It's All About The WHIMSY!

California Adventure part 2...

Things I did while on a whirlwind trip through southern California..

Enjoyed a tasty beverage at a sidewalk cafe in Pasedena with sister Judi and dear frined Ginny..also made a visit to Zinnia which was of course fabulous!

An evening of art journaling at Gina's house..would you look at that washi tape stash!  

Oh such creative fun!

Lovely ladies at Flora Bowley's class

Celebrated Judi's birthday at a fabulous Malibu restaurant, Savory.  I'll not tell her age..

Birthday girl!

Antiquing..I really think she should have bought this hat!

And a stop at the French General!!!

Somewhere in the afternoon there was:

**an accidental wine tasting,

**a visit to the LA Library( wonderful!),

**lunch with #1 Son

**and a fine dinner provided by my brother-in-law prior to departure back east.

We wasted not a minute..needed a day of sleep to recover..

I miss my bbs..

Birthday celebration!

This past weekend I celebrated my 29th birthday again...yes well not exactly true...I have reached the age of 59 in the blink of an eye!  How did that happen?  See that fabulous cake?  My dear daughter Katie made it from scratch, yummy!

She and her boyfriend Nick study the recipe for the lovely dinner they made for the celebration, quite the cooks!

A dear family, great friends, good food, I am blessed..

 

We ended the evening with a sky lantern launch !

Up and away!

 
I am so thankful.

But really...most days I still feel this old.

 

 
 

Drive By Post!

Take one perfectly good red velvet cake...

break it into small pieces, yes crumble the whole thing!

 I know, it is hard, be brave!  Trust me...

Add 1/2 can of cream cheese frosting...

beat the whole mess together with a hand mixer..

Roll the resulting dough into small balls and insert a lollipop stick!

Dip in melted chocolate...toss on a few pearlized crystals..

Cake Pops!!

Once dry, arrange in a basket for your Easter dessert!

Yummy!

 Happy Easter!

I'm in a New York State of Mind

 

Weekend in New York City with the Niece, Nephews and Others

My nephews Nick and Alex have been known to wander the world on a whim.  They "landed" in NYC this weekend and we had a wonderful weekend!

We walked the Brooklyn Bridge as the sunset on a perfect Fall afternoon.  I've had this on my to do list for quite some time.  It was wonderful!  Easy to spot where the best pictures are to be found by the crowds with tripods and cameras in hand.  There were several amusing photographer gapers blocks.  The entire weekend we walked and walked and walked and walked...

Did I mention we ate, and ate, and ate? Eataly, Babycakes, Pastis, Korean Barbeque, Meatball Shop, International Pickle Festival....I will not be eating much this week!

Larry, Alex, Lauren and Nick

One must keep up ones strength with all this walking!

On Sunday morning my sister Judi's daughter Katie and her friend Maxwell joined us for expresso at Eataly.  This is Larry delivering one of many coffee beverages to our table.  It was great to catch up with all of these delightful "youngsters".

 

 

A walk on the Highline followed.  What a wonderful oasis of green in the city, with fabulous views!  An impromptu  paper airplane flying contest, those wacky nephews...Nick's friend Dave won. 

Then on to Pastis for a late brunch!  Oh the bread, I want this in my house!

After all this, are you feeling hungry or full?