This morning I went to my dance class as per usual… then I came home. And I didn’t leave my house for the rest of the day. I worked, naturally. I did some laundry and cleaned my kitchen. But I also read a good book and drank some coffee. It was just a “home” sort of day.

French press & milk frother. Happy me.

Nothing is more comforting than a mug of something warm and a novel.

Everyone needs a day at home every once in a while, wouldn’t you say?

I still can’t get enough of raw cotton. I had a dream last night in which someone else (another “designer”— although I refer to designers who don’t have original ideas and only copycat others as “faux designers”) blatently ripped off my recent raw cotton wedding.

My Mother taught me that imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, but in this case, it was just honest-to-goodness copy-catting.

I was livid. I mean, really really angry. I’ve had dreams where I’ve felt intense emotional feelings before- usually fear or loathing, occassionally love or longing. But I’d never felt anger like this before- not in a dream.

It was nice to wake up this morning.

The feeling of anger just melted away when I realized my dream wasn’t real.

Hello, pretty day! ;-)

Anemones. I’ve always loved them. They’re sort of dark and mysterious,
even the white variety. It’s those black centers. They’re like black hearts.

The ruffly petals unfold and reveal this darkness, beautiful and intense…
perhaps a bit frightening.

I’ve been noticing a common theme lately on the television shows that I watch (or perhaps I’m just drawn to television shows with a common theme, hmm?)… a theme of darkness. A theme that tells us that everyone, even the people who seem the most trustworthy, have a dark side.

I believe it. I embrace it. My dark side. Whatever that means.

This is a story about some succulents. I created this succulent garden as a gift for someone who lives by the ocean. I arranged it ever so carefully, choosing each individual succulent, nestling them together, embellishing the arrangement with blue beach glass and a few seashells. I was so happy with the result.

It was as pretty as it could possibly be.

And then…

I put this sweet little succulent garden into my car and drove off towards Santa Monica. When I was only one mile from my destination, the driver of the car in front of me slammed on his brakes. I slammed on my brakes. And my sweet little succulent arrangement went flying.

This is a sad succulent story. The floor of the passenger side of my car is covered in soil and sand and beach glass and seashells and poor little succulents, scattered about.

But the good news? I can always make another! ;-)

Today in Los Angeles, it is 76 degrees outside. The sky is a brilliant blue, the sun feels warm on my face, and I am so very grateful to live in such an ideal climate. With the recent rain and the current moderate temperatures, the hillsides are green and flowers are popping up everywhere. The delicious smell of spring hangs heavily in the air and I can’t get enough of it.

This afternoon I will drive towards the ocean to spend the afternoon with some dear friends on Abbot Kinney. In the meantime, I’m answering emails, going over financials, and doing all manner of computer-work on my back patio, surrounded by my pretty plants and the sound of water as it flows through the fountain. Life just doesn’t get any better than this!

This maidenhair fern was so dead after a neighbor forgot to water it while I was out of town last summer… I cut the whole thing down, hoping against hope that it would spring back to life. I had no idea it would spring back so exquisitely!

And is there anything more fulfilling than using lemons off your very own lemon tree?
Right now… I think not.