Miami is one long Endless Summer, just what I needed last week. Then, when I get back to NYC, it’s summer here too, yay! Happy Memorial Day everyone, may this summer be warm, endless and filled with lots of picnics and backyard parties.

These new Minnetonka boots will be with me for a very long time, I just have a feeling…

/// tank from F21 / old Levi’s 501 DIY cutoffs / scarf, it’s a mystery / mood, silly ///

Despite a few glasses of beer, sangria and wine last night, I woke up early. My lovely hostess and I went to one of my favorite brunch places in Miami, A La Folie on Española Way, for a nice sunny sidewalk breakfast.

I broke my no coffee and dairy diet with my favorite bowl of latte.

And since I was cheating anyways, why not have a crepe with smoked salmon, brie and mushrooms? I am on vacation after all…

But, there was fresh-squeezed OJ, and fruit.

And a basket of tartine and croissants, ooops.

I dressed to match my breakfast, just something I like to do. And, I am realizing that I may need a haircut, since my hair seems to have begun defying gravity.

It’s nice to be on Española Way in the morning, when it’s quiet and peaceful. Quite the opposite of what it looks like at night.

A La Folie is on 516 Española Way (at Drexel). Get the savory crepes or the Royal breakfast.

Back in January, when I was in Hawaii, we were planning to go horseback riding.

Turns out we should have done the planning-part a little better, because all the rides were full.

Instead, we found this gorgeous path behind the horse ranch, where we made some new horse buddies.

At the end of the path was our reward: a pretty secluded beach.

/// chambray shirt, H&M / old tank, Marshalls / shorts, Roxy / backpack, Fjällräven Kånken / flipflops, Havaianas, from The Standard Spa in Miami ///

It was a misty morning here in NYC, but clearly these images are not from here.

I temporarily misplaced the drive I used to store my newest pics, but instead was happy to find these…

…from another wonderful misty morning, on the Windward side of Oahu.

I miss digging my toes into that cool sand.

And waking up to the sound of nothing but waves crashing on the beach. Total bliss.

While in Baltimore a few weeks ago, I went to check out the American Visionary Art Museum.

Anything can be art, it’s all in the eye of the beholder, right?

“Visionary art as defined for the purposes of the American Visionary Art Museum refers to art produced by self-taught individuals, usually without formal training, whose works arise from an innate personal vision that revels foremost in the creative act itself.”

In other words, things created by visionaries, geniuses, amateurs and random crazies, in most cases never intended to be art.

Which makes it all the more interesting. Plus points for a great restaurant on the top floor.

The Visionary Art Museum is located at the base of historic Federal Hill, adjacent to downtown Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, and is open 10:00am – 6:00pm, Tuesday – Sunday.

I spent the latter part of this week in Baltimore, new territory for me. One cold and overcast afternoon I went to explore the Fells Point neighborhood.

Like much I saw of the city there were piers, boats and great old hand painted signage on brick buildings.

Amazingly rich visual texture everywhere you look.

In an attempt to brighten things up underneath the colorless sky I wore my favorite orange coat (which is actually bright orange), bought in Toronto two years ago.

We could have traveled to Fells Point by Water Taxi, but the New Yorker in me enjoys her walks too much.

Even though I am not a big fan of seagulls, they undeniably add a certain ambiance to it all. There were no other people around… perfect picturesque serenity.

After waking up on that Sunday in the desert, we headed to 29 Palms Inn for brunch. The Inn has been around since 1928 and has been known to attract a celebrity or two.

We did not park in the lawn mower parking. But, we did check out the on-site farm, where much of the produce (as much as you can reasonably produce in the desert) for the restaurant is grown.

There was a hammock. I love hammocks!

There were also grapes, most of which had shriveled on the vine and almost turned into raisins because of the heat. These were the pretty ones.

The atmosphere is refreshingly laid-back, and the room (bugalow, really) rates are pretty affordable.

This cute one is called Gold Park, has two queen beds, a sun porch, a hammock and could be yours for a night for between $90-175, depending on the season.

Despite the heat, we decided to enjoy our brunch outside, by the pool.

It was yummy.

We also had mimosas, a weekend-must, before we headed off to Joshua Tree National Park. Great start to a great day.

See my other desert posts here, here, here and here.

I spent all of 21 hours in Dallas this week. Hour 0: Grabbed a taxi at the airport.

Watched the sun set through the trees as we hit the road, windows wide open. “You want AC or you want fresh air?” the cab driver said. “Fresh air, please.” I said, wondering to myself how fresh this Texas airport air could really be.

Hour 0.5: Getting closer to the city, the sun is almost down.

Hour 1: Hello Fairmont mini-bar. You will remain untouched because your prices are far too outrageous.

Hello fluffy hotel bed. I laid down and watched TV for a bit, seems like a must when you arrive at a hotel room by yourself.

Hour 2: Spent at the hotel gym. Hour 3: Spent patting myself on the back for going to the gym. And taking a shower. Hour 4: Room service dinner arrives, spring pea risotto with morels, artichokes and parmesan — a disappoinment (there was like a half a morel in there). There was warm bread and a little surprise dessert though, that makes me happy.

Hour 5: One last look out the window before lights went out. That billboard with the huge woman’s face creeped me out more than once. Hour 5.5-13: Sleep.

Hour 13: Good morning Dallas. Watched some morning-TV. Hour 14-17: Worked at the hotel. Hour 17-19: At the meeting I came for.

Hour 20: A sub at the airport gate. Hour 21: Goodbye Dallas, I feel like we barely got to know eachother.