Mama Without Borders: tour

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Store tour: Jonathan Adler's colorful and funky world

It was, as they say, destiny that the Jonathan Adler store and I would meet. A little silly, perhaps, but I can't help thinking this because I really did just happen upon his store by accident. It's hard to believe since I'm a big fan of his decorating philosophy, but I had no idea that there is a Jonathan Adler store at the Fashion Island mall in Newport Beach. First of all, the mall is huge, the stores tend to be hugely expensive and I'm on a strict budget these days, but sometimes even a little window shopping can feel like retail therapy, especially when it's outdoors.

You can imagine my surprise when I walked by with my kids and immediately spotted the colorful interior.

Jonathan Adler speaks my language!

Elegant yet fun

Cozy to the max

Retro hip

Perfect dose of pattern

Feminine and flirty

Kid-size sofa with loads of style

A little over the top

for a girl’s bedroom, but oh so fun

Choices galore

You’ll want more than just one

Pretty housewares

See you again soon!

I should mention that the salespeople were absolutely the best, ever so helpful and friendly, allowing me to take as many photographs as I wanted. Their friendliness made my store experience a pleasant one. I would expect no less from a store named after a man whose manifesto says: "I believe that your home should make you happy."

These photos are really just a taste of the many Jonathan Adler products available, but I must confess that my favorite piece of Jonathan Adler is his first book, "My Prescription for Anti-Depressive Living." Obviously not a tome for the unhappy, but a guide for creating a home that makes you happy. He has two other books out, which I hope to get my hands on soon.

The Jonathan Adler store in Fashion Island is one of twelve in the United States. It's at 579 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, Calif. (949) 759-0017.

I hope these glimpses into Jonathan Adler's world brightened your weekend.

Tour: Doors of Santa Fe

So many people fall in love with Santa Fe, but for me it wasn't love at first sight or even a torrid affair. You would think I would have at least become aware of my feelings at some point while living in Santa Fe for three years. But no. My love for Santa Fe developed slowly and caught me off-guard.

It wasn't until I had moved out and was unpacking my down jacket at my new home in Los Angeles that I broke down and cried for what I had given up. A new job had prompted the move to California, but my lifelong love for Santa Fe has taken me back many times since I left in 1996. This last trip, over Labor Day weekend, was to celebrate my 40th birthday (a gift courtesy of my mom and sister).

The door shown above is hands down my favorite of all the ones I photographed this weekend. Not only did the store sell beautifully crafted textiles, but the warm colors just drew me into the store. Unfortunately, I couldn't afford much inside, but I enjoyed seeing many colorful creations.

I used to pass this door many times throughout my work week, always slowing my step just a bit to give myself time to admire the craftsmanship of all the products displayed in the windows.

You can find murals on many walls in Santa Fe, but fewer on doors. This one was a surprise, on a side door that doesn't get much use.

As a book-lover, my heart goes pitter-patter just looking at these doors to one of the libraries in the city.

This little adobe structure caught my eye, reminding me of my first home in Santa Fe, a tiny adobe house with a front door so old that light streamed in through the wooden slats.

Of course, color is one of the features that sets apart the doors of Santa Fe. At first glance, Santa Fe can seem like a sea of brown adobe, but look closer and you are rewarded with colorful doors such as this one.

These doors lead to a popular local coffee shop, where students, intellectuals and others hang out with their cup of joe.

This one caught my eye because of the large shady tree in front of it. it just seemed warm and inviting, with its colorful window garden.

I had less than an hour to shop in this store, a rather large place with a little something for everyone, with vintage and new offerings in everything from home decor to cowboy-wear to kids' clothing. it was a rather eclectic but happy store, just like this mural on one of their doors.

I love the weathered texture on this door because, as always, I'm drawn to things that have endured for a long time.

Store tour: Whimsical creations to adorn every room

Many of my shopping expeditions these days begin with my nose pressed against the glass of the window display.

This is one of the display windows at Whim in Southern California

This is just the way life with two little kids can be and I simply find creative ways to shop with the kiddos without the threat of A) draining our bank account due to having to pay for items broken by bored and/or rambunctious kids or B) draining our bank account and not being able to pay our son's preschool tuition because mama went a little wild buying things up in the store.

When I first discovered Whim, I admired the vignette in the window for a few minutes. You may remember how much I love pink, so I took a couple photos to tuck into my inspiration folder.

But really that wasn't enough, so I plotted my return so I could take a peek inside the store. It took a couple months since the store is about an hour away from where I live, but I returned with my two kids in tow and two adults (my husband and mom) to help watch the little ones while I browsed inside the store.

Even the walk leading up to the store entrance was so inviting.

It really felt like I was going to someone's home.

First, the garden room:

Let's go inside now:

This made me want to sit right down at the desk and begin penning a note to someone:

This is one of the "living rooms." Entire rooms were furnished as though an event was about to take place or at the ready for a family gathering.

Gorgeous accessories abounded for every corner of the home. A limted but highly selective collection of books reeled me in.

For once, I didn't browse the book stacks for long since there were so many things to see and admire.

I'll definitely have to return. Thankfully, Whim is just a short walk away from the train station, a small children's zoo and many other tourist attractions (including an antique mall right across the street) in historic downtown San Juan Capistrano.

Whim: 31831 Camino Capistrano, 949.388.9600

Gallery tour: arts from a castle-topped hill

Perched on the highest hill in Lisbon, Portugal, the Colorida gallery beckons to art-lovers with a beautiful setting and more.

Let's take a virtual tour through this gallery, which looks beautiful inside and out. Colorida is located in a building that is more than 150 years old, right in the center of historic Lisbon. As if all that wasn't enough to lure visitors, Colorida is also located next to the Castle of Sao Jorge. Really, I can't imagine a more perfect setting.

So, let's imagine we are roaming the halls here:

Maybe enjoying some wine and cheese with fellow art patrons.

But the main reason we're here is:

"Who is afraid of looking upward?" by Brazilian photographer Silvio Zamboni

The wonderful art. Beautiful and thought-provoking, the artwork is created by a roster of artists from all over the world.

Jose Roberto Moreira from Colorida wrote me in an e-mail a few days ago that the gallery is always on the lookout for artists from countries everywhere. He wrote that their goal is to exhibit original works of artists with varied techniques and styles, representing countries as diverse as Africa, South America, Canada, and Australia, among others.

Take a look at some of their other offerings:

Photographer Ana Rojas.

Painter Rocha Maia

"The Line of Mario Vale" by Mario Vale, a cartoonist whose creations offer commentary on social issues and other topics.

Watercolor painter Claudia Simoes

Photographer Renate Hartfiel

The gallery's website offers you the option of reading in four different languages: English, Spanish, Portuguese and French. Go take a look and explore the work from their other artists.

All photos used with permission from Colorida.

Store tour: Funky vintage store

Stepping into Pitipua Vintage is like going to visit your stylish best friend. You want to raid the closet and stay a while just to soak up the style.

The store in San Juan, Puerto Rico is a giant treasure box of vintage finds from different decades.

As if that wasn't enough for fans of vintage style, store owners took the styling one step further. They used vintage furniture, artwork and accessories to create an inviting ambiance replicating the looks of different eras. Though my stay in Puerto Rico was only a few days, I suspect this is one place where the hip people of Puerto Rico congregate.

Take a look at this collage below the cash register counter. Those are newspapers decoupaged to form the background of this intriguing piece of art depicting a woman with bird in her hands. Let's take a closer look:

This store reminded me a lot of the Anthropologie stores, where the imaginative styling turns ordinary objects into art and engages customers on an emotional level.

A collection of female portraits hangs above the shoe display, subtly hinting at the link between image and self-identity that shoes often reveal.

Another collection of vintage artwork above this clothes rack depicts women in dresses from various historical periods.

A cluster of decorative, brightly colored plates hangs above another clothes rack. I had to stop myself from grabbing some of the decorative items to take to the cash register so I could pay for them and take them home with me.

Perhaps store workers could have packaged my goods in one of these vintage suitcases?

Oh, wait. You can't go yet. There is more to see in this leopard-print room, whose funky, edgier vibe seemed to blend nicely with the vintage-inspired front room.

Lovely clothing adorned mannequins and other display areas here.

What a lovely dress and outrageously cute belt to wear to a party, perhaps?

This skirt would be great for dancing.

Warhol-inspired purses were among some of the newly made accessories scattered throughout the store, providing opportunities for up-and-coming young designers and others in the indie movement to find a home for their wares.

Remember the jelly shoes from the 80s? Here's the modern, grown-up version in bright, summery colors perfect for the hot Puerto Rican weather.

Let me show you one last room before we leave. Though this houses the men's clothing and accesories, I felt quite at home here. It's no surprise, I suppose, since there were so many good books around: