Navel Gazing and Whale Watching

If only.

Our local paper announced the beginning of whale watching season this week, and for one completely self-absorbed and horrifying moment, I thought it was talking about me. As the season of plenty slowly rolls along like Violet Beauregarde, I'm assessing the damage. Luckily, the New Year, and its accompanying health frenzy, is almost here. Two weeks of wheatgrass shots and 5 mile jaunts through the park should get rid of the holiday pounds.

But back to whale watching. Yesterday afternoon, I excitedly booked tickets for (sing it with me) a three hour tour, a three hour tour. The sales rep warned me that under no circumstances would the trip would be cancelled due to rain. "Sure, not a problem," I cheerfully concurred as I looked outside at the clear blue skies.

This morning, I woke up to the sound of rain hitting my window. I stood on the balcony and stared up at the darkened sky like a confused turkey. Firmly in denial, I brightly assured the Merry Husband that the clouds would clear ("You know, like Florida!), and drove through the flooded streets to the Redondo Beach Marina. We walked up to the deserted boat. ("I'm sure they'll be here any minute!") We waited.

I finally called the sales rep.  "I'm sooo sorry," she explained. "We cancelled due to rain. I thought I had gotten in touch with everyone. Come over to Polly's Diner on the other side of the marina and I'll give you two free vouchers for another day."

The Merry Husband and I rejoiced at the sudden and fortuitous change in company policy. After collecting our vouchers, we tucked into delicious plates of Polly's chorizo and eggs.

Dear readers, I wish I could share with you photos of me spotting a whale, me petting a whale, me becoming   BFFs with a whale. Sadly, today was not that day. Instead, here are some dark and stormy photos of the marina.

Polly's on the Pier

I hope that your weekend is going according to plan.

Merry Christmas!

Dear Readers,

Thank you for your comments, encouragement, and kindness these last few months. I have enjoyed peeking into your fabulous lives, and I sincerely hope you've had some fun poking around in my little corner of the blogosphere.

This Christmas will be a bittersweet one for my family: bitter because it will be our first one without my father who died in August, sweet because we will focus on the joy of my soon to be four-year-old niece.

My dad wasn't much of a drinker, but he always looked forward to this punch my sister would make every Christmas morning.

Milk Punch 
(Makes 6 cocktails)

Ingredients:
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
1 1/2 cups milk
1/2 cup heavy cream
8 ounces brandy
4 ounces bourbon
1 egg white (optional)
1 tbsp vanilla extract
Grated nutmeg

Make a simple syrup by combining the sugar and water in a saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is boiling.  Let simmer until the mixture is clear, about 8 minutes.  Pour into a jar and cool.  Refrigerate until cold.

Combine the syrup, milk, cream, alcohol, egg white, and vanilla in a large pitcher.  Stir well, or, if you have a lid, shake.  Serve in old-fashioned glasses and sprinkle each cocktail with some nutmeg.

Note: If you don't have time to make a simple syrup, don't despair. Just make sure the water is really, really cold, throw all the ingredients except the nutmeg together, and stir well.

2013 Color of the Year: Emerald Green

Every December, the oracles of Pantone LLC emerge from their shadowy offices in New Jersey just long enough to declare the next Color of the Year. So as 2012 comes to a close, we say goodbye to Tangerine Tango and hello to Emerald Green.  Expect the hue to be plastered on everything from new cars to toaster ovens. Pantone promises that Emerald will "enhance our sense of well-being, balance, and harmony." That's a lot of pressure to put on a color, but Emerald seems up to the task. Lilly Pulitzer has already incorporated the shade into three of its newest prints.


Lilly Pulitzer Crown Jewels print

Of course, some retailers have been singing the praises of Emerald all along.

The 75.47 ct. Hooker Emerald, in a brooch designed by
Tiffany & Co.

The Longest Night

Burn a bayberry candle at the close of the year, and you'll have good luck in the next.  As the saying goes, "A bayberry candle burned to the socket brings food to the larder and gold to the pocket." Opinions differ on the optimal evening to light the wick - some say Christmas Eve, others say New Year's Eve.  But with the fiscal cliff fast approaching and the Mayan End of Times looming, it hardly seems prudent to wait much longer.  The winter solstice is as good an excuse as any for a candle-lit dinner. 

The Bee Man Candle Company

Good night, and good luck!

Keep or Return? Decisions, decisions...

Every year in mid-November, I have a Diana Vreeland moment.  "Merry Wife," I say to myself, "Why don't you...make homemade and thoughtful Christmas gifts for all your coworkers?"

I'm not sure why I feel compelled to foist cheese straws or bath bombs on my lovely colleagues, who frankly would prefer Starbucks gift cards. Luckily for them, I invariably procrastinate until the last possible moment come to my senses and rush around the Del Amo mall like a madwoman the evening before everyone is scheduled to go on vacation.

This year I rush-ordered bracelets for the women in my office from Banana Republic.  I ordered an extra one for myself, and am now having second thoughts.

Here's the photo from the website.

Banana Republic Leather Lock Bracelet

And here it is on me.

I expected it to be somehow bolder. Chunky and cuff-like. This feels more like a watch without the dial.

Well, I suppose something should be thinner than expected during the holidays.

Monogram Mondays at Lilly Pulitzer - Madison Avenue

Lilly Pulitzer NYC print

Some things just go together: gin and tonic, peanut butter and jelly, Lilly Pulitzer and monograms.  Indeed, it is the rare Lilly lover who isn't so enamored of her own initials that she hasn't branded every available surface with them.

So I expect that Lilly Pulitzer's new monogramming service at its Madison Avenue shop will be hugely popular. And, joy of joys, on Mondays, the shop will monogram one purchase for free! No word on when this promotion will end, so call the friendly and helpful sales staff today at (212) 744-4620.

A Saturday Morning in the South Bay

The errands were ordinary enough: a trip to the dry-cleaner and a pit-stop for coffee.  But the scenery was nothing short of extraordinary.

Mirlo Gate Lodge Tower
on the border of Torrance and Palos Verdes

A statue of King Neptune in the parking
lot of Malaga Cove Plaza, Palos Verdes

Yellow Vase Cafe,
Malaga Cove Plaza

Resident peafowl

View from Via Del Monte

Torrance Beach

Redondo Beach