What's Hot And What's Not....

In: The master bed as throne
"With consumer spending down and more nesting at home, homeowners are focusing on making their bed like an at-home luxury hotel experience," says trend-watcher Mark Nash.
How do they do it? With lots of pillows, luxury linens like the cotton sateen bed set by Frette (pictured) and by spending more money on a very high-quality mattress, Nash says, "anything to get that high-quality hotel feel in their master bedroom."

A Rewarding Job!

Below is a letter that Team Diana received from another very satisfied client:

Hi Diana,

First, Happy New Year!

Second, I just wanted to say thank you personally for the lovely and unexpected gifts - couldn't have been better choices for us :)

We spent what was a shocking 3 days in our new home to ring in the new year, and I say shocking because the property is about 3x better in every way than we had even realized - not only are the views stunning and ever-changing with the fog ambling in and out, but we discovered that the whole wallpapered add-on and hallways were hiding thick gorgeous knotty pine that exactly matches the living room and loft ceiling/walls, allowing for a cohesive flow to the house that we honestly had not thought possible. What an exciting surprise!

On New Year's eve we felt like little birds perched up there... And our trail going down to the river - like a lost world covered in bright green moss... my my my....

I'm getting dizzy missing it!

Thanks again for all your help and please give our regards to David Learned.


Cheers,
J

Team Diana enjoys the opportunity to assist buyers in finding their dream home in Three Rivers. Not only do we have a pleasurable vocation but when the escrow has closed we have aquired new friends and neighbors!

Forget the credit squeeze, get out of town, enjoy the fresh air, buy a home in the country.

If you've been unable to buy a metropolitan area home, take a look at rural America's neighborhood of Three Rivers. The commute to work could be a real trip, but it's also an opportunity to take the glass-half-full approach, slow down and work at home.
Either way, your dream home may await in a quiet pastoral setting, far from the din of city life. The market condition is freeing up more loan money for homes in bucolic settings. Call Team Diana to set up an appointment. We can give buyers an overview of our area, prequalify buyers, and answer questions.

Individuality

Living in Three Rivers allows one to have the freedom to be who they are. There is no keeping up with the Jones' and everyone is accepted and appreciated for their uniqueness.

Having grown up and being educated in Three Rivers, my children are secure in who they are. They have recently gone into the world and are thriving and enjoying their individuality while holding dear in their hearts their small town roots.

One of my girls is glitzy and the other is earthy. Pictured is Tiffany at a photo shoot and with her Slovakian model boyfriend; Hailey with her friend playing music on the Santa Monica pier, rafting the American River and with her boyfriend. Children are a blessing and so is living in Three Rivers!

First Snow

Waking up early in Three Rivers is glorious. This morning as the darkness was turning to dawn, my husband and I bundled up to enjoy our morning coffee and quiet time alfresco. It was a thrill to step out onto our front porch and view the freshly snow dusted mountains.

Every day we are thankful to live and work in such a beautiful place!

Watch our teamdiana.com website for the four new listings acquired this week. Also, Team Diana will be posting two new sold signs this week. We are rejoiceful to be busy during this season!

Decorating Safely For The Holidays

The holidays should be merry and bright, but the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) warns consumers that the holidays also bring the dangers associated with the improper use of decorative lighting. By avoiding such hazards as dried out Christmas trees, unsafe lights and unattended burning candles, thousands of holiday-related injuries can be prevented. By all means enjoy yourself this holiday season, but make following the fire/electrical safety tips outlined below a priority in your merrymaking so as to avoid any mishaps. Trees:
Look for the label "Fire Resistant" when buying an artificial tree. While this label does not mean the tree won't catch fire, it does signify the tree will resist burning and should extinguish quickly.
Check for freshness when purchasing a live tree. You can do this by looking for deep green trees whose needles are hard to pull from branches and do not break when bent between your fingers. The trunk butt of a fresh tree is sticky with resin. When tapped on the ground, the tree should not lose many needles.
Be sure to place trees (artificial or live) away from fireplaces and radiators. Live trees dry out quickly in heated rooms so be certain to keep the tree stand full of water at all times.
Place trees out away from traffic paths and do not block doorways. Lights:
Use only lights that have been tested for safety by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or another recognized testing laboratory. A UL label indicates the lights conform to certain standards. Use only lights that have fused plugs.
Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections. Throw out damaged sets. Always replace burned-out bulbs promptly with the same type and wattage bulbs. Using the wrong bulbs can cause overheating.
Connect no more than three standard-size sets of lights together.
Make sure extension cords are rated for the intended use.
Never use electric lights on a metallic tree. The tree can become charged with electricity from faulty lights, and a person touching a branch could be electrocuted.
Before using lights outdoors, check labels to be sure they have been certified for outdoor use.
When hanging light strings, stay away from the electric power lines that may run from utility poles to your home.
Fasten outdoor lights securely to trees, house walls, or other mean of supports to protect the lights from wind damage. Use only insulated staples to hold strings in place, not nails or tacks. Or, run strings of lights through plastic hooks.
Since damage or a short-circuit could quickly start a fire, turn off all holiday lights when you go to bed or leave the house.
Use caution when removing outdoor holiday lights. Never pull or tug on lights – they could unravel.
Outdoor electric lights and decorations should be plugged into circuits protected by ground-fault circuit-interrupters (GFCIs). GFCIs have been installed on exterior circuits in new homes since the 1970s and can be added as a safety retrofit in older homes. Decorations:
Use only non-combustible or flame-resistant materials to trim a tree. Choose tinsel or artificial icicles of plastic or nonleaded metals. Leaded materials are hazardous if ingested by children.
Never use lighted candles on a tree or near other evergreens. Always use non-flammable holders, and place candles where they will not be knocked down.
In homes with small children, take special care to avoid decorations that are sharp or breakable, keep tree trimmings with small removable parts out of the reach of children to avoid the child swallowing or inhaling small pieces, and avoid trimmings that resemble candy or food that may tempt a child to eat them.
To avoid eye and skin irritation wear gloves and glasses or goggles while decorating.
When using artificial snow sprays, follow container directions carefully to avoid lung or eye irritation.
Do not burn wrapping papers in the fireplace. A flash fire may result as wrappings ignite suddenly and burn intensely.
Remember, these tips are only general guidelines. Since each situation is different, contact a professional if you have questions about a specific issue. More home safety and maintenance information is available online at www.housemaster.com.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to Diana Glass!