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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....

RED2……

……is absolutely the best summer movie….tons of fun and great cast…..Helen Mirren was fantastic and Mary Louise Parker’s dead pan wry humor was perfect! Laurie & I BOTH had a large popcorn and I did quite a bit of damage to mine. Time for dinner at Frida’s in...

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BRUSHSTROKES IN HOLLYWOOD……

…..directed and produced by Pam Tom has a completed ‘First Cut’ thanks to Kickstarter!!!  More on that later.  The amazingly talented, award winning  Pam is moving with hubby Ted and their delightful daughters Asia & Isabella, to New York, so friend...

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LIONS and TIGERS and BEARS…..oh my!

…..well maybe not bears as Sandie & Dr. Jim along with Lauren and Richard left for Africa Monday.  The latest report received was that although they arrived in Nairobi, Sandie’s bag was in Switzerland and Jim’s arrived in Nairobi b4 they did!  Probably...

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MOVIES, MOVIES, MOVIES……

……..See how the planet will end…..this turned out to actually be cute with a delightful ending. Rating: Large popcorn, cheesy chips and lots of candy since ‘This is the End’. I’d see this just to hear the William Tell Overture and Johnny Depp was so much better than...

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I HAD RECEIVED A VERY SPECIAL COMMISSION…….

……to create a scroll for Bonnie and Charlie’s Tatami Room.  Now this is no small assignment as the scroll, being site specific, was to be the only ‘adornment’ in the room and had to convey: A sense of peace…….. harmonious with it’s surroundings….. bringing nature...

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WHAT A GREAT WEEK!

…..It was simply sensational to have Michelle Bouse back in class….she’s sooooo busy!  Michelle is a celebrity makeup artist (famous for her amazing lashes) and is internationally known & LOVED!  Who wants to spend a day with me at Michelle Bouse’s...

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VISITING COLLECTOR’S of my WORK…..

……is always an absolute joy for me but never more so than seeing my Wisteria polyptych in Alice & Dr. Jerry’s home.  Each section is quite large and one would need a very long wall to accommodate this work.  As a matter of fact, Alice told me that a...

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CLARA CHOSE THE PENINSULA HOTEL……

…….in Beverly Hills to celebrate my birthday.  It’s said to be the last bastion of civility in Los Angeles and we were in the Belvedere, one of it’s loveliest rooms. (Bringing back memories of L’Orangerie on La Cienega Blvd.) I suspect if you’re not a foodie you...

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TIME OUT AT THE CALIFORNIA CLUB…..

……..Valerie was so dear to invite me to a luncheon at the California Club on Wednesday.  It was the perfect respite from the past two weeks of concern about mom after her fall.  Heartfelt thanks to all for the love you sent her way.  After our 2nd  doctors visit...

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LINE DANCE & THE TEXAS TWO STEP……

…..were the dances of choice for ‘DANCE DOWNTOWN’ at the Music Center Friday evening.  Saw lots of cowboy boots as a lot of people seemed to have gotten the memo. Tomiko & I were on our way to Kendall’s Brasserie…. and once there the menu had to be studied...

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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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