Author: MS

Long Weekend Thoughts

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Someone at work over a call, reminded me it was a long weekend here in the states and asked what my plans were. I batted my eyes for a second and sadly sighed knowing my options, like most others, are pretty limited. Pandemic, brutal winter days + caring for mom and an aging dog, I will be spending my weekend working mostly, possibly cooking, and some light cleaning – okay – some very intense house chores. But that doesn’t mean my mind isn’t elsewhere, somewhere in a resort in Tahoe, or otherwise, spending the three days lounging with tea or hot chocolate in tow, around a chalet of sorts like… {featured image full credit and source}

Simply Missing Travel

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Normally at the start of every year, I dot my travel plans on the calendar, which always includes a trip to Europe. Somewhere new and somewhere I’ve been before combined together to create an itinerary, usually for the fall. This year, still with all the uncertainties, I have been privately thinking about a trip across the country, in an RV, and exploring some of these recommendations, which apparently are reminders of Europe. Do you know anywhere else in the US that is a reminder of a country in Europe? I’d love to hear about it. {Source and full credit}

Decor: The Power Of…

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There are certain elements of decor that simply take my breath away, and has me smiling even through the most difficult of times. Also, I never realized how important it is to maintain this artistic expression site of mine I call Raw Silk and Saffron. So without much of words, I’ll share my thoughts {featured image source and full credit}

Decor: London Home

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In San Francisco, we’ve got plenty of wonderful Victorian and Edwardian homes to admire, stretched along the Richmond District, Pacific Heights, and so many other neighborhoods established before the 1901 earthquake, and some even after. I worry about the transformation of these homes into more modern flairs and and integration of unrecognizable facades from the traditional. But that’s what evolution is I suppose. So I go about admiring English homes, and their wonderful efforts to incorporate upgrades while maintaining most of the quality craftsmanship of the exterior and even some of the interior makeup. {Topic Inspiration and full credit source}

Decor: Is The Theme for 2021

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I was on a work call the other day, where one of the participants sat at her desk in a room I could have sworn was somewhere in Paris. But it wasn’t she said, it was her tiny apartment which she turned into a Parisian artists loft tucked somewhere near Sacré-Cœur. You know the ones in the attic, with large windows and open space filled with canvas, paint brushes, and whatever artists collect to create an inspirational space. Secretly I knew she and I would be great friends. Yesterday I took a much needed day off from work and just drove around a bit in the rain trying to figure out if it is worth my effort to plan out 2021, like I normally do each year, or simply let the new norm restrictions guide the course so not to feel as disappointed. I returned home, thinking perhaps I should embark on all the home renovation projects I had been pondering over in 2020: such as designing an actual garden for the backyard, updating the …

Travel Is A Great Distraction

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As we settle into the idea of 2021 simply being an extension of 2020 – in terms of careful consideration of how to manage through the pandemic: work, school, travel, and socializing – I realize that I need to bring back the travel series. Which I limited it on 2020 considering. So today, I want to share scenic mountain ranges in the U.S. worth exploring. I mean since we are drawn to the outdoors now more than ever, this list should keep us hopeful in planning some amazing road trips this year. {Article and featured image full credit}

Let’s Leave 2020 Behind

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Normally I tell everyone who’s stuck in the past to let it go in order to move forward in the most positive way possible. I did believe that up until the middle of January, when all I aimed to do was look forward to 2020. A year of many positive changes was what the Chinese horoscope predicted, which often times do come with a price. In the year of the metal rat, I was destined to succeed in my career but was in line for a dozen failures – in relationship, health and my social life. I tucked these predictions in the back of my mind, and took a trip to England in January seeing nothing but good in 2020. Until one afternoon, someone dear to me called from the U.S. to warn me about a deadly virus making its way from the east and to be very careful when travelling back to the states at the end of January. I took note, bought a hospital grade mask, surgical gloves-when the items were hardly a …