Ooh La La LAGUNA

If you are a lover of art, you'll love the Pageant of the Masters in Laguna Beach. It's an annual trip for me and my gal-pals. Another great excuse to eat, drink and wear false eye lashes!

Ooh La La LAGUNA (cont.)

It looks cold out but it wasn't... a tropical storm was out at sea. We got this balmy, etheral weather on Saturday which made for an enchanting evening later at the Pageant viewing the art under a gauzy night sky. Laguna is charming no matter what the weather is like!

Cruzin' In Bad Betty's BUG

I'm gonna be just like Betty when I grow up! Look how adorable SHE is! This Beatle was sooooooo cherry! All trimmed out in authentic German parts. This was the last day in San Clemente... we cruzed PCH in this jewel on wheels! And did we get the looks! Too many "thumbs up" to count. This car is a show stopper - brings out the teenage free-spirit memories in all.

Friends In Low Places ( Sea Level!)

On the heels of my weekend in Santa Cruz, I'm off to a rented beach house in San Clemente. I know, I know... life's rough huh? Well I've got friends in both low & high places - thank goodness! My gal-pal Jen was living the good life for TWO weeks at this adorable beach house. She & her girls were loving it, not to mention Bob with his surfing & biking!




Just adorable with it's beachy-shabby-chic vibe!

Me and my morning ritual of magazines and coffee.

Who can ask for more? A beach house sitting on a golf course with a panoramic view of the Pacific!!! We lounged both morning and night on the deck soaking up the coastal breezes and gorgeous views. The weather was PERFECT!

View out front door...

View from deck...



A few snaps before we head to the surf & sand!

San Clemente Palm Fringed Beach

Look at this beach! Gorgeous! I'm embarrased to say that I've lived my entire life in southern Cal and have never explored San Clemente! I always gravitate to Moonlight since I lived 9 years in Encinitas. There are just soooooo manny blessings to count living here in So Cal!

Audrey looked like a turtle carrying her beach chair - what a trooper!


Bob's got Greta & Audrey and they're loving their new found thrill of going UNDER the waves!

EVERYTIME I GAZE AT THE SEA,
I IMAGINE ALL I CAN BE ~

Window Shoppin' San Clemente

After 3hrs on the sand soakin' up the beautiful blue pacific, I jaunted up Del Mar Street in search of creative inspiration.

Friends In Far Away Places

This weekend twisted into a spontaneous visit to my gal-pal Starlet in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Starlet lives like a bird - her home is her nest in the trees. This is where I stayed - isn't it cool! She has a cabin on a few acres with a stream running through her property.



This is the window she looks thru when she sits at her computer. Life's rough!


We have such a great time together. She & I love to craft, and love to shop. She is the only one that can keep up with me - we can shop from sun up - 'til sun down! We love art and anything handmade. So now the "visiting score" is in my favor - it's her turn to visit ME!

Benicia Treasures

It ain't easy being a black-belt shopper. Starlet and I wrap up a long day of treasure hunting with nachos and margaritas, salted & on the rocks.





Half dolls, silver trays, sheet music and rhinestones - true salves for the soul!

Cruz'in 4 Treasures

To me, my friends are like snowflakes... each one a unique beauty. Each one has their own delicate facets which make them shine and glisten. Starlet is a pal that lives up to her name. Loving to sparkle is our common ground. After attending her congregation meeting, we received the sweetest compliment when a sister came up to us afterwards and said "when you two walked in, it was like seeing two flowers". I don't know about you Starrzy, but that is the nicest compliment I've ever had - I love being likened to a flower. Enchanting.

Ironically, we both happened to find dolls that look like ourselves. We drove to a street fair in Benicia on Saturday, and as I was standing in line for a greasy corn dog, Starlet found this vintage pin cushion for a BUCK! Yes!! One dollar!!!! When she showed me it I turned green with envy! I wasted no time in coveting it! I marched straight back to that booth and asked if they had more. They didn't. Now the plot is starting to thicken... Starrzy loves this new find of hers, but she also has been hearing the dozens of comments on my crochet purse all day. So we strike a deal by the end of the day that I design & make her a purse for the pin cushion! Yes it's worth 20 hours of crochet! And best of all, she even looks like Starlet, down to her smokie blue eyes.




This was my last purchase on Sunday, a few hours before I caught my flight home. This lamp ($32!) will always remind me of mine and Starzzy's weekend of treasure hunting.

Shhh... it's a surprise...

Hand made gifts are so precious! I can hardly wait to give it to her!

Cool BLUE

There's something about the coolness of sleeping on white linens during the hot Summer. It feels light and breezy and looks so fresh and clean. This new duvet was exactly what was needed for a change of pace in our room. I'm happy with the touch of blue too. I love the look of femmie-frenchiness, as well as whimsical garden vibe. So I switch to "garden vibe" for a while.