A Multitalented Beauty who Balances Decorating, Traveling, Work and Family

I have followed Martha for years on Instagram. One day hopefully we will meet in person. After I read her answers, I realized we have so much in common, our love of antiques (we have been to Brimfield many times), and have carried chests filled with antiques on the plane back in the day. We have similar decorating styles, and we were both high school cheerleaders (cringe). I have a feeling we would have been friends in high school, college, and beyond had we crossed paths. I think you will enjoy reading A Multitalented Beauty who Balances, Decorating, Traveling, Work and Family, and learning more about darling Martha!

A Multitalented Beauty who Balances Decorating, Traveling, Work and Family

Give us a brief history of your life and how you met your husband. 

I was born and raised in Orange, California, at a time when Orange was really all orange groves. We grew up on an old orange and avocado farm, in what I thought was a big, Spanish style house. As I look back, I realize the house wasn’t big at all. However, the property was huge, especially being in the middle of Orange County. My sister and I spent many happy hours designing homes for our Barbies, and playing for days in the shade of the huge walnut trees that graced our property. I had an idyllic childhood. My mom was a teacher, and my dad had his own business. Every summer we loaded up our camper and drove to Vancouver Island, where we stayed until school started in September. I went away to UCSB for college, and graduated from San Diego State. Right after college graduation a friend asked me to come along to an American Airlines flight attendant interview with her. I had recently broken up with my college boyfriend and wanted to “get out of California” so she thought this would be a perfect way to mend my broken heart! We both went and I was astounded to see about 200 women (and a few men) waiting for the group interview. A lady sitting next to me mentioned that she had interviewed for several airlines, and it took a long time to get hired. I had only flown once in my life, so I didn’t really know much about the airline industry. We all headed in, and after a series of questions, the recruiter mentioned that if we were selected they would fly us to Dallas for a second interview. I thought, “Great, I can see if I really like flying!” As I was leaving the interview, the Recruiter asked me to stay. I was so flustered I dropped my purse, (which was really a beach bag full of Coppertone, gum wrappers, and a can of Tab). I’m sure that made quite the impression, and when she came to get me, she said that I had been selected for my second interview right there! Dumbfounded, I left the interview with a new hire package and a hire date of May 29.

I was all set to leave for training in Dallas, when on Friday, May 25,  an American Airlines DC-10,  flying from Chicago to LAX crashed on takeoff. American called and canceled our training class, as all DC-10’s were taken out of service by the FAA. I had given up my apartment in San Diego, quit my job, and had moved back home. My parents had a ski house in Sun Valley, Idaho, so I asked them if I could move up there, live for free, and work several jobs to save money. So, that is exactly what I did. I talked a friend into moving with me and we both got jobs at local restaurants. It was here, in Sun Valley, while waitressing, that my future husband came in and sat at my table. Right away, I thought he was cute. After some flirting on both our parts, he asked if I was working the next night. I assured him I was. He left saying that he would try to come back the next evening. 

The next day, I came back to work (wearing a brand-new red plaid shirt), but Bob didn’t come in. Disappointed, I drove home, crawled into bed, and started reading a book. About midnight, I heard my roommate come in and she had someone with her. As they were talking (I was in the loft bedroom overlooking the living room) I crawled over to the side and looked down…there was BOB FOSS on a date with my roommate! I thought of all the luck–he would meet Becky, (who had moved in with me recently as she had broken up with her boyfriend.) I figured it wasn’t meant to be until a few weeks later, Bob came back in and asked if I wanted to drive to Boise to drop off core samples (he was a Geologist working on an abandoned gold/silver mine in Idaho). I figured that a trip to Boise would be great, as it gave me a chance to shop at normal stores and even buy records at a record store!

 

We had a 4-hour drive to Boise from Ketchum. We dropped off his work samples and headed out to breakfast. I guess you can say we fell in love over a plate of pancakes! A few months later, I was recalled to American Airlines training. Bob and I stayed connected, even after I was based in Chicago. After a year of long-distance dating, we got engaged and married a few months later in 1981.

You have several homes, all impeccably decorated – what makes each location special?

I have loved houses my entire life. As a young girl, I would notice details in architecture and always rearrange my family’s furniture. As a flight attendant, I have traveled around the US quite a lot, and started to really like the Phoenix, Arizona area. We lived in the San Francisco Bay area, so the idea of having a warm place to go in the winter appealed to me. I love the way the surrounding mountains seem to stand out so clearly against the bright blue sky. We ended up buying a small 2-bedroom patio home in Scottsdale back in 2011. This was during a time when home values in the sunbelt had plummeted. We were able to get a great deal on the house as it had been unoccupied for a year! We did some initial repairs, enjoyed it that winter then, when faced with approaching college tuition costs, rented it out. Back in 2020, we ended up completely gutting and redoing the entire house. The home has slump-block walls which is something that the old Phoenix homes have, which allows them to stay cool in hot weather. It also gives this home the texture and character that makes it unique. It took almost 2 years to complete the renovation. We were caught up in the Covid supply-line issue that affected almost everyone in the building industry. During that time, I was able to stockpile furniture, rugs and décor, so that when it was time to decorate, I had a fully filled garage storeroom! I love the nod to the Southwest the house has, without falling into the cliché of Southwest décor.

 In 2017, we moved from living in Danville in Northern California to North San Diego County, to help with my mom. We moved into a home that, although I loved the setting, I didn’t like the 1980 floor plan and lack of character. By living in the house for a year, I realized that the kitchen needed to be moved to the front of the house where the living room was, to afford a view out to the coast. In 2018, we undertook a year-long renovation and really turned our plain little ranch home into a bright open home where almost every room opens onto gardens that seemingly grow overnight.

Just last year we bought a small retirement home in an over 55 community north of Denver. Our daughter and her new husband live there, and now with a new grandbaby on the way, we plan to spend more time there. We love the fact that the house is right on the golf course, overlooks a pond, and faces west out to the Rockies. It is really a lock and leave home. We purposely kept the exterior landscape simple with mostly patios and seat walls. We will add plants and trees this fall and next spring. The vegetation in Colorado is different from what we are used to in California, so I am planting slowly and cautiously. We love the fact that the house is in an over 55 community, so making new friends is so much easier. There are clubs for every interest, and I have even started golfing…albeit putting, but I’m learning and having fun. Since I work for Southwest Airlines, traveling between our homes is pretty simple. I just have to pray that there is an open seat!

I really feel that the 3 homes complement each other. Our San Diego home gives me my gardening fix. Flowers seemingly grow overnight and the weather is perfect for almost any plant. We are also close to the beach. My sister and nephews live nearby, which is high on my priority list. The Colorado home is close to my daughter, son-in-law, and of course the new grandbaby! I also love the 55 and over neighborhood. Everyone walks and we really enjoy meeting people from all over. It’s nice having neighbors close by and I enjoy the sense of community. Our Scottsdale home is somewhere I love to go to unwind, however since I listed it on AIRBNB we haven’t been able to get there as much as we like. We love the culture of Scottsdale, the art fairs and restaurants.We have friends there that we love to get together with, and for a long time we thought Scottsdale would be our retirement home!

You have lived the life of a flight attendant for many years. Tell us how you started out and what you have loved most about this exciting and adventurous career. 

I have worked for the airlines for almost my entire career. I started off flying with American Airlines but ended up quitting in 1987 after the birth of my second child. I figured I could always be an old flight attendant, but I’d never have a chance to relive my children’s little years. When my daughter turned two, I went into teaching pre-school, as I had a degree in education, but I wanted to be able to have my daughter and son in school with me. It worked out to be a perfect job for this time in my life. In 1995, Southwest Airlines started hiring in the Bay Area. I ended up getting hired by them and have spent almost 30 years working in different positions within the company. I have been a recruiter for both flight attendants and pilots, an Inflight Supervisor, and for the last 22 years, a flight attendant. The industry has evolved a lot through the years, but I wouldn’t want to have any other job! I love the flexibility being a flight attendant affords me. If you want extra money, you can work a lot or, as in my case, you can take off extended periods of time to travel. I love meeting interesting people, hearing their stories, and getting to work with my friends. I love getting to stay in places a lot of people dream of going. For the past five years, I have mainly flown the Hawaii routes so I’m getting spoiled! The job also keeps you active. I get plenty of steps in walking through airports and airplanes!

You are literally always on the go! What have been your favorite trips this year, and what do you have planned for next year?

We love to travel! My husband retired about 8 years ago, and since then we have really ramped up our travel schedule. I get a weekly email from TravelZoo, with a list of their Top 20 travel deals. We have a group of friends that love to travel also so when we find a trip that looks enticing, we investigate and book it if possible. We have been able to explore Thailand, Bali, Vietnam, Peru, Ecuador and Australia. We have cruised, on a small ship, through the Dalmatian Islands in Croatia, traveled extensively in Italy, and enjoyed several fabulous cruises. We just got off a wonderful Alaska Cruise with Silver Seas. We had incredible weather and Alaska was the perfect place to celebrate Bob’s 70^th birthday! As I write this, we are packed and heading to Scotland and next year we have planned a bucket list trip to South Africa with a safari in Kruger National Park.

Scotland: You just returned from this gorgeous destination – share your biggest highlights from the trip.

I am very lucky to be friends with a fellow Flight Attendant, who hails from Glasgow, Scotland. Because of our friendship, I have been able to travel with her several times over to Scotland and see it in an up close and personal way. She is able to book historic homes and castles through the Scottish National Trust as she is a Scottish citizen. Every time I have traveled with her, we have stayed in amazing places. This time we stayed in Mar Lodge, , the Royal Hunting Lodge that was built by Queen Victoria for her daughter, Princess Louisa. Queen Victoria laid the first cornerstone in 1885. It is a huge estate and we stayed in one wing of the house. We had eight bedrooms, six bathrooms, a large billiards room, huge dining and living room and a large kitchen, with everything you could need for a week’s stay. My friend, Shona, plans out the itinerary for the week-to-10-day stay. We were only able to stay for the first 10 days as I had to hurry home to my 50-year high school reunion. The highlight, of course, was the Braemar Gathering. It is like a mini Olympics of Scottish events. It was the queen‘s favorite gathering, so it’s always held the first week of September when she used to take residence in Balmoral. Now King Charles and Queen Camilla attend, so it was quite exciting to watch them drive in their Rolls Royce, preceded by the Royal Scottish band.

 The Sunday after the games, a good friend of the King, who wrote all the music for his coronation, had a concert in the beautiful church in town. Shona had tickets for all of us to go and it was unbelievably beautiful just sitting in a church, from the 1400’s, listening to classic, beautiful music, which is a treat itself.

 Our week included hikes on the beautiful property, along the river Dee. We spent our days exploring castles that dot the Scottish Landscape. By becoming a member of a Scottish National Trust you were able to park and  view all these castles for free. The yearly cost was $90 in the US to join as a senior couple. Almost any site you see in Scotland is part of the National Trust so it’s definitely a good thing to buy before you plan a trip over there..

We were a group of eight other friends and that makes it wonderful as well. We took turns helping out with dinners in our beautiful dining room. As well as many rousing games of “snooker” or pool for us Americans! My husband did drive, which is a little nerve-racking as it is on the left-hand side of the road, but he did an amazing job, it’s really the best way to see Scotland. Also, not to be missed is the wonderful little Scottish town of Dunfermline. It was the birthplace of Carnegie and not only is the town beautiful but it also has one of the old Abby from 1300. When they were rebuilding the new church, they found the body of King Robert Bruce buried there so now they have a shrine around it. It is an easy half-hour train ride outside of Edinburgh. It would definitely be someplace I would suggest people stay. We stayed in a delightful hotel called the Guildhall and Linen Exchange, an old mercantile building that has been changed into a delightful hotel. The town of Carnegie could easily merit two or three days to explore and to see the Carnegie Museum and his birthplace.

 Now it’s back to real life!! Travel is always such a wonderful escape!

Traditionally, you spend part of the year in stunning British Columbia – tell us how you landed on this vacation destination, how long you have been staying here, and some of your favorite places to visit here.

We usually spend our summers on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. Since I was born (and I mean 1 month old) my mom and dad traveled back to my mom’s birthplace in Vancouver, Canada. Summers were spent at a family friend’s cabin in Qualicum Beach. When I was 9 years old my parents bought a one-bedroom beach cabin, perched on the side of the hill overlooking the beach in Parksville. Parksville is well known in B.C. for expansive beaches with long tidal runs. When you wake up in the morning the tide has gone out almost a half mile, and then by nightfall it’s lapping at the shore. Every summer we packed up and spent 3 months up there. As a child, I never realized how lucky I was. In 2005 the original beach house burned down, and we had the chance to build a home that could now accommodate all our families including the 6 grandchildren. We rebuilt the home in a very Nantucket style, brown shingles white trim and lots of dormers with windows overlooking the beach. We designed a large kitchen, dining and living room that opens to accommodate a crowd. It really is a special place for our family. There are so many things to do on Vancouver Island. You can start in Victoria and explore the town, have tea at the Empress Hotel and spend a day at Butchart Gardens. As you head north along the island you can stop at Merridale Cidery for lunch and a chance to sample their local ciders. The local restaurant scene has exploded in the last few years and there is no shortage of wonderful food. For the adventure seekers you can head out to the West Coast of the island and explore Ucluelet and Tofino. This is a place all the surfers head to, as the waves can be huge. We tend to spend a lot of time at our home, walking the beach, kayaking and paddleboarding at high tide. There’s no end to the things you can explore up here. We also rent this house out through AIRBNB. However, British Columbia has decided to limit the short-term rental market, so the best way to find out about availability is to message me directly. Our Scottsdale patio home is also on AIRBNB but it is so popular we are booked up through October of 2025! 

You just celebrated your 43rd wedding anniversary and went back to the “scene of the crime” where you were married. What has changed and what has remained the same about your marriage and relationship through the years?

It’s unbelievable to me to realize we have been married over 43 years! This past anniversary we went back to the Carlsbad Country Club where our wedding reception had been held. I don’t think anyone really knows what being married will be like. When we got married, I lived on my own for several years, and like most people, thought my way was the best way! I think our first few years of marriage were really learning about the compromise that a good marriage is. Bob was always the most fiscally conservative of the two of us, and it took me a while to embrace that way of thinking (which thank goodness I did!) Both of us came from families with strong marriages. I think we both had the template for working through difficulties that always come up throughout a marriage. In our early married years, we were in the throes of young children, school, balancing work as well as a burgeoning catering business. There wasn’t really a lot of time for just the two of us. We got away, without kids, occasionally, but time off meant time with our family. After our children went away to college and we were empty nesters we had time to really spend time traveling, which is a passion for both of us. We also have an Airstream trailer and love to camp. We became very active in the Northern California Airstream Group. I think that our combined interests, as well as our individual interests (Bob loves golf, I love to hunt for antiques) make for a good marriage. 

You have a deep love of flowers and have them on display in all your homes and gardens. What are your favorites, and why?

I grew up in Southern California and have always been surrounded by a lot of beautiful gardens. My sister and I used to pluck hibiscus flowers off the bushes and play that we were exotic princesses. We had pink Cecile Brunner roses that grew profusely up the side of our home, to this day it’s one of my favorite roses! When I moved to Northern California, I dreamed of having an English Country Garden that would look right out of the pages of Victoria Magazine. I spent a lot of time experimenting with plants, especially roses. It took years of planting and replanting to learn what plants I could successfully grow. I yearned for peonies, but the winters weren’t cold enough to grow them in Danville. I love lilacs and I grew them in Northern California and up at the beach house, but here in San Diego it’s much too warm. However, I hit the jackpot for flowers at our current home. We are 6 miles from the coast and have the best growing weather. Starting in February, my garden explodes with camellias, followed by iceberg and eden roses. Matija poppies, which I started with a few 1-gallon plantings have now spread, filling our yard with the lovely crepe-paper-like flowers. I embraced warmer colors for the garden here and the bright orange tiger tail plants pop out between rosemary and succulents. I love to bring the flowers inside, and often embellish them with rosemary or other herbs. We have several large eucalyptus and pepper trees and their fronds are perfect for adding greenery to arrangements. I literally have a camellia TREE that affords me impromptu arrangements from February through June-then my roses take over until November.

You recently celebrated an extremely important milestone: your two-year anniversary of being breast-cancer free! How has a cancer diagnosis and treatment journey changed you?

I have always been extremely healthy. I think it’s a combination of great genes and luck. In March of 2022 however, I received the news that I had breast cancer. I had no symptoms, and it was detected through a routine mammogram. In April 2022, I had surgery to remove the pea size tumor and several lymph nodes. I had 6 weeks of radiation and by July I rang the bell! It’s still hard to believe I am a cancer survivor. I am aware of how lucky I am, that my cancer was caught early and hadn’t spread to my lymph nodes. I have always embraced life with plenty of enthusiasm, but now everything is a bit more precious.

Your husband has dealt with some health issues of his own but seems to be on the mend now. How have you approached each of your individual health challenges and has your mindset changed with each hurdle that comes your way?

My husband had a terrible ski accident in January 2023. He broke his hip while skiing in Breckenridge. They reset the bone, but he knew something was wrong when after 6 weeks he still couldn’t put any weight on his leg. It turned out to be a terrible infection. He had to go in for another surgery to remove the infection then start on daily IV antibiotics for the next few months. Even after the successive rounds of antibiotics he still couldn’t put weight on his leg. Our daughter was getting married in early November, and he didn’t want to miss being able to walk her down the aisle, unassisted. In October, with just a month till the wedding, he had a new hip put in and was able to walk within a few hours! 

As we get older, we realize the physical limitations that aging can bring. We try to remain active and keep our bodies going. We also know that the next 10 years are the “sweet spot” for travel and for experiencing more active adventures. However, my mom enjoyed riding a banana boat in the Mediterranean at age 90 and swimming with dolphins at age 103, so maybe I can continue into my later years as well.

When it comes to interior design, you always say it’s “all about the hunt.” What are some of your favorite decor finds?

I have loved decorating and antiques since I was just a teenager. When my friends and I would go to flea markets, I would pick up antique jugs and paintings along with the requisite turquoise jewelry and embroidered peasant blouses of my youth! A teaching stint in Maine cemented my love for anything antique. When I lived in Danville, I became friends with Melissa Neufeld, a very talented woman who became my mentor. She had an antique store and a great eye. I spent a lot of time at the Alameda antiques market. In fact, my friends and I even had a booth there on occasion. Those early mornings were great to get out and peruse other vendor’s merchandise. I also have found some of my favorite things while traveling. I have carried many an oil painting in overhead bins. I have a favorite moody oil painting from Maine, that is over our bed. I also have a collection of seascapes that have been found, literally, around the world. My quirkiest find was a gingerbread-esque table I found at the Brimfield Antique Show. I dismantled the table, stowed the legs in the overhead bin and the tabletop flew home wedged behind the captain’s seat in the cockpit! Working for an airline has its definite advantages.

You have another grandbaby coming in early 2025. Tell us about your grandchildren and what you love most about being a grandparent. 

Being a grandparent is really more than I thought it would be. I have two grandchildren in Florida. My grandson is 6 ½ and my granddaughter just turned 5. I love that with grandchildren, you just get to spend time with them, without the constant workload that running a household entails. I love watching them use their imaginations and do crafts with them. I have the advantage of experience and realizing how fleeting their young years are. I can enjoy things with them that perhaps I rushed through as a busy young mom. My daughter is due to have a baby in January of 2025. I’m excited to watch her become a mother and enjoy those childhood firsts all over again. I never had grandparents, as my parents married late, so I love embracing this role in my grandchildren’s life.

How would you describe your personal style – in your wardrobe, and in your home, and how has a life of travel influenced your style?

I would describe my personal style as classic and casual! There is nothing as good as a great pair of jeans and a white shirt. I have a uniform for work, so I can embrace a more casual wardrobe 95% of the time. I have enjoyed following different women on Instagram (like you, Cindy!) I have found out about Poshmark and have been able to add to my wardrobe items that usually would be too expensive. I get lots of wardrobe ideas from my passengers! It’s fun to talk to women about their looks and then see how I can incorporate into my closet. I also love to add scarves to an outfit, especially when I travel. Johnny Was has some beautiful scarves that can change up simple black pants and a top into an ensemble fit for an evening out.

I believe my house follows the same simplicity. I have slipcovered sofas that I have had for almost 30 years! I find that slipcovers, in our household, are essential. I like the fact I don’t stress about keeping white furniture clean, that I can sink into a chair after gardening all day, and if it gets dirt on it, I can wash the slipcovers, hang them to dry and not worry. They are like the jeans and white shirt for my house. The artwork and collectibles are the jewelry that add to my home’s wardrobe. I love the texture of wicker and sisal rugs as well as the color that Turkish rugs bring into my home.

Other than family, travel, decorating your homes, and cultivating beautiful flowers, what are some of your other interests?

I love gardening and decorating but I also love to cook. There is nothing better than having the time to try out a new recipe and then have friends over to try it out! I grew up with a mom who really didn’t cook much, but we had a housekeeper that loved to cook. I think that she inspired me to try out new recipes and decorate the table as well. Long before Pinterest, I loved to think of party ideas and then figure out how to put the food and decorations together. 

Do you have a fitness regimen or specific diet that you follow? If so, please tell us about it. Any must-have supplements?

Since my early twenties, I have been a member of Weight Watchers. In fact, I still think of my day in terms of a Weight Watchers plan. As I get older, I find it much harder to keep the weight off. The cancer medication I’m on is an estrogen blocker, so all the good effects of estrogen are blocked, along with the bad. Luckily, I do like healthy food, but I also love enjoying all different foods and wines. It really is a balance that I am always attempting to find! As far as exercise is concerned, I am always on the go. I get up in the morning and usually have a full day planned out. When I lived in the Bay Area, I walked daily with a group of friends. Now that I live up in the hills my walking is more restricted, as we live off some busy, narrow, and windy roads. My husband and I try to get out and walk down at the beach or right around the streets close to us. We keep electric bikes in Florida and find that we can ride to lots of places, instead of driving. In Colorado, the neighborhood lends itself to walking. I just must remember to walk more than I talk! I do enjoy being part of an exercise group. I used to love jazzercise. However, my travel schedule does not allow me to commit to any one class. I look forward to again being able to do that.

Share five fun facts with us that people might not know about you. 

Something that not a lot of people know is that I worked for Martha Stewart when she came out to California to put on a series of cooking lessons in Napa. From this experience I learned how to prepare food in one place and then transport and set it up in another. When I got back from working with her, a friend asked if I would cater for her wedding. I didn’t want to be anybody’s first wedding so I said, “you buy all the food and flowers, and I’ll do the work for free!” It turned out successfully and for the next 25 years, I ran a small catering company in the Bay Area. I still flew, so I only took on about one or two weddings in the summer and several parties and weddings throughout the year. I look back at those days and wonder how I got it all done. I still have a lot of energy, but nothing like I did back then!

Another fun fact is that my home was on the cover of Better Homes and Gardens magazine! I had won a decorating contest, in my first house, with BHG in 1992, and they kept in contact with me to see what I was doing to my new home in Danville. The editors came out to the Bay Area on a scouting trip and selected my home for an article and a TV show they were running in the late nineties. This was before social media and Instagram, so magazines used scouts to find homes to publish. It was exciting to be involved in the shoot. I can now look at a magazine photo and know what is going on behind the scenes!

Three more facts about me: 

1. I hate scary rides and scary movies!

2. Snakes scare me to death, but I don’t mind lizards!

3. I love to iron! I set up the ironing board, put on the TV and iron away!

If you could give your younger self any words of advice, what would they be?

As I look back at my life, I would tell my younger self not to worry about what other people think. As I get older, I’m more sure of myself and know and stand by my own viewpoints as well as embrace my own style, whether in decorating or dressing. I also have more empathy for people. I have gone through teenagers, aging parents, deaths, injuries, and diseases. I’m able to relate to others on a different scale than when I was younger.

Share your words to live by. 

When I worked for American Airlines, we had a button that said, “I make the difference.” These are the words I try to live by today. When I’m at work, I try to be the flight attendant that makes someone’s flight better. I try to help out my friends and family by jumping in when I can be helpful. If I volunteer to help out, I try to really go all out and throw myself into the project. I really would like to think that at the end of my life I have made a difference.

Shop Martha’s Look

I hope you enjoyed reading about A Multitalented Beauty who Balances, Decorating, Traveling, Work and Family. A big shout out to Martha for sharing her full, fun-filled life with us. We so enjoyed getting to know you better. You can follow Martha on Instagram here.

If you would like to catch up with my other Ageless Style Interviews you can do so here. We have interviewed well-known people and those not so well known. They all have something in common, a great sense of style, and have led interesting lives.