Le Parker

Le Parker

If you've been reading this blog over the years then you know I have a fondness for The Parker in Palm Springs.  There's just something a little magical about it for me, as if Wes Anderson and Jonathan Adler got together and had a hotel. It's a place that is dedicated to the art of  lounging, decked out a bit like Megan Draper's Laurel Canyon home, a mix of boho textiles, mid century furnishings and amazing mood lighting. This past weekend I finally got to spend a few days on hotel grounds to really take it in when we celebrated our 10 year anniversary. The magic of The Parker is the way its cut into several different secret environments, paths lined with overgrown mimosa trees, palms and grasses carve out hidden passages to swaying fields of hammocks and circles of butterfly chairs. Inside it's cut into conversational spaces framed by hanging rattan seating and womb chair nooks. At night it is enchanted, lamp lit and mysterious. I took notes. Lots of notes.  We have our own groovy project to design, and an ever growing collection of vintage chairs, and lamps to weave into the mix.  Now if I could just get my hands on a wall hanging like this...

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On The Road

On The Road

A little while back I was presented with the opportunity to take a trip down the California coast with a few other bloggers to test drive the new Ford C-MAX Hybrid, and go on a little weekend getaway. The C-MAX is the first-ever hybrid-only vehicle line from Ford in North America, available in two models: The C-MAX Hybrid and C-MAX Energi Plug-in Hybrid. I decided to join in on the adventure for a couple of reasons- I live here in Northern California, and we like our hybrids, so I was really curious about this car, and I also needed a little break to recharge my own battery (hybrid humor). Taking on this type of project affords me the opportunity to bring you guys even more original content, DIY and recipes, and gets me away from the work table to get a new perspective. I knew by going on this trip I'd get to know this car so that I could give you a thoughtful review, what I didn't expect was that this experience would remind me of something very important, especially to the work-at-home or stay-at-home moms out there... 

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The River

The River

Here are some more snapshots of our vacation in Guerneville. Located 2 minutes from a perfect river beach, 20 minutes from the Pacific Ocean, with a State Park redwood forest on the outskirts of town, we spent a lot of time in nature.  I even bought a pair of Keens (gasp!). Going on this trip I had a little epiphany. I really like feeling as though I'm in the middle of nowhere. Every morning I would go outside and drink my coffee on the deck of our beautiful cabin and enjoy the quiet.  All I could see was trees and the water, and one time a naked lady walking across her deck at the house across river.

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