Easier Said Than Done

When HH and I were first married, I made these stockings for us. They were the same kind that my mom had made for us when we were in our teens. As each of my girls were born, I made one for them. They are crewel embroidery kits and cost about $20.00 each. I made the last one in 1992 when Delaney was born. Fast forward to two years ago when Alyssa and Greg got married. I wanted to make one for him as well. I looked high and low and could not find the right kind of kit anywhere. I thought I started looking too close to christmas and they were sold out. I gave him the stock Target stocking to hold until I could make one next year. Next year still couldn't find one. I went on the Sunset, Dimensions and Bucilla websites. They didn't seem to carry them anymore. I decided to google them and that is when I began to see words like "Vintage" and "Rare". What????

I found Katie's "Vintage" stocking, the kit offered for $195.00.

I found Delaney's stocking for $165.00 and still bidding. I found all of our stockings ranging from $165 - $199.

This is the one I would like to make Greg, but it is a whopping $275.00!!!

Seriously, $275.00 and I still have to make it myself?

Finally Friday!

Everyone have a great weekend!

Birthday Tablescape

On Alyssa's Birthday we had a birthday dinner for her and lots of presents. I love to wrap presents with satin ribbon. I also made some tissue paper flowers. It was easy and fast.

I settled on a color scheme of light blue, red, orange and pink.

This was the first time I had ever hung paper lanterns in the house,

I think it gave it a festive atmosphere for the party.

Pageant of the Masters

Last Saturday, the Handsome Husband and I met up with some friends and saw the Pageant of the Masters. This year's theme was "Only Make Believe". The Pageant is quite a unique and amazing production. Many artist gather and create an event unlike anything else you have ever seen! It runs from July 1 - Aug 31 every summer in Laguna Beach. You still have time to see it this year.

There is truly not a bad seat in the house. It begins at 8:30pm and is outdoors. Everyone brings binoculars so you can see the creations up close - They will fool your eyes everytime.

You can rent blankets and binoculars if you forgot yours. Before the show, you can spend time walking around the art gallery featuring 125 local artists and get a gourmet treat to eat and drink.

They produce quite a show. There is a narrator, films and props. They give you an interesting story and maybe a tidbit about the artist or piece of art they are producing and then "reveal" the art and gasps are heard all around. The paintings, posters and sculptures are made of real people paired with a background, make up is applied to the subjects to make them blend in with their subject matter and lighting is applied to make a 3d/2d scene appear as if it were a painting (except for the sculptures).

Everything looks so real! At various times during the show, they will deconstruct an exhibit and you are awed by what they have created and how they created it.

The theme changes every year and it is an jaw dropping experience.

You should go: Pageant of the Masters - You will be glad you did!

Happy Birthday, Handsome Husband!

Today is my Handsome Husbands birthday.

He is strong - physically and emotionally

He is loving

He is involved

He is an awesome husband

He is a loving daddy

He loves to ride his mountain bike

He lifts weights, religiously

He surfs

He loves to read (he devours books)

He is a fashionista

His favorite color is purple

He loves to shop (including grocery shopping)

He is incredibly smart

He loves his Harley

He is a detail person

He has a memory like a steel trap

He is my best friend

We are having Indian Food for his birthday dinner (I'm not cooking, we're going out).

Happy Birthday, we love you!

Bedroom Makeover so far...

My new bed and bedding.

It all started when HH and I decided to get a new bed because our old sleighbed hindered HH from being able to stretch out and it was a huge hassle to make the bed. So we stopped by Ethan Allen. It just so happens someone had ordered the above headboard, but they ordered it in the wrong size. We loved it and it was 1/2 off the original price-SOLD.

Our red and gold bedding just did not go with this tan headboard, and our gold walls - UGH!

So we found a new duvet and painted the walls blue / green. Picking the color for the walls was a nightmare. The duvet is silk and changes color with the lighting in the room. Sometimes greenish, sometimes bluish. The paint would match in the morning, but not in the afternoon. I must have bought 20 sample cans of paint. (Notice how the word pain makes up most of the word paint?) Finally I picked the paint that matched in the morning and complimented in the afternoon.

Next came the pillows. I bought the two cream colored ones and I made the snow leopard pillows and the pillow in the middle of them. Took me only about two days and that's because I made the first one way too big. . I am a terrible measurer (if that's a word). My girlfriends gave me the two small long pillows.

Here is a close up of the duvet.

I've now opened a can of worms. I need a chandelier, shutters and wood flooring to complete my room. Then I must paint the rest of the house...

Delaney is crafty...

My daughter Delaney made this beautiful beaded bracelet this week. Her own design, her own beadwork. She has always loved bracelets and rings and lingers over the jewelry counters. She has made little string macramé bracelets for herself and her friends, but Wow, she really got down to business here. She strung turquoise, white and clear seed beads on duck cloth in a chevron pattern.

Her sisters have already requested that she make them one and she has a new design in mind for another one.

Beautiful Delaney!

Happy Birthday, Alyssa!

Happy Birthday, Alyssa!

Our sweet baby is 25 years old today

It is hard to believe

Time has flown by

Seems like just yesterday, she was our little bo bo head

Now she is just Bo

She loves to read (like nonstop through the night)

Her dream job would be "Book Editor"

We tease her that she should work for Snapple and write all their Snapple Facts

She uses words like Wonky and Fancy (as in, " oh, don't you look fancy.")

She likes yoga

She loves shoes

She is a good saver

She wants a dog

Victoria Beckham is her fashion idol

She changes up her hair on a regular basis

She hates to take pictures (not to be in pictures, just taking them)

She has chosen Daddy's homemade spaghetti for her birthday dinner

And of course, she is kind, generous, loving, and loves her family.

WE LOVE HER!

Life with a puppy...

So, because I'm keeping count, he has eaten 2 pairs of Havaianas, 1 pair of rainbows, 4 USB cables, a printer cable and two rugs. When he goes outside, he brings in sticks, leaves and various dirt, but I still love him. Gus...

Laguna Beach

A picture of Main Beach from Heisler Park

Laguna Beach is a beautiful seaside town with a thriving art community. It is known for the summer show it puts on every year called The Pageant of the Masters (more about that in two weeks). The little town is filled with art galleries, boutiques and restaurants. It is the home of my oldest daughter and her husband. Laguna is made up of many coves with amazing rock formations and tide pools.

Diver's Cove

The last day of July was starting out overcast and hot. HH had neck surgery for some blown out discs two weeks ago and was going stir crazy in the house, so we headed down to Laguna for a walk. By the time we arrived at the beach, 20 minutes later, the sun had arrived and the cloud cover turned into beautiful blue sky. We found a great parking space right in front of Diver's Cove and began our walk. Diver's is the beach that we took our kids to as children. Out on the rocks, there is a "blow hole" where the water rushes into a crevice in the rocks and splashes up 20 feet high. HH has been known to swan dive into said crevice when the tide is high.

On the edge of Diver's at the top of the hill, is a beautiful picnic area called Heisler's Park. Green grass, park benches, bbq areas with picnic tables (you must arrive really early to snag one of the choice picnic table areas) a picturesque path with stairs leading to the beach coves, lawn bowling club, mini ampitheater, bathrooms, and art sculptures. Today it was not crowded.

This is looking left (the other way beyond Diver's), these coves are in the midst of neighborhoods.

Laguna flys the flag proudly with a little help from a good breeze.

Amazing trees and cactus are planted throughout.

There is no plaque on this sculpture, but to me, it reminded me of Dr. Seuss-Horton Hears A Who!

The kelp beds are thriving! They haven't been this rich and thick since El Nino destroyed them 10-15 years ago. HH is very excited to snorkel out there and take a look.

We came across this new area in the park. They have built a little ampitheater and added this beautiful Breaching Whale sculpture. I love it!

We arrived at Main Beach. Love this old Life Guard Stand from the 20's.

Laguna provides these great trolleys to take you all through the town and Heisler's Park. I believe they are free.

Here is a paparazzi shot of my daughters little place from Main Beach. She has a beautiful view of Main Beach, the ocean and Laguna's coast line. Lucky!