Archive for the ‘Relationships’ Category
MY FAVORITE WEEKENDS SPOTS TO GET AWAY WITHOUT THE KIDS AND JUST RELAX
1) AMERICAN CLUB IN KOHLER, WISCONSIN www.destinationkohler.com. I love the Kohler Resort for a beautiful, peaceful getaway, especially if you love playing golf and peaceful tranquility, which the resort offers. I just visited a few weeks ago, having spent a nice, quiet weekend without the kids, and playing golf at Golf at the Bull, a fantastic (and less expensive than the pricey Kohler course) public course right next to the PGA golf course at Kohler. There are lots of cute little romantic spas and restaurants not to be missed in the little Kohler Village. If you love Baker Furniture, the Kohler family, who owns Baker, has done a great job of furnishing the resort with elegant Baker Furniture and Kohler Bath fixtures that surround the entire luxury resort.
2) EL MONTE SAGRADO IN TAOS, NEW MEXICO www.elmontesagrado.com/. I was lucky enough to win a weekend trip to this 5-star, award-winning newer, very romantic resort nestled in the heart of the quaint town of Taos. I had always wanted to visit New Mexico, and Taos, in particular. The surrounding terrain is beautiful and so are the views, but I especially love the little private villas, with big fireplaces, luxurious bedding, private little pools, spa, and organic food at the intimate dining room. If you are a lover of Southwest food, hiking and river rafting, this resort is a must.
3) EAGLE RIDGE RESORT AND SPA IN GALENA, ILLINOIS www.eagleridge.com. Yes, even in Illinois you can find breathtaking views and a beautiful resort in the middle of the country. If you love hiking, skiing and relaxing in a cozy spa with fireplaces burning everywhere, Eagle Ridge is the place for you. I love the relaxed atmosphere in the restaurants on property, perfect with or without the kids, the beautiful hills and mini-mountains, and luxurious rooms inside the lodge–great for a romantic weekend. If you are bringing your family, you may wish to rent one of the newer and larger homes that can accommodate up to twenty people. The town of Galena is well worth the visit. I love to play golf, and enjoy the award-winning US Open golf courses on the property—there are 4.
4) FOUR SEASONS HOTEL IN WHISTLER, BRITISH COLUMBIA www.fourseasons.com. To get away from it all, winter or summer, I love this little newer, less stuffy Four Seasons Resort in Whistler. The view of the flower-, grass-, and tree-covered mountains make me realize why this jewel was chosen as the spot for the 2010 Olympics. For a romantic weekend, enjoy the pool, hot tub and elegant bar/restaurant. This is a wonderful place to be trapped during a winter storm! On the weekends in the summer, visit the best farmers market in the world, with fresh, organic meals and dishes prepared right at the booths—local produce is some of the best I have had.
5) SHANGRI-LA HOTEL IN VANCOUVER, CANADA
www.shangri-la.com. This Asian hotel chain is one of the best in the world, paying attention to every detail and designing beautifully appointed rooms. Look no further for your evening’s romantic date than the high tea room on the first floor, or relax in the most luxurious bathrooms that boasts large tubs and televisions. Right in the heart of beautiful Vancouver, and just steps away from the water and mountains.
Recently, I did a segment for Twin Cities Live about melting your gold and selling it because you could get more money for gold than a few years ago. Recessions work that way. Gold holds its value during a recession. But someone whose parent had recently died asked me if now was also a good time to sell an old wedding band, made up of several diamonds. Her jeweler suggested making an eternity ring, or using the small diamonds to make something for her daughters.
BAD NEWS: PRICES FOR DIAMONDS IN 2010 HAVE GONE UP
If you own diamonds and want to sell them right now the good news is you will be able to sell them for a little more than you could have in 2009, by about 5%. The reason is because manufacturers of diamonds are slowing production of their supply, which is causing prices to go up. It is unclear how long this upward trend will continue, but since January prices have been going up a little each month.
SHOULD YOU BUY DIAMONDS NOW?
There is no question that in the past three years diamond prices plummeted 30%. That is the question of the day. The diamond industry now has a set price marker, called the IDEX. This pricing index should be a good judge of what a diamond should sell for.
FIND OUT THE VALUE OF THE DIAMONDS
- Go to your local jeweler for an appraisal
- Compare venues across the board to see where you may be able to get the highest price (auction, jeweler, web)
- Consider buying inexpensive little diamond(s) and turning them into something else for your children. The prices have not gone up steadily for a few years, and you may want to hold out.
ARE YOU ONLY GETTING SECOND BEST, AT BEST? IF NOT THOUGHT OUT PROPERLY, YOUR NEW HOME CAN BECOME A DISAPPOINTMENT WHEN THE REPAIR BILLS APPEAR
Retailers bank on the fact that people are too busy these days to shop for their homes just one piece at a time, and just want their houses done. Period. Well, if you fall into the rut getting everything at once, you will regret your purchases. Each piece you buy should represent a purchase you made because of your everyday living needs . If not thought out carefully you will risk overpaying and creating a generic-looking space that really doesn’t reflect who you are, your taste or current daily lifestyle.
RUSHING TO CREATE THE PERFECT HOME CAN BE A DISAPPOINTMENT
We’ve all felt the pressure to have the perfect house, whether it be for an upcoming party, the holidays or to simply blend in with the neighbors.
CONSIDER SHOPPING AT AN AUCTION RIGHT NOW
After buying my first home, I realized how empty it looked. I went to auctions at the time, and felt the urge to bid on dozens of inexpensive items, hoping to be the “lucky” winner of all of them. I overbid on things I never even loved—the prices seemed too low to overlook, and I had a house to furnish. I wound up with over twenty pieces of junk for my home, and after putting everything inside, I realized I didn’t like half of the pieces, and would have no real use for them. Several of the pieces later required a considerable amount of work; something I never considered budgeting for.
START OUT SMALL, HAVE PATIENCE, AND WAIT TO BUY YOUR FAVORITE PIECES, BUT DON’T SETTLE JUST TO GET YOUR HOME FULLY FURNISHED
FLEA MARKETS: My best advice for someone with refined taste, who wants an elegant, interesting home is to start out small. For that reason, flea markets are the best way to get your feet wet. In Chicago, I love the Randolph Street Market, a flea market that has an urban flair mixed with country charm. Dealers rent stalls, and I’ve picked up pieces from $5-$2,000 at flea markets. The trick is buying only what you love, one piece at a time, mixing new with old, and only buying pieces you have a use for. Learning these skills takes time and a trained eye.
AUCTION: Auction is another great way to furnish a great big house, or even a city apartment. I especially love shopping at local auctions for artwork, and especially love that I don’t have to pay for shipping. Thanks to my big car. My favorite auction houses for the great values are: Leslie Hindman Auctioneers in Chicago, Neal Auction in New Orleans, and occasionally Sotheby’s more reasonably priced auctions. You can’t go wrong. Especially if you put in a silent bid and agree only to a maximum price you would be willing to pay. Becoming emotional about a piece will not serve you well. Avoid auctions or brokerage firms that charge an astronomical amount to sellers or buyers, like 1stdibs. These places are not the best about warrantying the products they are selling.
BECOME YOUR OWN INTERIOR DESIGNER
The fastest way to date your house is to make everything look perfectly coordinated. The perfectly coordinated look is outdated and always has been. Your home will express more about you and your personality when you acquire one piece at a time. Designers will also want to save themselves time, and earn the most amount of money possible by trying to create an entire ”look” for you and your family. I’ve especially seen this when they are working with big families and know that people don’t have a lot of time to deal with all the details.
Take your time, and you, too, will have the house you love for a lifetime.
