I've been trying to get a hold of this magazine all week! Lauren and Derek (of The Curiosity Shoppe) are featured in it--and they're on the cover! Their home looks so cute, colorful, and ultra DIY--exactly the way I imagined it would be. Until I get a copy, you can see more of the magazine here on their blog.

Sunflowers, Ornamental Peppers and Rosemary from the Sacramento Farmer's Market

Is it a dilemma for any of you to pick a birthday present for your mother? When a person is trying to rid themselves of the clutter that accumulates after many years on the planet, what do you give that doesn't add to the problem? My Mom is one of the most interesting people I know. She has lived in California: Pasadena, Venice Beach, Malibu Canyon, Napa and Healdsburg and Petaluma. She lived near Santa Fe New Mexico in a village called Galesteo and also in Taos. She lived on Vashon Island in Puget Sound. She lived in Hawaii for a period of time as well. Along the way, she gathered beautiful things and mementos from all of the friends that she has acquired.

This Country Beidermeier armoire has traveled from Pasadena in the home where I grew up, to Galesteo New Mexico, to Vashon, to Healdsburg, Petaluma, and now to Sacramento. The marble topped table has traveled the same path. There is a crow from an artist, John Cannell, in New Mexico sitting on the armoire with two large metal finials that I think came along in Headlsburg. Then, there is the large handcrafted tin framed mirror that was purchased from an artisan friend by the name of Robert Stanfeld from Santa Fe, New Mexico.

There is this Folk Art man standing next to a carnivorous plant, which is so beautifully cool I think! I mean, who's mom chooses a plant like this?. The man is from a New Mexico Folk artist as well. And the Lamp is from Mom's antique Dealer days in Healdsburg. It used to be a beverage dispenser.

TV/Sitting Room

My mother collects ironstone, and has one of the most interesting collections I have seen A few of the pieces are atop just a portion her overflowing bookcases. (Now you know where I got my book fetish......and my ironstone interest.) The small hexagonal table is Victorian, picked up from an antiques dealer in Napa. And on top is an Indian Basket from my Father's side of the family (a few generations ago) filled with very old American Indian pottery shards gleaned from a forgotten New Mexico dumping site. The green Art Deco lamp is by Weller one of a pair and is from Mom's Healdsburg days. The glass pedestal the lamp is sitting on is an old Gas Pump cylinder.

So what does one give when a person doesn't want or need anything else?

We brought books to read, flowers to enjoy, goodies to eat, and wine to drink.

We brought our very favorite cake: a Pims Cake from Freeport Bakery, our favorite bakery. (It is a rich almond cake topped with orange marmalade and chunks of chocolate fudge, modeled after the Pims English Tea Cookie).

But most importantly we brought ourselves, our time, and too much love to fit in any sort of wrapped up package. And the undying promise of more.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!

Organize It: Your Office.

i’m always looking for new bags to carry groceries- i like to have a few options depending on my mood. these new bags from sophie at jodii are right up my alley- simple, colorful and reasonably priced at $6-$27. and the pillows? so lovely. sophie is one talented lady. click here to view her full collection and shop online.

(Owner Kerry) DeBuse says he spent tens of thousands of dollars upgrading the old-fashioned dining room in June. Business had been slow since early summer, he says, "but it all changed 180 degrees within a week of the recent (Wall Street) crash."When the problems went global, the bottom fell out.

Posted by Kerstin

During this important year (presidential election and all), I readily admit that I don't rush to the front page of the New York Times or the Washington Post each morning.

More than likely, I am flipping through party pictures on style.com or my new favorite: a weekly blog feature on New York magazine hilariously dissecting the latest "Top Chef" victim.

See the latest cooked turkey, Spike, below.

I plan to return each Thursday (the day after the Bravo show airs) to read through the silly commentary. After that, I will look through this and last season's archives.

It's frivolous. I am not learning a thing. But a girl needs to ease into the weekend.

Share your online guilty pleasure -- we won't tell your boss.