CHRISTMAS TRIP TO THE O.C.

Since October, I've traveled to New York, Washington, DC, Savannah, Charleston, and Orange County.  The trips were terrific and while I haven't posted about those trips, I'm posting the most recent trip to California now because every picture is so Christmasy (is that a word?) that I thought you might get some design inspiration from Roger's Gardens and Disneyland.

Roger's Gardens is a destination in itself.  My friend Pam thinks admission should be charged (shhhh on that idea) because it is so fabulous.  Always impeccably decorated, even the bedding plants are laid out in style.

          Love this lady.  The wreath elegantly placed on her shoulders looks as dressy as a fur collar.

If I had a real tree, this would be it.  I believe it's a Silver Tip and I love all that space between branches. Ornaments could dangle away and really show off for Christmas.

This tablescape is gorgeous.  The all white tree looks smashing against the persimmon-colored berries.

                                    Love the combining of various shades of green and brown.

                                      Again, white branches really make the other colors pop.

                                              Santa are all spiffed-up standing in a row.

       Green apples are always a favorite of mine.  The apples works with any seasonal decor (okay,         maybe not Halloween).

     The center of this wreath is sharply cut twigs.  Gorgeous brown velvet bow ripples along the sides.

This is three different pieces put together - a wood pedestal, a glass vase stuffed with red roses, and a lantern sitting atop.

                                           Can you tell I love anything with that bright green?

                                                                         Finally, a bit of red.

The permanent train station is also decked out for Christmas.  If I had't been traveling by plane, I would have purchased several of those little chartreuse spruce trees to bring home.

Now, believe it or not, the above picture is taken at Disneyland.  Yes!  Isn't it a clever way to grow and display herbs and salad greens?  And wouldn't any one of those pots make a great Christmas gift?  I think so.

                                                    Sleeping Beauty Castle all decked out.

My family (and friend, Miss Jennifer) and I had a super time roaming around Roger's Gardens.  And December isn't December without our family's annual pilgrimage to Disneyland. Hope you picked up some design ideas from the pics above!

ANNUAL CALIFORNIA GIRLS' TRIP 2009

Yea! It's that time of year again when my sisters, Tammy and Lori, and Ellie my niece, and I head over to California to spend a few days in Orange County. Basically, this posting is paying homage to the beloved Roger's Gardens.

Roger's Gardens is a delight anytime of the year but at Christmas it is ethereal. I should have brought along a video camera to capture the feeling for you and then post it on YouTube. But I didn't. So these photos will have to do.
Maybe a few of these vignettes will spur your imagination to do something new with your Christmas decorations this year. I love to be a copy cat!

Wouldn't it be pretty to gather up your white and clear glass items and fill them with flower for a centerpiece? It wouldn't need to cost anything, just using what you have and maybe a few clippings from your garden.

The above picture was full of sparkles but my camera didn't catch them. I loved the white, gray, and glitter.

This fun wreath looks bigger than it is. I bought it for my front door but it is too small. If I layer it over another pine wreath I am hoping it will fill the space better.

This darling little tree caught my eye. I love the red stand.

See that pretty white polka dot and red cake platter on the right side of the pic? Shhhh, I bought it for one of my sisters. The one who likes red. Don't tell.

Santas, santas everywhere. Are there ever enough? My sister, Tammy, doesn't think so.

I love this guy above. Very regal in his fur trimmed robe with his crown. I would have loved to bring him home.



Another gorgeous Santa.

Outside at night everything is lit up. The trees are all dressed up with white lights. If you can visit at night you will love it even more. All bundled up roaming around the gorgeously lit grounds.


Of course our annual trip includes one or two days at Disneyland! It was very cold. We stayed in jackets, gloves, and scarves all day and we loved it. But, of course, we are from Arizona.

Picture below: Pommes Frites. Cafe Orleans at Disneyland.

Best fries at Disneyland--garlic, parmesan cheee, and parsley sprinkled on top served with a cajun sauce. Yum. Really the only food worth taking a photo of at Disneyland. If I were to become CEO of Disneyland the first thing I would do is to improve the taste of the food. There is really no excuse for the abysmal food the Park offers.


But we don't go to Disneyland for the food. We go for the atmosphere, the memories of spending a few day there every summer, and just being together plotting which ride we will go on next and who will control the lever for the Dumbo ride!

ANNUAL CALIFORNIA GIRLS' TRIP

For a few years now my two sisters, niece, and I travel to Disneyland in December. We take a Monday morning flight to Orange County, pick up our rental car and head to Roger's Gardens, have lunch at Fashion Island, and then check-in to the Fairfield Inn across the street from Disneyland and walk over to Downtown Disney. We spend the next two days at Disneyland (and a bit of time at California Adventure Park) and fly home Wednesday night. We always have a blast.

Roger's Gardens is one of my favorite places to visit. My friends never completely understand why Roger's is worth a stop until I take them there. Then they get it! It is a feast for the eyes. Gorgeous plants and flower arrangements everywhere. Beautiful items for your home and garden. Ideas galore. From the moment you walk into the little alcove entrance you see three or four items that would be perfect in your home.

After walking through the many indoor rooms of tantalizing home decor you walk outside to the beautiful landscaped outdoor rooms. Hydrangeas, ivy topiaries, amaryllis, and other stunning flowers are tucked into wreaths, pots, and along walkways. You begin to convince yourself that maybe with the proper care and protection you too could grow these gorgeous plants in the Arizona heat.

Then, as you breath in the humidified air, you snap back to reality and realize the only way a hydrangea will survive in your yard is if it is silk--and that would be just plain tacky. So, while I never buy anything that is actually growing, I do always leave with something for my home. This time it was two little green french pots--don't know where I will put them but they are so pretty. And my sister Lori found two flower arrangements for her family room so she left quite satisfied.

Then on to Disneyland where the entire park is dressed-up for Christmas. We love going in December. Everything at Disneyland is extra festive. And the crowds are not bad.

So we hit the rides and completely enjoy ourselves without any plan of action. No need for a fast pass since the wait is less than 10 minutes, if that.

We leave Disneyland late in the afternoon, drive 15 minutes to the airport and return home where, for once, it is usually colder than the place we left! Yeah!

And we lived happily ever after......I wish!