2108 Westside Drive in Council Bluffs

A dear friend of mine asked for assistance in preparing her home for the market. The house is cute, quaint, clean, quiet & charming.

The home is in good condition and would make a great starter home for a single, a couple, or a small family. It's close to the interstate and yet centrally located close to parks, schools, and grocery shopping all on a quiet curvy street on the outskirts of town. And?!.. No neighbors behind you so taking advantage of the great outdoor space for grilling and chilling out back is ideal.

My professional staging services consisted of de-cluttering, depersonalization of the space, a little dusting and cleaning up, rearranging, adding decorative pieces to accentuate the homes features and wah-lah! It's ready for the perfect buyer!

Open House is Sunday from 1-2:30 pm . Stop on to take a peek or call the agent for a private showing.


Below are some "before" and "after" pics of the property. If you or anyone you know may be interested in the property itself, or for advice and tips on how to get your home ready for the market, please inquire at ashleydawn14@hotmail.com or call 402. five nine five. zero zero five two

Before(s):

                        


                                                                              After(s):

http://searchia.npdodge.com/index.cfm?action=listing_detail&property_id=11-2226&searchkey=e55a93fa-a055-c458-9d2d-9c353e4bdadf&npp=20&sr=1#.TpOTtte4ihg.facebook

Tidbit Tuesday

Here's your sign:

Grimy bathroom walls are a major red flag to buyers.

Here is an easy way to get rid of surface mold: Mix a spray bottle with one part water and one part bleach. Just spray it on the wall, and watch the mold disappear. Give it a fresh coat of paint (in amy neutral shade) and your grimy bathroom will go from red flag to red-hot!!

The inventory of homes for sale is currently close to unlimited. As the seller, you have to get your home in shape and set the bar high for the other homes in comparison or you'll have no chance of selling, let alone fast.

It's all about appearance and a little elbow grease and mild cleaner can do wonders for any home.

If assistance is needed in prepping your property for the market, let's talk and I'll certainly assist in any way possible to make your property the most desired in the area.

Email inquiries to:
Ashleydawn14@hotmail.com or call me at 402. Five Nine Five. Zero Zero Five Two

And Happy Tuesday to you and yours! :)

Carpet Cleaner = Magic Worker

This dreary and dreadful Monday morning has gone easy breezy in the Mavropoulos household. All kids woke up (in good, well rested moods), dressed to impress, fed the breakfast for champions, lunches packed that will warm their little souls on this chilly day (October has graced us today and it's not exactly the 80 degree weather we've had the last couple days), faces washed, teeth brushed, hair combed, assembled with all the bags and sacks needed to continue with their day. They were out the door in their autumn best and on their way.

As soon as I blew kisses to the car fully stocked like a school bus en route to their educational endeavors of the day, a flutter of excitement overwhelmed me and a smile graced my face.

I knew I could dive into deep cleaning the carpets with my most valuable treasure that I hold near and dear.

This small home appliance is not the top of the line nor the creme de la creme. It's a Bissell little green machine and judging by it's capability, it's name has little impact on setting the image for it's amazingness.

My morning has been spent on all fours, ruthlessly uplifting stains and spots from the carpet left by the previous tenant. It's been A great success! I'm not being sarcastic. I'm grateful for such modern day housewife conveniences. (Simple pleasures make me happy)

If you know me, you know carpet and I don't exactly love each other. I actually detest it's entire existence when stretched from floor board to floor board forming a sea of infested intertwined mass of fibers. Gross :/

Now the presence of a beautiful woven area rug done up in well fashion to coordinate with accessories, throw pillows, or curtains to add that "pop" of color is an easy design element that can be accomplished by any amateur.

To have a home completely covered in wood floors or a cold tile, although absolutely stunning, makes sense to have such said rugs laid down periodically. It's like a frog jumping from lily pad to lily pad to avoid touching water, we could act as children and jump from warm rug to warm rug as to not let our feet touch the cold surface. Although a cozy pair of fuzzy slippers with a nice rubber bottom to avoid any accidental spills will suffice and warm your tootsies all in good style :) I have pairs that coordinate with all of my pajamas.

I'm an obsessive compulsive neat freak maniac mother of my home and I try my absolute best to keep everything sanitized and sparkly. But carpet?! ... There is just no telling what allergens and absolute disgust and filth resides deep down to the pad.

My son was prescribed an allergy medicine he is to take every night before bed, as well as a nasal spray to mist into the cavity to clear any debris that causes the sneezing, coughing, runny nose, itchy eyes. And I know such irritants are found in the air surrounding us, we are constantly in contact with it, breathing it but the carpet too?! Icky!!! Sicky!!!

When I redo the house, the floors will not consist of carpet upon carpet upon woven interlaced mass of a mess. Its just a piece of mind knowing that dirt and dust can be swept up and mopped up and anything spilled doesn't seep to the depths of the abyss of synthetic fibers.

However, if you do have carpets (and small children) do your family a favor: Invest $100 at your local Sears or Target for a Bissell little green carpet conquering machine. It does wonders... And you'll feel so much better knowing if any accidents happen, YOU (and your magic wand) can handle it!

Please note: there is no need for me to label "before" and/or "after" on the attached pics. Pictures speak a thousand words and in this case, a thousand and one.

Now?!... What shall I dive into next? It's not even noon and my mission has been accomplished

Def: home staging

If you or anyone you know might be interested in getting their homes ready for the market, I would be more than happy to give them a free consultation and advice for preparing their home for today's market.

It's about making the homes appearance to it's absolute best resulting in getting the home you have for sale sold faster.

http://www.qcdesignschool.com/qcdesign/websites/profile.asp?q=20463

http://realestate.about.com/od/sv/g/defstaging.htm

http://realestate.about.com/od/servingsellers/a/01_home_staging.htm

I not only stage homes for sale, I stage homes you currently reside in and get them prepped for holidays, guests coming to town, a party, or even a home you recently moved into and just aren't sure how to go about unpacking and organizing everything. We'll work together to "set the stage" for any milestone or event you have. I want to make it simple on you, take the addition stress out of it, and leave you feeling positive about your property, in whichever way possible.

It'll be "perfectly prepped" for any occasion.

Please don't hesitate to inquire about any assistance I may provide.

Ashleydawn14@hotmail.com
402 five nine five ... zero zero five two

••• ZzZzZz •••

As I lay here in bed, staring up at the ceiling, wondering why in the hell I am unable to sleep when frankly I can't think straight all day today (let alone stand up properly) filled from head to toe with complete exhaustion, I am hearing snores and sounds of sleeping bodies surrounding me. It brings a smile to my face and perhaps I answer my own question. ...sleep can wait tonight...

I have Jaxon in bed next to me, which isn't a habit in our home. We all have our own beds and our own "space" for good reason (sanity) so him being snuggled in the queen's bed tonight is a treat for him (and this queen-although I won't admit that to him).

He is completely comfortable, completely vulnerable. I wonder what he dreams of. I hope something entirely juvenile and he enjoys these moments. Kids grow too fast and I often find worry pressing down on him at too early of a stage in his growing cycle. He gets that from me I am certain. I never was so tightly wound, until I gave birth to him. I think striving to be a perfect mother took it's toll on me and rubbed off on him in the process of my wanting perfection in his life. We now make each other nervous, when we're not too busy just being "us" and having fun. Frequently reminding myself to meditate and breathe brings peace and comfort to my mommy soul.

And then...

I have Viand squeaking on my opposite side. Laying peacefully in the bassinet placed by my bedside. Someone once told me that babies dream about boobies and bubbles, which made me laugh hysterically. Part of me thinks thats absolutely true. Whatever she is dreaming about often makes her smile, eyes closed but not tight.

Both of my children sleep like me...excessively and with eyes half open. It's not a joke. It's established and made habit in infancy and it's something we don't even realize we do until the embarrassing moment when it's brought to our attention.

I have a polaroid picture of myself, shot by my father approximately 22 years ago or so. I'm face down, on the carpeted floor in our living room, dressed from head to toe in New Kids on the Block pajamas, head to the right, mouth ajar producing oodles of slobber, and eyes almost completely open. Had they not have been rolled into the back of my cranium, you'd swear I was either in a coma or dead.

Luckily we have long eye lashes which produce a shutter-like effect. Louvered shutters at that, which funny enough is an item I'm currently bidding for on eBay. These "shutter eye lashes" act as a shade from any light trying to keep us awake. I'm telling you...we are a family of sleep lovers! Not much keeps us awake.

Which is why I find it so extremely odd that as of late I seem to have nights of insomnia. It's unlike me and completely out of character. I think about all the other things I could be doing ie: laundry, studying for a test I have yet to pass, reading, perfecting my extremely horrendous knitting skills.

Although, I do highly recommend taking a night off from snoozing, even if only for an hour, to listen to the beautiful production sleeping children put on while the rest of the world falls into the suspension of consciousness. Leopold Strokowski himself could not masterfully conduct such an orchestra.

Let's not forget Moni, the sweetest and smallest of all Shih Tzu's, at the foot of the bed, sawing logs. She is the master of snoring and also sleeps with eyes open. She is certainly one of us :)

So there you have it...a family snuggled into one bedroom, all within feet of each other, somberly snoring, sleeping with eyes slivered open, dreaming and smiling. My entire world is at peace.

Life is good :)

...onward n upward...

My computer has crashed :( making blogging of any sort nearly impossible. Smartphones are great though :)

In the weeks that have passed since my last confession...errr blog ;) we've managed to bring baby Viand home. Blogging about such a deep and heart felt feeling will take careful consideration and a peaceful zen moment for me to be able to get clearly communicated. When it comes to this being, I'm absolute mush from the inside out. Stating she is a blessing is...well...an understatement. She has managed to fill my heart and soul to the brim and I overflow with such happiness and love and delight, I feel awakened and alive. She is perfect...like God himself went through my checklist, item by line item and wrapped her up in a pink bow. Specially ordered :)

We have also moved, a temp situation that was also a blessing in disguise. It's worked out well and we've managed to make it a "home" although we know it's only a stepping stone. It's comfortable and cozy and clean, making it an easy adjustment for the kids, which is most important.

At the end of the month (or beginning of November) we will be back in the house. The "home" we have drifted away from in the past yet we manage to get washed upon shore again bringing us to the footstep. We'll stay there indefinitely (fingers crossed) So... You can imagine by excitement of being able to start (yet again) with a blank canvas of square footage to tweak and design and wave my magical wand of talent turning this house back into a home.

Not as though I get much sleep now (with a new bebe at home) but I'm finding myself daydreaming and drafting options and collecting my data (pictures) on the overall scheme of things. However, all that reno work would require the appropriate funds and we'll just plan to take things one at a time.

I'll most definitely blog the before and afters and keep everyone posted on the events of this progress.

In the meantime, it's fall! My absolute favorite time of the year. Makes me think of when I first met my husband. We courted during this time of year and madly fell in love, with leaves falling around us, drinking the richest of red wines, wrapping ourselves in knitted scarves (sometimes only that) to keep warm from the brisk air floating through the opened windows, candles lit. Mmmmm... One day I'll have to write a book about it. Amazing to look back and reminisce about where we started and how far we've come.

I finally feel at peace with myself, with my love, with my life. I enjoy very much this chapter of the Dimandashi novel and continually count my blessings :)

:: in the nest ::

n. nest
v. nest·ed, nest·ing, nests
1) To create and settle into a warm and secure refuge.

2) A place in which young are reared; a lair
3) A place affording snug refuge or lodging; a home.

4) A place or environment that fosters rapid growth or development
5) A cluster of similar things

...all of the above seems quite like the explanation of the diagnosis I have been blessed with...
No medication could be prescribed for such an ailment. Doctor says all is well and keep up the good work :)



It's as though we are programmed to prepare everything around us so our newest addition is comfortable to the "nest"; able to "fit" in neatly with the rest of the "V" formation this family flies in. It soothes us to know everything is neatly in order and it's surprising to witness all the wonderful things around us that have been designed with this exact idea in mind. Whetherbeit design for furniture

(which strangely enough looks like a family portrait I've been trying to achieve for years)

...or knick-knacks placed on a wooden shelf and forgotten about until the dust is thick enough to make anyone embarassed...
(Now: prepare yourself. This looks like an exact replica of my family)

Crazy huh? Although I am certain we'd argue about who is whom. I am positive that I am biggest (currently that is not far fetched) because I carry the whole clan inside of me at all times. That's what a mother is and what a mother does. It's another subconscious ailment that is just as normal as the blood flowing through us. We want only the best for our entire family and we bend over backwards to accomodate them all so they are all happy and healthy.

It's funny to know all the exact things that your children want/need/prefer. Even grocery shopping with my husband is a hurdle we have to jump over weekly. I KNOW what the kids will and will not eat. I KNOW what they prefer to be packed in their lunches or what I can try to "sneak" into the bags and KNOW it will get tossed away without being touched. I KNOW what will bring smiles to their faces. My husband (although his intentions are always in the right place) hasn't a clue frankly. Bless his heart :) xoxo



It's the last trimester of this pregnancy. Not only the last trimester but we are dwindling down and have exactly 2 weeks until the scheduled appointment. If the little girl decides to grace us with her presence in the meantime; we are ready, willing, and able; however, it's a piece of mind knowing that we are placed into the hospital database to show up at 11am on a Friday morning and getting all prepared for the procedure at 1pm.
What technology?! What a fabulous country to live in...

Approximately 6 years at the end of December, I went into labor with my son. It was nothing like they portray on the big silver screen. There was no rushing around frantically, not knowing what to grab, screaming and folding in half from the pain that was taking place due to contractions. It was calm, relaxed, I took a nice shower and prepared the car to head to the hospital.

After pushing for 2 hours, my body was completely drained. No food or drink with the epidural and the medication made me so very sick I couldn't have kept anything down had I wanted to. I could feel that Jaxon wasn't capable of being brought into this world by guiding himself down the tunnel, following the "light". ((lol)) I was NOT in good shape and my closest family witnessed this firsthand and knew it was only a matter of time before I would fade and my infant would give up the struggle. My body was just not prepared for what I had in "store".

After requesting a spot in the OR immediately, I delivered a very healthy and hefty 10lb 15oz baby boy approximately 20 minutes later that was anything but ready to come into this world. He was quite content where he was, I am certain of that.

I'll make this next point short, simple, to the point: had I not been blessed to live in this country, in this era, I wouldn't have made it. It's not so uncommon for a woman to struggle during childbirth and not make it through. I am very blessed to have made it through because it was not a pleasant experience with little complications. But it turned out fine in the end and I love my son more than I thought imaginable.

This pregnancy has been absolutely sensational compared to the first. They aren't kidding when you they tell you that every pregnancy is different, just as though every child is. It's been such an improvement and overall a joyous experience.

Moving from one apartment---to the next (Don't ask please...it's a long drawn out story that would be blog worthy when I have enough time, patience, and emotional stability to explain it all) in god awful heat during these summer months, during the last months of my pregnancy was NOT my first choice on how to go about doing this. However, it all worked out absolutely perfectly and again, we transitioned just fine and feel completely blessed with the progress.

Now...it's days filled with cleaning, unpacking, setting up a home, and lots of lots of baking :)
I haven't completely tackled the task of unpacking all the clothes for the bedroom. It's an emotional thing. As I reach into these boxes to pull out clothes to place into the closet, they appear so small and petitie for a woman of my current size. It saddens me. Will I ever fit into these cute ensembles again or will it be a whole new endeavor to find a new wardrobe to fit over my post-baby body? I'm thinking with having a 10lb 15oz baby, and getting my body back in about a year, I have good genes to rely on. However, after the second child, it can't be that easy. This baby shall be much smaller and we must remember that it takes 9 whole months for our bodies to transform completely to be able to give birth, it will take that long (or a bit more) to get it back to where it started. I have faith.

Meanwhile, I am consuming all that I must bake. Yesterday was Snickerdoodle cookies


which were enjoyed thouroughly by all of us.

Tonight: Chocolate Crinkle cookies (which I remember fondly from my childhood)


Now: If I could invest time and concentration into the clothes closet as I do the baking...I'd really be on a roll.
In the meantime, I'll enjoy my cookies and THINK about attempting the closet feat.