the new place

so here are some images of the new place right before we moved everything in, pretty cute. one thing to note: this place is about 80% smaller than where i used to live.
i guess (from what i hear from the neighbors that the person who used to live here was a total slob (i am not going to say how bad), but let's just say that my landlord replaced everything in there...score for us!
welcome to my new home!

cast-Nicole

my niece Nicole of Random Nicole and now, The Craft Kitchen. CK is a space filled with handmade, local goods and craft classes. check the site to learn more.

(ladies having fun at the Craft Kitchen)
(Nicole and I posing for Patchwork press pictures)

cast-Gustavo

my guy, Gustavo. responsible for making me laugh and making sure i have a full belly (and Marge too!), he occasionally works here so i can go home and watch People's Court (yes i like courtroom dramas!). people also know him as The Mexican...if you dont know who that is-google it.

(more importantly, here he is with some Gypsy Den goodies!)

cast-Marge

one very, very hot summer Sunday, i opened the door of the store, almost thinking that i should just be closed as i could not imagine anyone shopping when i saw a little black thing crossing the street near the entrance to the freeway.
this little black thing found its way into the store. her name is Marge and she is an old gal that we think has been abused and kicked-but no more! now her days are filled with organic snacks from Avanti Cafe, lots of kisses and hugs and lots of snuggling! this thing hit the jackpot!

cast-Carmen

busy with the holiday season right now to start blogging more, but i thought in the meantime i would introduce some people that may come up or people that are a part of my life at the store.
Carmen:
one of our fantastic interns here, she has been helping out at RLT for over 6 months. she's a local gal from Santa Ana and is 16 years old. I remember when she first started here, she was super shy and quite, i kept asking her to speak up! now she is yapping way (kidding!), but i must say that it is great to see her become more confident and feeling comfortable with customers.
Carmen's main job here is to do consignments: counting, payment and keeping track of all of the dang paperwork!

women's conference booth-check it out!

here are a few images from the Women's Conference in Long Beach. I guess while i was in the restroom the Governator was taking pix in front of it! just my luck that i would miss it. i must say that we had one of the better booths-especially since we where competing with people like GM, Target, and other big-timers.

(the rug from Union 18 really make the space!)(side view-we used our moving material as added decor)

ok i know i said a few days

so as you can tell i have dropped off the face of the blogging planet.

been wanting to post more but there have been so many things happening since Slow Food Nation that i have been, well, overwhelmed.

- in the retail world, yes it is the holiday season and i have been prepping for that.

-as you know, i have been in the middle of a remodel….it has really wiped me out.

-my niece Nicole of random nicole has moved in, meaning i have had to move out of the “original store” and yes that is the remodel part of it. part 1 of it.

- i am also changing residence….i am finally moving to SA

which brings me to really evaluate my life. i am currently moving a 3 bd townhouse in Irvine with a yard (with a ton of crap in it) into a small, quaint, beautiful 1 bd apt near the store…basically 4 rooms (a bd, ba, living and kitch) from 7 plus a yard a 2 car garage filled with STUFF.

i have been inspired not only to change my blog as a result of the move and Slow Food, but to really encompass what it is to live small and with very little.

PS does anyone need a fridge (great condition, 2 yr old 22 cuft for 250) or a LARGE dining room table with leaves that can seat almost 20 (150)…let me know if you are interested…there are other things too!

this change in my life is leading me to do this new blog in which i will talk about affordable, small and natural living, working and especially eating!

give me about 3 days

i am learning the new situ, which is blogger and i want to fix up the blog before i make the final link to where my old blog: viva verde was.
after that, i am more than ready to write.