Thursday, August 11, 2011

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

New Looks Coming Soon!

If you haven't already noticed, some changes have been made. The things on the sides that may have bugged you are gone, and a clean, thinner look has been applied. Meanwhile, the California Livin Home team is working feverishly to get a new shopping experience up and running for those who enjoy a fresh take on coastal living and design. This will launch within the week, fingers crossed. Keep posted for more updates!

Thanks for choosing California Livin Home!

Saturday, June 25, 2011

It's GRILLIN' time!


My husband and I love to grill. We must grill at least 3-4 times a week, all year round. When you live in a Mediterranean climate like ours here in Orange County, your oven is rarely used and your grill is always hot and ready to go! Tonite is Taco Nite, Baja Light Fish Tacos. They are so yummy I have the recipe below. One of my favorite magazines I subscribe to is SUNSET. I got this recipe from the September 2010 issue. Now go fire up the grill!

Baja Light Fish Tacos~

Grilled instead of deep-fried, and with a trimmed-down tartar sauce.

Special touch: Light Chipotle Tartar Sauce
       
The Fish & Tortillas:
1 tbsp. ancho chile powder ( you can find it in the spice aisle at Safeway)
2 tsp. dried Mexican oregano ( again at Safeway)
1/4 tsp. each kosher salt & pepper
1-1/2 lbs. boned, skinned Pacific Cod (any white fish will do)
1 tbsp. olive oil
12-14 corn tortillas (warmed on the grill is best!)

1.Heat grill to high (450-550). Combine seasoning in a small bowl. Set fish on a rimmed baking sheet. Rub all over with oil, then sprinkle with seasonings. Oil cooking grate, using tongs and a wad of oiled paper towels.
2.Grill fish, covered, turning once, until just cooked through, 4 to 6 minutes total. Break fish into large chunks. Fill tortillas with slaw and fish. Serve with tartar sauce.

THE FIXINGS

Cabbage and Cilantro Slaw:
Put 3 tbsp. lime juice, 2 tbsp. vegetable oil, 1/4 tsp. red chile flakes, and 1/2 tsp. kosher salt in a large bowl. Just before serving, toss with 1 bag (10 oz.) very finely shredded cabbage and 1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro.

Light Chipotle Tartar Sauce:
Seed and devein 2 tbsp. canned chipotle chiles (hispanic food aisle at Safeway); rinse. in a blender, puree chiles, 8 oz. (1 cup) plain low-fat Greek yogurt, 1/4 cup sweet pickle relish, and 1/4 cup chopped onions.

I am not a calorie counter but if you would like to know.........
Per taco with 1 tbsp. sauce: 151 Calories

Sunday, June 12, 2011

It's GIVEAWAY time! COMMENT TO WIN~

Enter to WIN this lovely set of 2 Lavender filled Coastal Sachets! Printed on each Sachet is a wonderful Shell motif and saying~
5-1/2" x 8" and 3.6 oz. of Lavender in each.

The rules are simple: Each comment equals 1 entry. 4 entries max. per person.
  1.  Leave a comment on my Blog about this GIVEAWAY.
  2. Become a "new follower": leave a comment that you have done this. Already a follower? Leave a comment to let me know!
  3. Post a link to this GIVEAWAY on your Blog. Leave another comment letting me know.
  4. Grab my button (top rt. corner) and add it to your Blog, and yes one more time, leave a comment to let me know!

 closeups of both
WINNER will be randomly selected the old fashion way........Have 4 comments receive 4 entries, 3 comments receive 3 entries and so on. I will place each folded entry into a bowl and have my trustworthy husband, Andrew, draw the lucky winner! Drawing will be on 4th of July 2011~

GOOD LUCK!

Friday, June 10, 2011

Create a Vignette!

We all have shelves. Some have books on them, some family photos and others may just carry weight of all kinds of found baubles. I will be the first to say it's hard to decorate shelves.....at first. We put all our great finds together throw them up on the first shelf and presto, change-o, done. Well not quite yet.  We find something we like, we buy it and then we take it home to place it somewhere, anywhere! And hopefully our husbands or friends won't say, "You bought another one of those"! We all have different tastes. We take ideas we see or read and incorporate them into our homes. So with that said I have put together an assortment of "like" items, Coastal Inspired. Some of you may have an art glass collection all throughout your house. Pull all these items together, select your favorites and make a vignette. Different sizes and colors of these "like" items tell a story. Your scattered glass now is a collection of art glass. It makes a bolder statement.  
Now go dust off those shelves and create a Vignette!

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Anyone for a GIVEAWAY????


I want to have a Giveaway!  I am currently working on all the details. I will be giving away.......come back and find out in a few days!

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Two Home Decor Stores I Love~

Here in Southern California we are definitely not lacking in Malls. Indoor & Out, we have a ton of them.

I prefer however the small, more boutique style shops. The shops that are sometimes off the beaten path. Well these two shops are not off the beaten path but on 17th Street in Costa Mesa in a Strip Mall. Elegantly decorated and full of great stuff these 2 shops offer wide varieties of Home Decor. From Nautical findings at The Gatehouse to fine baubles and real coral at Feathers Home & Garden.

Both are located at 270 E. 17th Street in Costa Mesa!

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

I stand corrected!

Here in Orange County we have a Mediterranean climate. Our average year-round temp is 68. We have about 12-16” annual rainfall. We have 42 miles of beaches that attract millions of tourists annually. Huntington Beach, nicknamed "Surf City, U.S.A.", is a hotspot for many surfing competitions. But the most well known destination to most everyone on earth is of course Disneyland and Disneyland California Adventure in Anaheim. So I thought~
Since I am currently in the Mobile, Alabama area with my husband on his job for the summer we have been taking in all things southern. The food, the history and the friendly hospitality of the locals that live here.  I was talking to a little girl last week that spoke a mile a minute. Now mind you, I speak a mile a minute too but this little girl had me beat! She did not take a breath or come up for air in the 10 minutes I spoke with her! Her genteel southern accent spoke with tales of school, a classmate with a cell phone, what was she going to do for the summer and her new dog Lucky! When I was able to get a word in I told her I was from California and lived close to Disneyland. Well that was it! How could I possibly live by Disneyland in California? “Disneyland (Disney World) is in Florida”, she clamored, not California! I told her that Disneyland in California was the original, the first location that opened in 1955, and the must-see place for all children. Well, needless to say, that was a mistake. I was quickly and I mean quickly corrected that Disneyland in Florida is and has always been the original. I didn’t want to continue the debate because I knew I would lose. She had me beat. Her 20 mile and hour southern accent and a 10 year olds determination cannot beat a California girl, standing in 90 degree heat not to mention the 65% humidity. That was it. Disneyland is and always has been in Cal I mean Florida! Now I need to get in the shade~

Monday, June 6, 2011

I need to start Blogging!!!!!!!

Too much time has passed! I have been trying to get my Etsy shop off the ground and have neglected my own BLOG! UGH!!!! I have been researching all kinds of Blogs about Home Decor and design. I want to see what the "other" blogs are doing and how they do it. To tell you the truth there are a ton of very unique Blogs out there not to mention creative and down right interesting with so many articles! So, with that said, I am starting a list of my favorites.... here on my Blog.  If you are a creator of Home Decor or lover of it I want to hear from you! I also want you to advertise on my Blog! Email me at californialivin@cox.net. All Blogs start off at the same starting point. The followers did not jump to 5,000+ overnite. With a little time and patience not to mention a lot of effort I hope to have a high digit following too!

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

It's Spring in Southern California!

A must see if you are in Southern California is Roger's Gardens in Corona del Mar. A plethora of plants, pottery and Outdoor furniture not to mention the indoor Gallery of Home Decor and accessories! Take a stroll outside to see all the fragrant blooms and foliage. Inside your eyes will delight to all things shiny. Open daily 9am - 6 pm.

Roger's Gardens2301 San Joaquin Hills Rd
Corona del Mar, California 92625
949-640-5800 or
800-647-2356
 

Monday, April 18, 2011

NEW on ETSY!!!!

For the past few weeks I have been feverishly sewing new pillow covers to list on ETSY. I have a great assortment of Coastal, Contemporary, Chic and Traditional pillow covers in a variety of sizes. I try to add new items daily and will be adding Lavendar Sachets very soon! I hope you can follow my Blog as I will be adding "Best places to shop in Southern California" real soon!
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