Art & Nature Seasonal Impressions Workshops

Click HERE to see photos of Terranea's discovery trail.

Sunday Sweetness: Maddie on Things

See more Maddie here.

Girly PSA: Movie Theaters Showing Austenland

When it was first released, it was in, like 2 theaters.

  Now it's opening in wide(r) release.

  FINALLY. 

 You can find a theater near you here.

Pretty Pictorial: Terranea Resort Discovery Trails

Can you believe I get paid to look at this...

...And this...

...With darlings like these?

Long Beach Halloween Dog Parade 2012

This year's Haute Dog Howl'oween Parade is the afternoon of Sunday, October 28. The start/finish is at Livingston Park (here in the Belmont Shore neighborhood of Long Beach.) Costumed pups will parade around Second Street, then meet back at the park for the float & costume awards (and all sorts of fun puppy-stuff vendors, rescue groups, pet photography & door prize giveaways, too!) This is a big family event that draws creative kooky sorts from all over... you'll see some of the cutest, strangest, most imaginative costumes ever...so don't forget your camera! Registration is available via the link above (spectating is free!)

Click here for my post on Halloweeny puppy costume & safety tips. 

Long Beach Bulldog Beauty Contest 2012

Ohmeohmy, almost nothing's cuter than a baby bulldog puppy. Get your fill of both pretty pups and handsomey oldtimers, Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012. This year, the beauty contest is in Belmont Shore at Marine Stadium. In addition to Bulldogs, there will also be awards for Frenchies, Pugs, Pits, Chihuahuas, Cuties, Uglies, and Any-Breed-Seniors. Visit the Haute Dog Website for more info.

Long Beach Holiday Indie Craft Festival 2011

These are always so much fun. It's like Etsy, but everything's right in front of you to take home immediately. And there's food...

*go HERE for more details*

Long Beach Halloween Dog Parade 2011

This year's Haute Dog Howl'oween Parade is the afternoon of Sunday, October 30. The start/finish is at Livingston Park (here in the Belmont Shore neighborhood of Long Beach.) Costumed pups will parade down and around Second Street, then meet back at the park for the float & costume awards (and all sorts of fun puppy-stuff vendors, rescue groups, pet photography & door prize giveaways, too!) There will also be a kid's costume contest again this year (yay!) This is a big family event that draws creative kooky sorts from all over... you'll see some of the cutest, strangest, most imaginative costumes ever...so don't forget your camera! Registration is available via the link above (spectating is free!)

Fall Fairy Festival 2011

Calling all kidlet fairies: Join me at the El Dorado Nature Center for my annual, superspecial, one-day Mommy & Me preschool workshop. We'll build a leafy fairy house, sing & dance, and celebrate all things little and lovely. Be sure to wear your wings!


Ages 2-5
Parent Participation Required

Wednesday, October 12, 2011
10:00- 11:30 am

$10 per parent/child pair

Preregistration is required, and THIS CLASS ALWAYS SELLS OUT. Enroll at the EDNC museum front counter (562 570-1745.)

Patchwork Indie Crafts Festival Spring 2011

It's sorta like an Etsy explosion.

Belmont Shore Bulldog Beauty Contest 2011

Ohmeohmy, almost nothing's cuter than a baby bulldog puppy. Get your fill of both pretty pups and handsomey oldtimers, Sunday, Feb. 13, 2011 at 10am. This year, the beauty contest is at Marine Stadium Park. In addition to Bulldogs, there will also be awards for Frenchies, Pugs, and Any-Breed-Seniors. Visit the Haute Dog Website for more info.

Annual Mommy & Me Butterfly Ball

Our Annual Butterfly Ball is coming up soon: Wednesday, April 13, 10-11:30am, 2011. This one-day preschooler Mommy & Me workshop is especially for kidlets between the ages of 2-5.

Join us as we celebrate spring: indulge in a little "nectar tasting," boogie with some butterflies, and make some crafty crafts (& maybe new friends, too!) Be sure to wear your wings & fluttery finery :)

Stop by the Nature Center museum front counter to register (enrollment is limited), or call 562 570-1745 for rates & additional info.

UPDATE: THIS CLASS IS NOW FULL

Ring-Around-The-Rosey Giveaway

"Friendship is the breathing rose, with sweets in every fold."
~Oliver Wendell Holmes

To enter to win the goes-with-everything, adjustable, statement rose ring shown above, just leave a comment saying you'd like to, um... enter to win (simple as that!) Contest closes on 11/11/10. The winner will be chosen by random the following morning.

UPDATE: GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED

*Fashion photos: Vogue (US, Brasile, Australia, & Chinese)*

Martha Stewart Halloween Pet Costume Show

Looking for last-minute holiday ideas? Don't miss Martha's Halloween shows this week, including her pet costume episode, airing this Thursday, October 28.

Anthropologie Gift Card Giveaway

Personally, I think Anthropologie may be the bestest store ever. To celebrate her blogging anniversary, the very-generous Goldenmeans is having an anthrocentric giveaway. And you can enter to win a $100 or $200 gift card! Good Luck (except not really... because actually... I WANNA WIN!)

El Dorado Nature Center Native Plant Sale

Saturday, October 23th, 2010 is our annual El Dorado Nature Center Native Plant Sale. For those with a green green thumb, this is a superexcellent way to stock up on hard-to-find, CA native and CA-friendly plants (including edibles and lots of yummy-smelling sages.) Besides being climate ideal, drought tolerant, and lovely-to-look-at, native plants attract native species. Watch them grow... and then delight in your new neighborhood visitors (butterflies, hummingbirds, squirrely squirrels, and so on...) Botany-obsessed staff will be on hand to answer your questions, and (shh...) the prices are really, really great. Plus, proceeds go towards our habitat restoration & educational programs. The sale begins at 9:30, and we usually sell out by noon.

Oh! FYI: No Dogs Allowed... preschoolers OK :)

Belmont Shore Halloween Dog Parade 2010

This year's Haute Dog Howl'oween Parade is Halloween Day, Sunday, October 31, starting at 2:30 pm. The start/finish is at Livingston Park (here in the Belmont Shore neighborhood of Long Beach.) Pups will parade down and around Second Street, then meet back at the park for the float & costume awards (and all sorts of fun puppy-stuff vendors, rescue groups, pet photography & door prize giveaways, too!) There will also be a kid's costume contest this year (yay!) This is a big family event that draws creative kooky sorts from all over... you'll see some of the cutest, strangest, most imaginative costumes ever...so don't forget your camera! Registration is available via the link above (spectating is free!)

Hey Locals: Interfaith Blessing of the Animals

Save the date: on Saturday, October 2, 2010, at noon, Long Beach will be host to the free Interfaith Blessing of the Animals @ Marine Stadium in Belmont Shore. Not only are dogs welcome, but also cats, birds, lizards, hamsters, fish, turtles and other well-behaved beloveds.

This tradition was started to honor Saint Francis, but, in our community, it has become an open, multi-faith event celebrating our universal love for animals. Pets will line up to be blessed, and there will be an array of local religious leaders (dressed in their traditional religious attire.) Choose a blessing from someone who reflects your own beliefs... or meet, mingle, and be blessed by all!

Calling All Girly Girls...

Load up on handmade goods & eco-friendly fun stuff:

Artisan Craft Fair

El Dorado Nature Center

Saturday, August 28

10am-2pm

Yay For Craft Shows...