Just Lunch? Or Life?

Do you remember when you met your future husband for the first time? Did you know that he was the one?

I didn't have any idea...That a lunch would go all day into the evening!

It all began at 11:30 am November 30th.

That our first introduction, he invited me to go to lunch at a seaside restaurant. It would linger into the afternoon... which would proceed to a another invite to see a movie in the evening {Man from Snowy Winter}. Our lunch officially ended at about 10:45pm!!!

I thought lunch would be a couple of hours! I can't remember if I even changed clothes for the movie!

I remember I had a modeling interview that morning and I had on a white cotton mini skirt and a baby blue long sleeve v-neck oversized sweater and my gold leather ballet flats! Not dressed for a first impression at all! I really was looking for a free lunch! Not a date...

Hmm.. We didn't have a sip of wine, just Ice tea!

Well that is how it began 29 years ago today, AWE ! can't believe we have been together all these years.

A picture is worth a thousand words they say...... Soo true.

Little did I know that this picture of me from my modeling archives would be such a true representation of what would be surrounding me in my future life with him and

our boys today! Gives me chills!

"Happy First meeting 29 years later to my sweetie"

Thank you for a wonderful lunch!

I love doing lunch*

xo,

me

Let the Holiday's Begin*

Time to open my Vintage suitcases and a get out some Christmas decorations, I love all my special decorations that I have collected for a few decades!

I store some of them in Vintage suitcases and I get them first!

Have fun and be careful out there today shopping!

I never go out shopping on this day! I wait for the crowds to be a little more restrained!!

My Design Tip: Find some functional storage pieces that are decorative elements which can be displayed in your house all year!

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my Vintage suitcases! I started my collection 20 years ago with one from my mother-n-law.

Happy Friday*

xo,

me

Happy Thanksgiving*

There are so many things I have to be to be Thankful for....

I give Thanks for them daily, not just on Thanksgiving.

It's refreshing to see we are all a little more conscious about relating them in many ways on this day.

I count my blessings faithfully and I am grateful for the opportunity to recognize what they mean.

We've started our pre-holiday!

Last night our friends Mary and J.R who are truly great hosts, have a lovely annual PRE-Holiday gathering. The evening was filled with close friends, fabulous food and even a newborn little boy was the newest guest. I think just about everyone had to get a little time with him..I was happy to hold him and he was a little angel in my arms for a few minutes! His parents were so happy and its was great to see them with such joy!

I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving filled with all that matters most to you, whatever your plans.... just be happy with what that is!!

Be safe in your travels, Blessings,

xo,

me

Happy Friday*

Hey there Lovelies!

The last few weeks have been soooo busy!

I've missed ya'll!

Our youngest son was on a popwarner football team that had a really successful season! We were traveling the last two weekends to Laughlin, Nevada and then last weekend to Phoenix, AZ. We lost our game in Phoenix..so we are officially done with football!

Just the team party tomorrow! Then on to Basketball on Sunday...Just getting caught up on all the day to day from being gone from these mini trips!

I had a fabulous time in Phoenix, we had a wonderful family dinner and it was so nice to connect and be together! Then I was able to sneak away and visit some of may favorite shops.. Phoenix has the BEST shops OOH my goodness! Found some awesome things there.

On the way home we stopped at this darling little place, everything was so delicious & fresh! The restaurant is called "Matt's Big Breakfast". I met the owner and she was so sweet. She even makes the Juices and the Jellies.

I took a picture of the front as we were leaving. It's in Phoenix, Az. Definitely a destination*

It was featured on one of our favorite shows, Drive-ins, Diners and Dives that's how we found it!

Oh*** My Special thoughts & wishes to all of you Fabulous Women and Men who are on the Breast Walk here in San Diego!

Thank you and have a safe and memorable walk*

Love you all*

Have a Fabulous Friday eve*

Missed ya,

xo

me

Happy Halloween*

Happy Halloween to to all the Good Witches!

This is a picture I put together in this old frame,every Halloween It hangs with my witches hat!

I hope y'all have a lot of fun and be safe!

A school night so I be it will be a early one...

Blessings,

xo,

me

A Wisconsin Farm Stand*

Hope your weekend is as beautiful as it here in So. Cal. About 80 degrees today and blue sky s..

When I was on my trip in Wisconsin I was driving to visit my family, Phoebe and Priscilla and I passed the most gorgeous little farms and roadside markets.

I couldn't help but stop at this one.. The farmer had fabulous pumpkins from $1-3. Indian corn, apples, concord grapes, all kinds of vegetables. I bought my niece one of the large pumpkins, the one that is pinkish and looks like it has barnacles on it! I wish I could of brought a truck full home! Also bought some delicious apples and a basket of concord grapes!

After the cute farmer gave me the tour of his farm.... {Don't talk to strangers!!}

He said I have one more thing to show you, but it is in the barn.. Sooo, I held my breathe and we walked in quietly as he put his finger to his lips, SHhhh. I looked over the gate and saw these baby little piglets!!! Oh my they were cute!

I had to take photos to show my son this little farm. How about the huge grain holder! It was fabulous I would use it as a Gazebo in my Lemon Grove it was so big!

My hat is off to the Farmer's they are special people and so proud of what they do. I so enjoyed my tour! {As soon as he asked me where I was from I new it was going to be a long conversation!}

Have a beautiful Sunday*

xo,

me

Philanthropy and Glamour met*

This is why I am so moved by Ralph Lauren, not just because he is a designer and fashion is his world, He embodies humanitarian generosity, he's lived a life that he values others and their struggles.

Oprah, well she is out of the same pattern!

How amazing to be a guest at the once-in-a-lifetime event!! I'm sure you wouldn't of sold your seat for any amount!

This event was billed as An Evening with Ralph Lauren: a cocktail reception, conversation with Oprah and a three-course dinner. The venue was at Lincoln Center-The performing Arts Capital of the World-On a night when Philanthropy was the mission and Glamour was the mode.

A crowd nearly 800 raised a record $7 million Dollars for Cancer! Wow that is so Fabulous... I bet the emotion was overwhelming in that room...

An awesome story that I felt should be shared if you didn't already know.

Have a beautiful Friday*

xo,

me

Pretty blooms from the garden*

Happy White Wednesday!

I was outside early this morning cutting some of my roses. I love to have them all the time around the house. So I took a few pictures, also"Miss Chloe" our dog was laying around in the yard!

A busy day and it's time to make some tea and a fire! A beautiful sunset we're enjoying tonight here in So. Cal.

Yes.. I'll have one of these sugar cookies too!

Enjoy your evening!

xo,

me

Lake Geneva was beautiful*

The weekend already, hope your week was fabulous! I felt it sure went fast!

When I was visiting the midwest I was driving between places and my route took me through a favorite fabulous place.. Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.. Oh my goodness... it was October Fest, the town was decorated beautifully. Tall corn stalks wrapped around every post in town and hanging baskets with flowers. This has always been one of my favorite places, even as a young girl growing up in the area. The streets are lined with beautiful trees and the houses are all historical and fabulous. The houses on the lake are sooo amazing! I stopped walked down the the lake side to take a few photos. The building with the vines is the towns book store! Delaney Mercantile is a really cute home store. Loved the open sign in front of the store!

A few years ago my causin Shanon got married here at a beautiful resort called "Geneva Nationals". It was beautiful. It was the first time with my family and it was so fun to share these places where I grew up. They even thought it was pretty special and they are all born and raised in Cali!

I hope your sunday will be relaxing!

xo,

me

Wisconsin Lake Cottages!

I love love love houses!

I never go anywhere without looking at houses.

Truly has been a love of mine since I was a little girl growing up on a lake in Northern Illinois.

On my trip last week, I was in Kenosha,Wisconsin my cousins took me on a little tour of some of the most fabulous Lake Michigan {on the lake}cottages! I thought I would share them with you!

I don't know if you ever visited this area of Northern Illinois or Wisconsin, It is so beautiful... I get very homesick when I see this place!

The weather was like summer! Here are a few pics I took from the Kenosha Yacht club and the shore. Pictures of the garages too.. which I love almost as much as the house! I love garages!

Have a fabulous tuesday!

xo,

me

Na-Da Farm Sale... A midwest event*

How are ya'll... I have been back for a few days from my Illinois & Wisconsin autumn visit.

Mmm..Lots of fun things...I had the best week* First before I left, my best friend, Anita from High school in Tennessee with her husband and son came to visit. I was so pleasantly surprised when they called from AZ where they were visiting and said they wanted to come visit me in So. Cal! I was sooo excited... I haven't seen them in 22 years! We have never met each other's children...We figured out it was before I had my first son and I was still modeling!

We had so much to catch up on and it was as if we just saw each other. It is so fabulous to have that kind of friendship isn't it? It was really hard to say goodbye,two days was not enough but better than nothing!!! I hope we visit more often... I guess the next visit I will be going to Tennessee!

Then I got on a plane to Wisconsin to visit family. My niece Phoebe is there and is she is so Dear to me.

Soooo wonderful to see her and my sister-n-law Priscilla. They have a fabulous historical house that was a "coach" house from an Turn o the Century Estate in Wisconsin. I also spent time with my other cousins in their new beautiful home, they are so sweet and I just love being with them in Wisconsin. They gave me a fabulous house tour along Lake Michigan and the autumn leaves were changing and it was spectacular. The most fabulous homes omg! I will share some houses on another post.

My stay was too short but I was able to get around and see a lot.

I took Priscilla to this fabulous event called The Na-Da farm sale event

It is put on by Ann-Marie from www.nadafarmlife.blogspot.com. She has a blog and she is amazing. I have wanted to go to one of her events since I saw her blog. She was very sweet and all of her family helped her put on this annual event.

I was so excited to go with Priscilla, it was really a beautiful setting in the middle of the prairie and I loved everything! I did a make a few purchases and I was truly grateful we went!

Her are a few pictures from the sale.Visit her blog and you will see more.

I also had the pleasure of meeting Tracy at the event from the blog www.frenchlarkspur.com who is in Illinios. She has a great on line store which I have visited before. You'll want to visit her blog too!

It is nice to be back home but I already miss my family in the midwest!

Here are some pictures I took at the Na-Da Farm sale...

Enjoy your weekend!

xo,

me

Halloween touches*

I can't believe it's October 1st!

It was the most beautiful morning here in So. Cal... Sunshine,warm with Blue skies...

Don't you feel like this time of year for some reason just flies.... Then it will be the Holiday's.

I am soooo excited for my trip to Illinois and Wisconsin!!

The planning is so much fun...I can't wait to see my family there!

I have been trying to get my schedule worked out with everyone. So far everything is falling into place perfectly. My stay will be short so I want to spend the time with a bit of a plan!

Here is a photo of some Halloween decor at my house.

Sorry..I don't do much orange if any!

Have a fabulous weekend, get out your Halloween decorations and let the season begin!!!

Off to my youngest's pop warner football game..

xo,

me