ice cream & french fries

Wedding Wednesday - Rustic Chic

2011-12-07T08:17:00.001-08:00

Picking a theme wasn’t hard for our Tahoe wedding. Since wemet and live in Tahoe why wouldn’t we incorporate elements of its natural beauty. We’recalling it Rustic Chic. Here are a few inspirations for our theme. You can findthese and many more rustic wedding ideas on my Pinterest Wedding Style board.

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Who doesn't love cake! I love how the cake is made to look like tree bark.

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Isn't the navy bridesmaids dresses and grey suits the perfect color combo.

We'll add punches of yellow and greens too.

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The branch holders would be an easy and inexpensive DIY project.


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What a gorgeous view. We'll have a view of the mountains and lake to enjoy during our wedding at Edgewood Tahoe.

What weddingtheme did you choose for your wedding?

xoxo,

Tiara

Wedding Wednesday - Engagement Photos

2011-11-30T08:00:00.000-08:00

Being engaged is a special time. There are so many things to juggle from engagement parties to dress shopping to picking a color scheme & theme to our most recent check of the old check list engagement photos. Our photographer Melina Wallisch is amazing. She's located to South Lake Tahoe and has an eye for the natural beauty of Tahoe.

Back in October we headed out to a meadow near Taylor Creek for the first location before heading down to Tallac and Valhalla Estates on the lake. Below are a few photos.

Melina featured our session on her blog too! I can't wait to see her photos from the wedding!

Where did you take your engagement photos?

xoxo,

Tiara

Wedding Wednesday - The Bridesmaid Dress

2011-11-16T08:00:00.000-08:00

We have a dress Houston.... now that the wedding dress hasbeen bought I can safely pick out a bridesmaid dress and tell the world. I saidyes to jcrew. I love their clothes so why wouldn't I love their wedding line.

First things first narrowing down the color. Navy orgrey...grey or navy. Since I'm planning on incorporating Tahoe's naturalelements into the wedding the winner was dark navy (below).

Dark Navy

Dark Pewter

All three dresses below were contenders, but only one couldwin and it's The Gabby. Made of cotton taffeta (love the crisp, refined feel and subtle sheen), The Gabby features asymmetrical draping on the bodice accented with a soft ruffle for an extra bit of textural interest. I love the slimming lines and slight detail on thebodice. It will definitely compliment the wedding dress.

The Gabby

Bow Monde

Mika

What color did you pick for your bridesmaid dress? Did you go with jcrew too? I would love to hear from you.

xo,

Tiara

Wedding Wednesday - The Wedding Dress

2011-11-02T08:00:00.000-07:00

This past weekend I headed down to San Francisco, met up with my sister and shopped for wedding dresses. (Note, this was the first time I've tried on dresses since becoming engaged in June.) Yes, I'm not like most brides, but I knew what I did (simple & off white) and didn't (lace, beading etc) want in a dress. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would have found THE dress my first weekend out looking.

The first appointment on Saturday was at this cute little boutique shop in Russian Hill, Atelier Des Modistes. Susan was lovely and really narrowed down what dress style best fit my body. I left feeling I had found a dress. Of course it was the first dress I tried on. After lunch we headed over to Amy Kuschel, Union Square, where I continued to try on numerous dresses. We compared each dress to the first dress at the first place (Atelier Des Modistes) as it was a beautiful dress we both fell in love with. However, I found a another beautiful dress named Lucky in Love at Amy Kuschel. Still muling over the dresses we checked out Glamour Closet, a discount store, just to see what they had before calling it a day ... no luck.

Amy Kuschel "Lucky in Love" Dress -
With every sale of this dress $50 is donated to the San Francisco SPCA

After a day of dress shopping I was still set on the "first dress." Sunday we had one more appointment at 11 am and I'm glad we kept it. Bridal Galleria was the last stop of the weekend before heading back to Tahoe. Upon walking in we were told they were hosintg a Marisa trunk show and offered 10% off to anyone who purchase a dress that day. The designer himself was even there commenting on each dress I tried on. Again the first dress of the day was THE dress. However, this time it was bought - well two days later over the phone after my sister found out it was 50% off! That's a whole another story. It was meant to be.....

You're probably wondering which one or what does it look like? Well you'll just have to wait to see this amazing dress on my wedding day, August 19, 2012.

Wedding Wednesday - Eat Cake

2011-10-26T08:00:00.000-07:00

Cakes, cupcakes, or a variety of desserts it's up to you.Living in the mountains I want to bring the natural elementsinside. We're looking at various ways we can display our cake and other treats.The idea of using rounds as a cake stand adds a nice rustic chic element. Plusit's super easy to DIY - no need to break the bank. Here are a few cake/dessert display stands youmight find on my "Wedding Style" board over at Pinterest.

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Wedding Wednesday - Centerpiece Inspiration

2011-10-19T08:00:00.000-07:00

Centerpieces can pull a room and theme together. They can be DIY'd or store bought, made of flowers, fabrics, candles, or a combination. I've always said simple is best, but get creative with your centerpieces; they can be completely tailored to your wedding theme, color, or style, and pinterest is a great place to look and catalog ideas + inspiration!

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Wedding Wednesday – Engagement Party

2011-10-12T08:00:00.000-07:00

Back in September Nick and I made a quick trip to San Diegoto Celebrate our engagement and well brake in the new backyard. Although my mom had just broke her foot itdidn’t slow her down. There was a Rasta Taco - taco cart making chicken and carnitas streettacos, a margarita machine and even sangria. Plus friends and family. Thanks Mom and everyone who helped us celebrate.

Tiara and Nick Ready for another drink.

Marcus making some drinks at the outdoor kitchen.

Emily, Tiara, & Lindy

Brooklyn enjoying the tacos and lily waiting for her to drop something.

And then there were shots... Nick hid at this point.

Engagement Party Tips:

Who should host your engagement party?
Traditionally, the parents of the bride host, but today there aren't hard and fast rules. The bride and groom can host it themselves, or a friend or other family member can undertake the hosting duties.

What kind of event should it be?
This depends on your budget and personal style. It can be a formal affair with printed invitations and reply cards, a casual backyard barbecue, or anything in between. A cocktail party with hors d'oeuvres is always a safe bet.

Who should be invited to your engagement party?
You'll definitely want to invite your two families so they can get to know one another. It's bad etiquette to invite anyone other than those who will definitely be invited to the wedding, so it's probably best to limit the guest list to those very close to you. Typically, guests who would have to travel are not invited, as you will already be asking them to travel for the wedding. (The exception to this rule would be the parents of the bride or groom).

When should you hold your engagement party?
For those with especially long engagements, engagement parties are held one to three months after the engagement, and/or about a year before the wedding. For others it can be held any time more than six months before the wedding.

Should you expect gifts and register for them?
You shouldn't expect gifts as etiquette does not dictate that guests should bring them. But the announcement of an engagement inevitably gets some guests thinking about gifts, and this is a time that they might start asking your family where you are registered. Some of your guests will bring a present to the party. Therefore it's a good idea to have registered for a few things before sending the invitations. However, as not everyone will bring something, don't make the gifts a central part of the party. Put them aside, and open them after the guests have left. Don't forget to send thank you notes!

For other wedding and engagement FAQ's theknot.com has you covered.

Happy Planning!

Tiara

Wedding Wednesday - Our Venue

2011-10-05T06:00:00.000-07:00

This year is going to be crazy... crazy busy planning awedding. So here we go the first installment of Wedding Wednesday’s leading upto our big date, August 19, 2012. Follow along as I plan out the fun festivities,DYI projects and everything in-between.

The deposit is down and the date is set. Drum rollplease.... We're getting married at

Edgewood Tahoe

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Where did you get married or are you currently busy planning a wedding?Would love to hear from you.

Until next week….

XO Tiara

Weekend Warriors

2011-10-04T19:00:00.000-07:00

Where did summer go? It's been a blast, but fall is officially here. We had some serious weekend warriors over the last few months.

My brother took advantage of his 3 month stay in SF making it up to Tahoe a few times this summer. Although, we did put him to work on the house one weekend we still had fun riding bikes, hiking and just showing him around.

Marcus, Roxy and I @ Echo Lakes

It only took Trixie a year and a half to make it back to Tahoe, but I'm sure we'll see her this winter. I do owe her a trip to Seattle... While in town we cruised around on bikes, hiked and hit up the Celebrity Golf Tournament. She even let me drag her to Ikea! That's a friend

Trixie & I @Edgewood Tahoe # CelebGolf

And of course it wouldn't be summer if my dad didn't make a few trips to Tahoe to help out on the house.(More posts about that later)

Marcus, Nick & Dad working

All in all it was a good summer. I did finally try paddleboarding for the first time and loved it.

Until next summer....

If winter is anything like last year a trip to mex will be needed come March.

Tahoe Wedding Venues

2011-08-22T20:33:00.000-07:00

It's been nearly two months since Nick and I got engaged and we still haven't locked in a venue or date. We're getting there! While we debate which venue suits us check out our picks.

Top 5 Tahoe Wedding Venues:

1. Vahalla Estate - South Shore

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2. Edgewood Tahoe - South Shore

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3. Tunnel Creek Lodge - East Shore

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4. Ehrman Mansion - West Shore

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5. Zephyr Cove Resort - South Shore

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Which venue are you voting for?

We plan on announcing our pick later this week! Fingers crossed. While you wait with anticipation cruise over to Tahoe Unveiled for some wedding inspiration.

xoxo,

Tiara

Move, Learn, Eat - Rick Mereki

2011-08-12T08:50:00.000-07:00

3 guys, 44 days, 11 countries, 18 flights, 38 thousand miles, an exploding volcano, 2 cameras and almost a terabyte of footage... all to turn 3 ambitious linear concepts based on movement, learning and food ....into 3 beautiful and hopefully compelling short films..... Thanks Em for sharing...just brilliant.

MOVE from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.

LEARN from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.

EAT from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.

Weekend Recap

2011-08-11T21:31:00.000-07:00

Yes it's Thursday, but it's time for a weekend recap. We've been busy with weekend warriors and working on the house. Some serious headway has been made on the house this summer. Tons of house updates are currently sitting in draft mode and coming soon to a blog near you.

This past weekend we spent more time having fun than working on the house. Saturday we headed to Carson City ran a few errands and road the V&T railroad - Toast of the Canyon. For more about our ride check out the blog post I wrote for Carson City here.

The McCould No.18

All Smiles

Sunday we got up early and drove towards Spooner for a little mountain biking on the Flume Trail. There are a few different options. Two popular routes are - 13 miles and shuttle back to the Spooner Lake Day area or the 22 miles loop. Either way, the first 4 miles are up hill with varying pitches. I made sure to read up on the Flume Trail tips before biking it. I was stoked to give the Specialized Myka Expert HT 29er a good challenge. She had been good to me so far and did not disappoint Sunday.

Stopping to enjoy the view.

By the time we hit Marlette Lake a break was due. Roxy needed to cool off and went for a swim. This crazy girl was in the water before anyone had a chance to throw a stick. We chilled, snacked and hydrated before heading down the trail.

Roxy cooling off with a swim

Heading back to the Spooner Lake day area was a breeze...ALL DOWN HILL. Roxy was beat when we reached the car. Lets just say she was passed out before we pulled out of the parking lot.

Headin' down hill

Start: Spooner Lake day use area, State Route 28
End: State Route 28 for the shuttle or Spooner Lake day area for the loop
State Park Entry Fee: Drive in $10, Bike in $2 per person
Bike Rentals Available: Yes, Trailhead Mountain Bike Rentals

Happy 4th

2011-07-04T08:02:00.000-07:00

{Photo Credit}

Happy 4th of July! Hope everyone's weekend is full of bbq's and fireworks. As a kid I always looked forward to lighting off fireworks. Who doesn't love sparklers?!

30 B4 30

2011-05-24T08:32:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to ME!

Today marks the beginning of the end. Just kidding! But it is the first day of the last year in my twenties which is a scary thought, but isn't 30 the new 20? Or is that what those say on their 30th birthday to help ease the pain? My 20's were devoted to adventure and self discovery. So what will I devote my 30's to? It's a good thing I have a year to figure it out.

First things first lets reflect on some highlights (The short list) from my 20's as they have been good to me.

Graduated from college
Travelled to numerous countries (not even going to try & count)
Had some pretty awesome jobs
Moved to Tahoe
Bought a house
Met an amazing guy named Nick
Seen friends marry and have babies
Made some amazing friends
Found a new love for outdoor sports
Learned how to use power tools and started building a table (should be done soon)
Learned patience from a 60lb GSP named Roxy (Nick would say I'm still learning)

30-B4-30 (My bucket list for the last year of my 20's)

Complete a 5k race (I've never actually ran in one - I can run, but I hate running)
Hike Mt Whitney (no permit in hand, but that doesn't mean I still can't try?!)
Visit Manu Pichu
Kayak around Lake Tahoe (72 miles)
Volunteer/Donate More
Bike across Golden Gate Bridge
Make a book of my 20's
Fit, Fabulous, and Sexy (nicer way of saying lose 10 lbs - yes I know it's vain )
Give up coffee for the year (this will be a hardest one of all)
Ski more
Build Something all by myself (Nick is helping with the table)
Bike around Lake Tahoe
Blog more (or more in a timely manner)
Figure out what I want to be when I grow up (not sure if I ever will)
Work on my photography
Take a class for fun at the community college
Work on my Spanish
Freelance more
Sew more
Start a business
Start and veggie/herb garden
Bike through wine country
Travel more within the US
Eat more natural foods - less sweets
Hike Mt Shasta
Go whitewater rafting
Visit Nick's hometown in South Dakota (after 4 years I still haven't been back)
Go apple picking in the Fall
Spend less save more (I do this already, but I really want a new kitchen)
Most of all have FUN!

This is just a sample list of my life's bucket list. I'll be able to cross off a good amount in the next year. Stay tune, who knows what the next year will hold for me!

House Tour

2011-05-16T18:12:00.000-07:00

Welcome to our home take a seat, relax, and enjoy the viewing. Our house is a major work in progress so there isn't too many after pictures but only progress. Remember we only moved in last August. With the crazy winter we didn't accomplish as much as we would have liked too. So here we go the first round of the many house tours to come. - xoxo

The House is on a double lot making our front and back yard massive! Now that the snow has melted we've started working on the irrigation system. Before we know it we'll have a yard full of grass.

Front Yard:

Back Yard:

Living room:

We divided up the living room into two separate spaces. However, one really doesn't have a purpose yet. Unfortunely we were unable to use the fireplace this winter as it has a crack. Something on the summer project list. Nick stacked the wood just for looks. As you can tell paint goes a long way.

Area #1

Area #2

Kitchen/ Dining Room

Like the living room we broke the space in the kitchen up into two spaces. Half to be used as a eat-in dining area. I can't wait until we really tackle the kitchen! Read about removing the random cabinets here.

Bedrooms

All the rooms needed a complete overhaul and we did just that. Paint, carpet, and new base boards. Want more? Check out the master bedroom post here.

Master

Guest Room #1

Guest Room #2

Mudroom

Not much to say other than it still has a loooonnnnng way to go.

Hallway

Before the hallway was dark like the rest of the house, but with a little paint and time we were able to brighten it right up.

Full Bath

The first major project part DIY. Read the full story here and here.

1/2 Bath

The tiny bathroom is located just off the mudroom and was in need of some serious tlc. For more details check out the full post here.

Still on the Country Train

2011-04-25T18:30:00.000-07:00

When my style results came back from the Sproost quiz, ~~where I blogged about~~ ~~here~~ I found it interesting that overall I was cottage chic. Intrigued, I took a few more style quizzes I found on YoungHouseLove. They have a nice little list of quizzes included in Three ways to Pin down Your Style under #2.

Without hesitation, I headed over to the Ikea business website to partake in their simple 9 question quiz. Much like the Sproost quiz the Ikea quiz is made up of a a series of images to pick from. Don't stress just choose the ones you like as there isn't a right or wrong anwser.

The results are in and I'm still on the country train.

80% Country
20% Scandinavian
0% Modern

Country Natural:

You can't apply one style like a blanket. We suggest a combination of style and values to create the look you want. Remember to use details, textures or textiles, to let your personality shine through. Mix and match these options to create a truly unique business space. make business personal again.

Take the 9 question quiz here. Don't be afraid to share your results.

Epic Wrap Up

2011-04-24T18:30:00.000-07:00

All good things must come to an end. Let's count up the days! New for the 2010/11 ski season Vail announced it's launch of EpicMix. So ,what is Epic Mix?

Per the FAQ found here... EpicMix is new for the 2010/2011 season at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Heavenly, and a revolutionary technological advancement for the ski industry. With EpicMix, all your activity on the slopes is automatically captured and uploaded to your EpicMix dashboard.

Now you can follow your days skied, track your vertical feet, see where you rode, earn EpicMix pins for your achievements, and collect points.

But that’s not all. You can also connect with your social networks like Facebook and Twitter and share your stats, pins and points.

All this is possible because of Radio Frequency scanners at the base of every lift, and RF technology built into every Vail Resorts season pass, and PEAKS card.

Basically, it's a social media platform used to elevate your mountain experience by allowing you to track your days & vertical feet all while earning pins and bragging to friends and family via Facebook and Twitter. For more details check out the website here.

I've been tracking my days and vertical all season and although I feel I could ~~more like should~~ have snowboarded a lot more it's a fun way to keep track. It's crazy to think the year with the most snowfall, since living in SLT, was the year I went up the least. Maybe it was all the powder days wearing me down or wind hold days keeping me from going up. Either way I know I'll be snowboarding a lot more next year. Plus, I have EpicMix to hold me to it.

Total Days at Heavenly: 25
Total Vert inbounds: 239,234
Total Pins: 23

Worthy Side Note: Mountains outside of the Vail family weren't counted and out-of-bounds areas accessed by a gate were not counted in my vertical.. :)

Are you in the Mix? How many days/vertical feet did you ski during the 2010/11 season?

Total pins earned: 23

Check out what each one means below.

Weekend Getaway

2011-04-15T16:30:00.000-07:00

In about 45 minutes I'll be on the open road to San Francisco for a quick weekend getaway. It will be the first time Emily, Jenn, and I will be together since last summer in Italy. Added bonus - my brother will be in town as well. I don't know the last time my sister, brother, and I were all together... Plus trips to SF are always fun. Check back to hear about my fun filled weekend with my friends and family.

photo credit

Half Cottage Chic, Quarter Modern & a Dash Natucket

2011-04-13T06:15:00.000-07:00

During the house hunting process I dreamt about decorating and drove Nick crazy watching home decorating/remodeling shows. Although he would never admit, Nick now knows all the shows on HGTV. I think he enjoys watching some of them too. Now that the time has come I'm overwhelmed and unsure about which direction to go...carpet vs. hardwood, tub vs. walk-in shower, tile, color, furniture, decor etc... I thought it would be fun to take a quiz to find out my home style. There are a few out there, but I went with Sproost today. Maybe I'll try another tomorrow. Apparently I'm Cottage Chic. I wonder what Nick's style would be. Maybe, next time I'll have him take the quiz too! What's your style?

Goodbye Random Cabinets

2011-04-12T19:01:00.000-07:00

Although working on the house this winter has been slow going we are making progress room by room. Our kitchen & dining room flow together as one big room. Since the cabinets in the "dining" area didn't exactly match the kitchen cabinets and bottom portion didn't even have a countertop we decided there were coming out!

First the top portion which we soon discovered was actually two pieces put together as one! Up next, the bottom portion. The ~~counter~~top was easy, just a piece of plywood not even bolted down! Nick quickly got to work removing the cabinets one by one. Like the top there were multiple cabinets, four to be exact! Once all were removed Nick hauled them off to the shed to be dealt with later. Maybe we'll use them in the garage...

Left with a number of holes in the wall we patched, primed, and painted. Since we weren't too stoked on the peachy paint color on the walls already, we ended up painting the entire kitchen!Ambitious, right?! Back in the Fall when Kelly Moore Paints mixed up the wrong paint I ended up coming home with 3 extra gallons of paint courtesy of Kelly Moore. Since they were still part of our color scheme, just the wrong sheen at the time, we decided to use a gallon of the Meadow Day Semi- Gloss in the kitchen.

Here you can actually see the new color, the peachy old color, and the patched and primed wall where the lower cabinets once lived.

I spy 3 different plug locations! I think the previous home owner loved plugs because every wall has multiple.

Some what all said and done. Now we just have to fix the minor hole in the wood floor and add a little art/decor.

For other house updates/changes check out the Master Room, Main Bathroom, & Powder Bath.

Snow Snow Snow

2011-03-25T11:39:00.000-07:00

It's been a week full of snow here. In order to document the snowfall I tried to take a picture a day to show the accumulation. Friday 3/18 there wasn't any snow on the roof!

Saturday 3/19

Sunday 3/20

Monday 3/21

Thursday 3/24

Friday 3/25 house shot....... Coming soon!

Day 18 & 20 Endless Freshies

2011-03-24T22:46:00.000-07:00

Kirkwood Day 18 - Powder day

Heavenly Day 21-Powder Day

1/2 Bath aka "The Powder"

2011-03-21T18:30:00.000-07:00

The house hunting progress is different for everyone. To help us along we narrowed down what we wanted to a Top 3 must list. High on the list was two bathrooms, one would have been a deal breaker. We ended up settling with 1 1/2 bath, which in our book was a-ok. Like the rest of the house the 1/2 bath was in need of a major face lift and with the full remodel of the full bath under our belt we were ready to take on the project. It's still a work in progress but we're getting there. It's amazing what a little paint and some elbow grease will do.

Before

First things first, the sink came down was given a good wash and new chrome piping went in. We had leaky pipes in the 1/2 bath from day one. Next up, wallpaper! The wallpaper had to be torn down and the walls had to be washed. Once the walls dried from a good washing they were primed then painted. Like the rest of the house we used Kelly Moore paint.

In Progress

The medicine cabinet and sink are orginal to the house - straight from 1959. Since they actually were still in good condition they'll be sticking around a bit longer. They add character to the house. Everything was painted: ceiling, walls, door and trim. It's such a small space so to help save on the $$$ flow we used some leftover paint form the livingroom. Now our 1/2 bath and living room are Tumble Stone from Kelly Moore Paints. To stay consistent with the house the ceiling and trim were both painted Swiss Coffee, with the trim & door in semi-gloss and the ceiling in flat. A replacement light fixture was picked up from Lowe's for $29, but we only paid $19 because we had a coupon for $10 off. The hand towels and towel rack were picked up from Target while the tp storage holder is from Ross Dress for Less.

Work in Progress

What's left?

New flooring
New toliet
Art to spruce up the walls

So how much did we spend so far?

Sink: $0
Medicine Cabinet: $0
Toliet: $0 (to be replaced later)
Paint: $0 left over from living room
Sink Facuet: $0 used exsist one
Light fixture: $19 (used a $10 off coupon)
2 Hand Towels: $15.98
Towel Rack: $12
Towel Holder: $4
New door Knob: $11.98
Plumbing & Materials about $75

Total Cost: $137.93

Shovel What?!?

2011-03-16T18:37:00.000-07:00

Although I'm behind on posting and these pictures are from last month it's fitting as it snowed again last night. With that said, the last series of back to back storms left us with a mound of snow in front of our mail box preventing us from receiving our mail...bills really.

After 72 hours of snowfall the mailbox was almost covered.

We let the snow pile up as neither one of us really wanted to shovel the area. After a posting on Facebook we were gifted a 10+ year old snowblower from our friend Aimi X. Once the clouds parted and the sun was shining we went to town digging out the mail box.

Digging in

While Nick used the snowblower I broke up the bigger pieces with the shovel. No gym needed as it was a workout. About two hour's later give or take we were done. In order to receive mail we need at least a 20 foot clearance. I think we did it?

2 + hours later

In order to keep the "beast" running Nick did a little maintenance afterwards. Oil change etc... Oh and he has plans to work on it this summer. It's a guy thing I guess :) Until next time...

A little maintenance never hurts

Let the Dogs Play

2011-03-15T22:36:00.000-07:00

Roxy loves the snow. So when we received feet upon feet last month she was ready to romp. Usually when I'm shoveling I'll let her out in the front to play. Well one morning her boyfriend Astro was out front and they had a blast running through the 2 feet of snow in the street. Yes they were in the street, we were waiting for the plow to come by. Check out a few photos below.

Roxy is actually pointing, but the snow is too deep.

Astro Loves Roxy

Astro and Roxy playing in the snow (in the street)

Roxy waiting for the plow to come

Ski Days 15-17

2011-02-18T18:56:00.000-08:00

Day 15: Another Sunny Day...

Day 16: Heading up the Cal Tram for the February STARS party

Day 17: Heading to First Tracks! POWDER DAY!

Big Snow :: February

2011-02-18T18:15:00.000-08:00

24 hours into the Storm

72 hours into the storm

Day 3 of uncovering the car...

Ski Day 14::Hello Doctor

2011-01-25T14:46:00.000-08:00

Just another day in the office however today I toured around a group of doctors...

Just me and my board

Ski Day 13::A Showdown at Stateline

2011-01-25T14:36:00.000-08:00

Saturday was the first of four Stateline Showdowns in Ante Up Park at Heavenly. Megan and I went up late hoping the conditions would soften up. After a few runs we headed over to the competition (which had already finished) mingled, listed to the band, grabbed a beer and watched the award ceremony. It wasn't much of a vertical feet kind of day.

Crowd at Tamarck Lodge

Ski Day 12:: Know The Code

2011-01-20T17:30:00.000-08:00

The skier/rider responsibility code, that is. It's National Skier Safety Awareness Week . Yours truly volunteered Tuesday to help spread the word and quiz folks participating in Heavenlys scavenger hunt. Do you know the code?

Know the Code

1. Always stay in control, and be able to stop or avoid other people or objects.

2. People ahead of you have the right of way. It is your responsibility to avoid them.

3. You must not stop where you obstruct a trail, or are not visible from above.

4. Whenever starting downhill or merging into a trail, look uphill and yield to others.

5. Always use devices to help prevent runaway equipment.

6. Observe all posted signs and warnings. Keep off closed trails and out of closed areas.

7. Prior to using any lift, you must have the knowledge and ability to load, ride and unload safely.

My post at East Peak Lodge

Ski Day 11:: Perfect Views

2011-01-16T14:40:00.000-08:00

Today was full of sunshine and epic views. Even though it was MLK weekend we managed pretty well with the lift lines, never waiting more than 10 mintues!

And this is why I live here....

Scenic view from Rounabout @ Heavenly

Mountain Style Mondays::Reclaimed Metal

2011-01-10T19:08:00.000-08:00

Chic meets country with a pinch of mountain flare. The Steel Fork nailed it. Etsy is a great site full of handmade and antique items. Last week the below Elk Head popped up in my Facebook feed. Of course I clicked for more info. I found an array of reclaimed metal goods from signs to animal heads. Check out the below pieces.

Local Sign: $26

Moose Head: $385

Elk Head: $380

Ski Day 10::Heavenly

2011-01-09T21:11:00.000-08:00

Just another beautiful day on the hill!

Jersey Joe is in town!!

Joe P.

Mountain Style Mondays::Pine

2011-01-03T06:38:00.000-08:00

Looking for everything mountain The Cabin Shop has everything you need to decorate any room. If you're looking for a rustic yet simple piece to finish off your guest room a lodgepole pine bed frame just might be what you're looking for. Most mountain towns have a handful of folks who can personalize any bed frame. Otherwise The Cabin Shop or Lodgepole Pine Furniture Store can ship one right to your doorstep. The choice is yours.

{Photo Credit}

Ski Day 9::Heavenly

2011-01-02T18:36:00.000-08:00

Happy 2011! Mother Nature started off the New Year right with 2"-3" off fresh snow for my shredding pleasure. With season pass holders blacked out last week not only did I have pow but, untouched stashes from ALL the previous snowfall! So stoked! Can you tell?

Heading up Northbowl Chair & ready for Firebreak
My Hair was Freezing!

Big Snow::December 2010

2010-12-29T20:38:00.000-08:00

Mother nature has not disappointed this winter. Overnight we received around 18" on the mountain and about 9"-12" at the house. Check out a few photos from around the neighborhood taken by my roommate Jes.

Hunting for snow weasels in the backyard.

Looking down our road after it was plowed

She hates rain, but LOVES snow

Power lines coming down from the heavy snow.

The massive branch that fell in our driveway.

Can you find the dog?

Mountain Style Mondays:: Cozy & Sweet

2010-12-27T20:33:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite things about winter besides snowboarding and all the new gear... chunky cozy sweaters. Just like my love affair with jackets it doesn't matter how many I have I can't get enough. However, I did start finally parting ways with a few as it was time to clean out the closets this winter. Yes, I have multiple closets I am my mothers daughter. Enough about that here are a few sweaters I don't own but wouldn't mind.

The Cable Boyfriend Cardigan from Victoria Secret

The Ramona from Hollister

Abalone Cove from Hollister

{Photo Credit}

Ski Day 8 :: Heavenly

2010-12-22T20:55:00.000-08:00

Board meeting.....

Heading up Olympic Chair @ Heavenly

Mountain Style Mondays

2010-12-20T17:51:00.000-08:00

With Christmas fast approaching it's easy to find items with "mountain" flare. While shopping at Kohl's last week I came across their mountain themed dishes and serving platters Woodland Woods.This line of dishware is great for any mountain home or holiday party even if you live in the city. The best part, it's affordable!

Ski Day 7:: Heavenly

2010-12-19T20:51:00.000-08:00

Or should I say a ride on the Gondola. Although we knew the winds were going to bad (up to 125 mph gusts) we decided to try and head up the gondola anyway. Well, we were on it when it was determined the gondola would go on wind hold. Instead of skiing over to the Cal side we ended up just downloading and calling it a day. Which today ended up being a productive day for us as we finished painting the bedroom doors... the house is coming along!

Still Smiling

Full Bath Remodel

2010-12-19T20:36:00.000-08:00

When we purchased the house it was a known fact the full bath would need a major gut prior to moving in. Other than everything falling apart, we weren't too keen on the pink. So on the day we closed Nick and my dad started the demo process. Everything came out to be replaced. When they were done the bathroom looked like this.

Since the space was a decent size it allowed us to go from one sink to two. No need to fight over the sink anymore. The vanity lighting was moved and we added lighting in the shower and above the toilet. Instead of adding a ceiling vent to help prevent mold we went with a wall heater.

Before

After

Within a week of our offer being accepted I bought the vanity and sink. Funny story. I was at Lowe's browsing when I spotted a double sink vanity(sink not included) marked down to $75! After chatting with the sales clerk he marked it down again to $60! I walked out of Lowe's with a brand new in the box Allen + Roth Vanity and sink for the low price of $283! Can you say S-c-o-r-e! I love a good deal and this may have been my deal of the year.

The shower curtain, towel rack, and hand towels are all from Target. While the curtain rod and hooks were purchased from Ross Dress for Less. The mirror was something we already had and lucky us it was a perfect fit.

We painted the walls Travertine Trail and accented the walls with swiss coffee (white) on the ceiling & trim, both were from Kelly More Paints and in a semi-gloss finish.

Before

After

Like I mentioned previously, the pink and teal tile had to go and it did. The toilet (not pictured) was matching pink! If you look closely at the below before picture you'll see there was a light switch in the shower?! Needless to say it was moved it to a "safe" location. I think Mike Holmes would appreciate this one :)

Before

After

Another feature we added was the built-in shelving unit in the shower. This was a feature my Dad and Sue added to their shower years ago and I knew it was something I wanted in mine. No need to hang an ugly shower caddy when you have a built-in shelf. Since we didn't have much time to finish the bathroom prior to moving in we had makes decisions quickly and skip on the DIY.

All the tile was purchased from Home Depot and installed by a local tiler. We didn't have the time to DIY the tile ourselves...there's always the mud room. Instead of using chrome for all the faucets we decided on brushed nickle. The shower/tub faucets are the Eva model from Moen. After much debate on a walk in shower or another tub we went with a Ensemble Tub from Sterling Kohler which we picked up at Lowe's. At the end of the day everything turned out great and we couldn't be happier.

Before

After

Christmas....

2010-12-19T19:16:00.000-08:00

It's starting to look a lot like Christmas at the Stockton house.

Decorated for Christmas

Our Tree

Tree with the Roxy Dog.

Me and the Roxy girl

Back yard snow

Ski Day 6 :: Heavenly

2010-12-16T20:19:00.000-08:00

Every year our department holds a group handling clinic. We couldn't have scheduled it on a better day this year! Great snow and sunny skies equal an epic day!

Jason and Ashley ready to handle it.

Cabo San Lucas 2010

2010-12-16T19:13:00.000-08:00

For starters I caught the travel bug at a very young age and I love vacation! This year for Thanksgiving, Nick and I wanted to get away and have some fun. We couldn't go wrong with a Mexican Vacation in Cabo San Lucas, sun and margaritas what more could a girl ask for.

We stayed at Pueblo Bonito, Sunset Beach! Gorgeous! The week was spent snorkeling, some pool time, fishing, exploring the local cuisine & culture and of course some shopping. We even took the fish we caught to a cute local restaurant called El Pescador (The Fisherman). They prepared our fish four different ways so we had a little of everything! It had to be one of the best meals of the week! Until next time....

The Arch

Ready for some snorkeling

It's five o'clock somewhere

Dinner at the Shrimp Factory

It may be early but we're ready to fish

After my first catch

Big Fish

Lover...

Ski Day 4 & 5 :: Heavenly

2010-12-14T18:02:00.000-08:00

So, I'm a little behind on posting. Life is so busy right now I can't keep up with myself :)

Day four was spent riding around with some clients from Sacramento State. The conditions actually got better as the day went on.

Nick and I took Saturday off and I was able to run a ton of errands. When Sunday rolled around Nick was pumped for game day until he watched the Metrodome collapse and heard the Vikings game was rescheduled. Not long thereafter Nick decided he would take some runs with me. Let's just say crazy cloud coverage. In town it was cold and ugly, but as soon as you were on the mountain it was sunny and beautiful with a sea of clouds covering the lake. Check out the picture below.

Day #4

Day #5

Mountain Style Mondays

2010-12-13T16:26:00.000-08:00

With Christmas around the corner why not look at gifts for that special person who could use a little mountain style in their life. I stumbled across a great site, The Woolly Sheep, and they have all sorts of fun mountain style decor. For around $70 +S&H these address plaques would make a great gift this holiday season. I love the moose plaque!

Snow Day #3:: Heavenly

2010-12-06T20:48:00.000-08:00

Heading up the Gondola

The view speaks for its self.

Snow Day #2:: Heavenly

2010-12-06T20:44:00.001-08:00

Heading up Gunbarrel Express

I was able to share Day 2 with friends Adam and Ali. Great day! Amazing conditions! I hate to admit it but, I was unbelievable sore the next day :)

BIG Snow in November!

2010-12-06T20:44:00.000-08:00

Our house covered in snow

Many of you may have already seen this picture but it's a great shot of just how much snow the first storm brought! Let's just say that Ms Roxy is in heaven as she loves the snow!

Snow Day #1:: Heavenly

2010-12-06T20:43:00.000-08:00

Once fall hits most of us start thinking about snowy days and everything incorporated with it. Nick and I started planning our Cabo trip back in June not really thinking about snow or snowboarding. How could we have predicted that Tahoe would have the best early season conditions in the five years we've both lived here? When we left for Cabo there was about two feet of snow at our house. Upon our return we had about four feet of snow! Let’s just say my first day back was incredible.

SF Ski & Board Fest

2010-11-21T08:43:00.000-08:00

The first weekend of November kicked off trade show season and we started it off right in San Francisco for the SF Snowbomb Ski & Board Fest. The snowbomb show is not your typical ski show, day one consists of wine tasting and day two beer tasting! So while you're scoring great deals on gear you're given the opportunity to sip on a tasty adult beverage.

Entrance to the SF Snowbomb Ski & Board Fest

The weekend was full of fun, friends and family. Friday night I met up with Brittnay and Matt for some crab from the Crab House at the famous Pier 39 in Fisher's Wharf. So yummy! We went with the 3lbs of Losta Crab (not pictured)

{Photo Credit}

Britt and Matt ready for Crab!

Sorry Britt the picture was too good not to post :)

Me!!

One trade show down and two to go. Up next San Jose...

Crab House:

203 C Pier 39

San Francisco, CA 94133

415.434.2722

Shark Territory

2010-11-15T18:46:00.000-08:00

Saturday night while I was in San Jose I had the opportunity to attend the San Jose Sharks vs Calgary Flames hockey game. What a great time! Thank you-Northstar!

Tickets in hand walking in.

View from our sits

Mountain Style Mondays

2010-11-15T18:23:00.000-08:00

{Photo Credit}

There's nothing better than a fireplace, especially in the bedroom. A fireplace will make any room extra cozy. Actual trees for bedposts makes for very interesting bedroom decor.

Master Bedroom

2010-10-25T20:42:00.000-07:00

There was a lot of blood sweat and tears thrown into this house and the master bedroom was just one of the rooms that received a full face lift. So, what did we do? Well painted then painted some more. Replaced the carpet & bedroom door. Rebuilt the inside of closet. The sliding door was reset as it was sitting a few inches higher than it should sit. During this process we discovered some crazy wiring which was then moved to a "safe" place in the wall. And of course added a few personal touches. Enjoy!

Walls: Koala Bear by Behr Paint

Trim: Swiss Coffee from Kelly Moore Paint

After

Dresser

Mountain Style Mondays:: Found on Craigslist

2010-10-25T20:08:00.000-07:00

At one point or another everyone has either browsed, posted or bought something through Criagslist. During a "Pottery Barn" search through the SF Criagslist page I came across a vintage rocking chair. A old wooden rocking chair would complete any house whether it's shabby chic, mountain, or traditional.

Enter at your own risk

2010-10-22T11:42:00.000-07:00

I bought a house and started ripping things out and then decided it was a good idea to move into the construction zone.

It's like summer camp everyday at my house. I have one working shower, one working toilet and one working sink. Here's the kicker, they're all in different rooms, HA! Plus, my awesome plumber just quit!

Upside- I can shower! and the bedrooms are finished minus the door knobs :) and decor.

Mountain Style Mondays::Oh Deer

2010-10-18T06:00:00.000-07:00

Although I have a bird dog, I'm not a hunter and I've never understood the appeal of hanging the head of a stuffed, fill in whatever animal here, on the wall. It's creepy, like a room full of dolls staring at you while you sleep. However, I do like the modern antlers in picture #2 - no eyes. This week's installment of Mountain Style Mondays ... wall mounted animal heads and modern day antlers.

Side note: I'm not positive if the pictured were at one point truly alive.

{photo credit}

Mountain Style Mondays::Pottery Barn

2010-10-11T06:13:00.000-07:00

I love living in Tahoe and recently just purchased my first home in Tahoe. As I've been decorating I've come across all decor "mountain" which as been humorous on occasion. Although, most folks go a bit overboard on the "mountain style" decor, I prefer subtle pieces. So here's the first installment of Mountain Style Monday's - the good the bad and straight up ugly.

Today's piece is the Woodland Bird Bedside Lamp from Pottery Barn. This lamp would blend perfectly with my green walls and chocolate brown headboard. However, make sure not to pair it with the matching bedding as you don't want an over kill.

DIY: Farmers Market Bag

2010-10-09T23:09:00.000-07:00

Last weekend during our trip to the Carson Valley I was able to hit up Joann's for some fabric. Michaels followed for yarn. Well, today I took some time and sat down and made...

I found the pattern/directions on the Purl Bee blog. It was super easy for this novice. The tote is great for the beach, farmers market, or just to and from work. I used a natural color linen mix for the body and a cotton quilting fabric in a green vintage pattern for the straps. This bag would make a great gift for any lady in your life.

Fall Walkabout - Taylor Creek

2010-10-03T19:23:00.000-07:00

Fall is all around; leaves turning, crisp air, Oktoberfest, and Kokanee. Yesterday, Nick and I took a break from all the house stuff and took our Roxy girl for a walkabout along Taylor Creek. We were even able to check out the Kokanee before the storm rolled in. Each year in Tahoe, usually the same weekend as the Camp Richardson Oktoberfest, there's a Kokanee Salmon Festival. Instead of hanging with the tourists we hiked back a little to check it out.

Hello Fall - Aspen Trees Turning

Roxy is a very happy dog. I think she knew we were going for a walk.

As soon as we reached the creek she was ready to swim, then she saw the fish and started chasing them!

Our pointer points.

Kokanee!! If you look close enough you can see red fish that's Kokanee.

More Aspen...

Taking it easy by the creek.

Taylor Creek

D-O-Double G

2010-09-26T11:25:00.000-07:00

That's right yours truly went to the How The West Was One tour and saw Snoop Dogg and Ice Cube back in July. So much Fun!! I totally didn't even think about bringing my camera so the following shots aren't that great as they're from my phone.

Ice Cube opened for Snoop!

Snoop doing his thing.

Beware of Bears :)

2010-09-25T18:31:00.001-07:00

Reno Aces

2010-09-25T09:36:00.000-07:00

Sometimes life passes by and you forget to blog about cool events in your life...or sometimes you're just not feeling it. Over the past few months I’ve tried to be a better blogger and with that here's me catching up on my Summer blogging :)

Back in the beginning of August I attended my first Heavenly Media Baseball event, a Reno Aces game. The SF Giants game was actually the second event. If you were in Tahoe August 8th you remember the crazy hail storm, rain, wind and whatever else the gods had in store that day -bottom line it was insane. Well Aimi X. and I were in Reno while all this was taking place on the Mountain. In Reno we had the sky open up and pour buckets, lighting only a few miles away, and flash flood warnings. The game was obviously delayed. Just when we thought they were going to cancel the game the rain stopped just long enough to actually play 9 innings! Don't asked who they played as I don't remember, but we had a great time and ate tons of brownies, peanuts and popcorn.

Aimi X. and Zombo lining up outside the gates.

Shot of the field from our seats.

Our Muttski

2010-09-24T17:30:00.000-07:00

The muttski protecting her pile of wood and her trusty pinecone. What is it with dogs and pinecones??

Where's the Bathroom?

2010-09-24T08:34:00.000-07:00

It's been nearly three weeks since we closed on the house. The first weekend we closed my dad was on the first jet to Reno/Tahoe. I had to work Friday while my dad and Nick got started on a little demo in the house. This is what I came home to at lunch! No Bathroom! Since this picture there's been a lot of progress. We now have a tub and tiling begins today. Soon enough we will have a fully functioning bathroom.

Bathroom After Demo

Pick a color, any color...

2010-09-22T17:15:00.000-07:00

So here's my dilemma. I'm trying to paint as much as I can before I move in(3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, kitchen, hallway, living room, built-ins, doors, etc...). This being said having to pick colors quickly has not been an easy task. Anyone who knows me knows I change my mind a million times before I make a decision and I research things like crazy. Yes I could wait to paint, but hey do you want to come over and move everything for me once I’m all settled in the house? I thought so. So here I ponder many hours of the day what color, what room, and did I make the right choice?

Saltwater Buddha: A Surfer's Quest to find Zen on the Sea

2010-09-10T06:00:00.000-07:00

"The ocean is in constant flux, and when you spend

a lot of time in it you become like a floating bottle with a message inside" - Jaimal Yogis

An old roommate and now someone I consider a good friend gave me Saltwater Buddha by Jaimal Yogis. About a year ago I finally started reading it then a few weeks later put it down which lead me to last week when I picked it back up only to fly right through the remaining pages. (I should have finished it a year ago, but things happen.)

Saltwater Buddha, a memoir about a teen who escapes to Hawaii stepping away from reality (in Sacarmento, California) and the journey that follows will inspire all. Whether you are a surfer, skater, snowboarder, or just outdoor enthusiast you will relate to Jaimal’s coming-of-age journey through surfing and Buddhism. Be ready to feel inspired to chase what you are passionate about.

Up Next:

Be the Pack Leader, by Ceasar Millan

Tahoe Home Update

2010-09-09T06:00:00.000-07:00

For those of you who are waiting very patiently for pictures of my new home, you’re going to have a wait a bit longer. Why, might you ask? We’re doing work and I’m sure everyone would rather see side by side before and after pictures. Trust me it will be well worth the wait. If you’re not following the blog start following it, because here on this little ole blog is where I will be posting the entire lot of house pictures along with some commentary.

I can tell you this:

1) There is not a fully functional bathroom at this point.

2) Carpet has been ripped out of the bedrooms.

3) Ceilings have been painted.

4) My dad is making his second trip up to Tahoe.

5) Wires are hanging out of walls.

6) We finally have a plumber and electrician locked in!! Big step here.

7) We are still weeks away from moving in.

Stay tune for further updates.

Chasing Harry Winston

2010-09-08T17:30:00.000-07:00

With two months off every summer I typically go through my summer reads quickly. However, this summer I dragged my feet and it took up until a few nights ago to finish my second book. To feed my reading habit I decided to start posting my monthly reads. Be forewarned as my pallet of novels is wide.

I'll start with Chasing Harry Winston a book I picked up to read summer of 2009, but read this summer, none the less.

Chasing Harry Winston, a novel written by Lauren Weisberger (the devil wears prada) which follows the relationships of three women on the verge of turning thirty over the course of one year; Emmy the habitual monogamist, Leigh the straight shooter, and Adriana the Brazilian sexpot.

It’s a fast read, relatable, and funny. Weiberger keeps you wanting to turn the page to see what the girls are up to next whether it’s the pack they set or finding out who they truly are. Chasing Harry Winston is perfect for any summer reading list.

Up Next:

Saltwater Buddha By Jaimal Nikos Yogis

Italian Coast

2010-08-21T10:00:00.000-07:00

After our jaunt to wine country Jenn, Nick, and I headed to the coast for more sightseeing, food, and a little R&R. The first assortment of photos is a combination of Cinque Terra and Portofino. The second is dedicated to the food from our three days spent on the coast. We stayed in the town of La Spezia at a quaint B&B hidden down an alley only known by its red walls. The owners were wonderful and sent us to an amazing restaurant the first night for dinner.

Cinque Terra is made up of 5 small villages built into the cliff side: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. From La Spezia Cinque Terra was only a short 20 minute train ride and Portofino about an hour. While in Cinque Terra we walked along the cliff side pathway from Monterosso al Mare to Vernazza (side note: make sure to wear proper shoes) and Portofino was some much needed beach time...I'll let the picture's say the rest :)

Good Eats

Japanese Tea Garden

2010-08-20T17:15:00.000-07:00

Back in May during my trip to SF Britt, Matt and I headed to Golden Gate Park for a day of fun. First on the list was the Japanese Tea Garden followed by a visit to the California Academy of Science. Next trip we'll have to visit the De Young Museum since we ran out of time.
The San Francisco Japanese Tea Garden located in Golden Gate Park is one of the oldest Japanese Gardens in the USA. The garden sprawls over five acres which has many pathways perfect for strolling. During our visit we came across various ponds, tea house features, and native Japanese & Chinese plants. Originally the garden was built as part of a sprawling World's Fair, the California Midwinter International Exposition of 1894. Today it's open to the public for their enjoyment.

We Stroll

Open Daily, no holiday closures.

Mon, Wed, Fri: FREE admission if entered by 10:00 am
Adult: $5.00 (Residents), $7.00 (Non-Residents)

A Padre Among Giants

2010-08-18T16:46:00.000-07:00

With the SD Padres leading their division and the SF Giants pushing for the wild card Sunday's game (August 15th) should have been one to watch. However it was a blow out, the Padres won 8-2! Even though it may not have been the most exciting game I still had a great time. I was able to join the Heavenly PR team in the Oracle suite which over looks McCovey Cove for their annual Media Day. We mingled watched the game and had LOTS of peanuts and Cracker Jacks.

As a Padre fan among Giants I made sure to tone down the excitement of a victorious win... as I was in their territory. Check out the pictures below. Click here for last years game. Until next time!

AT&T Ball Park - SF

Used and Not Abused

2010-08-16T16:32:00.000-07:00

Things add up quickly when you're shopping for home decor... actually when you're shopping for anything. According to the 21 things you should never buy new list home decor is #11. Last week while browsing craigslist just because I scored all the goods pictured below for only $20!

The Run down:

Two Black Vases from Pier 1 ~ Original Price $24.99 each

Purple Vase from World Market ~ Original Price $30

Brownish Vase Pier 1 ~ Original Price $24.99

Crate and Barrel Circle Mirror set (3pieces not shown) ~ Original Price Unknown

Square Brown Mirror ~ Original Price Unknown

Ceramic Elephant ~ Original Price Unknown

Total Items Purchased ~ 8

Tube Dress

2010-07-20T13:53:00.000-07:00

When I was looking for fabric for my drawstring pants I scored some green floral cotton material... it was on super sale. I picked up 1.63 yards for $4.27 and made this dress! It was super simple.

{Dress all said and done}

Materials Used:

1.63 yards cotton Fabric

1.5 yards cord (for strap)

Belt (from closet)

Lounge Pants

2010-07-19T12:37:00.000-07:00

Friday consisted of a Carson run so I decided to swing by the local Joann Fabric Store to see what I could find. First I had to decide what to make and these pants seemed like they would be an easy project for a beginner sewer. I did have to re-sew them a few times as I made them WAY too big.....

{Finished Pants}

Material's used:

2 Yards Linen Cotton Blend
1 Yard Cord (for drawstring)
Matching thread

I'm on a Hike!

2010-07-19T12:09:00.000-07:00

Roxy's favorite thing to do is trail blazing... hiking... and well swimming. The past two weekends we've taken her on some nice long hikes. Below are some pic's of our Echo Lakes & Grass Lake hike. I think we have the world's happiest dog. Don't you?

Chianti, Anyone?

2010-07-19T11:59:00.000-07:00

A few days after landing in Italy Emily and I met Jen & Nick in Florence to enjoy the Chianti Festival. Who would have thought we would be able to jump on a mini bus, visit two vineyards, and sample various wines for only 10 Euros? Although we made reservations and never received a confirmation, like true Italians, we showed up and waited and what do you know, we were on the list! Once the driver arrived he checked everyone in and we were off. Two hours later we had arrived at the first vineyard for sampling. The owner explained all his wines, the area, the process etc.... After the second tasting we headed back to Florence where I then headed with Jen and Nick to spend a few days checking out Cinque Terra and Portofino.

Wine Tasting

Coolin off with Gelato

2010-07-11T15:20:00.000-07:00

Hands down the best gelato in Rome is at Della Palma. I first visited in 2005 with my friend Jenn C and make a point to go every time I'm in Rome. They have what seems to be over 100 different flavors including mousse and soy based gelatos. This trip we only had a day in Rome which was spent wondering the city and of course a stop at Della Palma. Don't forget to pay first!

Address: Via della Maddalena 20/23, Rome, Italy

It's near the Pantheon. If you stand with your back towards the entrance of the Pantheon you will see a pathway to the left and to the right of the building directly located in front of you, walk up the left pathway, cross the road, pass the mini row of restaurants and it will be located on the left corner. Enjoy!

Happy 4th of July!

2010-07-10T23:11:00.000-07:00

4th of July in Tahoe is probably one of the busiest times of year. So we parked our cars and hit the street via bikes to enjoyed every bit of what 4th of July in Tahoe has to offer. A few snap shots of the weekend.

Beach day and Rum Runners at the Beacon.

Roxy girl and I hiking.

Shot of Emerald Bay from the hike up to Granite Lake.

Singer!

2010-07-10T18:28:00.000-07:00

This year for my birthday all I wanted was a sewing machine. When I arrived home from my trip I had just that waiting for me. A nice shiny {white} Singer Sewing Machine .{Thanks, Nick} My parents even bought me all the accessories I would need to get sewing. {Side note: I don't know how to sew!} This will be a new endeavor to say the least and I can only image what my first project will look like when all is said and done. The key will be keeping it simple. Stay tuned!

Europe and Back

2010-06-20T07:37:00.000-07:00

Time fly's when you're having fun. I've been back for a day now and already started planning my next adventure. The last three weeks were spent exploring Bologna, Fano, Cinque Terra, Portifino, La Spezia, Ravenna, Verona, and Rome - Italy as well as Alicante and Valencia - Spain! An amazing trip, good friends and great food - what more could you ask for. More posts on my adventure's in Europe will follow in the coming weeks!

Only 450 pictures to go through

Blog Break

2010-06-01T01:34:00.000-07:00

Sorry to those of you who read my blog. Yes, my blog posts may have been few and far between for sometime now, but this will change - after June 18th. So if you can hold out just a bit longer more adventures from yours truly will be coming to the blog world soon.

Spring Cleaning

2010-05-19T09:09:00.000-07:00

Over the years, admit it, we all acquire things. Things we purchased, the cool lamp from so and so, stuff roommates leave behind because they "don't want it." We'll the truth is we don't want it either! Typically I just put everything in the loft and forget about it. Well this year instead of saying "I'll get to that later" I decided it was time to clean it out. Last weekend I held my first garage sale in Tahoe. I've been known for my garage sales in Long Beach as I use to hold one every spring after collecting stuff from everyone in my family. Just by running an ad in the Penny Saver the garage sale would be non-stop from 7am until noon. Sometimes my neighbors or friends would join in the fun. I quickly learned Tahoe is a bit different. It was touch and go there for awhile, but in the end there was a decent turn out. However, next year I might just donate everything and skip the garage sale.

{shot of the goods for sale}

Looking for a little motivation or not sure how to get your closest under control? Check out Edit you’ll find tips on how to get your life and space a little more organized. Margaret Williams might take spring cleaning to a whole new level, but reading her blog will help jump start the urge to clean whatever dreaded space you’ve been putting off. If you live in the Austin or New York area you can even hire her to help you get organized.

What's Cookin?

2010-05-11T19:39:00.000-07:00

First let me start by saying how much I love Costco and how Nick & I seem to buy just about everything there. This past weekend we took our bi-monthly trip down to Carson, NV and of course Costco was a must. After hitting up the dog park, conveniently located across the street, we headed over. Typically I browse every section, making sure nothing "I might need" is over looked. This trip I scored a few books, one being Cooking Light's - Cooking Through the Seasons. Once we returned home I quickly unloaded the car, pulled out my new cookbook and started scanning for new tasty delights. Don't fret I will be sharing tons of new tasty recipes this summer, fall, & winter compliments of Cooking Light.

Saving Angel Island

2010-05-09T17:49:00.000-07:00

{Happy 100^th post to my little blog, it took awhile but we got there! After much delay here’s my little write up from last weekend in SF.}

A few weeks ago my sister called to inform me about a feature she landed for Bloom Spot. The deal was a $35 (normally $65) entry to the Save Angel Island Wine Festival hosted by Vino Moda. Britt then called back and asked if I was interested in volunteering at the event, before I could even buy a ticket. Volunteer for a wine event, sign me up.

{Posing with some wine On Angel Island}

A little info: Angel Island State Park is located in the San Francisco Bay and is only accessible by boat. When on the island you can enjoy views such as Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and of course the San Francisco skyline. During the mid-nineteenth century the U.S. Navy took possession of the island and occupied it from the Civil War until the Cold War. Today military barracks still stand. Angel Island was known as the " Ellis Island of the West,” and processed millions of immigrants from 1910 to 1940. Today the island is a beautiful state park which offers a variety of activities for visitors.

Save Angel Island : With all the state cut backs many State Parks are near closure due to lack of funding. Saturday, May 1^st 2010 Vino Moda held the “Save Angel Island Wine Festival” to help raise money and create awareness. Roughly 900 people came out in support. 50 wineries donated not only wine, but their time. Britt and I poured for Cosentino Winery which offered the 2007 Cosentino Chardonnay, 2007 The Novelist, and 2005 Cosentino Cabernet Sauvignon(my fav being The Novelist, perfect on a nice spring /summer day). Believe it or not I even tried the pulled pork sandwich from Big Jim’s BBQ…delicious! With good food, music, wine, weather and an amazing cause you couldn’t have asked for way to spend the day in San Francisco .

Participating Wineries:

Pinino, Bellussi, Roberto Cipresso, Conte D’ Attimis-Manigo, Bialla Vineyards, Dos Lagos Vineyards, J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines, Jazz Cellars, Annapolis Winery, Michaud Vineyard, Cleavage Creek Winery, MacRostie Winery & Vineyards, Knipprath Cellars, Carol Shelton, Simple Math Cellars, Barclay Browning Winery, Heritage Oak Winery, Moondance Cellars, Rielle Wines, Martin Ray Winery,Harvest Moon Winery, Stein Family Wines, Frank Family Vineyards, Kirigin Cellars, Foggy Bridge Winery, Tudor Wines, Kendric Vineyards, De Novo Wines, Bedarra Vineyards, Twin Poms, Cosentino Winery, Adastra, 122º West Winery, Naumann Vineyards, Kiamie Wine Cellars, Olson Ogden Wines, Murphy Vineyards, Nicholson Ranch, Coral Mustang, Rosa D’Oro Vineyards, Quady Winery, Robert Rue Vineyard & Winery, SoMa cellars, St. Helena Winery, Aveleda Wines, and Rainbow Orchard Wines

Tasty treats: Big Jim’s BBQ, Angel Island Cantina & Cove Cafe, Nopoli Restaurant, Follow Your Heart, Lavier – Fusion CuisineCatering, and Sultan Restaurant

Good tunes: The Soulshine Blues Band

Click here to become a fan of VinoModa

View of the Golden Gate from the wine festival

Fully Loaded {Soup}

2010-04-09T21:40:00.000-07:00

There's nothing like a good bowl of soup on a snowy day and this winter I set out in search of just that. Typically my winter staple is Chicken Tortilla Soup, but things changed in 2010 and I fell in love with Creamy Baked Potato Soup. Every time potato soup was listed as soup of the day I just had to have it. The craving became so bad one night I decided to tackle it at home and went to my trusty Cooking Light cookbook. The rest was history. If you are looking for a good hearty soup for those cold wintery nights I can rest assure you will not go wrong with a good creamy potato soup!

Yield: 8 servings (serving size: about 1 1/2 cups soup, 1 1/2 teaspoons cheese, 1 1/2 teaspoons onions, and about 1 tablespoon bacon)

Ingredients

4 baking potatoes (about 2 1/2 pounds)
2/3 cup all-purpose flour (about 3 ounces)
6 cups 2% reduced-fat milk
1 cup (4 ounces) reduced-fat shredded extrasharp cheddar cheese, divided
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 cup reduced-fat sour cream
3/4 cup chopped green onions, divided
6 bacon slices, cooked and crumbled
Cracked black pepper (optional)

Preparation

Preheat oven to 400°.

Pierce potatoes with a fork; bake at 400° for 1 hour or until tender. Cool. Peel potatoes; coarsely mash.

Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Place flour in a large Dutch oven; gradually add milk, stirring with a whisk until blended. Cook over medium heat until thick and bubbly (about 8 minutes). Add mashed potatoes, 3/4 cup cheese, salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper, stirring until cheese melts. Remove from heat.

Stir in sour cream and 1/2 cup onions. Cook over low heat 10 minutes or until thoroughly heated (do not boil). Ladle 1 1/2 cups soup into each of 8 bowls. Sprinkle each serving with 1 1/2 teaspoons cheese, 1 1/2 teaspoons onions, and about 1 tablespoon bacon. Garnish with cracked pepper, if desired.

Nutritional Information

Calories:: 329 (30% from fat)
Fat:: 10.8g (sat 5.9g,mono 3.5g,poly 0.7g)
Protein:: 13.6g
Carbohydrate:: 44.5g
Fiber:: 2.8g
Cholesterol:: 38mg
Iron:: 1.1mg
Sodium:: 587mg
Calcium:: 407mg

The end result, and it tasted soooo good!