Retro-trip So. Cal design mini-vacation

We had weeks and weeks of rain here in CA, and while the past couple of days have been sunny - just last week I truly felt like the rain would never end. It had been grey and cold and wet for over a month and I sort of went into panic mode. I needed sun and warmth, and to escape the day in day out- so I booked a trip to Palm Springs.

In just a couple of weeks we are desert bound. We fly into Los Angeles and we'll then drive our way out to the desert. This is a much needed break.

It will also help to cheer us up after learning that Mad Men will not be back until 2012. We'll live our own Mad Men experience - we're staying at the swanky Orbit In' - the rooms have wet bars and hi-fi's with vintage LP's. They also lend vintage cruisers to their guests to pedal around the city. Vintage stores here I come.

We also hope to tour some of the modern homes there... ( yes ,there are tours for that.)









On our way back, we are also going to stop in at the Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles.





It will be a quick trip, with lots to see - and hopefully lots of pool time.

More Stately Mansions

If you were an angst-y teen, and I'm willing to bet most of us were - unless you grew up in some sort of Sweet Valley High alter-universe - but, if you were an angst-y teen, then you probably read Welcome to the Monkey House. I spent a lot of time reading in coffee shops back in the teen days, and I read more than my share of Vonnegut. I think I read Monkey House several times over, don't ask me why. I never in my wildest dreams would have thought that I would "grow-up" to be like one of his characters.

In More Stately Mansions - Gracie is obsessed with decorating (magazine clippings in files, dogeared catalog pages, all caps OBSESSED). It's all that she talks about - she offers up decorating advice to anyone who will listen - while her own home is, well lets just say is in a state of shabby disrepair.

Such is my life. We moved into our tiny Piedmont adjacent apartment because of the location. It was going to be temporary, but three years later it has a sense of permanence. We've looked at houses, cottages, other apartments - with no luck. It just seems that there is nothing out there. At least no place that fits what we need.

I envy those of you that have hardwood floors, modern kitchens with a vintage feel, closet space, a parking space, bathrooms larger than a broom closet, patios, safe neighborhoods with a walk score above 90...

While we continue on our search for our next home - however long it may take - I'm reading and tabbing and pinning- design blogs and flickr photos, and watching design shows. Inspiration or torture?

I'm finding it impossible to decorate our beige wall to wall carpeted cookie cutter cubicle apartment. What do you to decorate un-inspiring places?

Ouch!

File under: Modern instruments of torture. Would you, or rather could you, really wear these?

Gimmie a break - Spring break

Sometimes we all just need a break, a vacation, a respite, etc. I for one could use a break from the gloom and rain, and from doing double duty with school and work. ( I actually thought this wasn't going to be hard). It's tough! I honestly think I need a nanny, an intern or a personal assistant to get it all done. Between working the 9 to 5'er and the researching and writing - I still have to do laundry, cook meals, and random things like vacuum, go to the post office, and buy groceries. I can't imagine how people work full-time, go to school and have kids. On top of all this I'm shuffling about visiting doctor after doctor.

But after the terrible situation in Japan - how can I really complain? I am glad to know that my friends in Tokyo are all safe and hanging in there. It was sort of a mad dash of Facebook messages and then panic - since it took a bit to hear back. So frightening. I know that some of my readers are in Japan and I hope that you too are safe. And, to my readers in New Zealand - please know that I worry about your safety too! In California, we're not strangers to earthquakes either - and yet it's not something that ever really crosses my mind in my day to day. Is that strange?

This is a somber topic and and I would like to share something a bit cheerier.

Last week between doctor appointments Mario and I snuck in a quick trip to Golden Gate Park and the de Young museum. Sometimes just a little break like that is enough to just stop, recharge, and really live in your surroundings. The sun even came out a bit.

Getting Elizabethan at the Shakespeare Garden.





The Concourse



Glass Fruit



Fountain





I apologize that I haven't been as devoted to this blog lately, because of work, my sicko status, and school- it's hard to find the time. I actually had to start a second blog for an online Journalism and Social Media class, that will eventually become a more writing focused blog.

Big Shoes to Fill

With the onslaught of 70's inspired looks for spring, last year's clogs have come around again - only this time they've brought friends. Friends that I'm not so sure I like - friends that I'm not sure clogs should be hanging out with. Clogs are good 'earthy' shoes - though I'll admit we didn't always get along. I've grown to be a 'clogs' kinda gal. Platforms and super duper high 70's wedges are another thing altogether.

Personally, I think it just looks awkward. Ok, I'm being polite it's pretty much the next worst thing to a 70's polyester, patched denim, Incredible Hulk nightmare (yes, I've had Lou Ferrigno nightmares). But, I'd like to know what you think. Will you be sporting platforms this spring?




Well at least some people will be wearing them - the 'rainbow' shoes are sold out at Solestruck.com.