. It has really made me look forward to that morning or afternoon coffee even more! What wonderful gifts for hostess, housewarming, or college grads!! Available in many colors, what cute conversation pieces!!

What is bursting from the seams at your home? In our offices it is samples, samples, samples and book boxes, book boxes, book boxes!! Deciding to group samples and hanging them all the walls as art, and putting boxes of books under every table and desk was our first step.

Skirting tables and desks are great ways to hide storage items. Whether if is a side table next to your bed or a shelving unit in your playroom, some fabric and a rod or Velcro are easy affordable ways to make what you have more functional.

These Ikea desks now serve as places to store as well. Looking at two many things at a time on your desk can effect your ability to focus. Clearing off her desk, Leslie Simmons is blowing though her many projects!. Leslie, now mom Carter and Bryn, started with Segreto right after collage. One of our talented designers, get to know her by following the links to see her wedding and home redo on Wedding Dreams, A House Redone Part 1, and 2.

Our main powder now has a place with its skirted SegretoStone basin to hide all of our bath and cleaning supplies!! We finial hung our trademark certificate for our own Segretostone!

We used the same acrylic frames from Wexel Art. They have all sorts of standard sizes, but you have the capability to also customize the size you need. Because of hanging covers and ………………

………………creating books filled with all of our press, I was able to though away boxes and boxes of entire magazines which had 5 or so pages of Segreto’s work in each. What a great time to organize your photos as you can do it from home! I used Milk for ours as I liked the cover and sizing options. Note: I work on them as I have time and print the books when they are full and a coupon of 30% or more is available!

As you enter, with the framed to the right we placed “The Eleanor” a SegretoStone table with a plaster floral art piece hung above.

Accessorizing is key to complete the look. Books are great decorative pieces to use, group depending on size and height and layer items on top. Notice two books and three accessories. Keep balance by altering groupings, two books, three accessories.

Lots of projects to complete in these areas!! The first is displaying our paint colors! We use to have an unused desk-clutter- to the right. Moving it, a perfect wall was created to house our paint!

I had purchased these cup hooks for something else and never used them. With a level and a measuring tape, the grid was laid out first and these hooks screwed into the wall!!

This will save us so much time at work in finding our clients perfect color!! ” When you’re organized at work, you’re more productive and efficient, which means you’re able to finish at a reasonable time and go home. This leave you with he time you need to exercise, prepare a healthy meal, relax and get more sleep”- Dr Selhub

Think about telling a story with your shelves rather than filling it with as many accessories as possible will help them look artful! For us we wanted to display our books, awards, and a few cutting edge art samples, which can be rotated our. Think about what you would like to group together, or what collections you have at your home. For more ideas on grouping art go read our post on Grouping Elements To Make An Art Wall!

This area is dedicated to SegretoStone. With all the colors, our mini fireplace prototypes and photo examples everything is all in one place!!

Super exciting news! Limb Design, who helped me with the graphic design of Segreto Impressions, entered it into the AAF Houston American Advertising Awards competion. Segreto Impressions won Gold for book design and Best in Show for print! Wow! Thank to each and everyone of you for your support and your projects. For a limited time you can save big on The Segreto Book series making it affordable to gain design inspiration while you are distancing at home! Order here.

We all are having to do things a bit differently. New Spring, a wonderful non-profit dear to my heart which supports at risk kids though art, holds an auction each year to display the student works and raises awareness for the organization. This year getting creative they are hosting the auction on line!! The bids start at $100 per piece of art and goes to such a great cause. Bradley’s Art and Frame and Framecrafters, who generously donated all the framing for the art, are currently closed. So place a bid to support a student, imagine it in a gorgeous frame and help restart these two local framers who in the past have been so generous to restart their business by taking your win to them for framing. The link to the site is: https://newspringart.cbo.io

https://www.piplum.com/life-quotes/funny-coronavirus-quotes/

Maybe you will spy the perfect piece for your home or office fluff! Stay safe, give love and hope to others and stay strong! We still need to wash our hands, wear our masks, stay 6 ft. apart and not touch our faces!! Much love! Till next week xo Leslie

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The Segreto Family- Meet our Artisans!

Hi Friends!! We are all in this together! XO! We can stay strong and stay safe! So……. as hard as it is-don’t let up, everyone’s lives do depend on it! Learn to video chat, send texts and handwritten notes to stay connected. Stay the course by continuing to distance, washing hands, wearing masks, only going out when necessary and not touching your faces.

This is our new normal, Leslie a Sr. Segreto designer and Roger our jack of all trades stopped to send me a selfie. They look cute in their face garb but I think we need to come up with a Segreto designer mask to wear! About 2/3rds of my staff is working with extra protection, washing stations, masks and safe distancing. I wanted to share some pictures my staff sent to me before the pandemic. They have started a private Facebook page for our team to view. I have enjoyed it so much I felt you would too!! Not only is their work incredible, their love and passion shines through, and it thrills me to see them having so much fun at work!

Michele, a Segreto artist whose background is as a sculpturer and decorative painter, joined our team two years ago. A father of twin teen girls, he was well know for his creation and restoration work of cast figures which adorn government buildings in both Cuba and Mexico.

Bringing his gifts to our firm, his sculptural skills have translated into creating florals and butterflies onto ceilings, walls and now art pieces.

Our goal is to one day have one made and hung on the walls in our studio to beautifully display each color of Segreto Paint! For more information on art pieces email leslie@segretofinishes.com.

A jack of all trades, Michele is shadowing the edge of this silver leafed lucite coffee table to be placed in a contemporary living space.

Segretostone makes the most beautiful furnishings, but it has to adhere to a substrate. In creating these side tables named the “Eleanor” after the talented designer Eleanor Cummings, we built molds and poured their base from concrete.

Miguel, head of our stone crew, has coated the concrete with a layer of alluring rose SegretoStone. Next, he will sand, apply another coat and then give it a hard polish to bring out is natural luster.

Although several Eleanors went to clients, this one is on display in our showroom under a floral art piece!! LOVE! These 19 by 19 by 19 tables are no available in all of our SegretoStone colors! We are stocking up on these during down time not being able to be in peoples homes! Also, in case you haven’t heard, I have greatly reduced the price of the Segreto books helping you to pass your time with design inspiration at home.

Liliana, mom of one sweet 5 year old gal, has recently taken over our furniture refinishing studio! Learning through our ranks in the cabinet refinishing side, she brings her knowledge of making job built cabinetry look like one-of-a-kind furniture pieces, giving new beams a reclaimed look and gold and silver leafing bead details on paneling to completely reinvent existing furniture pieces to work with any design aesthetic.

Don’t like the tone of your hardware? No worries, in most cases it can easily be changed with paint. That way you don’t have to worry about filling the holes or finding new hardware with the right spread. These were brass before, and now are more silver/Champaign in tone. Rub & Buff is an easy to use product which you could use at home to alter things like hardware or picture frames.

Meet Frank, a seven year Segreto veteran who leads our plaster crews. A jack of many trades, he is transforming a mid-century side table by coating it with SegretoStone. What a change! This was part of a pair I bought years ago when I helped Matthew with his first apartment(somehow that post is lost) and this table still made the cut when Kirby helped him in his new hIghrise pad.

Now they can never be a set as this segretostone version is our coffee table in our office. I love reinventing something old into something new, giving it a totally different look. What can you imagine in your home in a completely different way?

Meet Allan, a long time Segreto staple with over 20 years with the company! Where fine arts are involved, there is not much he can’t do. When the talented New York Designer Robert Passal reached out for help, I knew Allan was perfect for the job. Robert had the table made, and custom painted the legs and band by an artist in his area, leaving the top black. His Houston client adored embellishment so much she wanted to add more.

Rather than ship the piece back to New York we were hired to embellish the top in a complimentary design to its base. Here is a progress shot. Alan laid it out and painted the base gold first. In this picture you can start seeing some of the details and shadings added.

The artwork was so complementary that no one would know that the way it looks now wasn’t the original intention!!

I Hope our team can get back together soon working as a team in one place. Currently we are only scheduling projects where we can practice social distancing 6 ft. apart to keep our staff and clients safe. I hope all is well with your and yours. Stay grateful for something everyday, it certainly changes your outlook into one of positivity during these challenging times! Much love, and till next week!! xo Leslie

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Easter is Always Special!

Hi All! This will definitely be a different Easter for most of us. With social distancing many of us will be separated from our loved ones, and have only one, two or five gathered for this special celebration. With Zoom, and so many other video chat services available, let’s get creative in connecting with each other and really appreciate Easter’s true meaning.

“Easter is a joyous holiday seen as the fulfillment of the prophecies of the Old Testament and the revelation of God’s salvific plan for all of humankind. In commemorating the Resurrection of Jesus, Easter celebrates the defeat of death and the hope of salvation.” -Britannica.com

For my family, it will definitely be a smaller affair in the traditional sense of gathering in the same room. With parents being sequestered in their homes and grown children who are staying in for fear of getting us sick, our table at home will be set for two. In order to stay connected and still celebrate together, let’s all think of fun activities to share like sending each other pictures of your pets dressed for the occasion or just doing festive, cute things!

The Table Challenge! I typically am the one who sets the table at all of our family gatherings!! I love doing it and my guests look forward to it every year. This year I thought it would be fun to challenge everyone who is typically at my table to set their own for a virtual meal together. Let’s hippity-hop together to see what inspirational table décor ideas they come up with! I sprinkled in some wonderful quotes from Country Living!!

Emily Henderson

A pretty table setting from Syle at Home perfect for an island set for one or two. Look outside for florals, cut them from paper, make them from tissue paper or……..

………….use napkin rings or silk florals you might have at home. These napkin rings purchased years ago for a Mother’s Day brunch turned into a perfect garden feel.

These napkins/dishtowels from Cost Plus Market are folded like an accordion, slid into a napkin ring and then a egg slipped into the loop.

These wood plate décor from Etsy work equally as well for Easter as Thanksgiving. Super cute and a wonderful visual reminder to reflect on our blessings. You can order on line from this artist or use these for inspiration and make something for your table at home!

Covering the entire plate is the key. I have been eying those Cricut machines where you can make things like this at home!! Let me know if you have one and how hard it is to learn.

I rarely use my best china and multiple utensils and glasses because it creates so many dishes to hand wash. This is a great opportunity to use all of your best wares for he perfect formal table!

An Organic Affair Home will ship you fresh sprigs of eucalyptus, which can give your table that natural look. You can also go outside and clip from your boxwood trees and gardens to create your own. This would be a fun alternative to an egg hunt for your kiddos!!

Festival Brides show lots of examples of using greenery from the garden under clear glass plates! This would be so festive to try with paper cut outs of bunnies and florals. You could use as place card holders or let everyone write on their own cut-outs how they feel blessed on this special day.

I have seen some great posts on how to use Zoom here, here and for business meetings and here! To see some past inspirations go here, here, and here! Please send me your beautiful creations! You can email them over to leslie@segretofinishes.com!

Wishing all of you here at home and throughout the world a healthy and safe outcome! God made everyone special and with value. I truly pray that each of us from all nations can put our differences aside and work together for the safety and good of all mankind. So let’s together embrace the real meaning of Easter this season and use this time to cherish what we have and to give kindness, understanding and hope to others! With the challenges of social distancing we need to stay connected and supportive of each other all the more and pray!! With much love, health and safety, xo Leslie

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Homemade Cleaning Products and Fun Kid Projects to do at Home!

Hi Friends! I hope you are all healthy, safe and getting creative on how to take care of your family from home! In many parts of the country we are being asked to work from home and are all practicing social distancing!! With both spouses and kiddos in one space for extended periods of time, togetherness and creativity takes on a whole new level.

This is Charlotte, Isai, my operations manager’s, 4-year-old daughter. She certainly has a new appreciation of hand washing and hand sanitizers! Three months ago only 5% of us washed our hands for 20 seconds, the time needed to really kill germs! We were not aware that on average we come into contact with 300 surfaces every 30 minutes, exposing us to 840,000 germs every half hour, or that elevator buttons harbor 22% more bacteria than potty seats. EEK!! We are raising a new generation of hand washers who will really understand what hand washing hygiene and staying safe means!

With hand sanitizer in short supply, a designer I work with in California shared her recipe which she has been making from home. The two main ingredients you’ll need are aloe vera and isopropyl alcohol. Finding the necessary supplies was a journey itself. My Segreto staff pulled together, contributing the ingredients to make batches for us all. The recipe is one part aloe to three pars of 95% to 99% isopropyl alcohol. Adding essential oil will soften the smell and the effect on your skin. Make sure you use a clean bottle that can be sealed. We used 70% alcohol, fingers crossed that works. The experts say that’s its okay to use potent booze of 95% alcohol by volume or more.

Using any bottle I could find and clean, the challenging part was filling the containers. I tried to make a funnel from foil, but it worked best filling a baggie and clipping the corner. than giving it a squeeze!

Scanning the internet The Soccer Mom Blog has a great article filled with different products you can use to clean. It’s important to note that these items are for emergencies only. If you have soap and water available, that is always the best option. But, in a pinch, from vinegar, to hydrogen peroxide, to Everclear, she shares how these household products can help you clean and stay safe at home! Thanks Stacey!!!!!!!!!!!

I also found recipes to make your own cleaning disinfectant by diluting household bleach. What I didn’t know is you should still clean the surfaces first with soap and water before you disinfect. Good to know!!

Diluting your household bleach.
To make a bleach solution, mix:5 tablespoons (1/3rd cup) bleach per gallon of water
OR4 teaspoons bleach per quart of water

Follow manufacturer’s instructions for application and proper ventilation. Check to ensure the product is not past its expiration date. Never mix household bleach with ammonia or any other cleanser. Unexpired household bleach will be effective against coronaviruses when properly diluted.

Create the total experience at home!

Keeping little ones entertained while sequestered at home can be a challenge for any parent! Charlotte’s mom Kami created a snow day for all of her critters at home! Creating the true burrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr experience, Kami made her snow from blended ice.

To create learning and a fun time, with an activity which will span hours, not minutes, think about forming the total experience. Pull out their gloves and mittens and serve hot chocolate, everything you would normally do if the flurries were full force outside. Have your little ones make the snow with you! Find a book to read to them that has snow as a part of the story and have them draw pictures or write and illustrate their own story about their fun snow day at home!

There are also lots of recipes online for making snow from baking soda, shaving cream, and hair conditioners. All you need is:

1/2 cup of hair conditioner3 cups of baking soda

If you want to make more snow, just use a 1 to 6 ratio of conditioner to baking soda.

Mix your ingredients together, add some glitter if desired, and get snowy! You’ll have your very own winter wonderland in no time at all. Super fun!! Make both kinds! With a full day of activities, you have combined science, art and English all in one super fun adventure day at home.

Who doesn’t love the Ladybug!! They are welcomed in people’s homes and considered good luck. “According to legend, European crops during the Middle Ages were plagued by pests. Farmers began praying to the Blessed Lady, the Virgin Mary. Soon, the farmers started seeing beneficial ladybugs in their fields, and the crops were miraculously saved from the pests. The farmers began calling the red and black beetles “our lady’s birds” or “lady beetles”. The Seven-Spotted Lady Beetle is believed to be the first one named for the Virgin Mary; the red color is said to represent her cloak and the black spots her seven sorrows.”- ThoughtCo.

Starting with The Bugliest Bug, a cute book with a lovely message, a multiday scientific adventure began into bug land. At the bottom I have the information fact sheet. ThoughtCo. is also a great place to learn all you need to know about the little bug. Charlotte started her journey by drawing different bugs, comparing and contrasting their similarities and differences. How many legs do centipedes have vs spiders, etc!

Using costumes and bug hand puppets they made together, Charlotte learned why they are brightly colored, their life cycle, and so much more. If you don’t have these supplies, use paper for you costumes and puppets. or pick up rocks outside, while looking for bugs, and then paint them when you come in.

Picking up rocks outside while looking for bugs and painting them to look like little critters would be a super fun craft. Or give you little ones some inspirations by these beauties already painted by TLChandcrafted on Etsy!

Kami is keeping 1-year-old Hudson busy by using boxes she had on hand to make boxcars for him to play in! Multi-tasking in one of Mom’s greatest strengths!

Charlotte is doing her part to teach her baby brother how to wash his hands and his cute little toes!

Thanks to Charlotte, Hudson, and Kami, part of our Segreto family, for sharing how they are keeping upbeat and busy while staying home!! Share with all of us, on how you are being creative in doing your part to help stop the spread of this epidemic. Leslie@segretofinishes.com.

Super exciting news! Limb Design who helped me with the graphic design of Segreto Impressions entered it into the AAF Houston American Advertising Awards competion. Segreto Impressions won Gold for book design and Best in Show for print! Wow! Thank to each and everyone of you for your support and your projects. For a limited time you can save big on The Segreto Book series making it affordable to gain design inspiration while you are practicing social distancing at home! Order here.

Much love, stay safe and looking forward to our time together next week! xo Leslie

What are ladybugs?
Ladybugs are insects in the Coccinellidae family of the beetle order, Coleoptera. They are characterized by their oval‐shaped body and distinctive coloring.
Is there a difference between lady beetles and ladybugs?
Although these insects are commonly called “ladybugs,” they are members of the beetle order, Coleoptera. The Coleoptera are unique from other orders in that they undergo complete metamorphosis (that is, have larva and pupa stages in their life cycle), and their forewings have modified into a hardened cover (elytra) that protects the insect. “True” bugs belong to the order Hemiptera, and include boxelder bugs, plant bugs, and squash bugs.
Immature True Bug
Though taxonomically incorrect, lady beetles are still commonly referred to as ladybugs. Other frequently used common names are ladybirds or ladybird beetles.
How did ladybugs get their name?
The most common legend as to how ladybugs got their name is that during the middle ages in Europe, swarms of aphids were destroying crops. The farmers prayed to the Virgin Mary for help – and help came in the form of ladybugs that devoured the plant‐destroying pests and saved the crops! The grateful farmers named these insects “Our Lady’s beetles,” a name which has endured to present day.

What do ladybugs eat?
Both adult and larval ladybugs are known primarily as predators of aphids but they also prey on many other soft‐bodied insects and insect eggs. Many of these are agricultural pests, such as scale insects, mealybugs, spider mites and eggs of the Colorado Potato Beetle and European Corn Borer. A few ladybugs feed on plant and pollen mildews and many ladybugs supplement their meat diet with pollen.
What eats ladybugs?
Ladybugs are not commonly eaten by birds or other vertebrates, who avoid them because they
exude a distasteful fluid and commonly play dead to avoid being preyed upon. However,
several insects, such as assassin bugs and stink bugs, as well as spiders and toads may
commonly kill lady beetles.
How many different species are there in the US? In the world?
There have been over 500 species of ladybugs identified in the United States, and over 4500 in
the entire world.
How long do they live?
After a female lays her eggs, they will hatch in between three and ten days, depending on
ambient temperature. The larva will live and grow for about a month before it enters the pupal
stage, which lasts about 15 days. After the pupal stage, the adult ladybug will live up to one
year.

Why are they so brightly colored?
Ladybugs’ bright colors serve as a warning – they indicate any potential predators of the distasteful repellents the beetle will release if attacked. Ladybug spots are part of the bright warning pattern discussed in the previous question.
What’s with them in my house during winter?
During the winter months, ladybugs seek out a warm place to hibernate. Many seek out cracks around buildings, including people’s homes. They mass together to stay warm throughout the winter. Don’t worry, they will not harm you or any part of your home, and they will be gone by spring.
How did non‐native species get here?
Non‐native ladybug species may have been introduced to the United States by scientists as an attempt to control crop‐damaging aphids, or they could have hitched a ride with any vegetation that was brought over from Europe, Africa, or Asia.

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A Segreto Home for Sale!

Hi Friends! I am thinking about all of you and wondering how the uncertainty is changing your lives. Staying positive, thinking about spring and then hot weather, which is right around the corner. This is a beautiful home and I thought you might like a little tour!!

This house, completed seven years ago, was one of the first New Orleans style new construction homes I had worked on. Designed in the style of A. Hays Town, it features antique Spanish Creole fencing and reclaimed brick.

I love the feel pulling up to the house with the granite graveled parking court. It sits on a 23,000 sqft lot with lots of green space and a beautiful courtyard to the right welcoming you as you walk up to the front door. Notice the sculptor insets on the ivy adorned fencing.

From the time you enter with these steel/beveled glass doors into the foyer, you are met with beautiful groin ceiling details and lots of special touches.

The dining room looks exquisite with its reclaimed brick accent wall mimicking the brown tones of the table and china cabinet. Although it’s beautiful as is, if you fancy a lighter less contrasting feel to your interiors, lime washing the brick is an easy, cost effective fix!

You can go for a fuller coverage like we achieved over this dark red brick or…

leave some of the brick exposed as with this amazing exterior makeover!!

Here you can see the living room holds a second fireplace over another reclaimed brick accent wall in a big and bright space for gatherings.

Along the side the room shows breathtaking custom made steel doors to let in all of the sunlight and show a picturesque view of the grounds. See the outside fountain? It is a made from an antique sugar kettle!

I love the kitchen: functional and with so many elements brought together to have the feeling of a furnished room, one of the design firm Nest & Cot’s signatures. Even the louvered door to the pantry was textured and aged to feel reclaimed!

Next, you can see how our glazed cabinetry compliments the reclaimed concrete tile from Chateau Domingue, lending a furniture feel to the spray boxes.

I love this built in, centuries old, framed antique door turned cabinet with the built in reclaimed shelves!! Such a wonderful and focal element to store your collection of antique plates or open shelving for easy access to your dinner ware.

After that you find this reclaimed brick groin vaulted ceiling which extends through the gallery, matching the floor and connecting the main rooms downstairs in a very New Orleans way.

The library is adorned with Pecky Cypress molding, beams and bookcases. It makes for a cozy feeling with the tall drapery and fireplace amidst the wood paneling and coffee table. It looks like the perfect place to cuddle up with a furry friend and read a book! This finish color is still current today, however, it can easily be glazed to read lighter or even like weathered wood that’s been aged to take on a greige appearance.

In fact, there are so many transformations we can implement to create just the design feel for your own style! Plastering the ceilings white would also add a sleeker feel to this currently traditional space.

This bathroom with a custom concrete sink and customized iron base mixes both contemporary and antique! We finished the base and glazed the woodwork to blend with the grasscloth wallcovering! I love the towels hung on the basin. Such a beautiful touch. Grasscloth, for instance, gives such a defining texture to a stenciled design.

Here is a close up of a stencil design over wallcovering we did for a different client. The texture really adds to the effect! Imagine this version in the above space! A totally different look.

Check out this spacious master bedroom which leads out into a private courtyard lending a whimsical aspect to the home.

This oh-so-spa-like master bathroom was featured in Segreto Vignettes. All painted in the same tone, the detailing on the cabinets creates interest while still staying light in tone.

Meanwhile, the second floor houses three en-suite bedrooms, including this one with matching ruffles on the bed and chair. It just feels so cozy!!

In conclusion, going out to the backyard, the summer kitchen patio holds a third fireplace, a grill and a TV, making it ideal for entertaining guests.

If you call for a listing, look for our other touches, like this wooden top we marbleized!! Nancy Younger-Kruka with Greenwood King has this listing. For more information you can go to the listing here.

I hope everyone is doing ok, and catching up on that home to-do-list, while practicing social distancing! Above all, try to enjoy some special moments. Love this quote from Oprah. Till next week! XO Leslie

“Living in the moment means letting go of the past and not waiting for the future. It means living your life consciously, aware that each moment you breathe is a gift.” — Oprah Winfrey

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Follow Segreto this Week – Segretostone, Murals, Painted Floors and More!

Hi Friends! Wow there is a lot going on in the world and our country right now. I hope you all are feeling well, safe and stocked up. I know so many have canceled their travel plans, including my daughter whose bachelorette trip was for next week. Keep in mind your older loved ones. I know my Mom and second Mom (Aunt Gayle) who live at a retirement community have been asked to stay in their rooms. They are stir crazy and feeling depressed. Reach out, facetime and keep everyone close! It will really make their day!! I started a Sunday Bruch facetime event with my Dad who lives in Santa Fe. Sequestered at home, we both look forward to our facetime event!! At Segreto, with scrubbed hands, we are moving on with some amazing projects to share.

What do you do if your built-in fountain in your entrance of your high rise won’t work? Rather than ripping it out and having to redo the floors, we painted a water feature on an inset board placed inside this fountain’s base. The rocks, fish, and water are all a painted illusion. By using a special coating system that layers the clear, a perception of depth was created! No need to feed these Koi!

Getting ready for pool time weather we were excited to install these SegretoStone loungers for California Designer Shan Hinton’s client here in Houston.

With the feel of an art sculpture, these are formed with comfort in mind, as a magnet is built into the piece, allowing a pillow to float as a headrest. For examples of other ways you can use Segretostone in your own home, you can read another blog of ours here or just search for Segretostone on the blogs search line.

Still a work in progress, this high rise project for Ivy Hall has been a joy to be a part of. As you can see, Goodman Even has done a beautiful job with the build-out. Our part in this kitchen?

We formulated a custom tone for the kitchen cabinet paint color to marry perfectly with the glorious stone slabs! Its name? Penthouse of course!

Love the marble shelves as an inset of the waterfall feature on the island! To die for!

We did not want these light plates to stand out, so they were painted out to read as part of the marble. My favorite game of I Spy!

Look at the size of this hood in a home we are working on with designer Trisha McGaw! With my operations manager as a scale- this marble hood is certainly an art focal in this to-be-outfitted kitchen space.

These are some renderings for some floor designs we are working on. It is so amazing to see how the same pattern can look quite different when combined in other ways! Which do you prefer? Sample 1 or…

……….sample 2?

This master bath had so many different angles. Thus, wall covering would have definitely been a challenge to install. Starting with the beautiful scones, a stencil was selected which could be adjusted when hand-painted to wrap around the many angles in the space.

TIP OF THE DAY!

You know how I love a beautiful pantry! For example, this one was so well organized and easy to keep, with baskets to contain the many treats!

These acrylic lazy susans keep everything so organized and visible.

You can do a bit of on line shopping at and be productive is at home!! These turntables come in 9″, 11″ and 14′ sizes great for organizing kitchen bath or craft supplies and just the right size for a multitude of shelf depths! We are forever strong and forever together. I would love to hear your stories and how it feels in your neck of the woods!! I hope you all have a wonderful week! Stay strong and look at the bright side in all situations! Much love, Xo Leslie

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart. – Hellen Keller

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