weekend recap....

I had a fabulous weekend with my mom and sis, we even

ended up extending our stay an extra night.  That meant

getting up at 5 am this morning and driving 2/12 hours

to get to work on time - but I made it and the great part

was there was NO TRAFFIC!!  Shocking! :)

The highlights of our weekend:

laughing all weekend with my mom & sis

late nights and early morning lounging

walking around some cool beach towns

eating at some delicious restaurants - a

few eclectic yet tasty places: an Italian

cafe that reminded me so much of Rome.

A quaint little place called the Honeymoon

Cafe, trying some yummy beignets at

the Big Sky Cafe and last but not least

a super delicious meal at Novo - creekside

dining, baby!  It was such a nice night and

Steff and her boyfriend Tyler happened

to be driving thru San Luis Obispo

 from their quick trip

up north and stopped in and had

dinner with us there  - a super surprise!

We didn't make it in time to a cute

place called Batch - it's a make your

own ice cream sandwich place - maybe

next time, as there definitely will be one!

Last but not least the ever famous

Bubblegum Alley - which is quite

a popular yet strange attraction,

as it's a small alley that is filled with

used bubble gum all over the brick

walls, people have gotten quite

creative over the years with their gum. 

It was started in 1960 - so it's pretty

decorated now.  The whole

time I was walking thru, I was

telling everyone not to touch

the walls.....haha....


San Luis Obispo was

named the happiest town

in the USA last year, I can

definitely understand why!

I am as tired as can be, but had

a great time with my mom and sister!

Have a exceptional day, everyone!

xxoo

cheers to the weekend...

As I am sitting in my office looking &

listening to the rain, wind and thunder,

I am daydreaming about riding a colorful

Vespa this summer in Barcelona.  I will

definitely practice here before I go!

Tomorrow is supposed to be sunny - so I will

be getting out and doing some much needed walking

and maybe going to the park or the beach and soaking

up some vitamin D!

My daughter is on her first adult campout in the desert

at the Coachella concert with friends - so I am looking forward

to her daily updates on the fun she is having.

Looking forward to some movie watching

and some reading this weekend too!

(aka relaxing alot!)

Enjoy your weekend

xxoo

Don't forget to enter my Shabby Apple Giveaway!

(photo via here)

cheers to the weekend...

This past week has been a whirlwind

of a few different things

Steff's 21st birthday and a fabulous dinner with her

and her boyfriend at the wonderful Cafe Gratitude. I

dare you to leave there without a smile on your face!

Visiting with awesome friends that I

don't get to see too often - very short

amount of time but always loads of fun and

lots of laughs!

Making a crazy decision to drive the Malibu Canyons in a heavy rain to get my friends to Venice. Lots of rocks falling onto the road = no fun for the driver. The freeway was a welcome blessing after that.

A sad trip to say goodbye to Alex's favorite

Aunt who is in the final hours of her life. So heartbreaking.

On a happier note, tomorrow I will be going to see a play that my girlfriends daughter is in: Thoroughly Modern Millie.  Looking forward to it. I love live theater so much!

And a little girly pampering this weekend is in order, hopefully taking a much needed long walk and bike ride(due to having too many girl scout cookies in our life right now! haha...) and doing some heavy duty relaxing!

Enjoy the weekend!

xxoo

(photos via here) 

cheers to the weekend...

This photo reminds me of the magical day trip that we took to Paris almost 2 years ago for my birthday - we had such a fun time just wandering thru the city, people watching at cafes, taking 

a short nap on a park bench near the Eiffel Tower. Fun times that I will always cherish and never forget!

On the flip side, today is also one of those unforgettable days

that will live in my memory forever - the day that I lost my dad.

It's been 6 years and boy is he missed! So today I will honor him and perhaps even have a cocktail and remember some fun times with him - he was quite the character.  Cheers to the best dad ever!

Live.each.moment.like.you.mean.it!

xxoo

(photo via here)

cheers to the weekend....

Starting tomorrow I am off on a new adventure,that of a juice detox one.  Inspired by my friend Simone and my daughter Steff - I will be juicing for a week's time.  I am actually looking forward to it.  Steff will be my supervisor looking after me and making sure I am doing everything properly.  She is becoming quite the expert in all things healthy.  I predict a holistic nutritionist in my family in the next few years.  Many thanks to Simone for her help in getting a fabulous list together for me to start with!

I also am heading off to my assisted living homes to chat with my elderly friends and show them all of the new & old movies that I have brought for them.  I truly enjoy visiting them as you well know - they are fun, feisty and tell the best stories!

I will also be doing my monthly girly pampering, I love it and truly look forward to it!

I am also hoping to take some nice long walks this weekend and work on a few neglected projects .

Whatever you are doing this weekend - make sure it includes alot of laughing!  Be kind to everyone!

xxoo

(photo via here)

it's beginning to look alot like....

I hope everyone had a fabulous Thanksgiving.  Ours was very nice and delicious with great company, but boy oh boy was I tired afterwards.  I just knew I would sleep well that night and did I ever!  Being the insomniac that I am it was so needed.

I skipped the whole Black Friday shopping thing - instead I opted for a 15 minute drive out to a suburb, I am not super familiar with and walked around a lake, stopped in at a bookstore/cafe, had a fab cinnamon scone and cappuccino while sitting next to a window facing a gorgeous water fountain and doing some people watching and enjoying the Christmas decorations.  Love.love.love.

In my car, I have two Christmas CD's that I used to always start playing in October - much to the embarassment of my then high school daughter, as I had all of her friends in the car.....I sure miss those times!  But I so enjoy singing along to these songs while driving in the car!

My guy was out of town yesterday and today, so I puttered around the house doing a bit of  holiday decorating, I plan to be very low key this year in that department - simple is perfection for me. I enjoyed perusing Vicki Archer's French Essence and My French Life book's, watched a few movies, rearranged some pictures in my living room and kitchen and just enjoyed a low key, relaxing weekend while sipping on my baileys and coffee - yum!

Here's hoping this week bring lots of

good health, happiness and joy to us all!

xxoo

Psst: Check out Simone's blog The Bottom of the Ironing Basket's wellness and wellbeing posts for the month of November.  Loads of great ideas and inspiration.  I sent her some of my favorite quotes on this very subject.  Thanks Simone!

(photo via here)

cheers to the weekend....

It's still pretty warm here in LA, but in the evening when I walk

at the park, it feels so refreshing!  Looking forward to some

cooler weather - I love my turtleneck sweaters, boots & scarves!

This weekend Stephanie and I have a date to go to a very special

Cookbook Release Cocktail Party (cocktail for me, that is!) It gives

us a chance to put on our "sunday best" and mingle in a beautiful

setting.  Stephanie has taken a few classes from these fabulous ladies,

I am so looking forward to finally meeting them and tasting their food!

Wherever you go, whatever you do - enjoy.every.single.second!

xxoo 

cheers to the weekend....

This photo is of a park very near to my house and I can't believe that I have never been there.  It is a secret park of sorts hidden away in a neighborhood behind one of the main roads in my area.  I am in a park mood lately, it seems that I can't get enough of them since I strolled thru Hyde Park, Regents Park, Russell Square in London and Villa Borghese in Rome and Central Park in New York City.  I am on a new mission on the weekends, to search out new parks in my area and just enjoy their surroundings.  There is nothing more peaceful.  This week I have been taking my lunches to a nearby park and relaxing on a park bench or under one of the huge shade trees, so much nicer than eating my lunch under flourescent lights in my office.

The last few weeks have been very tense - one of my friends that I work with has been awaiting results of a biopsy that could possibly change the course of her life (and not in a good way).  I feel like I have been holding my breath during these two weeks and yesterday we all got a chance to exhale - her tests came back with wonderful results - I can't tell you how happy that I am for her!!  

On top of a scary few weeks, I am in the midst of a motivation problem.  I am trying my best to get my butt moving in all aspects of my life - it's taken some time, but I think I'm starting to see a little light at the end of the tunnel....I have some projects in the works that really have me excited! 

This weekend is going to be a bit of much needed girly pampering, a bit of exploring new places and hopefully catching up with a friend or two with  a chat and a coffee or any old drink will do!  

My little great nephew Mason just turned 7 months old yesterday, and my great niece, Mia is almost 2  months old - time is flying by so fast!

Here's wishing you all a very wonderful weekend.  
Be kind, smile at strangers and enjoy!

xxoo

(photo via here)

cheers to the weekend....

Another week flying by - yippee!!  My to do list this weekend is:

Visit my elderly friends (one of my highlights!)

Find a new local park and enjoy the beauty of it

(while the weather is still gorgeous!)

Go bike riding, spend time with my guy and Steff

Plan our next year's vacation - the photo above is a big

reason why I want to go to Barcelona - such beautiful artwork!

Upload photos on my very slow moving computer ( grrr...)

Coffee, lunch or a walk with a friend or two

Lay under my tree in the backyard and read a good book!

Sorry I haven't been around to visit blogs this week, I had

a super busy, stressful week of work!  I'll be lurking about soon!

Whatever you are doing this weekend - enjoy each moment!

xxoo



cheers to the weekend...

This week was a pretty busy week, having just come off

of our vacation - work, work & lots of it, but I also had

a nice dinner out with a good friend and our daughters for

my belated birthday!  Last night I hung out with a few of my

friends in their fabulous tree house (I will get a photo of it),

then went to a wonderful documentary.  Tonight I have a

date with my daughter, Steff to go see The Help - looking forward

to it!  Tomorrow I get to see my elderly friends - it has been a few weeks, so I am really anxious to see them and have some nice long chats!  I am going to try and get some biking and walking in this weekend also - actually I am going to make those my first priorities!  I hope whatever you do this weekend - you enjoy yourself!  Be kind, smile, laugh and live like you mean it!

XXOO

(my iphone photo of carousel in the piazza della repubblica,florence,italy)

cheers to the weekend...

That was a quick week!  The weekend couldn't come soon enough

for me.  I am still exhausted from the last one.  haha...  I hope

everyone has a fabulous 4th of July weekend!  We are spending

it as we usually do at a bbq at our friends place near the beach.

Please be safe.  If you drink, don't drive and

just enjoy the time with your friends and family!

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!

XXOO

cheers to the weekend...

This photo reminds me of the many road trips I have taken with

my girlfriends to adventures unknown - oh what fun we had!  This

weekend I am heading up north again to see my family and attend

a coed baby shower from my nephew and his wife!  Not sure if I am

driving with my daughter and her friends or flying (and I'm leaving

tomorrow....nothing like last minute decisions...haha...)  Whatever

you plan to do this weekend, make it fun & fabulous!!! 
See you next week!

xxoo

(photo via here)

cheers to the weekend..

I wouldn't mind spending a little time relaxing here, so pretty!  This weekend is going to be low-key.  Thinking about my dad on Father's Day and how much I miss him!  I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!  Smile, laugh, be kind and enjoy each moment!

xxoo

(photo via here)

my favorite rooms...

On my very long flight to Northern California

this weekend (45 minutes...haha.) I was flipping

thru the pages of Vogue and these were my fave

rooms.  I would love to have this library - it's

definitely do-able at my house but on a much

smaller level. 

This outdoor room is fabulous too!  I do have a pretty

nice backyard with a big tree, that is definitely one

of my fave places to hang out when the weather is nice!



This is my fantasy bathroom - I would love.love.love this!

I hope everyone had a super wonderful weekend!  I had a really

nice, yet short visit with my family. My son, Matt and his wife,

Heather had a FABULOUS party!  I will see them all in again in

2 weeks, as I will be attending a baby shower for my nephew and

his wife - lots of fun times with the family lately - loving it!

Have a gorgeous day, everyone!

xxoo

(photos via vogue.com)

cheers to the weekend...

Wow, this would be a fun place to spend a weekend

at! Fabulous water slides to play on - sign me up!!!

But first, I am heading up north to party with my family,

and I can't wait to see them all!

Whatever you do this weekend - enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!!

xxoo

(photo via here)

cheers to the weekend...

The perfect retreat!!  I have always wanted to

build a log cabin and this is most likely as close

as I would get to it!  I would love to hang out there!

This weekend I will be taking it one minute at a time,

no real plans, except to go visit my elderly friends and

ride my bike.  I am hoping to see my friend before she

heads off to Palm Springs to live too! 

Have a fabulous weekend, everyone!!

xxoo

(photo via here)

cheers to the weekend...

What started out as a solo road trip turned into a quick airplane

flight up north - I'm getting a wee bit lazy and have to work a bit longer

than planned.  Looking forward to adventures unknown!

Whatever you chose to do this Memorial Day Weekend - have fun,

be safe, enjoy each moment and please don't drink and drive! 

I'll  leave you with a quote on a new fave shirt of mine

"Happiness Rocks - Laugh Daily"

xxoo

cheers to the weekend...

Enjoy a weekend of simple pleasures!

I am taking it easy this weekend,

relaxing, reading

a bit of pampering,

 visits with my

fabulous elderly friends

and some walks and bike rides.

Smile, be kind and make someone's day!

xxoo

(photo via here)

cheers to the weekend..

Hmmm...Blogger sure has been acting up for me lately.  It

deleted my post from yesterday.  Oh well, moving on...This

is how I would love to spend a few hours this weekend, it looks nice

and relaxing....We have a small lake near my house where you can

rent kayaks and peddle boats, definitely going to do that this summer.

No major plans this weekend - walking, biking, reading and maybe

exploring some new local places that I have never been to.

So, whatever you chose to do this weekend - have fun, smile, be kind

and ENJOY EACH MOMENT!

xxoo

cheers to the weekend...

Dreaming of visiting St. Thomas again, where as a young woman

I had quite alot of fun and exciting adventures.  We have friends

that live there now, so hoping we can go for a visit sometime.

My friend, Sally and I booked our trip to the Napa Valley Wine Train

Murder Mystery Dinner.  We have been wanting to do this, so in a few

months we will head up north for a nice weekend in No. California.

The travel bug has bitten me bad, as it usually does this time of year,

so really trying to get some plans going for our summer trip.  Possibly

England, France and Italy, but truthfully anywhere with my guy would

be fabulous!!

This weekend I will be visiting my elderly friends at the assisted living. Lots of hugs and kisses coming to all the mom's there - they are so cute!!

Other than that, a nice relaxing weekend is in order - celebrating mom's day in a low key manner (which is the best way, in my opinion.)

HAPPY MOM'S DAY, EVERYONE!

 ESPECIALLY TO MY FABULOUS MOM!

ENJOY!

xxoo