Life's a beach!

Tennis (or any other physical activity, for that matter) is normally a four-letter word to me.  The sweating, running, grunting (or moving, period) is just gross.  But the redeeming factor about having to take it is being in this gorgeous setting in Laguna Beach.  Can you believe this is November?  East Coast, eat your heart out!

 

Going incognito in glasses and hat

My very peppy tennis partner, Cathie, doing the bunny hop?

Even Charlie looks confused as to why I'm exercising...

Bask One Year Anniversary Party

Dropped by the one year anniversary party for Bask Magazine for a quick bit. Located at a lovely Crystal Cove estate, it was a great night celebrating a new Orange County magazine.   

They had a couple things I've never seen before.  The entertainment was a troop of sexily clad burlesque marchers (hmmm...), but my favorite thing was the fresh cotton candy made for you as you waited to get your car from the valet.  Guess I know where Knolton got his love of cotton candy from!



Sexy Marchers???





Yumm...cake

 

More yum...cotton candy!








An Evening at Saks with Yigal Azrouel

I was invited to a cocktail reception for a showing of Yigal Azrouel's Spring 2012 collection for his signature line and its younger sister line, Cut25.



Maxmara blouse and slacks, Vintage 1920's crepe coat, Henri Bendel earrings, vintage necklaces
 Hostess, Analisa Albert in Yigal Azrouel

 


 

Maxmara blouse & slacks, Hermes cuff, Cartier watch, vintage necklaces



 Trying on this scrumptious Yigal Azrouel fur vest. Mix of three different types of fur. Absolutely amazing! It's shorter in the back, which makes it unexpectedly sassy.



Adding finishing touches



 In love with both the white midlength dress and the long sweeping red dress.  The simple cuts and clever draping of this season are just my cup of tea.  I'll be wearing this lovely red frock for lounging about the house.  Tra la la!



With the charming designer, Yigal Azrouel

www.yigal-azrouel.com

Farmer Was His Name-O!

One the only ways the hubby will get me to wake up early on a Saturday will be the Irvine Farmers Market across the street from UCI in Irvine.  It's grown quite a bit since I first started shopping there as a Anteater many many (no more many's!) years ago.  They still have one of the biggest selections of produce and booths around.  On a Saturday like today, the hubby will pick out crisp green tomatoes for canning, the boy will grab a baguette to munch on, while I head first for the roast corn.  If you have to get up early on a Saturday, this is a great place to hang out.  It's only open til 1pm, so hurry up!

Amazing Heirloom tomatoes!

 

Irvine Farmer's Market
Campus Dr and Bridge Rd
Irvine, CA 92612
www.orange.cfbf.com/cfm.htm

"A" Great Time

I've been here in Orange County a while.  Probably a lot longer than I'd care to admit, but you can still catch me telling people I'm from LA.  I love the cool hipster vibe that LA girls seem to quietly permeate, that whispers, "Yeah, I know you're looking at me.  And ya know what?  It cuz there's something worth looking at here."  

But these OC girls have something special and unique to this area.   When they were singing about "California Girls", they must have had the OC in mind.  People are just generally happier here.  It could be the sun, the sand, the laid-back attitude, the proximity to Disneyland...lol.  Whatever it is, you can't help but wave to your neighbors, smile a bit bigger at passing strangers, or get into a discussion with the table next to you about the bottle of wine you're drinking (we seriously have a couple who've become great friends with us that way!). 

A Restaurant in Newport Beach has that cool LA meets OC meets the Rat Pack era thing that gives me a bit of everything I need.  Yes, it's been in that darn Housewives of OC show, but don't hold that against them.   Red leather booths make you feel like you're hanging with Sinatra or Davis.  The bar becomes a focal point in the evenings, with the help of a great Happy Hour created by manager Tony Motakef.  Any day has a different special, whether it's $5 martinis, 1/2 price bottles of wine, or half off the bar menu.  It may be half off prices, but it's 100% FUN!

Sexy, hip bar

 Rueben sandwich - so yum!

Homemade fries

Secret back room for private parties

Private room with flat screen tv and Ketel One bar

A Restaurant

3334 West Coast Hwy
Newport Beach, CA 92663

(949) 650-6505

Lighten Up, Stinky!

Ralph Lauren Love, Flora by Gucci, Hermes Eau de Pamplemousse Rose, Jo Malone Orange Blossom, Jo Malone Nectarine Blossom & Honey, Liaisons Dangereuses by Kilian

 I'm a huge fan of perfume.  Big.  Huge.  Major.  I know a lot of people say they don't like perfume because it's not their natural scent yada yada yada...  Well, as one who's not the biggest proponent of everyone smelling like their natural BO, I love wearing something new every day, to match my mood or my outfit.  Clothes, shoes, purses, we wear for ourselves (and to be honest, for other women).  But scent, we wear that for our men.

This warm Fall has thrown me for a loop in more ways than my outfits.  Who wants a heavy, musky scent that makes them smell like their Great Aunt Petunia in this heat??  I'm leaning towards lightly floral, citrusy perfumes at the moment.  Grapefruit, orange blossom, nectarine...  Almost sounds like a great cocktail, doesn't it?

Current fav: Jo Malone Orange Blossom Cologne & Body Creme

Fall for Stew

Can someone please let Mother Nature know that it's Fall here in Orange County?  She's obviously confused, as I should be in chunky, cozy knits, leather boots, and scrumptious scarves, drinking $39 Starbucks must-be-made-of-gold-lattes (seriously! Wassup with your pricing, Starbucks??!!!) shopping for may-jah coats in preparation for winter.  Instead we've got an Indian Summer here, wearing spaghetti strap tops, silk shorts, and very little else.  This heat wave makes it too hot to even accessorize properly. (gasp! The horror!) 

One of my other favorite things for Fall has always been my hubby's Beef Stew.  It's a hearty, but not too heavy, easy dish, that gets me excited for the upcoming Winter. The flavorful steak, with the tangy tomatoes and crunchy vegetables, makes for a great family meal.  Serve it with hot, crusty bread, and even Mother Nature will be begging for a bite!



Beef Stew



HUBBY'S BEEF STEW
ingredients
3/4 cup Celery, chopped
1 small Yellow Onion, sliced thin
1/2 cup Carrot, cut into 1/2" pieces
2 New York Steaks (3/4lbs each)
  *Can use lesser cut like Chuck Roast
1 can Stewed Tomatoes (like S& W)
1 1/2 - 2 cups Chicken Stock
3 tablespoon Tomato Paste
All Purpose Flour
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Old Bay Seasoning
Granulated Garlic
Salt & Pepper

 It all begins with the mirepoix.  Hubby says it's the "Holy Trinity" of any soup, sauce, or stew.  Put your onions, celery, and carrots in a pan and saute it with butter and extra virgin olive oil until everything becomes translucent, but not too soft.  Add Old Bay, granulated garlic, salt, and pepper to taste. 
Take your steak and slice it into 1 inch strips, leaving the fat.  Hubby says it's important for the flavor.  Lightly dust it with all purpose flour and salt & pepper.  Saute in a skillet until it's a light golden brown.  Turn off the fire and add 1/2 cup of chicken stock to deglaze the pan.
Add the can of stewed tomatoes and tomato paste to your mirepoix, followed by the rest of your chicken stock (1 - 1/2 cups).  Stir, then add the steak.  Cover and put on low heat for 15 minutes.  Add your favorite vegetables (green beans, turnips, potatoes, peas, etc.) to the top, but don't stir!  You want it to lightly steam.  Cook for another 15 minutes.  Pour yourself a glass of wine and enjoy a bowl of Fall's stew.


Juicy bite!