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Time To Rest

Taylor & I spent the morning outside doing this....

ChiotsRun.com

Found out, she's a pretty good farmer on Face Book!

Lisa Porter

Now it's time for this....

Apelanire Towels by Yves Delorme

before we jump into all of this!

La Valencia Hotel

Giving Thanks for all of you & wishing you a restful Thanksgiving...be sure to visit my new blogger friend Susy at Chiots Run, she and her family have a wonderful place they call home.

Happy Birthday Little Blog...

Deidre Rooney

The Lisa Porter Collection turned One today!

Me & my little blog, we conceived a wonderful new plan, and because you noticed, we realized a dream delayed, experienced a new freedom, discovered a new strength, found new friends, achieved long-sought goals & reached toward new aspirations. So Happy First Birthday little blog, you aren't turning older with the year, but newer every day!

Every day here with each one of you has been such a wonderful gift, thank you!

xo Lisa

Giving Seeds of Life

Seeds of Life is a delightful farm that specializes in growing trees that can be given as a gift and planted to honor a special friend or family member.

Planting a tree is a beautiful way to honor someone!

Seeds of Life provides three different ways to gift a tree - as a seed package, a seedling or larger gift tree. Each one is grown on their farm and beautifully packaged for delivery.

An Oak suited for a special teacher comes beautifully wrapped and is the perfect way to say thank you for helping me to grow & learn.

As a symbol of wisdom, strength and endurance, this tiny oak seed comes already planted and ready to sprout into an oak tree ready to reach for the sky.

A tree symbolizing strength, endurance character is also the perfect way to remember Dad.

 

Choose an Oak or from the Seeds of Life flowering gift tree collection including Magnolia and Tulip Trees. With care, many of these trees can last centuries as a testimony to a father's enduring strength, wisdom and character.

The Gable Gift Box comes with all you need to grow an oak tree starting from a seed. Their best-selling tree kit includes: biodegradable container with saucer, nutritional soil, preconditioned seed package guaranteed to grow, detailed instructions and accompanying gift card.

 

A living memorial tree symbolizes strength and endurance as these sympathy gifts have the potential to last centuries.

Sending a guaranteed Seeds of Life gift tree is a beautiful way to honor a cherished person in your life.  Choose from the many memorial tree gifts with an accompanying personalized gift card or engraved tree tag.

Their trees are beautiful and healthy, and the professional tree staff will make each gift choice easy by selecting the correct tree for each recipient's growing region.

 

The beautiful collages & photography are compliments of Stacia Hollman for Seeds of Life!

"She is not only a dear friend but has breathed life into our product line with her incredible eye for photography and her gift of pulling it all together into these amazing collages that are on our gift cards and signage."

Surroundings

This morning, the lovely Linda Merrill from Surroundings thoughtfully sent to me,

The Honest Scrap Award!

I have already gone on a bit about myself in my post,

Honesty & Gratitude.

So I urge you all to go and visit Linda! Not only is she a sophisticated designer, smart-as-they-get businesswoman & blogger, she is one of the most gracious gals around. Many of you may know her as one of the trio at The Skirted Roundtable, but did you know that she also plays the flute! She sure does, so turn up the volume and enjoy some time over at Surroundings with the warm & friendly Linda Merrill. And thank you again Linda for thinking of me!

I have met many wonderful women since I started blogging, so in the spirit of giving, here are my nominations for the Honest Scrap Award, that I know you will enjoy getting to know!

Renae Moore Designs

Lipstick At The Mailbox

Farmhouse Musings

Bees & Fleur de Lis

My Sparrow Stylish Responsibility

Na-Da Farm Life with Anne Marie

Dumbwittellher

Lime in the Coconut

Thank You Williams-Sonoma

I have been preparing Thanksgiving dinner for my family for the last 15 years. You know who taught me how...this gentleman.

Chuck Williams

I was with Williams-Sonoma for many wonderful years , the last few as a special events coordinator in Southern California at South Coast Plaza. During that time, I had the privilege of getting to know Chuck Williams.

  

Sitting with him in the stock room prior to a book signing event for his Complete Entertaining Cookbook, we discussed  family, cooking & traditions.  We agreed that Thanksgiving has always been most memorable with good friends & good food lovingly prepared and served in classic Williams-Sonoma style!

This year, Mr. Williams and his wonderful "foodies" at Williams-Sonoma have provided you with a Thanksgiving Menu Booklet!  Download this step by step brochure full of recipes, and a timeline for planning ahead!

 

The prospect of hosting a Thanksgiving celebration can be daunting! It is, after all, traditionally a big meal with many elements to manage, including shopping.

   

They have even gone ahead & made your grocery list!  I wonder if they deliver?

A well stocked pantry is a must to preparing a wonderful feast with ease. Many of these items are year round staples in my pantry.  Preparing any meal with Williams-Sonoma specialty foods saves time in the kitchen and preserves the authentic homemade flavors we love.

It also helps to have the right tools! My son will tell you that I do have a pretty nifty kitchen drawer filled with fantabulous tools & gadgets!   His favorite is my kitchen torch!  The brochure provides tips & a tool list too!

Whether preparing handed-down favorites or creating a new tradition of your own, Williams-Sonoma can help. If your meal is genuine and satisfying, you and your family and guests will have a memorable occasion.

In our home, when we come together with family and friends to express, through words, laughter and the pleasures of the table, how grateful we are to have one another, that is our perfect Thanksgiving.

 

Coming Soon!

51,000,000. That’s a lot of women.

Visit the Fab Over Fifty Blog!

Visual Treats

 

Goodies from Charlotte Moss

available at Halcyon Days Online

A Place for Everything

A place for everything & everything in it’s place!

Biagre

With my collection of straw hats, this would be the perfect solution!

Veranda

However, that’s just not the way it is around here. I wish!

I dream about having all the closets in my house clean & organized.

Good luck Lisa!

I did go without closet doors in the master for a year. That kept things orderly. Now I have very pretty doors that swing open to reveal full-length mirrors and even nice little hooks like these.

Martha Stewart

This does not mean that I have mastered the space. It just means that what’s going on in there is behind closed doors & what happens in the closet stays in the closet!

Honestly, the MR. would be happy with this.

Brie Williams

Which would pretty much be a dream come true. MR. could have a valet and I could have this!

Dream Storage

Consider the amenities...pullout shelves for folded items, cubbies ample room for handbags.

Dream Storage

Tilted shoe racks with a bench nearby, drawers in a variety of widths, and hanging racks for blouses, suits, and evening gowns. Oh & a window for natural light & fresh flowers!

Dream Storage

If I had to share, I would need to go into organization overload for you know who.

There is literally a place for everything in this highly organized closet. Every shirt has it’s own compartment. Shawls are displayed on poles. Shoes are dust-free and neatly labeled in clear boxes.

House Beautiful

Lined drawers in Hermés orange moiré & pegs to hang Hermés bags. How divine!

House Beautiful

Wood stained in a deep walnut sets the mood in this handsome space. They must be newlyweds who still enjoy getting dressed & undressed together. This appears to be a gentleman’s closet & she doesn’t mind a bit!

Better Homes & Gardens

Speaking of ties....this fellow has one for every occasion.

Roland Bello

She definitely has stuff too.... I wonder if she has a limit on the amount of items she buys in order to stay neatly in those spaces!

Annie Schlechter

I have had to get very creative at times depending on where we lived & how many there were of us. What I have found is that you don’t need to add a wing or build new storage.

Sandra Lane

You just need to get busy! Once you start arranging by shape or color or invest in some great old cabinets or baskets, what was once clutter can become a collection!

Anders Gramer

So when you’re drooling over the latest & greatest that life has to offer...this month, try to remember, perfection leaves little room for improvement!

A Sophie Dahy Giveaway!

Do you love flowers as much as I do?

Long time friends, Jeanne Hyatt & Linda Raulston do!

They are the warm & friendly women behind the fabulous

Sophie Dahy Designs,

For breathtaking faux floral arrangements, made of only the finest materials,

visit

By Heart & By Hand

Suzan Hoffman Zahedi has been collecting emotions, metal, seeds, pods, paper, textures and words since she was 11. Writing poetry, painting t-shirts, and sewing were all part of her life. At age 15, she found a way to express her life when her father taught her the art of jewelry making in their New York home studio.

 

“Jewelry, to me, is an art that connects us to each other. We pass on special pieces to our children and grandchildren and give to our friends as symbols of love and affection---all which tell a story.”

 

In 1996, Suzan  was established as a distinctive company whose mission goes far beyond selling jewelry.

Today, in Suzan’s Southern California Studio, each piece of gold and silver jewelry is exquisitely hand crafted, incorporating Tahitian pearls, antique and handmade chains, and ancient beads and coins.

 

Suzan is inspired by the look and feel of old things, the smooth and worn texture from years of being touched and used.

Cocoon nugget on brown date beads, 600 AD coins on turquoise.

  

These reclaimed treasures are paired with distinctive handmade silver and gold crosses, hearts, book pages, chains, toggles and clasps created with signature techniques that give her jewelry the beautiful luster and patina of being worn.

18K yellow gold medallion bracelet, 14K yellow gold hammered cross on 5 mm fresh water pearls.

  

“Most importantly, creating and showing my jewelry connects me to women, young and old, and heals the hole left in my heart from losing my mother. I love knowing who wears my pieces; so many are one-of-a-kind.”

Suzan also has a passion for giving, teaching and mentoring and donates from each sale to organizations helping the restoration of women and children surviving the trauma of abuse and neglect.

 

Sterling silver cross on bone beads, Verse bracelet with an old New Guinea shell.

  

In her in-studio gallery, Studio SUZAN, customers and their families can now come to create and actually participate in making heirloom jewelry pieces together as a family.

          

“By providing opportunity for people to experience their own God given gifts and make something beautiful using their hands, self-discovery happens and ownership can take place.”

“My life is a story in the making, and I believe the same for my customers, family, and friends. This is reflected in my business philosophy and the story continues…” Suzan

A special “Thank You” to Jennifer Miller, a friend of The Lisa Porter Collection, for stopping by this week and introducing me to your very dear friend Suzan & her lovely story!

All art & photos graciously provided by Suzan Hoffman Zahedi and Barnet Photography

The Pink Lady

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month

I thought I would take you to one of my all time favorite places. The color alone makes this the perfect place to spend an afternoon with girlfriends or a weekend with someone special.

Welcome to La Valencia!

Overlooking the Pacific since 1926, La Valencia is a charming California boutique hotel situated in the picturesque beachfront town of La Jolla. A definitive seaside resort community, La Jolla has some of the most beautiful cliffside neighborhoods in America.

This is the quintessential hotel of La Jolla. Known as the “Jewel of La Jolla,” the beautiful 1920’s Spanish-style 11-story pink hotel is situated atop La Jolla Cove.  Just steps from miles of stunning coastline, La Valencia is a perfect blend of location and recreation.

The hotel, often called “The Pink Lady”, has Mediterranean inspired architecture and décor, including beautiful courtyards, hand painted murals and exquisite Spanish mosaics that evoke old-world charm.

La Sala, the "Living Room" of the La Valencia, offers a relaxed atmosphere and sweeping views of the Pacific. Located just off the main lobby of the hotel, La Sala features overstuffed couches and chairs, Spanish Mosaics, and a picture window overlooking the La Jolla cove.

 

Offering a tradition of elegance and unparallel service, it is also known for it’s perfectly appointed accommodations.

The 113 luxury guest rooms, suites and Ocean Villas are decorated using warm tropical hues.

 

Luxurious textiles, custom furnishings and stunning views of the Pacific ocean exude classic California style.

The hotel is also known for its fine and casual dining.  My favorite place for desert or a glass of wine with old friends is out on the ocean view terrace.

 

While the impressive ocean views and tradition of outstanding service make La Valencia's restaurants unique, the cuisine is what sets them apart.

The Mediterranean Room offers a "California Fresh" menu, with an emphasis on local seafood as well as fresh seasonal produce.

In addition to the a la carte menu, a 5-course "tasting" menu is available, paired with wines hand selected by the sommelier.

 

The Sky Room wine list features over 1,000 wines and has consistently received the honor "Best of Award of Excellence" by the Wine Spectator.

The restaurant features Le Verre de Vin, a state of the art preservation system that ensures that each glass of wine tastes as fresh as the moment it was opened, and allows the sommelier to offer exceptional wines by the glass.

  

La Valencia's restaurants deliver! Receiving accolades on both the local and national level, La Valencia is a dining destination for both vacationing travelers and local La Jolla residents.

La Valencia's idyllic setting, combined with the sun's healing rays, the rhythm of the ocean waves, and the scented breeze, evokes a sense of serenity and well being at the Spa.

 

It’s also ideal for lovers of the outdoors. Spend your day sunning poolside, or on the white sandy beaches.

Kayak the calm waters of La Jolla Cove, or sign yourself up for surfing lessons with Surf Diva!

Surf Diva Surf School, has enjoyed its reputation as the world's #1 surf school for women for over 12 years!

My cousin’s daughter, Tori, has a standing summer job at Surf Diva where they even provide students with snacks between sets!

La Jolla also offers world-class museums, galleries, and boutiques. Upscale shops line the streets of La Jolla’s downtown area, all within walking distance to La Valencia.

 

And not to forget the guys, they might enjoy 18 holes at the world-famous Torrey Pines Golf Course! Championship golf with jaw-dropping views of the Pacific Ocean, it’s the site of the Buick Invitational each year and the 2008 U.S. Open.

Enjoy your stay!

 

If you go....

Be sure to visit a couple more of our favorites.

Brockton Villa for breakfast!

The Brockton Villa is a charming La Jolla beach cottage, circa 1894, which was converted into a restaurant in 1990.

You have to try the thick-cut-orange-flavored-soufflé-like version of French toast that they dubbed "Coast Toast."

 

And for spectacular sandwiches & homemade cookies to go, it’s always the Cheese Shop!  The shop’s long history in La Jolla Shores has seen many customers grow from kids into parents.

P.S. Call your order in to beat the lunch crowd.