Kathryn Bechen INK Professional Writer & Book Author

Organizing Book Giveaway

2012-01-26T16:14:00.000-08:00

Would you like your home to be beautifully organized? It can be! My blog tour for my new book, Small Space Organizing, has been going on this past week in honor of National Get Organized Month, and my HUGE THANKS to all the bloggers and others--from homeschooling moms, to military wives, to veteran interior designers, to professional organizers,--who read my book and wrote happy reader reviews or sent me kind kudos telling how they found my book helpful in taking action to creatively conquer their clutter!

Even Bentley, the cutest dog in the world, who lives in this sweet and beautiful art-filled cottage-style home, owned (and organized!) by artist Erin Houghton, says he used my book to organize his toys! :) Erin had so many blog commenters who needed organizing help that I mailed three of her blog readers free signed copies of my book today--they went to Alaska, Alabama, and France. :)

You can see photos of other organizing strategies bloggers used from my book to organize their lovely homes here.

And there's a book giveaway going on here and here, so be sure to get your free copy of my new book, Small Space Organizing!

If you've personally used the tips, ideas, and resources from my book, Small Space Organizing, to organize your own home, and have posted the photos on your blog showing what you did, feel free to CONTACT ME with your blog post link, and I'll add you to my Beautifully Organized Award blog page.

May you always create beauty and order at home, whatever the size of your space!

Kathryn :)

Book Review Blog Tour This Week for My New Book: Small Space Organizing

2012-01-15T14:28:00.000-08:00

(Book cover design by Baker Publishing Group)

THANK YOU to the 73 bloggers who signed up for my publisher's blog tour this week to review my new book, Small Space Organizing. I look forward to hearing what you have to say about my book! I've received several wonderful reviews already from bloggers (and Amazon customers) and I will be posting more reviews as they come in.

Happy Organizing!

Kathryn :)

Fridge Organizing Tips for You & Moody Radio

2012-01-13T15:06:00.000-08:00

Do you ever struggle with fridge clutter?! As organized as I am in many areas of my life, I used to find it hard to keep my fridge organized and felt like I never had enough room for everything. One day it was like a light bulb suddenly went off in my head and I realized that if I could create "drawers" that pull out, it would be a lot easier to separate food items, put groceries away, and cook! I shared my fridge organizing system today with Dave & Deb of Moody Radio on their Daybreak show because Deb asked me for my best kitchen organizing tips.

Here they are...

I bought these white baskets with air holes at Target. They have both small and medium sizes and the ones in my fridge here are the medium size. You can also buy similar baskets at Container Store. That tan bin you see is actually a plastic dishpan, so you could use those too if they fit in your fridge. I like the baskets from Target because they're heavy, have air holes which keeps produce fresher, and the cold has not cracked them.

My hubby and I have a home cooking system down that suits us both: I make the grocery list, cook the meals, set a pretty romantic-style table with placemats, cloth napkins, and a candle, and I clean up after meals and oversee keeping the kitchen clean and organized. He shops for groceries, (he's a Costco king!), washes and cuts up produce and puts it in plastic containers, and puts the dry dishes away. When we entertain, we work together as a team. We're both happy with our system because he doesn't like to cook that much and I don't like to go to the grocery store. (But go figure, we both like to eat.) :) Oh, and I also shop for groceries online at Vitacost, which I LOVE because they have organic food at FAB prices with free shipping on orders over $50. When the order arrives, we both unpack it.

Please create a kitchen and food prep system that works for your marriage and family so that everyone is happy and stick with it. And please don't get caught up in comparisons with the Jones' seemingly gourmet meals from their pristine kitchen, because for all you know, they're hiring an expensive personal chef or their mother-in-law comes over to cook and clean while they both work all day. Okay, probably not, but you get my drift about "thou shalt not covet your neighbor's gourmet kitchen." :)

See how my "drawer" pulls out? Actually, it's really even better than a drawer, because I can put the plastic bin/basket on the kitchen counter easily so I can see what I need for food prep. Easy peasy!

I even use the baskets in my fridge's freezer, just the same way. I only keep in them the ingredients I need to create my meals because...

We just bought a small freezer at Sears which is perfect for small space living, so...

When I cook now, I make a double batch and then divide portions into plastic containers which I stack in the baskets. This avoids processed food; I make almost everything from scratch. With my double-batch freezer method, my hubby also then has a healthy entree to take to work for lunch every day, and on the days I'm busy with tight writing deadlines or media interviews, I have a healthy entree on hand as well.

My other best kitchen organizing tip I shared with Dave and Deb for their Moody Radio show listeners is to use all-white dishes and glassware. It saves kitchen cupboard space because everything matches, rather than having several different sets of colored dishes. If you break a piece it's no biggie as you can easily replace just that piece, and mix and match different styles and designs of white dishes for an interesting look. Use colorful placemats and napkins and fresh flowers to add color to your table so you'll be dining in style both every day, and when you entertain guests.

You can find more kitchen organizing tips in Chapter 7 of my newly released book, Small Space Organizing. (See 5-star Amazon reviews.)

Okay, so now you're gonna go organize your own fridge, freezer, and kitchen, since it's National Get Organized Month, aren't you?!

Aren't you??!

I just knew you would. :)

Kathryn

Martha Stewart's Beautiful Home Office Supplies

2012-01-11T11:33:00.000-08:00

Thanks to FAB! & FUN! Martha Stewart Radio Morning Living hosts Betsy Karetnick and Brian Kelsey this morning for having me as a guest on their show to talk about tips and tricks for organizing home offices and hobby rooms as I discuss in my new book, Small Space Organizing.

If you've read my book, you know what a big lover I am of three-ring binder notebooks for organizing projects. And Martha Stewart, with Avery, has some beautiful and practical binders and accessories that can be customized to suit your particular project. And for your tax files, take a look at Martha's wonderful poly files. I love them because unlike paper files, they'll hold up nicely for years of storing your tax returns. I also love Martha's vertical file folders that you store in magazine file holders. Brilliant!

I gave Brian and Betsy some practical home office tips so here are some photos of my own home offices over the years to show you what I suggested:

If you don't have a whole room for a home office, create one in the corner of another room.

Office armoires hide papers and office equipment behind the doors and save space. My husband does all of his
home office paperwork from this armoire.

Personalize your work area with things you love. Make it oh-so-YOU, whatever your taste is.

It's okay to have your pets and kids "work" with you. :) If so, go with the uh, work...flow!


Utilize vertical space. Place two tall bookcases on either side of your desk and use photo boxes, binders, and magazine holders for storing office supplies and craft projects within easy reach. Also, use clear plastic lidded bins to hold file folders--they're portable and stackable. Here, my plastic bins have been dropped into wicker baskets for added aesthetics.

Thanks again, Betsy and Brian for the fun radio interview about home office and hobby room organizing; I hope my tips were helpful!

And as far as getting your own home office organized now, my blog readers, go for it, because...

As Martha would say...

"It's a good thing!"

Kathryn

Upcoming Media Interviews for Small Space Organizing

2012-01-10T16:43:00.000-08:00

(Book Cover Design by Baker Publishing Group)

Need help organizing your small home office or hobby room? Hear me interviewed tomorrow morning, Wednesday, 1/11/12 at 7:10 a.m. PST on Martha Stewart Radio, Morning Living.

Hear me interviewed Thursday morning, 1/12/11 at 9:30 a.m. PST on Moody Radio, Daybreak with Dave & Deb. Topic: small space organizing.

More upcoming media interviews about small space organizing and decorating

Looking forward to sharing my small space living tips and tricks with you!

Kathryn :)

Martha Stewart Radio Interviewing Me This Week!

2012-01-08T18:06:00.000-08:00

(Book cover design by Baker Publishing Group)

Martha Stewart Radio is interviewing me about small space organizing this Wednesday, January 11, 2012, at 7:10 a.m. PST, on their Morning Living show. I hope you can tune in at Sirius XM. Other upcoming and recent media interviews and latest news.

And speaking of "tuning in"--for all you iPad, IPod touch, and iPhone lovers, Small Space Organizing is now available from iTunes!

Tomorrow, January 9, 2012, is National Clean Off Your Desk Day! You can find tips and resources for how to do that in my new book, Small Space Organizing. Chapter 9 is...Home Office Heaven: How to Organize Your Office for Success.

For more tips and resources on how to organize your desk and office, my e-book Organized With Ease: How to Get Organized for Your Business Success offers my "20 Tried and True Tips for Organizing Your Work Area"...and much more!

As for me, I confess that yes, my desk is already obsessively organized, so right now I'm going to go take a long hot soak to celebrate....Bubble Bath Day! (And yes, there are tips on how to organize your bathroom for a spa-like experience in my Small Space Organizing book.) :) (Chapter 8.)

Blessings!

Kathryn :)

It's National Get Organized Month!

2012-01-04T09:22:00.000-08:00

(Book cover design by Baker Publishing Group)

January is National Get Organized Month! My challenge to all you fellow small space dwellers is to do one "little thing" each day to "live large" in your small home! To get you started, here's the first chapter of my new book, Small Space Organizing, which was recently featured on Crosswalk.com. You can buy my book at one of your favorite bookstores/retail outlets or check it out at your local library. If they don't have it yet, just ask them to order it for you.

Here's a downloadable bookmark as my gift to you.

Happy small space organizing! You CAN do it!

Kathryn :)

In the News: 10 Tips From My New Book to Help You "Live Big!"

2012-01-03T11:41:00.000-08:00

THANK YOU to the Lincoln Star Journal in Lincoln, Nebraska* for including me in their recent article about small space living. They featured 10 tips from my new book, Small Space Organizing, and I hope my tips get you off to living large in 2012!

(*I have a fondness for Nebraska as I lived in Omaha, NE for many years, where I founded and managed my former hands-on organizing and seminar/speaking business, Organized With Ease.)

(Book cover design by Baker Publishing Group)

Dwell well at home, whatever the size of your space!

Kathryn :)

Small Space Organizing Goes 'Round the World!

2012-01-02T08:00:00.000-08:00

Author Kathryn Bechen, www.KathrynBechenINK.com

This photo may be used for media and blog reviews

Hello friends!

I am pleased to announce that my message of living well at home, no matter what size your space, is now going 'round the world via my new book, Small Space Organizing.

Here's how readers say it's helping them!

Book cover design by Baker Publishing Group
This image may be used for media and blog reviews

*Small Space Organizing: A Room-by-Room Guide to Maximizing Your Space is available for purchase from your favorite online retailer listed below. For your convenience, it's available both as a paperback and as an e-book.

*While you wait for your paperback book to arrive to your home, as my gift to you, here's a free bookmark you can download, print out, and cut out.

*If you would like to buy my book through your local independent bookstore, click here to enter your zip code and order it through their website. If it's not listed on their site, thanks for asking them to order it through their usual book ordering channels!

*You can buy a case of paperback books at a 30-50% discount for your church or group here.

*To see if your local library has ordered my book, click here. If not, thanks for asking them to order it through their usual book ordering channels!

*If a website below says "unavailable," you should soon be able to order on the date listed on their website, so please check back or order it from another online retailer.

*If you would like to offer my book for sale in your home design/furnishings store or boutique, please telephone Baker Publishing Group, Customer Service at 1-800-877-2665 and they will happily get you set up.

*If you are interested in doing a blog or media review of my book, please Contact Me.

*Click here for Table of Contents, endorsements, author-signed copies and more info.

*51 easy ways to share my book with your family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues so they can get happily organized!

Here's where you can find my book all around the world, with outlets being continually added:

ACMAMall.com (Malaysia)
Adlibris.com (Finland)
Alexandria Library (Alexandria, VA, USA)
Alibris (Emeryville, CA)
AllBookstores.com
Amazon.com (Paperback and Kindle editions)
Amazon.com France (Paperback and Kindle editions)
Amazon.com Germany and Austria (Paperback and Kindle)
Amazon.com Japan
Amazon UK   (Paperback and Kindle)
Angus & Robertson (Australia)
Apartment Decorating Ideas
Ardmore Public Library (Ardmore, Oklahoma, USA)
Argalitek.com
BakerAcademic.com
BakerBooks.com
BakerPublishingGroup.com (My book publisher)
Baldwin County Libraries (Baldwin County, Alabama, USA)
Barnes&Noble.com  (Paperback)
Barnes&Noble.com (NOOK e-book)
Base.com
Beautyfaire.com
BereanChristianStores.com
Bestsellers Books & Coffee Co. (Mason, Michigan, USA)
BethanyHouse.com
BetterWorldBooks.com
BidorBuy.co (Africa's largest online marketplace)
BiggerBooks.com
Blackwell's (UK specialist booksellers since 1879)
Blahdvd.com
Bokus.com (Sweden; unable to ship to United States)
BookDepository.com (United Kingdom)
Bookfayre (Czech Republic)
BookRabbit.com
BooksaMillion.com
BooksGoogle.com
Booktopia.com (Australia)
BookU.com (e-book downloads worldwide)
Boomerang Books (Australia's online bookstore)
Borders.com (Australia)
Brazos.com
Bud Werner Memorial Library (Steamboat Springs, Colorado, USA)
Buxton Village Books (Buxton, NC, USA)
Buy.com
Campbell County Public Library (Gillette, Wyoming, USA)
Chosen.com
Christianbook.com (Discount if you purchase 52 books) (Paperback and e-book)
Christian Bookworld.com   (Australasia)
ChristianCDs.com (United Kingdom)
ChristianSupply.com
ChurchSupplies.net
CrossRhythms.com (United Kingdom)
Crosswalk.com
C28 Christian Stores.com
Daniel Boone Regional Library (Missouri, USA)
Dayton Metro Library System (Dayton, Ohio, USA) (e-book)
DeaStore.com
DeepDiscount.com
DeeperShopping.com
Direct2Church.com (Case quantity discounts for your church or group)
DVD.co.uk
Easons (Ireland's main supplier of books, newspapers, magazines)
Ebay.com
Ecampus.com
EChristian (Adobe DRM version e-book)
Eden.co.uk (United Kingdom)
Eruditor.com (United Kingdom)
FaithGiftStore.com
Fishpond.com (New Zealand)
FixiTips General Store
Flathead County Library (Kalispell, Montana, USA)
FoxChristian.com
Foyles ("England's legendary bookseller")
Global Bookstore (United Kingdom)
Good For Me Stores
Greenlight Bookstore (Brooklyn, New York, USA)
Guelph Public Library System (Ontario, Canada)
Gwinnett County Public Library (Lawrenceville, George, USA)
Half.com
Harrison County Public Library, Elizabeth Branch (Corydon, Indiana, USA)
Hayward Book Shop (Hayward, California, USA)
Helikon (Bulgaria)
IndieBound.com   (Enter your zip code on this site to order my book from your local bookstore)
Indigo (Canada)
iTunes (For those of you with an iPad, iPod touch, and iPhone)
Kenton County Public Library (Kentucky, USA. Covington, Erlanger, and William E. Durr branches)
Kingstone.com (China)
Knetbooks.com
Krisostomus (Estonia in Northern Europe)
LangtonInfoServices.com (England)
Library of Congress Online
Library Thing
Librerauniversitaria.it (Italy)
Libri.de (Germany)
LionHudson.com (United Kingdom)
Log Mark Books (Cheboygan, Michigan, USA)
Loot.ca.za.com     (South Africa)
Magers & Quinn Booksellers (Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA)
McNally-Robinson (Canada)
MightyApe.com (New Zealand)
Monroe County Library System
More to Life
Mountain Top Christian
NBC India.com (India)
Nest Entertainment (Texas, USA)
Newcastle Public Library
Northtown Books (Arcata)
Norli (Norway)
Oak Park Public Library (Oak Park, Illinois, USA)
101CD.com
Ontario Library Services Downloads (Ontario, Canada)
Overstock.com
Paddyfield.com (Hong Kong)
Palatine Public Library (Palatine, Illinois, USA)
Paperbackswap.com
Parable.com
Park Road Books (Charlotte, North Carolina, USA)
PickaBook.com
Powells.com (Portland, Oregon, USA)
PriceMinister.com
RainyDayBooks.com (Fairway, Kansas, USA)
Rakuten (Japan)
TheReadingRoom.com
RevellBooks.com (A division of Baker Publishing Group, my publisher)
San Rafael Public Library (San Rafael, California, USA)
Saxo (Denmark)
Seminar-Products.com
ShinBook.com (Korea)
ShopSocialWorker.com
Shopzilla.co.uk
Skyline Books (Los Angeles, California, USA)
Small Space Furniture
Sony e-reader (e-book)
Speedyhen.com
Spokane Public Library (Spokane, Washington, USA)
Superbookshop.net (Croatia, Southeastern Europe)
Tanum.com (Sweden)
Target.com
Tattered Cover Bookstore (Denver, Colorado, USA)
Third Street Books (McMinnville, Oregon, USA)
ValoreBooks.com
Warwicks (LaJolla, California, USA--for my fellow San Diegans!)
Washington County Cooperative Library (Hillsboro, Oregon, USA)
Waterstones.com (Shops in UK, Ireland, Brussels, Amsterdam, Isle of Man, Jersey, and Isle of Wight)
Webster-it.com (Italy)
Wellington City Libraries (Wellington, New Zealand)
West Des Moines Public Library (Des Moines, Iowa, USA)
Westfield Group
Whitcoulls.com (New Zealand)
Whsmith.co.uk
Word.com.au (Australia)
Worldcat.org (The world's largest library catalog)
Yourchurchzone.com (Canada)
Zoekresultaten (Dutch)

I hope you enjoy my book and find it useful in creating a beautiful and orderly home, whatever the size of your space! Thanks for your book order; here's a free bookmark as my gift to you.

Kathryn :)

And What Does January Hold?

2012-01-01T20:26:00.000-08:00

" And what does January hold? Clean account books. Bare diaries. Three hundred and sixty-five new days, neatly parceled into weeks, months, seasons. A chunk of time, of life, waiting to be filled. One thing is certain. There will never be more newness than ever before."

--Phyllis Nicholson, 1947

As the New Year of 2012 begins, I wish for you, as you fill up your life, that you will continue to bloom into the unique person God created you to be.

Kathryn :)

Small Space Book Excerpt #3: "Snug Cocoon" 12/1/12

2011-12-31T18:46:00.000-08:00

Greetings small space dwellers! As I write this blog post, my new book, Small Space Organizing, is releasing to bookstores and online retail outlets all around the world and I'm so excited! To celebrate, I'm sharing an excerpt here about how small home spaces are like a comforting "snug cocoon." Smile. Smile. :) You can see my thoughts about that topic in my video above, or read them here:

From page 218 of my book, Small Space Organizing:

"Indeed, small space homes snugly house our happy memories, but perhaps more importantly, when life feels hard, they cradle us in the shelter of their comforting arms. Like a loving, long-time mate we can tell our heartfelt secrets to, they are our safe cocoon, our intimate haven."

(Kathryn Bechen. Small Space Organizing. Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. Copyright 2011. Used by permission.)

Small, cozy, lovely homes...

Michaela Warner's oh-so-sweet first college apartment in Seattle

Cherry Hill Cottage

My FAVE LaJolla, CA bungalow

Small home spaces I've decorated and organized...

Photo gallery

Wishing you a gloriously BIG BLOOMING LIFE...in your small space!

Kathryn :)

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

2011-12-21T05:33:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

"He was born in an animal stable.

He lived in poverty, died at 33 as a criminal on a cross,

and was buried in a cave-like tomb.

Yet Jesus Christ rose again to impact the world

like no one else has ever done.

And He's still changing the world today,

one life at at time."

--Anonymous--

Want to Help Me Spread the Beauty & Order Word?!

2011-12-09T08:13:00.000-08:00

Would you like to help me spread the Kathryn Bechen INK mission statement of reaching others all around the world with my "how-to with heart" message of living with beauty and order at home? If so, my book publisher is currently setting up a blog tour for January 15-21, 2012 and compiling a list of bloggers who would like to review my new book: Small Space Organizing: A Room-by-Room Guide to Maximizing Your Space.* You'll be sent a gratis book and instructions. If you're a home and/or lifestyle related blogger who'd like to participate, please Contact Me right away as the deadline to participate is next week. Thank you!

Blessings!
Kathryn :)

*Small Space Organizing book cover designed by Baker Publishing Group.

Small Space Organizing Videos: Downsizing Thoughts & Tips Tutorial

2011-12-01T14:17:00.000-08:00

If you're downsizing to a smaller home, condo, or apartment, here's a video excerpt on that topic from my new book, Small Space Organizing.* (You can also view this video on YouTube, where I'll be posting more videos about small space organizing, and I'd love to have you as one of my YouTube subscribers/friends.)

Here's (one of) my book's endorsements:

Kathryn’s heartfelt book about real-life small space homes is packed with practical and stylish tips, ideas, and resources to help you take your home from drab to dazzling, no matter what size your space or budget. She wisely dispels the notion that small space living is restrictive, and instead artfully teaches us that organized small spaces enable us to enjoy life more.

--Laura Leist, CPO: Founder – Eliminate Chaos, Author, and Immediate Past President of the National Association of Professional Organizers

Even though I live in a small space, (1200 SF high-rise apartment), I'm not about to let not having a large formal dining room stop me from inviting interesting people to my home for dinner, dessert, or a cup of tea! Here's a video tutorial of how I set up and organized a beverage/entertaining buffet station in my small apartment dining area. Enjoy! :) (You can also view this video on YouTube, where I'll be posting more videos about small space organizing, and I'd love to have you as one of my YouTube subscribers/friends.)

And remember my "small space mantra"....

"A true home is really about the size of your heart, not about the size of your space."

Blessings!

Kathryn :)

*Kathryn Bechen. Small Space Organizing. Revell, a Division of Baker Publishing Group. Copyright 2011. Used by permission.

Sane and Savvy Holidays vs. Crazy Spendy Holidaze!

2011-11-25T14:04:00.000-08:00

As the year-end holiday shopping and preparations begin, I'm wishing you organized serenity, and savvy holiday spending. (Thanks to author Melissa Tosetti for her wise suggestions!)

Holiday Blessings!

Kathryn :)

Happy Thanksgiving Week!

2011-11-21T11:27:00.000-08:00

Wishing all of you a gloriously beautiful Thanksgiving week!

Here are a few helpful "giblets"...

How to set a beautiful table video
How to serve a beautiful meal on a budget
The story of the first Thanksgiving feast
Best pumpkin pie recipes
Recipes for the leftovers!

Love,
Kathryn :)

Secret Sanctuary

2011-11-07T19:56:00.000-08:00

Do you have a secret sanctuary?

I think everyone needs a place to escape to that's their own sanctuary for beauty, rest, and rejuvenation.

This is where I go...

May you find a place that nurtures your body, mind, and spirit--your very own secret sanctuary.

Kathryn :)

Small Space Organizing Book Intro. Video 11/1/11

2011-11-01T11:46:00.000-07:00

More info. and buy the book

Small Space Organizing Excerpt #1

2011-11-01T11:45:00.000-07:00

Book cover design by Baker Publishing Group

Greetings! Beginning today, on the first of every month here on my blog, and on my new YouTube channel, I'll be sharing excerpts, tips, and more from my new book Small Space Organizing: A Room-by-Room Guide to Maximizing Your Space.

Here's the first excerpt from the front of my book:

"Small spaces give us the opportunity to live sincerely, forcing us to choose which of our possessions make our heart sing." * --Kathryn Bechen

I really believe this principle, and I wrote my "how-to with heart" book to help guide and coach you to wisely choose which possessions you want to have in your home so that your life there will indeed make you and your family truly happy!

Small Space Resources:

Small Space Furniture
Space-Saving Bed
Small Space Decorating

*Kathryn Bechen. Small Space Organizing. Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. Copyright 2011. Used with permission.

Live well in your small space!

Kathryn :)

My "Budget Bliss Mini-Vacation Principle"

2011-10-28T14:30:00.000-07:00

It seems I'm hearing the words "tight budget" everywhere these days and people's schedules are jam-packed with such long TO DO lists that they're lamenting, "There's no time for fun!" That scenario can make for frayed nerves, but it doesn't have to be that way!

Enter my "Budget Bliss Mini-Vacation Principle!"

My hubby Steve and I have been practicing this M.O. for years, and with two busy careers it doesn't always come easily for us; we've made a conscious choice to live this way, finding creative and economical ways to incorporate relaxing "mini-vacations" on a regular basis, even when our TO DO list is very long. And these days, it's good to be "unplugged" for awhile too.

How can YOU creatively do this in your own life? :) It's not rocket science by any means, but it does take creativity and discipline to DO IT in spite of your long TO DO LIST!

15 Tips:

1. Movie-licious. Who says you can only see one movie at a time? Why not buy several discount tickets for early morning weekend movie matinees and see two movies in a row, or three?! After three movies--trust me, your mind will have had a "vacation" and you'll feel like you've been a million miles away!

2. Home Movie Moxie. If movie theaters aren't your thing, buy inexpensive CDs online, and on Friday night after work order in a pizza, turn off the cell phones, and have a three-movie marathon. For a few dollars, it's guaranteed to take the edge off a busy work week so you can wind down more easily into the weekend. Our personal favorites to snuggle up to are: Casablanca. (Steve loves vintage movies.) You've Got Mail. (I love NYC, bookstores, and brownstones.) Under the Tuscan Sun. (Both of us love the Tuscan scenery.)

3. Lookout Love. When's the last time you found the highest point in your city and took binoculars up there to look at the stars? (And had a little kiss?!) Enough said!

4. Museum Madness. How about taking in your local museum, or two, on a Sunday afternoon? My hubby has it on his list to tour our San Diego's maritime museum soon.

5. Captivating Cappuccinos. When's the last time you left the kids with grandma and sleuthed out your new favorite cappuccino place to take your mate to on a Sunday afternoon as a surprise? No talk about the kids, or dogs, or work allowed. Instead, it's a little romantic rendezvous for you two as a couple. Kiss kiss! Do this regularly and I'd be willing to bet you'll still be happily married to your same mate in 30 years!!

6. Restful Retreat. Is there a retreat center anywhere near where you live? We love to go to Mission San Luis Rey. They have both overnight and twilight retreats, and you can even do a private personal retreat which clears the mind to think. (That seems to be a very old-fashioned concept in our plugged-in age but great sages, monks, saints, and mystics who've gone before us have lots to teach us!) Google your city/retreat center to find one near you or ask your minister for a referral.

7. Resort Restoration. How about taking yourself to lunch at your nearest resort? As in all alone, so that when you do reunite with your mate you'll be a delight to be around! If you don't live in an area ripe with tropical-style resorts like I do, check out your nearest city's Embassy Suites, Hilton, Hyatt, or other large hotel chain as sometimes they have indoor pool areas lush with flora, fauna, and a restaurant where you'll feel like you're on a tropical Hawaiian vacation. They might even let you have your lunch poolside. I used to do this when I lived in the cold Midwestern winters; it worked wonders every time!

8. Library Love. Check yourself into the nearest library. Not only are there free books, but they often have wonderful lectures, and other interesting resources. Not to mention travel magazines. Or why not forget being hooked up to the Internet for awhile and take your kids to your local library story hour instead?

9. Crazy for Cookies. Put on your favorite cozy PJs and a great jazz CD, and bake several kinds of cookies with your mate on a rainy Sunday afternoon. Or how about making a batch of fudge? And while you're at it; dance in your kitchen! Can marital bonding get any, um, sweeter?!

10. Garden Tours and Shows. Is there a garden tour or two in your city? My hubby and I have long attended every local garden tour we can dig up (couldn't resist that pun!) and we always come away feeling like we were just on a vacation.

11. Santa Barbara Serenade. You say you don't live in sunny Santa Barbara, California, or other tropical locale where the palm trees sway in the breeze? Well, why not re-create the ambiance at home instead? Acquaintances of ours who grew up in Santa Barbara and missed it when they moved to the Midwest decorated their bathroom in a tropical theme and colors to remind them of home. Long hot soaks in their oversized oval tub felt...oh so good!

12. House Tour Heaven. My hubby and I have long been fans of annual "Street of Dreams" house tours. Play "King and Queen for a Day" in your town and imagine what it would be like to live in that big fancy house with a beautiful bathroom the size of a football field. The best part about it? You don't have to clean the tub or pay the taxes!!

13. Toes in the Sand or Snow. Why not take a Sunday afternoon to eat lunch at your favorite beach restaurant and go for a walk on the beach with your mate? No beach? Then put on your hiking boots, tromp through the snow to your favorite food haunt, and enjoy a steaming cup of hot chocolate. And if you're really feeling frisky afterwards, make a snow angel! Or hike up your local mountain together if that's more your style.

14. Couples Massage. Can grandma watch the kids while you two enjoy a couples massage? Massage Envy offers great discount prices.

15. Paraffin Panache. When my toes got so cold in the Midwestern winters that I thought they'd literally freeze, I treated myself to a paraffin pedicure and then met my hubby for hot coffee afterwards.

We recently practiced the "Budget Bliss Mini-Vacation Principle" on a Sunday afternoon by having lunch outdoors on the patio at the beautiful St. Regis hotel, which overlooks the Pacific Ocean near Dana Point, California. The property, grounds, garden, and views are simply stunning! And we had a fun time meeting some new friends there...

Meet charmingly adorable Ron and Lisa Beres, a.k.a. "The Healthy Home Dream Team." Lisa and I met online several years ago when I was searching for green home products, so we finally decided to meet in person. The four of us had a wonderful time getting to know each other. Lisa and Ron are indeed very knowledgeable and professionally trained on how to make your home and lifestyle green, and they're national speakers who have been featured in many media outlets.

Bye for now; I know you're headed off on a...mini-vacation!

Kathryn :)

Endorsements for Small Space Organizing

2011-10-24T22:51:00.000-07:00

Book cover design by Baker Publishing Group

Praise from national home pros for...

Small Space Organizing: A Room-by-Room Guide

to Maximizing Your Space

--Laura Leist, CPO: Founder – Eliminate Chaos, author, and Immediate Past President of the National Association of Professional Organizers

**********

Kathryn’s Small Space Organizing is a great example of my own home mantra: “It’s not what you don’t have, it’s what you do with what you have,” because she provides oodles of useful and affordable home organizing and decorating tips, information, and resources, plus she also shows through her personal stories of hospitality that a home doesn’t have to be large in size to be graciously grand in spirit.

--Kitty Bartholomew, former HGTV host of Kitty Bartholomew: You’re Home; decorating correspondent for ABC TV’s The Home Show; and author of Kitty Bartholomew’s Decorating Style: A Hands-On Approach to Creating Affordable, Beautiful, and Comfortable Rooms

**********

Small Space Organizing captures a missing piece in our lives – dwelling well in our space and injecting heart and soul into our homes. Whether you live small or large, this book will inspire you to rethink every inch of your dwelling to create space and live peaceably with your belongings. Kathryn’s book is one of my new favorites to recommend to my organizing clientele who are committed to simplifying their lives. Kathryn will inspire you to embark on a delightful journey to create small space living. Live well where you dwell!

--Marcia Ramsland, The Organizing Pro, and author of Simplify Your Life: Get Organized and Stay that Way, Simplify Your Time: Stop Running and Start Living; Simplify Your Space: Create Order and Reduce Stress. www.OrganizingPro.com

**********

Kathryn's tips and resources for organizing and decorating small kitchens and dining areas in her book Small Space Organizing will enable anyone to dine beautifully at home, whatever the size of their space. And Kathryn is indeed correct that one can artfully entertain in a small space, and her clever and affordable real-life entertaining ideas and tips will bring ease and joy in sharing one's small home with others.

--Olga Krasnoff, author of Dining by Design, media spokesperson, lecturer, former Macy's Senior Interior Designer and Event Planner for Tiffany & Co.

**********

If you want to maximize your baby’s small nursery space while simultaneously improving the health of your child, Kathryn’s book, Small Space Organizing, offers simple solutions. You'll discover how to easily green your baby’s nursery and transform it into a nontoxic, organized, and serene space.

--Lisa Beres, Founder of Green Nest and www.RonandLisa.com, national media spokesperson, and author of Just Green It!

Table of Contents

Buy Small Space Organizing

Case quantity discounts

Book cover design by Baker Publishing Group

"LIKE" Kathryn Bechen INK on Facebook and Get Two FREE Fun Downloads!

2011-10-19T17:53:00.000-07:00

When you "like" my new Kathryn Bechen INK page on Facebook, you'll instantly receive two fun FREE download articles! "Like" my page here.

Also, be sure to sign up for my FREE e-newsletter in the pink box on the right hand side of this blog and receive the instant download: Top 10 Organizing, Decorating, & Lifestyle Tips.

Enjoy!

Kathryn :)

Organized Home Medicine Cupboard

2011-10-13T18:11:00.000-07:00

Oh my, what's a busy lifestyle writer to do when she (quite deeply) cuts one of her index fingers accidentally while chopping vegetables?! Well, she immediately goes to her ORGANIZED home medicine cabinet and pulls out her favorite homeopathic remedy, which she can quickly access because she's ORGANIZED!)

I learned how to use homeopathic remedies, and Bach Flower remedies, from two incredibly (organized!) teachers at Learn Homeopathy Now: Shelley and Willow.

So, how's YOUR home medicine cupboard looking these days? Is it time to go through all of your expired stuff and get better organized, so you can react quickly if you cut YOUR finger?!

ORGANIZING RESOURCES:

The Container Store

Health Accessories

Tips for organizing your home medicine cabinet

As for me? Why I'm already back to doing what I love best: writing!

Blessings!

Kathryn

*The personal story shared here is not intended as medical advice, but as a story to illustrate how it has benefited me in all areas of life to be organized. Neither Kathryn Bechen, nor Kathryn Bechen INK is liable for any result you experience from reading or implementing health care information shared in this blog post.

Book Review: Living the Savvy Life

2011-10-10T15:51:00.000-07:00

Book cover image posted here with permission of author Melissa Tosetti

Every once in awhile I read a book I LOVE. And the new international bestseller, Living the Savvy Life: the Smart Woman's Guide to SMART Spending and RICH Living, is one of them.

Authors Melissa Tosetti and (her hubby) Kevin Gibbons get it. And just what do they "get" and share with us?

Lifestyle wisdom via finances, so aptly summarized by them on the back of their book's cover:

Living the Savvy Life isn't about being a cheapskate, a miser, or a tightwad...

It's about:

*Having security and peace of mind by spending less than you make.

*Knowing where you stand financially on a daily basis so you can make intelligent fiscal decisions.

*Being penny-wise on the things that are less important to you so that you can spend money on the things that are important to you.

*Choosing to purchase only the things you love and that make you happy.

*Cooking at home more often so you can occasionally splurge on dinner at your favorite restaurant.

*Creating an environment in your home that is warm, comforting, and expressive of who you are.

*Having a wardrobe made entirely of clothes that fit and look good on you.

*Enjoying time off even more because you planned for it and know you can "afford it."

As a lifestyle writer, I especially enjoyed their chapters on Home, Entertainment, Wardrobe, Beauty, Food, and Tricks to Stay Motivated. (Who doesn't need those?!) As a professional organizer, I laughed out loud at their quip, "Clutter, like goldfish, will grow to the size of its environment." So true! And as a woman who loves to find the best deal when I shop for (attractive) clothes, I enjoyed the list of Melissa's own wardrobe basics which are enough to send anyone out of the house quickly in the morning with style.

If you're one of the many these days who's trying to stretch your dollar as far as it will go, in an artful way, to live a life you LOVE, be sure to pick up a copy of Melissa and Kevin's book and check out their blog.

Your bank account, and your life happiness...

will thank you.

Blessings!

Kathryn :)

Lovely Sunday in San Diego

2011-10-09T17:39:00.000-07:00

Hubby Steve and I took a Sunday drive today past this...

and this...

and this!

It's the Landing of Cabrillo, in Point Loma, which looks across to beautiful San Diego, California.

I think it's important to love where you live. Do you love where YOU live?

I LOVE living in San Diego!

Sunday Blessings!

Kathryn :)

And YOUR Fave Life Quotes Are?

2011-10-04T23:57:00.000-07:00

Do you have any FAVE life quotes? I'd love it if you'd share them with me by leaving a comment on my blog below. Here are my FAVE life quotes.

Blessings!

Kathryn :)

San Diego Style Weddings Magazine Party, 2011

2011-09-28T20:50:00.000-07:00

My hubby Steve and I had a fun night on the town last night when we attended San Diego Style Weddings magazine's annual party. Congrats to owner Dena Nolen Malasek on 25 years in business! WOW! What an achievement! And I celebrated my fifth year this year with SDSW as a freelance writer. Here are just a few of the articles I've written for their magazine.

This year's theme was a fun carnival on the beautiful expansive lawn of the Inn at Rancho Santa, Fe where we partook of plenty of fab food and desserts...the pictures say it all...

Huge thanks Dena and staff, as well as San Diego's great wedding vendors, for a wonderfully magical night!

And in honor of your magazine's 25th anniversary, Dena, here's a little walk down memory lane of the other FAB parties you've hosted, and we thank you for your generous hospitality!

2007 (20th anniversary)

2008

2009

2010

Kathryn :)

New E-Resource from Kathryn Bechen INK

2011-09-28T19:26:00.000-07:00

Over the years clients, friends, and colleagues have asked me for book and other recommendations so I have put together a new downloadable e-Resource for you: Kathryn Bechen's A-List of Lovely Lifestyle Books & Resources. See the Table of Contents and purchase it here.

Enjoy!

Kathryn :)

San Diego Style Weddings Magazine Party Today!

2011-09-27T11:04:00.000-07:00

Looking forward to the annual San Diego Style Weddings magazine party today at the beautiful Inn at Rancho Santa Fe, one of my favorite places!

Kathryn :)

What James Hates About Your House !

2011-09-22T11:44:00.000-07:00

Book cover image used with permission of author James Swan

While on Twitter the other day, I laughed out loud when I saw the title of this new book, 101 Things I Hate About Your House, by nationally-acclaimed interior designer James Swan, with award-winning writer Carol Beggy and illustrator Stanley A. Meyer. The red "door" cover made me want to click the book's brass knocker NOW and walk right in and see...you guessed it...what James might hate about my house! (Oh, the pressure!)

From page one, I was laughing all the way to my little...uh..."powder room" where James lets all us home dwellers firmly know: "If I've got to "go" then the last thing I want to see is the collection of cover-sticks, deodorants, and hair products that went into pulling you together for either day, evening, or both. I love you dearly, but I don't love you that much. Put your stuff away."

Well James, the organizer and decorator in me says I'm with you so far on this sage homeowner advice!

Oh, and count me in as well on James's wise statement: "I don't care if your closet is so small that it won't hold the contents of Lady Gaga's "Birkin" bag, neatness counts."

My thumbs up!

And you know those glass-fronted kitchen cabinets we see in so many new model homes now? James has the most clever way ever of dealing with kitchen cabinet clutter that this organizer has encountered: "Why do your cabinet interiors look the sales tables at Filene's basement?... If glass cabinet doors are what you want, then be prepared to maintain a level of orderliness. Otherwise, straighten up the shelves or be prepared to smash the glass and start over."

Well now, that's a thought!

Like me, James thinks home should have a spiritual center too, at least that's how I see his comment: "Technology being what it is today, there are many stunning wallcoverings available that you can spray and wipe. A mother's prayer is answered."

Amen!

I gotta tell you too that as someone who personally loves nothing more than to set a lovely dinner table, I literally wept tears of cloth-napkin and real-silverware joy at James's statement: "Fear and loathing, paranoia and clinical depression, jealousy and sublimated rage, phobias galore announce their existence by what you choose to place on your table. Not every home requires sterling silver nor do hours need to be spent measuring placemats at each setting--but please, care enough to take pride in how your table is laid."

I just popped an engraved dinner invitation in the mail to James and the guest of his choice!

Well now that we've come full circle here in my review about James's wonderful new book, which I think is the funniest home book I've ever read, earning it a place on my living room bookshelves so I can refer it to others and pull it down now and then to have a good home laugh, we've toured all the way back to your front door, which of course, James also has sage interior designer advice for: "Nothing screams "Dreary Little Mess" quite like a front door masquerading as last winter's snow tires. Does the word 'maintenance' mean anything to anyone?...Wear rubber gloves to protect your manicure and mix in a bit of elbow grease."

Be still my snow-white front door heart!

And last but not least, as a cat lover myself, the colorful and zany home illustrations in this book by talented illustrator Stanley A. Meyer, had me laughing all the way to my...uh...cat litter box!

Hearth Hugs!

Kathryn :)

A Bloomingly Busy Week

2011-09-19T11:20:00.000-07:00

I have a bloomingly busy schedule this week and I just wanted to say that I hope beautiful blessings will come YOUR way this week!

Lifestyle Love,

Kathryn :)

A Blessed Fall Weekend

2011-09-16T16:56:00.000-07:00

Have a blessed FALL weekend!

Kathryn :)

Growing Better or Growing Old?

2011-09-13T17:42:00.000-07:00

Since it was my birthday recently, the topic of birthdays and baby boomer aging came up, with funny "old age" greeting cards (Thanks, Mary!) and heartfelt online/email wishes arriving from several friends and colleagues (Thanks, everyone!) I also received this sweet birthday video from my hubby Steve, all of which started me philosophically pondering (you know me!) about aging.

Said me to an e-friend who agreed with my hubby's aging sentiments below! :)

"Personally, I've adapted the approach now that when outer beauty fades, wisdom and inner beauty from many life experiences take up residence. (Well, it sounds good anyway, and you can say and write flowery things like this when you're a creative writer and everybody forgives you, ha!) Steve just grins at my philosophical poetic ponderings and says, "Honey, ARTHRITIS, not wisdom, has taken up residence in MY 50-something knees! Ha!"

Now come on you guys, I have some boomer aches and pains too (Lord knows!) but where's your youthful spirit?! :) (I teased them I'd have a wheelchair waiting for them both at my book launch party while the rest of us poetic philosopher sorts danced the night away, ha!)

Do you plan to keep growing better as you age, and to stay young at heart, or to simply grow old?

I'm CHOOSING to stay young at heart like my favorite author friends Alexandra (soon to be age 70) and her hubby Peter (age 90!) who still write books, happily travel the world together, and spend fun times with their grandchildren, children, and friends.

Let's age with grace & style, boomer friends!

Kathryn :)

Shelf-a-licious

2011-09-12T10:27:00.000-07:00

"Before" new white shelves in my kitchen...

were installed by my sweet hubby Steve.

"After" my new shelves were hung = "shelf-a-licious" room for more glassware storage = more fun times!

Hearth Hugs!

Kathryn

In Loving Memory on 9/11

2011-09-11T05:00:00.000-07:00

To the babies born on this day ten years ago who lost their fathers in 9/11, my loving thoughts are with you as you grow up. We share the same birthday date.

Love,

Kathryn

He-Man Mirror

2011-09-06T11:39:00.000-07:00

I found this "He-Man" sized mirror at Marshall's recently that's perfect for my hubby's bathroom and it goes with my "Old World" patina/decor throughout our home. It was a "He-Man" feat too to get it up to the check-out counter all by myself since it weighs a ton and I had to lay it across the shopping cart and maneuver the aisles, and people, carefully. One lady smiled and said, "I LOVE that mirror; it looks so expensive!' (It was $79!). Then a guy at the checkout counter said, "Wow, that's a great mirror!" I smiled.

Don't you LOVE when that happens?!

What little thing can you do today to spruce up your home?

Hearth Hugs!
Kathryn :)

Labor Day Good Wishes

2011-09-03T20:06:00.000-07:00

Have a blessed Labor Day everyone!

Kathryn :)

A New FAVE Book on My (Green) Bookshelf!

2011-08-29T15:14:00.000-07:00

Book cover image used with permission of author Lisa Beres

As someone who's been challenged with very difficult allergies since my early 20's, prompting me to always strive to "live green" before green was "glam," I was thrilled to read the little book recently, Just Green It!: Simple Swaps to Save the Planet and Your Health, by authors Ron and Lisa Beres, owners of Green Nest.

Just Green It! might be small in size, (probably printed this way purposely to wisely save paper ala trees!), but it's BIG in practical green living tips, resources, and products that you can begin implementing in your home and life, right away. In fact, Just Green It! is so packed with easy-to-read info and products that I wish I'd had this book years ago as it likely would have saved me years of product research, money, and allergic reactions, some of which have sent me to the emergency room, pronto. (Just ask my hubby Steve.)

From tips on recycling, to what type of eco-friendly paper plates to buy, to how and where to buy non-toxic paints and carpets, to being careful about "greenwashing," (companies claiming to sell green products that really aren't), to eco-friendly laundry detergents, diapers, pet foods, unscented green tea shampoo, non-toxic makeup, and much more, Lisa and Ron give you a personal "consult" on how to go green via Just Green It!, including showing photos of which products to buy, and which ones to avoid. As a professional writer in the home/lifestyle niche, I especially liked their chapters "Top 10 Steps to a Greener Office," and "Top 10 Steps to a Healthy Nursery." Oh, and if you want to become a "green career guru" yourself, there's even a chapter on "Top 10 Green Careers for the Future."

Lisa Beres personally practices what she preaches in her book too, because just like I became ill from paints and other remodeling materials when I was just 23 years old and my hubby and I (unknowingly) remodeled our first cute little home, Lisa became ill from moving into a home with all new building materials. The good news? It not only didn't stop her; it spurned the beautiful Lisa and her handsome hubby Ron on to start her online business, Green Nest, to help others avoid a similar fate. Don't you LOVE that?! And they've done such a good job at it that they've been featured on national TV shows and many other media outlets; their book and biz have been endorsed by celebrities; and Lowe's Home Improvement stores now carries their book.

Lisa and I have been emailing each other for several years, and to be honest, I don't remember how we met online but since we live just about an hour from each other in SoCal, we have decided to finally meet in person this fall. And when we do, you can bet these two "gone green" gals...

...are gonna do our very best to find one delicious (green) cappuccino!

Go Green!

Kathryn :)

PLEASE NOTE: This blog post was meant to genuinely inform and inspire my blog readers and friends to "go green" to help both our planet, and ourselves, but I cannot be responsible for any result you experience as a result of reading Just Green It!, or this blog post, because as someone with challenging allergies myself, I know from personal experience that each person must personally test and find products that work for their particular body, home, and life situation because no one product or brand is right for everyone, including those labeled non-toxic, organic, or "green." Be informed; be savvy; be healthy!

Santa Has Left the (Organized) Building!

2011-08-26T15:48:00.000-07:00

Will you look forward to the upcoming Christmas holidays this year with joy? (They'll be here before we know it!) Or will you feel burdened by all the outdated holiday decorations you've accumulated?! My friend Joyce in Nebraska had a huge epiphany, (pun intended!), about the joy of decluttering her Christmas decorations! She agreed to let me share her cute letter, which earned her a free copy of my upcoming book, Small Space Organizing: A Room-by-Room Guide to Maximizing Your Space.

"LOVE your Small Space Savvy article, Kathryn!! I got the bug on Monday and did the #1 idea on that list of yours. I totally drug out the Christmas stuff from under the stairway in the basement, popped a movie into my portable DVD player and went to work tossing and sorting and now there are boxes for my boys to go through before it goes to Goodwill! I admit, it was an "emotional" experience, staring deeply into the "eyes" of yet another Santa Claus figurine, sniffing the scent of yet another candle, peering into the cellophane of yet another "unwrapped" gift that I had stored away meaning to get it out next Christmas! All of this had its share of time with me and my family and the time had come to MOVE IT ON!! It's like SEEING THE LIGHT, to be able to get something uncluttered! Now, to tackle the rest of the house. Question: Does the husband need to be home?!"

I had a hearty laugh about her question about the husband! My answer was:

*If he has a tendency to be sentimental and hang on to things, (like my hubby), then NO!

*If he has big strong arms willing to carry boxes to Goodwill, (like my hubby), then YES!

I hope my article I wrote, "10 Tips to Help You Get Organized for the Holidaze!" will be of help to you, because remember...the holidays will be here sooner than you think!

Kathryn :)

Advice From a Man of Few Words

2011-08-22T17:57:00.000-07:00

In my zest for my upcoming book, Small Space Organizing, I asked my hubby to share his one best tip for living artfully in a small space with a mate.

After a few quiet moments of deep reflection, he replied seriously:

"Individual expression + compromise = harmony"

"Hmm, that's really eloquent for a left-brained numbers kind of guy," I teased him, smiling and giving him a hug.

With a laugh he replied, "I'm a man of few words since I am, after all, married to a writer woman of many!"

Hmmm...just like the night he swept me off my feet across a dark crowded room when I was least expecting it, once again, I found myself...

at a loss for words.

Go figure. :)

Kathryn

Announcing My New Home Book!

2011-08-09T19:00:00.000-07:00

Book cover design by Baker Publishing Group

I am pleased to announce that my new home/lifestyle book, Small Space Organizing: A Room-by-Room Guide to Maximizing Your Space, published by Baker Publishing Group/Revell Division, one of the largest (Christian) book publishers in the world, is now available for pre-order on Amazon and elsewhere (see below.) The paperback book will debut January, 2012 to bookstores and retail outlets all across the U.S., just in time for National Get Organized Month!

Publisher's Description

Table of Contents

Endorsements

I personally describe my book as "how-to with heart" because it combines practical organizing and decorating tips, ideas, and resources with my supportive "friend by your side cheering you on" writing style. It also includes many stories and anecdotes from my several years as a hands-on professional organizer, and from friends and associates, as well as humorous tidbits about organizing and decorating 13 personal residences with my hubby Steve during our 30+ year marriage. (Yes, we have really moved that many times! :)

Many thanks to my team at Baker/Revell for all their hard work on my book! Indeed, it takes a village and I am most appreciative!

I hope you enjoy my new book and once you have it in your hands, I'd love to hear what you thought about it so please Contact Me.

Also, if you're a member of the media or a blogger who would like to interview me about small space organizing and decorating, please go here to set up an interview.

Order on Amazon and elsewhere

How to get a signed copy

Case Quantity Discounts

A Pantry With Organized Panache

2011-08-07T20:58:00.000-07:00

I love going to our friends' Vern and Ellie's lovely home for dinner and visiting with them about various and sundry topics, so imagine my extraordinary delight when Ellie showed me closeup and personal how she recently organized her food pantry! (Be still...my beating...organized...heart!) In just one small 3x3' closet, Ellie...

hung racks for all her spices on one wall, and organized all her canned goods and bottles on the shelves (by category, of course!) ...

into white plastic baskets which were dandy enough to produce...

this beautiful meal!

My hubby Steve enjoyed his cold iced tea along with the good food and fun...

and did I mention Vern is the FAB "Salmon on the Grill King" who is married to Ellie, now known to me as the "Organized Pantry With Panache Queen?!"

Let's just say that they're a long-time marital match made in, um, organized heaven. :)

Thanks friends, for kindly sharing your organized pantry tips with my blog readers! (And your home, food, and fun with me!)

Resources for Spice Racks and Plastic Baskets:

Wonderful Weekend Wishes

2011-08-05T09:43:00.000-07:00

Wishing you a wonderful August weekend from my urban terrace! What will you do to make your weekend fun and special? Our friends invited us to dinner at their home and to view photos on their big screen TV of their recent trip abroad. Great summer fun!

Magical Summer Mission Music

2011-08-02T11:31:00.000-07:00

I love outdoor magical summer music concerts, don't you?!

So recently my hubby and I headed up the SoCal coast to the beautiful Mission San Luis Rey ...

with its stately arches and gorgeous green grounds...

where we camped out with our quilt and chairs...

and listened to a FAB summer music concert, spending the day with creative geniuses like...

Mozart...

Bach...

Chopin...

Vivaldi...

and more...


So let's just say we were in bloomingly good company on this fine summer day!

Ya Gotta Have Friends!

2011-07-22T14:52:00.000-07:00

Ever since women schlepped down to the river to scrub their dear cave man hubby's fur vest laundry on the rocks, we've needed girlfriends to help us along in life. Yep, it's true. (Of course, I value my guy friends too, but that's a whole other blog post!)

This past week I had the honor of being there on the phone, across many miles, for two of my girlfriends who have recently gone through tough situations. We laughed, we cried, we talked. We bonded.

Because as women now in our 50's who have been through a few years and "real life" situations that aren't always pleasant, we know that every day of life is precious and should be lived with as much zest and courage as we can muster up, and we also know that loving loyal friends are very valuable to getting through this thing called LIFE in a positive way.

After we talked on the phone, I received this letter from one of my girlfriends, edited for her privacy.

"Dear Kath,

Oh, how I love our chats! It's like we are still 17, and 35 years have not passed at all! When you laughed on the phone, I was suddenly transported back to all the fun places of our youth where we laughed ourselves silly! You still have your love of life and zest for living! What a wonderful way to be! Do know I am always here for you too on good days, bad days, fat days, skinny days, bad hair days, good hair days, and all the other days in life. Get it? I'm always here for you! Thanks for listening to my blabbing, blubbering, whining, fears, secrets, and so much more. It's my honor to call you friend!

Love always,

Your live in the light friend!"

Well that letter brought tears to my eyes, and I can honestly say that of all my life achievements I am most proud of, my happy 31 year marriage to my sweet hubby, who often tells me I'm his best friend, plus my loyal bond with my longtime girlfriends far outweigh all my professional achievements in my life success book.

I don't know really what I say or do that gives me such a place of honor in their lives, but do you think it's perhaps because when one girlfriend recently told me that her in-laws were driving her crazy and she couldn't talk because they were in the room, I said:

"Well hon, just take your cell phone into the bathroom and call me later!"

To which she replied: "I'm there, thanks babe!"

Espresso Cielo Palm Springs

2011-07-18T11:32:00.000-07:00

My hubby and I found a blissful little espresso place in downtown Palm Springs that I'd like to tell you about: Espresso Cielo. (Love the name and I LOVE Palm Springs in general so we venture over there on getaway trips now and then for some peace and quiet.

Espresso Cielo charms with its European patisserie feeling and decor..

and you can indulge in their elegant espresso, cozy cappuccino, and of course what I call "ooh-la-la over-the-top" hot "chocolat."

Enjoy Espresso Cielo! (Here are some beautiful photos of their beautiful place.)

American Sanctuary Boutique

2011-07-06T14:15:00.000-07:00

There's a lovely new home decor boutique in Old Town Temecula, CA, American Sanctuary, owned by interior designer Matthew Alexander. My hubby Steve and I love going on a Sunday afternoon outing together, so we took a drive recently up to Temecula since we enjoy the Old Town shops where Matthew's boutique is located.

American Sanctuary welcomes visitors with this sweet bistro table and colorful planters vignette...

and rustic table filled with design goodies.

Matthew has created a charming home boutique to complement his Matthew Alexander Creations design biz, just in case you're in need of a home decor spruce-up or a complete interior design overhaul. And if you stop at his boutique at just the right time, you might even get to meet his uber sweet wife and adorable daughters too while you're there.

Fun boutique; it's worth a visit.

Simple Summer (Vegan Chic) Supper

2011-07-05T13:10:00.000-07:00

Is there anything better than setting a simple but pretty table and enjoying fresh veggies and fruit in the summer?! I love to peruse the farmers markets, especially where I live in Southern California, where much of the produce is organically grown and oh-so-healthy!

Here's my favorite "Vegan Chic" simple summer supper recipe that's easy enough for a quick family meal, yet elegant enough for company fare too.

Vegan Chic Veggie Cappellini

Cook one full box of organic spinach spaghetti noodles as directed on package. Don't overcook. Drain and rinse and transfer noodles to a large casserole dish or bowl.

Wash and chop the following fresh organic veggies:

Mushrooms
Asparagus
Tomatoes
Red, green, and yellow peppers
Zucchini
Red onion

Saute above veggies, along with a few fresh spinach leaves, in a large heavy fry pan in a little olive oil until veggies are tender but still a little crunchy.-- i.e. don't let the veggies get mushy. Sprinkle in a bit of dried parsley and a dash of garlic salt. Add 1 T. white cooking wine for additional flavor if desired.

Drain excess liquid off the cooked veggies and toss them into the spaghetti noodles, adding in 1 T. of olive oil while tossing.

Put the cappellini (noodles and veggies) on dinner plates and top with finely ground walnuts for garnish if desired. Serve with organic green salad, crusty French bread with organic butter, and the refreshing summer fruit punch below!

Refreshing Pink Fizz Punch

Combine 1 bottle white Martinelli's sparkling cider and 1 bottle Club Soda in a pitcher. Stir and then add fresh frozen raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries for "ice." Add in regular ice if desired. Makes one large pitcher.

Happy 4th of July!

2011-07-03T10:30:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th of July! Celebrate with safety and happiness!

Napkin Ring Organizing

2011-06-22T15:10:00.000-07:00

I told my friend Mary I was organizing my linens and such today as a way to wind down and think. I haven't heard back from her via e-mail yet, but I bet she...laughed. :)

Yes indeed, organizing the details of your home can be a meditative act. Or as Gunilla Norris once said: "Prayer and housekeeping; they go together."

How do you organize your napkin rings? (You do use pretty cloth napkins and not those scratchy paper things that plug our landfills, right?! Right, I knew you did. :)

I personally think napkin rings are so pretty that they qualify as "art" so I don't like to keep them hidden away in a drawer. Instead, I got out my big clear glass lemonade jar to store them in. I used some sheer shimmery white 1/2" wide ribbon to lace the ribbon through four napkin rings (a matching set), and I tied a bow to keep them together so it would be easy to find the ones I needed when I set the table. Then I simply tossed all the be-ribboned sets into the clear glass lemonade jar and put it on top my fridge.

Handy dandy and pretty, don't you think?!

I'd love to hear how you creatively store your napkin rings. Leave me a comment below please, and let me know!

There's Something Special About Amelia's!

2011-06-20T05:00:00.000-07:00

There's just something so special about Amelia's bistro on Balboa Island in Newport Beach, CA! We stopped in there a couple of months ago on a whim and...

from the charming frosted glass panes...

to the oh-so-delightful cappuccino...

to the Old World ambience...we were in bistro heaven!

We didn't eat there since we had already eaten and were just seeking a cappuccino, but judging by the menu of delights we saw other diners having, if you're ever visiting charming Balboa Island, CA, you'll want to be sure to stop in to Amelia's bistro, whose deep family restaurant roots come from the beautiful Isle of Capri.

Happy Father's Day, Renaissance Men!

2011-06-19T05:00:00.000-07:00

My hubby Steve in front of Doryman's Inn, Newport Beach, CA

Happy Father's Day to all the wonderful men in the world and sending you heartfelt gratitude for all you do for your loved ones and others!

Midnight in Paris

2011-06-14T12:49:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been to the enchanting and magical city of Paris, France? I haven't been there in person, but my hubby Steve and I "visited" Paris the other day when we went to see the new Woody Allen movie "Midnight in Paris."

If you love poetic nostalgia as well as the oozing romantic charm and sites of glittery Paris, be sure to go see this film! My favorite characters? Corey Stoll's performance as a young Ernest Hemingway left me riveted to the screen like a giggly and smitten writerly schoolgirl! And my hubby and I were both charmed by the ethereal and lovely Marion Cotillard who played darling Adriana.

Okay then...see you later...since I"m off on a plane now...

...to Paris!

How We've Stayed Happily Married for 31 Years

2011-06-07T21:48:00.000-07:00

My hubby Steve and I celebrated our 31st wedding anniversary yesterday, and dear man that he is, he took the day off from work to spend time together and took me to lunch at the wonderful Prado restaurant in San Diego's beautiful Balboa Park, and then we had a nice stroll through the park gardens and grounds. We had so many people ask us how we have stayed (happily) married for 31 years that we decided to share our thoughts on that topic. So here goes!

We were just 21 and 23 years old when we married, and we were 18 and 19 when we met! We had fun then, and we still take time to enjoy life together as best friends and companions, and like when we were young, we often hold hands and just like being together as husband and wife. Sometimes we even stop and hug each other, no matter what we're doing, and say, "I love you,"--not caring who might see us and think we're silly ol' mid-life people!

We like to celebrate life at beautiful places with festive food and surroundings, both outside of our home, and within it. (Or as the old saying goes, "The way to a man's heart is through his stomach!")

When life has dealt us a menu of tough dishes to deal with, as it does for everyone now and then, we do our best to focus on the positive the best we can and move forward as soon as possible. (I didn't say that is always easy, but we both think it's the best approach.)

We consider ourselves unique and separate individuals (one left-brained analytical numbers kind of guy + one spirited creative writer sort of gal keeps life quite interesting!), and we both encourage each other to grow. But in addition to being two distinctive individuals, we also consider ourselves "The Bechen Team," so when making decisions, we try and do what's ultimately the best for the team.

When we disagree on colorful topics, (and we do sometimes), we use humor, try to stick to the matter at hand, and try to not hold grudges.

We both make an effort to be thoughtful and do sweet things for each other, like calling each other to see how our day is going, or saying, "I'm behind you 100% no matter what happens; go for it," or "I love you and I'm still glad you're my mate." Or perhaps, (grin!), "You left the toilet seat up my dear man, but I still love you!" or "You're talking to me with your schoolteacher finger again Kathryn, but I still think you're funny!" (Okay, so I admit that last part is a bit embellished, but you get the idea--no mate is perfect! :)

We compromise. In marriage, we both think you ultimately grow and bloom best as people if you do that.

We both believe in God's grace and ask for his guidance for our life and marriage because we know we just don't have the wisdom for everything on our own.

We both still make time, in spite of hectic career schedules and deadlines, for hugs, kisses, and mystical marital union. :)

We both realize, and tell each other often, that we know we have been blessed to find someone special to share our life with in marriage for so many years, and we take no new day together for granted.

How have you stayed not just married, but still in love, for many years? We'd love to hear what's worked for you as a married couple.

New Kathryn Bechen INK Website & Blog!

2011-06-03T15:37:00.001-07:00

Welcome to my freshly redesigned lifestyle writing website and blog! I hope you'll take some time to put your feet up and enjoy some of my new features and online biz buzz:

*My "how-to home organizing and decorating e-books" are now available as Amazon Kindle editions, and they are also available as an immediate PDF download you can print out and put in a three-ring binder for note taking and highlighting. For the greater good, I donate a portion of every e-book you buy to charity.

*"Follow" my blog, receive blog posts in a Reader, and get my blog posts e-mailed right to your in-box. See the pink boxes at right for more info.    I'll be updating my blog frequently with lifestyle musings, resources, tips, product reviews, and more so please leave comments about my blog posts so I can connect with you!

*You can easily touch base with me on Twitter, Facebook, and Linked In. See the pink boxes at the right for info.

*If you're a member of the media or a blogger, I've updated my Media Room page and professional bio on my About page so you have easily accessible author photos and everything else you need for a quick phone interview, and I'd be honored if you'd request one!

*You can easily access my "What's New" page (in pink box at right) for the latest Kathryn Bechen INK happenings, including up-to-the-minute news about my new home-related book being published by one of the largest (Christian) publishers in the world, currently scheduled for release to bookstores and online outlets everywhere early 2012.

*Sign up for my e-newsletter mailing list and receive an instant FREE download of my article "How to Organize Your Home Office for Maximum Success."

*I now have a LIKE page on Facebook and would love to have YOU be one of my Kathryn Bechen INK Facebook fans!  You'll find me there under Kathryn Bechen INK, or you can also just click the "LIKE" button in the pink box at the right here.

*Take an up-close room-by-room tour of my own "city slicker cottage style" home and urban neighborhood in sunny San Diego, CA to see if I really "practice what I preach" about home organizing, decorating, entertaining, and lovely lifestyle principles.

*Enjoy lists of my FAVE life and writing  quotes, read my Life FAVEs List, (and please write one of your own!), and take a blog post tour of my trip to Connecticut to visit my own FAVE author.

*Add a Kathryn Bechen INK link with a graphic to your blog or website using the handy code in the pink box at the right. Let's connect!

*Read reviews of beautiful Bed & Breakfast inns I've stayed in all across the U.S., and learn how to decorate your bedroom like a bed and breakfast inn so you feel pampered every day!

And that's just the beginning as Kathryn Bechen INK lifestyle writing continues to evolve, so please take a look around my new and improved website and blog, have fun, and please let me know what you think!*

P.S.   If you purchase my e-books, I'd be especially honored if you'd write a review on Amazon!

Of Baseball Bliss and Wedding Bells

2011-05-31T21:28:00.000-07:00

Well, it looks like I'm not the only one who's an utterly incurably sappy romantic and not too shy about admitting it! As a wedding magazine writer for several years now, I thought I'd heard all the most creative wedding proposal stories, but nope...

Turns out the entire Kansas City Royals baseball stadium of fans helped a (very brave, in my opinion!) soldier propose to his special gal today! Aren't they cute?! Having attended one of the Royals' fun games with my dear hubby many years ago, (his friend gave us third row seats as a gift, bless his heart!), all I can say to the great Royals team is..."Way to go KC Royals fans for cheering them on!"

I have a special place in my heart for our military families who so valiantly serve our country while being away from their loved ones, so I sincerely wish you, sweet young "KC Royals couple"...a fabulous wedding and a "winning" life together!

And speaking of "Royal Weddings"... since you (never) asked...well of course I got up at 3 am to watch Prince William and his lovely Princess Kate marry on TV, and then of course I felt the need to "blog poetic" about their gala event and its deeper meaning in life for all of us. Plus my hubby of nearly 31 years just asked me if I wanted him to buy me the CD of their wedding he saw at Costco, God love him.

This all just goes to show, of course, that even in a world filled with strife, war, and sometimes tough stuff where ya gotta be brave...

Love still "wins" out over all!

Kathryn :)
Kathryn Bechen INK

The All-White Bed

2011-05-30T21:43:00.001-07:00

Last year when I turned my master bedroom above into my all-white cozy confection I had no idea that Pottery Barn has a penchant for the all-white bed too. So much so, that they now have a video on their website featuring Steven Whitehead, a "bed stylist" who for years has been styling beds for photo shoots. He shows some compelling reasons in their video why having an all-white bed is...easy, breezy, and dreamy! And I totally agree with him...and I'm off now to sleep on my own big white fluffy...um..."bed cloud!"

Sweet dreams, my friends! :)

Kathryn
Kathryn Bechen INK

Vegan-ish Cuisine

2011-05-30T11:12:00.000-07:00

For a variety of complex reasons, I've decided to attempt an all-organic vegan diet. So far, I've been enjoying it greatly, and feeling good too, since March 11, 2011.

I plan on researching more recipes and showing the dishes here on my lifestyle blog, so I hope you'll enjoy my vegan-ish escapades along with me...

I mean, when organic celery, when cut, looks like a beautiful flower, how can we go wrong?

Kathryn :)
Kathryn Bechen INK

Wishes for a San Diego Bay Style Day!

2011-05-21T16:36:00.000-07:00

Wishing you a "San Diego Bay style" kind of day!

Kathryn :)
Kathryn Bechen INK

Master Bedroom Makeover Magic!

2011-05-10T15:37:00.001-07:00

Magazine cover and article posted with permission of

San Diego Style Weddings magazine

If your master bedroom decor has you feeling a little tired and blue....here's my latest home decor article to help you freshen it up to a sea blue hue!

Enjoy!

Kathryn :)

Happy Mother's Day Weekend!

2011-05-05T22:15:00.001-07:00

Wishing great Mothers everywhere a blessed Mother's Day!

Kathryn :)
Kathryn Bechen INK

Life "Wisdom-isms" From the Royal Wedding

2011-05-03T13:04:00.000-07:00

With all the hullabaloo winding down now after the Royal Wedding (RW) of our beloved Prince William and Catherine Middleton, as a wedding magazine writer for several years, I've had time to reflect on what the RW gave to all of us in the realm of life wisdom so I thought I'd share my thoughts:

1. We all need a good fairytale sometimes to escape from life's harsh realities. My friend whose husband has been on an arduous cancer journey the past two years shared with me that watching the RW gave her a happy respite for just an hour or two. The beauty, the ceremonious everything, and the love were healing to her spirit. (God bless you, my brave friends.)

2. Traditions and ritual are comforting and give us a sense of stability. To witness a new generation walk down the same long cathedral aisle as so many of their ancestors have done through the ages gives us a sense that we're part of a larger scheme of things in life and that life will indeed, go on.

3. It's good to break with tradition sometimes and shake things up a bit. Disco balls at Buckingham Palace, you say?! Well young genteel royals are entitled to have lighthearted dancing fun just like the rest of us, don't you think?

4. We need beautiful language for our souls. Personally, as an Episcopalian Christian whose American church has its roots in the Church of England, I've long been enamored with our beautiful liturgy through words and the RW was the epitome. Indeed, to me there's poetry in motion in old-fashioned phrases like "mystical union" and "first miracle that he wrought" and "pureness of living." (Kleenex sigh.)

5. Families come in all shapes and sizes and that's okay. The Royal Family is definitely an interesting potpourri of personalities. Just like most of ours, right?!

6. Weddings can tighten your own marital bond. My hubby of nearly 31 years, Steve, teased me that I was willing to get up at 3 a.m. just to watch "the kids" get married live. Then he set the alarm, turned on the TV, and snuggled down in beside me under the covers, holding hands, to watch with me. (And guess who's talked almost non-stop about the big shin-dig ever since? You guessed it!)

7. Uniqueness makes us beautiful. One of my favorite quotes in the RW ceremony was by St. Catherine of Siena who said, "Be who God made you to be and you will set the world on fire." Amen.

8. Our younger generation is our hope for the future. Kate and Wills are handsome, beautiful, kind, thoughtful, generous, and care about our planet. We should be proud to have them as our fellow citizens on God's green earth. (Wills invited a former homeless woman to his wedding; he is indeed his (charitable) mother's son. We miss you, Princess Diana.)

May the beauty, love, and hope of the RW, a symbol to graciously usher in a new generation, be held in all of our (incurably romantic) hearts forever.

Love, Kathryn :)

Kathryn Bechen Ink

LaJolla Secret Garden Tour Time!

2011-05-03T11:54:00.001-07:00

It's nearly time for one of my favorite San Diego County events--the LaJolla Secret Garden Tour! So whether you're hankering for a picnic in a glorious garden, exquisite views of the beautiful blue of the Pacific Ocean, or great indoor decorating ideas from gorgeous seaside homes, you can buy the tickets here. My hubby Steve and I have attended for several years and thoroughly enjoyed every minute!

Enjoy!

Kathryn :)
Kathryn Bechen Ink

Happy May!

2011-05-01T19:42:00.001-07:00

It was a glorious day at the beach in San Diego today. Hope you had a beautiful Sunday, wherever you experienced it!

Kathryn :)
Kathryn Bechen Ink

Congrats Prince William & Princess Catherine!

2011-04-29T09:33:00.000-07:00

Wishing Prince William and Princess Catherine the happiest of marriages! God bless you and your families.

Kathryn :)
www.KathrynBechenInk.com

Joyous Easter Wishes!

2011-04-23T12:20:00.000-07:00

Wishing you all a BLESSED EASTER!

Love,
Kathryn :)

Our Bechen Bistro

2011-04-13T16:42:00.001-07:00

No matter how many charming bistro restaurants I indulge in, there's admittedly one that's always a favorite of mine: our very own kitchen/dining area, a.k.a. the "Bechen Bistro."

We've recently spruced it up a bit! Click on photos to enlarge.

We bought new chairs and recovered the seats with a pretty white floral-embossed fabric that I found online.

Having a friend to tea is easy with the silver tray I keep all set up and ready to go.

We added this new buffet to use as a beverage bar...

to handily make a cup of relaxing hot tea...

or how about a cappuccino, anyone?!

My sink area gives me pleasure because these custom floral paintings by Erin of The Painted Garden, cheerily greet me every day, as does the custom painting of my former balcony by artist Fifi Flowers.

and I try to keep fresh flowers near the sink too to increase my daily happiness quotient.

Fresh veggies and fruits get "artfully chopped" on my bamboo cutting board...

and a sliver tray holds favorite cooking ingredients in an organized manner...

on my granite countertop.

I keep my veggie brushes and other necessary things in pretty containers, and my "garden motif" mugs further inspire my "inner indoor gardener!"

Pictures we bought while on a fun weekend getaway together bring back happy memories...

and I do my best to keep fresh and healthy food coming out of our little "home cookin' cafe!" I'll share tonight's crockpot recipe with you:

Easy Pinto Bean Soup

Two 14 oz. cans organic pinto beans, drained and rinsed

6 slices cooked, crumbled bacon

1 c. chopped celery

One 14 oz. can chopped tomatoes, not drained

1-2 cartons organic chicken broth (enough to fill the crockpot to the top)

1/4 c. dry onion

1 t. garlic salt

1 t. ground cumin

1 t. Italian seasoning herbs (Optional but I love the flavor of this!)

1/4 t. cayenne pepper (Optional if you dare!)

Shredded mozzarella cheese for the top garnish

Crackers

Combine all ingredients in large crockpot and cook on high for 4 hours and low for 4 hours.

Top with mozzarella cheese after you ladle soup into bowls and serve with your favorite crackers.

Hope you enjoyed our "Bechen Bistro!"

Kathryn

Kathryn Bechen Ink

Finch's Bistro--La Jolla, California

2011-04-12T11:22:00.001-07:00

Every once in awhile I just happen upon a delightful new place so absolutely enchanting, that lifestyle writer-gal-that-I-am, I feel compelled to write about it, right away!

It's my great pleasure to introduce you to Finch's Bistro, an enchanting little open-air "Euro-quaint meets SoCal-serene" courtyard-style bistro in my favorite seaside village of La Jolla, California, not far from where we live.

Click on photos to enlarge.

Finch's only opened a week or so ago, but according to the sweet owners, Linda and Tiana Ravden, (who personally came over to our table to welcome us and be sure we were happy with our food and the experience), without even advertising, they already have "regulars"coming every day for lunch AND dinner! Now that's what I call fast word-of-mouth-success!

As you can see, Finch's has artfully captured every little detail to hold you captive in its "upscale yet casually adorable" spell--from the black and white "finch" salt and pepper shakers...

to the cute black-and-white-stripe napkin rings on their yellow linen napkins.

Finch's yellow and black decor immediately swept me off my decorating writer's feet! They had me at the bright yellow lemon "perched" (couldn't resist that pun!) on top of our water carafe, and I loved their black-and-white-striped umbrellas and the heaters under them that took the edge off the cool night air.

Owner Tiana saw me wearing my big cape that's kind of like my "outdoor eating blanky" for cool SoCal nights, and she said she's next going to provide a basket of blankets for their bistro guests. (Clever girl!)

Oh yeah, and being able to see the palm trees through the roof at Finch's was pretty "SoCal casual cool" too!

Finch's has nightly music for entertainment, and of course, they certainly dish up FAB cuisine! Seriously, our appetizer was so delish, I'm sure Julia Child would have swooned! :)

Finch's juicy "he-man-size" burger, a.k.a. The Finch Burger...

indeed pleased my "football player-size"hubby!

And the Braised Chicken I ordered--with its bacon, mushrooms, balsamic honey jus, smashed Yukon Gold potatoes, and sauteed spinach was tender and tasty enough to please that date you might be trying to impress, especially if she fancies herself a casually-chic SoCal kind of "chick!" :)

(Oh, and did I mention Finch's fair prices, too?)

When the sun went down, and the stars came out...little white "Christmas-style" lights lit up at Finch's, only adding to its heavenly La Jolla-by-the-Sea charm!

Hungry for Tuscan White Bean Butternut Soup? How about Lamb Romana? Bowtie Pasta? "Beet" the Heat? Salade Provencal? These delectable delights, and more, you'll find at Finch's, where yes indeed, you'll (again) find me and my hubby Steve celebrating life and good food! :)

For directions and current hours/days open go to:

www.FinchsLaJolla.com

PH: 858-456-4056

7644 Girard Avenue La Jolla, CA 92037

'Til Next Time!

Kathryn Kathryn Bechen Ink

"Where Beauty, Order, & Business Bloom"

Apple Farm Inn--San Luis Obispo, CA

2011-04-11T22:05:00.000-07:00

If you're hankering for a "quaint fix" then drop on "inn" to the sweet Apple Farm Inn in the pretty little town of San Luis Obispo, California, which was recently named one of America's Happiest Places.

My hubby Steve and I stayed at Apple Farm Inn recently and enjoyed the gazebo room and the gardens...

as well as the "Laura Ashley" style decor.

They have a charming country-style restaurant...

where you can cozy up together in a booth and savor some "comfort food."

Our room looked out onto this old mill...

and we had flowers galore to charm our tired travel spirits...

and a ceiling window in our room where we could gaze at the stars!

Even all the hallways at Apple Farm Inn are quaint...

with armoires for storing room linens...

and vignettes of "pretties" from their gift shop that you can buy from the hallway right outside your room door. (Clever marketing, huh?!)

There's a sweet porch with garden goods for sale...

and a gift shop with quaint gifts and decor galore.

The Apple Farm Inn is a fun place to get your "quaint fix" in California!

'Til Next Time!

Kathryn :)

Kathryn Bechen Ink

"Where Beauty, Order & Business Bloom!"

Inn on Summerhill--Summerland, California

2011-04-07T11:46:00.000-07:00

Greetings from the lovely Inn on Summerhill in the beautiful little seaside village of Summerland, California, just a few miles outside of Santa Barbara.

My hubby Steve and I stayed at this pretty inn recently and I thought I'd share the photos with you. (Click on any photo to enlarge.)

The Inn on Summerhill sits on a little knoll, just across the street from the Pacific Ocean.

Their lovely front porch is perfect for a little relaxation...

and a glass of cold iced tea!

Their stately wood-paneled lobby is comfortable...

and their cozy breakfast room serves up a tasty hot breakfast each morning...

and delectable sweet treats each afternoon.

They have an on-call massage therapist who'll massage your cares away in their spa...

and afterwards, you can sit in their beautiful private hot tub on the upstairs deck.

Elegant linens and furnishings graced our room...

and sumptuous pillows let us rest our weary heads.

Being the (non-rugged no-camping kind of gal!) that I am, I especially loved the evening linen turndown service, and the mints left on our bed...

and my hubby and I enjoyed having a cup of tea together in our room too. No wonder the Inn on Summerhill has won so many awards--their attention to detail is truly wonderful and the property is very pristine.

I hope you enjoyed the tour of the beautifully quaint, yet elegant, Inn on Summerhill in the charming little seaside village of Summerland, California!

'Til Next Time!

Kathryn :)

Kathryn Bechen Ink

"Where Beauty, Order, & Business Bloom!"

Simpson House Inn--Santa Barbara, CA

2011-04-05T19:48:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the historic Simpson House Inn in beautiful Santa Barbara, California. Circa 1874. My hubby Steve and I stayed here recently and I thought I"d give you a little blog tour of this lovely property so you can enjoy it too! Click on photos to enlarge.

Let's meander, shall we, through the big wrought-iron gates and up the shaded drive...

where as we step into the grand entrance of this stately AAA 5-Diamond inn, (the only 5-Diamond in North America)...

we're immediately swept away into its gracious rooms of fine antique furnishings...

beloved books...

beautiful art...

and gently curved staircases, reminiscent of a lyrical poem, if you will.

Astute attention to detail is notable at the Simpson House Inn, including these lovely "sugared glasses." That's something I have never seen in any of the 67 inns my hubby and I have stayed in all across the U.S., and I found them a delightful touch!

The staff at the Simpson House Inn is especially attentive and gracious. They gave us a complete tour upon our arrival, and we chose this lovely porch adjacent to the house, rather than our room, our private terrace, or elsewhere on the luscious green grounds to have our delicious full breakfast.

Elegant china served up a refreshing fruit dish to start our day. Tasty eggs followed.

The wrap-around porch of the Simpson House Inn overlooks the the huge expanse of manicured lawn...

and all the old, stately trees provide shady cool respite from the afternoon sun.

Charming meandering and manicured paths led us to...

our own private patio just outside our cottage, which was quaintly tucked deep into the backyard trees.

The high-thread-count linens were soft as butter on a lazy summer afternoon, and did indeed gently caress our cares away, providing "sumptuous snuggling" for two!

I've mentioned details already....including our own personalized welcome note and a delectable delight, on fine-bone china, of course. (Oh yes, my kind of camping! :)

A fountain graces the shady front yard...

and please feel free to just lounge and enjoy the quiet grounds if you wish.

Oh, these glorious, glorious trees swept me into their oh-so-romantic arms! (Okay, so they're really tree boughs, and not arms, but hey, they look like "romantic arms" to me, just waiting to sweep me off my incurably romantic writer's feet! :)

The sweet little meandering paths held me enthralled in their enchanting springtime spell.

The Simpson House Inn is within easy walking distance to Santa Barbara's famous State Street, in their historic downtown, where upscale boutiques and fine restaurants delight visitors. I just adored The Andersen's, which reminds me of a charming outdoor Parisian cafe.

And obviously my hubby Steve liked The Anderson's too!

Santa Barbara, California sits right on the Pacific Ocean and boasts miles and miles of beautiful flat beaches...

where Palm trees sway in the gentle SoCal breeze...

and visitors from around the world stroll along its seaside boardwalks.

If you have a hankering (like I admittedly do!) for stepping back in time to a gentler and more gracious home era, you won't want to miss the Simpson House Inn in Santa Barbara, California. My hubby Steve and I especially thank the lovely staff there for our most enjoyable stay!

'Til Next Time!

Kathryn :)

Kathryn Bechen Ink

Professional Writing & Consulting Services

"Where Beauty, Order, & Business Bloom!"

Bed & Breakfast Bliss: California Coastal Style

2011-04-03T13:16:00.001-07:00

Greetings from the lovely Simpson House Inn in beautiful Santa Barbara, California!

My hubby Steve and I have just returned home from a wonderful week-long "Bed & Breakfast Bliss" trip up the California coast, driving from our home in San Diego as far north as the quaint little town of Cambria. I'll be blogging soon with many photos and a full review of the inns we visited, but 'til then, I thought I'd share a sneak peek with you. Click on photos to enlarge.

The Simpson House Inn is the only AAA Five Diamond Bed & Breakfast Inn in North America. It sits in the heart of Santa Barbara, CA in the historic district, near State Street, which is home to upscale boutiques and wonderful restaurants.

We also stayed at the cozy Apple Farm Bed & Breakfast in the pretty little town of San Luis Obispo, which is nestled into emerald-green hillsides.

Apple Farm Inn's lobby was comfy and cozy as you can see! And one of the things I especially love about inns is that people who stay there are usually congenial sorts who always seem to be up for an interesting conversation. My hubby and I met video producer Ray Salo and his friendly family while we were at Apple Farm. Ray is the owner of Salo Productions, whose award-winning videos of beautiful hotels all over the world have been viewed by millions on the Travel Channel, Discovery Channel, and CNN to name just a few.

The Inn on Summerhill, which sits across the street from the beautiful Pacific Ocean in Summerland, was very lovely, complete with bed linen turn-down service and mints on our pillow. (My kind of "camping!" :)

Their front porch was perfect for an iced tea, snacks, and a little R&R.

I'll share more photos and commentary about these lovely inns here soon. Until then, I hope you enjoy my other blog, Bed & Breakfast Bliss, where I review inns we've stayed in all across the U.S.

Kathryn :)

KathrynBechenInk.com

"Where Beauty, Order, & Business Bloom!"

Spring, Glorious Spring!

2011-03-24T16:58:00.000-07:00

"Spring shows what God can do with a drab and dirty world."

--Virgil A. Kraft

'Til Next Time!

Kathryn

www.KathrynBechenInk.com

"Where Beauty, Order, & Business Bloom!"

Spring Flowers

2011-03-18T00:43:00.001-07:00

"No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow." --Proverb

'Til Next Time!

Kathryn :)

www.KathrynBechenInk.com

The Luck of the Irish

2011-03-17T14:43:00.001-07:00

May the Luck of the Irish be with you today!

Love,
Kathryn :
www.KathrynBechenInk.com
"Where Beauty, Order, & Business Bloom"