Living rooms aren’t what they used to be. It’s time to challenge the idea that “living space” is only contained within the walls of our homes. Our outdoor fireplaces make it easy to extend your living into the outdoors. Think of it as adding a whole new room to your home. No matter your style – whether traditional or linear, wood or gas – we have you covered with our many product options.  Transform your outdoor space today – Learn more Here! Fireside Hearth & Home6709 Watts Road | Madison, WI 53719(608) 276-6010

The country is getting back to work. We are getting back to work. And there is so much to do. It is easy to get distracted by the abundance of “little things” that have been piling up for a year. Our most important task is to stay on task, meaning: Keep the Main Thing the Main Thing – Always. Award-winning screenwriter and playwright James Goldman had to remind himself to keep the main thing the main thing. When he went out on the road with a play, he placed a piece of paper somewhere in his hotel room—on the dresser or the bathroom mirror—that would remind him of his purpose:…

Touch is the undisputed, most important sense for human survival.  It is the first sense to develop in a human fetus, the foundation for healthy human growth and development (Maslow’s Hierarchy of Human Needs), and helps us to perceive the environment around us through our skin, the largest organ of the human body.  Over the past year, humans around the world have had to refrain from this innate, pleasurable behavior that ultimately put our physical and mental health at grave risk of developing dis-ease. Feelings of loneliness (causing an epidemic, within a pandemic, of anxiety, depression) among all ages has sky-rocketed, 40% of new medication prescriptions were placed in pharmacies…

“Home” today is not what it was a few years ago.  Currently your “Home” is also a restaurant, hotel, spa, gym, classroom, office, and entertainment venue. With all the hours a family spends at home today one needs to ensure they’re protecting their family’s sanity. Popular now more than at any time prior, is improving or creating a Home Theater space for entertainment and/or gaming. Enjoy the ultimate cinema experience without leaving your house. There is nothing like the moment when the overheads dim, and brilliant images come to life on a screen before you and your loved ones…awash in light, music and sound…all in a beautiful, comfortable personal space…

I first began sharing Be Positively Contagious webinars right after the pandemic became “real” for us here in the United States – March 2020. There was so much fear in the world, and I wanted to show that there are other things even more contagious than that virus.  At the time, I had to explain I was talking about the emotion of positivity and not the pandemic!  What I didn’t realize was how many of us truly need support to boost our happiness in order to be prepared for this life changing event we are learning to navigate. Although I have always been a happy person, there was debate over…

Unity is our new word. And the best way to create that unity is to learn how to truly listen. As we put 2020 in our rearview mirror and turn our focus forward to our hopes and dreams for a great 2021, we are excited at the prospects of at long last stepping out of our homes and striding back to the friendly confines of our work offices. We will unlock the door and turn on the lights, crank open the windows, and shoo away the cobwebs from our tables, chairs, and computers, and finally, chisel out that half-a-cup of now petrified coffee from the bottom of our favorite mug.…

Decluttering can feel like an impossible task but sometimes a big glass of water, a fun, let-it-go playlist and a very specific list of things to let go of can get things started.. You get the water; I’ll give you the list! Declutter These 52 Things Out of Your Life Today If you want to enjoy your favorite things, only own your favorite things. If you feel stuck, stop thinking about what you are getting rid of and instead consider what you are making space for. Make space for laughing, resting and connecting. Make space to show up for your life. Make space for what matters to you. ExtrasYou always use your…

The world tends to be divided into two groups: Those who enthusiastically embrace the idea of New Year’s resolutions and those who don’t. I’m typically in the second camp, but this year, at the nine-month mark of the pandemic, I’m intrigued by the idea of a 2021 restart. If you, like me, are newish to the idea of viewing the New Year as a clean slate, I thought you might enjoy my four scaled back ways to approach it. Happy New Year to you! Think small. Big goals are great, but they can also be overwhelming. Pick something small and actually do it. I’ve gotten a warm glow for days…

“Putting it Together,” a song written by Broadway composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim, carries a worthy message for today: how can we use our time, talents, and resources to prepare for the weeks and months ahead? “Every moment makes a contribution. Every little detail plays a part.” This “get ready” philosophy is so essential to what’s happening in our world today, whether we are talking about a company, a team, or our personal lives. When we started this pandemic interregnum many moons ago, we gathered up all the canned food, toilet paper, and reading materials we thought we would need for a long winter’s night. Little did we know it was going…

Travel planning pre-COVID seems like a lifetime ago – Be aware of Hurricane season; when is the best time to travel to Europe, Australia or anywhere you were thinking of going.  Many people planned big trips 6 to 18 months in advance in order to secure the best lodging or cruise cabin. Travel insurance was always recommended but not everyone took it or understood what it covered.  When the world came to a screeching halt, we all had to navigate it.  In the travel industry it meant a lot of watching and waiting because if the flight or cruise cancelled, our clients could receive a refund but if you cancelled…