Snowy? So Cal

This is the view of the mountains from my house today. It is absolutely beautiful. It is supposed to rain some more tonight, which means more snow for the mountains. The ski resorts are certainly happy about the weather report.

You say Gazebo...

Morgan says "Gazobee"! She couldn't say gazebo when she was younger. She still screws it up once in awhile. Just a little side note there.

Anyway, my husband suggested that I look into buying some plans to build a gazebo for around the pool. I Googled "gazebo" and came up with some interesting images. Everything from thatched huts to aluminum pop ups. Weird!

This one is too fancy, just it's name is a no go; Hearts and Diamonds

Too grand, but really is this functional?

We call this a high wind/fire hazard in Southern California

Needless to say, my search for a gazebo continues.

Versace Home


I stumbled across this last night, actually Morgan found it and we went crazy. I knew about the apparel, but home furnishings, OMG!
So out of reach, but everything is just beautiful, cuz you know, it's Italian and all.

Everything is just perfectly gorgeous. These are a couple of my favorites, but not together of course.





I love the silver with the solid white pillows, and the green is just the right shade, the pattern on the fabric..... aaaaahhhh.


...and sweet baby jesus, what do you think happened when I saw this?



Can you f#$%ing believe this? It is perfect!!

There will never be another black and white chair in my life. Unless I win the lottery or rob a bank (a large bank) this will never be in my home. How can any other compare?

I am sure it would all look wonderful in my circa. 1980's Southern California tract home! Ha!

Versace taste and an Ikea budget. A girl can dream.

I thought this was cute.

"Not your Mama's Papasan"

The iconic Papasan chair.

Pier 1 Imports is giving us a little look into the evolution of a Pier 1 icon.

They have been selling these unique chairs since they started business in 1962. This hot seat is a best-selling staple in each and every Pier 1 store.

Doesn't everyone know someone who has had one of theses chairs, or had one themselves. I had a friend in high school who had one hanging from the ceiling in her bedroom. Oh, the chair envy I felt at that time.

A day at the beach

Yesterday we took a little daycation down south. We spent the day at the beach, relaxed a bit and played California tourist. It was a beautiful day.

So add a little beach decor to your life and take a daycation.

Beach Country

Oh, what a cute little boy, how did he get in here. ;)

Have a great day and a nice daycation.

USA Today

Highs in the hundreds spread from the desert — 118 at aptly named Thermal and 116 in Palm Springs — to the Los Angles area, including a record 109 at Woodland Hills, topping the 1989 mark of 105, according to the National Weather Service.

So Cal heat wave...

A/C went out...

2 weeks to repair...

too hot to think....

See you Monday, if it is cooler.

I have been going through my old BHG collection (June 1966) again. I love this black and white print. Too bad it's the equivalent of a paper tablecloth. I guess SCOTT products used to make the party dress as well as the party favors. Good news was you could purchase it for $1. plus .25 shipping and handling.


The "Paper Caper" created to make you the conversation piece at parties,
dashingly different at dances or perfectly packaged at picnics. Wear it
anytime...anywhere. Won't last forever... who cares! Wear it for kicks--
then give it the air.

I am usually not a fan of the color blue, but this morning maybe?

As I was perusing crateandbarrel.com, prompted by an email blast promoting their current sale, I happened across these beauties.

I love the Azure...

but Rochelle is on sale.

You like?

What's old is new again.
Here is a room and from the November 1959 edition of BHG.

You can obtain the same look currently at Urban Outfitters. They really have some cool stuff, if you like the mid century look.


Sunburst Wall Clock

Edie Sofa in Martini Olive


Danish Modern Side Table


I can not get me enough of the mid century design. I wish I wouldn't have convinced my mother to get rid of all her "junk" a few years back.

The Gap has the cutest bags right now. I am usually not a fan of the Gap but these are really cute for summer.

...the red one too.

of course!

Black and White

I love this! I am a sucker for anything black and white (and red too). I wish I had somewhere for it.

I just perused Smart Bargains (http://www.smartbargains.com/), you never know.

Classic Mirrors

Mirrors reflect your good taste.

An ad from the May 1965 edition of BHG. A designer, Ruth L. Strauss, demonstrates how to use different styles of mirrors to achieve different effects. Colors and patterns may come and go, but a few classic pieces will last a lifetime. The mirror, chair and table would work with almost any trend of the last 40 years.

I really love, love, love is the red wingback chair. Reeeeaaaallllyyyy!

Pre Grand Opening!!

Hi everyone

I have linked my Etsy store to my blog. I would LOVE it if you all would take a look at my store. It is just in it's first stages, I will be working on new items to add daily. The link and a few items are listed to the right of the page, just click on any and it will take you to my store. The web address is http://www.beauteousdesign.etsy.com/

Please let me know what you think. I am really excited so I am kind of all over the place putting it together. I may be missing something, I might think something looks good, but everyone else may not.

I REALLY appreciate all comments and input. I have never attempted anything like this before, so like I said before, I am kind of all over the place, learning as I go.

Thanks again for all of your input and support.

Slowly, but surely

Listed a couple of items in the Etsy store. I will be adding more today. I have to put some more things together and will be adding them daily for awhile.

Please check it out, I hope you like it. It looks bare right now, but I am constantly working on it. I want it to be interesting as well as clear for anyone looking to buy. Let me know if you have any ideas or comments. The blue ETSY "dot" to the right is a link to my store.

Thanks for all the ideas, comments and support!!!

Finals Week

I'm almost done for the term. I have two finals this week. The hard one is today, only because it involves remembering so many terms and their use and meaning. The other one is just going to be time consuming, because it involves using a bunch of equipment and preciseness and neatness.

So hopefully this week I can start getting my stuff ready for my ETSY store. I can not wait. I also have to start working on inventory, so I can work on some venues to sell at. Can't wait.

Isn't this amazing?

Another little project I have been working on. My mother has been hoarding, I mean collecting, fabric for about 65 years. I have recently been going through it.

I can not believe what beautiful treasures I am finding. Some of the fabric is from the 1950's! Most of it is considered vintage. I hope to be creating some beautiful things out of some of this amazing stash. I can't wait to show some of it off. I am trying to photograph some of it and get it in my store, but the ultimate goal is to use it for some great home decor products.

Winding down or gearing up!?

Llama's make me happy!

Well, the school term is winding down and finals are next week. I have an exciting project to keep me busy for awhile this summer. I will be opening an Etsy shop soon, and will be adding some fun things. I hope to be using my blog for more creative avenues. Just blogging about random things isn't very interesting, although I think it does serve to stabilize your mental health.

I will also be taking two accelerated summer classes. Hope I can do everything. I still have to work at my regular job as well, you know, try and help pay the bills.

Stay tuned, maybe something of interest will be here soon.

~~~~~~Cinco de Drinko~~~~~~

Cinco de Mayo, it's kind of like the Mexican St Patricks Day, just another excuse to drink alcohol and party. I do like the Mexican food and beer much better than the Irish, Guinness and corned beef and cabbage.

Just thought I'd throw this in, Cinco de Mayo is NOT the Mexican equal of our 4th of July:

Cinco de Mayo (Spanish for "5th of May") is primarily a regional and not an obligatory federal holiday in Mexico. The holiday commemorates an initial victory of Mexican forces led by General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín over French forces in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. The date is observed in the United States and other locations around the world as a celebration of Mexican heritage and pride.

A common misconception in the United States is that Cinco de Mayo is Mexico's Independence Day; Mexico's Independence Day is actually September 16, which is the most important national patriotic holiday in Mexico. (Wikipedia)

Is it too early to have a Pacifico and a shot of Patron? Adios!

Aaahhhhh......

I will be here, reading, for the next week.

I have to hide from foreclosures, food rationing, gas prices, global warming, insert all other craziness that's happening, I am feeling a bit frazzeled.

Ciao!

Rice Rationing?!?! WTF?!!

Bear with me, I have a rant. This is really irritating to me.

The WORLDS number one staple, the food you can feed a hungry child for "only pennies a day", again, the WORLDS number one staple?!

Food rationing hit first world countries
Monday, 28/04/2008
Supermarkets in the United States and Britain have begun rationing the amount of rice shoppers can buy.
It's the first significant sign that global food shortages of staple products are starting to effect first world countries, with riots already taking place in countries like Indonesia and Haiti.
Jim Morris from the California Rice Commission says the price for rice has already increased dramatically, and there are several reasons for short supply. "Less than 10 per cent of the world's rice supply is traded," he said.
"There have been some challenges with weather that have reduced some crops and there have also been a lot of export bans put in place in some of the major rice producing countries like China, India and Vietnam, Egypt and Brazil and that has contributed to the price of rice increasing very substantially."
Meanwhile 27 of the United Nation's key food agencies will meet in Switzerland tomorrow to put together a battle plan to tackle food shortages.
UN Chief Ban Ki-moon will host the meeting which will also consider reforms to agricultural markets including a speedy solution to the stalled world trade talks ( ABC Online)

They need a meeting in Switzerland to come up with a "speedy solution". I can save you guys some time and money, just grow some f$%&ing rice.

Looks like we are certainly capable of growing more rice, here in the US:

"The Mississippi delta has proven to be an ideal location for rice and most rice in the U.S. (we only grow about 1% of the rice in the world) is grown in that area. Arkansas is the number one producer of rice in the U.S. today. Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas and Missouri also produce rice. The old flood basin for the Sacramento River in Northern California has also proven to be a good location for rice, and California is now the number two producer of rice in the U.S.

About a third of all California medium grain rice (calrose) is exported to Japan. Then a large quantity is exported to Turkey and Jordan.

Historically, over half of all U.S.(remember we only grow about 1%) rice has been exported." Sage V Foods.

Hey, what a great solution for our depressed economy, maybe we could shoot for 2%!

Yes, I know there are trade restrictions, export rules and restrictions, blah, blah, blah. But seriously, a rice shortage?!

Ok, I have to stop now, I sound like a crazy person. I'm going to go in the backyard to flood my rice field.

By the way, we can produce more petroleum than we do. Ok, sorry I'll stop.