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Happy Passover and Happy Easter!

{Table settings via Casa Sugar and Pinterest}

Hope everyone is enjoying the holidays!

I spent the past weekend on Balboa Island in Newport Beach for a holiday getaway. On Christmas Eve, I got a special treat – I met fellow Material Girls blogger Emily who’s visiting Southern California from Dallas! Emily along with her husband Ben came to Balboa Island for a brief visit. It was fun to meet up and show them around a bit!

A Christmas Eve sunset from Balboa Island.

On Christmas Day I had brunch at the Balboa Bay Club & Resort (which I blogged about last year).

It was a really beautiful day having brunch overlooking Newport Harbor.

Despite the “summer like” day, the private beach at the Balboa Bay Club was empty!

{image via Pinterest}

Here’s to 2012…Happy New Year!

(Photos by Jill Seidner)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Our fellow bloggers are all sharing “thanks” around the blogsphere…

{image via coco + kelley}

Cassandra from coco + kelley said it best, read it here and see her pretty table setting!

{image via katiedid)

See the pretty fall trees from Katie of katiedid.

{image via Made by Girl}

Jen of Made by Girl shares her Thanksgiving Day menu.

{image via Camille Styles}

Thanksgiving table decor by Camille of Camille Styles blog.

{image via Brittany Stiles}

Brittany of Brittany Stiles blog shows us a “Thanksgiving table/flea market style.”

{image via Emily Clark}

Thanksgiving decor from Emily Clark.

{via Pure Style Home}

Thanksgiving inspiration from Pure Style Home.

{image via Retro Renovation}

And a “retro Thanksgiving” from Pam at Retro Renovation!

Happy Thanksgiving to all our fellow bloggers & readers!

Hope everyone is enjoying their “end of summer” weekend and had a great summer! I can’t believe it’s already September! I spent the month of August on Balboa Island in Newport Beach, CA where my family lives and my dad keeps his boat. I actually lived on the boat for the month and it was a really nice change of pace.  Thought I would share some highlights from my summer vacation!

The boat is docked quite literally just steps from the beach, as seen here from the aft of the boat. These homes are on the Beacon Bay waterfront side of Balboa Island.

How cute is my nephew Eli hanging out on the boat!

Paddling on the bay is very popular, many canoes, paddlers would go by daily…

…some with their dog too!

But I actually spent my summer days working…

…and here too.

But the reality is, most days were actually spent hard at work here.

But EVERY day at the *office* was finished with an amazing sunset like this one!

Or this one!

Mornings started early, where the water was like glass and it was peacefully quiet.

My sleeping quarters were not the “captain’s quarters,” instead I opted for a modest “cabin.”

And the most compact bathroom I ever got ready in each and every day. (Although it’s not every day you see a seal swim by from the “head!”)

The galley style kitchen located on the lowest level of the boat.

When I did venture off the boat, my favorite thing to do was take the Ferry from Balboa Island across the harbor to the Balboa Peninsula side.  The Ferry is just $1 per person each way, it crosses the bay continuously from early morning until late at night and carries both cars and passengers.

Passing by one ferry from another (there are two that go back and forth).

My favorite place to go is Newport Landing Restaurant, they have the best happy hour!

The view from the second story patio at Newport Landing.

Coming back on the ferry at night, a view of the Fun Zone and Balboa Pavilion.

Our boat is docked just steps away from Marine Avenue on Balboa Island, the one main street lined with shops and restaurants. I walked it daily but unfortunately didn’t have time to explore some of the home decor shops, like this one (and others that I’d like to eventually feature on the blog).

I mostly walked through town to get to Little Balboa Island (where our house is) passing by the homes on the canal side…

…and over a bridge.

I’ve since said goodbye to my “summer office” – and am now back home!

Until next summer!

(All photos by Jill Seidner)

Happy 4th of July!

{Images via Pinterest}

Hope everyone had a good holiday!

On Christmas Day I went for brunch at The Balboa Bay Club & Resort in Newport Beach, CA. I hadn’t been in years! I think the last time I was there was in the mid-80′s for a Bar Mitzvah. It sure has changed! Most recently renovated in 2003.  Now, it looks like a Four Seasons or Ritz Carlton resort, complete with all the amenities of a five star hotel.  The resort includes (for members and non-members alike): guest suites & rooms, a spa and a salon, meeting rooms, two restaurants and a bar, a marina that accommodates up to 144 boat slips, and more. After brunch, I took a few quick pictures that I thought would share – a mini tour of the club which is currently festively decorated for the holidays.

The entrance to the Balboa Bay Club & Resort.

The decorated fountain.

The corridor leading to The First Cabin restaurant.

Entrance to the restaurant, where we dined.

Interior of The First Cabin restaurant.

The Balboa Bay Club sits right on Newport Harbor, with it’s own marina and boat slips.

The outside patio area with harbor views.

The living/sitting areas – which greatly remind me of a five star hotel.

The fireplace of the sitting room, very cozy and decorated for the holidays.

Palm tree upholstered chairs fill the corridor along side holiday decorations.

A cute gingerbread house.

All photos by Jill Seidner Interior Design.

Two recent charity events had designers and stars alike creating wreaths to be auctioned off in support of charity groups such as the Children’s Action Network and DIFFA.  The wreath above was designed by Kelly Wearstler for the Children’s Action Network for their 3rd Annual Holiday Party held in Los Angeles.  The wreaths below were created for DIFFA’s Holiday Wreath Collection Event held in Dallas.

Kelly Wearstler’s leather dip-dyed wreath for DIFFA.

Images for the DIFFA wreaths from DIFFADallas Facebook Page

Images of Kelly Wearstler’s wreaths from the Kelly Wearstler Facebook Page

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Some pretty wreaths to inspire your holiday decorating…

{All images from Red Magazine UK}

In the spirit of the 4th of July, here are some images that embody the American way of life – year round.

The American flag creates a focal point in this bedroom and the red, white, and blue interiors reflect an all American style.

An outdoor deck feels festive.

A picture of a garden I took on Balboa Island in Newport Beach, CA.  Most all homes have a flag in the front of their house, year round.

And we always keep a flag on the back of our boat, seen here in Newport Harbor.

…and in Avalon Harbor on Catalina Island.

Most boat docks are lined with the flag at the end of the landing, as seen in this picture taken on Balboa Island in Newport Beach – last winter.  The spirit is year round here.

More “all American” style homes on Balboa Island in Newport Beach, where the flag is a staple in front of most everyone’s homes.  (I’ve stayed here in the midst of winter, when the winds pick up, and hear the flags blowing through the howling wind at night.)

A patriotic children’s room – so cute!

A very sophisticated bedroom decorated with a touch of patriotism.

{Photos from Houzz, House Beautiful, and me)

Happy 4th of July!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

{Here are some rooms that are pink, chic, and inspiring for a romantic day!}