DESIGN & LIFESTYLE FRIDAY

ZENSA LODGE SOUTH AFRICA

(Images from Elle Decoration South Africa)

I came across this gorgeous lodge located in South Africa over at the Elle Decoration South Africa blog. This is one stunning place. I like the openness and laid back appeal. Yet, it still has a keen eye for great design. However, I would be slightly nervous about bringing my two year old there...a lot of white. Next time in SA, must go and have a look. It would be a great location to have a retreat. Hmm, maybe a Pilates/yoga retreat? Zensa Lodge is near Capetown and close to the water. I love how there is a huge open grassy area (place for future yoga and Pilates classes, hehe). Any who, check out the ZENSA LODGE, they have many great design pics on their site.

As for my work, my proposal has been sent! It's off and now I must wait.....so must you! Will keep you all posted as the time draws near!

San Diego Weekend Highlights

Despite my rant about "un-sunny" California, we had a blast! Of course the last two days that we were there the sun came out! YAY for sun. I swear it seems that there is not much sun shining around the states these days. Tons of rain and overcast in Colorado and hear that the upper east coast (including DC) has had loads of rain. Where's our summer? Well, despite my rant, the rain is good. WE NEED IT!
San Diego was great! Dean and I decided that it is a place we enjoy to go on holiday, but can't see ourselves living there again (sorry sissy poo, I still miss you stacks). Our holiday of course consisted of a lot of running around to do various errands for my mom, sister and I. But we also got up to some dinner parties, beach time and visits with friends too! The most important reason we were there was for Norah's special event. I am so happy that we were able to be there to support her at her First Communion which was lovely. All these little people decked out for this special rite of passage. Norah was gorgeous!

Norah was given this rosary by my mom
which had been given to her at her Confirmation.

So sweet!

Henry posing as he eats candy in church
(naughty boy, who gave that to you)!

Posing in the garden

Norah and "girlie" the cat, posing.

After the ceremony, we had lunch reservations over at the Hotel Del. The day was gorgeous, so we were very excited about sitting outside for our lunch. Despite the lack of excellent service, the food was DELICIOUS!

Having eaten all his strawberries, he moved onto
his favorite, grilled cheese (love the bib)!

Norah gives a toothy grin while sipping down her smoothie.

After lunch, we headed down to the beach. Coronado has the most gorgeous beaches. They are clean and quite expansive ( I think they must be man-made). Henry could not get out of his seat quick enough to go see the beach (put an emphasis on the "ch" of beach as this is how Henry pronounces it). "Yay, beach! It's the beach! Going to the beach! Go swim in the beach!" said Henry.

Norah found loads of seaweed. This was particularly
beautiful and she enjoyed dancing with it too!

She pointed out that an urchin was growing on it!

Henry made it into the water pretty quickly. After having
jumped in literally with his clothes on. Thank goodness I brought his swim trunks!

Lots of running in and out of the water. He does not realize that he can't swim. The kid has no fear.

Really liked this pic as it reminds me a bit of
my sister Sarah (her mother).

Dean took this pic of Hen and I. It is one of very few pics that I remotely like of
myself (perhaps maybe because henry is covering half my face). Having little sleep, the stress, that I've got going on these days does not make for a photogenic Kate.

After a delayed flight on Monday night we got home around midnight. Since we've been home, we've been sleeping, sleeping and recovering from PINK EYE! Yikes, not sure how Henry contracted that, but am thinking it must have been from the plane? Airport? Poor baba, woke this morning with his eyes glued shut. He was a very brave boy and managed to sit still while I put a warm washcloth on both eyes. Icky goop! He is resting up and on antibiotics. He'll be contagious free when we get back on the plane. Next stop Friday, we head to New Jersey to visit our friends in Princeton, then onto to DC. Very excited about this upcoming trip as it will be very defining for us. Will be sure to tell you more as things progress. For now, I keep quiet!

Glad to be back in blogging land. Hope I can get two more posts in before we go! Check back, ok.
xxoo

Long weekend over, a new begins

I hope you had a lovely long Memorial day/weekend whether your flags were a flyin high or you had an epic barbecue or pool party with your family and friends. Perhaps you took on this weekend to kick off the summer by heading to the beach for the weekend? We managed to hightail it outta Boulder for three nights to the family ranch. Despite the fact that it was raining, we had a wonderful time (in the mud).

Thank goodness for the frog wellipets (his boots)!

This child LOVES mud and rocks.

Mud, dirt and lightening = BOY HEAVEN

Henry's addiction continues to be Lightening McQueen (oh and let's NOT forget Thomas the train too)...the one in the pic is actually a bubble bath container. He saw it at Tarjay (Target) and HAD to have it. Immediately I took out the bath gel as it not only smelled disgusting, but I did not want to have bubble bath gel all over the house. Hen has taken the back left wheel off (can't see here in the pic). He likes this as it simulates the part in the beginning of the 'Cars' movie where Lightening looses his wheels (they explode as he has ridden around the track numerous times without changing them). Needless to say, Hen loves destroying his cars. He has taken most of the wheels and tires off of his vehicles (remind me to upload a pic of Henry's collection of wheels/tires). We have collected all of them and put them away for a later time when he hits the stage where he'll want to 'fix' all his cars (clever mama).

Needless to say...We are now entering 'toddler defiancy stage.'
Mmm.., loving it (nothing a marguerita can't solve)!

On Hiatus! Vacation time.

Dear blogger friends and family,
Sorry for the slack, but we are off to see the wizard...
Hope you all had a lovely holiday. Will return to my full fledged entries upon return this Thursday. In the meantime, enjoy my few blackberry photos!

 
Norah my niece who just turned 8!


 
Best cousins Norah and Henry!



 
Splish splashing about!


 
mama and henry on the dolphin! Mission Bay

3 more sleeps!

Just got off the phone with my sister. I can't wait to see her! In 3 more sleeps, little Henry and I are getting on the plane to go see her and my niece Norah in San Diego. YAY! We are going to celebrate Norah's 8th birthday!! Yikes, time is flying fast I can't believe she is nearing 10!! Her birthday is on the 12th which happens to be Easter Sunday. I'm sad that my honey husband will be staying behind here in Boulder this go round.:( But perhaps he'll get up to some good cycling with his buddies this weekend as well as work on some of the various projects that are hanging over his head (hint hint..well he doesn't read my blog much so I'm sure no offense will be taken, hee hee).
We moved from San Diego back in September and I haven't been back since. So I am excited to see my ol stomping grounds as well as meet up with some friends too. We'll see how much I can actually jam pack in 5 days (will fly fast I'm sure). My mommy will be there too! She is flying in from Washington DC to be with us girls and her grandkids (too bad my bro Rob can't make it too then she'd have all her kittens with her).
On my list to go, see and do are:
Jimmy Carter's Cafe (one of the best Mexican restaurants in SD)- Their tortilla soup is OH SO GOOD!
Cafe Chloe- mmmmmmmmmmm, delicious french decadence. I wish my house looked like this place.
Bread & Cie,-yet another decadent spot for cafe and the best biscotti (too bad I've cut gluten out)
hmm so far most of these have been food institutions...yes, I like food. Lots.
Trader Joe's- tis a shame they don't have this grocery store here in Colorado. I love it and will do a big shop to ship back to Boulder (yes I do that).
Water's Fine Catering- Besides the fact that my friend Andrew is the executive director and chef of this scrumptuous establishment, the FOOD IS DIVINE. I get so many ideas from their daily menu's especially now that I can't coast down the road to their market to pick up dinner. His wife, my good friend Heidi is the graphic designer of this beautiful website! (note: As I write out my blog, I'm chilling out the music that plays on the Water's website, groovy chill jazz).
Rustic Rooster, the cutest cottage interior design shop up in Encinitas.
India Ink, a fantastic stationery store with the best paper and pens as I collect em. (Yes, sister I have admitted this fact. I am a penaholic as well as a pencilaholic. And I love the smell of paper too)
Seaside Papery- ok, yes another paper store. I am addicted. Need to see whats on show.
Hillside Artisans (when it first opened I thought it was a craft store)- is such a great kids clothing and toy store right in my old neighborhood. The owner, Karen has managed to fill her shop with such excellent must have's. Most of Henry's shoes came from there as well as some of his cute wooden toys.
SeaWorld- oh yes, I am embarressed to say that in the FIVE years we lived in San Diego, I never went to Sea World. Very excited although I am a bit worried about seeing such a LARGE whale in such a small body of water. As much as it is so wonderful for kids to learn about animals through places like the ZOO (San Diego Zoo is the best in the world) and SeaWorld, I can't get over that these animals are held captive and behind gates and walls. However, I do realize these are also great places to help build in numbers those animals that are going extinct.
The La Jolla Tide Pools- Oh this is such a great stretch of beach in San Diego. It is a quite area nestled amongst some of the best houses in SD (most of them are cottages that remind me of Hansel and Gretal...although there are a handful of ugly as sin mcmansions that are built of cheap drywall and plastic framed window-ICK)!

Any who, I do realize I've got some busy days ahead. Bring it on, I am looking forward to it! Do I realize that I even have some work engagements to go to? You won't have to pull my leg to go, as I love my boss! Am meeting with Jo, the creator and owner of Commandos, the company I do marketing and sales for. Looking forward to our girl pow wow!
As I look over my list, I realize this is a mini 'What to see in San Diego.' So for you travelers out there who plan on a visit to San Diego, please check out these sites! I will always enjoy going back to San Diego for a visit, but must admit am glad that I am not living there (excluding the fact that I wish I was closer to my sissy again, I miss her to bits).

Have a wonderful rest of your week!
*note: Tide Pools image is from San Diego Coast Life

Peaceful Weekend in the mountains!

Ahh! What a weekend. The three of us headed up to the ranch for some much needed R&R! We left Boulder on Friday night arriving well after Hens bedtime. Fortunately, he feel asleep in the car ride and were able to transplant him into his cozy bed (that would be a pak n play that is nearly to small now, nonetheless cozy).
Saturday morning we woke to morning fog with rays of sun peaking over the horizon. Snow had fallen over night dusting the surfaces where snow had melted. What a morning. We ate and quickly dressed for a morning hike. Realizing now after last weeks hike that Hen is quite a good walker we trekked out allowing him to chose our path. He was searching for water to splash in (March and April become the muddy season up in the mountains. Although there is still snow it is starting to melt). After about 45 minutes of our hike, he opted to jump aboard his daddy's shoulders. High altitude, mountain air and exerting energy definitely makes the belly hungry. We came home for a really good lunch of hummus, bread, cheese and grapes. Yum! Nap time called real quickly after that and put Hen down. Both Dean and I followed suit shortly after laying on the sofa and reading.
Sleeping, reading, eating and exercising equals RANCH! It's the life really. We don't have to have but one night up at the ranch really to feel like we have gotten away from the chaos, to slow down, relax and actually enjoy company. After naps, Dean and Henry started up the old Jeep Willy, which my grandfather had purchased in 1954. That Jeep has so many memories! Not only did my dad learn to drive in that car, but I too learned to drive when I was 9! With all the acreage and hidden dirt roads there are many adventures to be had, some to be quite honest, a bit scary! However, I do hope little Hen gets to learn to drive in it too. At the way he's going, I think this will be the case. Deans already got him steering it!
After a little tour in the jeep, we headed to town for some groceries and a cup of our much beloved espresso from Rocky Mountain Roastery ...mmmmm! After our shopping and checking out the ski train, yes Hen loves trains, we headed home. Before we knew it, it was time to eat again! Dinner of roast chicken, red quinoa, and asparagus! Night night!
Sunday morning we woke with less motivation as to whether it was our bodies response to so much peace and relaxation, or to that fact we are getting over colds, I am not sure. I'd like to think the former! We still managed to get out for a truck ride (yes we have to pull out all the ranch vehicles while we are up there visiting). Visualize a 1960's pick up that is ORANGE and actually dumps! Pretty darn cool. We took the truck to the neighboring ranch, Devils Thumb Ranch, which is actually a beautiful eco-lodge. It is one of the most fabulous places to cross country ski in the country. Fortunately for us, they lease some of our land so the perks are great. We went to check out the animals at Devil's Thumb. They have horses, chickens, a goat, a sheep and a rabbit. Henry loved feeding the horseys and pointing out all the horse poop (yes, that was fun and he was helpful in pointing it out so that we wouldn't step in it)!
After our return from a visit with the animals, we had lunch and a nap. Again we all partook in the much needed rest as visiting with the animals was much effort...not.
Once awake, it took a lot to have to start the process of packing and cleaning up as that means it is time to leave. Which is so depressing as it is an indication that we have to get back to reality. I'd like to some how assimilate the ranch as our reality so I'll have to work on that (make note to self).
We arrived home last night around 8 after having stopped off at Whole Foods for some dinner. Henry conked out to bed. Both Dean and I sorted out the luggage and then managed to catch up on some t.v. (hmm catch up on some t.v. as if that is like catching up on one's bills, or something).
All in all, we had a much needed decompressing session at the ranch. It is our slice of heaven really and I hope we have it in the years to come as it is such a magical place for Henry to grow up.

the holiday (well in need of one)!

Monday morning is here! A start to a new week and I am already completely exhausted. Friday night was relaxing and slightly mindless. We watched....Mr. Bean's Holiday. OK, I know! "Mr. Bean?" you say. Well, yes. I needed something completely off-kilter, bizarre, sporadic, laughable and just not perfect. I needed to see something that conveyed a sense caziness. So that I feel slightly better about my un-perfect self.
Saturday was date night with honey husband! Unfortunately our plan to go to The Pearl did not pan out as they had booked their restaurant out for a wedding party. Next time. Instead we went to our neighborhood Japanese (authentically Japanese) restaurant. They have simply the best food and at wonderfully affordable prices (and that is what we need now, affordable, with the crazy gas prices here in So. Cal). My favorites are the seaweed salad, the Soba noodles, and yes their sushi! We finished it off with some cold Saki! Divine!
Sunday was the grocery shopping and laundry day....pretty boring if you ask me, but we managed to get in some playtime over at Auntie's house (my sister). Fortunately it is all of one block away! I feel quite lucky that I have her so close by. 'Hen' loves going to 'Dante's (as pronounced by baby)' house. We like to help her water her plants.