A house snippet here and there...

"My home is kind of like a showroom"

- Claudia Buchanan

The grand reveal of our home will be many a post later. I've done little tidbits here and there to whet your appetites. But, more will be revealed later. It would be great if I could reveal everything all at one time, but, what would be the point. I'd like for you to enjoy the journey with us. 


It has been almost six months since Tom and I have become homeowners. It has been incredible and amazing, how vastly different it is to say, "At my house..." It feels great. And, more importantly, we are building roots. This is the place that we have decided to call our own. I have to admit that when we started the process of looking into buying a home, I was daunted by the idea. So many thoughts went through my head- 'We aren't ready. It's too expensive.' All the usual things that probably go through everyone's minds when they are buying a house. We went through a roller coaster of knowing what we want or like and then turning back, and not knowing what we want or like. Or rather, we knew what we wanted, but we were not seeing eye to eye. But, the trouble and all the friendly arguments have all been worth the hassle. We are proud to be first-time homeowners. (Tom and I are in agreement with this, buying a house seemed like a walk in the park compared to planning a wedding. We got married a year before we got the house last year.)


The past six months have been busy with all the work that we are doing on transforming our place. If you've read, Brick by brick, you know how the house looked like right when we got it. Sterile white! There was no life in the house. But, it eventually got coated with color. Rather, a rainbow of colors... umm, many colors. And, the first BIG discussion was what color was each room going to be. He had his idea, I had my own ideas. Let's just say, some colors got vetoed along the process... We decided on getting our paint from Sherwin Williams. Two reasons, I've bought and used their paint before, but also, because, they had their paint for 30% off. Plus, we would have never have heard of it until my parents told us about it. Round of applause for them, for always looking out after us. 


As the colors got approved and disapproved, it was already Thanksgiving. We've had the house for almost a month and it still looked like how we got it. White, white and white. My parents have been a great source of support and help during this process. They spent their Thanksgiving holiday with us last year- helping us paint, move boxes from the apartment to the house, continue packing  things in boxes. Basically, anything and everything necessary to make the transition smooth. From living in apartments to living in a home. About three rooms got painted and maybe things were brought over from one place to the other. 


So, the moral of the post is... more snippets and tidbits will be coming in regards to the house. If you've been paying close attention, some posts have featured little bits and pieces of the house- Just add vinegar showcased the stove in the kitchen, and Bijou!!! showed our yorkie taking a bath in the kitchen sink... 


Just like Lao Tzu had said, 'A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.' And, I hope all of you can join us on this journey...

April showers...

... bring May flowers. Okay, granted- it is still March but April will be here any time! Just a few more days, four more days.

With all this rain around us, I'm looking forward to all the colors that will be springing up soon... (No pun intended) And, I am sure that there will be a lot of snow in the mountains as well. So, all of you snowboarding and skiing fanatics out there, I'm sure this weekend and the following weekend, we will have some great powder!!

Spring is here! Enjoy and drive safely while rain is still pouring around us.

The Dresden Files

From sharetv.org

Lately, I've been watching The Dresden Files on Netflix. I started watching the show since I've finished watching The Tudors. It follows Harry Dresden, a wizard. The series was taken from books written by Jim Butcher. Harry Dresden works to protect the general public from the magic and dark forces surrounding them. The tv series was short-lived, only twelve episodes was ever made. It has Paul Blackthorne as the main lead as Harry Dresden. I was hoping that there was going to be more episodes of the show, but Sci-Fi Channel announced back in 2007 that it was not being renewed for another season. Hopefully, it will gain a cult-like following like Firefly did. The twelve episodes are a great introduction to Jim Butcher's series about Dresden. I think that a trip to the local library is in my future. 


Check out Jim Butcher's website here about our resident wizard and private investigator: Dresden


Another book series that has been turned into a tv series is The Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind called Legend of the Seeker. 

Sleeping Doggie...

Amidst all the chaos, our little Yorkie, Bijou, is fast asleep on the sofa..

Wine...

... is poetry in a bottle.

- Clifton Fadiman

Courtesy of wineok.eu

Earlier this month in Swirl and Sip, I blogged about how the SF Vintner's Market is just around the corner. It is just around the corner. Just a few more weeks and you can taste all the reds and whites that you want. 

The SF Vintner's Market usually occurs twice a year: in the spring and fall. The last time, we went was last 2010. See it here. I'm sure, you have realized by now, that I LOVE wine. And, I am counting down the days. 

The SF Vintner's Market is the first and wine tasting event and buying event in the Bay Area. Wineries from Napa Valley, Sonoma County, Paso Robles and many others come to this premier event to pour their new releases, special collections and hard to find vintages for you to taste... and buy. (So, make sure you bring some cash with you) This is the place to buy wines directly from the source. The great thing about the SF Vintner's Market, is that you have a whole array of wines to taste and if you like it, love it, BUY it! 

This event was started by two people, Cornelius Geary and Jeffrey Playter, who realized the need for vintners to be close to their customers and have the opportunity to offer their wines to a larger audience. 

Here is the list of wineries: SF Vintners Wineries. Check this page out, since they'll be adding more wineries as the event gets closer. Also, there will be some winemakers that will be in attendance at the event such as Jean Charles Boisset and Jason Moore. Check out the list here: Meet the Winemaker.

Hope to see you there!

Spring is here!!

Courtesy of Google

Parisian Chic

"Fashion fades, style is eternal"

-Yves Saint Laurent

Courtesy of cafemakeup.com

Style is something that will never fade as the years go by. I am in heart with Paris right now. I have always wanted to visit and experience the city for everything that it is worth. From food to shopping. But, what I am most interested in Parisian style. Tom and I are planning on going to Paris in the fall and I am looking forward to the planned trip. 

Right now, I am in the middle of reading Parisian Chic: A Style Guide by Ines de la Fressange. Ines de la Fressange was a model for Chanel in the 80s and has shared the secret of Parisian style in this book. You can get the book from Amazon for $18 and any other bookstore that sells it. The guidebook is packed full of tips on what to wear, where to shop, where to eat as you navigate the city of light. It guides you through the simple secrets of French beauty and style. The advice on fashion is both practical and elegant, that touches on suggestions on how to make one's wardrobe more edgy, classic and much more interesting. To me, the book at times is very lighthearted and is written in such a relaxed  style. Ines tells you what not to worry about and about what matters. It's very engaging and has made me laugh out loud a few times. I loved how her advice makes me feel a little bit more secure in my own skin and not to follow trends but to make the trends my own. Let's face it, no one wants to walk down the street dressed in head to toe animal print. I know, I don't, but, I'm sure there are others who do. I'm just not one of them. I'll probably take the animal print trend and add a twist to it. 

Courtesy of www.thesimplyluxuriouslife.com

Courtesy of www.thesimplyluxuriouslife.com 

Courtesy of www.thesimplyluxuriouslife.com 

The art of Parisian style has that certain je ne sais quoi that seems intangible and elusive but yet at the same time, very chic and effortless. In the book, Ines breaks down the Magnificent Seven, which are the basics that are key to creating a Parisian style in any scenario. Some of the these, I'm sure, you probably have in your closet. The above pictures, shows Ines' daughter, Nine, modeling each of the basics. 

The Magnificent Seven: 

1. A Man's Blazer
2. The Trench
3. The Navy Sweater (cashmere)
4. The Tank
5. The LBD (Little Black Dress)
6. The Perfect Jeans
7. The Leather Jacket

With these seven items, Ines shares many ideas on how to meld it into anyone's wardrobe. She also lists many fashion faux pax and a celebrity style inspiration. Aside from these fashion advice, she continues to give advice on accessories from bags to shoes to jewelry. 

The book is very easy to read, and the layout is very playful and interesting. So, if you are interested in reading the book and in emulating the French style, go get your own copy.

"A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous"

- Coco Chanel

Brick by brick...

"I long, as does every human being, to be at home where I find myself." 

- Maya Angelou

To me, a house is not a home, until you've created many memories in it. I have mentioned it before that the Mr. and I just recently both our very first house. Granted, it is not the very first 'home,' we've had together but definitely, the one that will be our home for a long time. I look forward to creating many beautiful memories in this house in the many years to come. 

It was a journey when Tom and I decided to buy a house in the summer of last year. There were many unknowns and mostly, just the fear of commitment to buying and owning a house. Getting married and pledging ourselves to each other almost seem like a piece of cake. But, this was the next step... If we follow the children's nursery rhyme: "First comes loves, then come marriage.." Okay, maybe, it doesn't say anything about buying a house in the rhyme, but you have to provide for a place, a home, before "...come the baby, in a baby carriage." 

There was a lot of trepidation on my part and Tom's but also excitement. I've gone on many house hunting trips with my parents but never for a house of my own. It helped that we had a great realtor, who walked us through everything and answered our questions. She was very patient from answering our (ok, mostly mine) phone calls to emails sent out throughout the night. We must have seen over a hundred homes from condos to townhomes to single family homes throughout the summer until one house caught my eye. And, another caught the Mr's. 

Ladies, you know that feeling when you're trying on the 'dress' and you just know, that was it for me. I knew, right then and there, that the house that caught my eye was the ONE. Too bad, that the hubby did not agree with my choice. But, in every marriage is compromise- we decided to bid on both houses. We lost out on his favorite one, while we decided to back out of my favorite one. And, I was quite sad and discontent for awhile, a long while. There were many discussions, erhmmm, arguments on what he wants, what I want. But, all in all, it pretty much boiled down to which house both fit our needs. After many talks, we finally agreed on the house that I fell in love with and decided to offer again. Granted, the hubby is always going at his pace, slow and steady, but this time around, we just found out that the house I love was going to have an open house that weekend. Faster than lightning, we called out realtor and before the weekend rolled by, we were in contract. So much drama... 

But, all in all... the ending is a happy one, we got the HOUSE. And, now we are turning it into a home. We have been living in the house for several months now since we got it and slowly but surely, it is changing with every loving touch we apply to it.

These are some before pictures of the house before we did anything to it. Look at all that stark white walls. Very sterile looking. While, you can't really picture it in these photos, but the white paint was also a very glossy white paint. It made you feel like you were drowning in white. Too much white. The floors in both the living room and dining room are of wood and the kitchen has tile. And, the bedrooms have carpet. Both the backyard and the frontyard have fruit trees and flowers. (Hopefully, my green thumb won't kill any of them)

Picture of both the dining room and the kitchen

Picture of the fireplace in the living room from the dining room

Picture of the backyard

Hallway picture

Bathroom

One of the bedrooms

Front yard

So brick by brick, stone by stone, the Mr. and I will turn this house into our HOME. And, that my friends will be the start of an even grander adventure. 


P.S. 
For any first time home buyers out there, know what you want and don't compromise. And, remember- location, location, location. And, it also helps to have a great realtor. We found ours through a friend of mine and she works at Intero Real Estate. 

To Pho or not to Pho...

As always with rainy weather, I always have the craving for pho. And, for the past week, it has been raining cats and dogs A LOT in the Bay Area.

Pic courtesy of lovingpho.com

If you have never had pho, it is a Vietnamese noodle soup, that is usually served with beef. Sometimes, with chicken. The best pho, in my opinion, is the ones served with beef, especially the thin lean brisket. A bowl of pho includes noodles made from rice and served with basil, bean sprouts and jalapenos in beef broth. The last three ingredients are usually added to the soup by the person eating it, you or me... :D You can also add some hot sauce and oyster sauce. 

Pic courtesy of Google Images

Tom and I, usually go to downtown Mountain View on Castro Street to get some pho. We usually go about once or twice a month for some pho. Whether it rains or not, the hubby and I can always enjoy a warm bowl of pho. (Like, when we are not feeling well) We usually eat at Pho Garden, which is home to the Pho Challenge. I've never done the challenge but have been privy enough to see some people who are up to it, try it and some have succeeded and while some failed. To the right is a picture taken from Google Images, when searching for Pho Garden Mountain View, which shows the size of the bowl for the Pho Challenge next to a regular large bowl of pho. If next time, you are in downtown Mountain View, check this place if you want to give the challenge a try or just wanting to try out a new pho place. This is their website: Pho Garden

Pic courtesy of Google Images 

Their address is 246 Castro Street, Mountain View, CA 94041. They also have another venue in the city. There are other pho places around that we have tried as well but this one is just convenient since we've moved to Mountain View. It is ideally much closer and if we don't feel like pho, there is an abundance of other cuisines to eat at.  

I may have mentioned it before but have just recently moved to the Bay Area from SoCal. We used to live in Camarillo and used to frequent Pho Saigon in Port Hueneme. They have the nest pho noodle soup that I have ever had. But, that is neither here or there. 

Vino, Vino, Vino

Picture courtesy of sheelahclarkson.com

Barrel Tasting Weekend 2012 

March 31st, 2012 (Saturday) - April 1st, 2012 (Sunday)

12pm - 430pm

Participating Livermore Valley Wineries

Vino, Vino, Vino... 


Livermore Valley Wine Country Barrel Tasting Weekend is just two weeks away. The 2012 Barrel Tasting Weekend happens on the weekend of March 31st and April 1st. Two whole days of tasting wine right out from the barrels, meeting winemakers and most importantly, hanging with friends and even, meeting new ones. This is the fourth annual Barrel Tasting Weekend for Livermore Valley. Tickets had started selling December 2011 and you still have some time to buy tickets before the event. Last day to buy pre-sale tickets is March 30, 2012 by 12pm. Ticket prices are $30 when bought in advance and $35 when bought the day of the event.


A ticket will basically get you the following: a Livermore Valley Wine Country Logo take home wine glass, two days of tasting wine from the barrel at each participating winery, special activities, a map that details all participating wineries and most important, wine discounts!!!


These are the following wineries that are participating in the event:
Bent Creek Winery, Big White House, Bodegas Aguirre Winery, Cedar Mountain Winery, Charles R Vineyards, Concannon Vineyard, Crooked Vine Winery, Cuda Ridge Wines, Darcie Kent Vineyards, Eagle Ridge Vineyard, Eckert Estate Winery, el Sol Winery, en Garde, Fenestra Winery, Garré Vineyard & Winery, John Evan Cellars, Las Positas Vineyards, Les Chênes Estate Vineyards, Longevity Wines, McGrail Vineyards & Winery, Mitchell Katz Winery, Murrieta's Well, Nottingham Cellars, Occasio Winery , Page Mill Winery, Retzlaff Winery, Rios-Lovell Winery, Rodrigue Molyneaux , Ruby Hill Winery, Stony Ridge Winery, Tamás Estates, The Steven Kent Winery, Wente Vineyards, Westover Winery , White Crane Winery, Wood Family Vineyards



Check out: What's in the Barrel? (information detailing each winery as well as their wines- information is from lvwine.org)


The hubby and I are blessed to have a great friend, who is both a wine and beer enthusiast, and had known how much I love wine (the hubby is more of a beer drinker) and organized this event for a group of us to attend. It's a great way to toast the arrival of spring. I'm sure that the whole valley will be buzzing with both people and bees (ready to pollinate, after all this rain!) 


I am looking forward to the event, not just for the wine but for the company. I can't wait to try all the Syrah, Cabernets and Zins... And, hopefully, we'll find more whites for the hubby to both enjoy and love...


And, so... if you love wine and you're free that weekend, take a chance and check out the event... Who knows, this might be your only chance to try and pre-purchase wines before they are even bottled! :) 

Bijou!!!

Our yorkie is just so cute! Taking a bath in the kitchen sink to bring a smile to your day!

Rainy Weather

"The only way to see a rainbow, is to look through the rain."

Picture courtesy of dishwaterdreams.com

Picture courtesy of nofearofchic.tumblr.com

 

The Bay Area is about to get hit with tons and tons of rain. It'll be raining all week. But, it'll be great, we need some rain. And, I am looking forward to it. It'll be good, it'll bring about some flowers as spring comes into play.

Joanie's Cafe for Brunch

Parisian Brioche French Toast. Very Yummy!!!

Took the day off today to spend time with the hubby and the doggie. It was a nice day out today. It was in the high 60s to low 70s maybe. A preview of what it will be like once spring makes it way in and pushes winter out of the way. Just a few more weeks and spring season will be here. But, for now, let's enjoy the remaining days of winter. Today's weather was perfect for just walking around downtown Palo Alto and the Stanford Mall. The hubby and I decided to have brunch today and chose, Joanie's Cafe, in downtown Palo Alto. It was very yummy and as you can see from the photos, the food was also very delicious. We love having brunch and have made it into a mission to try out all the many breakfast places nearby where we live. We use to go to Amilia's in Sunnyvale. But, they just recently decided to close the restaurant and convert it to a Japanese restaurant. So, there goes the usual spot for brunch. 

Drop some comments for great places to eat around the Bay Area for breakfast, brunch and lunch... I'd love to hear some and try them out for myself. 

Bijou says hi!!!

Marni at H&M

Yesterday, March 8th, was D-day for Marni at H&M. It was the latest collaboration between the Swedish clothing store and the Italian label. This collaboration was announced last year in November for release in March, just in time for spring. Marni has been described as "quirky", "feminine" and "off-beat." And, this collaboration clearly showcases what Marni is known for, which is a lot of colorblocking, the use of texture, and utilizing unusual shapes as well as mixing in bright colors with blue, brown and etc. 

Here is a peep into the lookbook for Marni at H&M, courtesy of Huffington Post. 

I was one of the many people, who lined up outside their local H&M store, in an effort to store even one item. Many H&M stores opened earlier than usual for the special launch of Marni at H&M. Stores opened at 8am. My closest H&M was at Santana Row in San Jose. I made it to the store around 6:45am, and there was already a line. See picture to the right. I was about 50 or 55 in line. And, there were many more people that showed up behind me. The great thing about the launches at H&M is that you are given a wristband that is color coded by group. Thirty people per color band and each band has a time that allows you in the store. You have approximately 15 minutes to shop in the store in the designated area that houses the collection. 

Just 15 minutes, not long enough. It was just enough time, really. My major concern was that I was going to be in one of the later groups, but, thankfully, I was in the second group. And, I have never been so happy to be inside a store where it was warm, when it came time for my group to shop. 

All in all, I was glad that I took the time to be out there in order to get some goods. I came home with at least four items that I had wanted to get plus a sweater for the hubby. I wasn't able to get any accessories but I love my blouses and jacket. I got the same blue dotted jacket that is shown on the model in the first photo. It was my first time being out there for a launch for a collaboration with H&M and I think that I will probably so do again in the future. 

Here is a picture of some of my loot: (pictures courtesy of Huffington Post)

Love the texture and shape of this jacket!

I love the bright pink and yellow. Very spring!

Dreaming of Paris...

... Lately, all I've been thinking about is Paris. Simply, dreaming of it. I can't wait to go experience the wealth of feelings that Paris brings to mind. Love, Fashion, Food... 

Picture taken from Pinterest

Simply put, the hubby and I are thinking of visiting Paris in the fall of this year. I've just started researching places, things to do, while one is in Paris. Visiting the Louvre comes to mind, and also, seeing the Eiffel Tower... I simply want to do things in Paris that is far away from what tourists normally do. I want to experience Paris in a way a Parisienne does. If anyone out there has any ideas feel free to leave me some comments.

Morning from the Bay

Swirl and Sip!!!

It's that time again! SF Vintner's Market is just around the corner. It will be held at the same spot- Fort Mason on April 14th to the 15th.


Check out: http://www.sfvintnersmarket.com/ for more information.


Can't wait to see you there!!!