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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...

MOM'S 102nd BIRTHDAY WAS THIS PAST WEEK….

…..but before that special day there was a lot to do.  Monday afternoon Jane Windsor-Marowitz came over to discuss next Sunday’s tea for Lisa See.  Jane’s company, www.anyoneforteacatering.com will be handling the food and beverage department and sweet Amy...

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WE’RE BACK IN THE DARK AGES….

…..major PC problems, printers that don’t want to print and a scanner that has pooped out. We found that out trying to scan the large works piled up behind it!  The remaining PC files have to be transferred to the iMac……love Apple!  Hopefully by the end of the week...

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SUNDAY WITH THE REILLY’S….

……plus food and you have perfection!  We went to Trattoria Neapolis in Pasadena with the amazing Jakey the Reilly’s grandson.  I say amazing because he’s not quite two years old going on five.  No kidding, this lad is awesome…..so smart, attentive and...

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WE WILL ROCK YOU……

……and rock us they did as Tomiko & I caught the final performance of the music of QUEEN set to a story by Ben Elton. On a show like this I think it’s best to be at the last performance as the cast seems to really go all out.  This was no exception and they...

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TIME TO CELEBRATE…….

……..beginning with Charles and my anniversary on the 19th. (The 19th on the 19th!) Emma printed up this card for Charles and he signed it. Awwwwww……… We all went to Bar Verde……surprised? I love my darling Charles! Next day was class at the Huntington and Jessica...

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BONNIE and CHARLIE’s DELIGHTFUL PARTY….

…….last Sunday celebrated all things Japanese! It was such a great pleasure traveling to Japan with them this past spring as they are wonderful observers and bring their joie de vivre to everything! Have you seen the scroll they commissioned for their serene Tatami...

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GUARDIANS of the GALAXY……

……was the perfect way to start the week! I loved this movie!!! Actually the star of the movie was a talking, machine gun toting, genetically altered, cybernetically enhanced raccoon….Rocket, voiced by Bradley Cooper.  You have a problem with that? His best bud is...

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FROM PASADENA to SANTA MONICA….

…..it was a great week….. beginning with Sunday’s event at Vroman’s in Pasadena.  Sweet and hugely multi-talented Black Belt (correct) Diana Ming Jeong invited me to a book signing for her awesome teacher Don Baird who is in the Martial Art Masters Hall of...

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CELEBRATING JIM REILLY’S BIRTHDAY……

…..is becoming a tradition with ME being taken out.  Shouldn’t it be the other way around??? ……..Just saying….. Anyway, I’ll drink to that! It was so good to see Lauren…..we’ve missed her….. Foodie Sandie picked ‘Alta Eats’ tucked away on the Altadena/Pasadena...

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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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