As a way to say a big thank you to my loyal fans and clients, and to welcome our newest ones, you get the opportunity to “PICK MY BRAIN”! That’s right! – From now until Thursday December 12th (which happens to be my birthday, by the way), you can email me ONE pressing decorating question or challenge that you need advice, ideas or a recommendation on. You can include up to three photographs to support your question. Send emails to [email protected] and I will be happy to respond within 3-5 business days! It’s that simple! Free expert advice, just for being a fan and to show my appreciation!
In addition to that, I am offering some special savings on my online store. You get 15% off all items plus free shipping! That’s a pretty sweet deal! You will need to use coupon code LUVMYFANS15 at checkout. Free shipping will automatically be added to your order. This wonderful thank you offer expires at midnight on Thursday December 12th. SHOP NOW!
And who knows……there might be a surprise in store for one lucky fan, but you will have to participate and definitely stay tuned to find out!
Here’s the promotional flyer!
……..And I created a selfie video on my iPad to really let you know how much I love and appreciate you guys! Couldn’t do it without you! I am still trying to get comfortable with this whole video concept, so please bear with me
If you weren’t too freaked out by my video please give it a thumbs up, like, share and subscribe. Why is the worse thumbnail always the one to show up as the cover image?!
Doing more videos will be a big part of my marketing plan for the coming year! Who’s with me?
Thanks again for being a loyal fan! Please share and recommend us to your family and friends. Visit me on About.me for my full profile. There you will find all the different ways to connect with me and contact me. Please subscribe to my Blog for updates, tips, ideas and inspiration daily.
Have a Terrific Thursday!
Be Inspired!
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The most magical month of the year is here! The really cold weather is here to stay in Houston. I grew up in Jamaica, where it’s warm all year, moved to South Forida, where it’s warm all year, and then moved to Houston, where it’s supposed to be warm all year! You see a pattern here? I am a warm weather girl!
Each year, like a bear, I go into hibernation. Well not literally, but I stay away from alot of outdoor activities and stay indoors where it’s warm and toasty. There are a few things I love to have around me when the going gets cold – things I like to call my Winter Survival Kit - Which I’m about to share with you!
- My winter outfits are designed to keep me warm but most importantly to look super stylish. Leggings are a life-saver on really cold days with knee high boots and a tailored coat. For the not so cold days, leggings and a bad*ss leather jacket with sky high stiletto booties
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Changing up your interior decor for the winter helps to bring some warmth and coziness. Adding colorful accents that pop will bring in some fun and personality, and help you survive the cold winter. My winter survival kit each year always includes swapping out accessories, window treatments and pillows or adding throws, layering area rugs and bringing in lots of flowers and greenery.
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And of course the ever important Christmas decorating. I am sure I speak for everyone when I say that Christmas decor is a part of their winter survival kit. Spending time with family and friends, Christmas celebrations at church and throughout the community, volunteering and giving back to the community are also key things that help me survive the winter.
- And the biggest winter survival item is my birthday!!! Yes, I am a December birthday girl….the 12th to be exact! I’m gonna party like it’s 1999!!
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And finally, a list of random items that are dear to me and bring me comfort and warmth during the winter season. Vegetable soup and fruit salad always warms the heart. A nice bubble bath with candles all around is very nice every once in a while, a favorite scarf, favorite books and magazines for lazy Sunday afternoon reading, and luxurious body and hand creams to restore softness to my skin. Oh the joys of winter when you have a winter survival kit!
Veronica Solomon
of juicy plum and jasmine with warm, woody, amber musk that inspires romance! So if you love that faint scent of him on your clothing and skin, this perfume will definitely inspire some sexy thoughts of your sweetie.
Being the sweetheart that she is Kate, along with the help of Bloglovin’ are sponsoring this great contest for bloggers - creating a collage of a look inspired by a boyfriend; past, present or future. In my case it will be future, but one can dream….right? It is a look that I personally love; an outfit accented by one or two male inspired pieces. That’s always a fun, unique and very fashion forward look. After all, what guy doesn’t like to see his girlfriend donning his favorite fedora, snap-back or button down shirt. That is downright sexy!
Here’s the look that I came up with….hope you like
Veronica Solomon
Friday started out great with a visit from a prospective new client into my design studio. This is a young restauranteur and a bachelor, who recently bought a three storey townhome in the beautiful and prestigious Heights neighborhood of Houston. One of his restaurants is located right across the courtyard from my studio. He’s been admiring a certain wallpaper I have featured on one wall in the studio, which is what brought him in. I have been longing to do a bachelor pad for a while now, so hopefully this will work out great. It turns out that his style is not the usual contemporary, Manhattan chic style you would expect, but more of my personal style – rustic European with a touch of elegance. I am so excited about this opportunity!
Sample of the Romo wallpaper that was bait for this potential project
Saturday was the big community garage sale for the subdivision where I currently live. I decided to participate this season since I am moving to a new, smaller home and wanted a change. I am ready for new style and color, plus my bigger furnishings won’t work as well in the new home. So, I got the kids up early at 8:00 and together set up a great vignette of rugs, florals, accessories, furniture pieces and curtains. It started out pretty slow, and I even started to question whether the effort was worth it. But then, like wildfire, the news of the beautiful, and cheap designer items began to spread throughout the neighborhood, and before I knew it, my driveway was packed with bargain hunters who were just clammering for these items. I was even getting requests for items that I didn’t plan on selling. My old comforter sets, for example, were hot commodities! I was running back and forth to my linen closet looking for matching pieces to satisfy the demand. By noon we were tired and ready to lock up shop. My daughter Courtney, who was was the treasurer, counted up our profits…..We made $3428.00!! Plus $485 that we should be receiving this evening from a lady who wants to purchase some furniture pieces in my guest bedroom. I would say it was a very profitable 4 hours!
These are just some of the items out in the driveway, before the patrons arrived
Staging area in my formal living room the night before
This is one of the bedroom sets I sold. I even got a project out of it. This lady wants me to come to her home and decorate her master bedroom with these pieces and some other items she already owned. Plus she needs new windows treatments
Sunday, the kids and I skipped church for the first time in a very long time and headed to The Emblem 3 concert here in Houston. You may remember them from the past season of X-Factor USA. They are three very talented young men from Southern California, with a very unique sound. My daughter and I are big fans of theirs and voted for them several times during the competition. They didn’t win, and we were very sad to see them get booted off, but they are doing just fine! After waiting in line with a bunch of screaming teenaged girls for what seemed like an eternity, we finally got to see them perform live. It was amazing!!! We even got to meet them after the event, which my daughter was very excited about . For the first time in a long time, I fet like a teenager again! My daughter looked and me, smiled and said “This is the best day ever!” Well worth the 3 hour wait in the Texas sun.
This is the crazy line of teenaged girls!
My son Joshua!
The boys performing. Here’s a short video that I captured of their performance. Not the best quality but you get the idea
Later in the afternoon we went to look at the progress of the new digs. Here’s an update:
- Stucco completed
- Garage Door added, ready for paint
- Driveway and walkway poured
- Stair parts added
- Trim in progress
- Paint in progress
- Back patio added (Not shown)
So, the new digs is coming along nicely!
Monday is off to an eventful start! Got my fluids in my car changed today….a whopping $204!!! Very necessary though. Next week will be new tires 
Today is my Chiweenie’s birthday! His name is Rufus and he turns 4! Help me wish him a happy birthday!
He was not in the mood for a photo moment
Ok, back to work for me. I have floorplans to draw and fabrics to pick out. Happy Monday! and Happy Earth Day!
Be Inspired!
Veronica Solomon
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We all had a difficult week I’m sure in the wake of the Boston Marathon incident. As hard as that was to watch and comprehend, it did bring to mind the kindness of strangers and the good that’s present in the human spirit. It was great watching how the first responders and those present did everything they could to help the victims. What the attacker meant for evil, reminded us of the goodness and kindess that’s present in all of us, we just have to extend it to others daily.
As we go about our busy schedules each day, let us be mindful of others, always showing love and kindness
Here is the link I mentioned earlier (The Kindness Of Strangers). This is a list that I think the Boston Globe put together, of folks who were offering help to the victims of the attack. How awesome is this! Let us keep praying for the people of Boston and West, TX following the fertilizer plant explosion.
Be Inspired!
Veronica Solomon
My 15 year old daughter just started driving school this week. A very scary thought for me, but really excited for her. As if I wasn’t aware of her age, it hit me like a ton of bricks that my daughter is 15 and driving! Where did the time go? I thought by now I would have reached my career goals. It was a reminder that sometimes things don’t work in our timeframes. There are setbacks and obstacles on the road to accomplishing your goals. In my case, it has been many things including the loss of my husband to cancer. It has been 9 years, but having to raise 2 children and a Chiweenie alone, does shift your focus from a career and direct it to what’s really important – your family!
While I didn’t necessarily dream of being a world famous designer, I thought by now I would be much further along in my career. I work hard, I invest the time and effort and money into education and marketing and all the good stuff you are supposed to do for your business to grow. But the economy and other factors have really changed the way a designer needs to do business, and our survival depends on making changes along with the market conditions.
On the bright side, I can look back and be thankful for the progress I have made through hard work, commitment and dedication. It is a blessing to have children who are patient and supportive, It is a blessing to be able to wake up each day doing what you love. It is a blessing that I was able to move into my design studio, and although it is not the perfect space that I pictured in my dream, I am slowly getting there. Even though my family and friends think I am crazy, and some may even have disowned me, I press on to what seems an impossible feat. I do it everyday, because I know the burning passion in my heart. And oneday, I will be the world famous designer!
I read somewhere, that if you write down your dreams and goals, you are more likely to accomplish them (maybe that’s what I missed before ), but here goes:
- I will have my design studio completed and magazine-ready in less than 6 months
- I will have a clientele so large in the next year, I will need to hire more help
- I will be published locally and nationally in the next year
- I will have less tire-kickers and more serious clients who understand my value and my worth in helping them achieve their visions for their homes
- I will continue to run my business being customer-focused, with empathy, honesty and integrity always
- I will design and develop my own textile line in the next two years
- I will be a leader in my community and give of my time and resources more to charitable causes always
- I will spend alot more quality time with my children and dog always
- I will take another trip to Europe and really immerse myself in the culture and design world
- I will take more family vacations and maintain a good work/life balance
- I will get more involved in my children’s schools through volunteering
- I will meet a wonderful guy who loves me and my children, who shares my beliefs and values (too much? )
There’s my list! It’s now in God’s hands. I know I will keep working hard, stay committed and rid myself of all doubts and fear and negativity. Try making your list and see how good it feels.
Be Inspired!
Veronica Solomon