Category Archives: Lifestyle

The Artist’s Touch

Posted on by under Creative Energy, Lifestyle

We Need It More Than Ever

Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel

There’s a lot of news about the economic effect the coronavirus is having on businesses, which have limited their activities or even closed their doors. The virus has affected restaurants, retailers, shopping malls, manufacturers, farmers, and just about every type of business.

One group that’s feeling the pain, but doesn’t get any media attention, is artists. Making a living as an artist is difficult in the best of times. Now, it’s harder than ever with studios and galleries closed and everyone at home.

SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel know how important art is in enhancing our lives and lifting our spirits. Throughout history artists have used their brushes and pens to create beauty out of chaos and despair.

 

Now, at a time when not only mankind, but the environment, is under assault…

beach and surf artists are capturing the joy of the ocean and the thrill of surfing in memorable images that enable us to transcend the confines of our stay-at-home days.

 

SurfWriter Girls love Robb Havassy’s glorious sunsets and Colleen Gnos’s mermaids.

Ron Croci’s bold paint strokes celebrate the surfer’s strength and Nathan Gibbs’ mystical paintings remind us of the fragility of the ocean ecosystem.

Dave Reynolds’ minimalist surf art has maximum impact and Heather Brown’s whimsical island scenes put a smile on your face,

while Drew Brophy takes you to a fantasy world…

and Kim Hamrock expresses the excitement of surfing as only a champion surfer can.

To get us through the rough times and help us to make sense of the world, more than ever we need the artist’s touch. Brophy’s wife Maria Brophy has started an online writing group to help people find inner peace and tap their creativity.

Bridging the gaps in a new age of social distancing, art gives us a sense of community and reminds us of the wonders around us…if we take the time to look.

Even though the art galleries are closed, the works of all these artists are available on the Internet. Just click on their names. When you’re online shopping for “essentials,” why not add art to your list?

Surf’n Beach Scene Magazine

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One Day At A Time

Posted on by under Lifestyle

Neighbors Helping Neighbors

Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel

Faced with empty food shelves in supermarkets or the difficulty in going shopping – especially for seniors – we’re all thinking about food…and toilet paper, too.

SurfWriter Girl Patti woke up this morning thinking about the 1962 book One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Nobel Prize-winning author Alexander Solzhenitsyn. How’s that for a strange thought to start the day?

Like many of you, she read the book in high school and remembers the deprivations that Denisovich goes through trying to survive in a Russian gulag (prison work camp) in the freezing Siberian cold with minimal food to eat. He ate every morsel of the meager fish portion he got and then boiled the bones for broth and sucked the marrow out.

Things haven’t gotten that bad yet. And, thankfully, members of our communities are stepping in to help neighbors in need.

Around the country mini food pantries the size of kids’ lemonade stands – like this one SurfWriter Girls friends Cindy and David Kirby in Anaheim, CA, put up – are popping up on lawns and driveways to help get food and necessities to neighbors.

If you need a can of soup or a fresh tomato, just take it. Or even a book to read. And, if you can drop off something for someone else, just leave it. The motto is: “Take what you need. If you have something to spare, please share.”

At SurfWriter Girl Patti and Greg’s house they put this big teddy bear in the window so the kids can see it when they walk by with their parents. Ted puts a smile on everyone’s face…something we all need now.

With good will and charity to others like this, we’ll find a way to get through the coronavirus situation. Just remember Alexander Solzhenitsyn. He survived eight years in a gulag.

We will survive, too…one day at a time.

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Tea Time Treasure

Posted on by under Food, Lifestyle

Incredible Journeys by the Cuppa

Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel 

With all of us staying at home and having to make do with limited food supplies, SurfWriter Girl Sunny Magdaug made a great discovery in her cupboard – a treasure trove of teas to choose from.

“I didn’t realize I had so many,” she says. “A tea chest, half-filled boxes and tins of teas gathered over several years. From everyday Lipton to upscale Earl Grey, organic to exotic.”

SurfWriter Girl Patti Kishel looked in her cupboard and was pleasantly surprised to find a stash of teas, as well. “Not only are they delicious and soothing,” says Patti, “but, in these home-bound times, they take us on journeys to faraway places that are just a cup away.”

Patti’s sister Eileen Ferris, who lives in Newington, CT, found some interesting teas, too, including a Bigelow green tea with pomegranate.

Some of SurfWriter Girls’ teas were gifts from our friend Lesley Meredith, who lives in Sammamish, Washington. Of Scottish descent, Lesley is always ready to share a “cuppa” with friends.

And, after a visit to the Empress Hotel in Victoria, British Columbia, with her husband Steve, Lesley sent us a box of tea from the world-renowned hotel.

This past summer Lesley also sent us teas from the exclusive tea purveyor Harney and Sons, including one called Murder on the Orient Express – that really takes us on a journey!

Whether it’s tea, coffee, spices, wine, or some other special find in your pantry, there may be a treasure waiting to cheer your day…

and spirit you away on an adventure – while staying safe at home.

Surf’n Beach Scene Magazine

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A Bowl of Comfort

Posted on by under Food, Lifestyle

Sunny’s Special Soup

Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel

With the stress and strain that all of us are feeling, it’s nice to know that little acts of kindness can make things better.

When SurfWriter Girl Patti talked to her longtime friend Kathleen Mulcahy this week Kathleen told her that she and her neighbors are helping each other and that she made chicken soup for a neighbor in her eighties who is recovering from pneumonia.

It wasn’t easy finding ingredients, but the woman’s smile made it worth it.

Inspired by this, SurfWriter Girls decided to make a pot of Sunny’s Special Soup – her homemade vegetable soup that keeps the chill away – and share the recipe with you.

Given today’s difficult shopping environment, it’s a recipe that encourages you to be creative and use whatever is on hand whether it’s fresh, frozen or canned veggies.

If you have any chicken, you can add it, too. Or maybe some sliced sausage or even hot dogs. Sunny made some changes this time by adding a can of diced tomatoes and a couple of sliced potatoes – “Because I happened to have them.”

The recipe is easy. Start by sauteing chopped fresh or frozen onions. If adding meat, brown it in the pot. Then add 32 oz. of broth (any kind you like) and two cups of water. Season to taste. Sunny uses salt and pepper, assorted spices from the cupboard, and parsley and cilantro (if available).

When the meat is done she adds the veggies and cooks everything for 20 minutes. And, to jazz it up, If you have a lemon or lime, squeeze in a little juice at the end.

Serve with bread, rolls or crackers…and enjoy a warm bowl of comfort – with enough to share.

Kathleen says that if you know someone in need, help them as much as you can. And, if you’re the one in need, let others help you. Even if we’re temporarily distanced from one another we can still build community…

 a spoonful at a time.

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Mugging It Up!

Posted on by under Lifestyle

Tiki Style

Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel

Soon after the island-themed Don the Beachcomber and Trader Vic’s restaurants started serving tropical island cocktails in the early 1950s, the tiki mug came on the scene.

Fun to drink out of and to take home as souvenirs, the ceramic mugs with the smiling tiki god faces became a permanent part of our culture.

Exotic and irreverent, the mugs tell of far-away lands and adventure.

They invite us to indulge in a drink and give in to escapist fantasies far from the maddening crowd.

Filled with Polynesian drinks from rum punch and Singapore slings to mai tais and zombies, the tiki mugs take us away to the South Seas.

More than just kitsch, tiki mugs are recognized as an art form now and are even displayed in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.

Like the American spirit itself, the tiki mug represents a feeling of optimism and a sense of endless possibilities freed from everyday conventions.

SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel love the playful tiki mugs and the gods themselves, beckoning us to merriment and mischief.

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The Joy of Audrey Hepburn 

Posted on by under Lifestyle

A Life Filled with Possibilities

Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel

 

Film lovers around the world continue to fall in love with Audrey Hepburn (1929 – 1993).

She was an incredible actress and humanitarian, who served as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, traveling to Ethiopia, Bangladesh, Turkey, Guatemala, Venezuela and Ecuador.

 

Listed by the American Film Institute as one of the top three actresses of Hollywood’s Golden Age, Hepburn’s beauty and charm left an indelible mark on countless films, including Breakfast at Tiffany’s, My Fair Lady, Wait Until Dark, Sabrina, and Charade.

Working with the top directors and leading men of her day, Hepburn held her own alongside Carey Grant, Gregory Peck, William Holden, Humphrey Bogart, Peter O’Toole, Fred Astaire, George Peppard, Sean Connery, and more.

Rising to stardom after her breakout performance in Roman Holiday (1953), Hepburn was the first actress to win three awards for a single performance – the Academy Award, Golden Globe, and British Academy of Film and Television Arts Award.

SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel are among Hepburn’s legion of fans both for her magical presence on the screen and her indomitable spirit that rose against adversity, while helping others to do the same.

Even though she had a privileged upbringing, Hepburn, who was born in Belgium to the Baroness Ella van Heemstra, lived in Holland during the German occupation of WWII and barely survived the Dutch famine – an experience that made her want to help those in need.

Always maintaining a positive outlook on life, Audrey Hepburn was more than a star; she was a survivor.

Her movies have left indelible memories with all who have seen them and now with the publication of this new book, Always Audrey, featuring never-before-seen photos by six different photographers, there are even more beautiful images to enjoy.

A woman to admire, Audrey Hepburn never stopped doing the impossible.

Surf’n Beach Scene Magazine

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Tiki Time Two

Posted on by under Lifestyle

New Era for Tiki Bars and Culture

Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel

 

Tikis, those irrepressible Hawaiian gods with the big eyes and mischievous smiles, are making a comeback now with new tiki bars showing up from coast-to-coast and a renewed interest in tiki lore and culture.

 

 

The Polynesian, one of the newest bars on the scene, is right in the middle of New York City – in the lobby of the trendy Pod Times Square Hotel.

The 200-seat indoor/outdoor bar, decorated with carved-wood and lava stone, is a tropical island escape from NYC’s crowded streets and subways.

In Chicago people are lining up at the popular tiki bar Lost Lake and in New Orleans it’s Latitude 29. And you can bet that Las Vegas is in on the tiki action with its Golden Tiki Bar.

California has tiki bars up and down the coast with a recently-opened Jan & Dean’s Tiki Lounge at the tip of the Huntington Beach Pier.

SurfWriter GIrls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel are big fans of all things tiki – from the Island decor, Hawaiian shirts and fun mugs to the food and fancy drinks with parasols.

The tiki artwork of Doug Horne and Josh Agle (AKA “Shag”) always makes us feel like were on a Polynesian adventure.

It’s great to see this culture that originated in the Hawaiian Islands and South Seas is still luring us into another world of fantasy far from the everyday.

And, if you’re looking to really immerse yourself in the tiki culture, check out the annual Tiki Caliente in Palm Springs held in May (Plan ahead because this year’s sold out) and Tiki Oasis (August 7 – 11th) in San Diego.

With all the tiki-inspired sights, sounds, food, drinks, art and entertainment, these events are a tiki-lover’s dream.

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Wabi-Sabi

Posted on by under Environment, Lifestyle

The Beauty of Imperfection

Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel

 

The Japanese philosophy of Wabi-Sabi celebrates the beauty of imperfection and of things that are impermanent and incomplete.

It is the beauty of things both humble and modest. It is the beauty of things that are raw, unrefined and unconventional.

Old Levi’s jeans, a comfortable chair, a weathered fence, a tree that’s been in your yard forever, your favorite surfboard, classic cars, watches that wind by hand, the neighborhood diner.

SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel have been learning about Wabi-Sabi, which dates back 5,000 years, and its emphasis on self-acceptance and finding joy in everyday things as they are.

We learned that in Japan cracked vases or bowls are often repaired with gold, highlighting the flaw and turning it into a mark of beauty that represents part of the object’s history.

Originally derived from Buddhist teachings, the word Wabi refers to rustic simplicity, freshness, and understated elegance – both in nature and in man-made works.

It can describe a uniqueness or elegance, too. Sabi represents the beauty and serenity that come from age…with visible flaws and worn patina adding to its charm.

Drawing from nature, Wabi-Sabi reminds us of the simple reality that things don’t stay the same, changing from day-to-day and season-to-season with different shapes and colors unfolding through the passing of time.

Putting aside the quest for air-brushed perfection in our lives, selves and surroundings, Wabi-Sabi is a way to de-stress. To relax and slow down, to embrace each moment, the people we love and the things we have.

Rather than searching for the next new thing to buy or do, we can find something much more valuable – an inner calm and the happiness that comes from being ourselves.

Wabi-Sabi is the perfect gift to give yourself – the gift to be imperfect.

Surf’n Beach Scene Magazine

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Best Winter Surfing Spots

Posted on by under Lifestyle

Find Your Perfect Destinations

Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel

 

Now that winter’s here do you have a case of the surfing blues that has you longing for sunny, wave-filled days? If so, here’s the antidote.

 

SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel got in touch with our friends at BookSurfCamps.com to find out the best winter surfing spots around the world. And wait till you see what they came up with!

Travel writer and and outdoor adventurer Octavia Drughi, who’s part of the BookSurfCamps team, has been on the go scoping out the perfect winter surfing spots. From Europe to South East Asia, she’s got a lineup of destinations with amazing weather, epic waves and beautiful settings to explore.

Whatever your level of surfing expertise or travel interests, Octavia has the inside track on the perfect destinations for you.

To see her picks, Ten Winter Surfing Spots You Need to Check Out, just click on: Winter

Then get ready to pack your bags and grab your passport!

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Seven Lucky Gods of Japan

Posted on by under Lifestyle

Watching Over You in 2019

Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel

With the New Year beginning and so many unknowns ahead it’s reassuring to have the Seven Lucky Gods of Japan to guide us.

SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel recently discovered this little book published over 50 years ago by Japanese author Reiko Chiba that outlines who these seven gods are and the roles they play in influencing our lives.

Dating back more than 1000 years, Japanese lore has it that during the first three days of the new year, the gods take over a magic treasure ship and become sailors traveling from heaven to all the earthly ports bringing magical gifts ranging from invisibility to wisdom, wealth, good fortune and more.

For each of us there is also a special god in the group that watches out for us based on our profession – say an accountant, dancer, gardener, or teacher.

Ebisu, the god of wealth, good fortune and fair dealing, watches over merchants, sailors, fishermen…and the butcher, too.

Daikoku, the patron god of farmers and tradesmen, is also a demon-chaser. People in the countryside pay homage to him during the harvest.

Hotei, the god of fortune and guardian of children, is said to have been a real person who was both a Zen priest and a rogue. He keeps an eye out for everyone from cooks to fortunetellers and politicians

Benton, often called the goddess of love, is also the goddess of muse, influencing and inspiring those in the arts – actors, writers, musicians, dancers, painters and sculptors.

Bishamon is a guardian of Buddhist values and giver of fortune, treasure and happiness. He is a healer, too, and the patron god of doctors, soldiers and priests.

Jurojin, the god of wisdom, guards over teachers, accountants, engineers, journalists, judges, and even gamblers.

Fukurokuju is the god of happiness, riches and long life. A philosopher, who loves to play chess, he looks out for athletes, gardeners, magicians and scientists

So, whether you’re looking for love, luck, longevity – or laid-back surfing days – there’s sure to be a Japanese God watching over you in 2019!

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