BAMBOO: Green Alert

From Cart to Side Table

Bamboo is an organic, renewable resource that isn’t harmed by harvesting, and is one of the fastest-growing plants in the world. Bamboo is a highly durable grass species that is found in Asia and grows as hollow tubes that vary from several inches wide by many feet tall. Bamboo is famous for its strength and varying colors that range from pale yellows to dark greens. Harder than oak, bamboo’s unique qualities make it a great material for all types of furniture, along with accessories, mirrors, rugs, coffee tables, and even lamps. Bamboo lends itself to many design and decorating styles. Adding elements of bamboo into any decor is a favorite of mine. Because of its natural and light feel, bamboo gives any space and style, an organic and beautiful result. From the traditional to the modern, coastal or tropical, you will see how versatile bamboo can be used in your own homes in the pictures below.

Thanks for taking a peek ~

Sharon :0)

Painted

Outdoors? No problem!

Mirror-Mirror

My yard sale find this past weekend ~ 

Side Table

GeoMazing Fabrics !

Geo Greys

Geometrics.

Some may think they are only for the contemporary house. The house with a minimalist look and an edgy design. Some may say, "Who would ever put Geometric patterns in a coastal room"?  Well, I would!

Geometric patterns these day's are a lot less.... say, predictable. There are so many GeoMazing patterns in so many colors that decorating with them has become less work and more fun. Below are a few fabulous finds from my Etsy Shop CaliforniaLivinHome . 

Thanks for taking a peek ~

Sharon :0)

Mediterranean Blue

Baja Beach

Betwixt

Chevron

Lovely Lattice

Velvet Geo

Coastal Contemporary

Greek Key

Ocean Life - Planet Earth

DID YOU KNOW..................................................................

A group of herring is called a seige.

A group of jelly fish is called a smack.

Green turtles can migrate more than 1,400 miles to lay their eggs.

Since the architecture and chemistry of coral are very close to human bone, coral has been used to replace bone grafts in helping human bones to heal quickly and cleanly.

The ocean contains 99 percent of the living space on the planet.

 

The blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus, is the largest known animal ever to have lived on sea or land. Individuals can reach more than 110 feet and weigh nearly 200 tons_more than the weight of 50 adult elephants.

A dolphin's hearing is so acute that it can pick up an underwater sound from 24 kilometres away

Left to their own devices, pearls grow naturally only once in every 20 000 oysters

The biggest starfish is the sunflower star, it has more than 26 arms.

The seahorse is the fish that swims the slowest..... bet you learned something new today!

Thanks for taking a peek ~

Sharon :0)

Newport Back Bay ~ Nature & Kayaking !

If you ever get the chance and you have a day to spend in Newport Beach there are 2 places you must stop and see. First, Balboa Island ( I blogged about that little slice of paradise last week ) and second the Newport Back Bay. The best way to see the Back Bay is by kayak. Newport Aquatic Center rents one and two person kayaks by the hour. No reservations are required. The Newport Aquatic Center is located at the entrance to the Newport Bay Nature Preserve and Ecological Reserve which spans over one thousand acres of marshlands. Guided Kayak tours are available every Saturday and Sunday. Naturalists lead the tour through the Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve. The Back Bay is a salt marsh estuary that is home to nearly 200 species of birds and serves as a sanctuary for migrating flocks and is also an important fishery habitat. The guide will discuss the history of the bay, and talk about native plants, birds, animals and marine life. So take a little time out from shopping and head over to the Newport Back Bay to enjoy the beauty and history (not to mention a great workout) of Newport Beach’s salt marsh estuary.

Newport Aquatic Center 1 White cliffs Drive Newport Beach, CA 92660 Phone :( 949) 646-7725

Newport Back Bay

Cormorants

Least Tern

Lightfooted Clapper Rail

OH - OCTOPUS !

I find the Octopus motif everywhere these days. This aquatic creature is featured in Home Decor, Jewelry and many household and personal items. I wanted to share a few items I found on ETSY!

Thanks for taking a peek ~

Sharon :0)

CosmicFirefly on Etsy
This wonderful Silver Mirrored Compact Case with Octopus detail.

BlackBaroque on Etsy
Octopus Melamine Dinnerplate.

GeekDetails on Etsy
Tumbled Marble Set of 4 Octopus Coasters.

OhLittleRabbit on Etsy
Organic Cotton Octopus Napkins.

CaliforniaLivinHome on Etsy
I also have an Octopoda Pillow on Etsy!

Shake - Rattle and Roll!

In my little coastal town yesterday we had an earthquake. The earthquake may have measured only 3.9, but it still could make history in Orange County. This quake could be the first one measured on a fault line found here in Orange County 13 years ago. Experts are always telling us after a quake that “this should be a wakeup call”. One comment in particular from the experts yesterday was that Orange County residents tend to think that only big earthquakes happen in LA.

“Really?” Do you think we don’t know that ALL of California is susceptible? Come on!

In fact the experts also report that this new fault line found could generate a magnitude 7 quake or greater. I am a native Northern Californian, was in San Francisco for the 1989 earthquake, 7.1 magnitude (smack dab in the middle, no really, on the Bay Bridge at one point!). And also lived on the Hayward fault all my life. We felt earthquakes all the time and you are going to tell me to wake up? Now I can’t speak for those that are transplants from other states and have never felt a quake but most times you do not even know one has occurred. We are in our cars, walking around or just simply do not feel them. To all the experts, I appreciate your heads-up but believe me, I am fully aware of where I live, what can happen and how devastating it could be. I don’t live my life for the what-if’s. I cannot worry about that which I cannot change and I have always said that we (Californians) may have our share of tremors but there are other places in our great country that suffer year after year far greater and devastating  events like tornadoes and hurricanes that take out entire towns. I am not trying to minimize eartquakes, they can and are devastating when they do reach a high magnitude, but I live one day at a time and enjoy them. I cannot worry for the “may” or “may not” happening.

The running joke us Californians always hear is,

“Live in California? No way! You guys are all going to fall into the Pacific!”

Well if that happens here in So Cal at least we can say...

“Surfs Up!” let’s go!

 Thanks for taking a peek ~
Sharon :0)

Monday- Monday

Just once, I would like to wake up, turn on the news, and hear...'Monday has been canceled, go back to sleep.'

Camping Southern California Style……. at the Beach!

Doheny Beach Camping

It’s time to make plans on where you will be vacationing this summer. Want a relaxing coastal view of the Pacific? Sand in your toes? Than come to one of our many beaches here in Southern California where the mild California coastal weather permits camping all year round.


Here in Orange County we have 4 Beaches that will accommodate your camping adventure.

Doheny State Beach Camping in Dana Point (MY BEACH!)

All sorts of campers are allowed at Doheny Beach---tent campers, RV campers, pop-ups, pickup trucks with camper shells, etc. Some campsites sit directly on the sand with a front-and-center view of the Pacific Ocean. Other camp sites are on "inner" rows of the camping ground, but are still just steps away from the beach. Like all Southern California beach camping, the camp spaces themselves are packed together, side-by-side. You won't get an "isolated" feeling here. There are also restrooms with flush toilets, and showers with hot and cold running water. The big "negative" to Doheny Beach camping is its mega-popularity. During the busy summer season, you simply WON'T be able to camp here unless you've made reservations at least several months in advance. Reservations are an absolute must during the summer months, Spring & Fall weekends and holidays.

Huntington Beach

Bolsa Chica State Beach : This is a popular place for surf fishing and has a beautiful shoreline, but only RV's are allowed (no tents).

Huntington by the Sea RV Park: They call this place "beach front property from your RV."

If you love beach camping accompanied by strolling along Southern California's longest pier, browsing through cute shops, dining out at a wide selection of beach-side restaurants, and taking Fido for a romp at Huntington Dog Beach, then Huntington Beach camping may be for you.

San Clemente State Beach

This facility can accommodate campers and trailers up to 30 feet long, with hookups and a dump station.

Thanks for taking a peek ~

Sharon :0)

EARTH DAY - BEACH CLEAN UP - THIS WEEKEND!

Help clean up the local beaches at Earth Day this year! There are plenty of activities around Orange County and a few that include beach clean-ups and education. The OC Register Science Blog has a full list of events. https://sciencedude.ocregister.com/2012/04/18/earth-day-2012-a-world-of-o-c-events/170563/

Kelpfest  2012

9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

 Join us for the second annual Kelpfest to celebrate the return of the giant kelp forests off the coast of Laguna Beach. Kelpfest will include live performances, educational exhibits about giant kelp and California marine life, kayak trips to see the restored kelp forest and much more. www.kelpfest.org/

10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

 The Ocean Institute will be hosting a free electronics recycling event on Earth Day and will be collecting a wide range of obsolete electronic equipment. 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive in Dana Point.For information on what type of electronics are accepted: www.ocean-institute.org or 949-496-2274.

Earth Day at the Bay

10 a.m.

 Enjoy environmental exhibits, scavenger hunt for all ages, puppet shows, stewardship activities, science discovery booths, arts and crafts, opportunity drawing, Newport Beach Film Festival environmental films and free electronic waste recycling courtesy of All Green Electronics Recycling.

Peter & Mary Muth Interpretive Center, 2301 University Drive in Newport Beach. 949-923-2269 or newportbay.org

Thanks for taking a peek ~

Sharon :0)

3 Easy Ways to add Curb Appeal

Spring is here and summer is right around the corner. You have spent most of your time decorating the insides of your houses now it is time to go outside!
Is your house the one that most people can pass by and not even remember? Or is it that one on the block that people drive by real fast? Curb appeal is easier to achieve than you think, will not break the bank and will make  you the talk of the neighborhood. Here are 3 easy projects any homeowner can tackle without having to hire a contractor or decorator.

#1 - Paint your front door!

That's right paint. A gallon goes a long way and can paint your entire front door. Go outside the norm. White is okay but also oh-so boring. Red.....been there done that and used, a lot. take a look at the other colors on the wheel you can choose from there are SO many! How about yellow....






or Aqua.....                                                           or Two-Tone!

#2 - Change your house numbers

Oh yes! There are so many varieties of house numbers. Tiles, metals, wood, painted you name it. One of my biggest pet peeves when I'm visiting someone for the first time is trying to find the house numbers next to the front door, garage, or wherever. Here are unique idea's that are not only bright and bold but eye-catching!

#3 - Update your Porch ~

Relax on your porch this summer instead of in your backyard. If you don't know your neighbor's yet, you will soon. This is a great way to introduce yourself while people are out walking their dog's or just taking an evening stroll. Invite them over for a glass of sweet ice tea.

Whatever you choose, make it fun!

Thanks for taking a peek ~

Sharon :0)

Southern California Destination ~*~ BALBOA ISLAND

BALBOA ISLAND is your next destination! Want a quaint, relaxing place to go while in So Cal? Just off the coast of Newport Beach in Southern California is Balboa Island a relaxing paradise where the streets are lined with charming two-stories and everyone knows everyone. Though technically part of Newport, Balboa Island is a very tight knit community surrounded by mainland on all but one side. The Island is densely packed as well, one of the highest capita per area destinations in the country.

 

On the main shopping drag, Marina Avenue, you can shop to your heart’s content with more than 90 boutique retailers, everything from art galleries to clothing to gift shops, not to mention all the fabulous restaurants to sample. Stroll the waterfront and take in the sea air or hop the ferry and go to the other side of the island and enjoy the games and rides at the Balboa Pavilion.

 Better yet relax on the sun-filled beaches or go fishing from the Balboa Pier. Plenty to do, plenty to see and a whole lot of fun and Shopping!      

Thanks for taking a peek~
Sharon :0)