A Time to Celebrate Friends and Sunday Morning Coffee

After a crazy week of Amazon Prime Day, this weekend was the time to celebrate friends. Five of my closest friends joined me in Ventura for lots of fun, sun, and celebrating.

Thanks for joining me for Sunday Morning Coffee. This is where we share, learn, explain, dream, and have fun.

Six women wearing matching peach tops stand together on a balcony overlooking the beach with houses and the ocean in the background.

Season 5 Volume 28

Collage with a cozy interior featuring a dining area, kitchen, and coffee-themed text: "Sunday Morning Coffee.

About Me

Older woman with white hair raises a red drink while seated at an outdoor table set for a meal by the ocean, with food and drinks visible on the table.

Dave has been golfing in Scotland all week, so of course I planned a girls’ weekend at the beach. We are having the best time, and I love weekends like this. They are filled with relaxation, laughter, and lots of fun activities.

For those of you asking, here is the link to our amazing sweatshirts.

Two women wearing matching peach-colored tops sit closely together at a bar, smiling at the camera. Dodgers signs and drinks are visible in the background.

We started the weekend at an excellent restaurant in Ojai, Nocciola. It’s amusing that I’ve been trying to find this restaurant for years. I dined here with clients many years ago, and for some reason, I couldn’t remember the name. I just remembered the incredible food and the fabulous porch.

It’s a miracle I happened to find it on Yelp, and as soon as I saw the photos, I knew this was it!

I’m looking forward to taking Dave here. It was that good!

We also had a great time at the beach. Lazy afternoons with girlfriends, reading, and relaxation were precisely what we needed.

We grilled dinner on the deck on Saturday and enjoyed lots of cocktails and homemade ice cream. What a perfect way to celebrate summer.

We also found some time for biking, which I enjoyed so much!

A Ninja food processor with a main container of blended mixture attached, plus three additional jars with gray, yellow, and red lids beside it—an ideal pick to snag during Amazon Prime Day.

Ninja CREAMi

Gevi Household V2.0 Countertop Gemi Nugget Ice Maker

Four clear margarita glasses, two filled with drinks—one yellow with lime, mint, and sugar rim, one pink with a lemon slice—are displayed alongside two empty glasses and a product box.

LUNA & MANTHA Martini Glasses

My Latest Project

A set of interconnected white ceramic bowls with uneven gold edges, arranged on a flat surface. — My inspiration on Amazon

I will return to the pottery studio this week after a two-week break to try a new project. I love these appetizer plates/bowls/trays (I have no idea what to call this), but they are expensive, and I decided I should try to make my own.

We all know I could buy one on Amazon (they call it a Serving Cluster Bowls), but I am ready to try to make my own.

Prices for these on Amazon range between $200 and $300, and I think I could make this for about $30.

Makes sense, right?

A set of white ceramic bowls with gold rims arranged on a light wood surface, labeled with a tag reading "Strobler.

I think it’s worth a try. What do you think?

If you love this as much as I do, I think you should go ahead and buy one unless you want to learn hand-building clay pottery! Hehe.

I may sometimes use affiliate links on this blog, which means a small commission is earned if you purchase via the link. The price will be the same whether you use the affiliate link or go directly to the vendor’s website using a non-affiliate link.

A cluster of irregularly shaped, white ceramic bowls with gold-toned rims connected together, displayed on a white background. — Zodax Cluster of Nine Round Serving Bowls

An overhead view of assorted cookies, chocolates, and pastries arranged in five connected gold bowls on a white background. — The Refined Dwelling 5 Cluster Serving Tray

Five white ceramic bowls with brown rims, four arranged on a matching tray and one separate, which is filled with pistachios. — ONEMORE Chip and Dip Serving Set

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My Biggest Challenge This Week

Two raised wooden garden beds with lush green plants growing up and around a black metal arch, set outdoors with trees in the background.

Who is eating my tomatoes?

I have no idea, but it’s so frustrating. My guess is squirrels, but it could also be birds. We don’t have any rabbits, and I don’t think anyone is coming into our backyard.

But whoever it is has been able to figure out how only to take (or eat) the ripe ones.

Seriously?

I bought some netting on Amazon and tented all four of my raised garden beds. I really like this black netting because it offers good protection, but it’s not visible. So your garden still looks great.

Green unripe tomatoes growing on a vine with abundant leaves, supported by a black garden stake and surrounded by protective netting.

A hand holds up a section of torn black garden netting in front of leafy plants, some with brown, wilted leaves.

When I get back home later today, I cannot wait to see if my defensive idea has worked.

What do you think?

A hand with pink nail polish holds a section of black garden netting near green plants and soil in an outdoor setting.

Outdoor Garden Arch

A roll of black plastic mesh netting partially unrolled, showing a grid pattern. — Bird Netting, 7.5 x 100 FT

Raised Garden Bed Planter

Get back into the pottery studio and finish my long wish list of projects.
Start creating content for my new collaboration with Calico Corners! It’s so exciting.
Plan Ellie’s baby shower. I cannot wait to host it next month.

A wicker vase holds a mixed bouquet of pink, white, and purple flowers on a set dining table with glassware and teal vases.

Mine are in full bloom, and I love this article titled Decorating with Hydrangeas.

Pink macramé in progress on a wooden dowel next to gold scissors, a coiled pink cord, and a Stanley 12 ft tape measure on a white surface.

I haven’t done this craft in a long time and think you might enjoy this How To Macrame: A Step By Step Guide For Beginners.

This is a great recipe to make Peach Popsicles.

Collage showing a tidy bedroom, organized pantry shelves with jars and baskets, neatly stacked dishes, and a bright kitchen with orange blinds. Text reads "2 Two Minute Decluttering Habits to Save You Time.

All of us should read 22 Two-Minute Decluttering Habits That Will Save You Time.

A pair of green rain boots filled with gardening gloves, seed packets, flowers, a small shovel, a rolled-up mat, and a Martha Stewart gardening book on a speckled table.

I love these 5 Easy Creative Summer Gift Ideas.

A red popsicle mold set with six compartments, popsicle sticks, a cleaning brush, plastic bags, a blue funnel, and an instruction booklet. — Homemade Popsicle Molds, Silicone, Makes 10

Clear glass jar with a wide mouth, wrapped in a woven rattan sleeve around the lower half—a stylish addition to your backyard putting green décor.

Bloomingville 8″H Glass Vase with Decorative Cane Sleeve

Short Rain Boots

And what a week it was!

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