Year: 2016

Travel: Suggested Read While Travelling to Italy or Anywhere

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Choosing the right book to read while travelling is very important. It can either set the mood or destroy it. I, for one, would never consider reading a mystery novel on a vacation planned strictly for some rest and relaxation. The story would bother me so much, I wouldn’t be able to relax.  I do however, choose books themed for the places I visit or a novel-escape. Such as a million and one books (okay 50 or so) books I’ve read and collected on Paris to read while on the plane to my favorite city, or upon my return, to keep the momentum going. So, here’s my suggestion if you are planning a trip to Italy this year or long to travel to Italy just in general and wish to get inspired. Order Piazza Navona (paperback) or e-book, and immerse yourself in the most delightful, funny, charming, lovable story you can possibly imagine. Here’s what others are saying about the book: Anne-Marie Reynolds for Reader’s Favorite – 5 star ratingPiazza Navona had me laughing, crying, and …

Lifestyle: A Place Is Not A Place Until It’s A Seaside Cabin

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One of the benefits of being a writer is that you spend a lot of time falling in love with wonderful places, and extraordinary lifestyles, and interesting people, which and that inspire to create a story-no matter the genre-stories come from the passion writer feel about something o someone. I do a lot of research online, as you may have already noticed from this fun place called RawSilk&Saffron, and when I stumble upon something that sparks an interest or is best suited for a whole or part of my storytelling, I, Bookmark it, the old-fashioned way, right into a folder on my computer, I set up for every novel I’ve published, and the ones I plan to write. So you can imagine my excitement when I stumbled upon these amazing photographs of a Seaside Cabin-I have no clue as to where it is-adding to a folder-for a wonderful story I have thus far drafted. The Seaside cabin is surely a scene I need to add OR, simply escape to if I can only figure out …

Decor: Hardwood Floor In Variation

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I knew that once I decided on renovating my studio apartment, I would go hardwood rather than wall-to-wall carpet. Although the carpet option keeps the space warm in this forever cold city called San Francisco, I think I am going to brave the cold and go hardwood. Now the trouble is if I could only decide which one: {floor inspirations from here}

Fashion: All I Can Think About Is Summer

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While in Los Angeles, I got a glimpse of summer fashion, only southern Californians can pull off (on this side of country). Because in San Francisco, summer dresses are hardly a thing. Unless of course you plan to go inland, the wine country particularly or Vegas for the weekend. But a girl can dream and appreciate the trends for 2016. Here are some of my favorites in shades of pink (which if you follow my blog, understand is my choice of color this year) and yes, I do love the blue striped one as well:

What Constitutes Beauty, or Elegance and a Sense of Style?

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As a girl in my teens, and later in my twenties, I have to say I was pretty self-conscious about the way I looked, and behaved, admiring mostly actors and models for their beauty, elegance and sense of style. Without realizing at the time, that sort of thing was mostly an image relayed through photography. The real beautiful or elegant women having a sense of style roamed the streets of Europe mostly. It’s in the last decade or so I realized that beauty truly comes from within. Because if you have a beautiful outlook on life, it will show it on your face and in the way you carry yourself. Elegance and sense of style is easily learned, and managed I feel, and most any body interested in betting themselves, can obtain such stature. So, here’s a game I play with friends, sometimes over dinner or a walk in the park. The question we pose to one another is what do you think about this or that person  in fashion, certain  sophistication or sexy simplicity …

Decor: Before and After I See Better Then The Hubs

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My hubs and I discuss revamping our home decor. Well, mostly me and he listens, which is nice of him. But he can’t see what it is I detail, motioning with my hands, about this piece going here, and that rug being the right choice, and how about blues, and grays and earth tones, and hardwood floor options. He simply nods. Which makes me laugh on the inside, and irritated on the outside – a common behavior among partners in relationship. So, I decided instead of telling him about my vision, I would show him via my blog some ideas running through my head.  For a more detailed look at each room, visit here:                        

Travel: A Week To Relax by Poolside and Some European Football

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Lots was going on last week. I was on vacation, and I mean vacation. The vegging out, not doing much of anything except laying by the pool and well, eating and drinking, and of course working out. It was the best week I’ve had in a long while, and wished I could extend my stay for a month, believe it or not down south, at a resort type hotel. The thing I like about relaxing vacations is that it gives me time to think about the  direction I intend to go or follow in the upcoming months. Whether it be for the blog, or the next novel or even regarding my trip to Europe in a few months. The fact I lounge around, and I am away from the normal stress, I can focus on the creative side of me and my hectic life. So, with that said I am excited to report, there will be changes coming your way with my blog of course, and the outline for the fourth novel has been created. …

Fashion: Prints and One Solid

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I can’t get over the possibilities for when on vacation of the most comfortable, sensual, and yet playful dresses – something we can’t wear in San Francisco during our summers (cold and foggy) But sure can in September and October when we get our Indian Summer. Here’s my pick for this week: