Weekly Photo Challenge: Curves

I am a habitual shopper.

There...

I said it.

Now, even though it may sound like it...

(just 'search for it' in the little box to the right and you might be embarrassed for me)...

I don't mean I can't stop shopping.

All I know, is that once a place proves dependable...

 like a good friend who is always there...

I return over and over and over...

to buy replacements of the same merchandise.

One example is James Perse...

which I discovered years ago...

while 'the editor' was attending Pepperdine and I was forced to 'hang out' at the Lumber Yard one day.

The things we do for our children.

Now, please hear me.

I used to make fun of people who would pour into the American Apparel store and spend ridiculous money on a t-shirt.

Meanwhile, hypocrite that I am...

once I tried on my first James Perse v neck tee there was no return from the land of stupidness.

It.is.comfy.

I dread the day when, like lipstick colors, this shirt is discontinued, and...

 who will have to inform me of this unfortunate detail too late for me to hoard a few.

A newer addition to my repetitive habit is Tom's flagship store on the amazing Abbot Kinney in Venice.

It has a coffee shop inside...

double score.

So imagine my delight when examples of curves were provided in two of my faves.

What about you?

What are your go-to stores?

Have a wonderful Wednesday.  

"I made it down the coast in seventeen hours... Pickin' me a bouquet of dogwood flowers..." Old Crow Medicine Show

Following the superb tastebuds of our trustworthy guides,

we enjoyed a few more tasteful discoveries out in California.

Beginning with amazing sushi at Sugarfish Santa Monica...

followed by a 'bees knees' cocktail at the serious and sturdy bar 

sprawling below a library of 'house pours' and other fiction at Misfit Bar.

Thankfully, we were not allowed to leave without trying the olive oil and sea salt gelato.

Like I have mentioned before, there is no shortage of excellent choices for a memorable culinary experience in LA.

But, it is not often there is a tick in every box of my mental checklist.

You know...

one of those spots worth planning around to make a repeat visit possible.

To be fair...

The Old Place has the benefit of a beautiful drive through the canyon to set the stage 

before you ever pull into the small parking lot of an old general store.

If you are lucky enough to dine on a Friday or Sunday night...

you must remember to roll your windows down before you turn in.

Music of the cover band Trash Honey wafting from the doors of the saloon style restaurant will prepare your soul for a pure, comfort meal.

Nice touch to an already real McCoy atmosphere...

and worth the drive...

 up or down the coast.

Happy Tuesday.

My Aberdeen Monday...

Have you ever noticed how slowly the garden grows when you are watching it...

while two weeks away produces a small forest of new flowers all reaching for the sun and a canopy of branches providing a spot of shade dangling from the weight of new leaves. 

For some reason, I missed this performance last summer.

Anyhoo...

all this garden talk reminded me to tell you about a business opportunity waiting for you in NE Scotland.

About an hour west of Aberdeen...

just beyond Alford and towards the Cairngorms National Park...

a group of us headed out to a little spot infamous for its woolen socks that even Prince Charles is fond of.

Mossatburn is for sale and is filled with all types of goodies.

The couple that owns the place has already sold their award winning goats and is now moving closer to retirement.

Being just one stop on our lovely drive admiring the countryside...

it makes a great day trip filled with shopping, castles and of course, tea.

It is an absolutely beautiful day here in Aberdeen...

and a bonus of summers this far north;

daylight until the sun goes down at 10 o'clock p.m.

Ye-ah baby!!!

Happy Monday.

I don't care how poor a man is; if he has family, he's rich. ~Dan Wilcox and Thad Mumford, "Identity Crisis," M*A*S*H

You know the best part about having grown children?

They are just as entertaining as when they were two.

And...

sometimes they pay!

Having Abbie along on my trip out to California this go around

 allowed for plenty of sibling time and the sheer joy of watching them together. 

So...

for now...

a huge shout out to their father who is off sailing the west coast of Scotland for his big day...

and my father...

who will spend the next few days with my brother in Idaho.

For the rest of you...

from the shores of Lake Anahuac.

"One of the very nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating. " ~Luciano Pavarotti and William Wright,Pavarotti, My Own Story

Other than being overwhelmed by the many choices...

Los Angeles never disappoints on the food front 
and we are never at a loss for some place new.

An early celebration of 'the editor's' birthday led us to begin our evening standing in line for gourmet hotdogs...

and a large selection of imported beers. 

Not being a beer drinker...

 I made my choice by the glass it is served in.

A girl needs her standards.

Next stop...

dessert.

And...

since we could not choose between two VERY worthy choices...

we watched them whip up a few experiments...

 at Ice Cream Lab...

and then moseyed on down to Sprinkles 

where your choice of ice cream can be scooped into the cutest red velvet cone... 

as you read Thomas Jefferson's own recipe for ice cream

 circling around the ceiling.

Of course,

Sprinkles is best known for its cupcakes...

which are now available 24 hours a day in the cupcake ATM machine next door.

Instant birthday cake!

Fun times with the youngsters!

Have a wonderful Wednesday.

“And now," cried Max, "let the wild rumpus start!” ― Maurice Sendak, Where the Wild Things Are

Once again,

Google turned a routine, run-of-the-mill internet search 

into my morning entertainment as I relive one of my favorite children's books 

on the would be 85th birthday of the famous author.

Meanwhile...

I wanted to share some Houston Hotties (I'm talking restaurants here)...

new discoveries this trip home.

Adair Kitchen provides a comfy cafe atmosphere with "simple favorites morning-noon-night"...

and a newly added juice bar.

Its Galleria area location is a convenient meet up spot.

Another newbie caught my eye with its menu serving up paleo options...

located near the old stomping grounds of Ren Man's 'man cave'.

The Corner Table...

is a tasty choice in the Kirby/Westheimer area where many tables are filled with 'ladies who lunch'.

Today...

I am sitting in the California sun with 'the editor', 'the dancer' and 'the foodie'...

agreeing with Max.

"Let the wild rumpus start!"

Happy Monday.

"Get your tutus on..." ~ Girls Just Gotta Have Fun, Sophia Grace

Leave it to spunky, sweet Sophia Grace to provide the perfect finale,
 as we bid farewell to my 'girls trip' to The Hague.

"Hey girls...we gotta GO green light...
wanna get to the mall, they got them jeans I like..." 

 We did do so much more while visiting The Netherlands...
but there was a good dose of shopping.
And, shopping with others who like to shop...
and give honest styling advice...
who 'got my back',
was a refreshing reminder of how true those words are.
Spontaneous shopping is Fun.

And like Sophia Grace herself...
those days in The Hague were priceless.

Meanwhile...

from home sweet home, 

 where each evening...

sunsets dance across the lake...

in bright yellow tutus.