More About Those Ruffles

“R R R Ruffles Have Ridges!”
I have always had a fondness for "Ruffles" and I'm not talkin' potato chips!

Blue Badgley Mischka to die for Ruffled shoes via http://www.kellyoshiroevents.com/blog/2012/01/17/shoesday-165/

"Tea-stained laces, Victorian accents, ruffles and textured fabrics like Swiss dot and crochet
reinforce this sense of vintage feminity." -Marla Shavin

I love ruffles, flounces, layers of organzas, netting and lace. It's a happy, flirty, feminine look which i've always liked.

Filling In The Spaces

"There is no such thing as an empty space or an empty time."

John Cage

Choosing Wisely

"Life is change.

Growth is optional.

Choose wisely."- Karen Kaiser

Time

"Time stands still best in moments that look like ordinary life."

-Brian Andreas

My Daughter -"That Roving California Girl"

Athena two days before Christmas 2011 surfing Byron Bay, Australia.

"It's always summer somewhere."
-Lily Pulitzer

Athena surfs "Trestles" in Southern California summers past.

You can take the girl out of California but you can't take California out of the girl.

"The West coast has the sunshine

And the girls all get so tanned

I dig a French bikini on Hawaii island

I'm lost by a palm tree in the sand

I been all around this great big world

And I've seen all kinds of girls

Yeah, but I couldn't wait to get back in the states

Back to the cutest girls in the world

I wish they all could be California

I wish they all could be California

I wish they all could be California girls."

-

The Beach Boys

Las Vegas Getaway January 2012

This week Mike had a business trip just outside of Las Vegas. I was able to tag along with him and though he stayed in a hotel nearer to his job I was able to stay with Mike's brother and his wife who live in a lovely hillside community on the outskirts of the city.

Here's Mike's younger brother Tony with Mike.

During the day I have lots of opportunities to have fun with my sister in law Linda (she's in the middle next to her friend Debbie in the pink sweater).

Monday January 23rd was the Chinese New Year celebration. Lots of venues had special celebrations planned. The Bellagio Hotel was our first stop. Their lobby is always filled with

luxurious visual treats.

I love this glass blown rainbow of blossoms on the ceiling of the Bellagio lobby.

This beautiful glittering horse was at the entrance of the atrium which is always filled with flowers and a themed seasonal display.


"Gung Hay Fat Choy!" means Happy New Year in Chinese. This year according to the chinese calendar it is the year of the Dragon.

Red lanterns hang from the atrium ceiling. The festivities are in full swing throughout the city.

At the nearby Venetian Hotel a Chinese parade is about to begin...

The ceilings are rich with paintings that take your breath away.

The parade begins with a burst of firecrackers outside the hotel and then a long dance of the dragon begins as he winds his way through the corridor of the hotel and then through the casino.

Colorful decorations surround us and everyone is taking pictures.

Fun to stroll by the canals in the hotel and to listen to the gondoliere sing. We are able to window shop, people watch and eat great gelato.

Look who I found behind this golden centerpiece...

A wonderful accordianist who seranaded all of us.

In the evening when the work day is over Tony arrives home and a nice surprise for us is that Mike arrives too. We can all spend some hours together and catch up on how our days have gone.


Mmmm lots of good food to enjoy.

Eggplant caprese

a yummy pizza margherita

Once we're home it's time for dessert!

Yay for chocolate cake!

One day I saw a series of these little cars on the road. They were all different colors and looked so cute. Linda told me tourists can rent the cars and drive up to Red Rock Canyon an area in the hills near Las Vegas.

I think that looks like a lot of fun.

Except for one day of drizzle we have had beautiful sunrises like this one when we awaken. What a nice little trip this has been. Wonderful to celebrate a new year with our family in Las Vegas.

A Cup of Kindness Coming Up

"Kind words are such a blessing, if one but knew the pleasure they bring."-John McLeod

Just Being

"I never lose sight of the fact that just being is fun."

Missed Opportunities

"Don't be afraid of missing opportunities. Behind every failure is an opportunity somebody wishes they had missed." -Lily Tomlin