It is Home now

Sunset on Whiskeytown Lake

It wasn't always home. For all my life I lived a 30-mile radius from San Francisco. Never wanting to leave - but finding it harder and harder each year to afford the standard of living I was raised in and having always to do without - to just afford the rent! Then an opportunity came to us, and we jumped at it. That was in 2008 and we have not looked back. I love it here.

It was a culture shock, to say the least. Coming from an upwardly mobile area, to a rural part of Northern, Northern California. It was like moving to another state. 250+ miles north from where I was raised. For some areas in the country, that is like moving a state or two away.

Most of the country, when they think of California, they always think of stereotypical California: Hollywood, Disneyland, and Beaches. 

Many, have no idea how far San Francisco is from LA. They are shocked it snows in California. They think just because it's sunny, that it is HOT all the time, and that we don't have deciduous trees and four seasons.

Leaving behind, the hustle and bustle

When I was a child, living in San Francisco, I was taught that I lived in Northern California. Disneyland and Hollywood were south of us, thereby making them Southern California. Okay, that's cool. As I got older and traveled up and down the state, there was Central California. Then there is the central valley, the north coast, the central coast...It gets confusing to an outsider or new transplant.

Low and behold, when you take I-80 out of San Francisco and head toward Sacramento, you head toward the real Northern California. Take 505 from the I-5 to later connect to I-5 going north toward Redding.

Many people are shocked when they finally get off  I-80 - leaving behind the hustle and bustle of traffic, shopping malls, crazy drivers, and fast food.  Just a few miles on 505,  it's country. Farms,  ranches, and really small towns - a totally different part of California, that the rest of the nation does not even know exists. When I now hit the 505, I can finally relax. I put her in cruise control and enjoy the drive home. 

Christmas in every room

I love Christmas decorating, probably MORE than anything else - even eating! I've always wished I could decorate every room - but usually only the living room, kitchen, and dining area. The above photo is from a few years ago - I hope to change all of that around. I have a small skinny tree I use in the dining area - but even that takes up too much room. I wish I could move my china cabinet into the eating area, but it doesn't square up with the ceiling fan. I had it there once, and it bugged me to where it actually threw my emotional equilibrium off. It wasn't Feng-shui at all. 

The china cabinet is in our entryway and that bugs me too. 

I've asked my husband if he would center the ceiling light over the dining table so I could move back in my china cabinet, but he doesn't want to. I even thought of getting rid of the ceiling fan, BUT with 115 degree summers, we need those fans in every room especially with the vaulted ceilings. 

So I don't know exactly how I will do this - Seems this year I am in a festive decorating mood and I just want things to look good. 


 

WANTED: A Mom-Cave-Office-Space

I long for my own space - office space. Right now I have a full house and a husband who works a 3rd shift (graveyard shift) 

and who sleeps a good deal of the day. 

I have no place to call my own. My guest room is occupied. My old office is occupied and doggone it, even my motor-home, to the side of our house, is occupied.

 I only have the kitchen dining area and living room. It works if no one is home or in their own space. But when it's their "weekends" I have no place to create. 

Yesterday I just about lost my mind. I had no time to myself. 

So I am dreaming and scheming to come up with my own mom-cave.  

  Via BusyBoo

Located in Rolling Green, California, this 8ft. x 14ft. Palmerston style is a lovely prefab garden shed with cedar shingles capped by an elegant cupola. Estimated at $8,613.

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 Via BusyBoo

 Located in Seattle, Washington, this 6ft. x 8ft. Palmerston style is a beautiful prefab garden shed with Canexel siding, standard windows and doors, flower boxes, and shutters. Estimated at $3,480


For more ideas at Busyboo

artichoke dip bread

Via Closet Cooking

An artichoke dip baked in a loaf of bread until ooey-gooey - cheesy and good!

Servings: makes 4-8 servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes

Ingredients

1 (14 ounces) can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
2 green onions, sliced
2 cloves garlic, chopped
4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup mozzarella, shredded
1/4 cup parmigiano reggiano (parmesan), grated
1 loaf Italian bread, sliced in half lengthwise


For the rest of the recipe

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Make a footstool out of water bottles???? No Way!

I shared this on my Facebook page last year - what a keeper that needs to be kept and filed away for that things-to-do list...


Now this is recycling!!! Make a footstool out of plastic water bottles. Cover and voila you have saved many bottles from the landfill.

NOTE: I checked online to find out WHO to give the credit to. I could not find it. I'm sure they will find me and when they do I will UPDATE you all and give credit where the creative credit is due. 

3 sewing machines and a lot of material

CONFESSION: I have 3 sewing machines. 

I take that back, I have 4 - I have a miniature singer sewing machine my mom used to sew doll clothes. 

Now let me explain. I truly WANT to sew. I think it's cool. My mom was quite the seamstress and I loved picking out material and looking through patterns for a new outfit she would make. She was really good. If Pinterest was around back then, she would surely be pimping her creations on her wall.  

I used to sew - kinda-sorta.  I would make my 3 sons, their Halloween costumes. I would make repairs - alterations. I've sewed curtains - I always felt such a sense of achievement when I did that. I don't know why I don't just get out one of those sewing machines and sew.

When I have outgrown or dislike the way a dress or skirt looks on me, but I still love the material - I save it, for the material. Sometimes, I cut it - to where I could easily make something out of it. I even save the elastic. I am frugal. I save buttons. I have bags and bags of old clothes I have saved throughout the years. I go through them on occasion, wishing I could still get into some of those vintage fashions. I'm always thinking, that MAYBE I should just sell them on eBay. 

I know I won't. Because I have a fabric addiction. I'm a wannabe seamstress. I want to sew. 

I have a few dresses that do not fit me in the bust - but I love the print and the soft cool material. It gets HOT here in the summer. So how hard is it, to make a skirt out of one of those dresses??? 

Here are a few blogs and sites that have turned dresses into skirts. 

This gal made a skirt from a shirt - The Shirt Skirt 
*How to make a no-sew maxi skirt from a old worn out maxi dress  
*How to turn an old dress into a maxi-skirt
*How to make a dress out of a skirt  
*Quick Maxi skirt from a dress 
*Wanna make a dress?  
*How to make a hi/low skirt from a dress

Boy some of these gals are so talented they make me sick. At least they are sewing. No, I'm kidding. They totally have my respect. So this is "on my list". 

Now when, is the big question. 

Maybe next week? 

Out with the old, In with the new

Christmas is over and I am ready to move on - I'll keep my tree up for a few more days. (because I'm lazy) This year I did not overly decorate for Christmas because I plan to paint starting in January and I did not want to be sidetracked, from getting it done. As I pack away the few Christmas decorations, down will also come everything else -  until I finish this dreaded chore, PAINTING.

My dad was a painting contractor in San Francisco. I learned a lot from him without even trying. Just living with him and his standards - knowing very well it is time to stop putting this off (I was supposed to do this last year) and that is why I am telling you all. I need accountability!  

The fun part can be picking out the colors - I just want a whole new look for my house - sick of the white walls.  This house was my parent's last home. When they died, I bought out my sister's half of the house, and now it's mine. It's not our childhood home, but it has pleasant memories of my parents and has some personal touches, that I cherish. However, it does need some affordable updating. And one thing I know about paint - it's a relatively inexpensive way to start making some updated changes.

2 weeks till inventory

I can look at a calendar in October and see with my eyes that a new year is coming soon, but it doesn't start to hit me until 2 weeks before. 

 Years ago when I worked retail, January was the time for the BIG INVENTORY we all dreaded.  So for me, January is a time for me to take "inventory" of my business both personally and professionally. (and that includes all of my blogs) 

As I prepare for the tax season, it also has me re-elevating how I did the previous year and what changes do I need to make. I can never be complacent or I won't grow as a business. I have to always take inventory.

This was my first year working at home - full-time and exclusively on my own.  I ended my gig as a Nanny in Dec 2012 and as I had already been selling with Avon and Barefoot Books, I started 2013 with the knowledge that I was going to concentrate on building these businesses UP.

After working as a Nanny to a "work-at-home" dad in advertising, I observed his approach to working from home.  

I tried not to lay around in my PJs.  What worked for me was getting dressed as if I was going to work. Mentally it makes me feel professional. I admit it took me all of this year to get comfortable, working at home. My daily routine was off and I had no schedule and spent way too much time on Facebook, "marketing" my business. 

So I have decided that I need a PLAN.  A better plan than just, "building my business up" I need to be more specific in all areas of my stay-at-home, work-at-home businesses.

Since my business is mostly in sales, this is a good time to reflect. Christmas shopping is most likely done for most of my customers - and with the exception of some good sales in January, it still is a good time to refresh myself.

I really do love what I do - and I look forward to the new year! 

2 years ago -

My dog Sport passed away, just 2 years ago this month - and I still miss that dog, He was 14 years old and a real "Mommy's Boy". Springer Spaniel and border collie, I had him since he was a puppy. 

He was so rambunctious that he actually flunked out of puppy behavior training class TWICE!

Oh, who needs training anyway - he was such a love.

When I look at his pictures, I still get tears - and I am reminded at how much I do still miss him.

I sure hope dogs go to Heaven. No I take that back, I KNOW dogs go to Heaven and I know I will see my Sport again, one day.

I'm DONE for this season

I'm sitting here, listening to really cheesy Christmas Music on the TV cable because I am too lazy to get out all of my CDs. Just like I am too lazy to decorate the house like I usually do.

We have had so much family crap, going on lately it just wasn't going to happen. PLUS it feels like spring. We've been having mild temperatures and quite frankly I would rather sit outside and feel the warm sun on my body, watching the hummingbirds play and listen to the birds sing, than stay inside and decorate. 

No biggie.

 Anyway, I still have time. I have the tree up - and a few decorations up, that I did the day after Thanksgiving. So it's not like we have NOTHING. We were not able to cut down our tree due to our van having a blown gasket - I had to pull out the skinny tree.

It's been a difficult work situation for me - working from home and having family come to live with us. My step-daughter and her husband have separated.  Plus my Father-in-law had some strokes in November and we had to get him settled in a care facility near us.

I like to work in the early mornings - I'm an introvert and don't want to be bugged when I am in my creative mode - but with so much "drama" going on, it does tend to drain me. I pretty much gave up on marketing my online businesses - didn't do the crafts I wanted to do before Christmas - did not set up my Stoveny Store for all of my over-stock Avon, I want to get rid of and sell. I didn't get to the garage sale I was supposed to have to clean up the garage.

The Christmas season has just been a big old bust this year for me.

What is YOUR home decor?

1970's Bedroom

  2013 - the Five home decor categories. 

• Glitz and Glam
• American Traditions
• Parisian Chic
• Country Cottage
• Soho Loft

Hollywood Regency = Glitz and Glam

Think classic Hollywood in the '30s.  When the likes of Clark Gable and Carole Lombard,  Rudolf Valentino, and Bette Davis, were glamorous and most definitely glitzy.  I'm thinking EXPENSIVE, after all, those movie stars were filthy rich and didn't have a problem spending their money on lavish homes,  cars, and furs.

That "LOOK"  is making a comeback now - Not my style -  but I love old Hollywood and enjoy seeing others who appreciate that style. 

Fringe is back, lavish crystal chandeliers, lacquered furniture, credenzas, showy fabrics, fur, chaise lounges, and lots of light. 

 It doesn't have to be expensive if you are like me, and on a budget - since many pieces of furniture can be found in thrift stores and garage sales.  Sand it, and spray with black lacquer spray paint.  After that, look for the supporting cast - in distinctive pieces that have that glitz to complete your look.  Lamps, and side tables, bold colors, and accessories that have that jazz.