Category Archives: Carmel Lifestyle

Alain Pinel Realtors/Relocation, Carmel Lifestyle, Community Events

Living the #Carmellifestyle ~ Bopping around Carmel on a sunny Saturday!

Living the #Carmellifestyle . . .  by the way, what does that mean anyway?  I guess it’s different for everyone depending on “what floats your boat” but I’ll give you a taste of what I think is fun around Carmel, because that’s just what I did yesterday on a gorgeous Saturday morning.  (Yes, realtors do take a day off once in a while!)  I started off the day having a lovely breakfast with my hubby and then after a kiss good-bye, I took off on my adventure.

Mantra Salon, at Mission and 7th, in the Court of the Fountains
Mantra Salon, at Mission and 7th, in the Court of the Fountains

First stop was my appointment with Veronica, owner of Mantra Salon, for a cut and color.  She is so amazing and I always feel beautiful when I walk out of there.!  Since I’m preparing for a trip I had a long list of “to do’s” and having my hair done was #1.

Court of the Fountains, Mission & 7th
Court of the Fountains, Mission & 7th

Mantra Salon looks out onto this beautiful courtyard, Court of the Fountains – how Carmel is that!  As I left sporting my new do, I noted the mark on my tires,  and knew it was time to move my car before the meter maid came around again.   I found a lucky spot right on Ocean Avenue right where The Art Festival was in full gear.

23rd Annual Art Festival & Plein Air Competition
23rd Annual Art Festival & Plein Air Competition

Artists come from all over the country to participate in the Annual Art Festival & Plein Air Competition.  They scatter themselves all over the Monterey Peninsula Wednesday – Friday painting all of our wonderful scenery.

Painting of the Carmel Mission by Julie Khyler
Painting of the Carmel Mission by Julie Khyler

Then the paintings are hung in the outside gallery on Mission St. between Ocean and 6th for viewing, judging, and bidding on.  The winning bidders will take home the paintings to hang in their homes.

Viewers admiring the paintings.
Viewers admiring the paintings.
Painting of the Pacific Grove ice plant in bloom by Monika Johnson
Painting of the Pacific Grove ice plant in bloom by Monika Johnson

All of a sudden I spotted a very familiar scene.  Stacy Barter had painted our charming Alain Pinel Realtors office in downtown Carmel and her painting had won first prize in the Plein Air Competition!

Painting of the Alain Pinel Realtors office in Carmel by Stacy Barter
Painting of the Alain Pinel Realtors office in Carmel by Stacy Barter
First prize in the Plein Air Competition
First prize in the Plein Air Competition
Susan (moi) admiring Stacy's painting
Susan (moi) admiring Stacy’s painting

Well, that was certainly a wonderful discovery, but my stomach was growling so I headed to Carmel Plaza  to the Carmel Coffee and Cocoa Bar

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to grab a delicious Greek Salad before the fashion show which would  begin at 1:00pm.

Greek salad with chicken at Carmel Coffee and Cocoa Bar
Greek salad with chicken at Carmel Coffee and Cocoa Bar

Mira Schumacher, the owner of the cafe, greets her customers by name and makes them feel very welcome . . . and has dynamite food!  Since the cafe has both indoor and outdoor seating, I settled on a table in the sun to enjoy the lovely weather as well as the 60’s music that was already blaring throughout the plaza to put us in the 60’s mood.

Outdoor tables among the gardens in the plaza.
Outdoor tables among the gardens in the plaza.
Fashion Show with a 60's theme in the Plaza
Fashion Show with a 60’s theme in the Plaza

After lunch I hurried to a seat in the area of the  plaza where the Fashion Show was to take place.  The master of ceremonies was just about to begin.

Master of Ceremonies introduces the fashion show.
Master of Ceremonies introduces the fashion show.

I’ve always loved Fashion Shows so was really looking forward to it!

Here we go . . .

Model on the runway in Carmel Plaza.
Model on the runway in Carmel Plaza.

 

to be continued . . . .

 

Carmel Lifestyle, Holidays

Happy Teacher’s Day ~ #Carmellifestyle#aprcarmel

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Best wishes to all the teachers out there for your dedication, your caring, and your hard work.

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“Teachers.  I believe, are the most responsible and important members of society, because their professional efforts affect the fate of the earth.”

Before becoming a realtor, I spent many years teaching in the San Francisco Unified School district (4th and 5th grades mostly) and it was only once my first students began to get about 20+ years old and I started running into them around town that I realized what influence we, as teachers, had on our students.

Golden Gate Bridge with the San Francisco skyline in the background.
Golden Gate Bridge with the San Francisco skyline in the background.

For one thing, students never forget what you tell them.  Oh, they forget most of the words of the Gettysburg Address even though you thought you had drilled it into their heads, but they do remember 20 years later that your favorite ice cream was French vanilla!  I remember mothers of students telling me that an expression they heard over and over again was,  “Miss Clark said . . . If only I had known at the time when they were coming out of my mouth how powerful my words were to the students I was teaching.

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It was always fun running into past students after they had grown up.  I remember standing on a street corner in SF one day waiting to cross the street when Jimmy, now 25 years old and a mortgage broker, jumped out of his car which was stopped at a red light and ran up to me saying, “Miss Clark, it’s so good to see you!”  He then in the middle of the street while traffic was waiting behind his stopped car, apologized to me for being such a trying student in the 5th grade!  He was a smart kid, but loved to play basketball more than any subject I could offer.  Obviously, he came around to his brilliance as a student later on.

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I could go on and on telling my stories, but what I want to do today is to say, “THANK YOU!” to all the teachers that are still out there teaching our young and the leaders of tomorrow.  I don’t think we ever really stop being students so teachers . . .  keep teaching!

We love you!

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Carmel Lifestyle, Communities, Quotes

Have a great Monday #Carmellifestyle#aprcarmel

Grocho Marx
Groucho Marx

Each morning when I open my eyes I say to myself: I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today.  I can choose which it shall be.  Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn’t arrived yet.  I have just one day, today, and I’m going to be happy in it.

— Groucho Marx

The white sands of Carmel Beach
The white sands of Carmel Beach

Make it a great day!