The "Wait For Nate" Is Over!

This was the morning I've been waiting for all summer....the Nate Berkus Show premiered this morning at 9:00 am and it did not disappoint.  For those of you not in the know, Nate Berkus is the award winning decorator who came to national attention when he was pinned to Oprah as her show's decorating expert.  It goes without saying that Oprah is the producer of this new show.  Not only is Nate just downright precious, but his design work is wonderful.

The first show featured a terrific kitchen makeover followed by tips on decorating with "found" objects, how to choose a paint color, and more.  All delivered with that boyish enthusiasm and charm that has endeared him to me and his many, many other followers since Oprah first brought him into our living rooms.  I can see I will need to set my DVR to 9:00 am every weekday morning so I don't miss any shows due to annoying disstractions like work and clients (check http://www.thenateshow.com for showtimes in your area),.

I noticed that Nate's website and show have lots of organizing ideas and hints that I know I'll be interested in.  Nate's decorating inspirations are almost always function over form, and his spaces are wonderfully livable as well as beautiful.  I have always been particularily impressed with what he can do with small spaces that require unique, muliti-purpose furnishings and storage solutions.

I was disappointed to see Oprah announce that this would be her final season, but I thank her for leaving us Nate (it almost makes up for her saddling us with Dr. Phil...almost).

Happy Organizing

Must Love Dogs

I'm taking a break from organizing tips in this post (I seem to be doing that a lot lately) to tell you about the love of my life, Dixie.  Dixie is my 6 year old yorkshire terrier.  She is a spoiled, pushy, diva, who absolutely runs my life.  If you are a yorkie person you will not find this alarming, and if you have not experienced the joy of living with a yorkie you probably will not understand.  But, suffice it say these are yorkie personality traits that, in addition to being cuddly, loyal and affectionate make yorkies great companions.

The photo in the header of my blog with the milk bone in the coffee cup is just one example of how this little girl never fails to inject herself into almost every minute of my day.  My friends will tell you that getting between me and my coffee in the morning is not a great idea.  Dixie loves her milk bones and she especially enjoys tossing them around and playing with them before settling down to eat them.  On this morning she managed to toss her milk bone so high it landed right in my coffee.  I couldn't resist the urge to grab my iPhone and snap a photo.  Of course, Dixie barked and whined until I fished the milk bone out and gave it to her...don't worry, I made myself a fresh cup of coffee.

Dixie's bio:  Miss Dixie hails from Fresno, California.  Because she's a California girl, she hates Texas weather...thunder, lightening, rain, and temps over 80.  She loves her backyard, milk bones, cheese, car trips, hanging out at Petsmart (because she gets lots of attention there), beauty sleep, and me.  She is not terribly fond of other dogs, cats, being ignored, and the motorcycle next door.

Dixie came into my life in the last years of my marriage and saw me through a divorce, the passings of my brother and my dad, moved with me from Monterey, CA to San Antonio, TX , all without missing a beat.  I have cried a river of tears into her soft fur and she's never complained, never judged, and never denied me "kisses".

I will interject one organizational note here.  Dogs, like children, need routine.  If you keep them on a good schedule for eating, walking and playing they will reward you with good manners and a good temperament.  Trust me, you could set your watch by Dixie's stomach!  My realtor's schedule can be eratic at times, but I keep her needs in mind when planning my day.  If you can't keep to a routine for a pet you really have no business owning one.

Thanks for letting me gush about my little girl.  If you have a furry friend in your life, then you know how lucky you are.  Heck, even our "goddess of good things", Martha Stewart, couldn't resist designing a line of dog accessories (the dog bowl with a rubber lid...genius!).  I believe you should live a life of gratitude and I am truly grateful for my Dixie.

Happy Organizing