When I first started hiking I was a pole hater.    Didn't get it.   Now that I hike all the time I am a complete convert.    The best poles out there are by LEKI.   Avail at REI.  I love them.   You can hike twice as fast and far.    A great all over body workout.    They make kids poles too. Pretty cool.   Lifetime guarantee.

I was so excited to be in the Vista las Palmas neighborhood so I could be near the iconic  Kaufmann House.   The Kaufmann house in Palm Springs, California, was designed by Richard Neutra in 1946.    One of Neutra's most famous domestic projects.  I stopped to take a picture and a few others stopped as well while I was there.   So beautiful

I stayed in Vista Las Palmas in Palm Springs for a few days.   Once the stomping ground of Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr. and Dean Martin this desert retreat is uber cool.  This is my favorite Mid Century neighborhood in Palm Springs and one of the few places in the world that you can view so many incredible architectural gems.  You can walk everywhere and every house has character.  Quiet, friendly(all the neighbors walk their dogs at dusk) and so lovely.  My dream homes with dream landscaping.   I was in heaven.  The Kaufmann home is here and the others homes are mostly Eichlers and Alexanders. 

Here is some info on the Alexander builders. (courtesy of Palm Springs historical and http://www.vistalaspalmas.com/)  During the 1950's & 1960's, George Alexander and his son Robert Alexander were co-owners of a development firm that built more than 2,000 homes in Palm Springs.  The father-son team capitalized on the need for mass market housing to the upwardly mobile interested in Modern Architecturehe original Alexander homes were built on a concrete slab with no insulation, for a cost of $19,500.  Alexander construction included:  post & beam construction, clerestory windows, center halls and large lots.  The architectural style became known as Southern California Modern.   I am also including a video on the bottom from HAVERKATE Blog a great real estate resource that shows a drive through the hood.

Got a chance to enjoy some first class nature this weekend in Palm Springs.    Some of the most gorgeous foliage colors I have ever seen.    Here are some photos of the fam on the way to the aerial tramway in Palm Springs.   The sagey shots are at the bottom of the hill off the highway.  Needless to say the dogs had a blast mountain climbing.   Love the diverse terrain only a few miles apart.

My dear friend's Kite and Fly hosted a little garden birthday party for Kite's daughter Lulu.   It was so cute and bohemian with the most charming cake you have ever seen.    Elegant Moms and adorable babies in costume playing and enjoying the afternoon.   If you like Anita Pallenberg's style check out Kite and Fly's clothing available at Revolveclothing.com

The loves of my life.

Collecting art can be a daunting task.    It can also be the most wonderful way to surround yourself with beauty and artistry.     Blue chip art is often unattainable for the masses and cost prohibitive if you don't have a hedge fund which is about 98% of us.   Don't fret.   There are so many great ways to buy art now and many of them are online.     Here are some of my favorite sites.   Some of them sell editions for as little as $20.00 which is a fantastic way to get your feet wet.   All editions are numbered and some are available framed.   There is detailed information about each artist and lets you browse at your leisure.  

the real art co   images are divided by style, medium, color/bw etc.    something for everyone here.
 
Jerry Hall by Norman Parkinson

20x200
OK image by Trey Speegle

Blindspot
Image by Wijnanda Deroo

Lumas
Image by Mauren Brodbeck

It's all a bit overwhelming because there are ssssoooo many choices.  In the meantime, get those hideous movie posters off your wall and say something with your taste and personality.  Mike Ovitz (CAA founder) told  Richard Prince  that he can tell a lot about a person by how they respond to his art collection.    It also says a lot about you.    No time like the present to get out there and support the arts.    Its really fun and these sites make it affordable .

If you haven't heard of FLOR check it out.    This is an amazing and economical way to carpet your house, office, patio whatever.    The modular carpet squares are easy to install and can even be washed.   Works with small or large spaces and you can customize your patterns and designs.   A beautiful contemporary carpet 8x10 is very expensive.   Flor allows you to customize your shape and size and the prices are recession friendly.
I love the shapes, textures and colors and the photography in the catalog is gorgeous.
FLOR SITE