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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....

NOVEMBER’S JOY

Sandie girl came to the studio to work on her Christmas card. It's so lovely, but I can't show it to you just yet! This is where it all began on November 6th. Backup from the water drainage area. It's the 25th and work continues... On to lighter moments. Dinner at...

ANOTHER BIRTHDAY AND SO MUCH MORE

It was time to celebrate delightful Patricia Faber and sooo much fun was had by all! Architrect Miller Yee Fong had to leave early so he wasn't in the group photo. Happiest of birthdays dear Patricia! Make a wish!!! Soooo cute! I was so thrilled to see the recent...

OCTOBER MEANS SAYING GOODBYE TO SUMMER

Each year I'm determined to really enjoy summer and then find it's October and I wonder what happened. The upside to that is beginning the month with the Huntington Botanical Garden's Mid Autumn Moon Festival where we have a booth and get to see many of my wonderful...

CONTINUING SEPTEMBER

For a short month, September had a lot going on, continuing with the Center Theatre Group Affiliates New Member Orientation Meeting. "Giving the Gift of Theatre to the Next Generation." Afterwards, Christine Hart, VP Programs for the Affiliates, and Sweet Diane visit...

OLD AND NEW JOYFUL MEMORIES

 The treasure of a friendship brings forth great memories. This design project for Frette from eighteen years ago was unearthed after a conversation with Rosanne Sachson, A.S.I.D. filled with joyful laughter. “Sail Away” was the theme and a Nan Rae painting graced the...

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LOVE IS IN THE AIR…….

……and that brings such joy! Mary and Keith exchanged vows in the beautiful 1st Congregational Church of Los Angeles on Commonwealth….. Sign in please….. Pastor Dr. Scott Colglazier performed  a moving….touching ecumenical service…. Charles wrote this for me on an...

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MOONLIGHT and ROSES GALA

I can’t believe I’m actually wearing a skirt!   In addition, there may actually be two dresses in my closet (I’m not sure)!! This is so unusual that Nikka, my irreplaceable Assistant, insisted on taking a photo…. Curious?  Well, it was for the Grand Gala fundraising...

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IT'S ALL ABOUT THE FOOD…OR IS IT????

That’s an easy one to answer.  It’s all about sharing experiences and if you’re a foodie, or a foodie in training, I can recommend no one better than Clara Yang, my partner in discovery and joyful adventures.  From tea at the Peninsula…... ….. to Chinese Haute Cuisine...

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FRIENDS INSPIRE ME……

 …..and especially so in class when I feel the love generated amongst everyone…...  ……..and see the beautiful work that’s always created. The kindness and dedication of everyone I know inspires me.  Dr. Eileen is becoming a docent at the Huntington and believe...

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A LOVELY MOONLIT NIGHT…..

…….in her beautiful garden... ……was the perfect setting for Valerie Foster Hoffman’s grand soiree to celebrate Satinder Dhiman’s scholarly tome ‘GANDHI and LEADERSHIP:  New Horizons in Exemplary Leadership’.  I am in absolute awe of Satinder’s scholarship as he is...

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INSPIRATION….

…Where does inspiration come from?  Does it land full force like a space ship from Mars or settle gently like a cool breeze?  I don’t know but what I do know is that in doing the painting for Robinson Gardens an avalanche of ‘inspiration’ tumbled down upon me in the...

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AN ANNIVERSARY and a BIRTHDAY!

I absolutely love, love, love the look of the blog now.  It was Nikka’s idea and she created it!  Sunday started the week off with meeting Tomiko at Pacific Theatre in Americana.  I was a bit early and could not get over the lines at both the ticket area and will...

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MOSTLY SEQUESTERED…………..

Can you believe this beautiful ‘Emotional Support’ dog that I met at Americana?  I fell in love!  The euphoria lasted for the briefest of time as I then saw 'Ricki and the Flash'.  Don’t even ask me…... Time to clear my mind at Katsuya but another disappointment as...

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THE MONET OF BRUSH PAINTERS!

THE MONET OF BRUSH PAINTERS!

I’m in love with Patience Brewster!  Let me go further….I’m in awe of Patience Brewster and everything that she does! Click on image to learn more about Zeke and Zelda! Everyone loves a Bear…..Especially ‘Victoria Bear’! Click on image to learn more about...

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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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