Sleeping in

We've had so many sleepovers at our house this summer...




The living room has become a crash pad for girls and animals.
It also happens to be the only room in our house with air conditioning...
Lately I've been thinking about sleeping outside in the hammock.

The Official Start of Summer

My friend Elaine arrived last week from Paris for a two-month stay in Los Angeles. She always comes with gifts (this year, a scarf from an open-air Parisian market) and French magazines.
If I'm really lucky, I'll find a way to fly back to Paris with her in August.

In the meantime, I'm spending a lot of time in Beverly Hills and
at the beach enjoying the arrival of Summer with my favorite friend.

Bliss.

Hello from the road

We decided to take a trip to the Sierra Nevada mountains this weekend...It was such a lovely getaway! We stopped in the little town of Bishop. Of course, I made a b-line for the bookstore, called Spellbinder. I picked up a copy of "Reading My Father," a memoir written by William Styron's daughter, Alexandra. Ms. Styron profiles her life with her famous father, who struggled with writing, depression and, at times, his will to stay alive. (Have you read William Styron's "Darkness Visible"? It's brilliant.)

I'm completely absorbed in this book. We're back home now. With a few hours left of daylight, I'm heading out to the backyard to finish reading in the hammock under our giant magnolia tree.

Anyone out there read anything interesting this weekend? I'm updating my summer reading list!


(Photo by Cubs Fan Tootie.)

One of those days...

All I really want is a macaron. Pink please!

Maybe it's time to plan a trip to Paris!?

(Photo by Alice Red Coat)

Summer Hours

Maybe you've noticed -- or not..:) I've been away a lot from this blog...Suddenly I have lots of obligations and much less free time...But I'm planning to be back to blogging on a regular basis here very soon!...

So please don't hit the unsubscribe button! :)

(Photo by Miya Wichawa.)

What are you reading?

I'm just finishing "A Three Dog Life" by Abigail Thomas. It's a memoir about Thomas' effort to build a new life after a devastating tragedy. I so admire her bravery (and beautiful prose.) She finds tremendous comfort from the company of her three dogs, hence the title.

I've also been going through stacks of decor books. Still trying to arrange our little house...

What are you reading??

Photo by Andrew @ Cuba Gallery.

Caitlin McGauley's Watercolor World

This New York City artist has become the house illustrator for Lonny Magazine, with her charming watercolors:





She's also painted for Kate Spade and Hermes. Her work reminds me so much of Maira Kalman's -- whimsical and smart.

More here!

Media Bits

Eyecatching and interesting:

Dueling portraits of Tina Brown: One in the New York Times; the other in AdWeek.

What are your greatest unread books?

A new flicker bookshelf group.

More Great Ideas from Penguin

Bob Dylan is turning 70???

(Collage by Gemma Bayly)

One Year Ago

My father died one year ago today. I have missed him every day since. Some hurts never heal.

(My tribute from last year.)

Photo by Realyn 1.

30-pound cat

Ok, maybe he doesn't weight quite 30 pounds, but Shoes is now officially as wide as he is tall. I think he's responding to the stress of the move by eating. (I am too.)

We're still working our way through stacks of boxes on the porch. And my husband and I are having an intense debate: He says we should go to Best Buy to get a new stove; I say we should buy a Wedgewood on Craigs List. Vintage stoves are so charming.

Until we get this settled, we're all living on take out!


(Pictures of Shoes when he only weighed 12 pounds.)
I'm dreading the lecture I'm going to get from the vet...

Dear Deer

I took this picture tonight on my way home from work. This young deer was out for a stroll a couple blocks away from our house. (It's a little blurry on my iPhone!)

We moved to a community on the edge of the Angeles National Forest. It's pretty common here to see deer, coyotes and black bears (!) walking down the street. A few years back, the town had to form a special squad to deal with all the bears coming down from the mountain late at night to swim in backyard pools and eat oranges and avocados.

Our neighbors warned us to keep our pets in after dark. I feel like I'm living in the wilderness!

Matchbook Magazine, May Issue

The new issue of Matchbook Magazine is out today. As you guys know I LOVE this magazine...but I'm especially excited this month because I'm included as one of the featured bloggers. We were asked: What would you bring to a potluck?
Visit the magazine here!

PS: We're finally done moving...Now comes the hard part: unpacking the boxes.