Online Magazine:: Nesting Newbies
Have you seen this yet? It’s an online magazine that’s unlike any I’ve seen before. It’s absolutely fantastic, and the photography is exquisite! Grab a cup of coffee, make yourself comfy, and enjoy!
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Eating Area Progress: Window Treatment and New Wall Color
Let me just say…I have some super intelligent readers. Some of you were able to decipher my incredibly cryptic hints on Friday to figure out that I was indeed working on my VALANCE.Okay, enough silliness. Let’s get on to the PICTURES! And please…as you look at these photos, try to contain your jealousy of my gorgeous view. We can’t all have community bike racks right outside our window,
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Wonderland

Path through the Botanical Gardens at the Huntington Library

A week or so ago, I mentioned that I had traveled down to Pasadena to attend my high school reunion. I had brought my oldest daughter and my mother. They were not too interested in my reunion, but were very happy when I arranged for us to go to the Huntington Library Botanical Gardens with a reservation at the Rose Garden Tea Room.

It was a perfect day, but we were a bit late for our very important date. As I rushed ahead, leaving my daughter to walk a bit more slowly with Mom, I began to feel a little like this girl (especially after seeing her so recently!):

Alice in Wonderland

I rushed past our host’s mansion, which was beautifully grand and is home to one of the finest European art collections in the nation, including the famous Blue Boy by Thomas Gainsborough and Pinkie by Sir Thomas Lawrence.

The Huntington Art Gallery, originally the home of Henry and Arabella Huntington

I trotted past the Exhibition Hall which houses an extraordinary collection of rare books and manuscripts including early editions of the works of Shakespeare and the Ellesmere manuscript of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales.

Huntington Library Exhibition Hall

I was uncertain which way to go, and the sun was getting lower

Rose Garden Trellis

This way or that?!

Wisteria Trellis

I asked along the way….but Neptune was not much help.

And Shakespeare seemed to be in his own world.

And this fine lady seemed too busy chasing her wayward child to be of much help.

I was almost led astray down a path almost too tempting to resist. But I knew we would not make it if I strayed.

Sculpture on the North Vista Lawn

But soon, I knew where I was. I was certain I had been here before…long ago.

Entrance to the Rose Garden Tea Room
Relieved to be here, I rushed in. They treated me as if they were expecting me. But of course they were!

My mother and daughter were not far behind. We sat and enjoyed our special tea while gazing out at the formal kitchen garden.

A day in Wonderland. It was over like a beautiful dream…too soon.

Later this week, a glimpse into the brand new Chinese Garden within the Huntington Garden Botanical Gardens. In a word, “magic”.

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Giraffe Manor in Nairobi, Kenya - A Fantastic African Safari

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Bronze Age….Weekend Art

My family avidly attends the Second Saturday Art Walk in Sacramento whenever possible. We will be there this weekend as a matter of fact. We have a couple of artful daughters, you see. We usually gather a gaggle of girls together and let them wander at will through the mid-town galleries and listen to the local musicians that set up on every street corner. It is a very “happening” spot on the weekends, and a huge party every Second Saturday.

If you love art, like we do, and are in the San Francisco or the Bay Area area this weekend….why not create your own Second Saturday and stop into Gumps? Gumps has been hosting an amazing Bronze Show for the last couple of weeks. If you have not seen it yet, you are missing something special. It runs through March 14th…and the collection is quite brilliant.

Time’s a waisting…so hop on over!

For more info, click HERE.

Have an artful Weekend!

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TGIF! (And My Super-Secret Project)
Oh, I’m so glad it’s Friday! For some reason, this week has seemed to drag on and on for me. I’m soooo ready to turn my attention to my little condo this weekend and get some things done.Actually, I have one project in particular that I’m going to be focusing on. I’m not going to tell you what it is. I’m keeping it to myself.Nope, you can ask…you can beg and plead…but I’m not going to
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Don’t Skip It: Michael S. Smith

Photo by Scott Francis

I think some may miss this because, let’s face it….we may not have the desire or the funds during this economy to get every magazine we want to. But I didn’t want you all to miss an article about the incredible Michael S. Smith. So I am suggesting that you may want to take a look at Architectural Digest this month.

Photo by Scott Francis

Michael Smith has designed a house in Rancho Mirage, California….just outside Palm Springs, and it is not what one might expect of a desert house. No Brat Pack terrazzo. No Hollywood glam.

Photo by Scott Francis

Michael has his own take on things. A bit of quiet comfort. Luxury, yes…but not one of those places where you have to keep your feet off the couch.

Photo by Scott Francis

I never tire of his style.

Not a lot to add to the AD article….just passing it along.

Cover Photo by Durston Sayler

Also…check out the section shown on the cover “Shop Like a Designer”. Well, most of us can’t really shop like this, but it is fun never-the-less to see where the top guns shop. There is a very comprehensive source list at the very back of the magazine with websites. So thanks, AD, for that!

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Powerful New Moon coming up
Hi everyone, I want to alert you all to a powerful new moon coming up on Monday, March 15th. Every new moon is a time of new beginnings, and this one is an especially good time for inspiration and new directions that can lead to great things.

According to the (western*) astrology newsletters I read, this new moon is unique because the Sun, Moon, Mercury, and Uranus are all very close together in a tight pattern that supports inspiration, new ideas, greater insight and intuition through alignment with higher consciousness, and breakthrough problem-solving and decision-making. All of that also means this is a good time to choose to move beyond any old emotional patterns that are no longer serving you.

“If you’re ready to do something different, then this New Moon on the Ides of March is a time to set some intention.” — Madeline C. Gerwick

“The creative impulse that is borne out of this New Moon is powerful and intelligent in its impact, and can be harnessed for great things. … This New Moon is definitely worth planning for due to the inspiration that is unlocked here. This is not so much time for collaboration as it is for initiating new ideas and new inner awakenings.” — Lynn Hayes

This weekend into Monday is a good time to reflect on what new directions you’d like to take over the next few months. I especially recommend doing this if it’s been more than a few months since you’ve done any new feng shui in your space.

Revisit the ba gua, and think about (and/or meditate on) which areas represent the changes you’d most like to see over the next few months. Since “thinking about” implies a logical, left-brain approach, be sure also to allow your intuition space to speak up. It might point you in a new direction you haven’t yet considered.

If you’ve been focused on one particular aspect of life for a while (relationships, or prosperity, for example), be sure to remain open to looking in a different direction at this time. You don’t have to set those relationship or financial ambitions aside, but do be open to an intuitive nudge that points you in a new direction. The energy of this new moon is about changing your focus in some way; you have the opportunity now to do that deliberately and with strong intention, rather than waiting for something to surprise you down the road.

Be sure to focus on the positive OUTCOME you desire, not on any specific problem or challenge you want to overcome.

Once you’ve clarified a strong new moon intention, write it on a piece of paper, and place it in the relevant gua within your home or office. Or, use this new moon ritual to choose the gua most appropriate for you.

For this new moon, I’ll be focusing on the steps my husband and I are taking to move our online businesses both forward and in some cases in new directions over the next few months. (Lots going on behind the scenes the past few months, one reason I haven’t been posting here.)

This will be the first spring in quite a few years that we are not moving, or having family come to visit, or going on a trip ourselves. Being able to stay home and focus on taking our planned “inspired actions” for our business feels like a luxury.

What “new beginnings” will you focus on for this powerful new moon?

Aloha,

Stephanie

PS: Don’t worry, this isn’t turning into an astrology blog! I’ll be back with more feng shui Q+A and other topics and news when my current projects are a little further along.

* I’ve nothing against the Chinese astrology that many feng shui professionals incorporate into their practice, but have been following/using western astrology since long before I got into feng shui. It works for me, and I’m sticking with it. Please note that I am not an astrologer, and do not offer interpretations or forecasts; I’m simply passing on to you information that I find interesting and useful.

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A New Project Begins (Bedroom Redesign)
I’m about to start on a new project, and I’m super excited about it! This is a project for a client…not in my condo. (Heck, sometimes I get tired of talking about my condo, so I know y’all must get tired of it, too!)Anyway, the homeowners had been leasing a house, but recently decided to buy it. So naturally, they’re ready to make some changes–from rental to personalized home. We’ll be
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Before & After ~ Bathrooms

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