August 21st, 2010
“It’s a famine of beauty – a famine of beauty, honey!!” ~Andre Leon Talley, American Vogue.
One thing I’ve noticed over the past six months or so is not so much the lack of beauty in my life (because really there is beauty everywhere if you open your eyes to it), but rather the lack of good old fashioned glamour.
Part of it is because I’m trying to be more mindful of toxic personal care products so while I might love to hit up Macys for a great red lipstick and new eyeshadow for the Fall, it’s more likely going to be a trip to the grocery store for organic almond oil and Burts Bees chapstick. Ditto on clothes – I’m spending way more time at the thrift stores than I ever have and it’s fun… but glamorous? Not so much.
Also, I’ve not been doing any historic hotel profiles recently. Mostly because the budget won’t allow for it and even if it did, I would probably feel a bit guilty spending money on travel. Which is sort of crazy because travel is one of my favorite things and if I really can’t do it, then I probably need to have a long talk with myself about a return to working for the man. (that last part was said through gritted teeth)
So it seems to me that experiencing beauty is a wonderful, free gift that we can all enjoy, but experiencing glamour is gonna put a dent in your wallet.
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August 4th, 2010
There were many things that made this recent recuperation bearable – most importantly, my husband, family and friends. Here are a few items that seemed to add civility to an otherwise lame period of staggering around the house in varying degrees of pain:
L’Occitane citrus verbena shampoo and conditioner – nice clean lemony smell and turned the shower into a spa-like experience; also fresh towels and washcloths were an absolute must.
Health Journeys: A Meditation to Promote Successful Surgery
– love, love, love this meditation cd, especially the affirmations section which I would listen to on my walks leading up to the surgery and before bedtime during my healing.
Vicodin – let’s be honest.
Popsicle brand popsicles – basically frozen, fruit-flavored sugar water and absolutely ideal for me as I had a sore throat from the intubation.
HGTV – I kept thinking I would watch a lot of movies and catch up on Mad Men and so forth, but really my attention span was not that great and it was hard to sit still for long periods of time. So the 30 minute format of most HGTV shows, especially House Hunters and Curb Appeal were great and it wasn’t too difficult to follow along with the familiar steps that those shows always take.
Gilligan & O’Malley sleepwear – so soft and stretchy, perfect for gingerly covering the sore areas. I’ve worn mine so much I may have to burn it, but it will have been worth it!
Other things include: Vanity Fair, Cooking Light and More magazines, Motts applesauce, Burts Bees chapstick and Ralph Lauren sheets.
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August 3rd, 2010
I’m currently recovering from a recent (very recent) gallbladder removal. Let’s just say that a lot of things have taken a back seat, including caring for my beloved basil plant. Oh well. It’s tough to survive a Sacramento summer.
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July 18th, 2010
Well maybe not so much Summer Lovin’ as Summer getting by’in. It’s pretty fricken hot, people! And this photo is actually from our beautiful Spring, when the air was cool and I wore socks everyday. It is my desire to eventually move to a place where I can actually look forward to summer the way they do in Martha Stewart Living. Picnics, bbq, patio chilling, summer concerts in the park, long walks and lots of lemonade mixed creatively with seasonal fruit juice. As it is now, I don’t even go outside except in the early morning and late evening. In between those respites, I spend a lot of time working at the computer, eating cold food and watching movies. Not that those things aren’t great, but you know… too many days of being indoors and I start to feel pretty glum.
Which is why God invented San Francisco. To chase all our smog-filled, hot valley cares away. My new thing, well I’ve done it once, is to rent a car just for the day ($23 economy with Enterprise) and blast off for the foggy streets of SF. Wearing a cardigan and feeling the moist ocean breeze on my face, I can wander around “outdoors” without my skin burning vampirically.
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July 7th, 2010
So I didn’t get a chance to come on here and say Happy 4th of July – but I’m hoping you had a good one.
I made it down to the local parade this year and stood for about 20 minutes in the full sun before deciding maybe I wasn’t that “into” community and went home. Still it was fun while it lasted and great to see so many people who weren’t bothered by the heat and ready to support the neighborhood.
When I got married it was one of my goals to really celebrate each holiday, you know with the Martha Stewart decorations and a yummy home cooked meal. While that seems to have gone by the wayside a bit, I still think it’s important to create family traditions, no matter what your definition of family. So I’m gonna try to get more into the next holiday… which is what… Labor Day? Hmmmm, that might be a tricky one!
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May 29th, 2010
Sacramento Historic House will be supporting the Sacramento Mid-Century Home Tour on June 26. I’m betting this is going to be an excellent event and very busy so be sure to get your tickets in advance. Here is some info from the website:
“Tickets are $20 in advance and will be available to purchase online and at various Sacramento locations beginning April 1st, including Parkside Pharmacy, Capital Nursery and Blomberg Windows. Tickets can be purchased the day of the event for $25 at the check-in desk at Sacramento Executive Airport. A portion of the proceeds from this event will be donated to the Short Center South, a neighborhood organization providing studio art and recreational opportunities for people with developmental disabilities.”
Posted in decor, preservation, renovation, tourism | No Comments »
May 17th, 2010
Had the great honor of photographing the Sacramento Children’s Chorus last night. Those kids are unbelievable singers and I had a blast trying to capture all of their little faces. The photo above is an outtake but you can see where they were putting a lot of energy into making those notes come out. So cute!
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April 14th, 2010
The City of Sacramento has recently announced a new historic property plaque program. If you own a historic house or building that is on the city’s landmark list or if your property is in a landmarked area (e.g. parts of Alkali Flat), you could qualify for one of the shiny new plaques on offer.
The application (with an image of what the plaque would look like) is available mid-way down this page on the City website.
Is your house historic enough to warrant a plaque? Hire me to research your house’s history!
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. Seriously, you should totally get it.
