If you have a dishwasher, then you know that after a while an odor occurs that the dishes emit. The dishwasher looks clean after a full cycle, but the cups and bowls have a distinct stink! Then you waste water re-running a full load that was supposed to be clean. After a second wash,... Read more →

Hello! Here's a question... When was the last time you sealed the granite in your home? If the answer is never, it is not hard to do. In my latest One By One video, I show you the fast and easy way to maintain a kitchen's best home improvement addition. Many times, when granite... Read more →

Welcome to one of my decor consulting projects! This video takes you through the entire process of a full bathroom renovation... In this long-form video, I guide you from the old and dated "everything beige" before, through the decision making process, to the up-to-date design choices, including things to consider to increase space in... Read more →

Here We Are entering another winter season and that means, for most of us at least, woolen sweaters, scarves, mittens, and hats, not to mention some socks, robes, pajamas, pillow covers, and throws... That sure is a lot of wool! And if any of your items are cashmere or cashmere blends, you know the... Read more →

Hello Here We Are readers, listeners, and video watchers... Oh my gosh, another year has gone by and we are back to the holiday season. I've gotten a number of emails about preparing for the holidays, and I took a look at what people are recently searching and finding on HWA... Thought I'd combine... Read more →

If you have a kitchen, you have wooden utensils somewhere in your utensil drawer... From spoons, gadgets, knife handles, to cutting boards and egg cups, those wooden items need a little extra TLC to stay in tip-top shape. If you are like me, and often put wood into the dishwasher - I know it... Read more →

There is always a room in every house that is in need of an update. The easiest way to transform a room - and most cost effective - is by choosing a new wall color. This means selecting a different paint color entirely from the one that is already on the wall. Easier said... Read more →

No matter the size or style of your house, the eye first goes to the front door. The entryway and its immediate surroundings say a lot about the overall feeling of a home. It also sets the tone for either a happy, welcoming entryway or a dull, lifeless one. The easiest way to achieve... Read more →

According to NBC, this is the official, traditional place setting used on the tables during Prince William of England and Princess Kate's wedding reception. While you may not be entertaining royalty, this table setting chart offers a formal, and very extensive diagram for ALL of the flatware, stemware, dish, and napkin placements that might... Read more →

In this ONE BY ONE video, you will learn how to reuse the empty pineapple shells as serving bowls for the extracted fruit. Don't throw away the shells OR the spiky tops after you've cored out the fruit; repurpose them for the table as fruit bowls when you are entertaining. BONUS: By using the... Read more →

In this ONE BY ONE video, you will learn how to repurpose the empty pineapple shells that are naturally beautiful. It seems wasteful to just throw them away after you remove the fruit, so I came up with a few uses for you to try. This is the first of 3 Tips on how... Read more →

In this ONE BY ONE video, you will learn how to make a lovely hostess gift for about $20(US)! This floral centerpiece is perfect for bringing along to your next BBQ or house party. Whether the hostess places it on the table, the sidebar, or a serving station, it is ready to go! She... Read more →

At Thanksgiving, more than any other time of year, when hosting a dinner we think in terms of "dressing." We dress the turkey, whisk the salad dressing, dress up the buffet table, select a dress to wear, yet year after year, we put on the same tablecloth. Well no more boring old pumpkin colored... Read more →

Arranging a bowl of flowers in the morning can give a sense of quiet in a crowded day - like writing a poem, or saying a prayer. ~ Anne Morrow Lindbergh Even a single flower in a vase has the power and beauty to make you smile. I learned this happiness tip from my... Read more →

Shades of Chartreuse ~ The Freshly Green Tips HWA Series If you are a coffee drinker, you probably have a box or two of coffee filters still hanging around from the days before individual coffee pod machines and mesh, built-in filters. While you may no longer use them for brewing, they can still be... Read more →

If you garden, you know that this season has been a struggle due to excessive heat, rain, combined with recurring dry spells. Creating and maintaining the beautiful blooms you envisioned in early spring has probably been a challenge. Here is an early tip for next year, don't plant petunias at eye-level. Who's eye-level you... Read more →

If you are looking for something to do the next time your are in NYC, then the NY High Line might be a fun, FREE, outdoor choice. Check out the pictures in this Here We Are photo album for sights, info, and tips. Tips to help you enjoy your day: Wear: sunscreen, a hat,... Read more →

Shades of Chartreuse - Freshly Green Tips Along with the summer breeze, iced tea, and outdoor picnics, comes an unwelcome guest, the dreaded housefly. If you run an anti-chemical, pesticide-free home, you might want to try this easy, natural solution of hanging water filled bags to deflect the approaching fly. Yes, it's very simple.... Read more →

At one time or another, when looking into our clothes closet, we've all exclaimed, "I have nothing to wear!" While this may be true for specific occasions like a wedding at Westminster Abbey, mostly the issue arises because we forget what we own or can't see through the clutter that is also know as... Read more →

It's finally time to decide what you'll plant in your garden this season. Take the Here We Are "Planting" poll. We want to know how you see your garden shaping up this year. You can select as many of the answers as you'd like... There are no right or wrong plants to pick, just... Read more →

Shades of Chartreuse - Freshly Green Tips Good old-fashioned, household table salt, AKA sodium chloride, is the most abundant, inexhaustible, non-metallic mineral in the world. There are thousands of beneficial uses for salt in all of its forms. It's natural, cheap, and doesn't go bad. If you are trying to go green, substituting salt... Read more →

As some of you know, one of my many hats is that of a decor consultant. I'd like to share with you the first bathroom renovation which started my tile obsession! What can I say? Some girls go crazy shopping for shoes, I love to help people shop for granite and marble... This bathroom... Read more →

Whether you are setting the table with traditional glassware, family crystal, wine glasses, water goblets, or brandy snifters, they usually all have one thing in common, a delicate stem (hence the name "stemware"). With each use, be it a formal affair or a casual dinner, the heavy wear and tear on your stemware takes... Read more →

Take the new Here We Are Decluttering Poll and tell us which of the following areas of your house you'd like to tackle this Fall. There are no right or wrong answers, just an opportunity to share (and dream of organized spaces). According to the laws of Feng Shui, when you declutter an area... Read more →

While the housing market shows some signs of life but is still sluggish, you need every advantage when listing your home for sale. With such tight competition, it is especially important to make a good first impression upon a potential buyer. Selling and buying a home is costly for all involved. Here are twelve... Read more →

Pleasure for an hour, a bottle of wine; pleasure for a year, marriage; pleasure for a lifetime, a garden. ~ Chinese Proverb It's official, Spring is here! The sun is shining, the March rain has stopped, and even if you are not having optimal weather, it's time to plan, dream, and ponder this year's... Read more →

To celebrate the 1st birthday of Here We Are, we are surprising randomly selected email subscribers with gifts each week this October! This week, as the leaves change color, we honor our gardening entries by saying goodbye to Smith & Hawken, but hello to expanding your world by Planting The Seeds of Friendship. Two... Read more →

How To Measure For A Chandelier With the holiday closing in once again, perhaps you are thinking about your dining room decor. Does that old chandelier look wrong? Is it too small? Too large? Does Uncle Pete hit his head every time he stands up? It might be time to replace it with one... Read more →

PP = Preparedness Plan NOTE: Updated article October 2016. The ongoing fires in California sparked this list. While our thoughts and prayers are with those who are in harm's way, it is a good time to think about what each of us would do in that stressful situation. An emergency plan that is put... Read more →

Ten Tips For A Successful "Staycation" - by Marie-Christine Lochot, NCTMB (republished with permission) This year with the slowdown of the economy more people are staying home during their vacation. There are advantages to staying home besides saving money: no stressful traveling, no jet lag, no need to pack, and also a chance to... Read more →

Shopping Alert Smith & Hawken, the iconic garden supply store is closing its doors after 30 years of furnishing gardeners with outstanding products and customer service. If you are a gardener, the brick and mortar stores were a mecca of seasonal delights. Whether you were shopping for bulbs, outdoor furniture, or well made tools,... Read more →

Shades of Chartreuse - Freshly Green Tips Thinking about going green around the house? Not sure where to begin? The bathroom is the perfect place to start this process. It is small enough to make some big changes in a practical, affordable way. Here are five easy, cost effective ways to green your bathroom... Read more →

Friendship makes prosperity more shining and lessens adversity by dividing and sharing it. ~ Cicero, Roman author, orator, & politician (106 BC - 43 BC) Is your garden a flower pot, window boxes, or vast rolling hills? This is truly one instance when size does not matter. Big, small, contained, or wild...the pleasure you... Read more →

Shades of Chartreuse - Freshly Green Tips To-Do List: Store wreaths, wrap candlesticks, disconnect twinkling lights, and recycle 2008 holiday cards. WAIT!!!! Don’t just recycle them...REPURPOSE your holiday cards to help abused and abandoned children. I recently discovered a worthy cause that could greatly benefit from these dated well wishes. It will take you... Read more →

Tis' the season to wear chunky woolens and soft cashmere sweaters. The label says "Dry clean only," but you want to save time and money...and maybe even wear your favorite sweater again tomorrow. Next time it needs cleaning, instead of dropping it off, scheduling a pick-up, and missing your comfy sweater, wash it in... Read more →