…it says in the window of one of my favorite Laguna Beach stores this week.  So cute, so true.  In fact some days I’m thinking it’s two part clouds – the weather is a bit gloomy but apparently very normal for now. 

We’re in La Jolla.   (Thank Goodness for Brady who gently informed me it is not pronounced Joll-a as in a variation of jelly but Hoy-a which makes me feel interesting and exotic every time I say it).   It’s every bit as laid back and pretty as we were told – decent shopping, good food, unbelievably gorgeous buildings everywhere. 

Yesterday we did Legoland.  Or Legoland did us, I’m not sure.  Either way we’re a little sunburnt and a lot less finanacial for the experience so I guess the object was achieved.  Children progressed steadily from elated and excited through to expectant and exhausted – the usual theme park model was adhered to nicely.   I’m wondering if those other sunburnt yet gleeful looking grown-ups really do love going to these places or if we’re all just good at pretending?   Today I’m well fantasizing that Disneyland have a parents lounge complete with piano bar and canapes with an army of nannies who take your children around for you.    I might just pop that in the suggestion box.

Some more holiday loving:

Cheap stuff.. MAC makeup, Vitamin Water, the boys DC shoes and Lucky Brand t’s, Benetint ,  G-Star Raw jeans..love that I need to buy twice as much to feel the same amount of guilt that I do back home. 

Friends who have cameras..and use them for this:

Thankyou so much, Miss Krysta.  It’s so nice to see someone elses perspective and I love how it’s a complete surpise to see what was captured but more than anything, we just had such a nice afternoon.  Krysta blogged it better than I could here. I know people have asked about those insanely gorgeous swimmers, they’re from Kate Mack and the  bike picked up from a garage sale next door to where we stayed in Laguna Beach..We don’t make yard sales like that back home!  I wasn’t joking about the shipping container.

Proper Mexican food..it’s novel to me that you can actually get excellent takeout burritos.  And they’re still excellent when you get them home.  

Minature Pink Phones..that really work. This I found at Pottery Barn Kids and immediately made it mine.  My lazy self lifted this image off the net and it really doesn’t do it justice.  It’s teeny tiny, sooo cute and did I say it works? I think I said I was buying it for Ivy.  I think I lied.

Holiday confusion, still:

Tipping.  Arrrgh.  I seriously have no idea who to pay for what. I’m ready to just start handing it to anyone who looks at me.  I break out into a sweat every time I pull up to a hotel kerb/order take-out/ring reception to ask for a corkscrew, madly hoping I have a spare three/five/fifty – (tell me again what it is??) dollars at the ready.    I’m sure living here it’s different but holidaying?  The tipping is not fun and it’s not cheap.  I will say though the service is the Best in The World, without doubt.

Roundabouts.  I’m doing much better with the four way give way.  In fact, I like it.  Show me a roundabout though where it’s all travelling entirely in reverse?  Nooooo thankyou.

I think today is a lazy day, a nothing planned, browse the shops, drink hot chocolate kind of day.  Actually that sounds like most of our days here.  All those highlighted Things To Do I’d printed out are looking a little neglected but it’s so nice to do almost nothing.  I asked Luca what his favorite thing has been so far and he said “just hanging out with my family”.  Love his answer and couldn’t agree more.   Reminds me of how as a child, I don’t remember all the different activities we did on holiday, I just remember the time spent together.  Really being together. 

Yay for the holidays.

S x

Holiday loving:

Laguna Beach light at 7pm. Like nothing on Earth. For all the splendor the OC can offer, this has got to be the most amazing, and it’s free. Stunnning.

Anthropologie. I know, I mention this store more than I need to but for those who don’t have one locally, it’s such a treat to enter the wonder that is Anthro. The clothes are cute, for sure, but it’s all the the other bits that make my heart skip. The aprons, the doorknobs, the pretty paper..It is my Heaven on Earth.

Hospitality. Seriously. How nice are you people? I am astounded at the friendliness here. Not that we’re unfriendly back home but this is a whole new World of random conversations with strangers, offers to carry my groceries and neighborly dinner invitations. Just So Nice.

Krysta. Six days of shopping and beach and dinner and wine and photos and face to face conversation. The things that we’ve spent a year looking forward to. Meeting her Brady was the icing on the cake.

The Cheesecake Factory. Enough said.

Cheap magazines. My addiction is totally out of control..there are way too many great mags and they’re half the price. What’s a girl to do?

Starbucks. I know it well, I’ve passed it frequently back home without so much as a sidewards glance. All it took was a week hanging with Krysta and her SB obsession and I’m hooked. There’s no hope and there’s no turning back.

Rose Bowl Flea Markets. Thanks to Lori for her recommendation to make the trip to Pasedena last Sunday. Beyond belief, the rows and rows of vintage gorgeousness. Worth every minute spent with an SUV (see, I’m learning the talk – it’s a 4WD back home) full of whingeing children, the sunburn and the unscheduled detour into downtown LA trying to get home. Now I just have to hire a shipping container and we’re all good.

Churros. Good. Really good.

Holiday confusion:

Cookie Dough Ice-cream. You do what? Believe me, I’m yet to meet an ice cream I don’t like but this has me all confused. The dough is like, raw? I consumed a whole container trying to figure it out and I’m still none the wiser. Maybe I need another container? Thankyou, Miss Sugar-Pusher, Krysta.)

Giving Way. Maybe it’s just an OC thing but this concept where you all just pull up at the stop signs and let who-ever got there first be next to go? It’s lovely and all and it seems to work for everyone else but me, I’m like a rabbit in headlights. If you see a dark haired woman in a grey Chevy frozen at a Laguna intersection, go easy.

Retail overload. Well not quite, I think I’m on top of it but I’m in awe that people don’t just live at the shops. I suppose you have to come home to see what’s on offer in the catalogues. It’s more than one maxed-out credit card wielding woman can bear. Almost.

So there’s my round up of Week One. We have a gorgeous new home for another week and then we’re off to San Diego at this stage – we don’t like to plan too far ahead or we might look like those odd organized people. The kids are loving it, especially the beach and Taco Bell. (Luca calls it Tango Bell which sounds more exotic and appealing).

Loves, S x

We survived.  We’re here and we’re in one piece.  The flight was not as horrific as I’d convinced thyself it would be.  There was no sleeping to be had, not by the small or big people but we still seemed to like one another when we landed so it wasn’t all bad.  

What has been a little rather large hiccup in our plans was our arrival at that beautiful cottage.  Every bit as stunning as expected, we were completely overwhelmed by the character, the decor and the umm stairs that were actually ladders on a slight angle.  Three sets of them.  And that second story that had practically no railing on it.   Oh, and that two foot high ledge that Ivy fell off three times in a couple of hours?  That bothered us a little bit too.  We arrived and left the same day and lost an awful lot of money in the process but from where we’ve been, it just doesn’t matter..We’ve learnt the worst way that the strangest things do happen and when something is clearly dangerous we just couldn’t relax – not for a second. 

So, I’m writing to you from a lovely little hotel right on Laguna Beach..the boys are down making sandcastles and Ivy is playing under the rain shower.  It’s been reeeeally hard to secure somewhere new to stay at short notice but we’re getting there.  In the mean time we’re absolutely loving this gorgeous part of the World and are amazed at how friendly and helpful the locals have been.   The light here is incredible and I’ve found it hard to leave the room without  my camera in tow. 

I can’t wait to share some photos, almost as much as I can’t wait to have somewhere to live!  There will be no complaining from me though, we’ve left behind an Australian Winter :)

I’ll be back with a prettier post asap.

S xx

ps Thankyou for all the model responses, I believe Fran has been or will be in touch very shortly!

We’re currently seeking models for an upcoming commercial clothing shoot, aged approx 3-4-5.   Planned for early August for use in web and print, here and overseas.  We need both girls and boys who are available in the Brisbane (Australia) area.

If you believe your child is a photogenic and willing subject and you’re interested, please send details and a recent photo to info@sheyerosemeyerphotography.com with the subject line “model”.   We have specific requirements to suit the theme of the shoot so either myself or Fran will get back to you with further information.

Thankyou!
Sheye x

Ooh, it’s soon. This time next week we’ll be on the lookout for Pinkberry whilst trying to stay on the wrong side of the road.

We have our Tamiflu. We’ve bought out the $2 store seeking in-flight entertainment.  We’re holding US dollars and Ivy can’t stop mentioning Sleeping Bewdy.   It seems we really are going.

I like to believe we’re calm and organized but the truth is, I’m feeling the beginnings of some inner pandemonium. At one point this past week the “to-do’s” became slightly shorter than the “have-dones” which was thrilling but short lived. I’m now running with four different lists and a whole lot of good intention.  Wish me well.

Some of what did get crossed off today: Printing of the suggestions made here, all seventeen pages of them, thankyou SO much! I feel like I’ve consulted with eighty personal tour guides :) I love how often In N Out was mentioned! I guess that’s a must huh?   I also loved the mention of an Alice in Wonderland store.  That, I will be finding.  We’d originally planned to stay around Orange County the whole time but after reading so many great ideas here, we’re going to travel around for the last couple of weeks and explore.

Here’s some of pics of the gorgeous cottage we’ve booked, purely for location alone and not for photo backdrop purposes, you understand.   When I see these, I do get just a little excited!

And in answer to the questions about blogging while I’m away, this sweet abode comes complete with a Mac so blog, I will :)  I do have a few more posts before the week is out though!

S x