Summer's Flyin'

It's August! Where did the time go? One fun way to spend the summer in our neighborhood is to take in the Friday night concerts at our little park. Real estate in the park is in big demand!




Before you know it pockets of families with kids, friends, and even the family pooch fill up the park. There's lots of fun, lots of picnic-ing, a Nerf ball here and there, and lots of night music. It's a fab way to celebrate the end of the work week and the beginning of a great weekend!

Told you real estate was at a premium!

Ah, Mrs. Frostie - did we or didn't we - OK, we did!

The perfect end to a perfect balmy southern California evening!

I made a great panzanella salad last night that had a little twist to it. There is no exact measurement on this salad I just "eye ball" it as my mother used to say with the number of people you have in mind.

Cornbread Panzanella Salad

Cornbread cut into fork sized pieces (make it yourself or go to the bakery which is what I usually do and yes it will get a little "crumby")

Grape tomoatoes cut in half

English/Japanese cucumber diced (I get this type because there are no seeds)

Basil (you can chiffonade or just tear )

Juice of meyer or regular lemon (one or two)

Combine the ingredients and dress with lemon juice - that's it! I would have taken a picture for you but it got gobbled up fast before I thought about it! Try it and tell me what you think.

Adios from beautiful, sunny So Cal!

Hayley Mills and The Moon Spinners

A friend of mine who considers herself an expert on all things Disney was recently flabbergasted when I mentioned a favorite 60's movie starring Hayley Mills...The Moon Spinners. She quickly googled Amazon and found the DVD for sale, bought it, and the result: two thumbs up!

Here is our Junior Miss detective on the island of Crete.

I was, still am, a HUGE Hayley Mills fan!

Well the movie starts out carefree enough for Nikki Ferris and her aunt but it quickly turns mysterious and deadly...as deadly as a Disney movie can be but it is suspenseful!

In the immortal words of Rachael Ray, YUMMO!

Peter McEnery plays Mark a former bank executive who is in Crete on the hunt for a jewel thief. Along the way he gives Hayley Mills her first on screen kiss!

A million dollar view from the balcony of The Moon Spinner Inn where Nikki is staying.

Here is a clip of Nikki's harrowing escape from a windmill.

Thanks for the fun times Hayley!

TV Diva

Tired of the summer re-runs on TV? Can't bear to watch one more reality show? Me too! TV Diva to the rescue - I've got three great new summertime treats for you to try out!

#1 Drop Dead Diva

Sundays at 9pm on Lifetime

What happens when the soul of a vapid model (Deb), through a computer error (like the EASY button), ends up in a plus size lawyer (Jane) who is equally...dead? Ok, that's the far out premise but trust me you will like this show. Deb keeps her memory but also inherits those of Jane as she tries to adapt to her new life in which she is also...gasp...smart! The series also takes an unflinchly hard look at beauty stereotyping. The show has been getting great reviews!

#2 The Royal Pains

Thursdays at 10pm on USA Network

The cast of The Royal Pains

Characters welcome, and this show is full of them! Hank is a New York doctor who is wrongfully blamed for a patient's death. Hank's brother Evan does his best to get him out of his funk and together they go to party in the Hamptons where Hank saves the life of a party goer. Hank suddenly finds himself in demand as a doctor to the rich and famous and entrepreneurial Evan starts marketing Hank as a "concierge doctor." It's a fun show!

#3 Warehouse 13

Tuesdays at 10pm on the SyFy Network

This is sort of an X-Files lite and enjoyable as well. Two very dissimilar, opposite ends-of-the-spectrum, Secret Service agents have been reassigned to a top secret facility known as Warehouse 13 located in the Badlands of South Dakota. Think of the center as a storehouse of weird, magical and sometimes dangerous stuff gathered by agents over the years. The two hour premier started out great but fell a little flat for me at the end. Nonetheless, it was enjoyable with lots of promise for great story lines to come.

Pass the popcorn!

Wishin' for summer rain

It's hotter than Hades out here! No relief in sight in fact the weatherman said we can expect higher temperatures next week so I'm praying for rain.

Here's a song about summer rain by Johnny Rivers

I couldn't find a video of JR actually singing the song but this is how I best remember him. Help me I'm swooning!

Here's a song I'd like to dedicate to Anita - hope that thesis is almost done!

What show was this? Hullabaloo, Lloyd Thaxton, Hollywood A Go Go?

Couldn't find Call Me by Chris Montez but this has lots of great pictures and takes me waaaaay back!

I love the Hollies!

I love a rainy night - Eddie Rabbit

And speaking of the sun not shining - The Walker Brothers

Hope it's cooled off where you are!

Emma Peel Fashion Icon

Back in 1965 when we still watched TV from a little black box with rabbit ears there was a British import on the tube called The Avengers.

It was the Swinging 60s, the British Invasion, the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, Mods and Rockers, Carnaby Street and this show gave us everything including Emma Peel.

Diana Rigg played the iconic role of Mrs. Peel on the 60s British TV series The Avengers opposite Patrick MacNee as John Steed.



What I loved about Mrs. Peel was that she was never a damsel in distress. She was an expert in the martial arts and was a formidable fencer. She also had a brain! She was a certified genius specializing in chemistry and other sciences.


But what I loved most about Mrs. Peel was her mod look. I loved her leather catsuits and those high kicking boots! However, though I enjoyed the leather look, Diana Rigg did not and eventually when the show went to color (imagine black & white TV!) the catsuits were done in a stretch jersey and used bold colors, psychedelic patterns and color blocks.

John Bates was the costume designer for Mrs. Peel and the fashion became so popular that he also licensed his designs to several manufacturers under the Avengerswear label.


The show was known for its witty banter and sexual tension between John Steed and Mrs. Peel. I'm feeling a little...Moonlighting anyone?

Alas, all good things must come to an end and Diana Rigg left the show in 1968.

Be sure to visit the lovely Fifi Flowers for more fun and Fashionable Friday posts!

Shameless Plug Sunday!

What is more perfect on a hot summer day than a glass of ice tea? I know you're familiar with Crystal Light but do you know they have a lot more flavors than lemonade?

My favorite has always been their Peach Iced Tea but I'm now jumping up and down for Green Tea Natural Peach Mango flavor. You'll love it it's so refreshing! But there are many more new flavors like Red Tea Mandarin, Green Tea Raspberry and White Tea Blueberry plus their old time favorites like Strawberry Kiwi and Fruit Punch.

Each purchase contains 5 tubs of iced tea mix making 2 quarts of thirst quenching tea. The best news is that each 8 ounce serving is only 5 calories! Here's a tip, try mixing it with a little seltzer water or club soda, it really sparkles.

It's a win win all the way around - Cheers!

Here's Linda Evans in an 80s Crystal Light Commercial

Happy 4th of July Everyone

Happy Independence Day!

Hope you have a wonderful day with your friends and family!