Mar 31, 2011

At Seventeen

I Love:

1. Nutella

2. Ovaltine

3. peach jam and cream cheese sandwiches, because when I was in the

5Th grade my friend Pamela and I would eat them at her house after school.

4. the covers over my ears when I sleep and a cool room, I don't like it stuffy warm.

5. music playing all the time in our home, no matter what. Always always when I'm cleaning and doing the dishes and for no reason at all.

6. the smell of Clorox.

7. clean counters - no crumbs.

8. Kleenex, napkins and paper towels, I can't live without them.

9. sappy romantic movies and conspiracy thrillers.

10. my desk to be free of clutter, both at home and work.

11. Justice, I love it when the good guy wins.

12. nice people, reliable people.

13. soda, it is a weakness of mine, one time we were kind of snowed in, but we had

electricity. Our home teacher had a 4 wheel drive and he wanted to check in on us. He asked if there was anything he could bring to us, I told him a six-pak of 7-up, I was going through a carbonated withdrawal, he delivered and he used our shower. Pretty pathetic huh.

15. Lip gloss, pale pink , which is good my doctor Say's it keeps me from biting my lips.

16. precision dancing - there will never ever be another MJ.

17. disco and all 70's - when I was a teenager in the late 70's there was this great, I mean great place called "Marmalade Max" that you could disco with the mirrored ball, colored lighted floor and the best virgin strawberry daiquiri's. They didn't serve alcohol there, oh them were the days.


That's it for now, just a glimpse of moi'.


Mar 29, 2011

Lemon and Lavender


Lilies and Dandelions

is a new blog that has some wonderful ideas, one idea that she uses is

lemon and lavender

to clean almost anything. A couple of months ago I went looking

for some lavender oil, and found some at our local Body Basic's shoppe in

our town and tried Lilies and Dandelions recipe. It turned

out great and it made my house smell so fresh and clean. Her recipe is

as follows:

All Purpose Cleaner:

There are so many recipes, but this is her personal one.

She say's she uses a little more lemon juice because she doesn't particularly care

for the smell of vinegar.

Feel free to play around until you are satisfied!


One part White Distilled Vinegar to 1/2 part of Lemon Juice
A few drops of Lavender Essential Oil
Combine into spray bottle.

She say's that she uses it in the kitchen and bathroom.... you name it.

If you feel that it leaves a smudge add extra vinegar.

After dabbling with the lavender oil,

it made me think about Lavender and rose water. I remember

Linens and Things use to carry it and I always wanted

to get some. So I goggled recipes to make Lavender water and

or Rose water and it turns out that it's pretty easy. I

watched a demonstration on how to give your linens a

crisp and fresh look. After making up your

bed and if you have a cotton coverlet or cotton

duvet or comforter, give them a spray or spritze

and smooth them with your hands. Not only

will they look better they will smell

wonderful.

P.S. Their lavender water was a spray bottle of

fresh or distilled water and a few sprigs of

fresh lavender or fresh rose petals.

or Recipe 2#

2 cups water (distilled)
3 TBS vodka
15 drops Lavender essential oil

Directions:

Mix the essential oil and vodka together then add water. Seal in a jar
or bottle and keep in a dark place for 2 weeks before using.

I haven't made recipe 2# because I
didn't want to buy a huge bottle of vodka for 3 TBS.
But I heard it works fantastic.
Let me know if you do make it, I would love to hear
what you think or if you have any suggestions.
If you like what you read tell a friend, new
followers are always welcome!

Cheers!

Mar 28, 2011

Pottery Barn Farmhouse brunch

I was looking for some decorating ideas this weekend and I stumbled onto the

always inventive Pottery Barn's party ideas. This is so cool. Am I the

only one that hasn't delved into their site and found this?



So they have these great ideas for entertaining

for every occassion. One idea that is pretty cool is that

they have invitations all ready, all you have to do is fill each

one in and print and send, and one even more fabulous idea

is they have an Itunes playlist for every party idea. You can

download a whole mixed album for your party, too cool. And


they have "how to set up and decorate your party"

and they give you the whole menu with recipes like this

scrumtious Almond and Pear Tart that is to die for.

Hope you enjoy this, if you like what you see

I welcome you to follow my blog.

Take Care

Mar 27, 2011

The little white farmhouse

There's a little white farmhouse down the road from me and every time I go past it
I can't help think of yester years. It sits on the sunny side of a hill surrounded by green grass. It's not too big or too small and it is an old saltbox shape. I have always wanted to pull up to it and meet the occupants but I haven't had the nerve. I would love to know the history of it and the family that grew up there. I have even gone so far and "Zillow" ed it at zillow.com to see it. It is on a quite a spread, so I'm sure it's been in the family for many years. I think about If I owned it what I would do. I imagine having great summer parties in the back yard, lemonade, ginger cookies, and children playing hide-and-seek. I even imagine shabby white flour sack dish towels and freshly laundered sheets blowing in the wind on the clothesline as my friends and I sip our lemonade and eat our sandwiches on homemade wheat bread. I know pretty sappy with nostalgia. Sometimes I think I was born in the wrong era, don't get me wrong I love 2011 conveniences, however that farmhouse reminds me of more simpler times. This isn't it but it's similar.

Mar 25, 2011

The Triangle of Life, Quake tips


My brother-in-law sent this to us, never heard this before. In these crazy times
some sound advice to think about.
Where to Go During an Earthquake
Remember that stuff about hiding under a table or standing in a doorway? Well, forget it! This is a real eye opener. It could save your life someday.

EXTRACT FROM DOUG COPP'S ARTICLE ON 'THE TRIANGLE OF LIFE'
My name is Doug Copp I am the Rescue Chief and Disaster Manager of the American Rescue Team International (ARTI ), the world's most experienced rescue team. The information in this article will save lives in an earthquake.

I have crawled inside 875 collapsed buildings, worked with rescue teams from 60 countries, founded rescue teams in several countries, and I am a member of many rescue teams from many countries. I was the United Nations expert in Disaster Mitigation for two years, and have worked at every major disaster in the world since 1985, except for simultaneous disasters.

The first building I ever crawled inside of was a school in Mexico City during the 1985 earthquake. Every child was under its desk. Every child was crushed to the thickness of their bones. They could have survived by lying down next to their desks in the aisles. It was obscene -- unnecessary.

Simply stated, when buildings collapse, the weight of the ceilings falling upon the objects or furniture inside crushes these objects, leaving a space or void next to them - NOT under them. This space is what I call the 'triangle of life'. The larger the object, the stronger, the less it will compact. The less the object compacts, the larger the void, the greater the probability that the person who is using this void for safety will not be injured. The next time you watch collapsed buildings, on television, count the 'triangles' you see formed. They are everywhere. It is the most common shape, you will see, in a collapsed building.

TIPS FOR EARTHQUAKE SAFETY1) Most everyone who simply 'ducks and covers' when building collapse are crushed to death. People who get under objects, like desks or cars, are crushed.

2) Cats, dogs and babies often naturally curl up in the fetal position. You should too in an earthquake. It is a natural safety/survival instinct. You can survive in a smaller void. Get next to an object, next to a sofa, next to a bed, next to a large bulky object that will compress slightly but leave a void next to it.

3) Wooden buildings are the safest type of construction to be in during an earthquake. Wood is flexible and moves with the force of the earthquake. If the wooden building does collapse, large survival voids are created. Also, the wooden building has less concentrated, crushing weight. Brick buildings will break into individual bricks. Bricks will cause many injuries but less squashed bodies than concrete slabs.

4) If you are in bed during the night and an earthquake occurs, simply roll off the bed. A safe void will exist around the bed. Hotels can achieve a much greater survival rate in earthquakes, simply by posting a sign on the back of the door of every room telling occupants to lie down on the floor, next to the bottom of the bed during an earthquake.

5) If an earthquake happens and you cannot easily escape by getting out the door or window, then lie down and curl up in the fetal position next to a sofa, or large chair.

6) Most everyone who gets under a doorway when buildings collapse is killed. How? If you stand under a doorway and the doorjamb falls forward or backward you will be crushed by the ceiling above. If the door jam falls sideways you will be cut in half by the doorway. In either case, you will be killed!

7) Never go to the stairs. The stairs have a different 'moment of frequency' (they swing separately from the main part of the building). The stairs and remainder of the building continuously bump into each other until structural failure of the stairs takes place. The people who get on stairs before they fail are chopped up by the stair treads - horribly mutilated. Even if the building doesn't collapse, stay away from the stairs. The stairs are a likely part of the building to be damaged. Even if the stairs are not collapsed by the earthquake, they may collapse later when overloaded by fleeing people. They should always be checked for safety, even when the rest of the building is not damaged.

8) Get near the outer walls of buildings or outside of them if possible - it is much better to be near the outside of the building rather than the interior. The farther inside you are from the outside perimeter of the building the greater the probability that your escape route will be blocked.

9) People inside of their vehicles are crushed when the road above falls in an earthquake and crushes their vehicles; which is exactly what happened with the slabs between the decks of the Nimitz Freeway. The victims of the San Francisco earthquake all stayed inside of their vehicles. They were all killed. They could have easily survived by getting out and sitting or lying next to their vehicles. Everyone killed would have survived if they had been able to get out of their cars and sit or lie next to them. All the crushed cars had voids 3 feet high next to them, except for the cars that had columns fall directly across them.

10) I discovered, while crawling inside of collapsed newspaper offices and other offices with a lot of paper, that paper does not compact. Large voids are found surrounding stacks of paper.

Spread the word and save someone's life...

Mar 24, 2011

DIY Project

So, we have had this hand-me-down drafting table that has been kicking around all over the place. I finally decided on a wet and rainy day to buy some paint, "Benjamin Moore", I love their brand and paint the sucker. It took a little more than a couple of coats but then it finally came together. It is a table of many uses, like my never ending blogging, surfing the web, putting mine and Miss C's make-up on, snacking and paper work i.e. paying bills table.

This is it before:

and here:

And ta dah, here it is after:


It looks so crisp and clean!

Mr. Hubby picked some of our first flowers of Spring
to add just the right touch.


They add just enough color.

Mar 23, 2011

What's in a name or intials?

Am I the only one who has ever pondered who's initials does Pottery Barn mostly use for monogramming their linens, towels, pillow cushions etc? I have always wondered this. So I got to googling and the only answer that I have found was the names that they use for examples in monogramming. Is there really a Catherine and Eric Miller? cMe, or
a Catherine Elizabeth Miller? cMe. The initials that are used most often and are usually used on the "Best" stuff is cMe It is a quandry and a mystery. I am neurotic like that. One of these days.... maybe it's Mr Pottery Barn's daughter.
In the end it really doesn't matter. I love their towels.

Mar 22, 2011

Burlap Vintage pillows

Just in from the UK are these Lumbar pillows. When I was talking about the little extra something for my give away I was speaking about this Burlap faux grainsack lumbar pillow by Samantha Johnson. http://www.etsy.com/shop/samantha2818?ref=top_trail These are all handmade by her and I think they are a great accessory for any room. Out of the three pillows, this is the one I chose, the Avenue des Champs Elysees.

I hope she likes it.


If you like what you see, give me a shout out or leave a comment. Have
a great day, I see some sun trying to peek out.

Mar 21, 2011

And the winner is........


The winner of the Lavender Package Giveaway is:
"Cherie Giboney"
Congratulations Cherie I will be contacting you.
I think she is carrying a lucky penny!
I also wanted to say thank you to everyone who participated in the giveaway!
So happy for you Cherie!!
Best Regards

Mar 18, 2011

Maison Reve' Annual Flea Market

Maison Reve is a lovely shop in Mill Valley and every year they have a great
Flea Market. It is Saturday March 19th from 8-5pm. This is the time when they bring out everything and if you are lucky you can get some amazing deals. They are holding it Rain or Shine. Check them out at Maisonreve.com

I'm hoping to be there. Have a great weekend and remember I will be
drawing the lucky winner for my giveaway.
The winner will be announced March 21st.

Mar 17, 2011

Giveaway it is easy bein green

Went green today, found a tasty recipe for tonight's dinner. Irish Stew. Mr. Home isn't a fan of cornbeef and cabbage so I took "Nie's" cue and made this recipe served with sourdough bread and our choice of beverage Thomas Kemper's ginger ale.
It must be pretty good, he went back for seconds, Cheers everyone!


Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 pounds boneless lamb shoulder, cut into 1 1/2 inch pieces
1/2 teaspoon salt
freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 large onion, sliced
2 carrots, peeled and cut into large chunks
1 parsnip, peeled and cut into large chunks (optional)
4 cups water, or as needed
3 large potatoes, peeled and quartered
1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary (optional)
1 cup coarsely chopped leeks
chopped fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
Directions
1.Heat oil over medium heat in a large stockpot or Dutch oven. Add lamb pieces and cook, stirring gently, until evenly browned. Season with salt and pepper.
2.Add the onion, carrots, and parsnips and cook gently alongside the meat for a few minutes. Stir in the water. Cover and bring to a boil before turning the heat down to low. Simmer for 1 hour or longer, depending on the cut of meat you used and if it is tender yet.
3.Stir in potatoes, and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, before adding leeks and rosemary. Continue to simmer uncovered, until potatoes are tender but still whole. Serve piping hot in bowls garnished with fresh parsley.
Yield 6

There is still time to enter my "Feels Like home" giveaway,
you can enter by becoming
a friend and follower, just simply click the FOLLOW button to the
right follow the directions and you will be entered in the drawing, it's not too
late, and there is an extra something in the package giveaway!
The winner will be
chosen by a random number.
What is in the giveaway?
A wonderful lavender package from the amazing
Body Basic's Shoppe.
You will love it, the fragrance is so worth it!

Mar 9, 2011

Passion is an evolution

I don't know if it's age or a passion that has laid dormant for years waiting to
come out at the appropriate time, (I'm thinking for me, it just wasn't the season until now), but when I think about color swatches, floor plans, vintage finds, my heart starts to race and my adrenalin goes up. It is one thing that surpasses eating, which makes it pretty big, because I LOVE, love food!! I was reading one of my favorite blogs and she "Shabby Nest" said it best when she said:
I redecorate to nourish my soul. It is a passion. It is an art.
Now my disclaimer is: beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Other's may not like your taste but that doesn't matter, because Art or decor is whatever you like, just like Your Blog. You own it. Now is it a talent? Maybe. Again, taking another quote from Shabby Nest,
"I encourage them to hone their art".
Just like practicing the Piano, for hours at a time, the same goes for the art in decorating or design. For me I still feel I am a student in this, but I love, love the homework.
Sometimes after rearranging my furniture or room it isn't quite what I envisioned, but that's okay, that's the beauty of decorating, you can change it back or keep it and change it after awhile, in my case it maybe the next season. I have
found through this process that I do love the classics because they do stand the test of time. I have done the trends, fads or hot colors of the year but it can get costly. When your foundation is classical or more traditional it's easier/cheaper to mix it up with accessories.
In the 80's it was the country slate blue and yellow, remember the ducks? And wallpaper, who didn't wallpaper? I had this slate blue & white oriental thing going on, on my dining room wall and the duck thing in my kitchen. In the 90's we were doing the earth tones, burnt oranges, browns, rusts and South Western motif, we even had the antlers and serape draped in our great room.
2000 brought us the berber carpet, you know the loose loop construction type carpeting with small dark specks and light/white color. I was crazy enough to put that through my whole house, with 4 kids. What was I thinking? It was so hard to keep clean. I remember one of my kids' I will leave nameless, spilled something one time when no one else was around and decided to put some type of colored towel on it.
Well I don't have to tell you what the color of that spot was. I tried everything to get the stain out. I ended up buying a large area rug to cover this up and it was that way for several years, until we remodeled our home again.
So I guess in the end, for me decorating and redecorating is therapeutic,
and it gets the endorphins going and that's a good thing. Correcte?

Mar 7, 2011

Dreams and floor plans

What do you dream? Do you dream movies or episodes? If my dream was an episode it would be the HGTV channel. For example: the other night I was dreaming Floor Plans and I woke up the next morning wanting to change things up a bit. So what can I do with my limited space? It all came to me in the wee hours of the morning. So last night, I decided to make a "quote" living room in the front space of our tiny "basement apartment" and moved the TV and chairs into it and moved what was the twin bed/daybed couch into the 2nd space where our "suite" is. I will post the transformation soon. My husband thinks I'm crazy but he went a long with it because I needed his help moving the TV and all the components that go a long with it. It was going to be a cinch because all "he had to do is drill a hole through the side wall and put the TV cable through it to bring it to the TV on the other side." We're talking about less than 6 inches. It took me/us about 2 hours for the whole move. It's amazing how men are when the TV isn't useable they don't know what to do with themselves. As soon as I hooked up the cable to the TV and turned it on (which was the first thing that got moved) he was a happy camper. After that all the rest of the moving was bliss, because he could watch, listen to it during the process. Men!
They are funny creatures.

Any way, if you are a Somethings Gotta Give fan, then you will recognize these floor plans they are almost exactly like it, an office was thrown in and only showing the first floor. But I am a die hard fan of the interior of this home.



I love this Swedish clock in the background, one of these days.....


I designed my kitchen after her's as much as possible down to
the drawer handles.


I looked forever for the fabric of her dining room
chairs but when I saw the cost, I decided I could live without it, but someday I would like to do something similar to it.


I did however find a vendor back east that made rugs just like the
ones in the living room and bought them, actually an affordable
price. They have other colors too. If you are interested
in the vendor just let me know.

Mar 4, 2011

Fabulous Friday

If you don't know about this all ready then I hope you will enjoy this website. This is Rachel Ashwell the creator of Shabby Chic I just love her style.
http://www.shabbychic.com/



If you like this leave a comment and become a friend and follower there is still
time to win my give away, I will be picking the winner March 19th! I would love it!

Mar 3, 2011

Photo Shoot at Golden Gate Park

After a couple attempts because of the weather Miss C finally had her photo shoot. Victoria Smith from Victoria Smith's Images a veteran model for 25 years took
the photos. Her assistant Molly also a veteran model were very kind to us and gave great direction throughout the day. It was very interesting to hear of their experiences in the field and gave good tips and lessons that they have learned.
The One Still photo of Victoria is her own work in modeling. You probably
have seen her before.


Click to play this Smilebox collage
Create your own collage - Powered by Smilebox
Digital collage generated with Smilebox


The final product will be used for Miss C's portfolio with Casting Images.
Me, mom took these with my not so professional camera of the day.

Mar 1, 2011

A Visit with Ina's new Barn House

Ina Garten takes us on a tour of her new barn. It's earthy, elegant, simple,
and so Ina.


I have loved Ina since Barefoot Contessa. I loved watching her in her kitchen
but most of all I would look past her and admire her home.



What makes Ina comfortable? well one thing is: great dance music
when she is cooking. I totally agree, I have
to have music on whether it's cleaning or cooking.





This dining table, so ample, and so comfortable!




I like the tans beige and whites, it's cool yet warm.




And way over there peeking behind the trees, is where I fell in love with
Ina, the main house of the Hamptons. Hope you enjoyed her tour.
Just a reminder become a friend and follower and you might be
the lucky winner for my first ever give away!
Cheers!