Washington Drank Here

16 Monday Apr 2012

Posted by Karen Neuburger in Girlfriends, Life in the 95448

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design, food, girlfriends, home, life, lifestyle, travel, wine, women

Over the last two years since we have been living at 95448, I’ve come to appreciate the national and even international draw the town has. On a Friday the checkout line at the grocery may be speaking French. The couple next to you at the incredible pizza spot are talking in German. I’m sure I’ve mentioned the likes of Lady Gaga, Pink, Michele Pfeiffer, Seth Rogen, or Patrick Dempsey walking around the Plaza. Tony Bennett staying at our chic hotel and I was in line getting coffee with Seth Green. (I didn’t know where I knew him from and asked if he had done a photo shoot with me). We were both mortified for different reasons.
Today was the best surprise. Walking toward the Plaza after an early dinner, I saw walking toward us a very Irish looking slender red head who looked very familiar. Elizabeth Washington ran right into us. Elizabeth was one of the friendly faces when I was in solitary confinement. Even when it was detrimental to her Job, she was respectful and a desk where I could stop and have girl talk.
So Elizabeth and friend spent an hour or so at our bar reminiscing and making me feel great. I know she was excited to bump into me and I hope she knows how meaningful it was for me. Please someone, send this to her.

Channeling Kelly Ripa

03 Tuesday Apr 2012

Posted by Karen Neuburger in Design and Crafts, Home and Garden

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comfort, Coppola, Electrolux, Francis Ford Coppola, friends, home, houzz, Kelly Rips, laundry, life, lifestyle, pajamas, women

A couple of months ago I found a great website called houzz.com. I have to warn you that once you start looking at all the great ideas and pictures, you can’t stop. Give yourself hours and a plate of food. Its an addictive home-design site. Any room, any style, inside, outside, garden, curb appeal, projects, products and professionals.
I’ve found in the last few years that I love both interior and garden design as much as I love fashion. It was a fabulous opportunity when we sold our family home a few years ago and the buyer wanted all our furnishings. Right down to floral displays and artwork. I left with 1 lamp, my baby grand piano. (bought it the first year the KN Karen Neuburger company made money), and personal pictures. Then I went shopping.
Our new home is a 180 degrees from the California Country home we lived in for so long. This home is open, contemporary with a nod to Mid-Century spiced with warm organic. It’s easy to live in and super easy to clean.
My favorite new room inspired by houzz.com, is my Laundry/pantry. Adding a stainless bar height counter, sink and beverage refrigerator to the existing laundry area, now gives me a butler’s pantry as well. Super convenient for morning coffee, toast and an occasional Pinot as I whirl around my Electrolux like Kelly.

Why The Wait?

26 Monday Mar 2012

Posted by Karen Neuburger in Life in the 95448

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comfort, design, fun, home, life, lifestyle, women

Don Draper even looks good bedraggled. Mad Men is finally back and I planned my entire day around a 6:00pm TVdate with the Sixties. I can’t remember either Ed Sullivan or The Wonderful World of Disney taking an18 month break on Sunday nights. Don’t understand or like the new way TV takes a long sleep between “seasons”.

As a woman, some of the topics and attitudes are uncomfortably familiar. I did see several Mod dresses I would love to have again. I remember keeping it a secret that I could type so I would not be given secretarial work. (pre PC keyboards). Twice I was the token female manager. Their experiment in women as sorta equals. The only woman having after hours drinks in the bosses office just to keep in the loop, awkward at best. A thousand stories in the urban jungle. Thousands of women to tell them. Where was Gloria Allred?
Sure did love The Draper Mid-Century apartment featured tonight. Great use of wood and stylish low sectional with glitzy bright pillows. Cool wallpaper. So if I could just come around again like the fashions and interiors, I would be soooo much wiser.
(note: be watchful for constant spelling errors. I was painting hall murals in the 2nd and 3rd grades)

She’s Stylin’

21 Wednesday Mar 2012

Posted by Karen Neuburger in Home and Garden

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art, design, family, fashion, home, life, lifestyle, pajamas, style, women

My youngest daughter graduated college and moved back to Northern California recently. Moving into her first post college apartment on a tight budget, she found this bed set at Target and a clearance toss pillow at Bed Bath and Beyond. I absolutely adore High-Low design, but here’s to Low-and-Low decorating as well. “She’s going to make it after all.”(Mary Tyler Moore)

Comfy Simplicity in 95448

20 Tuesday Mar 2012

Posted by Karen Neuburger in Home and Garden

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California, comfort, design, family, fashion, home, life, pajamas, Sonoma

Not a really fun day. I spent most of it struggling with this blog. Getting all this technology linked, the iPhone, iPad, and my iMac all to talk to each other is harder then dealing with 12 year old girls.
I promise I won’t bore you with my exercise accomplishments, what I’m making for dinner, or my personal horoscope.

So short and sweet today, I just got my two new mid-century chairs. I value comfort and simplicity over grand style. These chairs have both well worn comfort and straight forward style. Broken in since the 1960’s, with softened leather and some tall dark stranger’s gentle use. Sliding into one with my book, my imagination and a piece of chocolate.

Go Green or Go Home

18 Sunday Mar 2012

Posted by Karen Neuburger in Life in the 95448

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California, crafts, family, fashion, fun, green, home, life, lifestyle, pajamas, stpatricksday, travel, women

Saturday morning 6am. Up and At’em. Our St. Patrick’s Day people’s parade starts at 7 am sharp. I’m in the parade! Well along with several hundred residence. You see it started 18 years ago when 2 old timers sitting at the saloon early on St Patricks Day decided we needed a parade in town. So they became the parade. It swelled to 12 people the following year and so on. Not sanctioned by the town and no permit it’s the closest I will come to an Occupy March. The nearest to the Town Council giving its nod is the fire truck that brings up the rear protecting us from irate drivers. So meeting at the original saloon and around the Plaza and back for Irish Coffee and a deep toned, tear jerking rendition of O’Danny Boy. The parade has a kelly green tulle wearing queen with several sparkling attendants as well as kilts, bag pipes, a self imposed king and best of all the towns people. All ages from bundled up babes to old people who proudly proclaim to be part of the “Original Twelve”. (Sounds like a 60’s protest organization.) Magical fun in 95448.

New this year was the response from the weekend tourists. Having heard the swanky hotel in town was unhappy with our noise at this morning hour, they complained. Needless to say everyone sings and yells loader as we pass by. Maybe because it was a Saturday, several of the guest were out on their balconies cheering the parade on. One guy was so excite that while waving he lost control of his robe. We all got excited too! I need a knap.

From 95448

17 Saturday Mar 2012

Posted by Karen Neuburger in Introduction

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crafts, design, family, fashion, fun, home, laundry, life, travel, women

Yes…I did fall off the face of the earth, however I’m sharpening my nails and clawing my way back onto our messy, troublesome, sometimes unrecognizable but beautiful planet. From Oprah’s Favorite pajamas to self imposed obscurity. A purposeful exile of sorts. Thank heaven I have Mad Men to remind me how far I’ve come.

Moving 2 years ago to Sonoma County, California, (famous for its vineyards and The Bachelor), I’m tending my new olive orchard and taking time figuring out what my 2nd, or 3rd Act is going to be. TICK TOCK.

Starting the Karen Neuburger sleepwear business when I was 40 something, that was actually my 2nd Act. Although I love my olives, my western sunset view and our rural lifestyle, I still want to “do something” implausible again. As I work through my “something” quest here in 95448, (this zip code ships more wine then any other in the US), I’ve decided to think out loud.That usually makes things clearer. In thinking out loud I’ll be writing down the irregular moments off my everyday life.

I’ve lost 12 lbs lately, only because I gained 15 eating my way thru the county’s scrumptious restaurants and farmers markets. I walk / hike almost daily. Do you have to be in the woods to be considered hiking? I shop organic-local and have become the “recycle cop”. What’s the worse sin?
All the extra water I use to rinse containers or throwing them in the garbage bin? One of my biggest challenges is getting any spot out of the laundry and I’m as in love with my Perfect Steam cycle as Richard (husband) is with the big screen TV.

Although I’m in small town USA, Pop Culture still finds me daily. My iPhone and iPad announce the trends that I “need” in my life and I admit I still want. I recently painted my sharpened but short nails Sephora’s Angel Grey, probably influenced by the must-read new novel, Fifty Shades of Grey. Holy crap! Richard, my husband, thought my grey nails came from smashing them in the car door. A pair of peach jeans, some nude shoes, an orange clutch and a new yellow sectional for the living room are now on my spring wish list. So much for the simple life in 95448.

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