LACMA - Samurai Warrior Exhibition

Urban Light

Outside LACMA sits the Urban Light installation which consists of 202 lampposts collected from around the city of Los Angeles.  At night it is lit up and it is becoming an iconic symbol for L.A.  

Unfortunately, on the day we visited, the sculpture was taped off for painting and we couldn't walk through it.  I still got some great pics and it is absolutely beautiful at night. 

The Samurai Collection of Japanese Armor from Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller.

Visit the LACMA page here.

We went to LACMA to visit a different exhibit, but stumbled upon this one and I was so impressed and intrigued by it.  

This collection of Japanese Samurai Warrior Armor is a private collection on loan and will only be here until Feb. 1, 2015.  Go see it is you can and be sure to take the tour by the docent.  The tour adds so much more in the way of facts, thus making the the exhibit more interesting.  The tour is free, but the exhibit is an extra fee.    These horses were amazing, they looked so real!  They are covered in the same material that is used for the flocking in wallpaper!

The detail in the masks, saddles, stir-ups, and armor is exquisite.  

 

This exhibit is worth the drive into L.A. 

In the same building was a weird exhibit that featured this beautiful dog.  She has a handler and is free to leave her exhibit at any time and wander around the museum.  We met up with her in the lobby of the three exhibits.  She is incredibly beautiful.

Once we finished the exhibits and exited the museum, we were excited to see this line of gourmet food trucks lined up outside the museum.  It was a super cold day, so a warm lunch was a must, but we would have to eat it outside.  We heard some people talking about how good the vietnamese food truck was, so we headed over to it.  We split the spicy chicken sandwich and it was out of this world tasty. I wish I had one of my own.  We then shared a brisket sandwich from the BBQ truck and it was just average - good, but nothing special. 

As you can see, there were about 20 trucks selling everything you could think off: Vietnamese, Thai, BBQ, Hot Dogs, Mac and Cheese, Grilled Cheese, Burgers, and so much more.

Los Angeles Zoo Lights

 This post is a little late, but I wanted to share with you Our adventure to the L.A. Zoo Lights that we went to in Dec.  First I will give you some really good tips:

1. Buy your tickets online

They sell out quickly and are not always available at the door. 

2. Go to the 6pm opening time.

This one is really important because it becomes a madhouse by 6:30.  We arrived at 6:30 and got one of the last parking spaces at the zoo.  As we walked to the entrance, we saw that people were already lined up for the 7-8, 8-9, and 9-10 opening times (CRAZY).  Fortunately,  we got to go right in and did not have to wait in any line.  Going early is also good because you get to experience the park with less people.  As the various opening times are let in, it gets more and more crowded.  We were done about 7:15 and we could feel the difference in the crowd as we were leaving.  Also, as we were leaving, people were lined up in the parking lot rows waiting for people to leave so they could get a parking space. 

3. Alcoholic Beverages are sold

4. No animals are out

You will be disappointed if you expect to see them.

5. Children will love it, one time deal for adults. 

 Tunnel of lights

 They had various sections like the tunnel of lights, and the snowflake area and a miniature light city of L.A. area.  It was cool, but I wouldn't do it every year.  It is worth doing once or if you have little kids.

Since I was recapping Christmas, I thought I would throw these beauties in.  

 He hardly ever smiles for pictures!

Aslan always smiles.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and Blessing for a Happy New Year.

Fascinating Book

Destiny of the Republic

A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President

When I started this book, I only knew that James Garfield was a past President and nothing else about him.  This is an amazing story of popular man turned President who suffers a gunshot wound and the horrific medical decisions that were made to "save" him.  So many interesting details of the times (1880-1881).

I couldn't put this book down.  If you love history, you will love this book. 

Mini Carnations

I have four little carnation plants and they are finally blooming!

Books I Couldn't Put Down

I know I'm reading a good book when I find myself not being able to put it down after my allotted "1 hour before bedtime" reading slot.  I look up and all of a sudden it is 11:30 or so and I have to force myself to put down the book and go to sleep. 

 An oldie, but a goodie; a little scary and a thriller.  Graphic descriptions, not too many, but be ready for it.

 Very interesting and sad, but ends well.  It's amazing how a "mob" mentality can take over a country and some people will turn on others, friend or foe and some people will risk their lives for total strangers to do what's right.  I liked the perspective, a story from someone who actually lived it.

 Great historical fiction series.  If you travel to Europe a lot and go in various castles and palaces, these books help you to know who and what they are talking about.

 Incredible story, what a summer!  If only they taught history in school the way some of these books are written.  

 Very interesting.  Just goes to show you that you can't judge a book by it's cover! (Speaking of the women in the book!)

 Great book, if things in this book are true and I think they are based on facts - I'm a little scared!

 Very good book.  Keep your iPad handy so you can look up the paintings they talk about.

 Great book, good ending!

 This book made me sick to my stomach.  So disgusted with politicians putting themselves first before our country. But what's new?

Great book.  I have liked all the "Killing" books, but my favorite was "Killing Lincoln".  Fascinated historical facts about all the major players.  

Family Masquerade Dinner

So for something different and something fun, we decided to do a Masquerade Family Dinner.  We bought masks, set the table, played "Heads Up" and had a lot of fun.  We got totally dressed up, we had cocktails, had a fancy dinner and an awesome homemade dessert.  Yep-we had a lot of FUN!   This is our serious pic because its hard to look good smiling in a mask. Boy, was my mask hot too, I couldn't wear it for long.  Funny, no one else had that problem...

 Alyssa and Katie

 Alyssa and Greg. 

 Ok, we are a little more relaxed in this pic.  We tried to get dogs in our pics, but we didn't have a whole lot of cooperation.  Especially from Daisy.

Me and the Handsome Husband.  I like this picture a lot, but I feel it gives off a "Love Boat" vibe. 

 On to the table,  I made these place card holders with little scrapbooking flowers and halloween bits and pieces picked up at Michaels.

This mask was suppose to be for HH, but when he saw it, he refused to wear it, saying it was for girls! Haha.  Delaney ended up liking this one more than the one I originally got for her (the leopard mask) and Katie wore it also, so we call it the favorite?

 We started off the night with a cocktail called a "Frenchy".  It is delicious.  It is:

1.5 ounces Pear Vodka (which smells heavenly BTW)

3 ounces pineapple juice

1 ounce cranberry juice

Everyone loved them.  

 This is the only pic I have of my bar tray.  I forgot to take a pic after I added the fruit juices, added my orange straw swizzle sticks and removed my little recipe by the ice bucket.  See that cake in the corner.  That is a homemade carrot cake, made by HH and it was to die for!  Soooo Good.  The recipe can be found here. It was so moist and flavorful.

I hope everyone has a great Halloween and a fun time celebrating. 

For more fun tablescapes go to Between Naps on the Porch