1128 the alameda, berkeley, california

I probably should have been an interior designer or architect (but I hated drafting!!) or at least a real estate agent. I love looking at houses (like you didn't know that already). My husband is always teasing me because I come home with tidbits about houses that are for sale knowing everything about the property from the square footage to the kind of tile the sellers used to remodel the master shower. It's kind of a hobby of mine to peruse real estate listings.

I am almost never impressed at remodels, always wishing the owners stayed true the period and integrity of the architecture. This place is a gem. If only I had a million dollars...and a job in the bay area!

Don't you love the green canisters in the kitchen? I wonder if they'd be willing to throw those in?

STATS:

1914 Craftsman with exquisite architectural detailing including window seats, built-ins, plate railings, glass doors and inlaid flooring. There is also a sunroom, roomy front porch, and detatched studio (always on a designer's wish list).

marvin gardens real estate : 4 Bedrooms : 2 Full 1 Partial Bathrooms : 2,013 sf : $997,000

More about it here.

monday morning madness | love me some turquoise!

and some diamonds, and some rubies...

This is a circa 1950s diamond, turquoise and ruby 18k handmade brooch with enamel. It boasts 8 diamonds among turquoise and ruby beads, set in 18k yellow gold decorated with enamel. And it's only $7,000! It measures 2" in diameter. From this amazing shop.

Enjoy! Happy Monday!

color story | oriental bazaar

Not sure how PC the word "Oriental" is these days, but the vintagey-ness of the word matches the image. Feeling the need for some creative inspiration and wanted to share the amazing photo with you. Found it on the wonderful Haus Maus.

happy tuesday

This green dutch door makes me happy. Hope you have a happy day, too. From here.

really?

I have a hard time believing that with all of the amazing and talented (and unemployed) designers out there a big company like Fossil can't find someone to come up with some original designs. Is it just me or is this a blatant ripoff? The motif, the palette, the crosshatches? Please....

Discuss.

eating better

One of my goals lately is to eat better. I am embarassed to say I have atrocious eating habits. Most of them stem from not making the time to eat right and just being lazy. One of the things that has really helped me lately is this "go-to-meal." I ate a ton of this when I was pregnant with Jackson and I really never got tired of it. Lately I've been having it for lunch. It really is filling. And, if you like that whole sweet/tart thing you'll love it. Plus the Grape Nuts make it crunchy which I have to have in a meal or I find myself sometime mid-afternoon munching on high-fat crackers or chips.

As you can see from the "nutrition label" I created for it (you can do that here...it's awesome) it is low in fat and high in fiber and calcium--perfect for us girls.

1 small fuji apple diced into bitesized pieces (with the peel on)
1 small container plain, non-fat yogurt
1/2 cup of Grape Nuts cereal

I hope you like it(:

reading | american wife by curtis sittenfeld

I have a new friend and her name is Alice Blackwell. She is a fictional first lady (loosely based on Laura Bush) and the center of a fantastic novel by Curtis Sittenfeld.

Do you ever find yourself thinking about a book or a character from a book you are reading during the course of your day? I know when I start doing this that I am reading what I will soon call a favorite book. I am in love with this story and its characters. Although, not a George Bush fan in any way, I even find myself infatuated with Charlie Blackwell, the fictional prez.

I highly recommend this sweet, thought-provoking book. But beware, my local library had 25 holds on it when I requested it, so it may take a while to get it. Worth the wait, though.

If you've read this book, I am dying to know what you thought of it. I'm only on page 420, though, so try not to spoil it for me(: