Pin It Forward: Home

It's finally my turn to participate in the sfgirlbybay's blog roll: Pin it Forward. With over 300 bloggers showcasing what Home means to them, I've been overly excited for over a month to participate in this grand adventure. So much so, that I feel paralyzed with excitement.

I've moved over 7 times in the last 13 years, so what does home mean to me? It means the essentials, what I can't live without when I come home at night.

A place to look out and bring nature in:


A place to get lost in an amazing book:

A place to put up my feet and snuggle with the ones I love:

A soft place to dream at night:

OF course, beyond dreaming- I have had some 'Home' wishes that have come true.

For two years, I had a room with a view:

I've gotten to go on some incredible adventures with the ones I love:

And how could I forget, a happy home always has some romance:

So that my dear friends is what home means to me. Comfort, romance, adventure and a place to keep dreaming...

Check out the other PinItForward posts for today at: Domestic Nest Diary. Jeremy and Kathleen. The Short and Sweet of it. Papercuts. Lovely Cruise. Rouge Blanc Noir. Toast and Most. The Living Well. The Marion House.

Or tomorrow's post at: Inkling Papers.

My Dream House

I don't know if you have been following, but basically everything I post is out of total envy for those folks who own a home and have ridiculously great spaces. We're apartment dwellers in one of the most expensive Cities in the U.S. so I am well aware that having a lux pad in SF, is not written in the stars for us.

BUT that doesn't mean that we can't dream, right? Well, in honor of Home Week here on Sugar and Spice, and searching for my passion and realizing my dreams, I am going to take you on a Dream House Tour of my beautiful house in the clouds. Well, are you ready?

You'd enter through the back into our fabulous mud room (you know because we're casual like that):

source.

Next you'll enter the kitchen:

source.

Which connects to our dining room:

source.

And a living room right in the heart of a forest:

source: Bob O'Connor.

Past the front door and the landing strip:

source.

Up the stairs:

source.

You'd find a sweet little nursery (I am dreaming here folks- baby or no baby- go with me)

source.

Which of course would have a fab library for the little one to grow up and be a genius.

source.

Off the hallway would be a laundry and sewing room:

source.

And then you'd enter the Master Suite:

source.

And of course it'll have a beyond fabulous closet:

source.

And a kick ass bathroom:

source.

Off the bedroom there would be a sweet little balcony to enjoy the sunshine:

source.

Of course there will be a pool:

source: www.haririandhariri.com

With a cabana:

source.

And an equally amazing guest suite:

source.

With mod bath:

source.

Now that you've seen my dream up- get ready for tomorrow when I let you know what home means to me in my much anticipated (of course, I mean anticipated by me only of course), 'Pin It Forward: What home means to me' Post.

So do you spend your days dreaming of your dream home?

Sunny Summer Sunday

I was lucky enough to grab a spot in the ultra cool 'Pin It Forward,' put together by SFgirlbay. In honor of the theme 'Home,' I've dubbed this week on Sugar and Spice 'Home Week.'

And today, I am giving you a glimpse to the part of San Francisco that I call home.

Yes, the City can be cold, foggy and rainy- especially in the summer. BUT yesterday was the type of day that makes me never want to leave. A little bit of new, a bit of old, and a lot of modern, organic living.

We started off the day with the new, and we checked out SF's latest Farmer's Market at Fort Mason, and really, with views like this, how could it not be spectacular:

A beautiful day, yes, but the fog was lingering in the background.

And of course the all new farmer's market did not disappoint:

Next up, a bit of old. Established in 1776, the Presidio became a National Park in 1994 when the Army left all 1,400 acres to the care of the National Park Service and the Presidio Trust. We might be City dwellers, but we survive City living by being able to take advantage of such an amazing asset just three blocks from our house.

The Presidio is Huck's favorite weekend retreat too. Can you spot the smiling little puppy dog?

And finally, just a few SF City icons that we spotted along the way:

So that's a bit of home from Sugar and Spice. What about your City screams home to you?

World Cup Flash Back- Go USA!!

Has anyone ever asked you the question: What's something that no body knows about you??

Well, here's my answer to that question: I was a 'back-up'* dancer for Whitney Houston at the World Cup in 1994.

She said what? Yep, in 1994, along with thousands of other kids from LA County Schools, I danced at the final World Cup game. Kinda cool, and oh so RANDOM.

I remember spending some long ass summer days taking a bus to a football field in downtown LA to learn the dances and then the craziness that was dancing in front of thousands upon thousands of people at the Rose Bowl.

These are the only pics I have that document that time (I am the one on the right):

And through the power of the Internet and YouTube, I found a couple of the videos. You aren't going to see me- but I do remember being one of those dancers in front the stage wearing a purple skirt over our white outfits (see about 45 seconds in). The best part- I totally remember the dances and Whitney and Pele running by us holding hands.


I also remember that everyone accused Whitney of lip singing even back then.


Anywho, that's my random flash back Friday. Hope everyone is going to be cheering on the USA tomorrow at 2:30 EST. Personally, I am a bit obsessed for Donovan- can we say HAWT?


*I use back-up very very very loosely.

Subtle Changes to the Bedroom

So yesterday I showed you a few subtle changes to the living room, and today, I am showing you changes that I've made recently to the bedroom.

You've already seen the new bedding and Huck's new bed. But (a) you haven't seen the full effect and (b) you haven't seen it with my new pillow. It's is quite possibly my very favorite thing that I have ever sewn. I was fortunate enough to take pictures on a day that my animals were feeling particularly photogenic.

So here's Huck on his new bed:


Here's a close up of the updated bed with Ferris the Cat chilling out:


And because I love my new pink and white pillow, here's the white-side of the pillow with our Pottery Barn Bedding and West Elm pillows.

What do you think.

Before:


After:


The pillows add a bit more spunk, no??

Subtle Changes in the Living Room

Months ago, I talked about some projects that I was working on. It turns out that it took me awhile to (a) complete them and (b) clean the house up to take pictures of them during the day time.

So without further ado- here are two small changes to the living room.

Here's before:



And here's after:




I finally made it to the mecca that is Ikea and purchased another set of curtains to make the nook area a bit more.... Polished?

I also finally took the plunge and painted our coffee table, but more on that and another project next week.

What do you think?? I'd still love to put an ottoman in front of the two 'nook' chairs, but I haven't found that perfect piece to redo.

Product of the Week: Molly Mutt

It's a pretty well known fact that Mr. Spice and I love our animals. They constantly make us laugh and they have some seriously awesome personalities- but sometimes they like to show us their personalities to us at five in the morning. Not so awesome.

So a few months ago, in another effort for all of us to sleep better, Mr. Spice decided that Huck needed a new dog bed.

I don't know if it's a City thing, but dog beds are 'spensive. Ever on the search to find the latest and greatest at the best price, Mr. Spice found Molly Mutt.

Not only do they provide super duper affordable dog beds, but they are oh so cute, and eco-friendly. Here's the premise- they provide the doggie duvet and you provide the fluff (or stuffing).

Another bonus- they are located just over the bridge in the East Bay.

So with a couple of unused pillows, blankets and old t-shirts. Huckleberry got a new bed. He loves it:


The only problem with the greatness of Huck's new bed- gigante Ferris ended up sleeping on it and we started to notice some added sibling rivalry. So, for Mr. Spice's birthday, I got another duvet just for Ferris. And while they do have Cat Duvets- our not so delicate kitty needed his own large 'doggie' duvet. He loves it.

We've also noticed that the sibling rivalry has toned down immensely, and with three new beds in the family- everyone is sleeping much better.

Do you sleep with your pets, or are they much too independent to be bother to sleep with you?