Last night our book club finally met at supreme hostess Brandy’s house – well, kind of, she was house sitting but anyhow Brandy had set the mood for our discussion of our book The Namesake by Jlumpi Lahiri. Sunflowers (straight from a page in the book), lots of candles and Indian delacacies set the mood, oh and lots of great wine. It was unanimous that we all really enjoyed this book and we discussed the cultural struggle of a family and in particular one boy with life in the United States versus India. Very interesting and highly recommended! Our book club meets again in 6 weeks and our next novel is The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls a true story sure to rivet us!

Col-Coa Cozy! Col-Coa is the name of the French Film festival that was in Los Angeles April 16-22. Col Coa stands for City of Lights/City of Angels. I was invited by my very good friend Jerome Curchod (pictured with Dominique below) who did a brilliant job of designing the brochure/website and all signage for the festival. Bravo Jerome! On this rainy Sunday afternoon (cozy!!!) we went and saw the Catherine Deneuve, Emanuelle Hubert film “Le Heros de la famille”. A pretty good family story and although a death is involved, I didn’t walk out of this film scratching my head wondering what the hell had happened as I sometimes do and don’t get me wrong, I LOVE French cinema but it is VERY different from American! Wish I’d been able to see all the other movies but will use Jerome’s program as a guide of what to look out for or put on my NetFlix list. Pics from this day! And if you’re wondering, yes that is an eleven foot long chocolate cake!!! I certainly picked the right day to go! Tres delicieux!

Many many years ago, somewhere in the early ’80′s I liked dressing up my friends and taking pictures of them. One overcast day I was at Malibu beach with my then French boyfriend Chris and his sister Beatrice. I don’t remember what exactly the bird was doing but here is the picture. And why I bother to post this is because my parents held on to this photo for such a long time, it just so happens that it stuck around longer than they did. So thanks thanks thanks big sis for making a great copy of it and mailing it to me. It’s like a great double memory for me and it seens like it’s definitely found a new home. I love seeing it on my wall! Incidentally, the brother and sister, Chris and Beatrice were the children of the famous German actor Horst Buchholz. Check him out on imdb.com

Cats should not live in parking lots. Especially ugly concrete ones that boarder nasty freeways. But this is where if found “Parker” living and as I started leaving food for him I thought about how nice it would be to get him out there and relocate him to my house on Weldon where there is lots of places for a kitty to roam around. So When my sister Lisa met Carol the Cat Rescuer the plan was formed. I borrowed a humane trap, went down to the parking lot one Saturday, baited the trap with some canned tuna and within minutes I had Parker. Off to Carol the Cat Lady and within days he had the doctors seal of health and was newly neutered (sorry Parker, it just had to be!) Although he was supposed to “adapt” to his new surroundings at Weldon by living in this cleverly constructed cage, he pulled a Houdini and escaped. But Parker is a survivor and he has already figured out where to find his food and water and I see him wandeirng around my patio at various hours of the day and night and I dare say he enjys living here at Chez Weldon! Welcome Parker!

The minute Ivy came in on her go-see I fell in love with her immediately and knew that she was destined to model for Ralph Lauren. I mean, common, look at that face! And sure enough, last week both she and another little babystyle model Myles booked and shot together! Here Ivy is in the fabulously capable hands of Brandy, a hair and make up artist who is everything and more you could want: so cool, so talented, so modern, and perfect with babies and adults!!!! Ivy is one of those little girls who practically skips into the studio all smiles and is just such a sweetheart! Nice mom too which is a real bonus! Babystyle will be seeing a lot of Ivy (and Ralph Lauren probably too!). What a little star!

My sister Lisa had the fortune to have one extremely cozy experience up in San Francisco. No words needed here, this is just plain McCozy!

I recently received a package from Switzerland full of all kinds of cozy things! This box was just packed with wonderful little trinkets from a most special lady who lives in an amazingly cozy cottage near Geneva. Candles, tea, flowers, fantastic cards and the pillow pictured here which is all about love!

Marian, my special thanks to you for always making me feel loved! I hope I do the same for you!