You spin me right round baby right round....

The music starts playing and it doesn't matter if I'm on a crowded dance floor or standing alone in my bedroom, I close my eyes and move. I loved the free feeling when I would spin as a child and not have a care in the world. But as adults, I notice how people dancing beside me on the dance floor have a concerned look on their faces.

Old tapes are playing in their adults heads like, "What are people thinking of me as I move? Am I good dancer? Do I look silly?" Is it still OK for adults to spin?

But I won't let those tapes play for me. Dancing is my time to let go and move. In fact when I watch others dance professionally, I can feel my feet moving and my stomach in knots especially when the dancers are incredible.

You can tell, lovely, when someone is an incredible dancer by the control they have over their entire body. From head to toe they are feeling the beat and translating the music into movement.

When I open my eyes and other dancers are not feeling comfortable, I wish I could give them some advice to just... Close your eyes, let go and spin.

How much better would this world be if we had art, dance and song to lean on? I recently had a massage in Calistoga (yes I know I'm a brat) and the masseuse confided in me. I let her know that she had healing hands and appreciated her relaxing me. She then asked me, "Why can't I let myself go and enjoy anymore?" So I told her about my theory of spinning. And you know what she started to spin right there and had a huge smile on her face. So sweetie what do you think about my theory of letting go?

Can I ever compete with a foodie?

I wish I were a foodie. See I can finally admit it and I even feel a little jealous when I'm sitting a restaurant with foodies. It's like they know the secret to dreaming about food. Talk about it even when they are eating a meal. Foodies must have a secret code that I don't know about it. I honestly don't think about my next meal until I'm hungry and please keep this a secret, but I've even skipped some meals. Shocker!

I can however, see food as the art that it is when I watch chefs create meals filled with color and creation.

I fell in love with Top Chef on Bravo for its top of the line drama and, oh yeah, for its food. Top Chef creates dishes like a seamstress does for fashion shows.



But all I really want to do is put on some retro gloves and cook at home. After watching the cooking shows, I somehow convince myself that I too can cook. Oh sweetie you do that too, now I feel so much better.

Wonderful Foodie post and blog by Sam L. Roth

Don't even get me started on how I wonder how my foodie friends are also addicted to coffee. Is there such a thing as a drip for your arm? So foodies must appreciate caffeine as well. Just save me a little red wine and I'm a happy camper.



And yes you are looking at iPhone apps just for foodies. What will they come up with next? I never want to compete with a foodie because I'll never win. But I can totally appreciate their love and obsession with food? So lovely do you consider yourself a foodie?

Ukraine's Got Talent: What's a sand animator?

I find there to be something so beautiful, almost haunting, about watching Kseniya Simonova's sand animation. She's obviously a true original and the music adds to the mystique. She won the TV show Ukraine's Got Talent, but is reaching viral stardom on YouTube as her videos have been seen 2 million times. Just be ready to be drawn into her world. Enjoy and have a wonderful weekend!

Is ‘I Dream of Cake’ a bakery or a glamorous boutique?

On my way home from work, I noticed the most amazing cake boutique/bakery located in my San Francisco neighborhood. It wasn't until I started writing for the Examiner, that I contacted the store to ask to interview the owner.

Her cake creations are glamourous, artistic, out of the box works of art that I wanted to share with you.

Trust me I had the best time taste tasting!

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Off the beaten path and nestled away from the North Beach tourists is I Dream of Cake, located on Grant Street. Since 2005, creator and owner Shinmin Li, welcomes artists as employees to work with her. She believes, “You can turn someone into a baker, but can never teach someone to be an artist. This shop is a marriage of my two passions, food and art.”

(photo taken by Sinmin Li and yes this is a Gucci purse cake)

From the moment customers enter her store, there is a magical feeling. Instead of entering a bakery there’s a boutique and exclusive feel. “I Dream of Cake was designed like a gallery, so customers could feel like their commissioning a piece of artwork.” Shinmin stated. “We also have an appointment only policy, so a cake tasting consultation can be ready for when customers arrive.” ...

To read the rest of this Examiner post please go here to read more about I Dream of Cake creations and to see the cake slideshow. If only we could all go for a cake tasting right now. What design would you recreate into a cake?

Room inspiration: lifestyle color

I love the feeling that I have when I'm in a colorful room, especially when one wall is painted a solid color. (For four years, I lived with a mint green wall in my apartment's family room.) Living in San Francisco you have to be creative with our smaller living space. Which is why I think color can cheer up any room. And then there's something to be said for a clean, white laundry room that has built in cubbies for organization. Is this where I confess to you that if I could, I would live at The Container Store? Yes I really am that girl!

Guest Blogger Fifi of Fifi Flowers Design

Presenting today Ms. Fifi of Fifi Flowers Design to guest blog for us. I am thrilled to have this post from Fifi as I've enjoyed guest blogging for her over the past couple of months. Let's join Fifi as she takes us on a romantic getaway in my city, San Francisco...
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Thank You Laura for asking moi to guest blog on your site... I would like to share my trip to your part of the world with your readers... first... start the video and then scroll on... this is MY FAVORITE San Francisco song...

Here we are looking at the world famous San Francisco Bridge... this is the best view of it that we captured on our trip...We stayed here at the Shannon Court...Here is the view from our room...See this building top in the distance... this is the Top of the Mark... we ventured to the top for a cocktail one evening... I wish I had photos to share... unfortunately they did not come out... le sigh... if you visit San Francisco... I suggest you take a peek from the top... GORGEOUS!!!Our hotel was located in the theatre district... look at this FAB architecture of the Geary Theatre... and close to Union Square...We popped up to San Francisco to celebrate my birthday and Valentines Day... here is the French restaurant...where we dined on delicious food... look how BIG hubby's (bf at the time) glasses were... Of course we did all the tourist things... driving down Lombard Street...Ventured over to Haight Ashbury... Found a GREAT pair of silver hoops in one of the shops...
We also shopped around Union Square... had a beverage in the Histoical St Francis Hotel... see Fifi standing in front...
Of course we bought a couple tickets...and hopped on a cable car...to the Wharf for clam chowder and yummy sourdough bread! We visited the Palace of Fine Arts (painting available in My Etsy Store) among other wonderful sights in San Fran...Ooh la la... such FAB memories were made... I hope you enjoyed my little trip... and thank you AGAIN Laura for letting me share with all your readers... your San Francisco through Fifi's eyes!

Fifi of Fifi Flowers Design Decor
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Thank you so much for sharing your trip with us Fifi and I loved your guest post. Please do it again for us soon. I just loved the song playing while looking at your pictures.

A few of Laura's favorite things...

Happy Monday photo gallery of my favorite things. (I was tagged over the weekend by the wonderful Carrie Couture to document 20 of my fav things!) 1. Black and white flower pictures 2. Steve Madden Latchh slouch boots 3. Popcorn 4. Lululemon pants and yoga 5. Adorable puppies 6. Cooking 7. Room service 8. Travel 9. Mint Cocoa 10. Digital picture frames 11. Gucci eyeglasses 12. The view from Coit Tower 13. Autumn 14. Lays ketchup chips from Canada 15. Candles 16. Bermuda beaches 17. The List: 100 Ways to Shake Up Your Life 18. The color blue 19. Ballet 20. My training spot: Aquatic Park







































Tune in tomorrow for the guest post of Ms. Fifi from Fifi Flowers Design about her romantic trip to San Francisco. Happy Monday friends!