Went out to dinner for my rockin' BIRTHDAY on Thursday night. Yes, another year older my friends. Remember in the 60s people used to say, don't trust anyone over 40, well I threw that one out the window many years ago!

So out to dinner to celebrate the ol' birthday to a real Indian restaurant, Gourmet India. Can you believe I have never been to an authentic Indian restaurant? I have never had samosa or even naan. I enjoyed the food immensely with some Taj Mahal beer but I really couldn't tell you what we ate except that we did eat family style and I know we had chicken tikka masala, tandoori chicken and samosa for sure. I did enjoy what seemed like creamed spinach with chunks of cheese and something the waiter called "vege balls," I found that amusing and it actually tasted great!

This is the honest truth of how much we enjoyed our meal!

Back to the condo for some birthday cake, a German chocolate cake that sent me into sugar overload...


...and a present! Five beautifully handmade and scented bars of soap. They are wonderful and from a shop called Clarity Soap & Candles which is not far from me in South Park. Visit the link and you'll find some cute and interesting shops in the area. You'll remember Rebecca's, I took you there last year for a latte and muffin.


And just in time for my birthday, you'll never believe this, I won a contest thrown by Barb at The French Elements.

The prize package included four Chanel products, an eye shadow brush, mascara guaranteed to give intense volume and curl, a wonderful facial cleanser and exfoliating gel so I can sparkle and shine!

Look! A fabulous burlap embroidered pillow with Joyeux Noel stitched under the Eifel Tower just in time for Christmas. The little pig was something I bought so long ago just because I thought it was cute. Barb made the pillow and if you visit with her you will find directions to her online shop as well.

The Chanel products were wrapped in this adorable tea towel stitched with the ever leaning Tower of Pisa. It's adorable!

I am ALSO sooo lucky to have won a great book from Tammy's contest over at Mug of Moxie. The book is Another Pan and is a paranormal take on Peter, the Lost Boys and the Darling Family. Things are slightly different than the original story! I am on page 125 of 392 and loving it.

I've been lucky recently on my thrift shop finds and wanted to show off two new tea pots that I have added to my collection. The flower shop with apartment above on the left was purchased for $3.50 and the pot on the right was just $1 from a yard sale. The platter in the background is part of my rabbit collection.

At two separate yard sales I found these scarves each priced at $2. The one on the left was crocheted by the person throwing the sale. She said she paid about $10-15 in supplies and that's not even including the hours she spent making it. She said it was hard to give up but she needed to make way for other things.

Here are some recent book acquisitions from scouring book sales at various libraries. No book was over $1. I'd like to point out a Georgette Heyer book that I will be reading soon. The author was recommended by Vix at Vintage Vixen and a few of her friends.

Finally, you guys, I have to sign off now because I just noticed that Lara Croft: Cradle of Life is on TV and you know I have to support my boyfriend Gerry Butler. Here's a shot of him taken from the movie.

Oh, and visit this link to view Gerry's fab New York loft featured in Architectural Digest, you'll love it...I do! Hope you don't mind BUT I must DASH now!

SeaWorld Part Deux

I know I promised you gardens! They're coming up, but first how about the roller coasters of SeaWorld? Well, there really only is one so hold on while we explore the lost city of...Atlantis!

Shipwreck Rapids is the other ride at SeaWorld and believe me you get plenty wet! They even have water jets on the outside of the ride that people can slip a quarter into and blast you with water. Yes, total strangers will shoot right at you just because they can, I guess! If you weren't already soaking wet, believe me you will be! It's probably best to leave this as your final visit for the day. And yes, I did get drenched!

Is there nothing sweeter than a daisy?


I seriously need to get creative with my plantings at home, this is lovely.

The view across Mission Bay. A cute couple stopped me right here and asked me if I would take a few pictures of them. From what I could tell, they turned out lovely.

I am *hearting* this birdhouse. I want one, in fact I want a couple in my yard.

I think this is just so cute and vaguely New England looking, like we'll be seeing Mrs. Fletcher on her bicycle any minute now. My mom and I had a standing date to watch Murder She Wrote every Sunday night.

Remember the shot of the cute autumnal looking starfish in my last post? Well they are separated from their bigger brothers who live in this gorgeous pool because otherwise, well, the larger ones would cannibalize the littler ones. :(

Scenic views across the bay while at the Sea Lion and Otter show. Is there nothing cuter than an otter? Here's a view from the left...

...and from the right. The show was pretty much packed as you can see.

So pretty in person.

Snaps of a tranquil Asian garden.

I love these colors, so vivid, alive and happy!

Hope you enjoyed your visit. If you are ever in San Diego and visit SeaWorld, let me know I'd be happy to go back one more time!

SeaWorld

SeaWorld is a huge aquatic park located on Mission Bay. You can also find SeaWorld in Orlando and San Antonio. There were plans for Dubai but they have been shelved for now.

I've been to the park at least three times previously but you know, I always seem to miss something.

Shamu and friends

Sea lion and otter show, very cute!Fancy a trip to the Arctic? There's a copter waiting for you!

Remember that Walrus you met in my last post? Here he is in all his glory!

A Beluga whale checking YOU out!

Just in time to catch the next flight out to Resolute Bay!

Shades of JAWS...sh...sh...SHARK!

Who is that strange fellow staring at us?

Calling Captain Nemo!

Don't these star fish look like autumn leaves?

My nephew feeding the manta rays. They feel oddly spongy.

This guy looks cranky!

Next post the beautiful gardens of SeaWorld!

A little of this and that

Woke up this morning with an overwhelming urge to bake something! I decided to make popovers since I came across a popover pan at a yard sale for only $1. A minor miracle as I've been wanting one for quite a while and this one was in perfect condition and soooo affordable!

They turned out perfectly crisp on the outside and light and airy on the inside. What I also like about popovers is that you never know what kind of shape they'll take and they are almost always amusing! If I do say so myself, this batch didn't disappoint!

I've noticed lately a few blogs spilling the contents of their handbags for the blogging world to see. I can be a nosy sort sometimes and so I've decided to take the plunge myself. The thing is, I went on an outing yesterday so everything was at a bare minimum. So at the end of the day, this is what was in my handbag:

-Tube of lipgloss
-Pen
-Some dollar bills and loose change
-Two little souvenirs - a key chain and a magnet
-Entrance ticket
-Wallet

Here's my handbag, a little black crochet number that has a brown flap with a faux tortoise shell button. It's also lined and has a zipper so nothing has a chance to fall out when on...say...a roller coaster! This bag was a steal at $3 at the Goodwill store. I love it!

If you haven't guessed by some of the contents of my bag, I was at SeaWorld yesterday. SeaWorld is huge and despite being there from around 11:30 to 6:45 in the evening, we still didn’t see everything there is to take in. I’ll be posting the pictures shortly but thought I would tease you with this one.


I have never seen a walrus up close like this before. The walrus and I were only separated by a pane of glass; it was the most amazing thing ever. I still can’t get over it!

Can’t wait to show you the rest of the photos!

PS – to everyone in the US, have a great Labor Day Weekend! Bye, bye summer!

PPS - Borrowed two movies from the library for the long weekend, Bride & Prejudice (the Bollywood movie) and an oldie but goodie, Roman Holiday with Gregory Peck, Audrey Hepburn and Eddie Albet. What are you up to this weekend?