Yesterday, as we shopped at the Thursday market in Carpinteria, we were reminded by the banner that the 27th Avocado Festival is coming up October 4th through Ocotber 6th. It is known as the largest free music festival in California, with over 75acts.  Here is an excerpt from their site, avofest.com. "As AVOFEST™ prepares for its 27th year, much has stayed the same since our first festival, but much has also changed. One of the most significant additions to the AVOFEST™ is our fierce commitment to going green, and we are not just talking avocados." You can enter the 2013 Best Guacamole Contest on Sunday October 5th, and the Largest Avocado Contest takes place on Saturday October 5th at the Avocado Expo Tent. In  2012, the largest avocado came in at 4lbs &1/4 ounce.  There will be booth... 09/27/2013

Many people ask us what is the state or our beaches? Heal the Bay is an organization we have supported for a long time.  Every Friday, they give a report card on US beaches.  We are happy to report that our favorite beach in Carpinteria received an A+, as did all of our Santa Barbara beaches.  This is a water rating. Every morning, our city has a tractor that rakes the sand, and during the winter creates berms to protect the homes from the higher tides. All the beach goers are very conscientious of the environment.  The dog owners have plastic bags either on the collars of their pups or in their pockets, the runners and walkers automatically pick up debris.  We are proud of everyone's efforts, and the fact that our waters are safer for all of us, and that our marine life is thriving. H... 08/31/2013

The month of March is upon us, and it signals the arrival of Spring.  We had a ski trip planned, and had to cancel it as the weather in the mountains of Utah is going to be in the high 40's and 50's.  Slush skiing is no fun at all.  So here we are with a bit of spring weather also wiith a predicted high in the mid 70's, which invariably sends us to Sandyland beach, Carpinteria, and puts a spring in our step! Happy Friday, Cheers, Ron & Alexandra Seigel WATCH VIDEOS-  Buzz-Worthy Luxury Real Estate Websites   Personal Branding Case Studies   Company Branding Case Studies   About Language of Luxury  - JOIN THE LOL COMMUNTIY -   GET FLUENT. GET AFFLUENT!   Linked In, Facebook, Active Rain  Follow Us on Twitter: LuxuryMarketing 03/01/2013

We have a lovely clear chilly 55 degrees (by our standards)day with snow in the mountains.  It was a pleasure to see these tulips for sale as I was doing errands this morning.  They are grown here in Carpinteria in the greenhouses.  The majority of the bulb stock comes from Holland.   Wishing you a delightful Wednesday, Cheers Ron & Alexandra WATCH VIDEOS-  Buzz-Worthy Luxury Real Estate Websites   Personal Branding Case Studies   Company Branding Case Studies   About Language of Luxury  - JOIN THE LOL COMMUNTIY -   GET FLUENT. GET AFFLUENT!   Linked In, Facebook, Active Rain Follow Us on Twitter: LuxuryMarketing 02/20/2013

With  our Zoe cat having labored breathing and coughing, we made an appointment with our great vet, Dr. Otto, at Carpinteria Vet Hospital.  While we were wating to take Zoe home, and discuss her prognosis, we noticed this book in the waiting room.  The pictures of dogs underwater are amazing, and well worth perusing. You can check out some of the photos on line.  This book made the list on Oprah's holiday gift guides, and it was on Entertainment Weekly's best selling gift book list. The receptionist told us, that this was a gift from  HYDROPAWS.COM,  Hydropaws' specialty is physical thereapy with animals. They have underwater treadmills for dogs and cats. I could not believe the video of a cat walking in water.  This is a first state of the art facility, and their success has been phen... 02/08/2013

Tre low tide offers so many treats to all creatures, especially humans who are fascinated by the underwater life.  Today is the last day to visit the beach at its lowest point during daytime.  We are looking forward to what is new today. HAPPY SUNDAY, CHEERS RON & ALEXANDRA   WATCH VIDEOS  Buzz-Worthy Luxury Real Estate Websites   Personal Branding Case Studies   Company Branding Case Studies   About Language of Luxury  - JOIN THE LOL COMMUNTIY -   GET FLUENT. GET AFFLUENT!    Linked In, Facebook, Active Rain  Follow Us on Twitter: LuxuryMarketing 01/13/2013

The lowest tide of the year is upon us in Carpinteria.  This is the time when the ocean reveals all the life that teems under water.  I had to crouch under the rock formation to get this dark red seastar (formerly known as starfish).  They huddle and hide as close to the water as possible to survie the low tide.  We met a marine scientist who told us that they eat a mussel a day, that is one way to stay slim and grow long arms. (LOL).  Wishing you all a wonderful Sunday, Cheers, Ron & Alexandra WATCH VIDEOS  Buzz-Worthy Luxury Real Estate Websites   Personal Branding Case Studies   Company Branding Case Studies   About Language of Luxury  - JOIN THE LOL COMMUNTIY -   GET FLUENT. GET AFFLUENT!    Linked In, Facebook, Active Rain  Follow Us on Twitter: LuxuryMarketing 01/12/2013

Ron and I love these big boulders on the beach on Sandyland Beach in Carpinteria.  They support mussels and other bivalves, and the crabs that hide among them.  Wishing you all a delightful Wednesday and a great start on 2013. WATCH VIDEOS-  Buzz-Worthy Luxury Real Estate Websites   Personal Branding Case Studies   Company Branding Case Studies   About Language of Luxury  - JOIN THE LOL COMMUNTIY -   GET FLUENT. GET AFFLUENT!   Linked In, Facebook, Active Rain  Follow Us on Twitter: LuxuryMarketing 01/02/2013

One of our favorite Christmas trees is the one that can be viewed at Westerlay Orchids in Carpinteria.  Their idea of decorating their tree is to take cymbidium orchid flowers and use them as the ornaments on their tree. Each flower is placed in a vial of water and attached to the tree.  Their color theme is dark red, green, gold, yellow and white.  They do this annually, and we love going there to see it and pick up live presents for our list. Wishing you all a wonderful Sunday, Cheers, Ron & Alexandra WATCH VIDEOS-  Buzz-Worthy Luxury Real Estate Websites  Personal Branding Case Studies   Company Branding Case Studies  About Language of Luxury - JOIN THE LOL COMMUNTIY -   GET FLUENT. GET AFFLUENT!   Linked In, Facebook, Active Rain Follow Us on Twitter: LuxuryMarketing 12/15/2012

One of the delights in taking a walk on Sandyland beach in Carpinteria is viewing the art in the sand.  This particular rendering of an octopus caught our attention and delighted us.  It was the first of this kind we have seen, a welcome change from the usual castles and moats rendition. A little further down away from the crowds we found this natural art evolving in the sand.  There is always something new in the sand on the beach.  Happy Friday, Cheers, Ron & Alexandra WATCH VIDEOS-  Buzz-Worthy Luxury Real Estate Websites  Personal Branding Case Studies   Company Branding Case Studies  About Language of Luxury - JOIN THE LOL COMMUNTIY -   GET FLUENT. GET AFFLUENT!   Linked In, Facebook, Active Rain Follow Us on Twitter: LuxuryMarketing   07/06/2012

Carpinteria, a small coastal town a few miles south of Santa Barbara is reknown for its avocadoes and having the world's safest beach.  Early morning tide is a wonderful time to visit, because you see all types of interesting things written in the sand Here is one of them, and we kept finding different varieties of these patterns....were the aliens out leaving us messages? Can you figure out who did this, and did they come by sea? Now this message in the sand looks important, or was the alien doodling? He/She must have been hovering! What is that bump in the upper right corner? Do you know who is doing that? We kept looking and then we saw a moving sign, and it was a little hermit crab (not an alien) burrowing looking for a home. The bump is a clam burrying himself. We told you Carpint... 06/30/2012

This beautiful orchid is known as a Masdevallia orchid or a cloud forest orchid. It is native to high altitude cloud forests, and it requires cool conditions and constant moisture.  There are 500 types of these orchids with vibrant colors from bright yellow to oranges,as well as deep and vibrant reds.  They are native to South American rain forests in Bolivia, Columbia and Equador.  They are named for Jose Masdeval, a physician and botanist who introduced to the court of Charles II in Spain.  (from Wiki) Our orchid greenhouses are producing them, which is where we found these at Westerlay in Carpinteria.  We are so delighted to be privvy to all varieties, and we were told that will do well in a home with filtered light.  Water every few days by placing the pot in a container of water f... 06/02/2012

We love visiting the orchid greenhouses in Carpiteria.  When you walk your eyes feat on marvelous colors and a myriad of orchid species.  This shot was taken at Westerlay Orchids.  Happy Speechess Sunday, Cheers, Ron & Alexandra WATCH VIDEOS-  Buzz-Worthy Luxury Real Estate Websites  Personal Branding Case Studies   Company Branding Case Studies  About Language of Luxury - JOIN THE LOL COMMUNTIY -   GET FLUENT. GET AFFLUENT!   Linked In, Facebook, Active Rain Follow Us on Twitter: LuxuryMarketing 05/13/2012

As we were enjoying the low tide at the Sandyland Beach in Carpinteria, we noticed this little guy in a hurry.  He kept trying to elude my curiosity by hiding in seaweed and trying to wait it out.  Being even more patient, I was able to get a photo of him before he scampered on his merry way...we see a lot of these on the rocks and rushing around hiding from all the birds! Enjoy your weekend, Cheers Ron & Alexandra WATCH VIDEOS-  Buzz-Worthy Luxury Real Estate Websites  Personal Branding Case Studies   Company Branding Case Studies  About Language of Luxury - JOIN THE LOL COMMUNTIY -   GET FLUENT. GET AFFLUENT!   Linked In, Facebook, Active Rain Follow Us on Twitter: LuxuryMarketing   05/11/2012

After lunching outdoors at the Padaro Grill, we went to downtown Carpinteria to visit the new quilt and knitting store that re-opened.  Roxanne's is a delightful store full of fabrics for quilting, kniting and other projects, and the store is known as quilter's heaven,  We were drawn to a delighted exhibit. Quilters love to express their thoughts and widom.  We really liked this one,or check out this profound message below. And there was this one, does not fish well with others! Have a great week, Cheers Ron & Alexandra 10/16/2011

The proteas aka sugarbushes in this picture are a a native of South Africa.  Lucky for us they are also grown in Carpinteria. Since the 1970's Carpinteria has been known for its flower growing business that is shipped to retail outlets to Canada and nationwide, as well to the builders of the floats for the Tournament of Roses parade on New Years Day. Happy Sunday, Cheers Ron & Alexandra - WATCH VIDEOS-  Buzz-Worthy Luxury Real Estate Websites  Personal Branding Case Studies   Company Branding Case Studies  About Language of Luxury - JOIN THE LOL COMMUNTIY -   GET FLUENT. GET AFFLUENT!   Linked In, Facebook, Active Rain Follow Us on Twitter: LuxuryMarketing         10/16/2011

We alwways look up low tide times.  We love walking in the new expanse of sand, that will soon be covered up as the tides come in.  Today, our companions were a variety of sandpipers with long bills digging for crabs, clams and other delicacies the receeding tide reveals.  Wishing you a wonderful week ahead, Cheers Ron & Alexandra - WATCH VIDEOS-  Buzz-Worthy Luxury Real Estate Websites  Personal Branding Case Studies   Company Branding Case Studies  About Language of Luxury - JOIN THE LOL COMMUNTIY -   GET FLUENT. GET AFFLUENT!   Linked In, Facebook, Active Rain Follow Us on Twitter: LuxuryMarketing 10/09/2011

Today marks the beginning of the 25th Avocado Festival in Carpinteria, California, and will continue through Sunday.  Admission is free.  Carpinteria is where we live, it is a small beach town known for having one of the safest beaches. Peace Love and Guacamole is the theme of this year's festival. California is known as the Avocado Capital and produces 90% of the nation's crop.  The majority of California avocados are grown on 60,000 acres between San Luis Obispo and the Mexican border.  California avocados grow year round, and one tree can produce 500 avocados.  Carpinteria has numerous avocado ranches, and after tasting many avocados, we usually buy from the Carpinteria growers as we feel they are the best tasting.  Of course, this is just our humble opinion. AvoFest differentiates ... 10/07/2011

This photo gives new meaning to living on the wrong/right side of the tracks as many of the fabulous beach homes in the Santa Barbara area are very close to the railroad tracks and the noise of the passing trains.  Happy Friday, Cheers Ron & Alexandra  - WATCH VIDEOS-  Buzz-Worthy Luxury Real Estate Websites  Personal Branding Case Studies   Company Branding Case Studies  About Language of Luxury - JOIN THE LOL COMMUNTIY -   GET FLUENT. GET AFFLUENT!   Linked In, Facebook, Active Rain Follow Us on Twitter: LuxuryMarketing   08/26/2011

Now that Prince Willam and his lovely wife Catherine (Duke and Duchess of Cambridge) have left the Santa Barbara Polo Club victorious (William scored 4 out of 5 goals on the winning team), we were able to venture out to one of our favorite haunts in Carpinteria.  The Padaro Beach Grill (a stone's throw from the Polo fields) is an outdoor restaurant suitable for families (there is a huge natural sandbox and playground for kids) and adults (they have an adult only area with a firepit, It is located near the beach and has access to it. You order at the counter and they give you walkie talkie to let you know when your order is ready for you to pick up.  We decided on the Ahi tuna sandwich (fresh and cooked perfectly rare).  Everything looked good that passed by.  All the fish is fresh for ... 07/10/2011