Recession, Jobs Lost, Out of Business....The list is endless these days.

We lately have been surrounded by bad news and stressful times. Aren't Holidays a time to enjoy?. But I always believe that there is a place where many of us have the fortune to be...Our Cocoon, Our Home!

i love it when by the end of the day and after running around doing errands, working, I finally settle down in my lovely home, turn on some music, light up some candles, share a glass of wine with my hubby, cooking something yummy and play with my furry friend "Duke".                         

Yes! This is the place where I want to be, where we feel safe and confortable...Our Cocoon, Our Home and we are very lucky to have it.

Also I believe that we are lucky to have :

• Our Real Estate Agent, who put all of their effort in finding the "The House of Our Dreams".
• Our Stagers, they share their creativity and talent to help us to sell one old cocoon and go for the next one.

We really have to appreciate the great teamwork and their efforts, because each of them are helping us to find the place that we can call our "Home Sweet Home"

It doesn't matter how hard the times are and how strong the storm, we have to hang in there and remember that "After the Storm there will be calm and Prosperity"....And we are not Out of Business!

I love Christmas time! This is my favorite time of the year. It is the time to get together, be thankful and set our new goals for the upcoming year.

Being from Venezuela and far away from my family makes me feel a little sad but at the same time I love to live here in Portland!
Portland is a great city and I am very proud to live in the great "Green" City of Roses. Here we recycle, reuse and reinvent and we are very environmentally conscious.

Here we have some tips to help us  to create a Festive and Green Holiday:

• Give away gifts with minimal or recyclable packing (view Metro's waste-wise tips at www.oregonmetro.gov/holidaytips).
• Give a gift for the memories,  tickets to a play, a spa treat or a handmade gift.
• After receiving a new gift, donate used, usable items to a local charity.
• Walk or use public transportation to shop at local retailers.
• Use a Newspaper as an original gift wrap!
• LED Liights on a Crhristmas Tree.

And remember:

• Create new expectations.  Go for and look forward for the good things to come!.
  
• Warm up your home with candles and aromas.
• Set your goals and work to reach them.

RECYCLING WORKS FOR A BETTER LIFE!....and  FELIZ NAVIDAD! 

What a wonderful time of the year! I love this season...and I know that a lot of us are planning to spend this Holiday time with friends and family in our beautiful city of Portland.

Here in our city we can find a huge number of venues year round. But especially this season you will find great and fun holiday events, bazaars and festivals to attend.
Today I would love to mention "The Women in Business Holiday Market and Fundraiser for the Oregon Food Bank" at the beautiful and interesting Kennedy School, Saturday December 6th from 9:oo am to 3:00 pm.
This is a great opportunity to get all of your holiday shopping season completed!

"The Women in Business Holiday Market" is an event organized by the lovely lady Tonya DeCroce. This will be a gathering of over 20 women business owners, including Decor By Josi.

Also taking a place will be the silent auction of the Oregon Food Bank. We have on-site parking, complementary gift wrapping (while supplies last), raffles and much more for the whole family.


I hope to see you there!

To Perfume Pagoda, Vietnam

I recently returned from a wonderful trip to Asia. My lovely husband and I decided find out more about "The Wild, Wild East" and we chose Vietnam and Korea. I have to say that this was one of the most exiting trips that I have ever taken.
It was culturally rewarding, with a mix of flavors and colors. Oh the Colors! Colors and palettes are one of my favorite topics as an interior decorator and I have to admit that I am not afraid at all to use them in my creations.



I had the chance to be surrounded by beautiful and bright colors reflected in their landscaping, decor, textures and even their food...mmm!

Street market at Old Quarter, Hanoi







There I came across an interesting article about how the fashion experts are predicting the Color Palette trends of Spring 2009. This makes me think that although Spring season is associate with fresh hues, according to the experts we will see the comeback of the hot and bright colors along with the neutrals. This can make for fun wild matching and mixing.

Of course as a trend these colors will be also translate into the world of interior design and media. Here you have the top ten colors included in "The Pantone Fashion Color Report-Spring 2009", offering a selection of bright and neutrals providing "Optimism and Stability for Spring 2009".

• Lavander: This is a lighter, more mystical version of the purple of this fall. Using this clean hue along with brighter colors can be a nice soft addition to any room.

                           DD-Allen design kitchen

• Palace Blue: This hue seems to be a designers favorite for the Spring of 2009. Classic, spring navy-like tone and makes it sparkle.

• Super Lemon: Fun and optimistic outlook of the palette and will attract the consumer's eye

• Salmon Rose: Conveys an optimistic outlook. The subtlest of oranges. It is flattering and beautiful with a Summer glow.

                                                                                                                      Lounge Chair by Baker

• Fuchsia Red: It makes you think sensual and seductive. Will be present in clothing, as well lipstick, nail polish and decor. With its blue undertones, this cool red is a real show stopper, adding a sense of elegance and mystery to the palette.

• Rose Dust: Not your tipycal color beige. Rose Dust breaks away from the average neutrals related with Spring; adding subtle rose undertones.

• Slate Grey: With its bluish-green undertones, cool Slate Grey brings the perfect neutral that can be combined with any another color of the palette.

• Vibrant Green: It will bring the true verdancy to the palette.

• Dark Citron: A citrus-inspired green, is relaxing and more serious adding an element of sophistication to the mix.

• Lucite green: Clean, clear subtle hue with a slight shimmer.

What an exiting week, last week! I love that kind of day when everything that is happening is full of new things; to learn, experience and enjoy

Early last week I had the chance to join "The R.E.X Project" Tour (Reuse Everything eXperiment) in SE Portland. Myself along with some of my colleagues had the great opportunity to share laughter and amazing stories with the lively and lovely Shannon Quimby, the creator of this fabulous projectfabulous project.

The Quimby's family home is full of wonders and clever ideas. When Shannon and her husband Glenn learned that the house they bought not long ago would have to be razed, they decided to salvage and reuse everything-literally.
Shannon has a clever way of finding new uses for everything....Bravo Shannon!

Later the same week I finally had my TV debut, Yes!
About a month ago I received an email from a former client and friend, telling me that she was involved as a producer for the "Cita con Nelly" show, ("A date with Nelly"), a spanish TV show broadcasted in the spanish station Univision Northwest.
She invited me to be a guess of the interview series, to share my designer skills, tips and experiences to the Hispanic community and I said....Yes!


















"Cita con Nelly" is a weekly program of variety directed to the Latino community in the Pacific Northwest. The show has been hosted by the lovely lady Nelly for the last six years.
It was a great WOW moment when I looked at myself on TV and it is my big introduction to the media word.


Finally, we are a week before Thanksgiving Day. My best advice to all of you is start to recheck
your "To Do list " and be ready to get together with your loved ones ....Spread the beautiful colors and aromas of the season along your home and enjoy!




Happy Thanksgiving Day!