Shopping in Santa Barbara!!!!

First, a few more shots of our hotel, the Encina Lodge by Best Western. It's in a fairly lush and green garden type setting. The drought is well publicized and the hotel takes every possible conservation precaution.

      Along with the pool, there is a separate whirlpool/hot tub. Here is the path leading to it.

                                   It has a nice Mexican mural across the back wall.

Next to that is the fitness center. It's small and rudimentary, but it has 3 machines, a weight bench and weights, a TV, and water and towels. Everything you need and want. I haven't used it - we have been walking a lot.

Finally, the pool. On Saturday evening, lots of people were there. There is a restaurant, the Live Oak, that serves poolside, room service, and the dining room.

Now, the tease. Onto the shopping!!! Other than the Paloma Picasso belt that I bought in Carpinteria, I only bought things at two stores. By the way the PP belt retails for $45 on Etsy, and I paid $4.20.

So the first store I made a purchase at was called Jessica Fine Consignment. I got a blouse made by Express Portofino. I paid $18. On the website, the paisley blouse sells for $59.

I also got a pair of Dollhouse wedges. The closest comparison I could find was at Charlotte Russe, a teenager store, and they were $29.99. I don't care, I like them.I paid $12.

The other store was a charity enterprise called Unity Shoppes. I asked the salesgirl and she said that it's a local charity that helps distressed families with food and shelter. They had an impressive inventory of really nice stuff, and the prices were incredible. I always find that shops associated with a charity have the best donations.

I got quite a few items there. First is a purse. I can't find a similar item for comparison on the Internet, but this is a sweet ethnic piece and was only $5.

Then I got a knit sheath dress made by Shelby and Palmer. The comparison price is $65, although it appears that they are no longer in business. This dress is a thick double knit with an orange yoke, a black hem, and a reptile body. I paid $10.

Also for $10, there was this chiffon Patra suit. It has a gorgeous flowy tunic, with an embellished neckline. It came with a skirt, which will need a lot of alterations for me to wear.

They are sold at Nordstrom and Macy's, and retail fro $208. It's very classy and elegant.


Next, are the two finds of the day!!! First, I  paid $5 for this heavy polyester jersey knit dress by Donna Morgan. It has ruching on the side, and a faux tie belt.

The retail for this is $118. I can't wait to wear this one. The silhouette is marvelous.


Finally, I also paid $5 for this BCBG MAx Azria dress. It retails for $398 !!!!!

It has a fitted skirt made of woven material and a thin navy belt.

The top is green polyester satin charmeuse, and is has a pussy bow neckline with cold shoulders.

I am happy it's polyester. It feels like silk, but poly is so much more easy to care for.

Well, tomorrow we are off to Isla Vista and then Montecito. Stay tuned for more shenanigans. I will leave you with a picture of me in front of the finch cage.

PS. The squinty pig-like eyes are due to the hour, the lack of makeup, and a caffiene deficiency. Be kind, my friends. Bye now!!!!

Summertime in Summerland

On Friday morning, we began our northward trek. The destination was Santa Barbara, California, 111 miles north of Huntington Beach. We left at 10:30 AM. By 12:15 or so, we hit a little traffic backup. so we pulled off in Carpinteria, a beautiful seaside town. Several years ago, Doc, Delila and I had a little trip up to Cambria to look at some property, and we stopped for the night in Carpineteria, and loved its charm.

We parked and walked to the State Beach. On the way, we passed this giant Torrey Pine tree.

This is the famous Wardholme Torrey Pine, which was planted in 1888. I gave him some luvin'.

Then we walked down Linden Avenue to the Carpinteria State Beach. We stopped for lunch at The Spot. This is a hamburger stand that we always eat at when passing through the town.

Here I am, carrying our order from the takeaway window:

I had a chili-cheese dog with mustard and onions, and Doc had a double bacon cheeseburger. After that, we walked along the beach and stopped in a couple of shops. I found a Paloma Picasso belt, and Doc found an old school transistor radio.

                                                    Here I am, at the State Beach.

Then we went abput 10 minutes north to Summerland, California. We looked in a few antique shops, which were very high end and mostly exquisite furniture. We saw a dining table made entirely of malachite. Then we went to a folk art gallery called Just Folk.

They specialize in art made by the disabled, mentally deranged, and incarcerated. The large painting in the first picture (5 x 7 ft) was priced at $60,000. I didn't get why it was so much, but Doc said maybe we just don't understand the art behind it. In the second picture, I stood next to the Venus of Willendorfish statue, and when I raised my arms, my shorts hiked up and I looked just like her. HAHAHAHAHa. Classic.

  Then I stood next to a papier mache burro. I had a burro, George, once, and he sure was cute.

After that, we went the last 5 miles and checked in to our hotel, the Encina Lodge, a Best Western property. It has a giant cage of finches. They are so cute and there is fruit and lettuce placed out for them to eat.

                            That is really a sweet little touch. We also got bathrobes to use.

There is also a nice shaded pool with handicapped access here. It's a nice hotel - very California Spanish style. The room is lovely. Here is a picture of the little garden outside our room. I didn't take one of the pool, because there were people using it, and they should have their privacy.

On Saturday, we got up and took Lyft down to Stearns Wharf. It only cost $1.50. Lyft is awesome. Here is the wharf, in the distance.

                                        Here I am, lounging on the fence at the wharf.

You can see the mountains of Santa Barbara in the background. Ojai is up there - there is a famous spa in the Ojai Valley Inn. People were fishing and enjoying themselves on the wharf. Parking is free.

           Here's a picture of me, striding to the restaurant part of the wharf, ready for action.

We ate lunch at the Breakwater Restaurant. I started with a lemonade cocktail with mango lemonade vodka and mint in it. It was deelish.

Then we had a wedge salad, fried calamari, and fish and chips. The calamari was steaks, which I like better than rings and tentacles, but steaks are hard to find. The wedge came with extra bleu cheese crumbles. It was all mouth wateringly yummy.

Then we walked back up the wharf to State Street, the shopping and action hub of Santa Barbara. I played a game on the way.

My quarter is at 11 o'clock in the circle that says Fantastic. I feel that this is accurate :).

                   Then we shopped and strolled for a few hours. Here I am, in Antique Alley.

Stay tuned for Part 2 - Shopping in Santa Barbara. I'll show you my finds. We are going to Isla Vista (home of UCSB) and Montecito (home of Oprah Winfrey) tomorrow. More to come !!!

Headin' Down the Home Stretch

After today, i have four glorious days off, and I am headed up to Santa Barbara for some R&R. Santa Barbara is about 2 hours north of Huntington Beach. I have been there quite a few times, but not for about 7 or 8 years. The last time we went, we brought Delila with us, and it seemed like she had the best time of her 15 years on the planet. This time, we are flying solo.

So what did I wear to finish the short week off?

The linen jacket is by Yansi Fugel, the panst are from Express, and the long embellished T shirt is by Romeo and Juliet Couture. Here's a better look at the safari details of the jacket.

Since the T shirt is embellished with hematite bugle beads, I wore a hematite necklace.

                            I wore my tall Mossimo wedges, since the pants are pretty long.

On my left hand, my seraphinite bracelet from Southwest Indian Foundation and a wedding set.

On my right hand, my mabe pearl ring and a bracelet of larimar, citrine, pearl, and aurora borealis.

I am excited about our trip. I have had long weekends off during the summer, but we had a lot of home repair stuff to do. I haven't been out of town for a couple of months.

Doc brought me sunflowers yesterday. He said that they are his favorite flower. I reminded him that sunflowers were the first flowers he ever gave me, many moons ago, on our second date.

All that's left is the linking. First, Alice is having Throwback Thursday at www.happinessatmidlfe.com. Next, Nicole from www.highlatitudestyle.com is having Top of THe World Style. And last, Tara at www.mixmatchfashion.com is having Summer Style. Have a great weekend, and stay tuned for the trip pictures!!!

Silver Doesm't Always Mean Second Place

A perfect example of this is today's outfit:

I love this outfit, even though it didn't photograph well. I am wearing a satin charmeuse tunic from Dress Barn, and grey sharkskin cigarette pants from Sun Moon Star. Here's a better look at this comfy, fabulous, polyester (machine wash) tunic with my selfie stick.

                               I layered two costume necklaces, one short and one long.

                The longer one has silver links, white enamel links, and reptile print links.

Only two rings today - no bracelets needed. On the left, a mabe pearl in a wide silver band, and on the right, a South Sea Pearl.

                                And to finish the look, my grey Nine West strappy shoes.

And that's all, folks !!! So let's link with our usual Wednesday beauties. First, Tameka at www.pastriespumpsandpi.blogspot.com has Who's Wearing What Wednesday. Then, Liz at www.shoppingmycloset.com has Style Me Wednesday. And last, Lindsey from www.thepleatedpoppy.com has What I Wore. Thanks for stopping, and have a great day!!!1