I try to grab every opportunity I can to surround myself with wonderful design, especially when I get a chance to spend some quality time with my daughter. Visiting Alexandria, the town where George Washington announced his bid for the presidency, and stepped down from the job, eight years later, is full of history. I was looking forward to exploring more of the city on foot, but with high temperatures hovering in the low 30’s, I was glad we had a beautiful hotel to rescue us from the cold. Happy trails to you, for a healthy, happy and beautiful 2011!
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It’s simple to create a centerpiece for your table, at half the price of what a florist would charge. (I spent about $20, picking up flowers at my not-so-cheap market) First of all, start with a low profile vase, so you’ll be able to see over the arrangement, while sitting at the table. Fill the vase with florist foam. Then, add greens around the perimeter of the vase, to frame your flowers. Now, insert your flowers into the foam, while continuing to turn the vase, so flowers are distributed evenly throughout the arrangement. Finally, fill in the arrangement with greenery…
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Well, now I’ve seen the best of San Francisco’s shopping meccas. We started our exploration at the “big box” fashion stores, in Union Square, followed by a trek to Nordstrom’s and Bloomingdale’s in the big Westfield mall on Market. While these stores are lovely, there’s just too much of everything! For my money, I’ll take the small, friendly boutiques on Fillmore, Chestnut, or Hayes any day, where you’ll often get waited on by the owners, who are really passionate about their selection. You’ll find everything, including small cafes, shoe stores, and men’s and women’s clothing shops, featuring unique, quality pieces.…
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While Christmas shopping at Union Square in San Francisco, I saw the beautiful, simple arrangements, that anyone can create. With cedar greens, red berries and white mums, an elegant, simple yet festive look has been achieved. I’m hoping I’ll be able to squeeze a trip to the flower mart in, before returning home.
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If there’s someone special on your shopping list, who loves their garden and/or making their home more beautiful, Hi Hand Nursery, on Taylor Rd., in Loomis, is worth a special trip. But don’t start anything this important on an empty stomach! Delicious lunches and dinners are served every day except Monday and Tuesday. And don’t pass up the desserts they make! For friends and family on your list, consider a fruit or Japanese maple tree. Maybe a topiary, succulent or water feature. This is by far one of the most meticulously cared for nurseries you’ll find, with a nice selection…
Read the rest >>If you want a little inspiration to entertain, bake, or try out a new kitchen gadget, stopping in at any of the Sur la Table gourmet cooking shops should do the trick. San Francisco’s store is the chain’s largest volume store, and one of the prettiest, in my opinion. We have our very own store in Roseville, so take a peek and see what I’m talking about!
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Holidays are synonymous with entertaining. And if you’re having friends over, don’t neglect the bathrooms, when creating your to-do list. A guest bath can be fun and elegant. Since they’re typically small, you can perk them up for next to nothing. Put yourself in your guest’s position. First on my list is that the space is pristine. Keep a roll of paper towels, glass cleaner handy for quick clean up’s. Countertops, mirrors, sinks, floors and toilet bowls should be company-ready. Make sure there are fresh towels, an empty waste basket and surplus t.p. If you have the time and money,…
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Last night, we enjoyed a nice dinner at a lovely restaurant, Townhall, built of brick, after the 1906 earthquake, in San Francisco. It was originally a marine repair facility, and the bricks used to build it were charred from a fire during the quake…probably previously used in a demolished building. A local artist was exhibited on the walls and the amazing light fixtures hang from the ceiling. The round disks that are behind each bulb are actually like circular cut-outs of heavy metal screening. The bulbs cast a soft warm tone on the whole room, making it feel like the…
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