Monaco and France

After spring break visitors headed home from our little patch of sunny California, I had the opportunity to travel with Guy to Monaco for the International Hydrographic Conference. The international Hydrographic Organization is and intergovernmental consultative and technical organization established in 1921 to support safe navigation and protection of the marine environment. The meeting only happens every five years, so I was happy to be invited and have a little time to explore the south of France and cath up with old friends. Situated between Italy and France on the Mediterranean sea, Monaco was buzzing with stunning vistas, pricy restaurants and preparations for the upcoming Gran Prix.

Rainier III Auditorium (with the dark windows - right) was the location of the conference.

The view of the modern pool lounge from our terrace at the Novotel - a nice place to stay in the heart of Monte Carlo.  

His Serence Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco surrounded by the International Hydrographic Board. In 1921, HSH Prince Albert I of Monaco (Albert II's grand dad), a marine scientist, invited the Bureau to make permanent headquarters in the Principality of Monaco. The organization has remained in Monaco ever since, thanks to the support of the Prince's successors.

 Prince Albert II's opening remarks.

 It was very nice to catch up and see the sights with my friends and fellow hydro groupies, Anna, Kina, Malu, Sherry and Cheryl. Anna and Cheryl are old friends from the NOAA Corps time we spent in Washington, DC.

50th Wedding Anniversary

My wonderful and loving parents are celebrating their 50th Wedding Anniversary! We are hosting a seaside picnic to celebrate this summer. Look how beautiful they are on their special day! They had a traditional wedding between Christmas and New Year's in 1961. The weather at the coast is so dreary in December, we've been patiently waiting for their celebration to take place this summer. The party is upon us and we are getting it together, one piece at a time.

The Only Place

  

Summer lovin' music. Listen to the the new album on NPR here!

Met Costume Gala

Four saucy tomatas at the Met Costume Gala - Kiki shines in Rodarte, Amber (my fave) in Prada, Ginny in Monique Lhullier and Kristin wearing Stella McCartney

Chanel Iman and Tom Ford are hot in Tom Ford!

and the best for last

RiRi in Tom Ford! Wowsa!

getty photos via HuffPo

Medieval France

Saint Jeannet - part of the Route des Villages Perchés (Route of Perched Villages). 

Kind of looks like Seneca Rocks, but with a beautiful village below.

Hello Moto

 Sweet new friends and neighbors, Paul and Lisa whisked us away to Temecula for wine tasting and introduced us to Doffo Wines.

 The wine makers not only make great red wine with good cheer; they also have a serious italian motorcycle collection. Go Marcelo! My favorite part of this visit was the sexy Argentine barbecue! We need one (a new dimension to my fixation with the motorcycle diaries)!

Happy Weekend

I'm looking forward to sunshine and a lush outdoor life in my garden.

Adobe Flores, South Pasadena

photo via Wikipedia Historic American Buildings Survey

Flair

Mena and Nina

Guy and I saw The Hunger Games last week and loved it after sitting through many sad previews, including the American Pie movie. It looks awful. I am a great fan of the fabulous Mena Suvari, who is promoting this reunion disaster, and her fabulous chameleon ethos. She has a bold, playful approach to her personal style and is overall, a phenom! Mena has jumped onto the messy 80's hair bandwagon, and is channeling original MTVJ, Nina Blackwood just a little, right down to the bleach and black. Those vj's are badass, except for Alan.

Cake and Waaves

My gorgeous sister, Suz, brother, Patrick 

and nephew, Riley 

arrived for the holiday weekend with spectacular weather welcoming them into our new world. We had a lovely holiday together, except we were missing our eldest daughters, Solveig and Samantha, and mom and dad. Lots of time by the pool, long walks in the garden. Saturday we packed up for the afternoon and drove to Malibu to say hello to the ocean and have some lunch. We found Kristy's Wood Oven and Wine Bar and loved the view, the pizza, and the hefeweizen 

most worth mentioning was the coconut cream cake - we thought there may be some kind of old fashioned seven minute frosting going on

Spa La La

       

in the weeks ahead I will be checking out spas my sis and I are interested in visiting in southern california. My search will begin in Palm Springs as Coachella approaches and the kids are making their plans. The mamas need fun, too. Given the repeated Talisker pours in this video, The Parker Palm Springs seems like the logical choice.

What I Would Wear Today

photo by  BFAnyc.com via Harpers Bazaar

for a temperate early April supper! 

Leandra Medine of Man Repeller looking fabulous at a fancy Ferragamo fragrance launch. Have no idea who she's wearing or what, and it would take too much time to find out. The important thing is she looks like the ideal girl in tailored denim, frosty blazer and signature arm party!

En Total - Chloe

Gary Gershoff/Getty Images Entertainment via Harpers Bazaar

Chloe on Mr. Blasberg's best dressed this week? Hell yes! Proenza Schouler's springy pastel origami skirt and digging the top, black accessories I really like it, I do. Don't know what to say about her bobbed hair? the lo-fi version of edgy messy.

Chris Benz Spring 2012

photos via Chris Benz on style.com

Chris Benz's genius candy colored world of spring! 

Its out there and reminiscent of Kim Basinger in a 9 1/2 weeks sort of way. The collection is styled so that I'm wildly nostalgic for disarranged, sexy BIG hair.

Spring Breakers

Santa Monica Sena and Sam Spring Break 2012

photos via Seamus