Tag Archives: Color Consulting Peninsula

You Can’t Be in a Bad Mood: things that make me smile

Recently, I’m noticing more art, objects, things that make me smile. I have a saying when I find something really cheerful and clever or beautiful at the same time, “You can’t be in a bad mood when you look at that!”

Here are a few things that put me in a great mood…

Dominic Wilcox is one of my favorite emerging artists. Check out his latest work (and his blog, Variations on Normal), Watch Sculptures called Moments in Time.

Jaime Derringer, founder of Design Milk must share my sense of humor, she finds images, products and design that often make me smile. These made me laugh out loud…

I especially love this photo by Vadim Fedotov that appeared on my facebook page. Really, can you look at this and be in a bad mood?

All good in the hood. — with Anastassia Metrikin, April Hullinger, Kat Steinmetz, Diana Furka and Claire Manoogian.

Be on the look out today for art, music, dance, products that make you smile and share them with me. I’ve got another print of this painting for the first person who sends me a link to something that makes me smile…

Urban Wildlife Color Palette

A few months ago I started walking in the morning. I needed to get outside, needed to clear my mind, needed to get moving again. I headed out the first day, charted my course, and after a 30-day challenge of walking every day (I walked 26 days out of 30- not bad!), I’ve settled into a routine of trompin’ through my neighborhood about 3-4 days a week and taking in a weekend hike whenever possible.

Here I am just about to start my 30-day walking extravaganza

I dreaded walking at first- I still mourn the sites and sounds of San Francisco and the walks I used to chart in my favorite city. The Palace of Fine Arts and Golden Gate Bridge were in my neighborhood!

Crissy fields, Marina Green, Palace of Fine Arts, the Bay itself was just four blocks from my home! boo hoo

I’d open my front door to a view of Alcatraz on my left and the hills of Pacific Heights to my right. I didn’t want to move, but work called me away from the only town that every really felt like home. Perhaps I’ve been a little resentful of the flat suburban neighborhoods I’ve lived in since then. And  as my business morphed from the active work of Decorative Painting to  sitting around a lot more for Interior Design and Color Consulting felt even more disconnected from my life outside of work.

So I threw on my walking shoes and immediately noticed how much better I felt every time I walked. One day I came back from a walk and began watering when I saw this little green guy resting just below my watering can.

I’ve never seen much more than squirrels and occasional cats around here, so it caught me by surprise!

Yum, breakfast!

Then I started noticing butterflies

dahlias…

and Angel’s Trumpets growing untamed…

Is nature making a comeback or am I finally- 9 years after leaving San Francisco- beginning to embrace my life, exactly where I am right now? Maybe all the recycling, composting, and turning off the water while I wash my hands and brush my teeth have something to do with it. Maybe as we all become more conscious about how much we need to preserve our sweet Earth, we immediately see that nature wants to survive, even thrive no matter what gets in the way. Or maybe I just needed to open my eyes. I’m not planning on staying in San Mateo, but until I get back to my City by the Bay, I’m going to take in the sites of San Mateo- even the tiny green ones!

What have you found around your home? More wildlife? rogue flowers? Do share! I’d love to start an urban wildlife guest blog so contact me if you’d like to contribute. Have a great weekend everyone!

Benjamin Moore Apricot Ice

Benjamin Moore Fresh Butter

Benjamin Moore Jeweled Peach

Benjamin Moore Vienna Green

Benjamin Moore Cheating Heart

Color in the City- Vieques Color Palette

In honor of Corky, Bill, and La Finca Caribe this color palette is created with Yolo Paints.

Yolo is an Oregon company (Corki’s in Seattle when she’s not at La Finca- I thought she’d appreciate this connection) that manufactures no-VOC paints of the highest quality. Check out their site to find out where you can buy this beautiful product. And enjoy this Viequez palette. Have a great weekend, everyone!