DIY, Uncategorized

10 Ways to Autumn-ize your Home

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The crispness in the air, the small gusts of wind, the faint aroma of pumpkin spice. Even in a county like San Diego, you can feel change in the air when Autumn rolls around. I personally love Autumn, and although I’m sometimes late on getting the decorations up, I enjoy decorating for all major holidays and seasons. Today I want to share with you 10 ways I like to make my home a little more comfy for the fall and winter season. Leave a comment at the end if this helped you, or if you want to share some ways you make your home a little more Holiday.

#1 – Aromatic Candles

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If you know me, you know I’m a sap for an aromatic candle, and it’s fact scented candles are the best in the fall. I tend to burn different candle fragrances depending on the weather. For example, food fragrances and warm and cozy fragrances work best when it’s cold and gray outside. Floral fragrances tend to work best when it’s bright and warm outside.  

#2 – Pumpkins

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Add a pumpkin (or three) to your tables and centerpieces. Just a few scattered pumpkins can make your home go from drab to fab in a matter of seconds. Some people swear by real pumpkins, but let me tell you, don’t discount the plastic ones. With faux pumpkins, you can use them again and again. You can even paint them white and use them as decorations for the winter season as well.

#3 – Golden and Pine Centerpieces

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Pine cones, squash, colorful maize, and autumn leaves are another perfect and easy way to Autumnize your home. Just leave a few bowls or cornucopias around the house to give it that crisp, Autumn feel. Browns and beiges are perfect, but adding pops of orange, red, gold, and even rose gold will give your pieces a rustic-glam look.

#4 – Throw Rugs and Wall Art

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Add color, texture, and warmth to your home by way of a smartly placed runner or throw rug. Not many people change their furniture with the seasons, so, changing the rug or your on-the-wall art to something more Fall-like can make it seem like you did. Keep your furniture simple throughout the year, and make your rugs or paintings the focal point. Doing this will make it easy to switch out a few details every season and have it look like you’ve redecorated your entire home. 

#5 – Coffee Beans, Cloves and Oranges

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There’s a little trick to making your home smell delicious all season: cloves and oranges. Make it a family event and have the kids stick the cloves in the oranges. They can even make their own designs or their names out of the cloves. Then either place them in a bowl or hang them with ribbon around the house. Another great trick is filling glass containers with coffee beans. It will look très chic, but also make the house smell great.  

#6 – Succulents (Always)

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If you’ve met me, even for just a few minutes, you probably know that I am obsessed with succulents. Not only are they great to have throughout the year, in the fall you can use them as centerpieces, by placing them inside pumpkins, or you can give them as gifts for friends during the holiday. Unlike many plants, succulents are not relatively easy to take care of, so you can be sure that they won’t be destroyed.

#7 – Don’t Forget the Front Porch

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I have to say, I love pulling into a driveway and seeing fall decor! You just know that the rest of the home will be comfy and inviting. Again, pumpkins are great this season, as they are able to go with Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas decor. If you have the time, and are able, paint the front door: Red, Green, something inviting. It’s a small detail that can change the whole look of the home. Don’t forget to take pictures. Fall is the best time for front porch pictures of the Family.

#8 – Cider, Cinnamon and Baked Goods

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Like the coffee beans and oranges with cloves, cinnamon is a great way to keep your home smelling like the Holidays during, well, the Holidays. Keeping baked goods like cupcakes and pies around, or hot chocolate and apple cider, will make the whole family stay in the spirit while feeding their souls and their bellies. However, try to find vegan, gluten free, and healthier delicious recipes, so that their bellies aren’t growing as big as your love for them.

#9 – String Lights

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There is something about string lights that make an evening more romantic, and family nights that much more special. They aren’t just for outside the home anymore. You can string them up on the porch, in the house, or even drop them in a glass vase or dish to give a room just a little more oomph. I love string lights not only for the Fall and Winter season, but also in the Spring and Summer for weddings and special events, so having some on hand at all times is always a good idea.

#10 – Family & Friends

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This is a big one. To me, family is everything, but not everyone is lucky enough to have a loving one. So, if you do, count your blessings. If you don’t, create a new family with friends you meet every day. If you have a loving family, and the room to do so, invite a friend or someone who may be lonely for the Holiday season. It’s a small gesture that that make someone’s entire year. The more the merrier! Have a happy Fall and Winter Season, and I hope I gave you some great ideas on how to Autumn-ize your home!

 

 

 

Uncategorized

7 San Diego Neighborhoods That Are Quirky, Interesting, Vibrant, and Fun!

Although San Diego is known for its sun, surf, and beachfront vibes, the city has so much more to offer. San Diego is one of the most diverse counties in the United States, and each neighborhood gives off it’s own vibe. Some hoods cater to artists, some to foodies, some to nightlife enthusiasts, and some still to those who love their boardwalks and board shorts. If you’re looking to buy a residence, there are so many places to choose from. Whatever your preference, here are seven of the most exciting neighborhoods for those looking to reside in San Diego.

#1 – EncinitasScreen Shot 2018-12-20 at 12.33.20 PM.png

Encinitas, a city of over 61, 000 residents with a small town feel is a great neighborhood if you detest plastic, and drive a Prius. Streets are wide, the residents are extremely passionate about green living, and there are no power lines visible anywhere. It’s a best of both worlds situation here. Encinitas is a laid back beach community, however, the further east you go, the quirkier the neighborhood. The closer you get to the ocean, the higher the price. Cardiff-by-the-Sea and Leucadia are both very popular beach communities within Encinitas, and each have their own personal flair and feel. Cardiff houses the infamous Cardiff Kook statue and Leucadia’s motto is “Keep Leucadia Funky.”

 

#2 – North ParkScreen Shot 2018-12-20 at 12.41.43 PM.png

Southeast of downtown and bordering Balboa Park, you’ll find the diverse and eclectic uptown neighborhood of North Park. The lively streets here are stocked with locals, and lined with coffee shops, boutiques, art galleries, amazing restaurants, and craft beer pubs.  The epicenter of the neighborhood is the intersection of University Avenue and 30th Street, which holds claim to being “the best beer neighborhood in the nation. The hipsters in this neighborhood know their food and drinks, and consequently, the neighborhood homes some of the best restaurants and bars in San Diego. The homes in this area are cute but surprising large, and don’t be surprised if your neighbors actually want to get to know you!

 

#3 – South ParkScreen Shot 2018-12-20 at 12.05.18 PM.png

What South Park may lack in size, it makes up for with a tight-knit community of small indie businesses and events, like the South Park Walkabout, where local shops and restaurants open late and offer special deals and bites. This neighborhood, very close to North Park, pulses with shops, entertainment, and art blocks. The petite neighborhood manages to keep its cool factor high with eclectic shops and restaurants. Craft beer is also celebrated here at bars like Hamilton’s Tavern, consistently rated “best beer bar” on the West Coast, and the family friendly Station Tavern where burgers and beer are served in an old trolley station. The petite homes are some of the most adorable in the county and have a sort of old-fashioned comfy feel to them.

 

#4 – CarlsbadScreen Shot 2018-12-20 at 12.46.19 PM.png

Located in scenic North County, and known as “The Village by the Sea,” Carlsbad was named after a famous spa in Karlsbad, Bohemia. This quaint city has beautiful beaches, three unique lagoons, lots of shopping areas, and gorgeous golf courses. It also boasts the LEGOLAND® theme park, and the Flower Fields of Carlsbad Ranch that sports 50 acres of spectacular blooming flowers every spring. With new, widened, buffered bike lanes, more roundabouts, and community walkabouts and bikeabaouts around the village, Barrio, and beach areas; the idea being, to convince people to leave the car at home for errands and recreation.

 

#5 – Ocean BeachScreen Shot 2018-12-20 at 12.59.06 PM.png

Ocean Beach, often referred to as OB, is called the city where lifestyle is frozen in time, in fact, you’re more likely to see a co-op then a large chain here, and is definitely a place for the free spirited. This funky seaside town is one of San Diego’s best beach communities. It is laid back and less rowdy than it’s south neighboring neighborhoods of Mission Beach and Pacific Beach. Still, it is a great place to surf or sunbathe. OB sits on prime waterfront real estate, but the neighborhood exudes a small-town atmosphere. Where other beach communities have embraced commercialism, this town remains fiercely independent and skeptical of corporate change. The residents of OB call themselves “OBceans,” and are an extremely tight-knit community.

 

#6 – San MarcosScreen Shot 2018-12-20 at 1.01.56 PM.png

Home to award-winning San Elijo Hills and breathtaking lake, San Marcos is the leader in providing housing with a wide range of prices and designs, while being a community that takes environmental awareness to heart. The residents work hard to preserve the San Marcos Creek, ridgelines and sensitive habitat. It actively participates in state, federal and regional conservation programs as well as progressive local air and water quality programs. San Marcos is an excellent urban-rural setting with small town informality, plus easy access to San Diego city, southern Riverside and even Orange County.

 

#7 – Little ItalyScreen Shot 2018-12-20 at 1.08.44 PM.png

Little Italy is a place where past meets present and is one of the more vibrant neighborhoods in the city. Once home to San Diego’s flourishing tuna fishing industry and generations of Italian families who made their living on the sea, Little Italy is now a lively neighborhood filled with patio cafés, fantastic restaurants, craft brew stops, urban wineries, art galleries, sophisticated shops, boutique hotels and the beautiful Amici Park. It’s not unusual to stroll through this walker-friendly neighborhood and be greeted with a smile and a “saluto” or “ciao bella” by a stranger. The residents here seem to believe that they are in Italy, instead of just a few minutes away from downtown San Diego, and trust us, when you’re here, you will too.

 

 

DIY, Uncategorized

11 No-Carve Pumpkin Decorating Ideas

 

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Many people buy and decorate pumpkins for the fall season. Some carve them, others leave them sitting on their porch steps untouched until they rot, and creative souls (with the new addition of you and I) show their creativity by decorating their homes with unique, no-carve pumpkin art.

I have to admit, over the past few years we haven’t carved many pumpkins, but we have decorated our porch with giant pumpkins in all of their natural orange beauty. This year, after seeing these no carve pumpkin decorating ideas, color me inspired! I hope some of these ideas give you a bit of Autumn inspiration as well.

 

#1 – Use Crayons to Make a Melted Crayon Pumpkin

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Do you have a bunch of broken crayons at home? Well, this slight twist on melted crayon wall art is fun for the whole family and creates a really neat effect. For even less mess, do it upside down. Find a jar, place your mini pumpkin upside down with the stem inside the jar, place some crayons on top of your pumpkin, and use a hair-dryer to melt your crayons!

 

#2 – Turn Your Pumpkin into a Cute Party Cooler

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This idea is sure to impress at your Fall get-together. Just choose a large, wide pumpkin, cut off the top third with a serrated knife and scrape out the pulp and seeds. Line the gourd with a glass or plastic bowl to prevent it from becoming water-logged. If the pumpkin opening is a bit too small for the bowl, carefully shave the inside edge with a spoon. Finish by filling the bowl with ice and wine, beer, or bottled drinks.

 

#3 – Decorate Your Pumpkin with Gems, Glitter, and/or Paint

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Simple, and sure to immediately add class to any pumpkin project, is this art deco idea. To make it kid-friendly (as opposed to a huge glittery mess on your new hardwood floors), paint the pumpkin yourself. When it dries, let the kiddos decorate it with colorful gems, stencils and spray paint, fake jewels, ribbon, seashells, and lace. The more you trust your kids, the smaller the decorations you give them. If you have toddlers, large bowtie macaroni should do the trick.

 

#4 – Use Your Pumpkin as a Succulent Holder

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If you’re anything like me, natural elements in the home have the ability to put you in a state of relaxation. Dazzle your guests with a fall centerpiece featuring a pumpkin topped with succulents. As a (tiny) shortcut, you can plant the succulents in a normal pot and set it inside your real (or faux pumpkin) and then you don’t have to worry about re-potting down the road! It’ll be so nice to have a seasonal succulent centerpiece that will last through Thanksgiving, and they aren’t too difficult to make.

 

#5 – Be Your Pumpkin’s Fairy Godmother

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You don’t need a fairy godmother to turn a pumpkin into a carriage. All you need is a pumpkin, a furry toy animal, and a quick trip to Michael’s or Hobby lobby and you can make the rules. This artist used clay for the door, but you can just as easily use small barbie princess parts. Just spray them with gold paint. If you have extra time, hollow out the pumpkin, place a candle inside, and cover the hole with a door. For extra fantasy points, make a curly-cue stem out of Papier-mâché.

 

#6 – Create Fake Food Out of Your Pumpkin

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Using acrylic paints, turn your pumpkin into something everyone will want to eat. You can use any tool you like to paint: paintbrushes, cotton swabs, sponges, or cotton balls. Keep a damp cloth at your side to quickly clean off any mistakes. Pretend that you’re just painting an ordinary canvas. *For the popcorn bucket, add a plastic bowl and fill the bucket with real pumpkin spice topped popcorn to wow your guests.

 

#7 – Fill Your Pumpkin With Real Food

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Pumpkin stew, pumpkin casserole, pumpkin creme brûlée…the possibilities are endless! My favorite idea happens to be individual “Pumpkin Mac&Cheese” inside of adorable mini pumpkins. For kids parties you can even fill the pumpkins with trail mix, potato chips, pumpkin seeds, or Holiday candy.

 

#8 – Let Your Pumpkins Convey Your True Feelings

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Everybody loves emoticons, and experts say that a well-placed emoji has the ability to change a recipient’s mood. These pumpkins are a must-try. Spray-paint your pumpkin yellow, or keep it the original orange, and either paint faces, *or keep sticky pieces of felt in a bowl and change your emoji’s mood daily.

If you use mini pumpkins, you can line a small window sill with these little fellas and be the talk of the neighborhood.

 

#9 – Make Beautiful Fall Centerpieces

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Pumpkin centerpieces will be your inspiration this Autumn. You can make pumpkin flower vases, pumpkin trees, or stick candles in your pumpkin to create a large candle holder. Then, add some lose pumpkins, squash, and other Fall veggies for a breathtaking dinner or reception table. Add some cranberry vines, pine boughs, or cones for a contrast. If you’re planning on hosting more than one Fall get-together, there are limitless possibilities to decorate all the tables in your home.

 

#10 – Do You Wanna Build a Snowman?

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Of course you do! Paint your pumpkin white, or just find white pumpkins. Then, all you need to add are a few felt pieces, a scarf, and a top hat to make your neighbors wonder how your snowman hasn’t melted under this California sun. For the kids, and with just a little extra effort, you can even turn your snowman into Olaf (from Disney’s Frozen), BB-8 (from Star Wars), or Jack Skellington (from Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas).

 

#11 – Cover Your Pumpkin in Fabric & Gift to a Friend

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Looking for an easy gift that won’t break the bank? Just cover your pumpkin in fabric: lace, tulle, silk, cotton, or any fabric you can find. You can either sew a closing, or leave it raw and add a decorative tie, and that’s it. You have an easy gift that you can give to kids, coworkers, family, and friends.

Hope you’ll give at least one of these ideas a try. And send a photo of whatever you make for a feature on my Instagram Page!😊

 

 

 

 

 

 

Uncategorized

11 Things to do in San Diego THIS weekend! (9/14/18 – 9/16/18)

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TGI…Friday! Let’s get out and go play this weekend! Here are some fun things (and a few FREE things) to do with your friends and family this weekend.

1. KAABOO Del Mar 2018
Get your dance on with Foo Fighters, Katy Perry, Robert Plant, and more at the fourth annual Kaaboo festival at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. A little pricey, but every year, all of the festival-goers swear it’s worth it. Kaaboo is called the “not your typical festival” and tend to emphasize guest comfort at their festivals. Buy tickets at: kaaboodelmar.com

 
2. Barefoot in the Park
The Old Globe’s revival of Neil Simon’s “Barefoot in the Park” began performances in July, before the passing of the playwright on August 26th. The romantic comedy follows a newlywed couple’s journey as they navigate through their new life together in New York City. Performances start at 8 p.m. tonight, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, and 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday at Old Globe’s Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre in Balboa Park. theoldglobe.org

 
3. Santee Bluegrass Festival
Not just bluegrass, this festival will have beer and wine and unlimited food samples, a “giving tree” activity, an opportunity drawing (in place of a silent auction), and a kids’ night at the YMCA, where the kids can hang out while the adults having their fun at the festival. santeebluegrassfestival.com

 
4. San Diego Bayfair
Boat races, barbecue competition, kidzone, and fun. The SD Bayfair will take place during various times through Sunday on East Vacation Island, Crown Point and Fiesta Island in Mission Bay. For more information, visit: sandiegobayfair.org

 
5. Sunset Poolside Jazz Series
Experience the exquisite sounds of Jazz in this free poolside event at the Westgate Hotel. The event is free, however, there is a $25 minimum food/drink purchase (which includes appetizer trays, signature cocktails, and a selection of craft beer and wine) to attend. It’s your last chance of the summer to attend this electrifying jazz series. westgatehotel.com

 
6. “The Heart of Rock & Roll”
Listen and watch the musical adaptation of Rock & Roll legend Huey Lewis at the Old Globe this weekend. The hilarious comedy follows a band searching for their big break in the Chicago dive bar circuit. Tickets start at $39 and can be bought here: theoldglobe.org

 
7. San Diego Padres v. Texas Rangers
Head over to Petco Park to watch the Padres play the Texas Rangers in one of their last home series of the year. This weekend, Petco Park and the Padres celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. There will be a Fiesta in the Park on Friday, a firework show on Saturday ,and a Mexican Independence Day celebration on Sunday. Each day of the event, a commemorative Dia de Los Muertos bobblehead will be given away to ticket holders. mlb.com

 

8. Hausmann Quartet
The Maritime Museum of San Diego is hosting a concert series on the century-old ferryboat Berkeley. The concert series features three performances, each with a different theme and takes place on the beautiful, church-like, original-wood upstair seating. Watch the sun go down as you enjoy beautiful pieces by contemporary and classical musicians. sdmaritime.org

 
9. 49th Annual Julian Music Festival
Celebrate the end of summer with music, family and friends in beautiful Julian. There will be a diverse lineup of musical acts all with the backdrop of San Diego County’s backcountry, the picturesque “small town” of Julian. Children are free with a paying adult. Julianmusicfestival.com

 
10. Cans & Jams
On the third Saturday of each month, The Reader partners with a local brewery to bring you an afternoon of Cans & Jams. This month, they have partnered with Ballast Point, and have plenty of swag and discounted cans to go around. Take off your shoes and sip your favorite local craft varieties and special limited releases as you eat great food and jam out to live music. searsucker.com

 

11. Oceanside Harbor Days
It’s a festival at the beach! One of the city’s longest-running festivals, the event features more than 200 arts and crafts booths, music, a swim marathon, a food court, and a beer garden sponsored by the Prohibition Brewing Company and Golden Coast Mead, boat races, There are even pirates and mermaids roamin’ the area and the Oceanside Firefighters Association will hold its annual pancake breakfast each morning. Don’t miss out on this one. oceansidechamber.com