Each week on social media you’ll see South Bay images taken from Manhattan Beach Pier down to the Cabrillo Breakwater. Many are of spots we all recognized, some are just great photos of places we routinely overlook. A location like Manhattan Beach Pier is practically a genre of unto itself.

We’ve all been spending time at home lately…what’s your home saying to you?

We receive energy from all of our surroundings – outside and inside. Think about how you feel in places like church, the beach, a library, a sporting arena, a concert. Now think about your home. What type of energy are you receiving from your home?

The Mattel Barbie doll came to be in 1959. Barbie was a shapely teenager with a good job as a fashion model and an extensive wardrobe to rival that of all dolls that came before her. The state of Barbie’s modern clothes closet, one representing 62 years of sartorial spoils, is vast, intriguing, and the focus of my most recent preoccupation.

The most anticipated season of the year has arrived to Belmont Village! As is tradition each year on the Friday after Thanksgiving, the Andes Florist team arrives to Belmont Village when their residents have gone to sleep. They quietly and meticulously set up garlands in the great room and on each column, adorn numerous Christmas trees, holiday swags and dress the entryway with ornament arches, poinsettias and more.

Each fall, the Palos Verdes Library District holds our Annual Community Art Show, inviting local artists, professional and amateurs alike, to participate. This year, we're excited to host the Community Art Show at the Peninsula Center Library as our first in-person event since March 2020.

You might see her in the evening, standing solitary in the sand as the sun sinks over the palm trees painting the water pink. She concentrates, zipping her drone across the sky, capturing the dance of light on water.

Whatever your taste is, be definitive about it. At Christmas, you can make it glorious and glamorous. This season think outside the box, by adding a new twist to classic styles or decorations with vintage and second- hand Christmas decorations ideas to bring some of nostalgic charm to your home. From using vintage in your Christmas decorations to decorating in an old-fashioned and lovely style, these ideas will help you make this the most beautiful holiday season ever.

The kitchen is the heart of the home. We eat there, we gather there, and sometimes we work from the kitchen table. With so much time spent in this one room we want to make sure it is as functional and appealing as we can. Here are a few of the things I always think about when designing a kitchen to get the most out of the space.