Pete Wiggins on Ellen!!!

You have to click here to see a dang funny segment from the Ellen DeGeneres show.

Hilarious!!!

Catalina Island

Today is my 21st wedding anniversary!

It seems appropriate to blog about Catalina Island! We spent a portion of our honeymoon on Catalina Island and fell in love with this fun, relaxing place. Actually, we had both been there before... separately... as teenagers. Going together was fun... and we've had the good fortune of going back a couple of times since our honeymoon!

We take the Catalina Flyer (a large passenger catamaran) from Newport Beach. The hotel that we stayed at 21 years ago has probably been demolished... it was old and blah. But since then we've stayed at the St. Lauren and loved it!

Interesting... I just went online to get the link to the St. Lauren. I FOUND the hotel from 21 years ago. It is called the Hotel Atwater... and it is still open! It was built in 1920 and looks like it has benefited from some updating. Wouldn't that be fun to go back with my husband and stay there??? I'm so sentimental that way!!

I highly recommend a weekend, or even a day, spent on Catalina Island. It is relaxing and offers unique shops and places to eat!

National Lasagna Day

Today is National Lasagna Day. Celebrate at The Old Spaghetti Factory... locations all over the place!!

They have pretty great lasagna!

The Getty Villa - Malibu

The Getty Villa - Malibu

I absolutely love museums! Love them!!!

One word about the Getty Villa - OUTRAGEOUSLYBREATHTAKING!!!!

Click here for more info.

Life is Good

I love "Life is Good" products! I love their shirts, their cups, their balls, their magnets, their decals... I love it all! Their motto is "Do what you like. Like what you do." I love that message!!

Click here for more information about LIG products. Read their story too... pretty amazing!!

I just bought a shirt for one of my daughters with this cute cupcake design on it! I love it!

Melissa and Doug Craft Kits

Melissa and Doug toys and puzzles have long been favorites of mine. I love their durability... and the quality of the materials that they use.

I've recently discovered their craft kits. What fun!!! You can find their products at their website, Melissa and Doug. They usually have a good selection of products on sale... or are offering a discount on qualifying orders.

I've also found, on occasion, their puzzles at T.J.Maxx.

Make your own Puzzle Kit - $7

Decorate your own Whiteboard Kit - $13

Real "Paper" Plates

I LOVE these plates! And if I had my dream "closet" (you know, the one that is the size of a single car garage stall) where I could put all my entertaining wants and needs, I would buy a set of these! And I would have a back-to-school party... for all my friends... a brunch, right after we dropped off the kids to their first day of school.

Click here for more information about these plates, cups, glasses, etc.

Pocket Posh Puzzle Books

I LOVE these little books! I want one for my purse... plus, I think they would be a perfect gift for the puzzle lovers that I know! Each book is just 4"x6" and only $8! How cute are those covers??? I love them!!

Click here for more information.

The Apple Pan, Los Angeles

10801 W Pico Blvd.

Open since 1947, the Apple Pan in Los Angeles is reported to be the best hamburger in all of California! It is on my to-do list for a future trip to LA. As a matter of fact... I have a California Girls' Weekend planned in just a couple of weeks... wonder if I can talk the girls into giving it a try???

Purex 3 in 1

I just discovered this new product!! I'll be honest... the reason I tried them was that I had a great coupon!! But I quite like them.

Now, I do way too much laundry to use these with every load, but I love them for travelling. They are perfect.

I tried them in a hot wash with bath towels, a cold wash with jeans and a warm wash with delicates. All three were great! Clean, no static! (I bought the "Pure" scent and was pleased with the lack of a perfume scent!)

Each sheet comes complete with a load's worth of detergent, fabric softener and anti-static.

A package includes 20 sheets, plus a handy dispenser for the sheets. Refill packages are also available with 24 sheets. Each package costs around $6.50.

Monkey Business Bungee Jumper

My kids would go nuts for this toy! It is a Monkey Business Bungee Jumper and is billed as a safer and lighter poto stick.

$13 at amazon.com.

Happy 4th of July

God Bless America

Harry Barker - Dog Toys

My favorite website for toys to spoil my puppy is Harry Barker. Get it??? Harry Barker? Because every dog is a hairy barker. Hee hee.

These two different rope toys are very reasonably priced. Starting at $3 each it's fun to pick out an assortment of new toys!

Click here for the interesting story of how Harry Barker got started.

Sparkling Fruity Punch

1 64 oz. bottle pomegranate-cherry juice or cranberry juice cocktail
1 quart strawberries, hulled and quartered
1 pint EACH blueberries and raspberries
1 navel orange, thinly sliced
1 small cucumber
2 liters sparkling water
Ice cubes

In a large pitcher, combine juice with berries and orange slices. Chill for 1 hour.

To serve, peel cucumber and cut lengthwise in half. Remove seeds and cut into thin slices. Stir cucumber slices and sparkling water into juice mixture. Serve over ice.

Recipe from Woman's Day.