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JUNE FLEW BY…

...with memorable moments such as delightful Peggy treating us to an evening of MUSE/IQUE at the Huntington. My birthday celebrations continued with lovely Marine and her delightful sister Eliza treating me at The Capital Grille. Another great movie night with Curtis...

MAY REMINICENSE

April was so very difficult that I'm going to skip right past it to delightful May. Perhaps it's because May is my birthday month but I really think there's so much more to look forward to in the month. Veronica pulled several landscapes for collector Pam to select...

CONTINUING MARCH

A highlight of March has to be being serenaded by Universal Renaissance man, my friend Stanley Penner, playing a bit of Mozart, Brahms and more... ...on his Bösendorfer. I was told to "Look up!" So many treasurers... A lovely "Gratitude Luncheon" at the Athenaeum....

MARCHING THROUGH MARCH

The Children's Festival was a wonderful way to begin the month. Three days of getting up at five, wearing a white apron and helping all the kids find their way to seats at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion for an exciting dance performance by the Hubbard Street Dance...

SHORT BUT WONDERFUL

February, being the shortest month, has to cram a lot of joyful happenings..I can't think of a better way to begin the month than by celebrating Susie Kat's birthday at the Jonathan Beach Club! Yours truly, Maggie, Susie's cousin, Carol Soucek King, our amazing...

JANUARY, AND THE NEW YEAR BEGINS…

I'm not too sure what to make of January. Perhaps it's because December is such an amazing high with Christmas and New Years that it's hard to re-focus on business as usual. Well, maybe not as usual but certainly not at the extreme! It took Veronica and me two days to...

THE MOST WONDERFUL NEW YEAR’S …

began with guests getting their bling on. Here Alexis decides on hers. Also, signing the guest book and indicating what yummy treat they brought. Here's Jan making her entry. And with her bling on. Then it was time for amazing Magician Tom to mesmerize all of us,...

CHRISTMAS AND SO MUCH MORE!

Valerie Foster Hoffman is truly the Hostess With the Mostest, a real-life Auntie Mame! And to be at her Christmas party is to partake of an unforgettable experience. Cookies anyone? With Sherry in the garden. With Santa and our Lovely Hostess! Photographer Karl....

MOVING ON TOWARDS CHRISTMAS

The partying began at the California Club for the CTG Affiliates' Annual Christmas Luncheon. There are beautiful mystery boxes that everyone bids on....here's the one I got. Delightful Mary Kay with her treasure box. Sweet Diane chats with Artistic Director Snehal...

BEST THANKSGIVING EVER!

It's impossible to express how much I love Thanksgiving! Shopping for all of my traditional recipes starts about a week before, and this time it only took five trips! I begin with making the cranberries the Sunday before Thanksgiving, and the next day, the stuffing....

TEA and BOOK SIGNING for LISSI KAPLAN….

 ….in the Nan Rae Studio, a space that was created in 2000 in part to enrich others and to be shared by visiting artist’s. Perhaps none more gifted than Lissi Kaplan which was evident as we celebrated the launching of her new book, ‘LIGHT as a FEATHER’. Lissi has...

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IS SUMMER OVER?……

  Charles and I were married in August and every birthday, Valentine’s Day, Anniversary, etc. he’d make me the most wonderful cards. But balloons are nice too... And there’s always lots of LOVE…. Amy brought over two exquisite bouquets for our anniversary and Laurie...

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TEACHING BRINGS ME THE GREATEST JOY……..

  ….especially so because I have the most wonderful students! Here’s the class at the Huntington Botanical Gardens where I have been teaching since the mid ’90’s.  When I started there the class was in an area that is now the Boone Gallery and the Botanical Staff...

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MANJIL, DESTINATION of the HEART……

….and that’s exactly what beautiful Maggie’s sacred environment is! In case you’re wondering, Manjil is a Hindi word and nothing expresses the all encompassing, loving environment better.  I so wanted Nikka to see this enchanting home and what a universal, literary...

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SWANS, SCROLLS and SERENDIPITY…….

If you want to relax, toss aside all cares and take a one day vacation then I suggest a day at the Bel-Air Hotel. Just seeing the swans as you approach the hotel will place you in another world….a world of serenity and great beauty……a reminder to live joyfully!  Even...

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CENTER THEATRE GROUP SEASON PREVIEW EVENT……

…..was held this year at the Hotel Casa Del Mar in Santa Monica. The ever lovely Natalie with CTG Producing Director Doug Baker. Before we heard Doug Baker and Artistic Director Michael Ritchie discuss the upcoming season, there was an incredible buffet. There were...

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TONS of FUN…..

…..beginning with Maggie as we attended a cooking class at ‘PIRCH', one of my favorite, joyful places. Chef John made sure all participants had a station and a task….  Maggie polished up her knife skills with onions, tomatoes and a few other items….  How amazing was...

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A VERY SPECIAL EVENING……….

  ….at the home of Manuela Goren, CTG board member, and her husband James…..….began with Amy and me driving to a spot nearby their residence to be greeted by members of the CTG staff and then taking one of the several shuttle vans of Chucksparking.com to our hosts...

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TEATIME at the PENINSULA in BEVERLY HILLS…..

…..has got to be one of my favorite things to do.  Perhaps it’s because all of the china is hand painted by my dear friend, beautiful Lissi Kaplan, with love and tender care. lissikaplan.com I always love describing the work of my amazingly gifted friend. Adorable...

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WELCOME…

to my personal blog where I’ll be sharing adventures and how I determine each day to live joyfully as an Artist, Teacher, and Author. My latest book “What If… We Have the Power to Change Our Lives” an inspirational book that hopefully will empower you to live your best life! You can find me and my work at nanraestudio.com My hope is that this blog will inspire you to find joy everywhere and in everything and that is what I wish for you!

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