Living Lavishly Volume 10

1 / Living Lavishly

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Publisher’s Note

I

am blessed to have two wonderful partners in business and in life. My wife and best

friend bring so much to my life; it’s hard to put a value on their impact. We live a full life, in every sense of the word. We have built a wonderful business together and live out our dreams here on the Central Coast, enjoying and sharing each step with those we know and love. There are many definitions for the word “living,” but our favorite meanings involve being active, thriving, vigorous, and strong.

We’ve always thought of ourselves as living in those terms.

David Diaz (left), Bret Colhouer (center) and Lani Colhouer (right) founded Simply Clear Marketing in 2005.

It has taken effort and dedication, but over the years our personas, relationships, and business has evolved to reflect this definition. The same can be said for most people we know and interact with because we’ve come to realize that in a lot of ways, we attract what we project. For the most part, our friends are driven and successful people. Our staff are dedicated to their craft and thriving in their roles. The businesses we represent and service through our marketing company are active in the community, thriving in their vertical and strong in terms of their positioning and market share.

In this issue of Living Lavishly, we’ve highlighted a number of these businesses and some of what they do that reflects their strength and vitality. I’d venture to guess if you’re reading this magazine, you also are “living” or on your way to doing so in every sense of this definition. So I encourage you now to read on, venture through and discover your way of living here in our little slice of heaven on the central coast.

If you read something that resonates, let it sink in. If you read something that inspires you, then do it. if you find a new organization or business to support, reach out or visit. Because at the end of the day, know that you’re here on the Central Coast where you belong and where you want to be. So, go forth, be confident, and enjoy your journey.

Bret Colhouer Publisher

6 / Living Lavishly

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You can find us online at CaliforniaFreshMarket.com

Cover Contributors Stefanie Elizabeth Photography

Talley Farms Box

As a Central Coast wedding and lifestyle photographer, Stefanie has

Established in 1948 in the Arroyo Grande Valley, Talley Farms has

an eye for heartfelt moments and breathtaking views. Her passion to

grown to 1,500 acres producing over 40 fruits and vegetables. The

create beautiful memories is evident in her attention to detail and

Talley family continues to farm sustainably, use organic sprays,

ability to frame the perfect scene. From elaborate weddings to casual

fertilizers, and GMO-free seed.

family portraits, Stefanie captures the very best moments of every

talleyfarms.com

occasion. When she’s not chasing the sunlight, she is snuggling with

805.489.5533

her two doxies working on client galleries.

Follow Talley Farms on Facebook

stefanieelizabethphotography.com Follow @stefanieelizabethphotography on Instagram

Talley Vineyards

Pepper Tree Ranch

Founded in 1986, Talley Vineyards has been producing high

Right off the 227 in the heart of Edna Valley, Pepper Tree Ranch

Talley brand, the winery is owned and operated by the third

stretches 70 acres with stunning views, rustic farmhouse

and fourth generations of the Talley family and stays true to the

architecture, and unmatched hospitality. Honored by multiple

meaning of being a Central Coast business.

awards by Central Coast Wedding Industry Awards and California

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Wedding Day, the ranch has proven to be one of the best venues

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on the Central Coast.

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peppertreeslo.com 805.222.6445 Follow @peppertreeslo on Instagram

quality estate-bottled wines for over 30 years. A branch of the

Bella Couture Located in Nipomo, Bella Couture Linens provides fine linens for

Elegant Details

every occasion. With a multitude of high quality fabrics, patterns, and

With over 16 years of experience and a passion for design, Ricardo

and theme.

Naranjo designs beautiful pieces for every event and occasion. With

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strong attention to detail, he custom designs each piece for every

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style and vision.

Follow @bellacouturelinen on Instagram

elegant-details.com 805.260.2430 Follow @elegantdetailsflowers on Instagram

Old San Luis BBQ Founded by Cal Poly alumnus Matt Pearce, Old San Luis BBQ Co. is a pure passion project stemming from Pearce’s love for Santa Maria-style barbeque. The restaurant keeps traditions alive by using old family recipes and supports local artisans for many items on the menu. oldsanluisbbq.com 805.285.2473 Follow Old San Luis Barbecue Company on Facebook.

8 / Living Lavishly

colors to choose from, Bella Couture Linens is a match for every style

Got You Cover’d Rentals As a third generation event rental company, Got You Cover’d is known for their vast inventory from tents, tables, chairs, and table settings. With excellent customer service and pristine eye for design, GYC Rentals is an expert in creating memorable and efficient set ups. gycrentals.com 805.541.8368 Follow @gycrentals on Instagram

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9 / Living Lavishly

Contents 01

03

Design Trends

In the Kitchen

Architectural Trends

16

Raspberry Lemon Pudding Cakes

102

Kitchen Trends

24

Cookwell Corner

104

2020 Predictions: Pattern of the Year

30

Best Chef Cheeseburger Competition

106

Bathroom Trends

32

Fabric & Texture Trends

36

Color Trends

38

Hyperlocalism Trends

42

Edible Landscapes

46

Elevating your Wine Experience

50

Spring into Good Vibes

58

Simple Ways to Live Sustainably

60

04

Balanced Body 4 Outstanding Hikes in Big Sur

114

Flower Essences

118

Sensitive Skin Remedies

122

Wisdom for Aging Gracefully

124

02

Enneagram Insights

126

Inspired by Life

05

Creating a Central Coast Dinner Party

66

A Potter’s Story

76

Hidden Treasures

Crafting Wine & Good Times

80

A Botanist with Beehives

86

Travel Back in Time

136

Finding Harmony

92

The Central Coast’s Best-Kept Secret

142

Animal Heroes

94

Beer to Bourbon

146

Morro Bay’s Succulent Heaven

150

Help Keep Morro Bay Wild

152

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50 24

66

94

76

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146

615 Clarion Ct. #2 San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 Phone (805) 543-6397 LivingLavishlyMag.com

Spring / Summer 2020

PUBLISHER Bret Colhouer

EXECUTIVE EDITOR & CONTENT STRATEGIST Madeline Minas ASSOCIATE EDITOR Serena Lopez ART, DESIGN & ILLUSTRATION Emilia Bollini SALES Jessica Micklus Jill Copsey

PROJECT EXECUTIVES

MARKETING Bryan Kirkpatrick Mike Lee Tina Mitchell OPERATIONS & EVENT MANAGER

Kelley Braga CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Mari Robeson Andrew Goodwin Camay Arad

Lani Colhouer & David Diaz

Endrea Kosven Natalie Garay Emily Robinson Lisa Story Joy Pederson Teri Bayus Judy Salamacha Molly O’Brien Courtney Coleman Charlotte Ross Daniel Mazawa Mikel Robertson Serena Lopez

COVER PHOTOGRAPHER Stefanie Elizabeth Photography CONTRIBUTING VENDORS Pepper Tree Ranch Got You Cover’d Elegant Details Old San Luis BBQ Talley Farms Fresh Harvest Talley Vineyards

Recycling Note This magazine is 100% recyclable. It can be put in blue recycling bins, dropped off at the SLO County Library (if this issue is less than a year old), or even mailed to MagazineLiteracy.org, which distributes old magazines to children, teens and adults who are at risk of illiteracy.

Advertise With Us! Complete details regarding advertising rates, space, sizes, circulation, coverage and similar information are available to prospective advertisers. Please call or email for more information.

This is a publication of Simply Clear Marketing, Copyright 2007-2020 all rights reserved. One free copy per person. Additional copies can be obtained at our offices at 615 Clarion Court, #2, San Luis Obispo, CA, 93401.

Simply Clear Marketing makes every reasonable effort to ensure the accuracy of its contents. Please notify us if information is incorrect.

PUBLISHED BY

12 / Living Lavishly

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@LivingLavishlyMag | @SimplyClearMarketing | @InspiredExpos

Contractors Lic. 940512 111 South St. San Luis Obispo, Ca 93401 13 / Living Lavishly www.greengoodsusa.com 805 543 9900

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Design Trends

“The Central Coast is home to a broad range of unique and beautiful structures. From the contemporary residential structures to luxurious outdoor spaces and all the meticulous details in between, the delicate balance of tradition and innovation truly showcases the creative depth of our local experts. We are proud to showcase some of the best designs the Central Coast has to offer as designers, architects, and builders break boundaries on what it really means to live lavishly.”

- Madeline Minas Executive Editor

15 / Living Lavishly

Architectural Trends on the Central Coast

By American Institute of Architects California Central Coast 16 / Living Lavishly

July FORM Design + Build

“The Ridge” San Luis Obispo, CA Photographer: David Lalush The Ridge consists of four single-family homes located at the comer of Stoneridge Drive, Perkins Lane, and Broad Street within the city of San Luis Obispo. Each two-story home is approximately 2,200 square feet and includes an attached accessory dwelling unit, one car garage, outdoor yard space, and a rooftop terrace.

The site design was exceptionally challenging and included a property exchange with the city to acquire an unused sliver of land left over from the Stoneridge development back in the 1990’s along with immense street improvements along Perkins Lane. Not an inch of space was spared of the existing 17,000 square foot lot to create the four new parcels and all its necessary amenities.

For the interior design of the homes, careful consideration was given to make sure that the floor plans were extremely flexible allowing the future owners the option to keep the entire home to themselves or rent out the accessory dwelling unit and still maintain complete privacy. The rooftop terraces were designed to capture outdoor space that would otherwise be lost to small lot sizes and to take advantage of the surrounding city and mountain views.

For the exterior design, the use of two alternating floor plans provides additional privacy between the neighboring homes by offsetting windows and entry points. The mix of materials such as stucco, metal, and wood also give the buildings plenty of architectural variation to individualize the homes yet still provide unity in the project.

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August

TEN OVER STUDIO was hired to design a new four-

TEN OVER STUDIO

story 17,000 SF building with 23 luxury hotel suites.

The new hotel is owned by and adjacent to the Paso

“The Piccolo”

Robles Inn. The ground floor street frontage hosts the hotel’s lobby, lounge and library along with a wine tasting room to create a connection to 12th street.

Paso Robles, CA Photographer: Julianna Wild

The building is configured in an L-shape to maximize the size of the new courtyard that acts as a gateway to the new hotel from the existing Inn, and has become the hotel guests’ preferred retreat.

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01 | Design styles

September

modern, eco-oriented units that will save money

garcia architecture + design

through low life-cycle costs, without sacrificing the modern conveniences we have all come to appreciate

“Terraza Triplex”

and expect. Components such as live-work units, alternate transportation, and community commons allow ultimate lifestyle flexibility and encourage

San Luis Obispo, CA

a wider and diverse user group to consider this

Photographer: garcia architecture + design

proposed “neighborhood” as their new home in San

Terraza was born from a neighborhood development plan for a live-work, mixed-use, workforce housing community that is environmentally friendly and affordable.

The intent of Terraza is to bring sustainable development to a wider market while helping the city achieve their state housing requirements via in-fill development.

As a direct response to these pressing issues, the design team has developed a project comprised of

Luis Obispo.

The Terraza townhouses’ designs showcase modern materials, both inside and out. Large windows in the living spaces bring natural light in while allowing the occupants to enjoy the scenic hillside landscape beyond. Clean and elegant interior design in the kitchen, living room, and bathrooms bring a touch of luxury to each unit. The townhouse design is a condensed housing unit that moves upwards instead of outwards to be light on land. Lavishly 19the / Living

October TEN OVER STUDIO

“Skyview Motel” Los Alamos, CA Photographer: Evan Moffit Skyview, an iconic roadside motel turned boutique luxury motel, offers 33 guest rooms, a full-service restaurant, heated pool and a working vineyard.

Perched on a hillside overlooking the Santa Barbara wine country, the 5-acre outpost merges mid-century style with modern rustic chic. The original motel, built in 1954, had fallen into disrepair and the new owners wanted to restore the motel to establish it as an essential destination in the historic town of Los Alamos.

The interior courtyard was designed to mimic outdoor rooms as an extension of the luxurious interior suites.

Drought tolerant and desert inspired plant selections were implemented to seamlessly connect the rustic modern architecture with the landscape. Each room was restored and designed with globally sourced décor, luxury amenities, local bath products, and bespoke interior features to revive a hospitality era on the verge of extinction.

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November Hambly Homes Architecture

Bennett Valley Pool House Santa Rosa, CA Photographer: Paul Dyer Blurring the connection between inside and outside, the Bennett Valley Pool house is abundant in natural light and spatial volume. Located towards the back of a long and skinny 6-acre parcel, the siting of the pool house is an oasis from the main residence on the property and surrounding neighbors by overlooking the pool and a beautiful green valley. The pool house presents itself as is a natural architectural extension of the residence through its scale, form and materiality.

Standing seam metal roofs and the board and batten siding extend the simple materials pallet.

21 / Living Lavishly

December

process with their third project working alongside the

Studio Freeby

architect, their teacher, and other professionals. The mobile spaces are targeted to the unique program

“Da Vinci Rise”

needs, while remaining adaptable to the student and faculty’s changing needs. The spaces have created welcoming, creative, comfortable, and relaxing zones

Los Angeles, CA

that are highly sought after by students both during

Photographer: Studio Freeby

and after construction.

In the heart of Los Angeles, a unique approach to education has taken place with the Da Vinci Charter Schools. Da Vinci Rise, a sister school of Da Vinci Science, is a growing high school that adapts to more acutely serve homeless, transient, and underrepresented youth.

The Da Vinci Rise model is to “meet students who are disconnected from school” by providing the “academic, social, and emotional” skills to thrive in life beyond high school. As they continue to grow, the student population

The close relationship and engagement of Studio Freeby with the clients, constructors, students, and inhabitants over the course of the design and construction process has led to an incredible learning experience as well as end products with huge investments and pride by the student builders and their teachers. The use of highly descriptive construction drawings in a very unique environment has educated and elevated quality and pride throughout the project.

at Da Vinci Rise has outgrown its space and has sought non-traditional spaces to reach more students where they currently are in life.

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Central

The sensitivity of the faculty, curriculum, and vision

Coast Chapter provided images and information from

drew Da Vinci and Studio Freeby together to form

their selected projects of the month through 2020. AIA

a unique partnership where traditional architect,

has chapters in every state, and the California Central

contractor, and client roles become commingled.

Coast Chapter, founded in 1979, is a thriving and

Da Vinci Science students have constructed two

growing group of architects, associates and professional

22 / Living Lavishly flexible use spaces over the past two years and are in

affiliates. Learn more at AIAcentralcoast.org.

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Kitchen Trends 24 / Living Lavishly

Photo courtesy of Bluestar at Ferguson Bath, Kitchen Lighting Gallery 25 /&Living Lavishly

Connected Kitchens Your kitchen is the hub of the home, and seamless connected technology can help you work smarter, not harder, by turning everyday tasks like cooking and cleaning into extraordinary experiences.

26 / Living Lavishly

Photo courtesy of Kitchenaid at Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery

Photo courtesy of Thermador at Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery

Health + Home Revitalize yourself and your home with appliance and fixtures that can recreate a relaxing, rejuvenating spalike experience and help you live a better, healthier life.

Photo courtesy of GE Profila at Ferguson Bath,27 Kitchen & Lighting Gallery / Living Lavishly

Photo courtesy of Signature Hardware at Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery

Natural Elements Give home a more natural feel and bring the elements inside with fixtures inspired by or crafted from the earth itself.

Photo Troy Lighting at Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery 28 / courtesy Living ofLavishly

Photo courtesy of Kitchenaid at Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery

Tailored Tastes Home is highly personal, and so are these showstopping statement pieces. Use a variety of customizable fixtures and appliances to help make your space yours, truly.

29 / Living Lavishly

2020 Predictions: Pattern Of The Year Written & Illustrated By Mari Robeson

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M

ost of us who are paying attention to trends are

sit this one out but if you are a believer that more is more

aware that Pantone selected Classic Blue as the

than this is your year.

2020 Color of the year but have you ever thought about what the Pattern of the year might be? Last year for the

Mix and match! Pattern mixing is at an all time high for

first time ever, Apartment Therapy, a well known, go-to

our homes and in fashion. Don’t be afraid to play around

website for home decor trends and ideas, did a Pattern

with this. The Spring 2020 Fashion Collections are a great

Prediction for 2019. What they selected may surprise you

place to look for inspiration on how to mix patterns and

and we are sure to see more of it this year as well. By the

how you can carry that look into your home decor.

way, spoiler alert, many designers are picking emerald green and it’s softer hues to outshine blue this year.

Patterns Predictions

Just for fun, put this article down and take a look around

Look for lots of geometrics this year. Stripes and polka-

the room you’re in. Can you count how many different

dots are still a favorite but showing up in fun, new ways.

types of patterns you see? Perhaps on a rug, a pillow, or

Florals are always in style. You will see large scaled florals

even the print on your shirt? These patterns are created

showing up on walls and bedding. Greenery is still going

by surface designers.

strong as well as rainbows, retro 70’s graphics, neon, and even graffiti will all have a moment this year. So if any of

Surface design goes onto everything from stationery,

those speak to you, you’re in luck!

fashion, home decor and more and since I am a surface designer, I’m constantly looking at the trends and doing

As for the pattern that Apartment Therapy selected for

my homework. After researching the design blogs and

2019? Animals, lots and lots of animals and I personally

trade shows, including the latest Maison & Objet show

don’t think they are going away anytime soon. There is a

that took place in Paris, it looks like 2020 is all about

new fresh take on these graphic patterns that are playful

luxury and maximalism. Of course trends are just that, a

and fun. Who doesn’t want a little more of that in their

trend. If minimalism is your vibe then you may want to

home? Even if it’s just on one wall!

31 / Living Lavishly

Bathroom Trends

Photo courtesy of Moen at Fergu

32 / Living Lavishly

uson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery

01 | Design Trends

Bathed in Matte Black Black goes with everything. The timeless elegance of matte black bathroom fixtures can elevate your space with decadent, dramatic tones and stunningly rich contrast.

33 / Living Lavishly

Photo courtesy of Signature Hardware at Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery

Living Color Tired of bland, neutral tones? Add a dash of color to your space to liven things up a bit! Take drab to fab in an instant with bold, punchy colors – or use classic hues for a more colorful approach to your design style.

34 / Living Lavishly

Photo courtesy of Hudson Valley at Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery

Photo courtesy of Signature Hardware at Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery

Metallic Touch Who doesn’t love a touch of shine? Catch everyone’s eye and incorporate this trend by using products that feature metallic accents that will fit into any space.

35 / Living Lavishly

Fabric & Texture Trends

Pantone Color of the Year

By Camay Arad

36 / Living Lavishly

Classic Blue A new year always generates a special type of excitement for the fashion industry and home fashion is no exception. Design influencers and paint companies scramble to predict the colors that will guide and inspire consumers to replicate in their homes. As a designer it always amuses me to observe the predictions and ponder which will resonate with our diverse Central Coast homeowners, which colors will be just a blip on the radar or reflect more enduring trends.

The Pantone® Color Institute and its director, Leatrice Eiseman, is one of the most highly regarded color sources for the industry. Many influences; film and design, sports, fashion, technology, visual art come in to play in the color decision process. “Comforting and relatable” were the governing factors for this year’s Color Choice - Classic Blue Benjamin Moore reeled in a rosy hue, “blooming with potential,” as its selection named First Light. Home Depot and its Behr Paint label vouches for tranquility this year in its selection of a muted green – Back to Nature.

However, from our Chameleon perspective, we see the Central Coast trends going in a different direction.

Sky Though reminiscent of the Wedgewood Blue of the 80s, Sky 1

2

enters the scene with a lot more life than the muted hue of the former era and lends itself to many different styles.

1. Solid Linen Texture | 2. Textured Woven 3. Light geometric embroidery | 4. Modern Geometric 5. Modern Abstract | 6. Traditional 3

4

Ochre One might be thinking Harvest Gold of the 70s but erase that thought from your mind! Revitalized and reinterpreted Ochre is thriving in all types of décor.

5

6

The Parallels fabric from PK Lifestyles has been a winner with all age groups and all styles since it was first introduced in December. The cotton-linen blend has texture as well as the unique bars that complement a mid-century modern to a classic ranch style. The deep midnight blue (almost black or almost grey) gives the perfect print for 2020.

7

8

7. Toffee | 8. Gilded | 9. Gold | 10. Amber

Textures Trending in all climates are the new textures and “Poodle” type fabrics (11). The 100% Polyester curls don’t crush, launder beautifully and are perfect for upholstery, pillows and that comfy 9

10

throw to curl up in on a couch.

Whatever your personal color choices for 2020 may be, we hope these insights will give you the confidence to select the perfect colors for your home.

Camay Arad is the owner and creator of the fun and practical Chameleon Style® Design Method. The Chameleon Style store in the 11

Arroyo Grande Village is home to the workshop and design center.

37 / Living Lavishly

Color Trends Ariana Lovato, principal designer of Honeycomb Designs weighed in on what she believes are the industry’s trending colors of the year. “I’m seeing way more use of color in general,” she said. “People are shying away from grey and leaning more towards warm tones.”

Millennial Pink One could say this timeless color started trending when the “Rose gold” iPhone launched in 2015. We’ve seen this color trending in interior design and think it pairs perfectly with playful textures! Lovato says it’s still very prevalent nowadays, given that its sister color, “Rose Quartz,” was the Pantone Color of the Year in 2016.

Saffron Yellow

This soulful shade of yellow gives us remnants of cozy fall days, but it’s also rich enough to match up to the cheerful tones of Summer.

This versatile shade straddles the line between “feminine” and “masculine” and works well enough to make a great impact on any living space.

38 / Living Lavishly

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Down Under This vibrant magenta color is the top trending color for 2020, according to Shutterstock’s research. This luxurious color can liven any space, whether it’s used as an accent piece or dominant color.

Mango For those not afraid of a pop of color, Mango is just the shade for you. This fun and lively dose of orange is a sweeping the interior design trend as its energetic tones can work as a perfect accent for living rooms and dining rooms. Just like most bold colors, a little can go a long way!

Secret Meadow

This BEHR paint color captures the calming, soothing green of summertime gardening and works great as an interior wall color. It’s a color trend that takes us back to nature and creates a serene environment, no matter the living space it’s used in.

40 / Living Lavishly

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New Hotel Cerro Celebrates Hyperlocalism Trends on the Central Coast

By Gerald Olesker Photos by Brad Daane Sketches by Gerald Olesker

H

otel Cerro, located in downtown San Luis Obispo, may be one of the first mixeduse, artisanal local hotels that supports local artisans through design and food.

It brings to light the agricultural roots of San Luis Obispo, reflects the work of local artisans in the area, while also celebrating the wellness trend seen in hotels across the country.

Located close to Mission San Luis Obispo, the 65-room property is owned by British hoteliers Beverly and Shaun Matthews and will exemplify what it means to work with local talent. From the materials used to the artisans designing the hotel, Hotel Cerro will be a must-see destination and a moment of pride for those who have been working on the finer details.

Custom lighting firm ADG Lighting and Scott Rubenstein of Rubenstein by Design are responsible for the special lighting and furnishing details along with Ian Saude, a jewelry designer turned interior design expert and product manufacturer.

“A lot of customization was needed for this hotel. We wanted to work with local artisans, California-based companies to help create something fresh and new,” Saude said, a local San Luis Obispo resident. “We wanted to create that feeling of wellbeing and provide inspiration that one wouldn’t have in their home and give visitors something that transports them.”

From the large iconic sculptural piece that crawls along the ceiling of the lobby, to the corten steel tower flanking the olive grove and fireplace in the rooftop bar, the hotel is replete with elements that give it that wow factor.

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“We wanted to create that feeling of well-being and provide inspiration that one wouldn’t have in their home and give visitors something that transports them.”

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Playing off the agricultural aspects of the area, Saude injected some steampunk elements into the design of the hotel as well as mission-style inspiration, all in a fresh, contemporary way.

The hotel’s spa, Spa Cerro, has a playful yet elegant vibe. With relaxation decks throughout the space, it features an illuminated ceiling sculpture designed by ADG Lighting that provides a unique and custom look.

The hotel also features the city’s first rooftop pool.

In addition to the interior design details, other local talent that have been a part of this project include local farmers and ranchers, artisanal chefs, as well as awardwinning vineyards and wineries.

The highly anticipated Brasserie SLO restaurant features steel-raised planter boxes of mixed herbs and vegetables. According to Owner Beverly Matthews, “The Brasserie, which will operate as a distillery and restaurant, pays homage to the famous SLO Brew

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which occupied the original space and the downtown

The property is a physical manifestation of the hotel’s

hardware store.”

brand, and shares the story of the city through an

The garden suites, which provide direct access to the

authentic, immersive experience. The owners are

edible gardens, have been designed to create a feeling of well-being and are another exciting aspect of this

excited about delivering the spirit of San Luis Obispo to locals as well as the travelers that will be stopping by.

downtown destination. Guest rooms also feature headboards using a variety of materials integrated with Legrand power centers, which can be adjusted with a smartphone device and paired with additional remote switches for even more control.

The owners are not new to revitalizing and injecting a particular brand of localism to properties. They have previously accomplished this with Sir Richard Branson’s Necker Island and a quiet town in Vermont, through their ability to seek out the quiet, keep it exclusive, and add a touch of elegance without losing

Gerald Olesker is the creative entrepreneur behind the collaborative groups derived from Architectural Detail Group, ADG Eco Lighting Products, ADG Lighting, and 20/twenty publishing. Gerald applies his background in architecture and has over 20 years of experience as an architectural industrial designer and project influencer to innovate. For more information, visit adglighting.com or call (818) 597-9494.

that homegrown touch.

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45 / Living Lavishly

Edible Landscapes on the Central Coast

By Daniel Mazawa Photos courtesy of Madrone Landscapes

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here are few things more fulfilling than feeding

• Put your garden as close to the kitchen as possible.

someone: growing the food yourself is one of

• Build a compost bin so you can reuse your green waste

them. I started growing tomatoes and sugar snap peas as a young boy and it pushed me to pursue horticulture, landscape architecture, and landscape construction. For a kid, a bite of a homegrown tomato can be a life changing experience.

Your landscape is a wonderful place to create something beautiful and grow something you can eat simultaneously. Some grew up with family gardens and now want to bring them to their own landscape.

Many have never grown any food in a garden, but feel

and kitchen waste as compost.

2. Grow the right plants.

• The Central Coast is full of microclimates. If you don’t know what grows well in your area, ask your neighbors or local nursery for advice.

• For fruit trees, look at frost tolerance, chill hour requirements, and pollinators.

• Plan the spacing and height of your plants to fit the space.

it would be a fun thing to do. The great thing about living on the central coast of California is the variety

3. Do it together.

of plants to grow and eat!

• If you get your kids or spouse to help, it will be a fun

When deciding to grow food in your landscape, think about how you will use the garden. How much time can you devote to the gardening a week? What types of fruits and vegetables do you eat the most? How

group project so everyone can enjoy the fruits of their labor.

• Having others with a stake in the success will help motivate you to keep up with the work.

much do you cook?

If you enjoy spending your weekends working in the yard, love fresh produce and cook a lot, you can build something extravagant. If you have a busy lifestyle, but enjoy some fresh produce, there is still hope. Just keep it simple.

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Tips and Tricks for Everyone: 1. Put in the work early to make it easier on you later.

• Raised garden beds can be more ergonomic for your back.

• Think about critters! Provide protection from deer, rabbits, squirrels, gophers and birds.

• Install automatic irrigation systems so you don’t have

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• Make sure you organize your plants based on similar water requirements.

• Add rich compost to the garden before you start planting.

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Simple Gardening for Beginners: 1. Create a perennial herb garden: • Grow water-wise perennials such as rosemary, oregano, chives, thyme, and mint.

• You can tie it into an irrigation system for other Mediterranean landscape plants so that you don’t need to designate a separate garden space.

• You will never need to buy herbs at the store again. You will always have fresh herbs just outside your kitchen with almost no work.

2. Plant Fruit Trees: • On the coast, you can have avocado or citrus trees as part of landscape trees for year-round fresh fruit.

• Inland (and on the coast) you can grow apples, peaches, pears, apricots, plums and more to have seasonal

• Plant easy vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, zucchini, peas or leafy greens.

Advanced Gardening for Enthusiasts: 1. Create a Food Forest: • Use the fruit trees as your backbone and layer perennial and annual crops below.

• Organize raised garden boxes with in ground crops to maximize your vertical space.

• Add garden paths and benches to create a whimsical garden experience.

2. Train your plants: • You can trellis vining plants or prune trees to create arches to walk through or walls of green to contain the garden.

harvests.

• Create structures to grow vining crops such as

3. Build Small Vegetable Planters:

• Train aromatic groundcovers into walkways to step on

• Designate an area for some raised planters for a handful of vegetables in a controlled environment • Get crafty and you can use things like livestock troughs for an instant planter.

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tomatoes, beans, peas, berries, and grapes. and enjoy the fragrance.

• Use tall plants like blueberries or corn to create a labyrinth.

3. Prepare for great meals and seasonal activities: • Pumpkins for Halloween.

• Apples for pie season.

• Tomatoes for canning sauces.

• Cucumbers or zucchini (yes, zucchini) for pickles into the winter.

Enjoy the Experience Incorporating edible plants into your landscape is a great experience. You will impress family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers with your bounty of food. Whether you go big or keep it simple, you can improve your quality of life and others’ with the celebration of home-grown vittles!

Daniel Mazawa is the General Manager of Madrone Landscapes and a Cal Poly Landscape Architecture alumnus. For over 12 years, Daniel has been designing, building, and overseeing operations at Madrone Landscapes in Atascadero. When Daniel isn’t at work, he may be gardening, cooking, surfing, or otherwise enjoying the Central Coast lifestyle. For more information, visit www.madronelandscapes.com or call (805) 466-6263.

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49 / Living Lavishly info@madronelandscapes.com

Elevating Your Wine Experience From Home

By Mikel Robertson Photos courtesy of Green Goods

Whether it’s a dedicated room or a repurposed closet, wine spaces elevate your tasting and entertainment experiences all from the comfort of your home.

Have you had a chance to visit the French wine caves of the Champagne region? If so, then you have been told the history of early cellars. In the 1600s, the salt and chalk mines dug by the Romans in Reims, France were repurposed for champagne storage by local winemakers. The subterranean environment created the perfect climate for wine storage; chilly, humid, controlled and protected from sunlight and vibrations. One of the most famous wine caves, Château de Meursault, was dug by monks of Citeaux and can hold up to 700,000 bottles of wine!

Fast forward to present day where, with a little help from technology, we can create wine cellars with perfect climate conditions above ground within the walls of our warm conditioned homes. When Green Goods is approached to design and build wine storages, wine rooms or home tasting bars, we find that clients have a wide range of desires to fulfill.

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What are your desires?

Some desire a wine cellar that displays elegance, sophistication, and luxury reflective of the wine they drink and the winemakers and farmers they honor. Others prefer organizing and saving library wines to document, taste, note and comment. This may be a comparison of a particular wine from year to year or noting a pairing to food.

Others may prefer a design aesthetic reflective of a travel experience or place of fond memories. Maybe it is the 34 miles of limestone tunnels in Milestii Mici said to hold over 1.5 million bottles of wine. Whatever you desire, the end goal should be the same: a holding space to lay down your bottles in a cool, sun free and humid environment that meets your aesthetic desires and drinking needs. Most residences were not designed with a wine room in mind, but if you are lucky enough to have one, you are ahead of the game.

Calm and Cool The first step is creating a cool, consistent temperature with high humidity. There are several steps that can be taken to achieve this condition. Unless you store your wine below ground, you will typically need a cooling system that does not dry out the air like a traditional air conditioner. The ideal temperature is 55 degrees, however, it is fine to be a little higher or lower. Equally important is the consistency of the temperature avoiding significant fluctuations up or down.

Our approach is to make the room as cool as possible using passive measures before implementing additional mechanical cooling. The best practice is to keep storage space away from outside walls, especially west facing walls because temperatures increase significantly in summer months. Solid walls such as stone and concrete have thermal mass so if they are located on the shady sides of homes or underground, they will keep a space cool and do not need insulation. Most homes do not have insulated interior walls so an initial step is building a moisture barrier and installing insulation.

Once the room or closet temperatures have been stabilized, sizing your cooling unit is the next step.

The formula for sizing your cooling unit is simply based upon the cubic footage of the room and expected temperature conditions. Other important considerations must be kept in mind as well like power supply requirements, location for draining condensation and potential sound from the running unit. Each home or business is unique and must be approached accordingly.

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Light Your Cellar The second condition is a space that is sunlight and vibration free which is easy to accomplish. Don’t worry—this does not mean free of light. There is plenty of opportunity for soothing illumination! Casting deep shadows provides a cavern-like feeling. Candelabra lights, reminiscent of the gas lanterns, flicker and shadow off walls to create a romantic space filled with texture and character. A more modern design might feature straight, narrow strands of light that reflect off the inviting bottles.

Incorporate a chandelier or wall sconces for a traditional design.

Set the Mood Finally, a space that matches your lifestyle, collection, and drinking habits. During an initial consultation with clients, it may be worthwhile to have your favorite sommelier present. Not only is it fun to taste wine during consultation, the conversation can provide a platform for racking design and organization. Will wines be placed by region, varietal, year, or food pairings? Is it the balance of long-term bulk storage compared with immediate consumption? Many people enjoy collecting and inputting data into a wine cellar management program which allows you to print labels as to best years to drink a varietal or a pairing with food. Others have a simpler approach. An easy way to store your favorite varietals is by your favorite wine makers to quickly see what bottle you want to pull out which will be quickly replaced after your next tasting.

The design is where the real fun starts and finding an approach that is best for you.

The easiest and most portable small storage solution is the wine cabinet or credenza.

These cool walled or forced air systems are essentially small refrigerators dressed up to look like cabinetry. These units can stand out as furniture pieces or blend in amongst existing cabinets. Traditional raised panels or modern flush cabinets can complement your design. Depending on size, these cabinets can hold up to 160 bottles.

Convert a Cluttered Closet Our next opportunity is the closet conversion. If you have a closet filled with items you have not touched in years, clean it out, donate your items to a local non-profit, and convert the closet into a nice wine cabinet. A typical 6ft wide closet can hold approximately 500 bottles. Probably not the space for bulk long term storage, but rather featured wines that will be tasted and shared with guests in the near future.

Glass doors and decorative lighting invite guests into your home and suggest time for wine, cheese, and chocolate tasting. If your home has been designed with paint grade cabinets, doors and trim, making the wine closet out of a stain grade wood species will

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allow the space to take center stage. The contrast in color of walnut, oak, cherry or other wood species will provide a built in furniture accent. Placed at the entry of your home or near an entertainment space, your wine collection will become a focal talking point.

Creating a Cave One of my favorite elements to incorporate in a personal wine room is chiseled limestone, reminiscent of the caves of France. The deep texture can be washed with decorative lighting providing shadows and depth.

Mirrored floating shelves can hold crystal decanters.

While most caves are not comfortable to entertain in, you will want to incorporate counters to position bottles. It is possible to encase your racking with floor-to-ceiling glass so a larger table or sofa can be centered in the room. This is perfect for tasking and entertainment while the conditioned space surrounds the room, full of glorious illuminated bottles of wine.

Whether your space is a closet conversion, wine bar, personalized cave or under stair configuration, the basic components to provide design direction are lighting, racking materials and cabinetry, countertops, walls surfaces, and flooring. The style is your preference. Walls covered with old brick and wood, clay plaster, stone veneers or paint will drastically change the aesthetic. Poured concrete countertops can hold glass, metals, stone or other materials you have collected. We often source reclaimed oak barrel wood or flavor staves that have been stained with grape juice and incorporate it into cellar doors, flooring or countertops. As these design details come together, your space will become more personalized.

There are many organizations or racking options to choose. Steel pegs and stainless-steel cables will appeal to the client with a modern or contemporary flavor.

Honeycomb patterns made from metal, wood, wire,

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bamboo or clay provide an urban or industrial feel.

bottle to lay down. A local winemaker once joked with

Most people are familiar with traditional wood racking

me how often he hears that people store their wine

design like X-boxes, vertical columns, drawer and box

under their bed. He joked, “Would you store your top

storage, angled display rows and magnum storage. The

sirloin steak under the bed as well?”

cabinet racking offers the best organization and design for your needs. Large open boxes and X-boxes offer long term bulk storage typically placed low. We prefer to offer an angle display row and center so that labels are easily enjoyed. Single bottle vertical storage above each displayed varietal holds the same wine. With a balance of bulk storage and presentation design, one can store 8-10 bottles of wine per square foot. Thus, a 10-by-8 wall can hold up to 1000 bottles of wine. With the help of a good designer and builder, wine storage can be elegant, entertaining, and most importantly, preserve and protect the unique taste of each varietal.

Remember to drink your wine, wine taste from our many wonderful wineries, and come back with a new

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Mikel Robertson is the licensed general contractor for Green Goods and the manager of the Green Goods retail showroom in San Luis Obispo. As a member of the Sustainable Builders Council, he has made numerous presentations regarding environmentally preferable materials, greywater and waste diversion techniques.

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Design Trends: Spring Into Good Vibes

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Written & Illustrated By Mari Robeson

and the energy of the space feels amazing. Why is that?

Collect Art

What makes one place feel better than another, and how

Collecting and displaying art is a fantastic way to invite

can you create those feel good vibes in your home?

beauty and color into your home. Art sparks creativity

We all know the feeling of walking into someone’s home

and adds personality to your living space. Surrounding According to the ancient practice of Feng Shui, it has to

yourself with beautiful paintings or photography evokes

do with creating a favorable flow of Chi, or energy. Let’s

imagination and joy from within. Collecting art from

take it one step further and talk about how we can use

where you’ve traveled is also another wonderful way to

the sweet energy of Spring to raise the vibration of our

show off your unique style and you will always have it as

home.

a beautiful reminder of your trip.

Declutter & Organize

Play Music

Spring is a time for new beginnings and the best way to

Nothing changes the energy of a space better than filling

start something new is to clean out things that you no

it with music. Music is an easy way to instantly improve

longer need or use. Donate, declutter and organize to

your mood and raise your vibration. Music can calm you

boost the enjoyment of your home. Create more space

after a long day at work or it can awaken your body and

than you need in your living areas. This will invite new

make you want to dance the night away. If you want to

energy into your home and make you feel much lighter.

get mathematical about music, you may want to consider

Smudge With Sage After cleaning your home, open the windows and let the sweet Spring air flow in. Burn sage to cleanse the stuck or negative energy in your home, especially in corners and doorways. Afterwards, burn palo santo or light your

tuning in to 432Hz music. Because 432Hz music is a pure tone of math fundamental to nature, it is considered to have beneficial healing energy. Many listen to this music while meditating and use it as a helpful way to ease anxiety.

Your Memories

favorite candle while setting the intention of inviting in

Personally I think the best decor items in a home that

all the good vibrations of peace, joy, love, health, clarity

hold the finest energy are photographs and mementos

and abundance.

from those we love. Whether it’s a cherished photograph

Plants & Flowers

or a special book from someone we adore. These are the items that are most near and dear to our hearts and truly bring us the highest, good vibes of all.

It’s a known fact that plants cleanse and purify the air in our homes. Not only do plants look beautiful but some plants actually remove harmful chemicals like benzene, ammonia, and formaldehyde just to name a few. However, some plants can be harmful to children and pets, so it’s a good idea to check before bringing them home. If plants just aren’t your thing, fresh cut flowers will not only bring in beauty and color but it’s also been scientifically proven that flowers increase happiness.

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Bamboo toothbrushes Your toothbrush might slip your mind when it comes to living sustainably, but the plastic adds up. Switching to a biodegradable

Simple Ways to Live Sustainably

bamboo toothbrush is a small way you can reduce your plastic usage.

Make sure to remove the bristles before disposing in a composter or your normal trash.

Organic cotton produce bags Instead of storing your produce in plastic bags from the grocery store, try using organic cotton sacks. It cuts down on plastic and allows your produce to breathe. Just toss them in the washer after using and they are ready for your next set of groceries.

Glass food storage containers Plastic food containers are a staple to many kitchens, but they can be quite harmful to your health and the environment. Switching to glass food

By Serena Lopez

storage containers is a great way to support a healthy, sustainable lifestyle.

Glass is chemically inert, easily

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recyclable, and versatile in the kitchen.

Organic or recycled fabrics Clothing is a big contributor to the world’s waste. Synthetic materials like polyester, rayon, nylon, and spandex can take centuries to fully breakdown in landfills. Switch to purchasing clothing made from organic fabrics and recycled or reclaimed materials. Also, shopping at your local second hand store helps keep clothing out of landfills.

Reusable water bottles Plastic water bottles are everywhere, but so easy to avoid. Try reusable water bottles made from stainless steel or glass.

Some are even insulated to keep your drink hot or cold for hours. Switching can reduce your carbon footprint and also save you money.

Eat locally Not only does eating locally support the local economy, it supports sustainability.

Shortening the distance your produce travels cuts down on energy, emissions, and wasted food during distribution, warehousing, and merchandising. Eating locally is better for you and the earth.

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Wash clothes in in cold water Did you know 90% of energy to wash clothes comes from just heating the water? Save energy by using cold water in the washing machine instead of warm and hot water. Additionally, cold water is less likely to fade and shrink fabrics, making your clothes last longer.

Make your own all-purpose cleanser Ditch the chemicals and toxins in storebought cleansers and make a homemade all-purpose cleanser. Not only are you reducing your exposure to unhealthy chemicals, you’re saving the environment from toxins too. There are many all natural cleanser recipes made from simple, low-cost ingredients.

Walking and biking more Reduce your carbon emissions by walking and biking more frequently! Instead of driving your car to the local coffee shop or the grocery store, enjoy the outdoors by walking or biking. Not only is walking and biking beneficial for your physical health, taking one car off the road is a step in the right direction.

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63 / Living Lavishly

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Inspired

by Life “Here on the Central Coast, we find inspiration not only from the breathtaking scenery, but also the hardworking members of our community and the stories that they hold. From our entrepreneurs and local non-profits, to the small business owners and the families that support them, we take pride in knowing the fabric of our community is carefully knitted by these amazing individuals and the passions that drive them.”

- Madeline Minas Executive Editor

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Creating a True Central Coast Dinner Party It’s all about the views, the food, the wine and the hospitality!

By Serena Lopez Photos by Stefanie Elizabeth Photography

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T

here’s nothing quite like the scenery of the Central Coast. With a picturesque mountainscape,

roaming farm animals, and spectacular shades of pink and orange setting over the mountain peaks and blue waters of the Pacific, it is truly an experience to savor.

Apart from the beautiful scenery, the Central Coast is rich with small businesses established by local families and ambitious entrepreneurs. It is the entrepreneurial spirit and multiplicity of passions this community holds that makes it beloved by residents and tourists. The marvelous union of breathtaking landscapes and bold passions makes the Central Coast so special, so lavish.

When deciding on the cover of this issue, togetherness that captured the beauty of the Central Coast came to mind. Being a part of the Central Coast community is being a part of a family. From the eateries to wineries to the hospitality, the families on the Central Coast are always well taken care of.

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Stellar wines One of the best things about living on the Central Coast is never running out of choices when it comes to wine! With hundreds of wineries, the Central Coast is clearly a magical spot for vintners, especially for Talley Vineyards. The winery’s signature 2017 pinot noir and chardonnay were poured and enjoyed at dinner. The red embodies notes of raspberry, rhubarb and orange peel to compliment the cherry, pomegranate, and sage aromas. For the white wine lovers at the table, Talley’s 2017 Chardonnay has a fruity taste with lemon, nectarine and green apple notes with lemon tart, jasmine and orange blossom aromas. Talley Vineyards, now in the Talley family’s third generation, is devoted to creating high quality, distinctive wines that proudly represent each of their vineyards in the Arroyo Grande Valley and Edna Valley.

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Locally grown ingredients What is a Central Coast dinner party without locally grown produce? Grown in the Arroyo Grande Valley less than seven miles from Pepper Tree Ranch, fresh vegetables from Talley Farms made for the perfect appetizer. From carrots and broccoli to bell peppers and jicama, the vegetable board handpicked by Talley Farms Fresh Harvest Manager Andrea Chavez and Customer Service Manager Lisa Loogman made for a tasty appetizer. All of Talley Farms’ produce is sustainably grown from non-GMO seeds using organic sprays and fertilizer. The honesty and dedication Talley Farms has to the community is one of the reasons they continue to be a choice Central Coast business.

For the main course, traditional Central Coast barbeque was served by Old San Luis BBQ Co. Owner and Cal Poly Alumni Matt Pearce and Kitchen Manager David Byrnes plated their famous Strawberry Field Salad containing all local ingredients for the first course. To follow it up, guests enjoyed a loaded Santa Maria-style tri-tip, chicken, and sausage plate complimented by grilled seasonal vegetables, smoky Santa Maria pinquito beans, flavorful garlic bread, and a warm slice of their Cowboy Corn Pie. Each item on the plate paired so well together creating a harmonious combination of flavors. Old San Luis BBQ sources most of their ingredients from local farms, staying true to Central Coast values. It’s no wonder every plate was licked clean!

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Great Addition!

Finally, an Additional New Home on Your Property!

­

Pete Houck

Phone: 805.929.2757 Email: phouck@advantagehomes.com 71 / Living Lavishly www.advantagehomes.com

Stunning views Tucked away in Edna Valley, Pepper Tree Ranch was the perfect space to gather guests with their modern rustic aesthetic and stunning views of rolling hills and flourishing farmlands. The pepper trees that grow throughout the property are a symbol of happiness, health and hospitality. Climb into the Owl’s Nest, hidden by pepper trees, for a more secluded and intimate experience or gather under the twinkling lights outside the barn for a more open environment.

Not only does the 70-acre property speak for itself, Venue Manager Brooke Campbell is dedicated to guests’ satisfaction and expectations. From the consulting visit to breakdown, Pepper Tree Ranch’s hospitality parallels their fabulous property.

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187 Tank Farm Rd. San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 73 / Living Lavishly (805) 541-5116 | kellymoore.com

It’s all in the details A beautiful venue requires stellar tables and florals.

Got You Covered Rentals showcased their expertise and detail-oriented style through their gorgeous table settings. Gold-trimmed plates and glasses tie in gold flatware and work beautifully with the green table runner and wooden table. The table settings were crafted in GYC Rental’s showroom with Vice President Vanessa’s eye for style. From a classic Victorian theme to a more casual farmhouse setting, GYC Rental’s can turn any vision into a reality. Along with place settings come fabulous matching linens by Bella Couture Linens.

Pink and green floral table linens and the matching jade green table runner provided the base of the color palette for this dinner party. The linens perfectly accented by the elaborate floral pieces from Elegant Details. Elegant Details Owner Ricardo created custom floral centerpieces to fit perfectly with the specific color scheme. With his attention to detail, Ricardo didn’t just create floral pieces, but an entire mood.

From the champagne-colored roses, the wispy green tendrils to the gold vases and candleholders, the decor captured elegance perfectly while still allowing the focus of guests to be on each other.

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Life Behind the Wheel: A Potter’s Story

By Charlotte Ross Photos courtesy of Christine Silbaugh

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L

os Osos native Christine Silbaugh started out her

porch.” It wasn’t until several years later, however, that she

early adulthood working in a grocery store, but after

mastered the art of the wheel and discovered a love for it.

putting her hands on clay for the first time, her career path took a turn.

Silbaugh’s husband, who is in the construction industry, began building pottery studios around San Luis Obispo

In 2010, Silbaugh discovered a passion for ceramics and

County. He built one for her friend in Atascadero and

opened her own studio, Back Bay Pottery, with the help

after trying the wheel once, Silbaugh was hooked.

of friends and family. She said she never envisioned herself owning a studio of her own, but art was always a big part of her life. Even when she worked at the grocery shop, she was selling homemade jewelry on the side.

“This is my full-time business now, this studio is how I support the family,” Silbaugh said.

Silbaugh offers pottery classes to the public and recently built a showroom for customers to look at her artwork. Most of her sales are online, but some locals stop by for gifts.

Silbaugh grew up in a family of artists and craftsmen with their own businesses so it was almost inevitable she too would put her creativity into profession.

“I grew up in a family that just tried all kinds of things,” she said, “my mom even had a pottery wheel on the back

“I started going every week for a couple months and after that I just had to have my own studio,” she said.

It didn’t take long for her husband to build a studio at the back of their house and start a business. They bought all of the equipment used from Craigslist and got to work.

At the beginning, things were difficult. Silbaugh said there was a definite learning curve with the wheel, the glaze, and the proper fire techniques.

She watched online videos as she played with the clay, read books, and called friends with questions.

“There are lots of little things you learn in school that you can’t learn on YouTube and have to figure out yourself,” Silbaugh said. “When I first fired the kiln, I was

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afraid I was going to burn the house down. I remember I

it, and how to take photos.” Something she said she

couldn’t sleep, I just watched it the whole time.”

struggled with at the beginning.

Now nine years later, Silbaugh sells her artwork online

When Silbaugh allows time to herself to make something

and decorates the interior of her home with new

she wants each week, she said she is her happiest. One

projects. She started out small, making buttons and

of her favorite additions to each piece are the dots, a

beads but it all grew from there.

distinct part of her style which she includes in almost

“There’s a business side of it and a creative side of it

everything.

and you have to try and find how they merge together,”

Most of her inspiration comes from colors and textures

she said. “When you’re an artist making a living, it’s a

of the natural world.

challenge because the best thing to make is something new and experimental, but to make a business, I have to sell made to order.”

Silbaugh sells her pottery in different categories ranging from kitchen and dishware to house and garden.

Customers choose what they want online, select their colors, then wait about 6 weeks to receive their order.

One of the greatest challenges with the business aspect, Silbaugh said, is having to make the same things over and over.

“It’s hard to know where all the inspiration comes from, but it’s just part of living everyday life and paying attention to all the little details,” she said.

The curves of her bowls, the raised dots on her dishware, and the rustic colors resemble different aspects of nature including flowers, leaves, shells, and sea anemones.

Ceramics taught Silbaugh to look at the world in a completely different way, something that she said comes from living in a beautiful town, surrounded by a

“It pays the bills to make 100 butter dishes,” she said

community of artists. “I don’t know any other way to look

laughing. “I [had] to figure out what sells, how to sell

at things, it all comes naturally to me,” Silbaugh said.

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“There are so many adults unhappy with their jobs that say they are still figuring out what they want to do with their lives, but there really is enough room in the world for more ceramic artists because it takes so much time to make stuff and everyone has their own distinct style,” she said.

“It’s really cool to drink from a hand-made mug and think about how someone thought of it and designed it.”

A person’s artwork says a lot about who they are, and for Christine Silbaugh, that story is told through pottery. It

Your future looks bright with a brilliant smile!

is the journey of a woman discovering her passion and making a career of it, even years after marriage, children and working as a grocery clerk.

Charlotte Ross is a fourth-year journalism student at Cal Poly, pursuing dual minors, one in Spanish and the other in biology with a concentration in wildlife and biodiversity conservation. She enjoys writing, traveling, and immersing herself in the outdoors. You can check out her blog at simplybecause.home.blog or connect with her on LinkedIn.

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Crafting Wine & Good Times on the Central Coast

By Judy Salamacha Photos by Stuart & Paige Selkirk Illustrations by Emilia Bollini

Curiosity sparked a passion deep inside Cayucos native Stuart Selkirk. His twelve-year quest to become a master winemaker inspired Cayucos Cellars. Truly, living the good life meant family and community served up with a great glass of wine.

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Building Cayucos Cellars Flashback to 1983: Cayucos Construction was busy.

“Make what you love, and hopefully, your glass never

Selkirk, owner and general contractor, employed fifty

runs dry,” Selkirk said.

construction workers and subcontractors. However, the curiosity bug bit one day and life changed. He noticed his neighbor “slinging grapes” out the back of his truck.

Preferring to remain a small family-owned and operated business, Cayucos Cellars bottles 300 to 800 cases a year of “Old World” wines, aged extended for at least four to six years. Selkirk only uses wild native

“It was about the time first-born Clay was three, four

yeasts, primarily dry-farmed vines, minimal sulfates

months old that I first cranked my neighbor’s old

and always avoids chemicals and additives.

hand-crank grape crusher,” Selkirk said. He then

Meanwhile, Clay, Paige, and Ross picked up

helped ferment the grapes in a wooden

their dad’s interests. They each filled in at

vat and move the wine to the cellar.

the tasting room to give their parents

Selkirk was hooked. His training

a break. Clay followed directly in

in Swiss-American winemaking

his father’s footsteps learning all

spanned from 1983 to 1995.

he could about winemaking.

“It was a big learning curve,”

Paige enjoyed tasting room

he added. Finally, in 1996 he

operations, marketing and events

made five barrels of his own,

planning while Ross preferred

but without a license, friends

the construction business which

could only taste. They liked it

he solely owns and operates as

and encouraged him to make more.

Construction, Inc.

His style was established. Selkirk adds new varietals, but his process never deviates.

After graduating from University of the Pacific, Clay spent the summer working at the winery. For him, it confirmed a career choice. For

After six years, he filled his small ranch wine

Selkirk, he discovered his son was “too valuable to let

production space and realized he needed to fund his

go.” For eight years, they worked side by side until the

hobby so he obtained a license to sell. Debbie Jenssen

day Selkirk was scheduled to have lunch with his friend,

was a family friend, who owned Highway One in

John Munch, owner and winemaker of Le Cuvier

Cayucos. She offered the back of her Ocean Avenue

Winery.

retail shop for boutique wine tasting on weekends only when Stuart and Laura had time to take off work and meet the public to share their wines. It wasn’t long before they retrofitted space a couple doors down the street in 2005 and Cayucos Cellars on Ocean Avenue officially became the family business.

“I knew John was ready to back off so I asked him what he was going to do,” Selkirk said. “He didn’t know so I asked him if he wanted Clay and the deal was made. After lunch we told Clay he was moving on.” It was the right move for his son, Selkirk proudly admits.

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Within two years Clay became the winemaker for

Three years ago, their Cayucos lease was up and the

the larger award-winning Paso Robles winery.

building was for sale. They decided to move Cayucos

Timing was right for Paige, who graduated from the University of Santa Cruz, then traveled worldwide. She was ready to settle into the Operations Manager position.

“I received a semi two week training,” she joked, but with hospitality and events planning jobs since high school, she was a natural to take her casual involvement in the family business full time.

“We work well together. Her skills are in marketing and events and I can do what I love – make wine,” Selkirk said.

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Cellars to Cambria “...offering closer proximity to other wineries for tasting traffic and referrals.” Paige has been totally involved in the wine collaborative, Pacific Coast Wine Trail.

Also, Selkirk remains traditionally active in his industry’s future. Cayucos Cellars and Stolo Family Vineyards teamed up with other vintners to create a new coastal American Viticulture Area. Aaron Jackson and Brian Talley have taken the lead to submit paperwork which would include Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and the north coast.

The good life for Selkirk and Laura has included travel

Selkirk said he was grumpy because he was hungry so

time since Paige joined the team. The couple, who met

Laura, knowing how to handle her husband, wandered

at Cambria High School, but didn’t marry until they

off looking for the Verona Arena, which research told

met again as neighbors in Cayucos, will celebrate their

her was a must-see since it is larger than the Roman

40th anniversary in 2020. They have traveled to New

Colosseum. Instead, she found a room at the Palace

Zealand, Croatia, Canada, and northern Italy, including

Opera House Hotel, later learning they booked the

Tuscany.

last room available within 100 miles due to a vintner

“What I learn from traveling?” Selkirk said. “It validates

cancelling.

how I make wine. I’ve learned more about food and

Selkirk was surprised to recognize a couple guys he

wine pairing. It has given me a broader world view.”

knew from Wine Enthusiast Magazine. They directed

He loves to tell how they stumbled into Verona, Italy without reservations, unaware the largest wine exhibition in the world, VinItaly, was happening.

the couple to the Verona Arena where seven grand buildings were filled with 1,200 worldwide vintners and 140,000 visitors tasting.

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“Vintners kept following us around because they were

of the Pacific Coast Wine Trail, they have supported

looking for American distributors even though I said

countless events such as the Cayucos Sea Glass

we were a small family operation,” he grinned.

Festival, Cambria’s Annual Harvest Festival, the Morro

Their next move is strategic for the times, according to Paige. “Wine marketing today includes the total wine experience so we will move to the Garden Shed in

Bay Harbor Festival and most recently, they were poured at Tognazzini’s Dockside Restaurant’s Foodfest for Garden House of Morro Bay.

early February,” Paige said. “The space intends to offer

Selkirk, who favors bluegrass music since he picked up

indoor and outdoor tasting space and the opportunity

the guitar in his twenties, said, “It’s sure nice to relax

for special events.”

with a glass of wine and my guitar after a long day at

Wine club members understand that total wine experience. New members have been known to join the Cayucos Cellars Wine Club just to be invited to pick-up

the winery.” You can be sure one of the family’s Corgis will be listening nearby if not on a weekend walk at the ranch with Laura.

parties at the Borradori Garage in Cayucos.

“We like to make our events family friendly,” said Paige.

“Good food, wine and Dad’s band, Thunder Canyon

To learn more about Cayucos Cellars, visit

Strong, is always fun for listening and dancing.”

www.cayucoscellars.com

Cayucos Cellars has always been a generous community supporter of events. Along with members

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A Botanist with Beehives on the Side

By Charlotte Ross Photos by Charlotte Ross Illustrations by Emilia Bollini

J

ohn Chesnut is a hobbyist beekeeper, an original member of the Central Coast Beekeeping Alliance, and a botanist. His love for beekeeping all started back in the “land of the hippie”

– it was what the moonshiners did down in the valley during the 1970’s. He had to join in as the rebellious teen he was, going against his father who is deathly allergic.

In college, Chesnut studied biology where he learned about bee behavior, but eventually he became a botanist with a growing passion and understanding for plants. He has worked at Carrizo Plains as a field botanist for over a decade with beekeeping as a hobby on the side.

“I understand plants and know what is going on with bees because the two go together,” he said. “I like to say I’m a hobbyist who’s allowed my hobby to get out of control,” he laughed.

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Life as a SLO County Bee Keeper Chesnut has 12 bee yards around San Luis Obispo County; some in Chorro Valley, some in Los Osos Valley, and one in Tassajara Canyon beyond the grade.

They are all fairly small in size and take up just a portion of other people’s properties, which he found on craigslist. In return for their land, Chesnut pays the owners with fresh honey.

Chesnut has 250 bee colonies which is considered below the threshold for an economic beekeeper.

Obispo County, sucking nectar from the eucalyptus

He checks the condition of his bees once every two

trees, Arroyo Willows, wildflowers, and cape vines,

weeks and opens their swarms frequently to test their

which Chesnut said is a terrible, invasive species that

temperament. The first essential step to becoming

fortunately helps the bee’s survival. The way he puts it

a beekeeper, he said, is learning to be calm around

is, “we are living in the garden of Eden here.”

swarms. However, even decades of working with them later, Chesnut said he still chokes up when the bees get close to his face and buzz in his ears.

In the Central Valley, bees migrate in thousands to pollinate almond trees. They also go to cherries, plums, avocados, and citrus, but avoid grapes and

“I try talking to them, but they don’t listen to me... they

strawberries, which get wind pollinated. Ever since

don’t have ears!” he said with a smile on his face.

Paso Robles converted from “dryland to wine country,”

With a dry season in California comes a lack of moisture in plants, making it a challenge for bees to reach the nectar in some of the deep-throated flowers, like sage. Chesnut currently feeds his bees jars of sugar water, one for each bee box. Commercial beekeepers typically open feed their bees with barrels of sugar

Chesnut said bee populations have decreased from a lack of nectar and an increase in chemicals found in the irrigation leaks.

It’s a Bee’s Life

water and hay, but Chesnut restricts the food source to bees settled in his yards. Each year he said he

There are around 1,600 native bees in California, which

tries new experiments to see what works best and is

are mostly solitary, meaning they nest colonially but

economically viable.

in separate underground holes. Though the adult bees

In January, when the first eucalyptus of the winter blooms, the bee season too, will bloom. Up until then, the bees are barely surviving and fighting off starvation from the sugar water Chesnut feeds them. In the spring, the swarms build up and take over San Luis

are considered “sugar junkies,” the babies get their food source from protein; pollen is collected from flowers and stored in the bee’s furry coat then carried back to the nest and fermented.

In each colony, there is one queen bee, which can

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be distinguished by her movement and pheromones

Chesnut said most honey consumers prefer local

– which indicates she is still alive. She is the only

honeys and exotic blends. Most of the store-bought

reproductive bee in a colony and lays over 2,000 eggs

jars come from North and South Dakota and are

a day. All of the other female bees are called worker

sunflower canola pollinated. In America, most

bees; they are all genetically identical which means any

consumers prefer their honey light, he said, whereas

one of them can become the queen, depending on how

in Canada, they like it crystallized and thicker.

it is fed as a baby and during the metamorphosis stage (it takes 21 days to go from larvae to an egg to a cocoon to a bee). The male bees are called drones; they have no stinger and their sole purpose in the hive is to mate with the queen.

The pheromones that the bees produce is considered an analogue of lemongrass. This along with their figure-eight patterned dance movements is how they communicate with one another in building their hives and honeycombs. They wiggle their tails and direct one another where to create a home base.

As an original member of the Central Coast Beekeeping Alliance (CCBA), Chesnut said he does a lot to advocate for local produce. He sells his honey and “nuclear” hives locally to make money, but with the club, the goal is to train on production, produce queen bees, and sell hives.

CCBA began in Santa Maria but after a while, the driving distance was too far for Chesnut, so he reinstituted a club more locally which he said is now more financially stable with a core membership in both skills and connection. Everyone in the club

Bees can draw a frame of a honeycomb in a single day,

supports one another and keeps each other going

but it is metabolically intensive. It takes approximately

with the bees.

eight pounds of honey consumed by bees to produce one pound of beeswax. The combs are typically filled up in August, but April and May is when Chesnut spins his own honey. What he looks for in the comb frame are cells filled with honey and covered with a layer of beeswax; this indicates when it is ripe.

“I honestly don’t know what causes people to get interested in [beekeeping] in the first place, but they lose interest quickly,” Chesnut said. “I guess it’s not everyone’s cup of tea to work with venomous insects.”

Chesnut started an international beekeeping page on Facebook that has numerous followers, though most

The Balance of Bees

of them do not actually have bees. The beekeeping hobbyists make up a very small subpopulation, with many that come and go.

There are 2,500 beekeepers in the U.S. he said, that

When Chesnut spins his honey, he said he likes

are economically viable. Commercial beekeepers,

to make a party of it with his friends and family.

who do it for a career, can make up to 200 million

What he does not collect from the combs, he

dollars for every hive. The issue with San Luis Obispo

leaves for the bees to consume in the fall time,

County though, is that there is a prohibition by code

but he tries to remove most of it to make room for

for beekeeping, which reduces the local expertise

their eggs and larvae.

and increases numbers of swarms.

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Photo by Charlotte Ross

With 1 to 4 percent of the population allergic to

Charlotte Ross is a fourth-year journalism student at

bees, Chesnut said it makes sense that regulations

Cal Poly, pursuing dual minors, one in Spanish and

have to take place from beekeeping in urban areas

the other in biology with a concentration in wildlife

and backyards, which is why his yards are setup

and biodiversity conservation. She enjoys writing,

in the countryside. But bees are everywhere, and

traveling, and immersing herself in the outdoors. You

beekeepers are needed to remove the swarms,

can check out her blog at simplybecause.home.blog or

something he does with his bare hands.

connect with her on LinkedIn.

For John Chesnut, beekeeping is a side hobby to his botany profession, but it is a passion and a way of understanding the world and the environment.

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(805) 861-1317 91 / Living Lavishly

Finding Harmony on the Central Coast

By Molly O’Brien

H

armony Cellars of Harmony, CA is a truly standout venue in a location overflowing with numerous superlative wineries. The property offers

a picturesque and relaxing location, admirable history, and excellent wines alongside staff who are warm, friendly and accommodating.

This family-owned establishment was founded in 1989 by husband and wife dynamic duo Chuck and Kim Mulligan. The couple was inspired by their

Photo by Becky Clair of Clair Images

vacation to Santa Ynez when a wine tasting excursion lead to the discovery of their talent for winetending and sparked the origins of Harmony’s humble beginnings.

Upon first opening Harmony, Chuck and Kim had two small children to care for and held other jobs in addition to their duties at the winery. Nevertheless their perseverance paid off and in the past 30 years the winery has grown from a 2,000 case micro winery to a 7,500 case boutique production facility.

Harmony sits on a parcel of land which has been in Kim’s family for four generations. Her great-grandfather, Giacomo Barlogio, purchased the land

Photo by Josh Kimball

from William Randolph Hearst. Harmony’s close proximity to Hearst Castle, the Harmony Headlands, and the Elephant Seal Rookery in San Simeon are what make its location truly one-of-a-kind. Guests can enjoy the small town ambiance and rural setting along the gateway to the Big Sur coast and Paso Robles wine region.

Since Harmony isn’t directly tied to an estate vineyard, Chuck and Kim are able to offer a diverse selection of wines, all of which are produced and bottled in Harmony. Harmony wines are made with fruit selected from vineyards along the Central Coast from Monterey to Santa Margarita. From determining when the grapes are picked, to hauling the full grape bins from

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Photo by Becky Clair of Clair Images

the vineyard to the winery, to crushing and pressing the fruit (often late into the night), Chuck meticulously tends to all the winemaking details from harvest to bottling and strives to make something appreciated by every type of palate.

While Chuck tends to winemaking, Kim manages the winery’s in-house duties and keeps Harmony Cellars current which is a challenge in the ever-changing wine industry. Her extensive background in business and accounting drive her to excel as both CEO and CFO of the winery’s affairs.

Guests will never tire of visiting the property because there’s always something new to experience. Events like Star Gazing parties on the patio and pop-up art classes, live music and unique food-trucks fare during extended tasting room summer hours inspire visitors and locals alike to return.

“I love our wines, but my favorite part of Harmony is the people—we’re like a family,” Erin Martin said, Harmony’s Marketing & Human Resources Director.

It’s as if Harmony Cellars’ fitting name and robust backstory are just two of the reasons to visit the property any time of year. The third? The impeccable wines, of course!

To learn more about Harmony Cellars, visit www.harmonycellars.com

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93 / Living Lavishly Book Direct on our Website for the Best Price and Availability.

Animal Heroes on the Central Coast

By Madeline Minas and Serena Lopez

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Turtle and Tortoise Rescue of Arroyo Grande Cats and dogs are not the only animals who struggle with finding permanent homes. Since 1992, the Turtle and Tortoise Rescue of Arroyo Grande has given animals in need a home and the opportunity for a better life. Owners Jeff and Tammy Dobbs focus on education, conservation, and quality care for every animal on the property.

There are over 300 different animals on the property at any given time. From turtles and tortoises to alpacas and emus. The rescue has open arms for all animals in need of a home. With education as a big part of their mission and goal for the rescue, the Dobbs love working with school and community programs. They also are passionate about working with children and adults with special needs.

“We are making the property more conducive to children,” Jeff Dobbs said. “Especially children with special needs and kids on the spectrum.”

For more information about the rescue and how to get involved, visit turtleandtortoiserescueofarroyogrande.org

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Animals in Need Fund Not all animals in need are in shelters. Some have loving homes, but need funds to receive lifesaving surgery or need to get fixed to prevent more animals in shelters.

Founded in 2008, the Animals in Need Fund is a non-profit that serves the Central Coast community by providing low-cost veterinary services through the Feline Network of the Central Coast, grants and no-interest loans for surgeries, and providing foster homes for surrendered pets and high-risk animals in shelters where they are available for adoption after rehabilitation.

Animals in Need Fund also work with the Five Cities Coalition to offer grants for the homeless community to spay or neuter pets and provide basic veterinary services like flea prevention and physicals.

“When it comes time to make a donation or adoption, it doesn’t matter who you choose, just help,” Administrative Director Dawnde Wallen said. “We just want to save them all. In order to do that, we need the support of our community.”

For more information about AIN Fund and how to get involved, visit ainfund.org

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“When it comes time to make a donation or adoption, it doesn’t matter what you choose, just help.”

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Booze for Paws Almost 1.5 million shelter animals are euthanized each year, according to ASPCA. Booze for Paws founder Sid Chand and his wife, Christy, launched this organization with one goal in mind: decrease the staggering statistic of euthanizations for healthy, adoptable dogs and cats to zero.

Sid came up with the idea to start Booze for Paws after being inspired by the power of charitydriven efforts, his passion for animals, and his expertise in the alcohol industry. Although still in the beginning stages, Booze for Paws aims to offer different types of spirits and donate 100% of profits to charities saving animals in need.

“Booze for Paws is a labor of love,” he says. “There’s a ton of money in the booze business, so I thought, why not start something that can tap into this?”

For anyone wanting to join the Chands’ efforts in increasing awareness on animal euthanization and decreasing the statistic, visit boozeforpaws.org.

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Locally owned & operated for over 21 years

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SLO Dog Adventures Let your dog join the SLO Dog Adventures pack! Pack Walker and Owner Bonnie Shiffrar takes pride in getting dogs out of the house and immersing them in nature, accompanied by 5-15 other furry friends. Bonnie’s pack walks take place in San Luis Obispo, Five Cities area, Nipomo, Santa Maria, and Orcutt.

She says that she finds fulfillment in helping dogs better communicate with each other through guidance in the pack, and helping their owners become better leaders by helping them understand dog behavior and why structure, boundaries, exercise, and socialization are crucial for a balanced dog.

“Dogs really crave to be in a pack. It brings them back to their roots!,” says Bonnie.

Learn more about Bonnie’s daily walks by visiting slodogadventures.com or following her on Instagram and Facebook: @slodogadventures

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Raspberry Lemon Pudding Cakes Recommended by Talley Farms Fresh Harvest Source: myrecipes.com This delicious treat is one of Andrea Chavez of Talley Farm’s favorite desserts to make!

“This recipe is elegant and easier to make than it looks!”

Total time: 50 minutes | Cool time: 30 minutes | Serves 6

Ingredients

• Finely shredded zest of 1 lemon • 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

• 2 large eggs, separated • ½ cup granulated sugar • 3 tablespoons flour • 2 tablespoons melted butter

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• 1 cup low fat (1 %) milk • 1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar • 2 2/3 cups (12 oz.) raspberries and/ or blueberries, divided • Powdered sugar

Preparation 1. Preheat oven to 350. Set 6 ramekins (2/3 cup size) in a 9x13 inch baking pan.

2. In a medium bowl, whisk together egg yolks and granulated sugar until thick and creamy. Whisk in flour, butter, lemon zest, juice, and milk until blended.

3. In a deep bowl with a mixer on high speed, beat egg whites and cream of tartar until whites hold stiff, moist peaks when beater is lifted. Stir ¼ of whites into yolk mixture until blended, then gently fold in remaining whites. Gently fold in half of berries.

4. Spoon batter into ramekins, fill to top. Pour enough hot tap water into baking pan to come 1 inch up the sides of the ramekins.

5. Bake until cake layers are set and tops are golden, 30 to 35 minutes.

Remove ramekins from water; let cool at least 30 minutes. Serve with more berries on top and a dusting of powdered sugar.

6. Enjoy!

Make Ahead: chill airtight up to 1 day; pudding layer will become more distinct.

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Cookwell Corner With Courtney Coleman

Fried Rice & Springtime Veggies • 2 tablespoons ghee (or coconut oil) • 3 cups carrot, sliced into 1/8 inch pieces (or fennel bulb) • 1 pound of any consciously raised meat, diced or ground (optional) • 11 cup water • 1 teaspoon ground ginger

• 2 cups cooked brown rice • 3 tablespoons Ohsawa, Eden, or San-J brand tamari soy sauce • 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice In a large frying pan or wok with a tightfitting lid, place ghee over medium heat and spread evenly in pan. Immediately add carrots, meat (if desired), water, ginger, coriander and yellow curry powder. Stir well to spread spices evenly over all the food and

• 1 teaspoon ground coriander

cover and cook for 3 minutes.

• 1 teaspoon yellow curry

Stir and add broccoli and snap peas. Cover

powder

and cook another 3 minutes. Stir again and

• 2 cups fresh broccoli,

and cover for 2 minutes. Remove lid and

chopped • 2 cups fresh snap peas, chopped

layer greens on top then sprinkle herbs stir. Make sure meat is cooked through (if not, just push them down to the bottom of the pan and cook for another minute or so). Turn off heat when meat is cooked and

• 1 large bunch kale, chopped

all the greens are slightly wilted and wet

(or collard greens mustard

looking.

greens)

Stir in your brown rice and finally, add

• 1 teaspoon dill, dried or

tamari soy sauce and lemon juice evenly to

minced (or marjoram)

everything. Stir well once more and voilà!

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Asparagus-Shitake-Leek Tacos These are great springtime

Sauté leeks in ghee with ground ginger,

veggie tacos when fresh

coriander, and cayenne for 3 minutes,

asparagus is everywhere at

stirring every 30 seconds. Add ½ cup

farmers’ markets!

water, and Tamari soy sauce, shiitake

• 3 tablespoons ghee (or virgin coconut oil) • 2 cups leek, thinly sliced white

mushrooms, and asparagus (tender parts only). Sauté for 2 minutes Add dill, stir again and turn off heat. Warm

part only

tortillas in a small skillet with a thin layer

• 1 tablespoon ground ginger

shitake-leek mixture and serve with lemon

• 1 teaspoon ground coriander • ½ teaspoon cayenne • ½ cup water • 3 tablespoons Ohsawa, Eden or

of ghee. Fill warm tortillas with asparagusto squeeze on top and ripe avocado slices.

For those of you who are into goat cheese, it compliments these tacos superbly, but with or without a goat cheese, these tacos are amazingly yummy!

San-J Tamari soy sauce

Serve them alongside a huge springtime

• 2 cups sliced shiitake

want in a meal. Local, extra virgin olive

mushrooms • 2 cups asparagus, chopped tender parts only

salad and you’ve got all you could ever oil and lemon juice drizzled over farmer’s market fresh lettuces is a super simple salad dressing and tastes fantastic!

• 1 teaspoon dried dill (or 1 tbsp fresh minced dill) • Organic corn tortillas (I like Food For Life, Mi Rancho, or

Courtney Coleman is a nutritional therapist, CookWell Coach, and personal chef. She can be found at CookWell.org.

Buenatural brands) • 1 lemon (or 2 limes) • 1 ripe avocado, sliced

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Local goat cheese, or a raw goat cheese - I love Cabretta! (optional)

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Best Chef Competition: Cheeseburger in Paradise Local Chefs Compete in a Blind Tasting Competition Presented by Taste Buds TV Show Photos by Zuridia Garcia

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03 | In the Kitchen

- Judges Choice Winner -

Kurtis Wright of The Nautical Cowboy As a kid growing up on the Central Coast, Kurtis Wright knew that he wanted to become a chef. Barbequing and cooking extravagant meals for his family were everyday occasions. Once he was old enough to step foot into a real restaurant kitchen, he took like a fish to water moving his way up the culinary ladder. After many years of grinding and putting in long hours, it finally paid off.

Kurtis Wright had become Executive Chef at a series of wonderful dining establishments. From Morro Bay to Las Vegas and back to the Central Coast, Kurtis grew with each position and brought that knowledge and creativity to the team at The Nautical Cowboy. Here, Kurtis prepares sustainable seafood dishes, sears off prime steaks and makes pastas, sauces, and desserts from scratch. He can often be found talking with local food purveyors, cutting steaks in-house or tending to his microgreen garden.

Dine in at The Nautical Cowboy in The Carlton Hotel, located at 6005 El Camino Real in Atascadero. Visit nauticalcowboy.com or call 805-461-5100 for more information.

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Featured Recipe

The Nautical Cowboy’s Half Pound “Naughty Burger” Ingredients • 1/2 pound ground beef • Swiss & cheddar (Or really, whatever cheeses suits your fancy) • Salt & pepper • Back Porch Bakery brioche buns • Pickled Peppers (see recipe) • Tomato Chutney (see recipe) • Roasted Corn Spread (see recipe) • Beer Battered Peppers (see recipe) • Arugula

• 1 tbsp. coriander

• 1 cup red wine vinegar

• 2 tsp. fennel seeds

• 1 cup apple cider vinegar

• 1 tsp. whole grain

• 2 cups water

mustard seeds

• 2 pinches of salt

• 6-10 garlic cloves

For Pickled Peppers

• 1 shallot, sliced

For Tomato Chutney

• 4 green bell peppers,

• A few sprigs of rosemary,

• 5 heirloom tomatoes,

thinly sliced

dill and thyme

chopped

• 3 cloves

• Chili flakes (to taste)

• 4 cloves garlic, chopped

• 2 bay leaves

• 1/2 Tbsp. multi-colored

• 1 onion, chopped

peppercorns

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• 1/4 cup sugar

Directions

and roasted bell pepper with remaining ingredients to food

• 1/4 cup vinegar

processor. Some like it smooth,

• 1 tbsp. salt

For Pickled Peppers

• 1 tbsp. ground ginger

Bring vinegars, salt, sugar and

• 1 tbsp. chili powder

some like it chunky. Puree to your liking

water to a boil then carefully

For Beer Battered Peppers

pour over all other pickling ingredients. Let cool and enjoy.

For Roasted Corn Spread • 2 ears of corn • 1 green bell pepper • Smoked paprika • Tajin spice • 4 garlic cloves • 1/4 cup lemon juice • 1 shallot, chopped • 1/4 cup olive oil

Heat frying oil to 350°F. Mix dry

Flavors will develop more over

ingredients and then stir in the

time.

beer (do not over mix)

For Tomato Chutney

Mix the cheese with the meat to

Add all ingredients to sauce pan

your heart’s content. We infuse a

and simmer for 20-30 minutes.

Salt and pepper to taste.

For Roasted Corn Spread

bit of smoke into our burgers, but you can skip this if you want to be a little less naughty. Grill your meat. Grill your buns. Assemble with as much or as little of the

Rub ears of corn, salt, pepper,

chutney, roasted corn spread,

smoked paprika, Tajin, and bell

arugula, and fried peppers as you

pepper. Roast corn on stove or

like. Go wild.

in oven until cooked. Add corn

For Battered Peppers • 2 orange peppers, sliced into

HEIRLOOM TOMATOES

GREEN & ORANGE PEPPERS

rings • 1 can of beer • 1/2 cup corn starch • 1/2 cup flour • 1/4 cup blackened seasoning

CORN

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People’s Choice Winner John Carswell of SLO’s Finest Catering Chef John is the owner of SLO’s Finest Catering which concentrates in fresh market cuisine and farm to table style cooking. All the ingredients are sourced locally and are preservative-free. SLO’s Finest can cater small and large parties and provides a commissary kitchen space for new entrepreneurs. The goal of their company is to provide a stress-free, one-stop shop that meets all of their clients’ needs. Chef John’s signature dishes are wild salmon with kiwi salsa, bacon-wrapped filet mignon with a whiskey peppercorn sauce, and broccoli and mushroom stuffed spaghetti squash.

For more information about SLO’s Finest Catering, visit slosfinest.com or call 805-801-4967.

SLO’s Finest Catering’s Black &Blue Burger John made an Irish porter bleu cheese mushroom burger with a bell pepper aioli sauce. Served with a Mexican corn eloté salsa in an heirloom tomato.

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03 | In the Kitchen

Meagan Friberg & Josh Martin The mother and son team of Meagan Friberg and Josh Martin bring together Meagan’s experience as a food writer, mom of seven, and grandma of nine and Josh’s experience as a butcher, catering assistant and BBQ master for the Cheeseburger in Paradise competition!

Together, Meagan and Josh have decades of experience cooking for their families and others, coordinating events, and sampling food and drinks at outstanding restaurants along the Central Coast and beyond.

elegant dining Wonderful Food. Casual, located in the Morro Friendly Service. Bay State Park Marina.

The Ensenada Burger Grilled Larder Meat Co. ground beef layered with homemade roasted orange bell pepper ketchup,

Dog Friendly Patio!

homemade grilled eloté secret sauce, romaine lettuce, heirloom tomato, fajita bell pepper and onions, and crumbled cotija cheese situated on a California Fresh brioche bun. Served alongside an ensalada fresca of corn, orange bell pepper, jicama, onion, and avocado topped with a lite Mexican oregano vinaigrette.

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Ivy Alvarado of Plant Ivy Catering Growing up, Ivy wanted to make the world a better place and dreamed of having her own coffee shop but everything changed in a single day. At 16 years old, she collapsed at work from cardiac arrest and was in a coma that lasted ten days. Ivy Alvarado, now 26 years old, refuses to believe her dreams were shattered that day. They were just postponed—until now. Everything in her life so far has led her to her new dream—owning a vegetarian food truck. Plant Ivy Catering: Better Burgers for the Planet, allows Ivy to support herself while helping others.

To learn more about Plant Ivy Catering, visit plantivy.net or call 805-305-9107.

Classic Vegetarian “Impossible Burger” Chef Rob Barnett of Plant Ivy Catering made a Classic Vegetarian “Impossible Burger” with roasted peppers, grilled onion, lettuce, tomato, cheese, pickle and signature sauce and a side of zucchini fritters.

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04 | Blalanced Body

4 Outstanding Hikes in Big Sur

By Molly O’Brien Illustrations by Emilia Bollini

The spectacular Big Sur on the central coast of California offers some of the most renowned andw breathtaking scenery in the world. From rocky coastlines to hidden beaches, powerful waterfalls to awe-inspiring redwood trees, its regal landscape offers over 300 miles of hiking trails just waiting to be explored.

Read about these four trails to get a head start on your next adventure!

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Photo by Molly O’Brien

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1

1

McWay Waterfall Trail

This obligatory trail isn’t so much of a hike as it is a leisurely walk down a well-maintained path to a picturesque viewing area of the falls. In less than one mile of round-trip of trekking, you’ll pass around McWay

2

Cove while having the chance to overlook the waterfall and beach before ending up at an observation deck for magnificent panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean. This natural wonder waterfall was created in a 1983 landslide and has since become a classic symbol of the Big Sur region along Highway 1. It’s also a notable location to catch a glimpse of migrating whales!

Hare Creek Trail, Limekiln Trail, and Falls Trail in Limekiln State Park 2

This trio of trails in Limekiln State Park provides a variety of scenery on a relatively flat 2.6 mile round trip hike on three different paths to explore the park. The trails each branch out from the same trailhead, so it doesn’t matter which way you choose to go first. Hare Creek Trail is a tranquil creekside stroll and Falls Trail ascends another fork of Limekiln Creek toward an enormously tall waterfall.

N

Limekiln Trail leads you across three scenic bridges to the enormous furnaces that once supplied lime used for mortar in San Francisco’s brick buildings and have been standing in the canyon for the past 125 years.

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W

E

S

Salmon Creek Trail to Spruce and Estrella Camps 3

Salmon Creek Trail to Spruce and Estrella Camps is a moderately challenging and well-trafficked 5.6 mile out and back trail. Located along the southernmost wilderness trailheads in the Big Sur region. It offers sights of rushing waterfalls, peaceful meadows, and open vista views of the coastline’s bluffs. Hikers need not conquer the entire trail to take in spectacular views; there are multiple turnarounds along the path. The beginning quarter mile section of the trail leads to the impressive 120-foot Salmon Creek Falls.

4

Ragged Point Fire Road

This out and back trail travels roughly 4 miles upwards to 1,700 feet along a wide, open path. The trail makes for a satisfyingly scenic workout with unobstructed dramatic ocean views. The trail traverses upward for miles never letting the ocean out of sight. From the top, enjoy a 360-degree view of Big Sur’s exalted canyons, rolling hills, and ocean waves. After descending the trail, reward yourself with provisions from the Ragged Point Inn’s cliffside restaurant and explore the property’s incredibly picturesque grounds.

3

4

117 / Living Lavishly

Flower Essences Discovering the healing power of flowers.

By Natalie Garay Illustrations by Emilia Bollini

118 / Living Lavishly

P

lant medicine has been around for ages and

for different physical limitations and emotional

is used as a way of healing illness and injury

imbalances; some remedies even serve pets.

naturally.

Flower Essences support and balance the emotional

According to The Herbal Academy, the Sumerians

and cellular body, while gently releasing anything

created the first written record of medicinal plants

that no longer serves. When the body holds negative

on clay tablets over 5,000 years ago in ancient

experiences within the cells, it can manifest in other

Mesopotamia (Iraq). Around 1500 BCE the Ancient

ways such as chronic pain or illness.

Egyptians wrote the Ebers Papyrus which listed over 850 herbal medicines. This compilation includes many herbs that we recognize and use today.

Emotional Body · The nervous system

What are Flower Essences?

· Hormones

Flower essences are liquid extracts used to address

· Touch

profound issues of emotional well-being, soul development, and mind-body health.

How long does it take for flower essences to work?

The remedies can work immediately in certain situations, but for long-term issues, it will take three weeks to one month to see changes. The effects of flower remedies are cumulative. Remedies must be taken as directed to feel the benefits.

· Water · Water release (tears) · Water absorption (bloating or clutching from not letting go, feelings of lack, and trying to hold onto/ control things too closely) Some believe that the emotional body extends a few millimeters or inches around the body. How we are doing emotionally is represented by how calm or rough the waters are in our thoughts and our dream state.

Flower essences were developed and codified in the 1930s by Edward Bach, a British bacteriologist and homeopath, who believed all diseases were expressions of negative emotional states. Bach’s most commonly known and used remedy is Rescue Remedy.

With flower essences, only the flowers are used and in a very small quantity. The vibrational imprint of the flower is extracted in water, which is then further diluted. Flower essences are herbal preparations made only from the flower of the plant in a way to embody its higher vibrational healing.

Today, there are more options and companies that are creating flower essences to serve as natural remedies

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Who can use them?

Flower Essences can be used by just about anybody, even children. The amount used varies on age and gender. Recommended use is typically listed on the bottle or given by the practitioner. Flower Essences are tinctures taken sublingually or sometimes topically for younger children.

What are they can be used for?

Most common uses of Flower Essences are for feelings of overwhelm and anxiety, for a mood lift, grounding, or sleep support.

What are they can be used for?

Flower Essences can be found at Whole Foods markets that carry Bach Remedies, as well as most local health food stores. Flower Essences can also be ordered online through various farms.

Highly intuitive Pilates Educator, Natalie Garay, otherwise known as The Pilates Mama, is the owner of {ther • happy}. For more information, connect with her at youneedtherhappy.com or hello@youneedtherhappy.com

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Sensitive Skin & Sensitized Skin

By Emily Robinson

S

ensitive skin is one of the most common

If someone is born with sensitive skin, the weak

complaints by dermatology patients, but most

protective function of their skin is predisposed. This

are experiencing sensitized skin rather than sensitive

naturally weakened barrier layer allows for irritants

skin. The difference being sensitive skin is a genetic

and microbes to pass easily causing reactions in the

trait and sensitized skin is a condition caused by the

skin. These individuals are generally born with lighter

outside environment. However, no matter the cause,

skin and hair, a thin epidermis, and superficial blood

the symptoms and care are the same.

vessels. Many born with sensitive skin also experience

Common traits of both sensitive and sensitized skin include:

• Thin skin • Feelings of tightness due to dehydration of the skin • Feelings of stinging or burning due to weakened barrier function

respiratory issues, including asthma and allergies.

Sensitization has many causes. An environment with extreme temperatures, wind, pollution, and allergens in the air can contribute to sensitization. Lifestyle factors such as excessive stress, smoking, insufficient water intake, or alcohol consumption may also contribute to

• Redness due to over-reactive capillaries

Dehydration

• Flaking and peeling due to dehydration of the skin and a compromised lipid barrier

Flaking & Peeling

• Rash-like bumps due to an over-reaction of the skin It is important to understand the lipid barrier of the skin to better understand and address sensitive and sensitized skin. The lipid barrier is located in the top layer of the skin and performs the important function of trapping water molecules and preventing Transepidermal Water Loss (TWEL) from the outer layer of the skin and preventing irritants from entering the skin. When the barrier is compromised, it cannot function properly.

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Rash-like Bumps

Redness

sensitization. Most likely, sensitization is caused by the individual’s home-care routine. Over–exfoliation of the skin and the use of harsh chemicals are two of the most common contributing factors.

The good news is sensitization can be reversed and sensitive skin can be managed. Approach sensitive and sensitized skin with a “less is more” approach.

Avoid hot water when cleansing and bathing. Eliminate

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abrasive products and movements from your skin care routine. Friction will only worsen the symptoms. Look for barrier-building ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, ceramides, oat kernel extract, aloe, and vitamin-E. Avoiding certain ingredients is just as important as using beneficial ingredients. Avoid fragrance, dyes, lanolin, mineral oil, isopropyl alcohol, and essential oils. These are generally too strong for sensitive skin and can cause

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Wisdom for Aging Gracefully

By Lisa K. Story, M.A.

124 / Living Lavishly

E

ach day we are inundated by messages telling us to

and yoga are all activities that support the mind and

resist or avoid aging. The anti-aging movement is

body. The adage “use it or lose it” is an excellent motto

found in beauty products, foods, beverages, supplements,

to subscribe to. You can always do something and

and in information heard every day on television, social

something is always better than nothing.

media, and online.

Less commonly seen and heard is information that supports the acceptance of the aging process as a normal, healthy part of life along with the inspiration to do it proudly and authentically.

Aging is a natural and unavoidable part of life. When the messages received are to avoid it all costs and we only see examples of the aches, pains, or suffering, we lose

3. Get plenty of proper rest.

Nothing will age a person more quickly than shortchanged sleep and nothing causes sleep issues more than an unhealthy diet, lack of exercise and drinking alcohol or caffeine before bed. If every time you sit down, get in a car, or on a train you fall asleep, consider that you may not be getting enough rest. If this happens even when you are sleeping 7-8 hours each night, it’s

sight of the possibilities and positivity of this phase.

time for a trip to the doctor to see if there’s something

Aging gracefully and healthfully requires care and

unseen medical issue impacting your energy.

attention. The following suggestions provide an excellent place to begin.

1. Eat a diet based on fresh, whole foods.

Incorporate something such as the Mediterranean diet, UNLESS you are managing a health challenge that requires a therapeutic-specific meal plan. Enjoy

preventing you from sleeping soundly or if there is an

4. Find hobbies and activities that you LOVE. Continue setting goals and tapping into lifelong or new passions. Embrace a meaningful purpose for daily life.

Volunteering is a fabulous way to increase a sense of gratitude, joy, and connection to others.

plenty of fresh fruits (aim for 10 servings daily),

5. Train your brain.

vegetables, and dark, leafy greens. Include whole

Crossword puzzles, word searches, Sudoku, and other

grains, legumes, fish, lean meats, nuts, seeds, herbs,

mind-stimulating activities are excellent for keeping

spices, dark chocolate, and healthy fats such as olive

the brain in tip top shape. Other possibilities include

oil. Avoid all processed foods, refined grains, and

listening to music, reading, and learning a foreign

refined sugars. These nutrient-devoid foods along with

language or new hobby. Focus on a positive mindset and

excess caffeine, alcohol, and salt contribute to aging

attitude. Spend time considering all that’s going well in

and health problems by increasing inflammation in the

your life and the world at large.

body and brain. As aging occurs, thirst may diminish so it’s essential to drink half your body weight in pure water every day. Check with your nearest naturopath, acupuncturist, doctor, or chiropractor for specific

Take each day as it comes, engage in habits that support you, and embrace the possibilities and freedom of the wonderful age you are.

aging-well supplement recommendations.

2. Move your body every single day for at least 30 minutes.

Lisa K. Story, M.A. is a Certified Health Coach, Women’s

If possible, outside in fresh air and sunshine. Walking,

A FREE 3-Day Body Reset Program can be downloaded at

hiking, dancing, swimming, biking, lifting weights,

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Wellness Educator and yoga instructor. ReVitalize:

125 / Living Lavishly

Enneagram: The Personality Test Everyone is Taking

By Dr. Joy Pedersen Illustrations by Emilia Bollini 126 / Living Lavishly

“It feels like you’re looking into my soul.”

This was one man’s response after hearing the description of his Enneagram type. And his response is not uncommon.

The Enneagram is helping people all over the world feel understood and seen in ways that can have a profound impact. Its insights can transform all aspects of people’s lives including personal growth, leadership, and relationships.

The roots of the Enneagram goes back many centuries. Its exact origin is not known, but it was introduced to Europe in the 1920s by Russian teacher G.I. Gurdjieff. It arrived in the United States in the 1960s. It has been picked up by spiritual leaders, psychologists, and executive coaches to help people feel more deeply connected to themselves and others, improve relationships and communication, and achieve their full potential.

The Enneagram is a system that describes nine basic personality types; most commonly referred to as the numbers themselves. Each type has a set of strengths and weaknesses that are commonly found together, based on our basic motivations. Our motivation impacts our thoughts, behaviors, and reactions, which is why understanding our Enneagram type can be so powerful.

04 | Balanced Body

Triads For those who want more depth, the nine types fall into three groups of three. These triads indicate the center of intelligence for each type— head, heart, and body.

The Heart Center types – Two, Three, and Four – tend to perceive the world through the filter of emotional intelligence.

The Head Center types – Five, Six, and Seven – tend to filter the world through their mental faculties.

The Body Center types – Eight, Nine, and One – tend to experience the world through physical sensations and gut instincts.

Their placement on the Enneagram diagram is not The Enneagram (pronounced ANY-a-gram) is represented by a nine-pointed star within a circle. Ennea is Greek for the number nine, and gram means “drawing.” Therefore,

arbitrary. In the Enneagram, the inner triangle of types, Three, Six, and Nine are the core types of these three centers of intelligence. Each core type and its two

Enneagram means “drawing with nine points.”

wings make up a triad.

The diagram can be a little intimidating and mystifying

What makes the Enneagram different?

at first, but simply stated each type is connected to two other types that represent their direction of growth and stress. In addition to the growth and stress points, each type has two wings — the types on either side of it. Individuals may blend into or be influenced by either or both wings.

When it comes to personality assessments, the Enneagram is like the third bowl of porridge in Goldilocks and the Three Bears — it’s just right! Unlike long personality assessments, discovering one’s Enneagram type can be very simple. While longer

One of the beauties of the Enneagram is its depth. In

assessments are available on some websites, most

addition to basic descriptors, each type has a basic

people can easily identify their type by reading a short

fear, primary defense mechanism, characteristic vice,

description of each type. If a person feels exposed or

essential virtue, and pattern of conflict. It is a system

uncomfortable when they read the description of their

that can be studied for a lifetime and at the same time

type, this is often a sign that it is accurate. When a

is easily accessible to beginners.

person has accurately identified their type, it can feel

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like someone knows their inner thoughts, fears, and longings. Challenges to accurate typing can include limited self-awareness, a multifaceted background

The Nine Enneagram Types

(such as cultural factors, birth order, family dynamics), focusing on behavior rather than motivation, early trauma or other personal issues, or solely relying on an

One - The Reformer

Enneagram test. Enneagram tests are useful tools, but they are not always completely accurate. It is helpful

Principled, Wise, Fair, Reasonable, Perfectionist

to engage in self-discovery and explore a variety of resources including books, workshops, podcasts, and coaching to determine which type is most accurate.

Another advantage of the Enneagram is how easy it is to remember the types. With nine types, it’s not too many and not too few — again, it’s just right! Some assessments, like WorkTraits and True Colors (which have four primary types), can feel simplistic. While other assessments, like Myers-Briggs (16 types) and StrengthsQuest (34 strengths), can feel intimidating with so many options. The Enneagram provides enough variety and depth to feel meaningful while keeping the types relatively simple and memorable.

Finally, by getting to the core motivation of each type

The strength of the One is the ability to improve a situation by seeing what would make it better. They are always striving to improve things, but afraid of making a mistake. They are advocates for change. They have a clear sense of right and wrong and may seem idealistic.

They want things done correctly.

• The One is searching for perfection.

• The One is sensitive to criticism, being judged, and being wronged.

• The worldview of the One “I have to do it right the first time.”

the Enneagram is able to help people make lasting

• A typical thought for the One “I could use some help,

changes. The Enneagram goes beyond describing

but nobody can do it as well as I can.”

communication styles, strengths, and behaviors. Many people describe the Enneagram as a spiritual journey.

• A personal growth tip for the One is to learn not to

It can help people discover parts about themselves that

obsess about their shortcomings.

have remained hidden and give them the courage to

• A helpful affirmation for the One “I am free from the

take the next step.

need to criticize my own actions and the actions of others.”

Two – The Helper Call us today for a FREE no obligation Home Market Analysis

Unselfish, Attentive, Nurturing, Helpful The strength of the Two is knowing what people need and making others’ lives better. They

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are able to relate easily to people and make friends.

They are generous, caring, and warm. They are quick

to support or give advice. They are well-meaning and

• A typical thought for a Three “Why doesn’t everyone

driven to be close to others but can slip into doing

work as hard as I do?”

things in order to be needed.

• The Two is searching for appreciation.

• The Two is sensitive to being useless, dispensable, and not being appreciated.

• The worldview of the Two “Others have to be happy

• A personal growth tip for the Three is to be completely honest with themselves about who they are and who they want to be.

• A helpful affirmation for the Three “I let go of the need to accomplish things to feel valuable.”

in order for me to be loved.”

• A typical thought for the Two “How can I get them to

Four – The Individualist

like me?”

Creative, Sensitive, Self-Aware, Expressive

• A personal growth tip for the Two is to make sure they are addressing their own needs first.

• A helpful affirmation for the Two “I no longer expect others to reciprocate — I give freely and unconditionally.”

The strength of the Four is the ability to make deep meaning and to create beauty. They are idealistic, deeply feeling, introspective, and expressive. They experience a range of intense feelings associated with what seems to be missing or lacking in their life. They

Three – The Achiever Charming, Competent, Confident The strength of the Three is getting things done quickly and winning people over.

They are self-assured, industrious, and fast-paced.

They are “do-ers” and tend to be practical, taskoriented, and sometimes impatient. They are able to recover quickly from setbacks and to charge ahead to take on the next challenge. They like staying informed and knowing what is going on. They can be overly concerned with their image and what others think of them.

• The Three is searching for respect.

• The Three is sensitive to failure, rejection, and not being admired.

can sometimes be moody, dramatic, and self-absorbed.

They search for meaning, depth, and authenticity.

They are emotionally sensitive and attuned to their environment.

• The Four is searching for connection.

• The Four is sensitive to being left out, insignificance, inauthenticity, and abandonment.

• The worldview of the Four “No one understands me.”

• A typical thought for a Four “I’m too deep to deal with this common world.”

• A personal growth tip for the Four is to recognize that their feelings don’t define them.

• A helpful affirmation for the Four “I release unrealistic expectations of myself and others.”

• The worldview of the Three “Failure is not an option.”

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Five – The Investigator Intelligent, Open-Minded, Objective The strength of the Five is making sense of a problem and integrating information. They are self-sufficient, undemanding, and quietly caring.

unpredictable and hazardous. They often play the devil’s advocate. They try to gain security by obtaining the goodwill of others, being loyal to others, and dedicating themselves to worthy causes.

• The Six is searching for certainty.

They are private individuals with an active mental life.

• The Six is sensitive to betrayal, inconsistency, and

They can sometimes be withholding, non-sharing,

being threatened.

detached, unassertive, and overly private. They are able to concentrate and focus on developing complex ideas and skills. They can also become preoccupied with their thoughts.

• The worldview of the Six “Life is dangerous.”

• A typical thought for a Six “Why did I say that? Was I talking too much? What am I supposed to do?”

• The Five is searching for truth.

• The Five is sensitive to intrusiveness, looking foolish, and being exposed.

• A personal growth tip for the Six is to be aware of their pessimism when things don’t go their way.

• A helpful affirmation for the Six “I live in the present

• The worldview of the Five “If I’m not involved, I’ll be safe.”

and release all fear of the future.”

• A typical thought for a Five “I’m going to give them a

Seven – The Enthusiast

piece of my mind as soon as I can figure out the perfect way to say it.”

Fun, Happy, Entertaining

• A personal growth tip for the Five is to find ways to experience calmness in life besides simply overthinking.

The strength of the Seven is making life fun and bringing new ideas. They are optimistic, upbeat, and adventurous. They avoid pain and boredom

• A helpful affirmation for the Five “I learn to dance in

by engaging in pleasurable activities and imagining

life by joining in, rather than by observing.”

future possibilities. They like to keep their options open. They can misapply their many talents, becoming over-extended and scattered. They constantly seek

Six – The Loyalist

new and exciting experiences, but can become

Trustworthy, Responsible, Loyal, Supportive

• The Seven is searching for stimulation.

The strength of the Six is identifying risk, troubleshooting, and creating safety. They are reliable, inquisitive, and analytical. They easily tune into potential dangers and risks. They can sometimes be

distracted and exhausted by staying on the go.

• The Seven is sensitive to limitations, constraints, and feeling trapped.

• The worldview of the Seven “Commitment is a trap.”

overly doubtful or skeptical, uncertain, worrying,

• A typical thought for a Seven “I can’t begin to count

and overly cautious. They tend to view the world as

all the fun things I want to do!”

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• A personal growth tip for the Seven is remembering that quality is greater than quantity.

• A helpful affirmation for the Seven “I let go of the need to have every moment of life be exciting.”

Eight – The Challenger Powerful, Charismatic, Big-Hearted

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The strength of the Eight is the ability to clear a path and get things done. They are forces of nature, justice-seeking, and strong. They feel they must control their environment, especially people, sometimes becoming confrontational. They are

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guarded but caring and protective of those around them. They mask any vulnerability with a tough, nononsense exterior. They can sometimes be intimidating, demanding, and impulsive.

• The Eight is searching for justice.

• The Eight is sensitive to weakness, injustice, and subordination.

• The worldview of the Eight “Life is a struggle. I must fight to live.”

• A typical thought for an Eight “I’ll show them who is really in charge!”

• A personal growth tip for the Eight is to allow others to be in control sometimes.

• A helpful affirmation for the Eight “I accept that just because someone does not agree with me they are not against me.”

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Nine – The Peacemaker Easy-going, Accepting, Accommodating

How to discover your Enneagram type

The strength of the Nine is getting along with everyone and fostering peace. They are usually creative, optimistic, and supportive. They want everything to go smoothly and be without conflict. They are sensitive to others and often put others before themselves. They try to keep life comfortable and familiar. They can sometimes be conflict-avoidant, resistant, and indecisive. They can also tend to be complacent, simplifying problems and minimizing anything upsetting.

Unlike other personality tests, there isn’t one way to determine your type. There are many official tests offered by various psychologists, authors, and experts, but most experts believe that people can identify their own type through self-exploration. The personality types are best understood as general patterns.

No person is exactly like the description of a type; therefore, types describe an individual’s style but not an entire individual. It is also widely accepted that

• The Nine is searching for harmony.

• The Nine is sensitive to conflict, confrontation, and neglect.

individuals must determine their own personality type, and deciding one’s own type accurately is an important part of the process of typing.

• The worldview of the Nine “Nothing matters.”

• A typical thought for a Nine “The more they nag, the longer I’ll drag.”

• A personal growth tip for the Nine is forcing

Where can I learn more about the Enneagram?

themselves to see the good that could come from experiencing conflict.

• A helpful affirmation for the Nine “I let go of the need

There are many resources available for those who want

to go along with others simply to maintain the peace.”

to learn more about the Enneagram. Experts in the field who have written multiple publications on the Enneagram include Claudio Naranjo, Helen Palmer, Don Richard Riso, and Jerome Wagner. Here are some recommendations for those who are beginning to learn about the Enneagram.

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Books: • The Art of Typing by Ginger Lapid-Bogda, PhD • The Essential Enneagram by David Daniels, MD • The Enneagram Made Easy by Renee Baron and Elizabeth Wagele

empower us to use them in positive ways. It can also shed light on our inherent weaknesses. It helps change the way we relate to ourselves and others by providing a greater understanding of our perceptual filters and motivations. And it provides a map for learning alternatives to our own patterns of behavior in order to break out of our habits.

Websites: The Enneagram Institute www.enneagraminstitute.com International Enneagram Association www.internationalenneagram.org

Dr. Joy Pedersen is a Certified Enneagram Instructor and Martha Beck Life Coach. She is the founder of Clarity Collective and is passionate about helping people achieve

The Enneagram is a powerful tool for individual

their full potential. On the weekends, she enjoys paddle

growth, improving relationships, and increasing

boarding in Morro Bay. For more information, visit

leadership skills. It can reinforce our natural gifts and

www.ClarityCollective-LLC.com or call (805) 399-2739.

133 / Living Lavishly

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Hidden Treasures “From quaint relaxation spots to world-renowned wineries, it’s no wonder why many consider this region of California “a hidden slice of paradise.”

Locals and visitors alike would agree that living lavishly on the Central Coast includes experiencing the hidden treasures that this region has to offer. With a 15 minute drive to the beach to hidden bars and retreats, we’re delighted to share some of our go-to spots that we consider are Central Coast classics.”

- Madeline Minas Executive Editor

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Travel Back in Time at the Central Coast’s One and Only Speakeasy

By Serena Lopez Photos by Sarah Kathleen Photography 136 / Living Lavishly

There’s a time machine in downtown Paso Robles. Located at 1122 Pine Street, behind Pappy McGregor’s Pub, the speakeasy 1122 is a portal to another decade. With no signs or windows, this spot is easy to miss if you don’t know what you are looking for.

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“What we loved so much with the secretness of [speakeasies], how small they were, the charm, and the really good vibes they had,” 1122 co-owner, Donovan Schmit said. “Lucky for us, at Pappy McGregor’s, we had a large back patio that had a small garage on it...and the footprint was the perfect size.”

You will know you found the speakeasy by the era-appropriate gas lanterns outside and the dark, wooden door with an eye slot. Make sure you press the doorbell when you arrive. This notifies the host to come out and provide a wait time for your party. The bar only holds about 30 people so wait times may vary. Keep in mind, this is the shortest waitlist you’ll find to time travel back to the Roaring Twenties.

When it’s your turn to enter the speakeasy, the host will take your party inside a small entryway surrounded by dark curtains and inform you of the establishment’s guidelines. Silence your phone and do not take any phone calls in the speakeasy. You’re going back

138 / Living Lavishly

to the 1920s, so try not to let your 21st century show too much and don’t forget to socialize with other human beings.

Schmit mentions this being his favorite part of the speakeasy experience. “It’s all about making everyone turn off their cell phones, talk with each other and meet new people! It really gives 1122 a buzz of conversation throughout the room.”

And the soft buzz that fills the air is the perfect

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complement to the jazz music flowing through the speakers. When the host pulls back the curtain to reveal the speakeasy, you will think you are in the middle of a Fitzgerald novel.

“We knew we wanted a ‘high end, spit and polish’ style speakeasy that would make people gasp when they walked in and want to be there all the time. Which 1122 knocks it out of the park on the visual beauty,” Schmidt said about the interior design of the speakeasy.

With the button-tufted walls and the crystal chandelier glimmering in the low amber lights, the speakeasy captures the glamour and grandeur of the twenties.

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The crystal cut glasses and gold accents throughout the space come together to create the honest ambience of a prohibition-era speakeasy.

After finding a seat at the bar or in one of the diamond-tuft booths, it’s time to make the biggest decision of the night: your drink. Bound in leather, the menu offers cleverly named house cocktails and the classics you’d find Ernest Hemingway and Gloria Swanson sipping on.

Every cocktail is entirely crafted in house down to the infusions, syrups, garnishes,

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IRENE RYN Broker Associate CALBRE #01304231

The Top 5 things you can do to increase the value of your home (is not what you think) 1. Curb Appeal - This is vital and ignored often!

You need to stage your home inside and OUT. 2. Less is ALWAYS more - Consider your home a Museum for others to walk through, to admire the space and flow of your home, not your personal items.

3. The rule of 3 or less! Remove everything from your counters. Nothing more than 3 items on every counter and yes even your kitchen (that means maybe moving the toaster, ack!) and tinctures. The speakeasy also offers table service three times a week where drinks are finished right in front of you by one of 1122’s world class bartenders.

“Our cocktail menu is made up of over 30 classic cocktails dating back to the prohibition era and the 1920s,” Schmit said. “There is truly something on our

4. It’s time for the deep clean - Do it BEFORE you go on the market.

5. Showings…Be prepared to be GONE - This is the buyer’s time to envision themselves in THEIR new home, not in your home. If you are there, you are intruding on “their time.”

menu for every palate and spirit lover.”

With over two years of developing the idea and building the space, 1122 is the epitome of the rebellious yet regal spirit of the Roaring Twenties. The speakeasy immerses you into another time period. From the

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music to the mixing spoons, the magic is in the details at 1122.

1122 is located at 1122 Pine St. Paso Robles, CA (Directly behind Pappy McGregor’s)

141 / Living Lavishly 805-441-6367 | CentralCoastToCountryRealEstate.com

The Central Coast’s Best-Kept Secret

By Nicole Mines Photos courtesy of Sagrada Wellness

Experience the beauty that is Sagrada Wellness.

Somewhere within the rolling hills of Santa Margarita, California, you’ll find a gated driveway that you’d probably miss if you were too distracted by the beauty of the green mountainscape surrounding it.

However, little do passerbys know, among the faintly greening trees lie subtle hints of a secret destination. Brief glimpses of whimsical sculptures will have your curiosity bursting at the seams. With the leaves swaying to the rhythm of the wind and the forest-filtered air filling your lungs, the feeling of being transported to another world is almost instant.

Behind that simple, rusted gate lies a sanctuary with humble beginnings, a family with a passion to heal the world around them, and experiences that often leaves guests with life-changing perspectives.

This hidden location blazed the trail for San Luis Obispo County’s first yoga retreat of its kind. This is Sagrada Wellness.

The Sagrada Journey Sagrada, a Spanish word translating to “sacred,” accurately describes the energy that husband and wife duo Scott Currie and Eva Inglizian hoped to capture when building this quaint property from the ground up. As a young couple, their yoga retreat journey began in San Miguel De Allende, a colonial-

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era city in Mexico known for its baroque Spanish architecture and thriving art scene. For years, Scott and Eva operated a yoga retreat that housed one to three guests.

The couple was later drawn to bring their years of experience back to California. Their artistic and entrepreneurial spirit was ready to expand to new horizons.

The Sagrada Land Scott and Eva’s journey to establish Sagrada Wellness as a yoga retreat was not an easy feat. However, despite uphill battles to obtain permits, the couple’s mission to make a 100% solar-powered, environmentally-friendly retreat came to fruition.

When the couple first came to the property, they were met with an old, antique barn and rundown homes.

With a professional background in architecture, Scott only saw this as an opportunity to upcycle and refurbish what was already there.

“Not only did we reuse the wood here, but we used the energy that stewards the land,” said Scott. He mentioned his mission to preserve the abundant history that Santa Margarita’s land had to offer as Native American culture embedded a deep influence in this region for generations prior.

Before renovating the land, the plantscape and greenery were ridden with chemicals; fertilizers and other harmful toxins were infiltrating the property.

“This land is a sacred piece of Santa Margarita,” said Eva. “We let nature do its thing and rid itself of the chemicals that invaded the plants. We wanted to help the land, not destroy it.”

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Finding Community Another aspect that Sagrada Wellness thrives upon is the opportunity to unplug and connect. The human connection and self-reflection that occurs during these retreats are one of many reasons why guests often rebook for another visit.

“For many people, Sagrada Wellness gives the opportunity to temporarily escape from a fast- paced life,” said Scott. He and Eva both encourage their visitors to participate in a “digital detox” and indulge in the chance to genuinely connect with

Connect with hundreds of local experts!

others.

The design of the main dwelling area also lends itself to contribute a sense of community. With an inviting dining area, open-style couch settings, and family-style gatherings around the dinner table, the sense of camaraderie offers Sagrada guests a wholesome and positive experience; oftentimes, this is a lifestyle that many guests say they wish they had in their day-today life.

On a typical day, morning meditations, strolls on the picturesque trails, and all-inclusive yoga classes are offered. Apart from the day’s schedule, guests have free time to reflect in the serene gardens, catch up on deep peaceful sleep, and experience the other rejuvenating benefits that Sagrada Wellness has to offer.

My favorite part of my time there was taking morning hikes each day before our first yoga practice,” said Jessica Micklus, a recent Sagrada visitor. “I hoped to create new habits that would help in my everyday life, and I am still working on incorporating them as much as possible!”

In a town this quaint, a jewel like Sagrada Wellness simply can’t be overlooked. If you’re looking for a brief escape from a busy life or a revitalizing experience in the heart of the Central Coast, this remarkable retreat is the place for you.

To learn more about Sagrada Wellness, please visit sagradawellness.com

145 / Living Lavishly

Beer to Bourbon: SLO Brew’s Newest Venture

By Serena Lopez

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Photo by Blake Andrews - SLOTography

Photo by Blake Andrews

Photo Courtesy of SLO Brew

An Elevated Experience

add to their business empire. Rod & Hammer’s SLO Stills

Just feet away from the breezy, casual SLO Brew Rock,

and offers a space where customers can fully enjoy and

creates handcrafted whiskey unique to the Central Coast

Rod & Hammer’s SLO Stills offers a vastly different

immerse themselves in the culture of distilling.

experience for guests. It’s sexier and more sophisticated.

“A lot of people don’t know that the base of whiskey is beer”.

It’s 21 and over.

“It’s all about quality, education, and enjoyment of high spirits and great food,” Co-Owner Rodney Cegelski said.

Cegelski said. “Just knowing that we had the capability

Adorned with rawhide, leather, surf boards, and even

transition to elevate the brand.”

a historic sign off the original Pismo Beach Pier, the distillery is a collision of two worlds, two friends.

“This is [Cegelski] and my almost like a passion play,” Co-Owner Hamish Marshall said about building the distillery. “We always wanted to do it and it very much

to do that, we had the brewery, it just seemed like a cool

The Central Coast Signature Cegelski and Marshall are long-time friends and business partners. Their love for alcohol is the passion

resembles us and our partnership.”

behind their business and it is evident. From brewing

SLO Brew owners, Rodney “Rod” Cegelski and Hamish

whiskey, these guys know how it’s done.

“Hammer” Marshall have executed yet another project to

renowned SLO Brew beer to now distilling high caliber

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The duo adds a unique twist to their spirits by

Whiskey lovers also have the opportunity to create their

incorporating an essential part of the Central Coast into

very own spirit at Rod & Hammer’s. By joining the Barrel

their purifying process. After a spirit is done aging in the

Club, members can curate their own batch of whiskey

barrel, it must be proofed (diluted with water) to reach

with the guidance of the head distiller. Each five gallon

the desired alcohol content. At Rod & Hammer’s, Marshall

barrel produces 28 750mL bottles and members are able

and Cegelski use water straight from the Pacific Ocean.

to customize their barrel and bottle labels.

“We are literally paddling out to our favorite surf breaks

The duo say they are done building for a while and will

and we are pulling out buckets of water and we are

focus on expanding the Barrel Club.

distilling the water and cutting the liquor,” Cegelski said.

“We are just finding some cool ways to add the essence of the Central Coast and the Pacific Ocean. We plan on making a whole fun series.”

Rod & Hammer’s currently offers four spirits: two rye whiskeys and two bourbon whiskeys. Each with their own aroma and flavor unique to their own distillation

“It’s almost like having three children,” Marshall said.

“We’ve had all three children and now we just have to make sure they turn out okay.”

Marshall and Cegelski look forward to the future of the distillery and distributing their spirits state-wide and eventually nation-wide.

process. From sweet notes like vanilla and caramel to savory ones like pepper and spicy rye, there’s a spirit for either mood.

The distillery also offers a Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey that is uncut with water, showcasing the natural taste straight from the barrel.

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Rod & Hammer’s SLO Stills 855 Aerovista Place San Luis Obispo, Ca 93401 www.slostills.com

Photo Courtesy of SLO Brew

Photo Courtesy of SLO Brew

05 | Hidden Treasures

Photo Courtesy of SLO Brew 149 / Living Lavishly

Morro Bay’s Succulent Heaven

By Molly O’Brien

T

he Garden Gallery in Morro Bay has been referred to as a “Succulent

Heaven,” “elegant and earthy” and “a plant lovers dream,” just to name a few of its endearing and accurate labels. A hidden gem among the numerous kitschy tourist spots and upscale galleries at the corner of Pacific and Embarcadero at the Morro Bay waterfront, this shop has been bringing the quintessential Californian lifestyle to residents and visitors alike of Morro Bay for over 40 years.

The local and legendary outpost is a combination of an outdoor store and artist’s gallery which was established back in 1974 by Dick and Barbara Baynham. The shop is on land which had originally been used as a boatyard and fuel dock for servicing the busy commercial and recreational fishing industry in Morro. As the Morro Bay waterfront began to take shape into the destination for shopping and enjoying the bay views that it is today, Dick and Barbara took advantage of the

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opportunity to build a small garden and gift shop on their property which quickly grew to expand into an entire two story complex. Pottery, home decor, fountains and plants adorn the nooks and crannies of this enormous yet compact shop which is spread out between several buildings. It even features an open first-level courtyard with benches to sit down and enjoy the Central Coast sunshine.

Each original display of eclectically elegant merchandise is meticulously executed by Barbara herself including rustic decor, books, plates, lighting, wind chimes and more. Most of the plants are grown on the property or hand-selected by Dick, a graduate of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a degree in ornamental horticulture. The plants are hand watered and carefully nurtured to grow and the many sculpture items featured in the shop are created by local artists. Guests can spend hours walking around the shop admiring its artifacts and visit multiple times without seeing the same display twice with its lineup of ever-changing inventory.

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Morro Bay, and for over 40 years, the shop has continued to grow (along with its plants) and to exhibit local artists’ work for recognition. Be sure to stop along its perch on the Morro Bay Embarcadero to appreciate the Central Coast lifestyle next time you’re in town.

Molly is a Cal Poly SLO journalism alumn who currently resides in Los Angeles and specializes

YOUR LOCAL OFFICE(S): Paso Robles

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805-772-9550

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in travel/lifestyle writing. She enjoys hiking, traveling, and generally having the opportunity to be outside anywhere in the sunshine.

She can

be found on www.metropolitanmolly.com and or (925) 989-5139.

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Help Keep Morro Bay Wild

By Rachel Pass Photos courtesy of Morro Bay National Estuary Program

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T

hough it sits halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, Morro Bay seems a world away from

big city life. Instead of the metallic glint and geometric silhouette of city skylines, Morro Bay’s horizon features lively greens and warm browns that stretch across the organic curves of the Morros. These hilly volcanic remnants sweep skyward while creeks run down their slopes and valleys. The freshwater from these creeks mix and mingles with saltwater that rushes in with the tide, creating the Morro Bay estuary.

Estuaries like Morro Bay are some of the most productive places on the planet; they support a wide range of plant and animal species, just like coral reefs and mangroves do.

People are drawn to the Morro Bay estuary to watch the wildlife that thrives, hike Morro-topping trails that offer stunning views, feast on local seafood, and paddle out for a bit of adventure.

No matter why they come to the Morro Bay estuary, locals and visitors alike can follow three simple tips to help keep Morro Bay as it is today—clean, healthy, and delightfully wild—for generations to come.

Watch wildlife respectfully Sea otters are some of the furriest creatures on the planet with up to one million hairs per square inch. Their fluffiness, playful antics, and habit of napping with their pups nestled on their chests have earned them many admirers. While people love to watch sea otters snooze in their natural waterbed, many are not aware of how

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essential that downtime is to the otters’ survival.

Otters lack the blubber that keeps sea lions and other marine mammals warm.

Instead, they depend on their thick fur to insulate them and a large amount of food to fuel their internal furnaces and ward off the chill from cold waters. In fact, sea otters need to consume about a quarter of their body weight in sea urchins, crabs, octopi and other prey every day. That is equivalent to a 200-pound person eating 50 pounds of food! Hunting for all that food takes a lot of time and effort, which means that sea otters need a lot of rest, too.

The best way to help sea otters stay healthy and raise their pups to adulthood is to “respect the nap.” That means watching the otters quietly, not trying to get their attention, and making sure to give them enough space that they feel safe. To follow these guidelines, watch for signs of disturbance. A sea otter that is concerned

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To keep trash out of the Morro Bay estuary, make sure to find a can that has space to spare. If that can has a lid, take the extra time to put it on. That will help keep gulls out, too. Reducing the amount of litter in and around Morro Bay makes it a healthier and more beautiful place for both people and wildlife.

Stick to the trail Elevated boardwalks invite people to stroll through the State Park Marina and Elfin Forest along the shores of the Morro Bay estuary. Dirt trails lead hikers on more strenuous treks through the hills, offering stunning views and the chance to watch birds or to enjoy the wildflowers in the spring.

The best way to preserve the lands and waters beyond about its safety may look up to see where a noise is

these paths is to stay on the trail. It might not seem

coming from, swim away from an approaching boat or

problematic to forge a new path through the bushes or

person, or dive under the water to escape.

to cross a trailside fence to get that perfect photograph,

The same guidelines apply to other wildlife—pelicans and other sea birds, shorebirds like egrets and herons, and even the lizards and rabbits that you might come upon while hiking. The best way to keep these amazing animals healthy and wild is to let them be. It is the best

but these small actions add up. They can cause erosion, which sends dirt and rocks into the estuary, and harm native plants and animals that have nowhere else to find food or care for their young.

way for people to stay safe, too!

Three cheers

Keep a lid on trash

Following these three tips chalks up a win for the wildlife

Anyone who has come to the annual kite festival knows

that depend on the Morro Bay estuary and for the future generations who will get to enjoy it.

that the wind in Morro Bay can kick up quickly. While the coastal breeze can be pleasant, it can also contribute to the buildup of marine debris. The problem starts when well-meaning people put their coffee cups, food

Rachel Pass works as the Communications and Outreach

wrappers, and other trash or recycling in an overfull can.

Coordinator at the Morro Bay National Estuary Program.

When the wind starts blowing, exposed chip bags turn

She manages and edits the Estuary Program’s weekly

into miniature sails and plastic bottles ride the gusts

blog at MBNEP.org/blog, helps raise awareness of issues

overboard. The litter continues to blow around until

that affect the health of the estuary, and encourages

it ends up trapped in the rocks along the shoreline or

participation in restoration and preservation efforts. She

in the water, where it can seriously harm wildlife and

loves writing, wildlife watching, hiking, and enjoying the

reduce water quality.

Central Coast’s many beaches with her family.

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