Daily Deals in Your City.

Watch this video to learn about a great site for saving money. One awesome deal a day in your city. If you are traveling, just change your location for a great deal on meals, lodging, shopping or entertainment. If you like the deal you sign up for it. If enough people sign up the deal becomes active and you print out your deal voucher. So, share the groupon craze with your friends and start saving today.

What is Groupon from Vanida Vae on Vimeo.

Remember.

Kitchen Couture

I am known for my collection of aprons. Its a nice pick me up to put on a fun and flirty apron after a long day when you may not be feeling quite so fashionable. Aprons now come in so many beautiful fabrics and with as much detail as a piece from your wardrobe. They are truly a little bit of Kitchen Couture. Some of my favorite patterns such as, Scarlett Blossom and Pink Chocolate are now available for you to purchase in my Happy Home Maker Shop. This one featured in the photo above, is an adorable cant-go-wrong basic in Sassy Black. Yes, it has a cell phone or ipod pocket! Make sure to grab yours or it makes a great Hostess gift.

Women4Women Conference

Please join us on Friday, August 20, 2010 for the Women4Women Conference from 8am-3-pm at FirstHealth of the Carolinas. I will be presenting a Design on a Dime break out session that will be full of great inexpensive ways to redecorate your home.

If you would like information or tickets please call 910-695-5540 or email moore.women4women@gmail.com

I hope to see you there and be sure to stop by our booth and say hello!

Happy Home Maker Shop Coming Soon!

Having worked in the home decor and decorating industry for many years, I have found so many awesome products and services that I would love to share. Finally, I have my chance to put many of those items together in one place and offer them to my readers.

The Happy Home Maker Shop powered by Open Sky is about to launch. Open Sky gives me the opportunity to hand select my favorite items from real people with unique and wonderful products. These awesome throw pillows in the photo above are just a taste of the garden of goodies that you will find in my shop!

I am so excited to announce this new resource for creating your perfect idea of home. You can shop with confidence knowing that all the fun and fabulous finds are from a trusted source. Stay tuned and get ready to enjoy your personal shopping experience!

Wanted: Panera Rewards

If you have not already signed up, you are missing out. Panera Bread recently launched their My Panera Rewards Program. You can earn free drinks, smoothies, pastries and discounts. They are also creating in-store events and other specials for members, including birthday rewards. Stop in at your local store and ask for a card, go online and activate your membership and you earn a freebie, just for signing up. Keep up with your offers on the website to watch for their expiration dates. Its the greatest thing since sliced bread!

Summer Whites

Whether you spent your summer vacation at a high end hotel or at a shabby chic beach bungalow, a signature of destination living is the crisp look of all white bedding. There is something so soothing about crawling in to a bed with fresh white sheets and a truck load of pillows. This relaxing feeling does not have to end, its easy to create in your own home.

No matter what your bedroom decor and color scheme, you can make it work with white. For most of us there is already a set of plain white sheets in the linen closet. Send them through the wash to give them a freshening up. If you like you can use a detergent that contains your favorite aromatherapy scent. Use the white set as your complete base layer. Next you can invest in a plain white duvet cover to use with your existing comfortor, or add a plain white textured cotton blanket. Finally, add no more than two color elements by using patterned pillowcases or throw pillows and top it off with a pretty blanket or throw at the end of the bed. The only problem is come Monday, you may not want to get up! (All images courtesy of bhg.com)

Shoes in My Inbox.

If you love shoes and handbags or maybe you are someone who is totally overwhelmed when it comes to making fashion decisions. Either way, I have the website for you. At www.justfab.com you not only can purchase fabulous shoes for $39.95 including shipping, your choices are personally selected for you by their style experts. How about that for a little rock star treatment! Here's the skinny. You take a quick style quiz on the website and open an account. In about 24-48 hours you receive an email with a personal boutique created just for you! You can purchase or not purchase any of the options. Then you will receive a new selection each month. So, if you are not liking any of the matches e-Harmony is sending you, try getting fixed up with the perfect shoe!

Carolina "cupcakes" on my mind.

Ok, so due to my reality show addiction, I have now spun off to a cupcake craving! Locally, I really dig Baby Cakes Gourmet Cupcakes in Raleigh, NC. How can you not love a place that gives you all the rationalization you need to indulge. Their montra: Perfectly sized portions of personal happiness. They are large enough to be satisfying, but small enough to be guilt-free.
Does it get simpler than that? With flavors like, Latte Love, Devils Advocate and Bunny Hop, its a sure thing. Check them out at http://www.carolinababycakes.com/index.html

A Flower That Is No Diva.

My Clematis vine is one of my favorite plants. It blooms like a diva without all the attitude!
This is a photo of one of mine. It is in its second season and going strong. If you want a perennial with a blast of color and basic maintenance, the clematis is the flower for you. It will need a support or trellis. They love the sun, about 6 hours a day is great. If you are in a southern zone, plant them in late afternoon shade to keep the bloom's color from fading.
The best advice to keep a Clematis happy is to give them sun on their faces and shade on their toes! I have to agree with the Clematis, that makes me happy too!

Welcome to The Happy Home Maker!

What is Home? The answer is as individual as a fingerprint. For some, it is brick and mortar, for others it is abstract and free form. In my experience as a decorator, organizer and home stager, I can say for certain, that to everyone, home is the heart and soul of life. Whatever your personal style, life view or social standing, everyone can have a home uniquely their own. The Happy Homemaker provides, advice, tips and resources to begin building your foundation. Welcome, and please make yourself at home!