Sunday, March 24, 2013

Sunday - Spring Adventure with your hosts, WMM & Nigel

Okay, so it is snowing again.  Sure I could wallow in the terrible truth of a guest who has stayed on a little TOO long, but no, I am choosing today to cheer myself up with Spring. 

I am not the first to be penned in by a winter that has gone on forever.  For the ultimate "it is a FRIGGING long winter movie" that also happens to be a musical (and no comments about its inherent sexism - both against men and women) and which happends to be a favourite of all members of the chez WMM household, lets start with a little spring reverie from Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.  This movie has fabulous singing and dancing, including the immortal musical lament "A man can't sleep, when he sleeps with sheep..."  Of course, Spring finally arrives and the whole farm is alive with new babies and a lot of brothers and soon-to-be-brides running around giving each other moony eyes as they want to make babies too, but it is the 1950s and they need a preacher.  But this will get us in the mood for the rest of the post!





There, don't you feel all ready to embrace spring now?

What shall we do first?  Well it's first thing in the morning, and we need to do our makeup.  I suggest we head over to Louise's wonderful blog Ingredients and get our eyes done in a wee tiny bit of blue.  You don't think you would like blue?  Well, I think you can give it whirl and it is Sunday after all and who's going to see you anyway?  Oh wait, a lot of people, once you keep reading.  But dammit, it's spring, let's try it!

We are going to need to wear some colour folks, it is spring and the blacks and greys that I wore so fetchingly must be replaced today by something a little gentler.  I forgot to tell you (and actually forgot about it myself till yesterday as the weather has been so wretched) that I picked up the following v neck sweater at Banana Republic in NYC.  I had a 40% certificate, thanks to GetFresh (THANKS!) and paid $44 for it. 

Draped V-Neck Sweater

It is 52% silk, 35% poly and 13% cotton and it is very soft.  I think I will wear it with my khahi minnies and around the house, an old pair of hugo boss turquoise ballet flats.  I need to look spring-y where we are headed.  Will update with a picture later.  Do you think it is too much to have a little turquoise on my eyes with this sweater?  Wait - don't answer that, I am going to do it anyway!  Better that I don't know your thoughts and I will sally forth as if I have your full love and support!

Okay, I am dressed.  Let's go to lunch shall we?  There are a lot of us, so I suggest an outdoor cafe.  I checked the weatehr for Paris.  Only 3 degrees there this morning.  Then I thought so many of you are lovely Americans, so perhaps we would go somewhere warm AND local.  So there is a reservation for us all at the Shoreline Beach Cafe in Santa Barbara.  Now I've never been to Santa Barbara before, but the weather looks quite nice today and can't you see us all sitting outside together?  Waiter - more pinot grigio, please!  Bourbon for the Scot over there!



Now some of you will have winged in from far away, so I suggest you might want to go get a room somewhere.  I suggest, since time and money are no object to the likes of us this fine Spring Day, that we all hole up at the Montecito Inn, which appears to me to be just the kind of establishment for people like us.



Comfort is so important for these trips and we will need a spot with a spa AND a bar and nice accommodations:

Montecito Inn - Santa Barbara, California

I'm suggesting that since it is Sunday, we stop at the Santa Barbara Mission for some spiritual guidance before we head off for the wine tasting afternoon.  However, this is the perfect Spring Day, so really, feel free to do whatever you want to do!

Some of you may prefer to shop...Just make sure you have your platinum cards, darlings - you will need them!


I would suggest a gallery or two as well. Culture you know!


I suggest we all meet for dinner and if that is the case, I would also suggest dressing up a little.  I mean, my goodness, you are at one of the finest Inns in town and who knows who may pop in for Sunday dinner? Is that Oprah?  Oh sure Oprah, you and Stedman can join us, just don't hog all of the conversation....

I think I'll wear this little Alexander McQueen Hummingbird dress, that was a recent gift from Nigel, who has come into some sort of inheritance.  It is bad form to ask a chimpanzee where their money has come from, so I am keeping mum and just enjoying the fact that he wanted to fly us all to Santa Barbara!  You must go and take a proper look at this print, though I guess you will see it when we meet for drinks before sitting down to our sumptious dinner.

Alexander McQueen Printed cady dress


After dinner, we will be whisked away to the historic Arlington Theatre.

Arlington Theatre Marquee 100703

Oh you can check the schedule all you want - looks like there's nothing on tonight, right?  Well Nigel has been busy!  We will see a lovely little double-bill: Mumford and Sons, who will have us on our feet, and then Diana Krall, who will soothe us before we had back to our Inn, happy with our lovely spring day!

There - what a day we have had!  And you know what, while I was writing our itinerary down, the snow has slowed a bit and I can even see some brightness in the sky.  That's what a nice overnighter to Santa Barbara can do for you!

See you on the beach - and stay safe out there!!!

26 comments:

  1. That was a nice trip, I've always wanted to go there and I have to say it was nice to get out of HERE, dull gray sky, snow on the ground, I've stopped looking hopefully at the weather forecasts, it's just too grim!
    Love your hummingbird dress. That Nigel, cheeky!

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    1. I was not surprised that he suggested it - he is used to more tropical climates and was tired of the whole winter thing! I can actually see some blue sky now, so am hopeful!

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  2. MENTAL GETAWAY WMM, what a lovely, funny, much-needed escape pause. Very happy for your saver sweater, think that colour will be lovely with your hair. And look forward to the eye make-up report. Only thing I will draw the line at, Montecito must switch out its bedspreads for duvets with freshly laundered, crisp white duvet covers. Sure they will when they see the reservation gan you are bringing along. And not really a picky princess. But the whole washable bedcovers thing is a hotelier deal breaker (that and/or I've watched too much blue-lighted CSI.) A dram and a bonus banana for Nigel too since he got you an alternative hummingbird dress.

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    1. I first saw 7B47B in grade 9, what a flashback.

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    2. Too funny! Husband is in market for a good duvet - any recommendations?

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  3. Hi WMM, thanks for the blog shout-out! I think you will look lovely and very spring-like in the turquoise sweater and eyeliner! Also, thanks for the mental getaway to Santa Barbara, it was a much needed escape. Winter here in Toronto is dragging on. We have been having more sun the past few days but it is still too cold to really enjoy it. Happy weekend!

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    1. thanks Louise, you too! I will take a picture as I am blue eyed and blue lined!

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  4. My mother lives in Montecito and of course, I've been to all those places. Love the Shoreline Beach Cafe. I would suggest we stay at the Four Season's Biltmore in Montecitio though - across the street from the beach and so lovely. More true Santa Barbara, and great restaurant on the terrace. I love that movie - glad there's someone else out there who does! Such great music and dancing - very camp.

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    1. Damn - I TOLD Nigel to call you and check but he thought you were busy with MIL!!! Okay - will get him to work on the switchover, but that means I have to call Diana Krall (AGAIN) and Elvis Costello and tell them we are moving AGAIN! Mumford and Sons were planning to just sleep on the beach so new worries for them!

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    2. Diana Krall will be thrilled, I'm sure. LOVE the hummingbird dress. I would love to plan a trip for all of us to Montecito/Santa Barbara - I never get to be a tourist there. We can all stay at my mom's and save $ for shopping!

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    3. I'm in! I have 70 followers now - could get crowded! I don;t usually look at the stats, but honestly husband was teasing me relentlessly all the time I had 69... so was son... so glad I passed that mark!

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    4. Too crowded - we'll stay at the Biltmore. More fun, my mother would corner us with stories, and we'd never leave the house.

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    5. Nigel and I will come by ourselves some time!

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  5. Oooh I'm in! Not sure my husband will be too delighted though, given that on Tuesday I'm jetting off on a week-long work trip to lovely and romantic Ogden, UT, where I'll spend Easter Sunday. We're doing our egg hunt here today so I may be a bit late, but I've already been to Mass so I can meet you at dinner.

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    1. Danielle! Wow what a great trip! I have never been to Utah - is on the list! We will hold a seat for you for sure!

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    2. Have never been to UT either (well stuck a foot in it in 6th grade when my family visited "Four Corners", but not sure that counts). I would like to say I'd take some nice pictures but so far I seem incapable of taking pictures at all at debate tournaments--things get busy and time escapes from me!

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    3. Oh am so bad at geography - never heard of 4 corners till now!

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  6. Wendy - if you're into Stevie Nicks, watch Oprah's interview with her tonight!

    It has been snowing all week here too, it never ends. Everyone is super crusty around here! It's been brutally cold too. I bought some mums today to cheer me up and to inject some spring in the house!

    Have a great day!

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    1. Thanks for the heads up about Stevie - I do love her!

      We all need spring!

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  7. That's a lovely day but no, no, no, come visit me. It's lovely in the high 60s/low 70s here and sunny. No rain in sight. We have beautiful beaches, nice shopping, decent museums and theaters, plush hotels and excellent restaurants ...

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    1. It could be a road trip, complete with Partridge Family Bus! And maybe David Cassidy!

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  8. Or you could come to Sydney! 30 degrees C, sunny, and we have great food and sites!
    You could check out the beaches, wander around the harbour and take in some Contmporary Dance at the Opera House.
    Sending some warmth your way.....

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  9. We could come to Sydney with Ellen! We need to have Sisterhood of the trAvelling blog!

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  10. WMM- I was too busy yesterday to go to Santa Barbara, but I hope you had fun! It looks fabulous.

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