I went to a meeting the other night at a woman’s house here on base. The minute I walked in, I felt like I was transported into another world. The house was so beautifully decorated with teak furniture imported from the Philippines, Saipan and Bali. There were yummy smelling candles, elegant accessories, and beautiful sheer curtains she picked up on a trip to Bali. The house oozed of elegance and warmth. It felt so comfortable and inviting. Truly, Nate Berkus has nothing on this woman who I would guess is in her mid to late twenties. Since I was the first to arrive, I watched the reaction of the other attendees as they came in the door and all had the exact reaction I did: AWE.
In my mind, I kept thinking: What’s up with this? She has three dogs and is fostering a puppy, she works full time, and she volunteers every Sunday, all day, at the animal shelter. Where did she find the time to keep her home looking so beautiful. Don’t get me wrong, I like my house just fine but I don’t expend a whole lot of energy keeping it looking spectacular but, there are times when I feel I should.
Finally, the last attendee arrived and as I watched her face register how beautiful the house looked, she said “So, this is what a home can look like if you don’t have children.” Ah, that was it 😉
Since FG was with me and took exception to this comment, I assured her that the woman didn’t mean that she didn’t like children(she has three children she loves dearly), she was just justifying for the rest of us why we shouldn’t compare our homes to this “model” home. One good thing, it’s inspired me to hang those curtains since my “we just moved in” excuse is fast becoming untrue. Hard to believe we’ve been here 6 months already! Now if only I could jet over to Bali for the weekend and pick up some of those gorgeous curtains 🙂
Displaced Beachbums 
Kahne: Bali is one of the weekend trips Continental offers from here at a really discounted price. We’re hoping to make it there sometime before we move back to the states but for now Australia is on the top of our travel list ~ it’s only a 4-hour flight.
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Patti,
I know what you mean. People complimented me on my house when they came over for a baby shower I gave for my sister this past weekend. I give my artistic husband all the credit. He knows just how to hang things to make them look nice. What they don’t know, however, is the mess that I’ve had downstairs for the last 6 months was just all moved upstairs to the “spare room.”
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That’s funny that you mentioned Nate Berkus. What I wouldn’t give to spend a day shopping with him at Wal-mart (or Target in my case…don’t like Wal-mart). I remember the episode of “Oprah” where she sent several women to Wal-mart with Berkus and he decorated their homes as if he had purchased it all at Neiman Marcus. Ahh….:)
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Really? Bali for the weekend? Just when I thought I couldn’t get more jealous.
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