Wrapping up 2012

Last day of the year.

Rest.  Like the seals in La Jolla.

Enjoy.  The beauty all around you.

Clap.  For all the happy times in 2012.

Ride.  A gentle wave into the year ahead.

Look forward!  Dream big!

Voila - French Toast

Santa brought me a little something from France (though it was made in China).

Scored high on the adorability factor.

Easy to use.

Lovely imprint of zee Bonjour and zee Tour Eiffel.

Alas, merde, it resisted actually toasting or french toasting (as seen below).

C'est la vie!

G-House 2012

Merry Christmas!

Beach Gal

Low tide at Torrey Pines State Beach.

Washed up all kinds of creatures.

Like this cute redhead.

Reindeer Intervention

It all started when I found a 6-pack of beer dressed up as reindeer on PINTEREST.

Already had the googly eyes from making mummy candles for Halloween.

Only needed some brown pipe cleaners and red pom pom noses.

I started with Ale.

Quickly moving on to Sprite.

Then a fast detour to wine and sparkling juice.

I couldn't stop.

No bottle was safe from me and my pipe cleaners...

Treats

December is a month-long treat fest.

Cards show up in the mail box instead of the usual flyers and bills.

Packages are delivered to the front porch.

Friends and family and neighbors and colleagues show up with surprises.

A treat bag filled with nut tartlets, peppermint
meringues, gingerbread people and cookies.

I am a sucker for adorable baked goods.

Love these checkerboard cookies!

Yesterday I left the dentist office with my customary soft bristle brush, floss and travel toothpaste takeaway items.

And a Santa bucket full of BELGIAN CHOCOLATES!!!

Did you catch the part about the dentist office????

I almost fell over.

Unexpected treats are the very best part of December.

Horse Named Pudding

Came across a Converse-wearing family while out Christmas tree shopping.

Which would not be that unusual except for one of the family members was a dwarf horse.

His footwear was purchased at 'Build A Bear'.

We took some pictures and introduced ourselves to 'Pudding'.

All dressed up in his antlers.

Sporting a shaved heart on his back end which is probably the equivalent of an equestrian tattoo.

Merry Christmas Pudding, hope you found a good tree!

Canals of Naples

Naples is a neighborhood of Long Beach, CA.

Built on three islands and divided by canals.

It is a lovely place to stroll during the holidays...Christmas decorations range from sophisticated to completely over-the-top, here we go:

Stick around after dark, there are Christmas 'trees' lighting up the canals.

Olallieberry

Cross a blackberry and a raspberry and you get an olallieberry.

The seaside village of Cambria is crazy about 'em.

Take a picture with the berry.

Eat some jam.

Bake a frozen pie.

There is an Olallieberry Festival and an Olallieberry Bed and Breakfast and there is the fresh baked pie, oh the pie.

Delicious olallieberry pie.

Or an early morning olallieberry cream cheese muffin if it is too early for pie.

Tasting the berry, in any form, is a treat.  

And a very good reason to visit Cambria.

That and the view!

Christmas Carts

Sung to the tune of 'O Christmas Tree':

O Shopping Carts! O Christmas Carts!

Thy branches are so sparkly;

O Shopping Carts! O Christmas Carts!

Thy branches are so sparkly;

Not only used when shopping here,

But also when the season's near.

O Shopping Carts! O Christmas Carts!

Thy branches are so sparkly;

Main Street in Venice, CA.

A towering stack of shopping carts.

Wrapped in lights and ornaments.

Abbot Kinney

On Small Business Saturday (urging consumers to shop local), we were in Venice, CA.

What a treat. 

Abbot Kinney Boulevard is a mixture of old brick buildings and bold-colored modern shops.

Unique gifts to be found in a relaxed environment.

My favorite item in this shop - the hanging lamp.

Leather - wallets, bags, belts.

Clever idea! Fitted hats for bicycle helmets - would you wear one?

Chocolate tasting inside.

Modern Scandinavian Living

And so much more fun than Cyber Monday...