I have arrived....

Hi All-
Sorry for the delay in posting for so long...Needless to say, the total uprooting of my life to Charlotte has been a bit taxing to say the least.  My new home closed w/in 10 days of bank approval (it was a short sale)...I wasn't able to get down to see the home for the inspection or closing due to scheduling conflicts (I do NOT recommend this!!!) & had some issues w/the home inspector.  When I finally arrived to see the home I just bought & haven't seen in 4 months...I was a bit surprised to say the least.  The home had been trashed.  Now, before you say "DeAnna, what the hell?"  I DID have a family friend, along w/my realtor do a walk-through between the inspection & closing...NOTHING ) could have prepared me for what awaited me.  And, after the 15 hour drive, last part through the mountains at night...I wasn't too thrilled to be greeted w/the smell, disgusting flooring, holes in the walls...oh it went on & on. 

Luckily, I had brought all my cleaning supplies & tools...AND, I was able to go into "designer/project manager" mode to assess the situation (disaster) & make a list/plan for what needed to be done, who I would have to hire & what I could do myself....although I will admit, this wasn't done until after an hour or so of crying on the phone to my Mom.  (Seriously, I have a rock star for a Mom...just saying).  So, the locksmith got called to change locks, went to Lowe's for new toilet seats (one of the 1st things I do & the disgusting mess that was UNDER the seats would have made me do this asap anyway) & arranged for new flooring & security doors.   Exterior constractors (CDC Exteriors...excellent!) came in to fix & clean out gutters & I got to scrubbing.  Do not ever discount the effect of adrenelin, coffee, disgust & wine to motivate you.

A huge shout-out to the S Tryon St Lowe's in Charlotte & their phenomenal staff who were kind to a frazzled home-owner, stayed in contact w/me while I was back in Milwaukee finalizing the move there & getting everything installed by the time I was arriving w/my stuff & dogs in tow 2 weeks later!  Lin, Dave, Rick & Brian...you are all amazing!!

The dogs & I arrived last week Monday (they were awesome for the drive & 1st hotel stay!) & loved eating at McDonalds & all the attention they got.  The doxie duo also served to keep me calm during the "detour from Deliverance"...yes, that WAS the thought that went through my mind as we were forced off the interstated on the KY/TN border as the freeway wasn't there due to a recent rock-slide.  So, the detour it was...ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, all I can say. 

And so we arrived last week Monday to beautiful floors (I really AM an excellent designer!  pat, pat on the back!  ha ha), yard looks fabulous & an internet connection!!!!!  So, while there's still painting to be done, new faucets & lighting to be installed & a new counter-top to be chosen...it IS starting to look like a home.  On a "southern" note, I'm now eating grits & drinking sweet tea, the dogs are liking their new schedule (early morning walks when it's cooler & afternoon siesta under the trees to escape the heat), we are slowly settling in...

***Ossie is also healing up nicely after the recent dog attack in Milwaukee.  His stitches were removed last Friday & once his hair grows back, the missing portion of his ear won't be noticed.  This is one of the main reasons to have a FENCED in yard, although the attacking dog broke THROUGH the fence at my Milwaukee home, it could have been much worse & I might not have this happy, tail-wagger w/me right now were it not for that fence.  Thanks for all the well-wishes on his recovery!***

On a happy note, it's been like Christmas FINALLY being able to unpack & seeing my things again!  Some of my stuff has been packed up for 2 yrs in anticipation of this move.  Although I will also state, that this WILL be talked about in upcoming Clutter Counselor workshops as well, because I HAD forgotten I had some of the items I unpacked & wondered WHY I kept these things.  So, the Goodwill in Charlotte will be the recipient of some of these recent discoveries!

OK...but what ELSE have I been working on?  You didn't think I was just moving across the country did you?  ha ha  I was actually in Ft Lauderdale over the weekend (Mom flew down to dog-sit & paint!) head-lining the Ft Lauderdale Home Show!!  I gave 5 talks over the course of the weekend.  What a blast!!  The Home Show crew was awesome, friendly & took very good care of me!  (Steve, Adam, Jack, Jessie, Maritza & my new friend Sharon have set the bar high for other crews I work with!!).  The attendees LOVED  talking Feng Shui, clutter & design...& welcomed this northerner w/open arms.

I also got to share the stage w/the Kitchen Cousins from HGTV.  They spoke kitchen dos & don'ts, tips & took questions from the audience.  Genevieve  Gorder was also there & was as bubbly as she appears on TV.

Lastly, I was interviewed for an upcoming feature on HGTV.com on The Psychology of Color!!  I got to share & chat about the colors: orange, pink, gray & purple.  Will post links when it goes live.  I'm also talking w/Amazon about offering some "specials" as a "moving" promotion on their "local/living social" partnership.  I'll also post  cities, links & how to take advantage when that is published as well.

Thanks everyone for your patience...& as I get more settled I'll start posting again regularly, new radio shows & more webinars.  Hope your summer is all off to a fabulous start!!!!  xoxo DeAnna