decor

SIX SHOTS: JANUARY 2014

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SIX SHOTS

January two thousand fourteen


1. GLASSESUSA

     I totally love my new glasses from GlassesUSA and I am so impressed with how easy it is to order them online!  They are a sponsor, and I love finding great deals and sharing them with you! ( Also, I can see now, so that’s a life changer!) Check out the blog post for the details!


2. BROWS-A-GO-GO

     I ventured out of my comfort zone and decided to try something I’d previously thought would only serve to complicate my life…a new brow system.  I think the palette from Benefit is a must have!


3. MY BEAUTY COUTURE

     Crystal Trevino is a Houston based freelance makeup artist, stylist and nail guru!  She had asked me to take some pictures for her new website, www.mybeautycouture.com and we both loved the way they came out so these pictures were a high point for me this month!


4. BIRTHDAY SECRET

     I’d never before consciously realized that I hadn’t advertised my age on my blog!  It was a liberating moment. I am every woman, every age, every size. I have compassion for the young, and often misguided and the old and often bitter! I hoped my age wouldn’t bother people, which was stupid, because it doesn’t bother me, and I have close friends of all ages and we are truely all the same in so many ways. (Except for you ladies that don’t groom your eyebrows…I don’t get you and we are nothing alike, that’s insane!)


5. COLDNESS

     It has been crazy cold this month for Texas, and there hasn’t been much time for cute fashion blogs.  This was a miserably cold and windy day, and I had to do Apartment Locating work. My husband came with me so he could nag about my driving in the passenger seat…I mean, spend time with me, so we shot a few pictures of me looking a lot like Francisco Scavullo  (google him) for the blogpost, Coldness.

     


6. FIRST DAY of THE NEW YEAR

     This is totally an Instagram picture I took on New Year’s evening at dinner.  I got to use my new glammy gold bag, we chat about our goals for the new year, and made it home safely. It was a great start to what I hope will be a great year!

 

-SDS

-January 30, 2014

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MY CHRISTMAS 2013

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Christmas Decor, Animal Print Christmas tree, black paint, living room

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and may God bless you all! My flu bug is fading away this Christmas morning, so I’m happy.

     I’d managed to prepare a prime rib roast, and it slow cooked itself in the over as we slept.  I was happy to see that the $70 cut of meat hadn’t dried out and burned itself, and instead was so juicy and moist, that a knife wasn’t needed to eat it.  Instead, it would just fall apart with a little probing by a fork!

     The rosemary/thyme recipe was one from a friend, Evangeleena, who is the most amazing cook.


    

      My snowman collection grew by one member this year, which is the tradition!  He’s the guy on the left with the red scarf!  They are so funny, happy and cute! I love them!


 

 After getting home from work, (yes, with the flu) I then took a two hour nap, took a lot of medicine, made our Christmas Eve dinner highlighted by the prime rib, and then rushed to the candlelight service at our church.

 

We have a very small family, so pretty much it’s just us!  It’s nice and peaceful this way.  There will be a movie date, later today, as well an an evening drive with hot chocolate and the babies, through a close neighborhood that is 100% lit up with Christmas lights!

I just wanted to drop a quick salutation to all of you on this special holiday!  Although mine is low key, that’s how we roll!

 

-SDS

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CALIFORNIA GLAM-ESTATE HOT-PICKS: NEWPORT COAST, CA

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(vol 4)
Newport Coast, California, new home, glam home decor, decor ideas, real estate, Luxor Leasing and real estate, Houston Texas, Apartment Locator
 
 
 
 
     Whenever we are fortunate enough to travel, I love going to see real estate in different areas.  This is for a lot of reasons. Basically, I adore landscaping done well, architecture and seeing what a dollar gets you in different parts of America.
 
     There are many beautiful homes and condos in Newport Beach. The current median home price, of those for sale is around $3,750,000 in the area.  This one is listed at an asking rice of $4,595,000.
Newport Coast, California, new home, glam home decor, decor ideas, real estate, Luxor Leasing and real estate, Houston Texas, Apartment Locator
     Some of the homes that were listed closer to $1,000,000 just did not have architecture that spoke to me, if you will.
 
     This one has a great Tuscan look on the outside, amazing ocean views and plenty of great outdoor areas to sit and enjoy the amazing weather.
 
bathroom decor ideas,Newport Coast, California, new home, glam home decor, decor ideas, real estate, Luxor Leasing and real estate, Houston Texas, Apartment Locator
    Spaces like the cozy, arched bathroom above, adds a lot to the feel of the property.  I also enjoy viewing these homes, because it can inspire you to incorporate a look into your own place.  The colors on the walls above, would add a rich touch to any bathroom.
 
Newport Coast, California, new home, glam home decor, decor ideas, real estate, Luxor Leasing and real estate, Houston Texas, Apartment Locator
     The open views to the outdoor fireplace are amazing, as is this entire layout.  Furnishings are minimal, with a perfect blend of old world and contemporary for an ageless look and feel.
 
Ocean View, Newport Coast, California, new home, glam home decor, decor ideas, real estate, Luxor Leasing and real estate, Houston Texas, Apartment Locator
    Although the dining area focus is on the ocean view, I’d still be tempted to throw up some rich decor pieces on the table and some type of flowing curtains that would not hinder the view.
 
Newport Coast, California, new home, glam home decor, decor ideas, real estate, Luxor Leasing and real estate, Houston Texas, Apartment Locator
     Again, the flow of the home can be seen more easily above. 
 
Newport Coast, California, new home, glam home decor, decor ideas, real estate, Luxor Leasing and real estate, Houston Texas, Apartment Locator
      Then there’s this view. BAM! This would be an amazing place to live life. The air feels so rich, and actually you will need to be…for an ocean view such as this one along the California coastline!
 
 
 
 
-SDS
-November 5, 2013
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TEXAS GLAM-ESTATE HOT-PICKS (vol 3)

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(vol 3)
Texas Top Real Estate Listings, decor, Luxor by Stephanie Dawn Sjoberg, Luxor Leasing and Real Estate, Luxor Living and Style Blog, Texas blog
     Goodness.  It took me longer than I’d hoped to find a Texas home to add to the Luxor Glam-Estate list.  Then, I happened across this Georgian style home in my area of town…The Woodlands, Texas.
 
     I’d looked at some homes that were much more expensive than this one, which is listed at $4,750,000… however, just because they cost more, does not mean the decor is one I would feature.
 
Texas Top Real Estate Listings, decor, Luxor by Stephanie Dawn Sjoberg, Luxor Leasing and Real Estate, Luxor Living and Style Blog, Texas blog
     In some extremely large homes, the furnishings match each other perfectly from one room to the next, and sometimes the personality gets lost.
 
     This one has the black and white checkered marble look that I absolutely adore.
 
Texas Top Real Estate Listings, decor, Luxor by Stephanie Dawn Sjoberg, Luxor Leasing and Real Estate, Luxor Living and Style Blog, Texas blog, kitchen ideas
     Each room flows easily to the other, yet carries itself independent of the other.  
 
     If you’ve never been to the area, you can check out this previous post. The Woodlands is also about 3 miles from Old Town Spring, which is where we do most of our blog post photos from.
 
 
Texas Top Real Estate Listings, decor, Luxor by Stephanie Dawn Sjoberg, Luxor Leasing and Real Estate, Luxor Living and Style Blog, Texas blog, wine room
     This wine room is amazing! 
 

     The master suite is a bit to sterile for my taste, I prefer a bit more drama, but I do love that it flows into the most fabulous bathroom, which is probably where the party is!
 
Texas Top Real Estate Listings, decor, Luxor by Stephanie Dawn Sjoberg, Luxor Leasing and Real Estate, Luxor Living and Style Blog, Texas blog, master bathroom in The Woodlands Texas
     Amazingly romantic architecture and space.
 
Texas Top Real Estate Listings, decor, Luxor by Stephanie Dawn Sjoberg, Luxor Leasing and Real Estate, Luxor Living and Style Blog, Texas blog, master bathroom in The Woodlands Texas
     Very glam! Keeping it simple with fabulous white marble flooring.
 
Texas Top Real Estate Listings, decor, Luxor by Stephanie Dawn Sjoberg, Luxor Leasing and Real Estate, Luxor Living and Style Blog, Texas blog, media room
     I love the cozy movie room.  I like that the sofas enable people to sit together rather than each person alone in their own recliner. I’m all about the intimacy. Well, and the animal print.  Look at the fabulous carpet!
 
Texas Top Real Estate Listings, decor, Luxor by Stephanie Dawn Sjoberg, Luxor Leasing and Real Estate, Luxor Living and Style Blog, Texas blog, The Money Room, home office
     There is so much more to the Georgian style home, including fabulous landscaping and pool area, but I always love to show what I call…the money room.
 
     The money room is the home office area, in which I envision that someone must surely sit at least a few hours a day, wheeling and dealing and running the calculator, checking on investments, cutting checks and planning the next trip to Aspen.
 
     Most people say that the kitchen is the heart of the home, but hell, I say it’s the Money Room.  It’s the engine that fuels the machine and keeps the lights on.
-SDS
-September 30, 2013
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Texas Glam-Estate (Vol 1)

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Sharing My Top HOT PICKS for the Most Amazing Real Estate in Texas 
Texas Realtor, Stephanie Dawn Sjoberg, Luxor Leasing and Real Estate,LLC, Luxor Living and Style Blog
 
     Sometimes, when sifting through my junk emails for my Real Estate Business, I get side tracked because one link leads to another and the next thing you know, I find myself looking at the decor on listings well over a few million dollars.
 
 
Texas Realtor, Stephanie Dawn Sjoberg, Luxor Leasing and Real Estate,LLC, Luxor Living and Style Blog, closet decor
     I find the decor and well, especially this closet…to be motivating! 
 
Texas Realtor, Stephanie Dawn Sjoberg, Luxor Leasing and Real Estate,LLC, Luxor Living and Style Blog, bedroom decor 
   This listing is in the Fort Worth area and is currently listed for $2.8 million.  It’s fabulouslyTexas styled throughout. 
 
Texas Realtor, Stephanie Dawn Sjoberg, Luxor Leasing and Real Estate,LLC, Luxor Living and Style Blog, kitchen decor
 
 
 
 
   When I see wonderful homes like this, I often wonder about the people…why are they moving, how can they stand to move out and really…who could I possibly sell a home like this to?  
Texas Realtor, Stephanie Dawn Sjoberg, Luxor Leasing and Real Estate,LLC, Luxor Living and Style Blog
  This home has a fabulous pool area, privacy and a lot of covered porch area, and would sell for three or more times this price in other markets.
 

 
 
  I think I may continue sharing these types of real estate listings with the blog readers because you can get a lot of top notch decor ideas and motivations from some of these properties! ( Not only that, but maybe someone in the United Kingdom or France actually needsa million dollar vacation spot in Texas!) I’d be glad to help!
-September 9, 2013
-SDS

 

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FLORENCE, KENTUCKY GARDEN INSPIRATION

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Florence Kentucky home and garden, Luxor Living and Style, Ken and Stephanie Sjoberg, top blog
     Years ago, I packed up and moved to the beautiful state of Kentucky. I moved there because my family had moved there, I liked it and needed a fresh start.
 
  One afternoon, about 3 months after I’d moved there, I still had no job.  I was driving in my car one beautiful afternoon, when I suddenly heard s news report on the car stereo, in relation to the National Census Report. (If you don’t know what that is…then you probably don’t read the blog, but instead just look at the photos.)
 
Florence Kentucky home and garden, Luxor Living and Style, Ken and Stephanie Sjoberg, top blog, flower boxes
   On this gloriously uplifting news report, it was stated that Kentucky had the lowest rate of salary for female workers in the nation. It was a pivotal moment for me, in which I realized that I needed to move back to Houston. I was over qualified for 99% of the jobs that were available, and I wasn’t from the town in the first place so I didn’t have a shot.
 
  On that note, I loved back to Texas, restarted my life and all went great, however Kentucky stillfeels so wonderful.
 
Florence Kentucky home and garden, Luxor Living and Style, Ken and Stephanie Sjoberg, top blog, flower boxes
     The air is less humid and thick. The landscape is fabulous, and the town we lived in was much more peaceful than the big, cold and cruel city.  
 
  It’s always been my dream to go back to Kentucky with my husband for a quick trip…to the Smokey Mountain area, but on this day, we took a quick jaunt to Florence, Kentucky because it wasn’t too far from Cincinnati, where we were visiting for a tennis event.
 
trellis, Florence Kentucky home and garden, Luxor Living and Style, Ken and Stephanie Sjoberg, top blog, flower boxes
    I believe late September or October is the best time to drive through Kentucky, for all the fall colors, but it was great to take a break, and see all the old Americana style homes. I enjoy landscape architecture so he humored me and let me drive around and snap some garden photos. 
 
Florence Kentucky home and garden, Luxor Living and Style, Ken and Stephanie Sjoberg, top blog, flower boxes
   In gardening, I find it unbearable if a person plants..say a tropical palm in the yard of a traditional styled home.  They don’t match.  “Old school” shrubs, such as my favorite…the Hydrangea, go with old style homes.
 
  You can make a modest home look adorable and swanky with the right landscaping. 
 
  A friend of mine and her husband just bought a swanky beach front second home along the Florida panhandle, and she was packing things to decorate the new place earlier this week. 
 
 

I told her to go buy some cheap garden gnomes and to show them to her new neighbors when she gets there and say, “Hey, help me find a great spot for my garden gnomes!” 
 
 
 
   As for Kentucky, I love it, and I desperately want to go back for a fall drive through sometime, however in the meantime, I certainly got some garden inspiration from Florence, Kentucky!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
-August 29, 2013
-SDS
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