Archive for the ‘Sacramento Historic House’ Category

« Older Entries

A Famine of Beauty

Saturday, 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.

Posted in Sacramento Historic House | No Comments »

Recovery Products

Wednesday, 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.

Posted in Sacramento Historic House, products I like | No Comments »

Recovering

Tuesday, 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.

Posted in Sacramento Historic House | No Comments »

Summer Lovin’

Sunday, 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.

Posted in Sacramento Historic House, inspiration, photography, products I like, tourism, wandering | No Comments »

Bastille Day!

Wednesday, July 14th, 2010

Posted in Sacramento Historic House, photography, tourism | No Comments »

4th of July

Wednesday, 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!

Posted in Sacramento Historic House, photography | No Comments »

Sacramento Historic Property Plaques

Wednesday, 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!

Posted in Sacramento Historic House, preservation, research | No Comments »

The Ruins of Detroit

Saturday, April 10th, 2010


photo copyright Yves Marchand & Romain Meffre

This is one of many hauntingly beautiful images from photographers Yves Marchand & Romain Meffre of downtown Detroit in a series called The Ruins of Detroit. I don’t know why but this looks to me like something out of East Berlin. (ah I just now noticed they also did a set on East Germany so there you go).

These photos are gorgeous but one can’t help but feel really depressed to see these buildings in such sorrowful neglect.

Posted in Sacramento Historic House, photography, preservation | No Comments »

Loving Choices

Saturday, March 20th, 2010

Lately, I’ve been feeling a bit confused about which problems should be addressed, and in what order, in my life. I sort of pinball between focusing on work, then health issues, then trying to get more joy in my life and then I come through the front door of our apartment and am met with dishes and disarray – “oh yeah… housework,” I sigh.

I read self-help books (to which I may have a slight addiction) and am reminded to practice self-care, eat fruits and veggies, put money in savings, do work I love, be creative, make time for my husband, etc… and it all becomes a huge list of things I have to remember but always seem to forget (or avoid). If I “plan my day in advance”, more things from the list seem to get done… but then I read some Eckhart Tolle and I chuck it all out the window to just “be here now”.

So my goal, for lack of a better word, for today is to put down the self-help books and just try to make the most loving choices for myself in each moment of the day. I don’t mean treating myself to a Leatherby’s hot fudge sundae (mmm, leatherbys), but rather, asking myself what would be the kindest option for me as if I were my own parent. Okay, I know, it’s a little self-help-ish… but sometimes it does help to reframe my thoughts in this way.

Hope you all enjoy the first day of Spring!

Tags: ,
Posted in Sacramento Historic House | No Comments »

Some Light Entertainment

Tuesday, March 16th, 2010

The weather is nice and you are stuck inside, trying to do your work but instead staring longingly out the window.  Well, here are some ways for you to distract yourself while waiting for quitting time to roll around:

Luxe Home Swap – okay so you already know about these vacations where you trade homes with someone who lives in another country from watching The Holiday with Kate Winslet, but this site is like drooling central for looking at photos of pretty houses and daydreaming.

365 Secrets of Happiness – I follow this guy on FB and his posts on how to be happy are always charming, smart and (happily) brief.

The Naked Bee products – my friend bought me the Hand & Body lotion (orange blossom honey) and I have been in heaven ever since. 70% certified organic, paraben-free and phalate-free fragrance. I’m pretty sure you can pick some up at  Sacramento Beekeeping Supplies on X street.

Steampunk Home – I had never heard of steampunk before this week, but now that I know, oh my goodness… I may have to steal my husbands collection of HG Wells books and get to reading. The Steampunk Workshop blog has a great tour of a couple in Massachusettes who restored their Victorian in steampunk design.  It’s cooler than you think it’s going to be.

The Daily Connoisseur – this is one of my favorite blogs.  You may not be into it, but I really like her calm, thoughtful posts about trying to live a more elegant life.  She may have more money than I do, but I never get the sense that her lifestyle is unattainable or in any way eye-roll inducing.

Capitol Actors Theatre – a friend of mine is launching a new theatre group in town.  Check it out!

Posted in Sacramento Historic House, inspiration, products I like, web | No Comments »

« Older Entries