Out with the Old!!!! - OMG where did 2011 go!?

INSPIRATION!!!!!

I can't believe I have been "thoughtless" for so long! It's time to wake up and Blog! I am "home for the holidays" as luck would have it so I plan on getting back On-Line and be creative and post.   Just a short one for now... with things that are on my mind.... this adorable yoga top I ordered from Lululemon - inspiration for sure!... (no, I look nothing like this model.... only in my mind, and that's okay!)  and this 2012 Yoga Calendar from Be Present - once again - inspiration!  And...... this beautiful Mucha piece... with a fave - Moet et Chandon - which I have borrowed from a favorite blog - Shorely Chic - a hug inspiration to me - Time to Celebrate in just a few days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love Love LOVE

Ciao!

End of Summer Vacation - Quick Trip to Chicago!

We decided to visit family in the suburbs and to do some site seeing in the city. 

So we took the train and arrived downtown in Chicago - very cool - a real train station - my first time in years - Never been to Chicago - but I have ridden the Metro in Paris, the Tube (Underground) in London, the Uban in Munich, and the MRT in Singapore!  And BART in San Francisco, and the Subway in New York!  (I'm pretty lucky!)

This is the lobby of the Holiday Inn that is located in the Mart, downtown, beginning on the 15th floor.  The emblem on the wall puzzled us until we realized that it was a special projection for the University of Alabama football lunchean that was occuring at the hotel in addition to the 4 or 5 wedding receptions!

This is the view from the Holiday Inn - inside the Mart (like the Pacific Design Center aka the Big Blue Whale in downtown L.A. (went there a few times while in Interior Design school!)

This is the view from the top floor (23rd)  AWESOME! (yes, those are my shorts in the reflection... try not to look at it)...

We headed for Navy Pier - where we took a boat road - after many stops to eat and drink - This was after walking all day - for miles - it was quite humid, an the boat ride - harbor cruise, was PERFECT... wind in our hair..... wonderful.....

Here she is!  Marilyn - all 26 feet of her - gorgeous!  We, of course had our picture taken with her - she is very popular!

Here she is with one of many tour buses that pulls up just for the photo op!  Too funny!

We ate at Lou Malnaty's (hope I spelled that right) - SO good!  Pizza - of course!  Deep dish - of course!  We also had some sangria while we watched a band, (just before the boat ride), and just walked and walked.  We had such a good time - and enjoyed the last day with family again, before returning to the real world. 

Lunchtime Walk.....!

My Brain.

My brain.... well, here goes.  I love to walk.  I love to walk outside.  I love to get out of the office.  I don't, however, walk every day at lunch - like I should.  No... I wait until I have a real purpose!  My purpose yesterday was to get a new battery for my camera and for my old phone.  So - I go on the web - I find out what I need - voila!  - a Radio Shack is only 15 minutes away - WALKING time that is.... - so off I go!  Oh, and it's about 85 degrees today... - "Awe, it's not so bad!  It's beautful!  and I'm gonna get a new battery for my camera - so I can take even better pictures for my blog!" - Motivation.... right?

So off I go.... and I see this!


Really?  ....... this house has been TP'ed??????

People still DO THIS???????

hmmmmmmmm.......................................LOL.......!!!!


Yea... whatever....


so I get to the store... NO... what you see online is not what they have in the store - oh well - back I go......and I see this!

And these...... oooh........

 

And even though I ended up all sweaty, fanning myself with my hat, and rolling up my pant legs... I must say: 

A very nice walk indeed!

Summer - Part Deux - August 15, 2011 M O N D A Y

A Proper Vacation....

So I am really missing that we did not go away to the tropics this year.  I don't normally go, so I don't know why I would miss it... BUT, the vacation we took last year was a REAL vacation.  The kind where you really relax - forgot your cares, your chores, your to-do list, your EVERYTHING!  And, the internet was so darn expensive to use, you certainly didn't spend time on the computer.   And, sadly, I think this was the first vacation of this kind that I had experienced in approximately 20 years.... oi....Truly - a Detox of Life....

 (This is just how crowded your vacation beach should be...of course, this is on a secluded beach.. haha)

I'm ready for that!  But, that isn't happening this year.  And that's okay.   This year was and is about family. Talking and talking and listening and learning...(one more little vacation/long weekend coming up! Family in Chicago - NEW family!) . In any case, it will be time away.... time to just experience whatever it is that comes my way.  Be Present.....

 In my last post I shared my family's vacation in Auburn, CA - very quick, but time well spent.  There's no substitute for spending actual time with your family. 

(spend time making an artistic still life - therapy for sure! until you CAN go on vacation)

VACATION IS WORK

I really hate that traffic has gotten so bad everywhere, and that travel is so expensive - and all of that planning, and stressing, and everything!  But if you just stay home - and miss seeing your family - you will regret it. 

           (spend time in nature... on a boat.... on the water.... watching the sunset or sunrise)

So, I have the Answer!!!!!!! 

Let's quit our jobs - win the lottery - just travel and visit family  - and write blogs!  HA HA HA HA HA!!!

Gotcha!  

(see.... I need a vacation.... away.... in the tropics........ I'll be setting up a paypal account for your donations)

God Bless - and have a GREAT Tomorrow!




For your Smile Exercises



Vacation in Auburn, CA

So, it is July 22, and it's been a little bit since I have blogged.  I have so many more friends' sites to share but, I have been too busy - with work, (once again), home, and getting ready for a little get-a-way to beautiful Auburn, California - in Northern California.  Very special time  - it's my dad's 80th birthday - he is actually 65, I am POSITIVE!  There is no way he is 80 - but anyway -

We just saw a great little play put on by the Off-Broadstreet theater which is actually in Nevada City, CA.  This was preceded by a really good dinner at Friar Tuck's.  Y U M! 

The playhouse is very small - and the plays are all original - we saw It's All About Love - a musical comedy by John Driscoll.  Fantastic songs - and audience participation - as far as hootin' and hollerin' is not frowned upon!  All smiles at every table - just a great night for everyone! 

Really want to get to that adorable small town of Nevada City for a longer period of time - longer than dinner and a play - such a cute town.  Victorian bed and breakfasts all around - gas lamps line the streets - and perfect with the summer weather.... in winter it turns into a different kind of town  - with horse drawn carriages -

This darn work think keeps getting in the way of all of the places I want to visit and all of the people I want to see!  That's okay - I'll just chalk it up on my list... not the bucket list... the I'm doing this SOON list!

Till next post.......

au revoir et bon nuit ~

The Real Kimsy

BOW-TOX? Only if they are the Cutest Little Bows You Ever Saw!!

You may not realize it, but you need cute little bows!!!! They are custom made by a gal who is near and dear to me.  She is not behind the Orange Curtain - but is in So Cal - and she is very creative.  LOOK!

Nautical Bows (Nauti Bows?)

And look at these!

Custom Order for These! Too Cute!

Check out the web site:

http://bow-tox.com/

and on Facebook too - http://www.facebook.com/bowtox13

Everything is under $10 and there are BIG sales!

She even makes Bow Holders!   LOOK!!!!

Summer is HERE.... and so is the HEAT!

I don't know about you - but... my house is pretty hot. In the HEAT way... as well as the 'style' factor,

 I suppose.

A random shower any time of the day sounds FANTASTIC to me!

I've realized that I'm a little depressed because

just about a year ago, I was in this type of weather - yet - I was ELATED!!!!

Because... It was the Bahamas!

And... Mon, No Worries!

My significant other and I stayed in this ADORABLE house on Harbour Island, Eleuthera, Bahamas! It

actually has a name, as do all of the original colonial homes instead of house numbers -

Watercolor 

HOW cool is THAT!

This home was built in 1730 - ish..... in Dunmore Town - lots of history here!  And, the families who own it

have put a lot of TLC into this - and it is beautiful.  Tons of room - 2 families could have a wonderful time

here - or .... just you and your significant other... :)

CHECK out the website! 

http://www.watercolorbahamas.com/

I took this photo myself along with many others, of course - this is the back yard patio - and you can see that

there is a spiral staircase that leads to a second large deck - full of loungy furniture - but then.... my favorite

part (aside from the outdoor shower which is what this whole thing was about anyway!) -

the Crows Nest! 

Check out this patio just beckoning for a GREAT DINNER OUTDOORS!!!!!!

I have been trying to make it seem as though I am there again..: 

1. Not turning on the a/c immediately when I get into the car 
2. Listening to Bob Marley  - more than usual
3. Trying to duplicate those awesome Rum Drinks....  - once again, more than usual
4. And..... today was the best yet... went to the pool after work , complete with goggles... and I think I was workin' my "Secret" Manifesting  ------ I seriously was ready to see FISH!

Hahahahahhaha -

I need a vacation..... in the Bahamas!!!!!

Here is the Crow's Nest!

Ahhhhhh.........

Amy's Custom Cakes

Thinking of something SWEET!!!! Maybe for the holidays or.... I don't know... just because?? !!!!!

Look at these very cool cakes made by Amy Disston of Amy's Custom Cakes! 

Beach Cake!



Buddha Cake!



I call them Cry Baby Cupcakes!

Tropical Cake - And the Catering for the entire event may be seen on Amy's Facebook page - Amy's Custom Cakes -

Really wonderful and professional job of catering and decorating !

Here is Amy's Facebook Link:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Amy-Disston-Catering/109282445761399?sk=wall#!/pages/Amys-Custom-Cakes/141660289233341?sk=info

Have a Sweet Evening!!!!

It's Already THURSDAY???

My goodness - I must be having fun like I said I would!  I can't believe it's been since Sunday that I posted... and that was about Saturday!

This will be a big weekend - Fourth of July 2011!   I will be watching a fireworks show from my little tiny patio deck in Mission Viejo - they will be shot off over Lake Mission Viejo - I am lucky!  I even get a parking place! 

This week has been busy with work, and just the regular stuff!  It's warming up here in the O.C. finally - we didn't really have a summer last year - so we are in for it this year - YAY! 

Here are some beautiful photos I took a few years ago as I was walking around Lake Mission Viejo - (back when I DID walk around the lake .... oi..... )

More tomorrow - when I am full of inspiration!

Beautiful Lake Mission Viejo - from the top of the street looking down - Great Summer Concerts there - just missed Dionne Warwick - the one and only! - I can actually hear the concerts from my house!  But - nothing like LIVE music....

This is a magnolia blossom!  I remember when I was a kid, we had a beautiful Magnolia tree in the front yard (?) in Maryland... now I know what my mom was talking about!

Gorgeous day lily...... oooh  ahhhh......

Saturday! (REVISED! - was SUNDAY!!!) - Relax Day!

Saturday - in Newport - Great lunch!  My first time at the Crab Cooker in many many many years - if ever! Really nice, casual lunch -

Check it out -

http://www.thecrabcooker.com/

Such a beautiful day at the beach - walked to lunch and back - so it was healthy too! 

If you look closely in this less-than-spectacular-quality photo... you can see an unbrella having a wonderful time floating away from it's owner!

Listened to some great music on the way back - at the American Legion Post 291 in Newport Beach.  

Speaking of music - if you like Rockabilly - some Johnny Cash-type stuff  - check out a local band -

The Hot Rod Trio - High Octane Rockabilly!   I have added their site to my links!  Check it out - several dates coming up - and usually - there's an awesome car show too!

AAaaaaaaahhhhhhh - Yin Yoga!

Did NOT KNOW just how un-flexible I had become....Yin Yoga will stretch you like you never knew you could be stretched!  Now - to drink lots of water to get those toxins out -

Linda - at YogaWorks..... will stretch you out! 

Namaste!

Tomorrow?  - Visit to Breathe in HB, maybe Harbor Freight - (that's for you Don!) - and.... just enjoying Newport Bay!

Cliche, but..... THANK GOODNESS IT'S FRIDAY!!!

And... on Friday, we must START our weekend!  Otherwise, it goes by too fast, and we think - "Wow, did I even HAVE a weekend at all???" - So - start with a wonderful meal!  for Dinner... with friends... perhaps Thai Food!  My favorite Thai Restaurant in O.C. is "Diho Siam".  There are 2 I know of, at least - one in Mission Viejo, and one in Costa Mesa - both of which are adjacent to YogaWorks - where I trained, and practice and wish I could LIVE!  I'd be set!  Yoga and Thai food!

Anyway - Start with that great meal that you neither prepared, nor have to clean-up-after, then, start planning how to have NO PLANS for the weekend!  At least, at some point.. plan to do NADA!

That's  it!

Until tomorrow!  A Demain!

Best Little Day Spa in Huntington Beach, CA! Breathe Spa and Salon!

One of my very best friends owns this cute little Day Spa - such a wonderful get away!  Located in Huntington Beach, Breathe Spa and Salon has fabulous service, wonderful massage therapists, facialists and of course the stylists!  Please check it out!

http://www.breathehb.com/

Here's a little preview! 

That's my quick tip for today - More tomorrow!!!

Kimsy

Welcome to The Real Kimsy!

This is my new little blog where I will share with you all of the coolest stuff in my little Orange County, California - WORLD! If you have Champage Taste and, as they say, a Beer Budget - you are in the right place! But - make no mistake - this isn't a "how to do everything cheap" blog. I hope you like my style and taste in all things Music, Art, Make-Up, Magazines, Blogs, Travel - and my passion YOGA - Etc.!

Here We GO!!!