All posts filed under: decor

venice beach for the woman over 40

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In the 80’s every time I was in L.A. I had to visit Venice Beach and be part of the madness. In the 90’s not so much. I used to refer my student travellers to visit Venice Beach but I stayed away. In the early part of this interesting decade, I had the wonderful opportunity to work and live in L.A. so occasionally I drove down to Venice and checked out the interesting transformation taking place but didn’t have the chance to see the finished product/project before leaving L.A.  So with this visit, I was determined to drive down  to Venice and check on the progress and sure enough as I parked my car and walked towards Main Street, I quickly smiled to myself because I knew I would love the results as I plotted my walk down the street. Suburban Venice has transformed into a wonderful place for the older crowd (especially women over 40) to visit and actually consider spending a few days there in order to enjoy shopping, get a facial and …

my playground

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Going to my favorite playground for a week to kick off the 4th of July celebration and of course play tourist and a celebrity all wrapped up in one. I do this once or twice or even three times a year, it’s a fun and quick escape from it all, especially if you are on a budget. So, happy 4th Americans and for all the tourists visiting the U.S. this week, enjoy our version of Patriotism with bbq’s, fireworks and the old red, white and blue cupcakes and popsicles.

cannon powershot and my new adventure

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I vowed at the beginning of this year that I was going to buy a new camera for myself no matter what. But since January, what has been the most frustrating for me is the fact, I went store to store and website to website searching for the perfect camera and then found excuses to talk myself out of doing so.  Just so you understand, for a while now my 6-year-old camera was beginning to show its age with  the poor quality photos and  deteriorating battery life and today  just when I was taking my very last photo of the house I sold, the screen image turned orange and I heard several clicks and then there it was.   May the Cannon I had for 6 years rest in peace. After I turned over the keys to the real estate agent, I walked into Best Buys and purchased a camera my friend had suggested a while back, the Cannon Powershot and came home with the peach colored box and set it on my desk to tend to my usual day-to-day life.  I do this when I am nervous …

exiting suburbia

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After having spent eight years in a newly developed suburb 15 minutes outside a make-believe downtown Sacramento, California, and then experiencing the halt in development as a result of the housing crisis, I  have come to the realization that no matter how hard I tried, I cannot live outside a metropolitan city on a long-term basis. For a while there I was confusing escaping to the suburbs for a couple of days to clear my head with wanting to actually live there permanently.  With that said, I will finally be handing over the keys to my property in suburbia this week and returning to my beloved city by the bay to once again become the city girl who I have always been.  It was an  eight year challenge and struggle to finally make this transition happen and believe me it couldn’t have come at a better time.  I must say I am anxious and a bit nervous, but I am looking forward to this new chapter in my life to happen. Sometimes you have to experience what isn’t right for you in order to truly appreciate …

angelina’s Cafe

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I must have driven by Angelina’s Cafe on California Street and 22nd (in the Richmond District in San Francisco) about a hundred times and said to myself, wow what a cute place, I have to go there sometimes. Well, finally today, after years of contemplating and planning, I finally decided to eat breakfast there after my one hour walk. As I parked my car half a block from the corner where Angelina’s Cafe is situated, I got a great feeling in my stomach as I walked by the French bistro table and chairs lined along the outside of the cafe. When I entered through the door, I noticed the customers lined up along the deli counter, waiting to order their food. Some were holding on to their dog’s leashes. I instantly knew I would love this place since they allowed dogs to be in the store. (Just in case you are wondering, I feel dogs should be allowed everywhere) I ordered a sesame bagel with eggs, cheddar cheese and bacon and was asked if I …

no recipe here just good food

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I love “good” food like most individual with an artistic palette. I refer to palettes as artistic because if you think about it, those who lack creativity, lack a taste for good food (in my opinion). Good food to me is something that has to compliment my taste buds, it has to enhance my sense of smell from the array of spices used to create the dish, and finally it has to fulfill my innermost sensuality. Believe me if you think about it, you will understand what I mean. I am always in search of good food and when I find myself settling due to my financial state at the time I frequent the restaurant, or the party I am with doesn’t have an artistic palette, I leave the restaurant feeling unhappy and a bit grumpy. Keep in mind I am not implying that only expensive restaurants or those who claim to work with the best chefs in the world have the best meals. I am stating that even the simplest and most inexpensive places …

handbag and shoes for the woman over 40

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If there is anything I can say I am addicted to, even in midlife, is shoes and handbags. I can walk through department stores and browse through the selection of designer shoes and handbags, oh probably an entire day without feeling tired. I know I am not alone in this, but choosing the right shoes and handbags for a woman over 40 could sometimes be very challenging. There is a certain protocol when you reach a certain time in your life and the shoes and handbags you select should compliment your maturity rather than hinder it. A handbag should never be too big or too small and the handle should be designed so that when you carry it, it doesn’t seem like you are struggling. Sticking to pale colors in the summer is ideal and keeping with the blacks is appreciated in the winter months. Women over 40 should stay away from bright yellow or fuchsias and greens. If color is your thing, then stick to lavenders and power blues instead for spring and summer. …

modern design and middle age

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I love architecture and design. I cannot settle for the outdated in this area of my life. I don’t know if this is a good or bad thing but to me, because I don’t live by what others think about me, is a great thing. From the 70s to the 90s I had trouble accepting the furniture and home designs and flipped through magazines, being simply bored with what I saw. Nonetheless I conformed hoping someday, somehow, somewhere, someone would create design I can live by and with. Then came Dwell Magazine and the erection of modern homes with energy efficient as well as recycled materials used to build the dwelling and I must say, I have never been happier about architecture and design. I am a firm believer of streamline, clean design and the notion that less is more and so goes the appreciation of modern design. In the past, we cluttered our homes with pieces we really did not need and colors that only worked with one season and not the other. For …

admiring french country decor

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I think I was an interior decorator  in my other life, because I cannot seem to get enough of interior decor. The problem with admiring or appreciating a wide range of decor styles is that, it becomes more difficult to stay with just one theme year after year and hence the need to redecorate comes into play every two or three years.:) What I am beginning to discover is that, I either need several homes so that I could apply the different styles in each one or I may have to create my own eclectic style throughout my place in order to incorporate each style into one. One style of decor I tend to admire is, yes of course,  French country or French provincial  – in my opinion they are  almost one and the same but some  may argue otherwise.   Either way, it is a style to be appreciated and yet difficult to incorporate in apartment style living. (Which is my preferred choice of housing). Anyway, below are some photos I have put together which …