Not just Designs & Decorating Blog

My Tiny House

2019-10-17T22:50:00.000-07:00

Hi, my name is Chris and this was our tiny house. I have lived here for 24 years with my two young children, Bernard and Christina, until January 2019 when I sold it. This house was our sanctuary.

Living Room

Next Chapter

2019-03-11T19:05:00.000-07:00

Standing Rib Roast

2013-12-31T05:10:00.002-08:00

http://whatscookingamerica.net/Beef/ClassicPrimeRib.htm

White Hydrangeas and Glittery Cabbage-Like Flowers

2013-12-09T04:47:00.003-08:00

It's almost Christmas. Joyful sounds of Christmas carols playing in the background as I struggle to collect my thoughts with determination to resume writing on this forsaken blog. It's 1:00 AM.

Last night was the 40th Day Prayer for a family member who just passed away. Close family members and a friend gathered together to say our prayers. My children were supportive. My daughters-in-law were complacently cooperative. My granddaughter was so sweet. Even our dog Marley knows how to express love.

Earlier in the day, my cleaning lady came with her husband and grandson to help me tidy my home for the dinner prayer. I met Abraham, her 4 year old grandson who was so cute and smart. He got along well with Marley. It was love at first sight. He was thrilled and had a cute smile on his face every time Marley licked his face and ears. When his grandparents completed their chores and were leaving, Abraham had a sad face and wanted to stay. With some high fives and a promise to see him again before Christmas, he conceded.

The dinner prayer was at 6:00 PM and I still had enough time to go to the store to get beef ribs and some potatoes and veggies for the 'Pochero', a delicious soup I used to cook back home. Perfect for a cold chilly night. Just in time, my son and my granddaughter Sam arrived. Lately, she had been coming to my home for some tutoring. So I suggested for her to come with me to the store.

Back to my home from the store, the potatoes and sweet potatoes were added to the soup which was simmering for quite sometime. The beef ribs and chicken were tender. The green beans, cabbage, and Bok Choy were ready, washed and cut to be added after the prayer. I wanted the veggies to be crunchy and not overcooked or mushy.

Our makeshift altar was on the table where our TV was. I had picked up some flowers from the store and made a beautiful arrangement of white hydrangeas and some glittery white cabbage-like flowers with some fillers. They were understated yet beautiful. The candles were set and lit. We started our prayers..

Dinner was simple. Fun. Memorable. The soup tureen was beaming with sumptuous beef ribs and chicken, simmered with the rich flavor of the Chorizos de Bilbao (Spanish chorizo), potatoes, sweet potatoes, green beans, cabbage, and Bok Choy sans the cooking banana called 'Saba', which was not available at the store and the garbanzos (chick peas) which I forgot. The table was set with white plates and white soup bowls highlighting the red table runner, courtesy of Ann, my daughter-in-law. My friend Lily brought a box of 12 different flavored cupcakes from Sprinkles in Palo Alto, California which we enjoyed with a freshly brewed coffee.

It was a wonderful evening.

Are You Eating and Drinking Poison?

2010-04-11T08:56:00.000-07:00

Never have I been more aware of what I put into my mouth to satisfy my cravings or hunger pangs. I love good food period. Good food that comes from my kitchen.

My relationship with good food dates back to when I was a young girl back in Manila, eagerly watching my mom cook and going with her to the wet market (farmer's market) to shop for fresh fruits and vegetables, fresh fishes (sometimes live) and other sea foods, depending on what we could find, fresh beef and pork, and live chickens.

Lechon, Caldereta, Paksiw na Pata, Nilagang Baka, Morcon, Embutido, Callos, Sinigang na Baboy, Rellenong Manok, Pastel de Lengua, Dinuguan, and other high in saturated fats and artery clogging dishes that we enjoyed cooking and eating. For desserts, I would bake cakes, breads, or make some delicious native delicacies like Leche Flan, Macapuno, Ube, all filled with refined white sugar (simple carbohydrates) and butter. Lots and lots of them.

Our bagoong (salted shrimp fry), a delicious side seasoning for Kare-Kare, a dish made out of cow's tail and tripe with creamy toasted ground peanuts and rice is addicting. It's good with almost everything even with green mango salad. Our mouth-watering Adobo is made out of chicken, pork or even beef, cooked with soy sauce, garlic, and vinegar. Very rich, very delicious, very bad for you.

Some who can't resist eating them would justify their weakness by saying "paminsan minsan lang" meaning every once in a while only. But if you count the many times of "paminsan minsan lang" in one year, that's going to be a lot.

We now know that saturated fat is not a good fat. They solidify in room temperature. They also clog the arteries of your heart and eventually might give you a heart attack or stroke. Examples of this kind of fat is animal fat. Beef, pork, lamb, chicken, etc. But we also need protein in our body as our daily nutritional requirement and animal meat contains the highest in protein. Just make sure you cut the fat out and just eat a small portion. Saturated fat can also be found in butter, whole milk, ice cream, chocolates, etc. My nutritionist emphasized that the size of meat I should eat should just be the size of my palm with all fingers folded inwards.

What about monounsaturated fat the good fat? Where can we get them? Olive oil and canola oil are high in monounsaturated fats. This fat is beneficial to our body. It helps in lowering your LDL (low-density lipoprotein) and in increasing your HDL(high-density lipoprotein) .

Too much LDL (bad cholesterol) circulating in the blood can build up in the inner walls of arteries that supply blood to the heart and brain, They form a hardened plaque which narrows the arteries and make them less flexible. A heart attack or stroke can result if a clot clogs and narrows an artery. On the other hand, high levels of HDL the good cholesterol seem to protect against heart attack. They seem to remove more of the bad cholesterol.

Another good and beneficial fat to our body is Omega 3 and Omega 6 which can be found in some nuts, salmon, mackerel, and sardines. Like the monounsaturated fat, they help lower your LDL and increase you HDL.

There's also the polyunsaturated fat which is high in omega 3 and omega 6 which lowers our LDL and increases our HDL just like the monounsaturated fats. But this fat is unstable and doesn't last very long. They easily go rancid. Most food manufacturers harden this fat or "hydrogenate" them to make the cookies, chocolates, doughnuts, and other foods they make to last longer in the shelf. When polyunsaturated fats are hardened and turned into "hydrogenated oil", they become bad fats. These are the trans fats which is really bad for you. Stay away from them.

Sodium elevates your blood pressure. We all know that now. I have now been cooking with minimal salt if not without. Lemon and ground pepper, apple cider vinegar, or balsamic vinegar are my favorite seasonings. I stay away from sodium if I could.

We all know that sugar is carbohydrate. Carbohydrates give us energy. There's the simple carbohydrate and the complex carbohydrate. Opt for the complex carbohydrate for energy. They last longer compared to simple carbs. Example of simple carb is white refined sugar. Sugar is an empty calorie. Complex carbs are derived from whole grains, pasta, potatoes, sweet potatoes, etc. and they are packed with vitamins and mineral that your body needs daily.

The key is portion and moderation. Saturated fats, sodium, and sugar are the three things my doctor advised me to watch out for. There are other poisons like alcohol, foods with sodium nitrate and sodium nitrite, preservatives, carcinogens, artificial coloring, aspartame and other artificial sweeteners, that people love to eat and drink. They accumulate in your body and they are silent killers. They are so disguised that people enjoy them never realizing that these poisons are silently and slowly killing their livers, shutting down their kidneys forever, damaging their hearts, if not causing some cancers.

I'm so lucky Kaiser offers so many classes to learn about different kinds of diseases and what to do about them when you get sick. Just sign up and attend classes. I learned a lot and I'm still learning. They have different programs to make yourself fit and healthy streamlined to your health situation.

I am not a doctor nor am I a nutritionist. I am not an expert in any of these fields. I happen to be taking a high dose of high blood pressure pills, borderline to becoming diabetic, and now taking heart medicines. I am now aware of the long term effects of having a bad lifestyle. It is never too late to make some changes, to be more aware of our health, and the fatal effects of overindulgence. Take care of yourself because no one will. Life is a gift.

White Christmas

2009-12-10T04:18:00.000-08:00

The recent winter storm blanketed parts of the country with white snow including some parts of California, Nevada, and Texas. I live a few miles from the San Francisco International Airport and this part of the Bay Area is really cold. Santa Cruz mountains and Oakland hills were unbelievably capped with snowflakes.. It's Winter Wonderland in California!?

This was an inspiration in decorating our Christmas tree this year. My daughter and I agreed on this theme and she had her first hand in decorating a Christmas tree from buying the fresh tree to putting the last ornament. Inspiring her to hone her decorating skills, she was designated the one in charge of decorating the house, the Christmas tree, and buying gifts for everyone, in preparation for Christmas.

I advised her that her taste will improve through the years and that she should develop an "eye" for fine art. I encouraged her to read books and magazines related to interior design i.e. Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, and any reading materials featuring the latest trends in style, color, and design.

She went out in the cold with a friend the other night and bought a towering fresh pine tree which gave our small house a Chrismas smell in the air. We went to a craft store to check out some items we needed, unique ornaments, and rolls and rolls of white silvery ribbons. The color we chose were all white, silver, and some light grayish tones. We were going to have a White Christmas.

Here are some tips to decorate your Christmas tree:

Choose a theme and a color scheme to work on, or go for the traditional tree, which could bring the memories of the Christmas past.
Get all your materials ready: tree, ornaments, lights, garlands, ribbons, star, etc.
Put the skirt under your tree before you start decorating.
Start putting the lights first. Some start from the bottom going up but I prefer starting from the tip of the tree going down. ( I prefer decorating my tree at night and I keep the lights on while I'm working on the tree.)
Put the ornaments, the ribbons and the garlands. Normally I put the garlands at the end, but because the garlands we used for our Christmas tree were made of different sizes of ice beads or chunks of ice-like heavy material, we positioned them next after putting the lights
On the top of the tree, you can put a star or any of the materials you use for your theme. Sometimes, I just make a big bouquet of ribbons on top of a tree, or an angel, or whatever is the theme.
Wrap your gifts with unique wrappers with stripes, big dots, plain color, poinsettia, adorned with interesting ribbons and simply made with a nice bow or neatly curled ribbons.
Unless you're decorating someone else's tree, I think decorating your own tree is personal. Use your own creativity and style.

Decorating your Home for the Holidays

2009-12-04T03:43:00.000-08:00

If you haven't done anything yet, start bringing out those different ornaments, glittery balls, ribbons, and decide whether you want to use your artificial tree or opt for a fresh one this year. If your budget is tight, using your old decorations and your old artificial tree will do. On the other hand, if you are willing to get new ones and you're able to do so, go ahead. Christmas comes only once a year and the time spent together with your family and friends, in the sanctity of your home, at this time of the year, will be memories you are passing down to your children and grandchildren.

After you've decorated your tree, the outside and inside of your home, start planning your Christmas dinner menu. You may want to design/decorate your Christmas dinner table days ahead. Bring out your precious china, your silverware, crystal glasses, and crisp table linen and runners that you plan to use. This is the time you can use your grandmother's or your mother's fine china, crystal glasses, and silverware. Be creative and bring out the decorator in you.

Sprucing up your home for the holidays is fun to do with the family. Setting up the dinner table together with your children before your Christmas dinner and allowing them to slice, peel, or contribute any effort in their part for the completion of your meal that evening will remain in their memory forever.

I would like to share some photos of the table settings I did with the help of my children during last year's Christmas eve dinner and lunch celebration. I love setting the table and dressing it up with the resources that I have collected through the years. I love simplicity in design and not going overboard. The table settings are casual, but dressy enough to celebrate Christmas.

Big Changes at WCCA

2009-06-18T00:58:00.000-07:00

It was only recently when I received an email from Window Coverings Association of America advising me that its' Executive Director, Mark Nortman, was going for his interim leave of absence. I do not know Mark Nortman personally, but I have talked to him before, over the phone, when I first joined the WCCA. He was very gracious and he explained to me the mission and goals of WCCA and how it can help my business.

Window Coverings Association of America is the only non-profit trade organization founded in 1987 serving the window coverings industry on a national level. The WCAA helps its members through educational and sales/marketing programs, and providing great opportunities in networking among members and experts in the window coverings industry.

Today I received another advise from WCAA that they are moving their office to Gold River in California. It is now headed by the new Executive Director, Jenna Abbott. Jenna is currently the owner of Sew Elegant, a design firm based in Sacramento, California for a little more than 8 years.

Amy Schaeffer, the efficient administrative assistant to Mark Nortman, apparently will not join them in their move to their new location in River Gold, California. I wish her all the best and luck in her new job search.

Although I was saddened by the big changes, I am pleased to welcome the new Executive Director, Jenna Abbott, in her new endeavor. I hope that she continues the challenging job of providing education, sales and marketing programs, and the many opportunities and support that all members could benefit from the organization.

Welcome aboard Jenna!

A Hole in the Wall

2009-06-17T20:28:00.000-07:00

Without any window covering or treatment enhancing the role it plays in transforming the aesthetics of a room into one that soothes our appeal and personal comfort, a window is just a "hole in the wall".

Nowadays, one can get lost and confused in choosing the right window coverings for their windows. The window coverings industry has evolved from the time when a simple curtain that hangs on a metal wire was functional, to a five-layered drapery treatments complete with cornices, lambrequins, sheers, shades, blinds, top treatments, jabots and cascades, etc. There's also the choice of using hard or soft window treatments or incorporating both in order to achieve a certain architectural charm and character.

Some may even go for the minimalist look or the modern-day metal , wood, or faux wood blinds with decorative tapes, window shades with beautiful patterns, fabrics, and textures, vinyl or wood shutters with vanes that go up to 4 1/2" to give a better view of the beautiful scenery outside, or the silhoeuttes, the vignettes, the luminettes, and the pirouettes. There are so many to choose from.

Not only do we have to choose the right window coverings or treatments for our windows. It is also good to know which companies offer the best warranties, just as choosing a reliable professional decorator/designer to do the job is so vital. Check out if their services have warranties. When the project is done, keep your receipt, ask for a written warranty, and keep a copy of their contact information.

Using your window treatment as a focal point in your room can make a statement. It can make the room warm, cozy, comfortable, and interesting. The effect it will have on its occupants is more important as long as it does not create any aesthetic restrictions.

One can easily do the project themselves, but hiring a professional interior decorator/designer specializing in window treatments can make life easier for you. Choose one that has a wide experience and had been in business for a long time. Check out their BBB ratings. Google their names to check for business ratings. Ask for referrals from friends and colleagues that had their windows redecorated. Make a research. Do your homework and be prepared before you start investing in a project.

According to Karla J. Nielsen in her book "Window Treatments', the benefits of covering our windows are for: 1) privacy, 2) safety, 3) glare control, 4) sound absorption, 5) comfort, 6) energy consumption and 7) aesthetics. The principles of good design in window styling are proportion and scale, balance, rhythm, emphasis, and harmony. In her book, I also learned that the elements of good design in window styling are space, light, color, texture, pattern and ornament, and form or shape.

After you have done your research, after you have asked your friends and colleagues who have recently redecorated their windows for referrals, you can now start shopping around. Whether you have decided to do the project yourself, or whether you prefer to hire a professional window coverings decorator/designer to do the job, it is going to be a lot of fun. After all, those "holes in your walls" will no longer be, after you dress them.

Author: Chris Nyles
Owner/Founder: Window Coverings By Chris
Certified Member, Window Coverings Association of America
Priority Dealer: Hunter Douglas

Staying in Business in a Competitive Market

2007-10-16T18:27:00.000-07:00

After my stint as a Decorator Consultant at the Custom Decorating Department of Montgomery Ward in Daly City, California in 1989, when the management decided to phase out our department, it didn't take long for me to decide that this was the career I wanted to embark in for the rest of my life.

My previous job was a good training ground for running a business. My duties and responsibilities as the Executive Secretary/Administrative Assistant of Borden International, Inc. , a multinational, regional office in the Far East, which handled the distribution of the dairy milk products in Singapore, Malaysia, Hongkong, Bangladesh, Taiwan, South Korea, Philippines, Pakistan, Indonesia, and Thailand, was practically running the business when my boss, the Regional Manager, was out of the country.

I love arts and interior decorating/design, so I enrolled myself in a correspondence course in interior design, after which Window Coverings By Chris was born in June 1993.

Like any small, independent business-owner, the business faced numerous challenges in the beginning. Evolving from a home-based business to a storefront in San Mateo Avenue in San Bruno, California from 1993 to 1996, we had to make a major decision to move our business back to our home and do business the "Shop at Home" way, in order to cut down on our overhead expenses.
Doing business in the San Francisco Bay Area was a great challenge. Home Depot and other big department stores like J C Penney and Macys were capturing our market share, with their weekly sales and big discounts. Our storefront exposure was not enough and we definitely could not afford to give more discounts. Something extraordinary had to be done to beat the big guys, if we wanted to stay in business.

Feeling the need to know more about our products, it was imperative to attend seminars, conferences, and design shows offered by the big manufacturers, associations, and experts in the industry. Knowledge is power. One particular bid we made on a project in Hillsborough, California was won, after proving to our client our point, by showing her a video from the manufacturer confirming our statement, that the shades she chose to cover her 28 windows should not touch the bottom of the window, if she chooses to have them inside mounted. The other bidder who lost, stated otherwise.

Things/Adjustments we did to Stay in Business in a Competitive Market:

1) Cut Down on Expenses/Simplify

Moving back our business to our home was a big decision. It was also a great help in slashing down our overhead expenses. Quickbooks Pro software replaced the bookkeeper. We took care of maintaining our books, prepared our own income tax returns, filed them online through Turbo Tax, and hired my son and daughter to do part- time jobs for the company.

Earlier in the business, we hired different installers, decorators, and part-time office workers. We simplified by maintaining one good professional installer (with a good crew), no longer hire decorators, and our Shop-at-Home services are now directly handled by my son, daughter, and myself.

2) Give Extra Good Service

My Shop-at-Home services included a lot of freebies without an obligation to buy, aside from the convenience of shopping at the comfort of their homes. We bring all the samples to them. We handled any concern/complaint of our clients as fast and as quickly as we possibly could.

Our extra services are big and little things we do for our clients. We have helped some clients with problems concerning the products, installation, and services they purchased from other local dealers who never return their calls.

3) Add More Exposure

The storefront exposure from 1993 to 1996 was not enough, but it was a good start. The exposure we were expecting from the yellow pages book directory ad we had, no longer generated the results we wanted, aside from their costs escallating yearly.

In the late 1990s, times were changing and we knew we had to go with the flow. We had to keep abreast with the new technology, innovations, trends, and study the demographics of what kind of customers buy certain window, floor and wall coverings, and certain types of furniture, and accessories.

Nowadays, serious buyers will most likely use the computer to research online, rather than browse the pages of a heavy, thick, outdated directory book. We went serious on putting up our website and listed the name of our business in every relevant site we could find: San Francisco Citisearch, Local2Me, Better Business Bureau, Window Coverings Association of America, and Yellow Pages Online, and many more.

4) Know Your Products

Attending seminars, conferences, trade shows offered by big manufacturers and associations, and experts in the field, greatly helped in widening our product knowledge.

5) Learn and Keep Abreast with Technology

Who doesn't have a cell phone, computer, or a digital camera? If you don't and you're in business, get them immediately. You'll see the wonders of those necessities, what they can do for you, and how they can change your life.

6) Be a Member of Associations and Organizations Related to your Business

Memberships in associations and organizations related to your business like Window Coverings Association of America, Better Business Bureau, etc. are a great help to your business. Not only can they keep you abreast with the industry, they can educate and refresh your knowledge in your business, and also get you a chance to network, meet other business-owners and experts in the field.

The things we did to stay in business, proved that making adjustments were necessary. Having survived and overcome the early challenging years, Window Coverings By Chris is going on its 15 th year and still thriving.

*Article published March 2008 Newsletter of Window Coverings Association of America