Postino & La Grande Orange, Phoenix, AZ

Postino is in the old Arcadia Post office building. The entire restaurant and bar has an inside out feel with huge commercial garage doors that are rolled up when the weather is not too hot.  Postino is known for their bruschetta.  You choose four from a menu of 11.  Our favorite was the ricotta cheese with dates and pistachios.  Next door from Postino is La Grande Orange, same owners and I just found out they have locations in Pasadena and Santa Monica. 

La Grande Orange is known for their English Muffins...and they are so good.

Don't forget to enter my give away. 

Oh Joy. . . Christmas comes to Juxtaposition in Newport Beach, California

One of my favorite places to shop or just for a little inspiration is Juxtaposition.  It is located along the Pacific Coast Highway in the Crystal Cove Promenade in Newport Beach, CA. 

Even as often as I visit Juxtaposition, there's always something new.  I loved these wonderful candles made from old jar and bottle molds and the reclaimed apothecary bottles to hold matchsticks.  It's a great place to buy gifts, but I have a hard time parting with anything I buy at Juxtaposition.  They wrap everything beautifully and every ticket is hand written on a three-copy sales slip...just like it used to be done everywhere...I love that!

At 3,000 square feet there's plenty of space to move about and it usually takes me at least twice through to make sure I haven't missed something new.  The staff is very knowledgeable and helpful, but will let you look around at your own pace.

I wish this were my closet...I love everything they have...from bags and shoes to boots and clothing pieces...a very well edited collection that fits my style perfectly.

I love this sign that sits out front.  There are several wonderful restaurants right in the same shopping center, like Pacific Whey  next door,  but for the best view...head across the street to the Shake Shack.

Just across PCH (north) is the Crystal Cove Shake Shack, now owned by Ruby's, but still one of the best views.  Right after leaving Juxtaposition I drove over to the Shake Shack and it was just after the rain had cleared. . . It's not everyday you get to see a school of dolphins swimming this close to shore. 

               Thank you Michele and Ellen at Juxtaposition for allowing me to photograph! 

window shopping in NYC

 I promise this is my last NY post for a while, but it is one of the best places to window shop in the whole world...would you agree?

Links of London

1 and 3 -  a b c  carpet & home, 2.  Mulberry,  4.  Anthropologie

 I'm happy just walking the streets in New York...there's no city where I feel more at home.

t h r i f t i n g

Before I started reading blogs (I don't even know what I did all day) I thought thrifting was my huge discount at William Sonoma.  But recently I have discovered the real meaning of "thrifting."  Yes, I do know that thrifting is not a word.  I've learned from the best out there in blog land.  First, there's Janet at The Gardener's Cottage.  She has been posting beautiful outfits that she has put together for under $10.  She looks amazing!  Then there are those talented girls in San Diego and the stuff they find...ah-mazing!  Amber (The Girl is Craftee), Bianca, (Bink & Boo),  Grace, (Grace Happens), and Melissa, (Seagrass Interiors) and (Bixby & Ball.)

Bakelite...I have several belts made by Boston based designer Hadley Pollet.  Her original designs incorporated Bakelite pieces as belt buckles.  Are you familiar with Hadley Pollet? 

So many beads . . .

So many gorgeous Christmas decorations that reminded me of things my grandmother had.  Many of the vendors have things arranged beautifully and yet you can walk away with a vintage ornament for a few dollars.

There was so much silver that my friend Elizabeth has the idea that we should put together a set for my daughter.  There were boxes of silver, unpolished for $1.  For $3 you could buy a single piece of silver plate flatware.  My daughter is 17, so she was not nearly as excited as we were...the thrill really is in the hunt.  And in 10 or 15 years, even Madeline may agree.  In the mean time Elizabeth and I will spend the first Sunday of the month at The Groves Antique Market at the Orange County Great Park.  Unfortunately it rained last Sunday so everyone packed up early...being from the East Coast...rain, sleet, snow never deters me...I only found a couple of things, but will be back next month and hopefully the sun will be shining.

I found this champagne bucket at the Assistance League Thrift Shop in Laguna beach and the amber bottles at the flea market.  I love the color, especially with the orange....something I picked up on the way back from my son's school.   Found any treasures lately?

Missoni + Target = madness

I had been planning for weeks to ditch my workout class and head straight to Target for the Missoni collection.  I knew it might be a little crazy, but had no idea that by 8 in the morning everything would be gone!  This is what the racks looked like.

I wasn't really shopping for myself, but had promised my daughter I would check it out for her.  I was thinking some cute pajamas, cute little dress or a sweater....all gone.  Racks were empty and women (the ones that weren't already home having their second cup of coffee) were roaming around with full carts of Missoni stuff.  Really?  It's not like they are giving it away.  When I left I watched as two gals stuffed a couple of Missoni bikes into a small SUV.  Do they really need bikes or will they end up on ebay...I'm just wondering.

I didn't walk away empty handed.  I found a pair of rain boots in Madeline's size and a couple of pairs of gloves and a scarf in kids.  It reminded me of the movie "Confessions of a Shopaholic."  "Do I need these?"  She rationalizes the need for gloves because she has hands...okay then.