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IS SUMMER OVER OR JUST BEGINNING?

How adorable! Precious Emilia and David, with their lovely mom, Maria, pick up their book, "That's Just What I Needed Today." August 7th and Somi is three ... can you believe it??? First an appointment at the spa where Somi had a blueberry facial before her usual...

JULY FLEW BY

If I turn around, the summer will be over, so I want to be sure to enjoy each wonderful moment! The best high after the 4th of July celebration was seeing Mamma Mia. We were in the absolute first row which was great as we saw everyone close up including the musicians....

I LOVE THE 4TH OF JULY…

It's grilled cheese sandwiches, games and unmitigated joy! Preparations start a week before the 4th. Tomatoes give the cheese sandwiches that special something but they have to be sliced thin and well drained. Party favors. The caricature is from the year before, when...

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,...

I'M the QUEEN of ENGLAND….

….Or at least that’s how very special Maggie made me feel from the moment I entered her magical courtyard! Maggie began our afternoon by opening a bottle of lovely Elderberry juice/soda…..Aren’t the glasses lovely? But permit me to backtrack just a bit.  Maggie was...

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HOW THE REILLY'S ROLL…..

….I’ve mentioned before how I love my Sandie Girl ‘fix' each weekend and this was no exception.  Brunch at the Reilly’s...The cutest part was watching the male guests surround Sandie Girl at the grill... One was in charge of the bacon because after all….it’s all about...

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ADVENTURES IN EATING WITH SOME ART THROWN IN

More and more Sundays start the week off with Tina Marie, Nikka and me having brunch at the Beverly Hills Hotel.  This time it was poolside. The little jars of Maple Syrup are so adorable we asked for some to take home!  I think the basic idea is to see how much room...

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SHAKESPEARE, ART, CARS and SHOES…….

What more could one ask for! Amy, Nikka & I headed off to the Huntington for a Heritage Society event and were greeted by awesome Cris Lutz. These young people were so, so cute and we had great fun watching their performance. Amy has never seen a tree, plant or...

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PARTY TIME BEGINNING WITH KALEY'S SWEET SIXTEEN….

….celebrated in the Living Room at the Peninsula Hotel.   Awwwwww……Kathy you are so dear to include me in this very special celebration….THANK YOU!  Hi Clara! I always love showing off the exquisite china our Lissi Kaplan hand paints for the Peninsula.   The ‘Tower of...

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CLARA'S BEAUTIFUL NEW HOME

 I was so happy when Clara told me she had found the perfect home not only for herself but also for her parents when they visit from China.  It was exciting to go to Santa Monica and be in her beautiful new nest. Is this the face of joy or what!!! We had great fun...

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A PERFECT DAY

 I’ll catch up with everything later but I wanted to write about yesterday while it’s still fresh in my minds eye. (I had to take a picture of this Art Center College directional sign as that’s where Charles and I met.  Awwwwww……) It began with meeting Carol at her...

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FINDING JOY IN OUR PURPOSE

Absolutely everyone has a purpose! Painting is my ‘work’ but I’ve found that my purpose in life is teaching and it’s in teaching that I find my greatest joy.  Here are a few moments in the past two weeks that I have loved. I used to teach a Landscape class at the...

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SERENDIPITY LEADS TO JOYFUL ADVENTURES!

Yes, I do tend to wander off if something catches my eye but that’s how all of my amazing adventures have happened as I told Jane Verrill, here on business for Harvard University, as we shared tea and reminisced at the Peninsula Hotel.  Tea time is made especially...

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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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