Results of the Survivor's Quiz

Well, bad news for those people who love me. Apparently I have a "slim chance" (read my results, above) for post-apocalyptic survival, at least according to the Survivor's Quiz. I guess I really do need to learn to camp, work out and buy some waterproof matches! By the way, I don't even watch that much TV or drink that much coffee. I am just not that into camping and getting dirty!

The Colony

Two Sunday's ago, quite by accident, my husband and I stumbled upon a new reality series on the Discovery Channel called The Colony. The premise is this: the world as we know it has just undergone a simulated cataclysmic disaster (nuclear war, pandemic, natural disaster, take your pick...) which has destroyed civilization, and a group of 10 people with various sets of skills and knowledge must now figure out how to survive in an urban setting within a devastated Los Angeles. There are engineers, a nurse, a machinist, a handyman, and a doctor - and the show is about how they use their skills to interact and survive.

The series is one of many apocalyptic stories that seem to be the trend these days. There's Jericho, 2012, Knowing, and upcoming movie The Road. The Colony begins each show with these words: "We are on the edge of a global catastrophic disaster. Human conflict, nuclear bombs, natural disasters, chemical and biological warfare. Without warning, the world as we know it can come to an end." It really freaks me out! After about the third episode, I turned to my husband and said, "I am not sure how long a 'trend specialist' (me) would survive if something like this happened to us." Of course I was kidding, trying to infuse a little humor into our fearful observance of The Colony. "Maybe we should start working out..." I continued. I kind of let that last comment dangle out there. We laughed, nodded our heads, got serious again and finished watching the show. It's interesting to watch how the people use their skills to create needed items like water purification systems, showers, power sources and weapons from found objects gathered from the warehouse in which they now are barricaded. These people even face looters and marauders (obviously sent in by the show to wreak havoc on the colony without physically harming the colonists) who steal from them and rock their sense of safety.

Even though it's just a TV show it really does get you to thinking about how fragile our lives are, and how useless so much of our prized stuff probably is in light of a disaster. It makes me want to get my house in order, have a plan, be ready! For now, I am just ready to watch the next episode. Check it out! Take the survivors quiz online to see if you are a survivor.

Lighthouse Coffee Company Grand Opening

I am so excited for my niece, Kate, and her sister-in-law, Julie. They LOVE coffee!!! And Kate, with a background in making and serving gourmet coffee, is like a coffee diva (she even speaks 'brew' as I like to call it) - it has to be right or it's just so wrong! And that is very good for those folks who love a great cup of coffee. These two women decided to put their money and time where their hearts are - apparently in a coffee mug! A few months of blood, sweat and tears (and prayer!) and here they are at their grand (or 'grande' as I like to call it) opening. I had the opportunity to sip their offerings at a 'family and friends' pre-party a couple of weeks ago.

Mmmmm, seriously delicious coffee! Here are Kate (in green) and Julie (in plaid) at their ribbon-cutting ceremony. So if you happen to be in the little coastal town of Pacific Grove on the Monterey Peninsula, head to Lighthouse street and stop in at Lighthouse Coffee Company and tell Kate or Julie that you read about them here at the Trend Spot. (Maybe you'll score a discount!)

Rocking the '80s, Again

I think you'd have to be in a closet not to see how great an influence the 1980's are having in fashion. Check out the back-to-school looks for 2009 from WWD. Bleached and distressed jeans, neon pops of tech color and decorated high tops are among the trends from the '80s that are popular now. It's still all about self-expression. I lived some of my teen years in the '80s. Life was all about the music, the movies and the fashion icons. I had big hair, watched MTV, wore ginormous earrings and used markers to decorated my sneakers.

We had Michael Jackson's Thriller --the look and the music, Madonna's Desperately Seeking Susan look, the Miami Vice look, preppy attire and layers of clothes, chains and bracelets.

And now I have to wonder if the sudden passing of John Hughes, the director of a string of iconic '80s teen comedies, including Sixteen Candles, Pretty in Pink, Ferris Bueller's Day Off and The Breakfast Club, will make the decade even more popular than it is. What do you think?

Listen to me!

Just an FYI...

My next two trend interviews for Inspired At Home will be airing this month. On Sunday, August 9, I will be talking about the HOT trend, Mancrafting, and on Sunday, August 23, my topic is There's No Place Like Home. Be sure and listen! The show begins at 4pm Pacific/ 5pm Central/ 6pm Central/ 7pm Eastern.

Free Coke Glass

FYI: Yesterday I went to McDonald's to grab some lunch and I ordered a Value Meal and with it the employee handed me a bag with a way-cool purple Coke glass in it. I didn't even know that they were giving them away. They come in some great colors, but purple is my personal fav so I was extra delighted to receive it. I know it sounds dumb, but I want one in every color! I just don't want to have to eat my way through Value Meals to get them!

Collage Pauge Bracelet

Look what I made! I love playing with our products when I have a little bit of extra time. What can I say? I have a great job! I made these cuff bracelets last week because I just needed to be creative, you know? Here's what I did........I cut up some copies of some pages from a vintage comic book that was given to my by PattieWack who got it from the Crafty Chica.

I used Tulip Soft Fabric Paint to color the leather band and then I used Collage Pauge Instant Decoupage (Sparkle finish) to adhere the cut up comics to the cuff. The drying time was less than 10 minutes. How's that for a fast craft project!? Finally, to add a little more bling to my cuff, I added Tulip Glam-It-Up Iron-On Crystals. Voila! Ready to wear pop art.

Weekend Escape

This past weekend my family and I headed to Pacific Grove on the Monterey Peninsula. My niece and her sister-in-law had a pre-grand opening for the fabulous coffee house they now own. (I will share more details on it once they actually open.) Being the supportive aunt that I am, I took Friday and Monday off of work so that we could be there to celebrate with her. Yes, it was a sacrifice....We had to leave behind the 107 degree weather in the central valley to spend time on the 67 degree coastline. It was rough, really. We had to attend a party that served desserts and wine and delicious coffee drinks. I had to mingle with interesting friends and some family members whom I haven't seen for a while. And all this was just on Friday night! Saturday, one of my sisters and some more family members hopped into our car and we took a quick ride to Carmel to drive along the coastline and see the delightful hobbit housesthat are nestled in between million dollar-plus homes. We somehow found our way to Mission Ranch, (this is the honeymoon suite, below) a place so beautiful we are determined to stay there next time we go. Sunday, after saying goodbye to my sweet sisters, and after a final trek down to Asilomar beach to climb around on the rocks and peer into the tide pools to see the hermit crabs and abalone shells, we headed home. I love it in Pacific Grove. I love it. Love it!