Halloween - Show off Invite

Have you noticed the leaves blowing across the road as you commute to work?

Whoa now...take a deep breath...I can feel your anxiety growing.  Yes, it is that time of year...  Fall.  Autumn.  Harvest. Samhain.  The colors of Autumn are like no other, clay reds and rich golds strike a contrast against cerulean blue skies. The bounty of a harvest, eye candy for the mind, it is why we venture out with our parkas to take in this breathtaking season.

Like my grandfather and Yeats, some of you see this season as an ending, a reminder that the promise of summer has expired.  But...Autumn is inspiring, invigorating, and full of the promise of holidays yet to come. 

It all starts with Halloween. Spooky and Spectacular, Halloween embodies and kicks off the season of Autumn.  How will you decorate your home for the season?

Submit pictures of your home decor achievements here and have them featured on The Interior Muse

Reflections on Mentors

How many of you out there have the good fortune of being conscious of the role mentors play in our everyday lives?

I ask because today I was musing on the importance of mentorship and the impact it can have.  The latest Wikipedia states, "Mentorship refers to a personal developmental relationship in which a more experienced or more knowledgeable person helps a less experienced or less knowledgeable person."  I am not particularly enamored with this definition, as it implies a very structured relationship, but if you read further there are hints of the informal channels that I have personally experienced as sources of my mentors becomes evident.

Mentors arise from absolute strangers, casual aquaintances, formally trained and paid subject matter experts, dearest friends and family, to even you  - as you sit there and read through these words.  We all experience the opportunity to give and receive mentorship.  All too often, sadly, these opportunities are lost amid the background noise of our lives.  Take a moment to reflect upon your day and ask "Who are the mentors in your life?" and "Who did I mentor today?"


My mentors inspired me to be better today than I was yesterday...
By being a mentor today I created a similar inspiration in someone else...

It was a good day.

Be Bold, Be Brave, Be Uniquely You...and Elevate Lives with Effortless Style

Exciting News from The Interior Muse

The Interior Muse is back!  You were wondering what I was up to weren't you?  Well wonder no longer. 

This year I celebrated my birthday by taking my tag line's advice to be bold, be brave and be uniquely you.  In doing so I have achieved a lifelong dream and founded Design9 LLC, an interior decorating company that specializes in property styling. 

Over twenty years ago I attended college to earn an associates degree in interior design.  During the intervening years between then and now I raised a family and climbed the corporate ladder with careers in marketing, procurement, auditing, and six sigma project management.  While all of this was extremely fulfilling I realized a few years ago that something was missing. 

Passion...Joie de Vivre...call it what you want.  It is the difference between living to work and working to live and I couldn't be happier with my decision.  Answering your inner calling isn't always a bed of roses, but suddenly I find there is a smile on my face all the time, a spring in my step, and the near Christmas-ish joy when I open the mailbox to find packages addressed to the Interior Muse at Design9.   People are noticing the change...I have noticed too, and it is good!

So what does all of this mean for you?  Am I going to stop providing free inspiration, helpful tips and suggestions that are practical and result in rooms that elevate your status?  Of course not!  My mission remains the same...although the tag line has changed.  I am here for you.  I started Design9 so we can achieve our dreams together.  Design9 is your value added resource.  Allowing you to realize your dreams by letting you focus on what you do best while the Interior Muse dresses your home to the nines. 

What are you waiting for?  Go check out Design9 now.  

There will be more to come...in the meantime:

Be Bold, Be Brave, Be Uniquely You and Elevate Your Life with Effortless Style.