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Long Beach trip recap

 in Travel  tagged art / beach / long beach / travel by

Things to do in Long Beach California

pictured: Alamitos Beach in Long Beach, California

We took a really quick road trip down to Long Beach, California over the 4th of July week. It has been difficult to plan a big vacation because my daughter is taking a summer school class and my other two kids have sports commitments throughout the summer. So, we took an opportunity to take a quick road trip when we saw there was a break in the schedule.

My middle child is looking at colleges to apply to, and Long Beach State University has a program she is interested in, so we decided to take a quick road trip to Long Beach. We spent a full day at the University touring around and eating on campus. It looks like a nice school to put on her list! Of course, in addition to checking out schools, we found a few fun things to do in Long Beach, California while staying in town.

Long Beach is home to a pier which offers delicious restaurants, candy shops, and fun little shops. We enjoyed spending some time there and getting candy apples. Stay tuned for my restaurant recap which will post tomorrow! We also went to a couple of museums and the beach. Here are a few fabulous things to do in Long Beach, California if you are ever in this part of Los Angeles.

Pacific Island Ethnic Art Museum

The Pacific Island Ethnic Art Museum is a small celebration of artwork and culture from the islands in the Pacific, and Oceana in general. We enjoyed seeing and learning about a few traditions from the islands, such as the personalized love sticks young men would stick into the home of a young lady they were courting as a proposal of marriage.

This museum is a must-see when you are in the Long Beach area! You can learn more at their website at pieam.org.

Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA)

pictured: work by Fernando Botero and an outdoor sculpture from the events garden

The Museum of Latin American Art is across the street from the Pacific Islands Ethnic Art Museum, so you can visit both museums in the same day! Love that!

This museum showcases a few collections from Latin American Artists. We enjoyed seeing collections from Yolanda Gonzalez and Fernando Botero. Botero was my favorite. The MOLAA also has special events, and the exhibitions rotate. You can learn more about the MOLAA at MOLAA.org.

Alamitos Beach

Of course, how can you visit Long Beach without going to the beach?! The word “beach” is literally in the name! haha

Near the pier you will find a beautiful beach, which isn’t too crowded, named Alamitos Beach. It is a nice escape from the city, which still has a city view on the backside.

You know I will always plug a great handbag! This tote bag turned out to be perfect for a road trip! It is really comfortable to wear while stuffed with random items, and it can double as a great beach bag. The seams must be pretty tight because I didn’t get one grain of sand inside. Love that!

What was packed in my Long Beach suitcase:

It was a quick trip for only two days, but we enjoyed the attractions we were able to see while visiting Long Beach. Stay tuned for my restaurant recap, which will post on the blog tomorrow.

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO
Cathy

pictured below: work by Yolanda Gonzalez from the MOLAA

Louis Vuitton x Yayoi Kusama Sarah wallet

 in General Fashion / Handbags  tagged art / collaborations / louis vuitton / wallets by
louis vuitton x yayoi kusama
louis vuitton x yayoi kusama second collab
louis vuitton sarah wallet yayoi kusama

pictured: Louis Vuitton x Yayoi Kusama Sarah wallet /

How pretty is this long wallet from the Louis Vuitton x Yayoi Kusama collaboration! I am so excited!

As you know, I am fan of Yayoi Kusama’s artwork. I love her whimsical work with polka dots and her pop-art vibe. It is amazing how she expresses her inner feelings through pop-art. Normally pop-art, and the whole pop-art scene in the 1960s in general, was fun, but Kusama expressed really deep, troubled emotions and mental health issues through her art. It is a combination of the colorful pop-art of the 1960s and the inner depths of the classical artist. I feel honored to be able to have a small piece of her work, even if it is on a wallet. She truly is an icon of the art world.

The first collaboration Yayoi Kusama did with Louis Vuitton was roughly ten years ago, and at that time I invested in a small, polka dot handbag. This time around, I wanted more than just cute polka dots, I wanted something reflective of Kusama’s art itself, so I decided to invest in the Louis Vuitton Sarah Wallet. I don’t own a long wallet, and it seemed like both a practical item to purchase as well as large enough to showcase Yayoi Kusama’s collaboration with Louis Vuitton. Love!

If you haven’t checked out the collaboration yet, I highly recommend doing so! There are plenty of pumpkins to choose from, and if pumpkins aren’t your thing, there are several color combinations of Yayoi Kusama’s signature polka dots. I love the blue pieces and also the black with magenta. Of course, I already have a piece of her black and white polka dots from the first collaboration with Louis Vuitton.

I love how Louis Vuitton packaged the collaboration this time around. The polka dot ribbon is so pretty and the box is ideal for storage. I plan to keep all of the packaging because it makes the collaboration whole.

Yayoi Kusama around the web:

What do you think of the second collaboration between Louis Vuitton and Yayoi Kusama? Did you invest in any pieces the first time around, or this time?

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO
Cathy

polka dots yayoi kusama

Things to do in Central PA

 in Travel  tagged art / central pa / lifestyle by

Things to do in Central Pennsylvania

penn state football

State College PA

Looking for a vacation which doesn’t involve a big city? Why not check out historical, Central Pennsylvania! You can easily fly into State College, PA and then travel around from there. While this list may not be complete, these activities should fill up a few days of your vacation and get you out and about in Central PA!

The first thing you need to do is check out the on-campus museum at Penn State named The Palmer Museum of Art. This is an international museum with works from ancient civilizations through to modern times. I loved finding a Warhol, a Rembrandt, and the special exhibits which rotate every semester. This museum is incredible!

For more information about the Palmer Museum, please visit Palmermuseum.psu.edu.

Since the Palmer Museum of Art is on campus, which happens to be in downtown State College, be sure to walk around and enjoy the historical buildings, local shops, and street art. Isn’t that bench, pictured above by the library, fabulous?

For a meal, you will want to indulge in The Corner Room or Allen Street Grill. They are historical restaurants with amazing food, and even better service. Yum!

If you are in town during the football season, be sure to go to a Penn State game. It is an iconic football school!

Lincoln Canverns

You cannot visit Central PA without checking out the caves! Lincoln Caverns offers tours which last roughly one hour and are extremely informative. We really enjoyed touring there!

For information about tours and more, please visit LincolnCanverns.com.

Gettysburg PA

You cannot visit Central PA without going to Gettysburg! There is a museum, historical downtown, and more. We spent the day touring the town, learning the history, and appreciating what our fabulous Union army accomplished. You can head straight to the museum to buy tickets for tours, get information, and more.

Boalsburg PA

Boalsburg is next door to State College, and home to Tussey Mountain as well as an expansive military museum. This is a great place to get some snow play, skiing, and history in for the day.

For more information about Tussey Mountain, please visit TusseyMountain.com.

Rockhill Furnace PA

How cute is this train! There is a tiny town named Rockhill Furnace which offers extra small town vibes, and a one hour train ride. It is a fun to ride a train and learn about the history of this small town. You can learn more at RockhillTrolley.org.

There you have it! A few fun things to do in Central PA which should fill up a vacation if you don’t mind a little driving from where you flew into town. Sometimes you can find gems away from the big city. Enjoy central Pennsylvania!