one city over

A couple weeks ago we had brunch at Yucatan Grill in Seal Beach, then walked down Main Street to visit the shell shop.  After our trip to the natural history museum this summer, where Chloe stood and listened to shells forever, I figured a trip to the shell shop was in order.  Niether Geoff nor Chloe had ever been, can you believe it? 

All that natural beauty and she chooses the fairy mermaids. She could not take her eyes off of them.  I have three pictures just like this one, she just stood and stared at them.  Their names from left to right: Luna, Pursa, Scara, and Ariel. They are fun in the tub, and I'm always happy when the item she so strongly desires carries a $2.99 price tag.  Please, allow me get this for you.

I did get a little sea star, a shell we can hear the ocean in, and a sea fan that is the prettiest pale yellow and looks lovely in our living room. This antique shop on Main Street had lovely estate jewelry, and they had a nice selection of jade which was handy, so I could show Geoff what I liked before his trip to China.

We stopped in a few other stores and the little nursery, where I didn't take photos because I was busy rescuing Chloe from a crazy cat who kept batting (with nails drawn!) at her skirt.  Crazy cat.  I'm not sure if he lives there, but he did not make me want to go back and buy plants. 

It was a nice, lazy Sunday afternoon, and I'd gladly do it again.  Minus the cat. 

Here's to a great weekend. 

pink clouds

She draws pink clouds because she remembers nights like these.

I have to remind myself not to doubt her.  

She reminds herself that I will always come back. 

cozy fall outfit

Anyone else excited to see Target full of Missoni?
The thunderstorm this weekend helped me to change gears and start thinking about fall clothes.
I really want that grandpa sweater.
Links for everything here cozy fall outfit 

the office

fashion's night out

It has been a busy week with the first days of school and all.
Last night the husband and I went to Fashion's Night Out at South Coast Plaza, and I can see making that a yearly event.  Tough that it falls on the first week of school, but it's a nice few hours out on the town.
I didn't take my camera because I needed to carry my clutch and a champagne glass and have one hand free to shop.  Priorities.
I loved everything in Zara, hubban got a cute suit for a spring wedding.

And I got some Jo Malone perfume. 

first day of school

Dear Pre-K,
Bring it.

i am sad

All these things are suddenly clicking with her.  She is coloring non-stop and (tear) she is coloring inside the lines.  For some reason I think of it as a loss of artistic freedom, it makes me sad, she is such a big kid.
That freedom and gesture that only wee ones have...is gone.  At least when she paints it is still free-form and gestural.  But yikes, with all the writing and the coloring.  I don't know how I'm going to handle Pre-K if this is what is happening the week before school starts.  Slow down, little one.  Slow down.

She colored this for me while I was at work the other night, and she did three more in the same sitting.  She is a coloring machine.  Guess what she's doing as I type this.

I need a mommy pep talk, because all these changes are making me want to cry.