In a previous post, I wrote about the Austin based start up that I work for called MindBites.com that features people here in Austin teaching and sharing with the world how to do anything. We were extremely pleased and proud to find out that MindBites is a finalist in SXSW Interactive Educational category. We are up against some great companies and are happy to represent Austin in this category.
Now the fun begins. As the festival approaches, MindBites is working towards getting some votes and props for the SXSW Peoples Choice Award. This award is given out to only one of all the finalists chosen for Interactive Web Awards. We definitely need to make sure that an Austin based company wins this award. We have to keep the love inside of Austin.
Please click here to vote for MindBites that is in the Educational Category. You can vote once per day and believe me every single vote counts.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Turning Our Garage into an Old School Ice House at the Lake
We decided yesterday to turn our detached garage at the lake into an old school ice house. This is a very exciting development for us. We have a detached structure with a metal roof, two garage doors and the back wall completely louvered with screens. How perfect is that?
So.. now the fun part begins. We are thinking about an air hockey table, pool table, big picnic table, bar, neon signs- the whole shabang. How fun would that be?
Now my husband really does need to buy that souped up el camino that he found on ebay. Parking that outside our private "ice house" would be the cats meow. Maybe he could lower the tail gate and sit in the back with some nasty denim cutoffs and drink beer till his hearts content.
If anyone has any suggestions on how we could make this ice house the boss, please holler.
So.. now the fun part begins. We are thinking about an air hockey table, pool table, big picnic table, bar, neon signs- the whole shabang. How fun would that be?
Now my husband really does need to buy that souped up el camino that he found on ebay. Parking that outside our private "ice house" would be the cats meow. Maybe he could lower the tail gate and sit in the back with some nasty denim cutoffs and drink beer till his hearts content.
If anyone has any suggestions on how we could make this ice house the boss, please holler.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Surviving Valentines Week
Wow! I can not believe how crazy the week of Valentines is when you have young children in school. The entire week was filled with parties, making valentines, decorating boxes and even a Valentines day singing performance by my daughter's kindergarten class.
I used to think Valentines Day was just another opportunity for gold old fashioned money spending but I was wrong. It is actually a booming, all encompassing marketing enterprise. This is definitely one of those get them when their young scenarios.
My five year old daugther had to have the most beautiful decorated box in her class. We spent several days fine tuning it to perfection with beads, silk flowers, pom poms, doilies, crystal stickers, ribbon and fairy dust glitter.
Her box was probably the prettiest but there was a box in her class that was much more clever. This other clever Valentines box was actually a dinosaur where the shoe box was the body and it had an extending head and tail. I was totally caught off guard by this dino box. Now, a decorated shoe box has become old school and a three dimensional creature mailbox is now a neccesity. I want to point out that the child with the dino box was sick but his mother was sure to bring it up to school for the party.
Now the actual Valentine cards that go in the box was a separate issue. My little blooming artist insisted on hand making each Valentine for the twenty kids in her class. We spent over a week each evening coloring these little cards. When we got to school on the big day, all the other cards were store bought with loads of candy attached to them.
The other shocking development is that my five old year has been claiming that she has a "boyfriend" and it turns out to be true. She received a very special gift from him on Valentines day.
This gift was a heart shaped box of chocolates and a ceramic bear figurine. This is scary to me that this stuff starts so early. This little boy received not one but three Valentine cards from my daughter.
This gave me an immediate flashback to when I was in junior high. On Valentines day, you could buy carnations and either personally give them to the people that you liked or you could have them delivered by student council members. It was such a stressful day for a girl or at least for me. Never really knowing how many if any you would receive. God forbid you did not even receive one and had to take the walk of shame down the hall empty handed.
After all of this, I had to think about my husband and what I was going to do for him. Who has any time or creative energy after all of this?
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
MindBites.com, Instructional Marketplace for Sharing & Learning
I wanted to officially write about MindBites. MindBites.com is based in Austin and is a new online instructional marketplace for sharing and learning that just launched Oct. 07. Austin was the perfect place to launch this business because it has the perfect balance between artists, musicians, technology experts, entrepreneurs and film makers. Instructional "how to" videos on any subject go up for sale and download for $1.99 (exactly like itunes) and MindBites splits 50% with the author of the video or designated charity.Most of the videos in all categories feature people from Austin teaching how to do things. For example, Greg Wolf from Knife Sharpest shows how to sharpen and throw knives, Phil Marburger, a Barton Creek Golf Pro, teaches golf instruction, Maudies Tex Mex has a lesson on how to make their famous salsa and pico, Cedar Door on how to make a Mexican Martini and other cocktails and lots of independent people in Austin not affiliated with any particular business.
MindBites.com is all about learning, enabling people to be able to make instructional content, sharing what they know and earning money for themselves or charity even if they have zero video/editing experience. MindBites wants to help and work with everyone who has something to share. This is truly a self-publishing platform for anyone from business owners, experts, life experts and ordinary people.
MindBites.com is all about learning, enabling people to be able to make instructional content, sharing what they know and earning money for themselves or charity even if they have zero video/editing experience. MindBites wants to help and work with everyone who has something to share. This is truly a self-publishing platform for anyone from business owners, experts, life experts and ordinary people.
Cooking Sweet & Sour Red Cabbage- Candy to the Memory and the Senses
Red cabbage is one of those things that occurs in nature and is absolutely breathtaking when you slice it open. The sheer fact that nature can create such a color, pattern and contrast just blows my mind sometimes. I had a memory from when I was a child of red cabbage. Instantly, I was flooded with thoughts, times and occasions that it was served. I began to ask friends and family members if they remember eating red cabbage and everyone seems to agree that they had it when they were younger but do not have many occasions to eat it now. I could remember it's sweetness the most and decided that I was going to cook it for my children to pass on the memory and tradition.
Instantly when I put the cabbage onto the stove and it started cooking, I experienced the smell and that completed the walk down memory lane for me. Red cabbage has such a distinct smell that you really are transformed back in time.
As I began to chop the cabbage, I remembered the texture and more memories started coming back to me but I was still in awe of it's natural beauty. I really love it when food brings back strong, great memories from the past.
Instantly when I put the cabbage onto the stove and it started cooking, I experienced the smell and that completed the walk down memory lane for me. Red cabbage has such a distinct smell that you really are transformed back in time.
I would highly recommend giving it a try. I call this "food therapy" and it really works. The bonus is that it is much cheaper than retail therapy. Oh yes, I almost forgot, here is the recipe:
1 head of red cabbage, shredded or diced
2 sour apples, peeled and cut into cubes
4 slices bacon, ham or canadian bacon
4 tbsp. brown sugar
2 tbsp. vinegar
salt and pepper to taste.
Fry the bacon (ham or canadian bacon) in the skillet until brown and lave the fat and bacon in the skillet. Add the rest of the ingredients. Cover tightly and get the cabbage mixture very hot, then turn down the heat and let it cook slowly until tender (at least 1 hour). This dish may be fixed ahead of time and reheated. Some people call this sweet and sour, red cabbage. I don't think it is sour at all, just extra tasty.
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Live to Eat or Eat to Live?
As we were eating enchiladas, fajitas, rice, beans, guac, watching the game and getting ready for a serious poker game, my husband made an announcement that he was stuffed to the gills but was going to go back for seconds anyway. He came back to the table with a huge plate stacked full and proceeded to take down the second plate with reckless abandon.
Afterwards he was so uncomfortable and was asking why we let him go back for seconds. I think that this is more typical than not. The food tastes so good that we tend to eat more than our fair share. I am wondering how we get back to the way it used to be where we eat to live rather than live to eat.
As all this was going on, I was browsing through a book that was a summary of all the various diets out there. The book was similar to the book called Diets in a Nutshell. It seemed like the secret to diets is to eat things that will make you feel full so you don't overeat. For example, "The Three Apple a Day Diet". Basically, you eat an apple before breakfast, lunch, and dinner. All of it seems to be a temporary solution targeted towards a quick slim-down but not long lasting, as one would get sick of apples after a period of time.
I think I am going to lean toward the good old-fashioned way of moderation and exercise. MindBites actually has some workout instruction that is very effective. For example, Josh Levine's Full Body Circuit rocks. You should give it a try and don't be surprised the next day when your muscles are so sore that you can hardly put your hands on the steering wheel.
If you have any workout tips or instruction that you think works, please don't be a stranger, and do upload it to MindBites. I am excited to see and learn what the world has to offer in this category. Also, I think it is important to note that my husband was so full, he was threatening to back out of the poker game.
Now that is an excuse that the poker table had not heard in a while.
Afterwards he was so uncomfortable and was asking why we let him go back for seconds. I think that this is more typical than not. The food tastes so good that we tend to eat more than our fair share. I am wondering how we get back to the way it used to be where we eat to live rather than live to eat.
As all this was going on, I was browsing through a book that was a summary of all the various diets out there. The book was similar to the book called Diets in a Nutshell. It seemed like the secret to diets is to eat things that will make you feel full so you don't overeat. For example, "The Three Apple a Day Diet". Basically, you eat an apple before breakfast, lunch, and dinner. All of it seems to be a temporary solution targeted towards a quick slim-down but not long lasting, as one would get sick of apples after a period of time.
I think I am going to lean toward the good old-fashioned way of moderation and exercise. MindBites actually has some workout instruction that is very effective. For example, Josh Levine's Full Body Circuit rocks. You should give it a try and don't be surprised the next day when your muscles are so sore that you can hardly put your hands on the steering wheel.
If you have any workout tips or instruction that you think works, please don't be a stranger, and do upload it to MindBites. I am excited to see and learn what the world has to offer in this category. Also, I think it is important to note that my husband was so full, he was threatening to back out of the poker game.
Now that is an excuse that the poker table had not heard in a while.
Interesting Items Found in Unclaimed Baggage
According to the successful business called Unclaimed Baggage that sells over a million items a year, there are some very interesting things that have been found in unclaimed luggage over the years. Here are a few that should tickle your fancy:
1. A Real Gem.
When a small plastic bag was found with a mysterious stone, it took expert help to identify the rock as a huge 40.95-carat natural emerald!
2. Press Your Suit Sir?
We wondered what dinner party someone might be attending when we discovered a full suit of armor packed in a bag! It’s an authentic replica of a 19th-century original. This is one way to avoid wrinkles while traveling!
3. Can I Help You Unpack?
A worker was unpacking a large wooden crate stuffed with mounds of packing material. He reeled back in fear when the life-size face of Hoggle, from the Jim Henson movie "Labyrinth", was uncovered. The Muppet character was produced in the London “creature workshop” and now resides in our museum in the Scottsboro store.
4. Time Travel
A well worn gucci suitcase was opened at the store. At first it appeared that it was filled with nothing but paper. But tucked inside were egyptian artifacts dating back to 1500 B.C., including a mummified falcon and shrunken head. The famous Christie's auction house sold most of the finds in the 80's.
5. Say Green Cheese!
A special camera designed for NASAs space shuttle was found in an unclaimed piece of luggage.
6. Diamond in the Rough.
A worker was checking every corner of a very plain suitcase. Inside a sock was a georgeous diamond ring set in platinum. When the experts appraised the stone, it was an amazing 5.8 carats.
7. Can I Get Off Now?
A complete, neatly packed parachute was found in an unclaimed checked bag.
8. Barbie Bonus!
A woman bought a Barbie doll for her little girl who promptly pulled the head off. The only thing that kept her from a sound scolding was the roll of $500 bills found inside. Business was brisk on Barbie dolls for weeks following the incident.
9. Which Way Did It Go?
A guidance system for a F16 fighter jet valued at a quarter million dollars was found in unclaimed luggage.
10. This Would Shake Anyone Up.
Someone packed a rattlesnake in a piece of unclaimed luggage. It was found when a worker was unpacking the bag.
1. A Real Gem.
When a small plastic bag was found with a mysterious stone, it took expert help to identify the rock as a huge 40.95-carat natural emerald!
2. Press Your Suit Sir?
We wondered what dinner party someone might be attending when we discovered a full suit of armor packed in a bag! It’s an authentic replica of a 19th-century original. This is one way to avoid wrinkles while traveling!
3. Can I Help You Unpack?
A worker was unpacking a large wooden crate stuffed with mounds of packing material. He reeled back in fear when the life-size face of Hoggle, from the Jim Henson movie "Labyrinth", was uncovered. The Muppet character was produced in the London “creature workshop” and now resides in our museum in the Scottsboro store.
4. Time Travel
A well worn gucci suitcase was opened at the store. At first it appeared that it was filled with nothing but paper. But tucked inside were egyptian artifacts dating back to 1500 B.C., including a mummified falcon and shrunken head. The famous Christie's auction house sold most of the finds in the 80's.
5. Say Green Cheese!
A special camera designed for NASAs space shuttle was found in an unclaimed piece of luggage.
6. Diamond in the Rough.
A worker was checking every corner of a very plain suitcase. Inside a sock was a georgeous diamond ring set in platinum. When the experts appraised the stone, it was an amazing 5.8 carats.
7. Can I Get Off Now?
A complete, neatly packed parachute was found in an unclaimed checked bag.
8. Barbie Bonus!
A woman bought a Barbie doll for her little girl who promptly pulled the head off. The only thing that kept her from a sound scolding was the roll of $500 bills found inside. Business was brisk on Barbie dolls for weeks following the incident.
9. Which Way Did It Go?
A guidance system for a F16 fighter jet valued at a quarter million dollars was found in unclaimed luggage.
10. This Would Shake Anyone Up.
Someone packed a rattlesnake in a piece of unclaimed luggage. It was found when a worker was unpacking the bag.
Body Art: Humans Transformed into Sci-Fi Characters?
I have been thinking about life, people and what 2008 might bring. After going out for New Years Eve in downtown Austin, I felt like I might be iiving in a weird science fiction movie. I noticed that the human race has somewhat transformed itself into sci fi like characteristics. If someone from 1900 looked forward into New Years Eve 2007, they would see people with tattoos, piercings, cosmetic enhancements, some natural and some exaggerated body forms.
They would also notice that there are still purist left who have not gone over to the other side. My curiosity was peaked when I started looking at how we must look to someone from the past. I was thinking about the movie Mad Max from 1979 which was set in the future where social decay was just around the corner with motorcyle gangs and outlaws. Sometimes I feel like I am in that movie or even Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome which was post apocalyptic madness.
I found that the Austrailian Museum of Art online has an entire section titled Body Art. The museum defines Body Art as:
Earrings, nose-rings, prince alberts, dydos, palangs, bangles, bracelets, rings, tattoos, makeup, body and face-paint, studs, nose-pins, nostrums, blood, hair, ochre, gold, silver, lip-plates, ear-weights, branding, scarring, tucking, sucking, squeezing, shaping: across all sections of society and across cultures people decorate and transform their bodies.
Body Art explores the many different ways, both temporary and permanent, in which people modify, change, decorate and adorn their bodies. It covers the what, why, how and where of 'body art'. Who does it, how do they do it and why do they do it? Themes covered include: universality, diversity and antiquity of styles; concepts of beauty; identity and transformation; meaning and significance of symbols; and pain, endurance and rites of passage.
There are some extremely interesting examples in each category that I found particularly intriguing. For example, the Body Shaping section, covers Corsetry, Footbinding, Headbinding and Plastic Surgery. I also learned that Otzi the Ice Man, who is the oldest tattooed body known, dates back 5,300 years ago measuring in with 57 tattoos, some of which appear to be for the treatment of arthritis in joints such as the ankles, knees and lower back.
If you are curious about why people engage in Body Art in general or even specifically by type, you should definitely check it all out. My next question has to do with when something crosses the line and no longer is considered Body Art- what category does it then fall into?
They would also notice that there are still purist left who have not gone over to the other side. My curiosity was peaked when I started looking at how we must look to someone from the past. I was thinking about the movie Mad Max from 1979 which was set in the future where social decay was just around the corner with motorcyle gangs and outlaws. Sometimes I feel like I am in that movie or even Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome which was post apocalyptic madness.
I found that the Austrailian Museum of Art online has an entire section titled Body Art. The museum defines Body Art as:
Earrings, nose-rings, prince alberts, dydos, palangs, bangles, bracelets, rings, tattoos, makeup, body and face-paint, studs, nose-pins, nostrums, blood, hair, ochre, gold, silver, lip-plates, ear-weights, branding, scarring, tucking, sucking, squeezing, shaping: across all sections of society and across cultures people decorate and transform their bodies.
Body Art explores the many different ways, both temporary and permanent, in which people modify, change, decorate and adorn their bodies. It covers the what, why, how and where of 'body art'. Who does it, how do they do it and why do they do it? Themes covered include: universality, diversity and antiquity of styles; concepts of beauty; identity and transformation; meaning and significance of symbols; and pain, endurance and rites of passage.
There are some extremely interesting examples in each category that I found particularly intriguing. For example, the Body Shaping section, covers Corsetry, Footbinding, Headbinding and Plastic Surgery. I also learned that Otzi the Ice Man, who is the oldest tattooed body known, dates back 5,300 years ago measuring in with 57 tattoos, some of which appear to be for the treatment of arthritis in joints such as the ankles, knees and lower back.
If you are curious about why people engage in Body Art in general or even specifically by type, you should definitely check it all out. My next question has to do with when something crosses the line and no longer is considered Body Art- what category does it then fall into?
Planning a Family Reunion, Getting Started
Two years ago, my mother and I were assigned the task of planning a family reunion for her large extended family. Being the oldest of nine children and the matriarch of the family, it seemed fitting that she would be the one to plan it. As most things roll downhill, the task rested heavily upon my shoulders. After several months of planning, meeting with caterers, writing emails, answering questions, and taking special requests, the family reunion went by in a blur and was a huge success. We thought we were off the hook for a long time until I received a phone call from the folks who volunteered for the next reunion, saying that they could not pull it off.
So here we go again: The place to start when planning a family reunion or gathering is to first, set a few dates as possibilities and take an informal poll. When taking the poll, include a general description of the event and an estimate of the expenses for lodging. It works out best when you give people a deadline to reply with their preference. It is perfectly acceptable to send out an email but remember to send a hard copy in the mail to those who are not tech savvy. If you have some internet skills, I would recommend setting up a blog page with all the pertinent information that people need to know to make up their minds.
If the majority of the family is up for the reunion, then it is officially time to get started with the planning process. I would recommend using a company called MyEvent.com. You can create an entire family reunion website through this service and they make it extremely easy. The costs are attractive with their lowest package starting at $9.95 per month and MyEvent.com says on their website that anyone with no internet skills at all can easily use the website.
The reunion website becomes the central hub of communication for the family. MyEvent.com has some very cool features such as uploading photo albums and family trees as well as the ability to take polls for different activities that might happen during the reunion. I also think the ability to rsvp and pay for deposits and other costs through the family website is a helpful function.
To get the planning underway, it is best to collect a deposit from each family that is planning to attend the reunion. The deposit serves as a commitment to attend the event as well as a security deposit to cover certain non-refundable expenses should family members change their mind close to the reunion date. I have always found that giving family members as much time as possible to send in the deposit usually works best. I typically say 3 to 6 months.
Once you have set the date set and the people are committed to attend, the fun part begins.
Planning a reunion is a lot of work but is truly a rewarding experience. Stay tuned for more tips as my own reunion planning unfolds.
So here we go again: The place to start when planning a family reunion or gathering is to first, set a few dates as possibilities and take an informal poll. When taking the poll, include a general description of the event and an estimate of the expenses for lodging. It works out best when you give people a deadline to reply with their preference. It is perfectly acceptable to send out an email but remember to send a hard copy in the mail to those who are not tech savvy. If you have some internet skills, I would recommend setting up a blog page with all the pertinent information that people need to know to make up their minds.
If the majority of the family is up for the reunion, then it is officially time to get started with the planning process. I would recommend using a company called MyEvent.com. You can create an entire family reunion website through this service and they make it extremely easy. The costs are attractive with their lowest package starting at $9.95 per month and MyEvent.com says on their website that anyone with no internet skills at all can easily use the website.
The reunion website becomes the central hub of communication for the family. MyEvent.com has some very cool features such as uploading photo albums and family trees as well as the ability to take polls for different activities that might happen during the reunion. I also think the ability to rsvp and pay for deposits and other costs through the family website is a helpful function.
To get the planning underway, it is best to collect a deposit from each family that is planning to attend the reunion. The deposit serves as a commitment to attend the event as well as a security deposit to cover certain non-refundable expenses should family members change their mind close to the reunion date. I have always found that giving family members as much time as possible to send in the deposit usually works best. I typically say 3 to 6 months.
Once you have set the date set and the people are committed to attend, the fun part begins.
Planning a reunion is a lot of work but is truly a rewarding experience. Stay tuned for more tips as my own reunion planning unfolds.
The Home Remodeling Process- Learning Where and How to Get Started
After putting off the remodel job in our master bathroom for what seems like forever, the time has finally come to start the process. For me getting started means a lot of research on the subject matter. After all the time that I have spent trying to wrap my head around the situation, I think the best place to start is the National Association of Remodeling Industry, otherwise known as NARI. The NARI site has information such as things to look for when selecting a remodeling professional, when you need to hire an architect, and tips for remodeling. The part that I found most helpful is a directory list of all the remodeling contractors that are registered with NARI in your area. This is really an excellent place to start and overall I found this to be the single best resource online.
If you are planning to remodel your kitchen and/or bath, the next place I would look is the National Kitchen & Bath Association website (otherwise known as NKBA). This has some excellent resources on guidelines, planning, and hiring a NKBA certified designer. For example, they have an entire section on product news that outlines all the latest and greatest products on the market. In addition, you can use the site to search for design professionals in your area. I also liked all the photographs of the award winning kitchens and bathrooms. It definitely stimulates the mind and gets the creative juices flowing.
I found out that when you hire a designer for a remodeling project, the average price for design services range from $60 to $200 per hour. Typically a designer will charge an hourly fee and cost plus on the purchase finish items such as tile, bathtubs, fixtures etc. The cost plus percentage varies by designer and they will outline their fee schedule in the contract.
Another solid resource for getting your sea legs in the whole remodeling process is the Home & Garden Television website (HGTV). They have an entire section designated for remodeling with information outlined by category. For example, they have categories ranging from architecture, books/videos, tools, walls, interior design... you name it, it is there. Each week they have different helpful articles that are centered around the topic of remodeling. Best of all is the Remodeling Toolbox. They have handy calculators and tools such as:
3-D Kitchen Designer
Remodeling Budget Estimator
Drywall Calculator
Paint Estimator
Tile Estimator
Also they have a how to video center. The first quick how to video I watched was about peeling off old wallpaper which can be a beast of a project if you do not know any helpul tips and tricks. There is vast information available online on this subject. In addition, your local bookstore is loaded with hardback design books that will serve as a great resource for ideas. I would suggest spending a little bit of research time each day until you feel comfortable moving forward with your project.
After you have determined the scope of work, it is time to get started on making a binder/wish book with examples of things that you find appealing. This can include pictures from magazines, advertisements, photographs and drawings. Also be sure to include types of tile, stone, fixtures, appliances, etc. that you like. If you have a favorite piece of art or a rug that you would like to use as a color inspiration for your remodel, be sure to include a photograph of that as well. It is ok to have part of your wishbook on your computer if you want to include digital photos of things that you have found online. The wishbook will serve as place for you to collect your thoughts and wil help architects, designers, contractors, and even store clerks understand what you are trying to accomplish with your project.
Stay tuned for more information on this subject as the process unfolds.
If you are planning to remodel your kitchen and/or bath, the next place I would look is the National Kitchen & Bath Association website (otherwise known as NKBA). This has some excellent resources on guidelines, planning, and hiring a NKBA certified designer. For example, they have an entire section on product news that outlines all the latest and greatest products on the market. In addition, you can use the site to search for design professionals in your area. I also liked all the photographs of the award winning kitchens and bathrooms. It definitely stimulates the mind and gets the creative juices flowing.
I found out that when you hire a designer for a remodeling project, the average price for design services range from $60 to $200 per hour. Typically a designer will charge an hourly fee and cost plus on the purchase finish items such as tile, bathtubs, fixtures etc. The cost plus percentage varies by designer and they will outline their fee schedule in the contract.
Another solid resource for getting your sea legs in the whole remodeling process is the Home & Garden Television website (HGTV). They have an entire section designated for remodeling with information outlined by category. For example, they have categories ranging from architecture, books/videos, tools, walls, interior design... you name it, it is there. Each week they have different helpful articles that are centered around the topic of remodeling. Best of all is the Remodeling Toolbox. They have handy calculators and tools such as:
3-D Kitchen Designer
Remodeling Budget Estimator
Drywall Calculator
Paint Estimator
Tile Estimator
Also they have a how to video center. The first quick how to video I watched was about peeling off old wallpaper which can be a beast of a project if you do not know any helpul tips and tricks. There is vast information available online on this subject. In addition, your local bookstore is loaded with hardback design books that will serve as a great resource for ideas. I would suggest spending a little bit of research time each day until you feel comfortable moving forward with your project.
After you have determined the scope of work, it is time to get started on making a binder/wish book with examples of things that you find appealing. This can include pictures from magazines, advertisements, photographs and drawings. Also be sure to include types of tile, stone, fixtures, appliances, etc. that you like. If you have a favorite piece of art or a rug that you would like to use as a color inspiration for your remodel, be sure to include a photograph of that as well. It is ok to have part of your wishbook on your computer if you want to include digital photos of things that you have found online. The wishbook will serve as place for you to collect your thoughts and wil help architects, designers, contractors, and even store clerks understand what you are trying to accomplish with your project.
Stay tuned for more information on this subject as the process unfolds.
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