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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,...

THEATERS, MUSEUMS and SCIENTISTS…..

The theatre is a fun way to start the week and ‘An Act of God’ was hilariously wonderful! Sean Hayes delivered a tour de force of a performance!  Kendall’s Brasserie at the Music Center can always be counted on for a delicious meal.  Besides they have the best bread!...

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MUSIC, MUSIC, MUSIC…..

Checking in with Amy for a LA Opera event at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. What joy! But first….there was a luncheon. We got to see the final dress rehearsal for The Magic Flute! It was inspiring to see the students from across Los Angeles who were selected to see...

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LOVELY THINGS HAPPEN……

 ….and right up there was a photo shoot at the Huntington Botanical Gardens with amazing photographer Martha Benedict.  You can see her stunning work at www.marthabenedict.com I am always amazed at the difference a professional photographer makes…...  Sweet Cris from...

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COMING FULL CIRCLE……..

……I was delighted when Linda Cantwell asked me to speak and do a Brush painting demonstration for the San Marino League Sustainers.  This was amazing to me on so many levels as over twenty years ago I  gave a lecture to the San Marino League on the history of Brush...

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JOY at the HUNTINGTON…..

  I always look forward to all of my classes but this past week at the Huntington was an explosion of JOY!  There were 19 students and we painted Camellias.  …….But first, because there were quite a few new students, I did a review of various brush strokes and the...

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FINDING JOY in SORROW……

Some of you may have noticed that I changed the name of my blog to ‘LIVE JOYFULLY’ because that is not only my personal goal but my wish for all of you. ….It has always been my great joy and privilege to have Danny Han-Lin Chen, internationally acclaimed artist and...

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A DREAM FULFILLED…….

….and we witnessed it!  But first, does it really take one blonde and two brunettes to figure out a parking meter?  Apparently so! You all know how much I love ‘Recess Eatery’ on Brand Blvd.  I’ve long admired how Chef Sevan Abdessian built the restaurant slowly and...

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ALL JOY, ALL THE TIME….

…Beginning with Tai Ling Wong coming to pick up the cards she ordered for USC Pacific Asia Museum’s Gift Shop.  Of course she’s old friends with Kita and they had a fine time together with Kita actually behaving herself. Tai Ling, Manager of the Gift Shop,  had been...

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AS A WONDERFUL YEAR BEGINS…….

……we said a final farewell to the fantastic ‘15! I was delighted to see one of my paintings illustrating the class announcement in the Huntington’s Calendar.  Time to say goodbye to my Christmas jamies for another year……. I met sweet Amy for lunch before she left for...

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THE BEST CHRISTMAS EVER……..

 ….thanks to some major planning which included having the table good to go days ahead of schedule and all of the Christmas cards sent! I decided to spare everyone the musical Crackers and fortunately these from William Sonoma arrived just in time! Trudy never forgets...

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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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