AND THE BEAT GOES ON

 That’s right, doing the birthday thing one more time.
Dear Clara treated me and Amy to a grand luncheon at Jean Jacques in the brand new Waldorf Astoria on Wilshire in Beverly Hills.
O.K., the following is for foodies only:
The assorted bread was so amazing we asked for a refill!

 In front of Clara: A Dungeness Crab Cake with Sugar Snap Pea Remoulade and an Ahi Tuna Tartare with Crushed Avocado & Radish, Ginger dressing.  In front of that, Crispy Sushi of Sea Trout, Chipotle Emulsion & Mint (The rice was fried and oh so yummy.)

I had Parmesan Crusted Organic Chicken with Artichokes, Basil & Lemon Butter
Amy’s Black Cod with Asparagus & Spiced Herbal Broth and a piece of Clara’s Salmon
 Clara’s Sesame Crusted Salmon with Sautéed Potatoes, Black Olive & Passion Fruit.
Two too cute!

 To all my Facebook and Instagram friends you watched Andrew teach me how to thrown down any big ol’ guy that tries anything!  I was laughing so hard it got in the way of my Kung Fu mastery!

 At American School of Martial Arts, Grand Master Don Baird demonstrates how the masters do it!!

 Time to bend a little rebar…anyone?

Awwwww…..Bunny, Grand Master Maria, Nikka and Bridget…..Soooo cute!
 Back to work …..I interrupted Nikka’s Photoshop class with Sweet Lynne & Kc to share a video on the 14th Factory…...

Afterwards I was treated to a delightful birthday celebration at Bar Verde!
 After a month of cleaning out the office it was time to hit the studio…..all this is from one file drawer of lessons…...

 Too much organizing….time for a joyful break with dear Lizzie at Bloomies!

 We finally found the lights for video shoots.  Hiding in one of the closets…..thought they were umbrellas!

 At Lovely Marine’s for a pre 4th, 4th of July celebration…..I arrived early before the crowd….


 Yes I had a burger and two tacos…..does that make me bad or only BIG!




 Lovely Marine and her adorable, talented sister Eliza with yours truly….
Eliza and Tyler…..are they the cutest or what!!!
On to the Reilly’s for Jim’s brother Billy’s birthday celebration.  Sandie Girl made a world class German chocolate cake!  Soooo good!

 Sandie with son Tim…..Not quite sure what all the wires were for but I love this photo….

 Time for the Parker’s to celebrate the 4th!  Kita was ready to party!

 Of course it wouldn’t be the 4th without my grilled cheese sandwiches loaded with  bacon ‘cause it’s all about the  bacon!

 Yes, we are so cute!

 I must say the fireworks from the deck were absolutely the best this year with the exception of these which were a bit too close for comfort!
Wishing you a grand, celebratory summer!

LOVE AND LAUGHTER ON A PERFECT DAY

I thought the birthday celebrating with Amy was over when we capped last Sunday's birthday treat of lunch and cake # 5 with a Mariachi group singing Happy Birthday to me….

With exquisite birthday flowers from dear Amy…..

But wait ‘till you see what’s in this beautiful Tiffany Blue box! (It’s  Le jardin privé )

Yes!  More beautiful birthday flowers that we took to the Peninsula Hotel (Amy’s idea) and placed on our table during lunch at the Roof Garden Restaurant……Here they are with cake #7!

I can hardly stand it!!!

Birthday Spa time at The Peninsula…Let’s do a selfie!

Afterwards we both fell asleep in the ‘Relaxation Room’ until after 7:00 but it was interspersed with cups of their amazing ginger tea and yummy little muffins!

 Back to the Roof Garden Restaurant for Champagne followed by the most delicious filet mignon ever!

Cake #8 but who’s counting…..

Thank you dear Amy for the most memorable of days!
May flowers continually bloom in your heart!

BIRTHDAY FUN WITH JAKEY AND NOAH PLUS GRAND MASTER DON BAIRD BIRTHDAY BASH

Sandie Girl and I love to celebrate our May birthdays together and this year was no exception.  What could possibly be more fun that playing with a two year old along with a 5 and a half nearly grown up???….(the half is important)
Off Nikka and I went on Friday to meet Sandie Girl and the Grandkiddies at Dinousar Farm on Mission in Pasadena.
Hi Jakey and Sandie Girl…..
Perhaps we should discuss Noah’s obsession with balls.  I repeat…OBSESSION!
The balls quite outweighed all dinosaurs and other assorted items although we did settle on a dinosaur later…..

Meanwhile Nikka and Jakey have major big stuff to discuss…...

Jakey settles on two dinosaur hand puppets…..Remember the ball?

….and the dinosaur……..
 Almost forgot….It’s all about me.  Well kinda... so Happy Birthday to me!

 Next stop Fair Oaks Pharmacy where I have always wanted to go.  It’s 100 years old and you step back in time when there were cute soda jerks and sweet fun stuff! Nikka and Noah while away the time coloring while we wait for our lunch!

 With a time out for Noah to attack one of Jakey’s hand puppets! (In the friendliest of ways of course!)

 Surprisingly, they make one of the most delicious Ruben sandwiches which Nikka and I shared but instead of showing you that…..Sandie Girl said I invaded these two war buddies as they enjoyed their walloping sundaes!  I merely said that I only took a photo of their treats! It was soooo cute.  Two really grown up men being twelve again!

 Jakey didn’t want any ice cream until he got his hands on Nikka’s cone…..

 Yikes!!!!!

 Finally a stop at wonderful Bristol Farms for assorted goodies…...

 Saturday evening Nikka and I were off to join in the celebrating for Grandmaster Don Baird’s birthday bash….. This was a very clever idea…must remember….

 What a precious couple…….Check out their 'American School of Martial Arts’ in Burbank on Magnolia and also the new school in Lancaster! kungfukarate.com

 You know I love these two….Randy and Bridget…...

 Maria showed us this amazing photograph she took and I’m wondering how she talked that grasshopper into posing.  Kung Fu perhaps????

 O.K. you two….break it up…..

I guess we are kinda cute after all…..
 It was so touching to know Don was sending his wish out to all of us…...

May you always have cake!