Music - Split Endz

Yesterday was another sunny summer day in Laguna Beach
where, in spite of the shaky economy,
the sky was so clear, the sun was so bright and the water was so blue
and all the shiny happy people were having fun.
It was the perfect Southern California summer day for a family get together

Even the long drive on the traffic filled 405 freeway didn't seem so bad when we could plug in my daughter's ipod with its 6000 or so songs and listen to music from the 1980s



I'm not sure why she had this song on her ipod
especially given the fact that this it came out in 1982
and she wasn't born until 1985
How could she possibly know this random song?
Do you even remember it?

Nevertheless, driving to Laguna Beach with my daughter,
singing Eighties music in the car,
and spending the day with my family
was pretty much the perfect way enjoy a sunny summer Saturday.

Is It Snowing Somewhere?

Christmas week picnic in Laguna Beach.
Why wasn't I invited?

Rainy Days in Laguna Beach

Damn, I hate when this happens.
Photo by Jay Rubin

Wherever You Go - There You Are

Yesterday, a happy Sunday
Racing down the 405 freeway in the morning to get to Laguna Beach where the sky was blue and the tide was crazy high
Cafe creme and croissants at Jean Paul's bakery
Later lunch with an ocean view at the Coyote Grill
And then a quiet afternoon, sitting in the sun in my mother's spring garden

admiring her rosesand her blackberries

and her lavender

My mother had just returned from her vacation in Europe and she had a bunch of French magazines that she had bought for the flight home from Paris.

You know the usual Marie Claire, Vogue etc.

But in the group was a magazine that I had never seen before

Envy

with the tag line

Toutes Vos Envies Sont dans Envy

Sadly, it was frenchified version of OK or US magazine, complete with the usual celebrity nonsense....Kim Kardashian, Rachel Bilson, Victoria Beckham, Jessica Simpson, Beyonce, Jennifer Aniston,Tori Spelling, Lindsey Lohan, Jessica Alba...et al.

Kate Hudson & Cameron Diaz

La guerre est déclarée!
Belles et célibattantes: elles ont beaucoup en commun. Sûrement même un peu trop! Car depuis que Cameron sort avec l’ex de Kate, rien ne va plus...

So even France is polluted with B and C list American celebrities.

Wherever you to...there you are. You can't escape the cult of celebrity worship.

Sad, non?

To Read And Enjoy

Tessa Scoffs has recommended what has become my new favorite boy blog

Admiral Cod written by Laguna Beach Trad

Why do I adore this blog?

Maybe it's because of the multi-lingual posts

or the interesting choice of music videos

or the unabashed anglo-german-franco-philia

or the attitude about the investment business

or maybe it's because the blogger, so very un-Laguna like, wears the full on prep attire of rep ties, alden shoes, pink shirts, topsiders and madras shorts like my ex-fiance wore when we both lived Laguna Beach.

Cocktails on the Beach California Style

On the topic of apples...
This photo of my windblown blond mother in Laguna Beach last weekend shows that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
Apparently, we both like to enjoy our summer cocktails by the beach.

In Need Of A Retreat

Another rainy day in LA...and I'm in need of a retreat.
There's no time to jet off to somewhere wonderful and warm
so where to go that's close to home but a world away?
The Newport Coast of course.

The Resort at Pelican Hill is perfect for a California winter weekend.
Leave on a Friday mid day from LA and the drive won't be too bad, maybe a little over an hour.
The tourist season hasn't started yet so it's the perfect time to be there...and so what if there is a little rain...the scenery makes up for it.

Here's the weekend wardrobe.
Something casual chic for Friday afternoon shopping at Crystal Cove and early evening margaritas and dinner at Laguna and Newport Beach favorite, Javier's Cantina.

Burberry trench jacket in indigo at Nordstrom on sale for $414

7 for all Mankind silk top and jeans at Nordstrom.com $363

Jeans and a flouncy blouse are perfect for the Newport Coast vibe and you will fit right in with the Range Rover driving OC blond babes from Irvine Cove and Balboa Island.

A little jewelry is in order too.

Bvlgari Iolite ring from Beladora.com $995


Iolite and Moonstone Earrings from Beladora.com $1450

Crystal Cove

Saturday is all about taking it easy with a little sport and a little sloth.

The tourist season hasn't started yet and so it's the perfect time to hike in the hills or walk on a deserted beach...so what if there is a little rain.

One of the nicest things about the Newport Coast is the trail that runs along the bluff above the ocean and it's perfect for a fast walk or slow run. Speed should be discouraged because if you go too fast you won't be able to appreciated the vista of the ocean and Catalina Island in the distance.

Vince cardigan at Nordstrom.com $235

Shorts and a sweater are perfect.

The Beach Trail

After all the exercise it would be perfect to relax in something comfortable from juicy with a good book in front of the fire at your villa.

Juicy Couture outfit at Nordstrom.com $178

Pelican Hill Villa

Sunday morning is all about coffee at Jean Paul's Goodies in Laguna Beach with the locals.

After the caffeine has set in it's time to hit the driving range. There's nothing like whacking a bucket or two of balls on the prettiest driving range in Southern California.

Stella McCartney for Adidas golf sweater at Nordstrom.com $180

Stella McCartney for Adidas golf shorts at Nordstrom.com $110

After lunch at the clubhouse it's back on the 405 freeway for the drive back to LA

and reality.

Around Town - Garnier for the OC Great Park in Laguna Beach

Laguna Beach

Jacques Garnier Photos (no they aren't actually this tiny)

So, tonight it was another "First Thursday Art Walk" in Laguna Beach. Every first Thursday of the month all the art galleries are open and there's a lot of activity in sleepy little seaside Laguna Beach .

After a short wrap up committee meeting for the Jewel of Orange County event for the Great Park Conservancy at the Peter Blake Gallery, we were treated to a short presentation by photographer Jacques Garnier. Garnier is in the progress of creating a photographic documentary over a 15 year period of the evolution of the area that will become the Great Park.

I was fascinated by Garnier's project not only because he documents historical change, but because he does it with the eyes of an artist.

John Adams Recap

I know that you are waiting with baited breath for my weekly recap of John Adams on HBO...but unfortunately I had to record it because I was spending quality time in Laguna Beach. Photo courtesy of Jay Rubin Photography.