Month: March 2011

decor – vibrant yellow hues in interior decor

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I am so glad Spring is here and I might say that San Francisco is getting a pretty good taste of it this week with warm temperatures and sunny skies. Usually around this time of the year, I begin to think about bright colors, flowers and all things Spring. So naturally my decor radar tends to lean towards unconventional  (and to some conventional) colors throughout the home. In this case, it is the color yellow. In my opinion, this color is also a hit or miss, depending on the shade or hue selected to incorporate throughout the home. It is also a color found mostly in mediterranean themed hotels and coastal homes. I for one love the color and as I stated before, if I had the chance to redecorate my home several times throughout the year, I would surely include the color yellow . Here are some of my favorite photos of yellow decor, tell me what you think?

the glamour of perfume trays

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Perfume trays remind me of the Victorian Era, although I am sure, the trays existed before the time period. Forgive me for my ignorance. Anyway, as I child I grew up in a place where every woman had a perfume tray on their dresser with several bottles of French Perfume, a few lipsticks and of course a silver handled hairbrush. I used to rank  the women in my extended family members based on how great their perfumes smelled. 🙂 and admired them according to how they incorporated the novelty into their bedroom decor. Since I am feeling a bit nestalgic these days, I though I would share some of my favorite perfume trays and ask if any of you out there currently have a perfume tray on your  dresser or is it a thing of the past.

checkered hardwood floors – in decor

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I have no idea why I love checkered hardwood floors. I am always drawn to them but will never consider incorporating it in my own home. Check these photos out, they are really amazing and will probably work somewhere in the bay area – particularily suburbia –  just outside San Francisco,  in case my international followers don’t know where I am talking about. What do you think, would checkered hardwood floors work in your part of the world? I would love to hear from anyone who has tried the decor.

healthy eating: protein shakes

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I must admit I live by protein shakes, almost on a daily basis. But buying one made from Starbucks, Jamba Juice and other healthy drink bars can be expensive, even though they are delicious and hastle-free. Just recently I decided to purchase my very first industrial strength blender and some good old fashioned Whey protein powder from a health food store, as well as found some recipes here which I think are pretty easy to follow in order to make my very own shakes at home. The wonderful thing about making shakes at home is that, you can actually add fresh fruits rather than the frozen ones from the specialty stores. Not to mention the fact, Springtime  is also the best time of the year to mix and match different fruits as they are in season and more available in your local supermarket. Here are a few of my favorites: Wild Berry Boost Ingredients: 2 scoops Vanilla Whey Powder 8 raspberries 4 strawberries 15 blueberries 16 ounces nonfat milk 1/2 cup ice cubes Pineapple Power …

certified copy – a film for the woman over 40

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One film, which has touched me in more ways than one this year, is the film Certified Copy. *Note: please stay on this page if you want to read the girly version and click here if you want to read my review about the filmmaking aspect of the movie. Also, this special piece I wrote on this site, on  a Sunday no less, is also a reference point  for my fans, from the other blog, to use if they don’t mind me giving away the plot.  So here I go: After seeing the film, Certified Copy, I walked out of the theatre feeling sad and depressed I just couldn’t believe the subject matter in the film and the impact it could have on most women across the globe, who want to see the film. The story is  about a 40 something year old woman named Elle (Juliette Binoche), who from the looks of things was a single parent living in a small village near Tuscany, Italy.  A British writer, named James Miller (William Shimell) makes …

suggested classic films: paris in springtime

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Every Spring I make a point to watch some of my favorite classics which revolve around Paris in the Springtime – especially on a rainy Saturday afternoon (Or some may refer to as Spring showers).  I usually pair this event with a bottle of champagne, some fresh strawberries and hot fudge and don’t ask why, but a bouquet of colorful tulips to set the mood.  I call this escape much needed mental therapy. Of course getting rid of the family for the afternoon also helps the situation. 🙂 Happy Weekend!

healthy eating: chicken au champagne

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Oh my, how can this get any better. A chicken dish with my favorite alcoholic beverage – champagne from my favorite site here for me to share with my readers. Let me know how it turns out for you? INGREDIENTS 4 chicken breasts (with skin and bone) Salt and freshly ground pepper Chervil, tarragon, or thyme (optional) 1 shallot, quartered 1 cup Champagne (Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Brut recommended)  Yield: 4 Servings RECIPE Place the chicken breasts in a roasting pan, and season them. Pour 1/2 cup of the Champagne over breasts. Make a slit in each breast and insert a piece of shallot.  Place the pan under the broiler, skin-side up, for 3 minutes, until the skin is nicely browned. Turn and broil the other side for 5 minutes. Remove the chicken from the broiler, baste with the pan juices, and add the remaining 1/2 cup of Champagne. Adjust the oven temperature to 475 degrees and bake the chicken for 30 minutes, basting once or twice. Serve over brown rice. Sautéed mushrooms add a …

inspirational outfits for spring 2011 – my picks

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We all know most women flip through magazines and retail or designer websites in hopes of getting the insight on putting outfits together. While some, without a second guess, order the suggested ensemble pieced together  by the fashion industry, others, with a more creative flare,  find ways to duplicate the suggestion. I happen to do both. Anyway, In light of the subject, I  have decided to put together inspirational outfits which, I will either purchase “as is” or try to duplicate this coming Spring. Let me know what you think? Option 1  – click here for details Option 2 –  click here for details Option 3 – click here for details Option 4 – click here for details Option 5 – click here for details

night table decor options

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Whether you know it as a night stand or a night table, the piece of furniture placed on either side of the bed is, as we know it, intended to hold easily reachable items while you are in bed. However, sometimes this piece of furniture can become an eye sore if not well organized. Since I am a firm believer that a bedroom should be a woman’s sanctuary, it is important to make sure the night stand  is decorated to reflect that ambiance. Anyway, with that clarified and as I contemplate revamping my old night stands, I have come across the following photos to consider. Tell me what you think?

my love affair with springtime

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According to the calendar, March 20th marks the first day of Spring. Although this year, due to some bizarre weather patterns, it may not really feel as though Spring is actually here.  However, since Spring is one of my favorite seasons of the year, the other one being  Summer, I can no longer wait to welcome it, even if we are due to experience some bad weather this week in Northern California Happy week everyone!