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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...
THE JOY OF EASTER

THE JOY OF EASTER

It began with an inspiring Salon on the Spiritually Creative Life hosted by Wondrous Carol Soucek King, with this month's guest speaker being Brilliant Satinder Dhiman, Ph.D., EdD, Associate Dean, Chair, and Director of the MBA Program and Professor of Management at...

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A MAGICAL DAY

A MAGICAL DAY

Special thanks to Sensei Michael Belzer, President of the 'Friends of Shoseian,' a non-profit founded to maintain and preserve the beauty and serenity of the Shoseian Teahouse and the Japanese Friendship Garden, for again asking me to participate in the 'Cherry...

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AFTER THE RAIN,RAINBOWS!

AFTER THE RAIN,RAINBOWS!

There's always the promise of a better day, and a rainbow is meant to tell us that! You'll see one further down, but for now, I will share delights along the way. Awesome Sherry Dewane shepherds the 'Play Review' group and gets the most amazing speakers for the...

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IT NEVER RAINS IN CALIFORNIA

IT NEVER RAINS IN CALIFORNIA

It pours! Coming from Chicago, I know weather, and what happens out here in sunny California is rarely that....until now. My gosh, you'd think I'd melt, but there's no going out in downpours! Sadly I canceled quite a few things but found out that life goes on....

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A MOMENT IN TIME

A MOMENT IN TIME

One of the highlights of our group trip to Japan was the privilege of being in a private residence, partaking of a tea ceremony, dressed in antique kimonos. Our gracious hostess held up a Kanji and told us...'This is a moment in time that will never come...

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FEBRUARY STARTED OUT WITH QUITE A SURPRISE…

FEBRUARY STARTED OUT WITH QUITE A SURPRISE…

because we were sequestered for the first week missing the rehearsal for Marriage of Figaro and the Chinese celebration for the Year of the Rabbit at the Huntington Botanical Gardens. Kita the Akita was quite pleased with the situation as her friends came by to walk...

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THE GIFT OF A NEW YEAR

THE GIFT OF A NEW YEAR

began with Lovely Miriam Birch visiting the studio. Miriam is an Emmy award-winning documentarian for National Geographic and in fact she broke the glass ceiling for women writers and producers on TV. Her program 'Save the Panda' is the most watched show ever on...

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A PERFECT NEW YEAR’S EVE…

A PERFECT NEW YEAR’S EVE…

...began with Veronica decorating the house in places I didn't even know could be decorated. No corner was safe! The Ferrero Rocher is from dear Tania! This was at the front door for everyone to get their hat, noise maker and bling! Then a New Year's Greeting! You saw...

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THE BEST CHRISTMAS EVER…

THE BEST CHRISTMAS EVER…

But wait...I always say that! It just seems celebrating gets better and better as I understand that living joyfully requires full cooperation regardless of circumstances. Besides, I think I'm putting in more of an effort...sort of getting with the program. It's always...

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DECEMBER’S JOY

DECEMBER’S JOY

Beginning with Clyde's Insider Night pre-performance reception at Kendall's Brasserie. Here's Sweet Nicole, my CTG person... It was sort of a deli night nodding to the subject matter of Clyde's. Set Designer Akashi Kate was in conversation with Assoc. Artistic...

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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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