Cute frames

Saw these at Marshall's last weekend:

Think they are SO CUTE and a great price, but maybe a little too "young" for me and Mr. B.

I wish there would have been such fun and affordable items available when I was younger! Or maybe there was but they just weren't on my radar?

Restoration Hardware's Beverly Hills Gallery

Well, I finally checked out Restoration Hardware's new digs on Beverly Blvd.

And.it.did.not.disappoint.

Here are some pictures for you to drool over.

I wanted to buy everything in this store but until I win the lottery, I will have to stick with "Inspired by Restoration Hardware" items.



I got a BUNCH of ideas and hope to turn some into new additions to my home! Here's the main one:

Marion Davies' Guesthouse

Mr. B, T, and I visited the historic and beautiful Marion Davies' Guesthouse.

Even though Mr. B. and I had toured the amazing Heart Castle in San Simeon last year, we didn't know all the romantic (slash adulterous!) history behind the Guesthouse or the former Mansion. We are even more up on the details, both historic and gossip!

Marion Davies

Here is the full story: The Beach House, but the short version is that William Randolph Hearst built a 100 room, 50 bathroom, 30 fireplace Mansion for his long-term mistress, Marion Davies. This Mansion had tennis courts, an awe-inspiring pool (which is no Neptune pool, but still), and a 7 bedroom "guest house" which was rumored to be for staff, but for some reason this tenants of this house remains a mystery. This compound was right on the beach in Santa Monica.

The couple sold the house due to financial troubles and it was turned into a private beach club. Then, an earthquake hit and the Mansion was demolished, but the Guest House was saved. Then a few years ago, the Annenberg Foundation donated money to refurbish the whole property and now it is a very nice and affordable public space in Santa Monica. Which puts The Annenberg Community Beach House at Santa Monica State Beach in a world all its own! 

Pool circa 1930

Pool today in 2011

The Mail Package! Revealed!

So, here it is:

I'm so excited to try out this great Cutting Edge Stencil! 

Mr. B. and I have started on the base coat, but all will be revealed soon!

TOMS, again

Got the shoes in the mail that I had waited and waited for!

On cream background.

BUT, the shoes labeled as "ivory" to my eye were "cream/ivory" instead of the "white/ivory" I was hoping for.

On white background.

But oh so cute!

Oh well, maybe I'll look into some other colors.


Clearly, hasn't been my shoe week.

The Getty

Mr. B. and I checked out a great exhibit at The Getty last weekend, A Revolutionary Project: Cuba from Walker Evans to Now. 

Stevedore © Walker Evans Archive, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

I have a weird and explained fondness for Cuba and its people and love learning more about Cuba's culture. The exhibit also recommended many great books, so I've already been on the LA Library website reserving all the titles!

But, before we perused the photographs, we had brunch at The Restaurant. I had a yummy Crab Cake Benedict,  which which had an english muffin, wild mushrooms, nueske bacon, poached eggs, asparagus, with hollandaise sauce. Mr. B. had Duck Confit “Chilaquiles” which had roasted tomatillo salsa, scrambled eggs, sautéed vegetables, goat cheese.

Both were yummy!

We encourage everyone to try The Restaurant and see the Cuba exhibit because The Getty never disappoints!

Mr. B. overlooking the West L.A. skyline!

Hollywood Pies

Since leaving Chicago in 2008 for life in sunny Los Angeles, we have been so happy with our decision to try a West Coast adventure. The weather, the proximity to the beach and the mountains, the wineries, one could go on and on, except...... Mr. B. and I haven't found a place that could satisfy our Chicago-Style Pizza craving! 


And it hasn't been for lack of trying, we have tasted many a pie here in the land of the stars and none have rang true to our fond memories of oozing cheese and crisp crust. We have even tried our own homemade versions, but without a true pizza oven, its been rough. For my 30th birthday, Mr. B. actually ordered Giordano's and had it sent by overnight airmail, on dry ice. I'm not proud of this, but use it as an example of the desperation that has plagued us (and I'm sure many other transplants)!


And then, like an oasis in the desert, HollywoodPies broke onto the scene. And in true Chicago style, it has a bit of secrecy and to me, this makes it all the more intriguing! 

Here's the dish:

CURBSIDE PICK-UP SUGGESTION: IF USING GPS/NAVIGATION SYSTEM KEY IN 415 WESTMOUNT DR. WEST HOLLYWOOD CA 90048. WHEN AT THAT LOCATION GIVE US A CALL AND WE WILL BRING YOUR PIE RIGHT TO YOUR CAR.

Who could resist this amount of secret-handshake-mob-kissing-on-the-cheek antics? I think they made it even more cloaked-in-the-shadows to appease us Chicagoans!

So, last Friday night Mr. B. and I tried @HollywoodPies, mystery pick-up instructions and all. The pizza was good, definitely the best Chicago-Style we have tried in Los Angeles, but not quite Giordano's. Even so, Mr. B. and I will be becoming regulars at "the spot" for HollywoodPies, so maybe we'll see all you other former-Chicagoans there soon!