Travel season is upon us! Today I’m finishing up my trip to Switzerland and I fly home tomorrow. On this trip I brought the same two pairs of sneakers I brought with me on my adventure in Malta last spring and also to Amsterdam in autumn of last year. This is my third European trip wearing the same two pairs of canvas sneakers I have in light blue and black. Talk about getting my money’s worth, they never fail me! Sometimes I bring this third pair of golden metallic sneakers too. I write about this topic every year because foot wear is *so* important, just as the wrong shoes can limit your mob ..read more

Greetings friends, today I’m in Interlakken, Switzerland, I haven’t been here for over two decades. I was here in my early twenties when I spent a few weeks living on the cheap and out of a backpack traveling around Europe. It’s good to be back and it’s still just as scenic as ever. While it’s chilly here in the Alps, spring is in full bloom, and their are sheep and cows grazing in the meadows. With all its mountains and valleys, Switzerland is one of the most scenic countries I’ve ever traveled too. Riding the trains through these stunning landscapes is a dream come true. I’m sharing more vie ..read more

I have a set of woven chairs in my backyard that is two years old, they face the patio and are the perfect place to enjoy a beverage, catch up on reading, or have a conversation with friends or family. I placed them under the palm trees away from the house to beckon anyone visiting to come over, sit in stillness, and listen to the breeze. I can’t find this set online anymore but I’ve had this woven set for two years and it’s still looking so good! This is the third season I’ve brought them outside to enjoy the sunny weather. Setting up seating areas outdoors allow people to sit and have coffee ..read more

Today I’m sharing the globe light planter posts I created for our Florida home’s back patio. These are all cell phone images, I didn’t bring my DSLR camera on this trip so the color, sharpness, and quality are not as great, also it’s tricky to capture images at twilight, but these are good enough to convey the idea. We have a long rectangular patio and I have two nice seating areas but it gets pitch black at night since there are no exterior lights out here, so this was my seasonal solution. It’s lovely during the day but oh so dark at night so these lights at ambiance and extend the evening h ..read more

This week was very relaxing for me, I spent the last few days alone in Florida, visiting the local farmer’s market, cleaning my house, and enjoying some pretty sunsets on the beach. At this stage in my life, on the verge of an empty nest but with pending family obligations back home, I take the time to recharge when it’s available to me. Away from distraction, I always have the most clear reflections and the best ideas for the future come to me on days like these. Next week I’m headed back to California and the everyday family routines. Our new kitchen upper cabinets have arrived, so the mini ..read more

I was surrounded by blue water and white sand and pretty resorts this week as I played tour guide for some visiting friends. It reminded me how fresh and lovely a classic blue and white palette has always been. I spied a few inspiring bathroom tile installations on Pinterest and Instagram and felt like sharing. I’ve already bookmarked these tile combinations and patterns are bookmarked for future renovations and potential rental properties. Enjoy! tile club mandarina studio james may homes penny hex floral pattern delpino custom homes davis interiors christine kohut   gld design ..read more

Tomorrow I’m taking the ocean ferry to Key West with some girlfriends, they are very excited since they’ve never been before. We spent yesterday exploring the little islands near my house, it’s so nice to be able to share this lovely part of the country with my sweet friends. I have a patio project in progress that I’ll be finishing later this week and sharing here on the blog. Favorite links from the week: Soft textures and minimalist mid century decor fill this New Jersey home. This outdoor dining space was once a concrete driveway. A few creative installations for terra cotta tile. This cl ..read more

We’re experiencing lovely weather here on the Gulf Coast of Florida which means we can linger outside in the evenings. Knowing the warmer weather in the coming months will bring gnats and mosquitos with it, I made a citronella candle to sit on my outdoor coffee table to keep annoying bugs away. I spied these budget friendly modern planters online in two sizes and fell in love with their shape. The larger one I used for its intended purpose and added a mini monstera, but I made the smaller one into a citronella candle. Now it sits outside looking oh so chic with its modern shape and one-of-a-ki ..read more

I landed here in Florida on Tuesday and have been enjoying the soft sun and laid back lifestyle of the area, getting a lot of rest and doing some daydreaming. Time alone in solitude recharges and inspires me. Earlier this year I decided to (mostly) give up alcohol, because of how it was making me feel. I was waking up in the middle of the night not feeling good, it was affecting my sleep and giving me brain fog, so it felt like it was time to give it up. Perimenopause was also a contributing factor, so I decided it was time to say goodbye to reaching for an adult beverage in the evening. I hav ..read more

I spent the past few days emptying out my local shop, repurposing the shelving and leftover furniture and distributing the remaining merchandise to a few vendors I know. It was a lot of creative work but a worthwhile experience, I made new business friends and learned so much during the year I had a shop. All three of my children are at our house today having Easter dinner, and my parents and brother and his kids are here too. We’re making a big feast and thankfully enjoying sunny skies. I leave for Florida on Monday and will be there for a few weeks working on little projects around our house ..read more