Weekend: DC Tweed Ride 2010

There were many a dandy and quaintrelle on the streets of DC this Sunday afternoon, including myself. We had so much fun dressing up and riding from Lincoln Park to Stroga in Adams Morgan.

Many ladies had on high heels and everyone was dressed to the nines. I will be expanding my tweed collection in preparation for next year and also looking for some seersucker for the summer ride. Ride info here on Dandies & Quaintrelles: Redemption through Style.

photo credit: grey suit by maxedaperture; quaintrelles ride in heels by Oisercage

Weekend: Bike to Brunch at The Pearl Hotel

My very last bike to brunch at the Pearl Hotel was in August. The first Sunday of every month The Pearl Hotel has a special deal - if you bike there for bunch, their brunch special runs you only $10 and includes bottomless mimosas and one of their delicious brunch entrees.

The food at The Pearl is fantastic and I've previously written about the food here and bunch here. Catch September's bike to brunch this Sunday, September 5th. If I was in San Diego I would be there!

photo credit: Cayenne 08.01.10

Weekend: San Diego Zoo Sunset

We have season passes to the San Diego Zoo and realized that we should have been using them more. With a season pass we can just bop over there for an hour or less to take a peek at the animals and views from the aerial tram.

This sunset was taken from the zoo parking lot and the silhouetted palm trees are quintessential southern California. I think I'm going to miss this strange place with no seasons...

photo credit: Cayenne 07.31.10

Weekend: Summer Sunset

One of the things I'm going to miss the most about San Diego are the sunsets. Our grey, mist-filled summer has made for some dreamy sunsets along the coast.

I still do wish the water would warm up enough for me to partake in one last boogie boarding season.

photo credit: Cayenne 08.01.10

Up, up, and away...

I'm up at the crack of dawn this morning to drive out to Temecula, CA, for a hot air balloon ride with TEB. Today is also our 4 year anniversary, though we did not intentionally schedule the hot air balloon ride with that in mind. Happy coincidence!

photo credit: Up by VivaLaQueen

Weekend: Beach Time

Last weekend we were able to get in some beach time; I lounged reading and TEB went out surfing. I think it was our only two days of summer this year as we are now back to the grey and misty weather.

photo credit: Photos were taken with my new iphone4 using the ShakeItPhoto app. Having never owned a smartphone before, getting the phone set up contributed to me feeling overwhelmed. Things are on the upswing.

Weekend: Overwhelmed

I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed at the moment. Time for a little Cayenne + Carob summer hiatus.

photo credit: Going UP! by just.jane and The perfect plunge by Fradzly @ Shutterhack

Weekend: Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July!

photo credit: Berry Pop by MizMagee

Wake-up: Summer + Winter Stripes

It would have been great to have a cozy, lazy morning in my bed, but alas today is Monday. I actually also wish that my bed looked like this with the horizontal stripes of the DwellStudio Draper stripe ash sheet set.

After much debate I ordered the West Elm version, stripe print sheet set in white/feather gray. With shipping and tax the knock-off was half the price.

I have been admiring Making it Lovely's new bedroom makeover with her newly painted walls (color "zinc"), West Elm striped sheets, and Crate and Barrel Abigail green paisley duvet cover (on sale right now).

I think the paisley works with the wide stripes because the paisley is a much smaller print so it offsets the dramatic stripes. I think it is going to work perfectly with my Ph.D. quilt that my mother made.

While on a quest for striped sheets I also considered the pureDKNY pure comfort sheets in thunder and custom made linen sheets from LinenMe. I have used both of these brands and they have held up perfectly after 2+ years of use.

photo credit: DwellStudio Draper Duvet Set, see website; Making it Lovely's bedroom now and read more about the transformation here

Weekend: Bug Invasion

Anyone know what kind of bugs have invaded our cute succulent? This is actually one of our favorite little porch plants and we hope it is going to survive. I thought it had lady bug eggs on its flowering stems, and now that they have hatched the coloring definitely means NOT lady bugs.

Sorry for the creepy, crawly pictures. Maybe our peaceful jasmine buds and blooms will calm your mind. :-)

photo credit: Cayenne 05.29.10

Congratulations: College Graduation

Congratulations to my sister, SDC, who graduated from college today! She has worked very hard through her twenties to raise her daughter, work a full time job, and go to college. I could not be prouder of her accomplishments.

photo credit: My sister's Graduation Day by Lowry Lou

Washington, DC: The National Mall

I was fortunately enough to take TWO trips to DC recently. In March, the weather was spring-like with crisp air, a few blooms, and blue skies. Oh I was happy to see some blue sky after all the rain in Juneau, AK.

My friend LMH was nice enough to host me for a few days and we ran around the National Mall the morning before I had to jump on the plane. You can see a peak at the Capitol Building, the National Sculpture Garden, and the National Archives building.
I was particularly enamored by this very "real-looking" metal tree sculpture. It was almost as though the artist has dipped a tree in metal.

photo credit: Cayenne 03.06.10

Weekend: Unpacking and organizing

Wow, it has been ages since I have posted to this little blog. These last two weeks flew by and during that time I was mostly in transit: 1 week in DC, 4 days in Juneau, 4 days in Anchorage, and 4 days in Fairbanks, Alaska.

Now I am settling back into life in San Diego. I managed take an entire week to unpack and my chameleon room is not nearly as organized as I would like it to be.

Next week I will share with you a little more about my recent trips to DC. Till then have a great weekend!

photo credit: I cleaned by room today by ClickFlashPhotos/Nicki Varkevisser

Weekend: Happy May Day

Happy May Day and happy birthday to my niece MRC who turns 7 today. Someday I hope to be in Alaska for her birthday so that I can plan a maypole party. Martha Stewart has 3 dances and instructions for making the maypole and flower cones.

Barbar's Pole

Single Braid

Spider's Web

Read about how May Day is celebrated around the world here.

photo credit: mayday, mayday by Bryan Ledgard

Weekend: In Transit from DC

After spending a week in DC, I am en route to Juneau on this fine Saturday. The early morning flight really did me in and I am anxiously awaiting my circuitous flight to Juneau, via Ketchikan and Sitka. I am happy to be able to get home in just one day.

photo credit: sometimes I dream... by Katelyn Vonfeldt

Weekend: Spring Equinox...

Happy vernal or spring equinox! Definitely not spring in Juneau yet but these pictures are from my 16 hour layover in Seattle a few weekends ago.

photo credit: TEB 03.07.10

Weekend: Snowed In...

It is still snowing! Friday no planes flew in or out of Juneau - might be another one of those days today.

Weekend: Morning Sunshine

The weekend has mostly been a working weekend - the good is that an early morning spinning class got me up in time to see sunshine on the Douglas Island mountains.

photo credit: CA 02.13.10

Weekend: Girl with the Yellow Rubber Boots

You know your adjusting to living in Juneau when you wear your rubber boots even if it is NOT raining. :-) Thanks be to my friend EM who convinced me that I needed these yellow beauties four days before I jumped on a plane to Juneau, AK.

photo credit: Cayenne 01.31.10

Weekend: Here comes the sun...

We finally saw the sun today!

photo credit: Cayenne 01.23.10, view from living room window