Machel’s Ranch

Machel’s Ranch

“Why I almost missed my Birthday Luncheon and San Diego Food Bank raises 40K.”

On Valentine’s Day, I was bit by a dog—literally. I originally was going to conceal this, you know, not discuss it, but the five stitches and the mauling of the hands truly took my health down a black hole and showed me some important things in life. (Just so you know the dog was a pet animal that had escaped, while his family was out of town.) Running in and out of traffic in Del Dios, I ran north toward the light of Cielo. There he was the black Labrador, just about to cross into traffic again. Well, the next thing you know, I’m sprinting. I had leapt over the railing and he is friendly, sweet really, like, “Thank goodness you have arrived.” Then dog panicked and tried to get away, which resulted into a serious gash in my wrist that required five stitches. The wonderful news is the owner was thankful the dog had been saved and took care of the medical bill.

After the incident occurred, I kept thinking, “You never know what’s around the corner.” Cut to the following week. I have a birthday party arranged at Mille Fleurs with a few close friends. The day before I almost canceled due the pain in my wrist and hand; I felt like my body was an open wound and just needed to stay home. However, I forced myself out into the world, into the bright sunny day and made it to my party. This taught me so much. I almost missed out on that magical moment, surrounded by friends, due to my own vulnerabilities from that freak accident. I almost didn’t allow myself the glory of love and friendship because I was too enmeshed in my own pain. We all deal with moments where we would rather stay safe than being exposed. The lesson here is to force ourselves out into the sunlight even when we would like to stay ‘small.’ Thank-you, to my girlfriends for surrounding me with light and love that week. I truly needed your  support.

AROUND TOWN

On February 17th,  “Fashion Plates,” Luncheon and Fashion Show Fundraiser, which was hosted by Jacobs and Cushman San Diego Food Bank raised almost $40,000 for their backpack program. And event I should have been attending but had been otherwise thwarted by a canine, turned out to be a smashing success in La Jolla that day. Leonard Simpson’s Fashion Forward fashion company also helped sponsor the gala. The money will be used to provide lunches for chronically hungry elementary children here in Southern California.  The event was held at the Hyatt Regency in La Jolla that day. Featured here in the column are four guests that attended that day, Ramin Pourteymour, John Winfield, Jennifer Greenfield, and Sally Thornton. Thank-you, to Chris Carter for extending the lovely invitation.

On February 21^st, I managed to pull myself out of  bed, clip my hair up quickly in a make-shift bun and wear my cute black pants out to my some of my fondest friends at Mille Fleurs for my birthday luncheon. Of course, wouldn’t you know my black leggings had a snag, and a last minute jaunt to Rite Aid remedied the situation. I did arrive ten minutes fashionably late, and was seated by the French Doors next to the courtyard. Well, if the party could have gone any better, I don’t how that could have been possible. Besides my hair looking bit too wind-blown since my arm hurt too much to brush it, all of my friends made it! During lunch, I toasted each of them with a quick story on how we met and why they are wonderful to me. Most of them did know about the gash stitched up under the bandages. Luckily for me, I made it out to one of my favorite days since I married Robin back in 2009. I think this group photo tells the story quite well. There wasn’t one cloud in the sky that day. One of my surprise visits for my birthday luncheon was when Cici Whitney from Newport Beach, Meredith MacDonald’s mother. Cici shared some very exciting news with me, which I can’t wait to reveal in next issue’s column! Lots of all of my friends that made it that day, Krista Lafferty, Shannon Ehlers, Bianca Macaluso, Melissa Williams, Jill Sorge, Meredith MacDonald, Maggie Bobileff, Jill Drouin, Denise Hug, Karian Forsyth, and Elaine Gallagher.

Later that evening, I stole away with my husband for a romantic dinner at the Chart House in Cardiff by the Sea. We ran into Ranch resident, Joel Levine with his new girlfriend, which I might reveal later this spring if given the “Green-light.” (Sorry, not truly a bonifide gossip column here. Rancho Santa Fe keeps it classy!)

On February 28, my husband surprised me with a “Brazilian Blow-out.” which is a hair treatment that conditions and staightens your hair.I had originally wanted to have my hair done in the Ranch. However, after speaking to a salon in Fairbanks—no names mentioned—I felt rather certain I would rather swim with sharks than walk into their salon. (Maybe they were having a bad day.) Anway, this detour had me walking into the cutest salon in Leucadia area, called Noni. Ladies in the Ranch, sometimes a drive toward the beach even for your hair appointments is well worth the time. I highly recommend this salon to anyone. Hairstylist, Tawyna Proctor, was wonderful, kind and truly put me at ease right away. I also found out that Tawyna is a jewelry designer extraordinaire her locally in San Diego. Her inspiration comes from the beach and are created to beautifully

adorn the female figure in natural beauty. “Made for a Goddess but priced for a beach babe,” says it all. Check out her website at: www.NoniLovedesigns.com.

If you would like Machel to share a story with her readers, please email her at Mpenn@coastnewsgroup.com.

Happy New Year in 2012, “Dare to be the Nice Guy in 2012″

Happy New Year in 2012. Don't forget to look up~

What do I want to tell you on New Year’s Day in 2012? Life is a gift. Don’t waste it. Life is precious. Don’t be a whiner. Life is amazing. Don’t be predictable. Life is a gift from above, and yes, life hurts sometimes, too. Sometimes we lose those we love, a pet might die, or we move away from friends and family members that we normally see each day.

 How to cope? Believe in the goodness this world has to offer. Believe in daily miracles that remind us to be present so we don’t miss them when they happen. Believe in your loved ones. Don’t nag them. Don’t be overly critical. Life is tough enough without someone that we love judging us all the time.

 Have faith! Have fun, and find bliss. Force yourself out of your thoughts, so you can recognize the beauty, even in the ordinary things. Don’t be a baby! Don’t feel sorry for yourself. Remember, that just when you think life has hit an all time low, you can still spiral downwards. This may not sound optimistic this last line, but it is indeed true. Why think like that? So you can be aware of how lucky you are each day. Life is wonderful!

Life is gift. I am not going to give you one of those reality checks with out terrible the world we are living in because I don’t believe that one bit. Life is not fair. Yes, it can be cruel. But be brilliant, be bold, dare yourself to march ahead and grab the next bar up on the ladder. Dare to believe in your dreams of impossibility…

There is a house I often see. Each time I drive by, I think, “I’m going to live there one day!” Well, the house is a pretty expensive property. In order for this to happen, some other amazing things might have to happen, too. I may never live there. But what fun is it to dream as a drive by it. Why not think big like Norman Vincent Peale always suggested?

 Like good ol’ Clint Eastwood’s character in “Bridges of Madison County” said to Meryl Streep’s character in the kitchen–

 “The old dreams were good dreams, too. They might not have all come true, but at least I had them.” (This isn’t verbatim.)

 What’s my point. 2012 is our year. Your year. Your thoughts. Your life. Reach out into the unknown and discover the person you’ve always dreamed of becoming. Dare to soar into new heights. Dare to dream impossibilities.

 Be kind and loving. Be nice always. You know that saying “Nice guys finished last?” Well, guess what? That’s right.  Would you like to know why that doesn’t matter, you know about coming in last bit?” Because the nice guy doesn’t care. The nice person has a heart and is here to make your day better, too and are not just out for themselves.

DARE TO BE NICE in 2012. You might just win a few new friends and find nuggets of goodness hanging from the sky because of your own personality change. Dare to be yourself, and dare to believe in every day miracles.

Rancho Santa Fe News, “Machel’s Ranch” column

Newspaper Columnist, Machel Penn Shull writes bi-weekly for The Rancho Santa Fe News in Rancho Santa Fe California, USA

I don’t want to write any wise suggestions for this year for the New Year. You don’t need them from me anyway. I’m not going to write about art, books or the Book Cellar. I have decided to spare you from all of that and share with my readers little signs that I always look for that inspire me during my day. Call me sappy, call me out there, but life’s too short not to have some fun in the process. It’s sort of like “Slug-bug” for grown-ups. Here are a few signs I often search for that I find a great deal of pizzazz from when they just happen spontaneously to me when I least expect them. I am sure you will see a correlation, so I will just start out with this line: “I have a thing for birds.”

            On December 17^th, Karian Forsyth invited her Spa Gals over to her house for some pampering with Holiday flair. Pedicures and manicures, massage or facial, all of the guest enjoyed their options, while dishing on the latest fashion trends, the best restaurants and what destination places are in. Which brings me to an important update in my column. Yes, the news is here. I have found out where Tom and Karian Forsyth flew off to for Tom’s birthday in December. I have it on good authority that the Forsyth’s boarded a private jet with Maggie and Gary Bobileff—two of my other favorite Ranch residents! Yes, the four of them made it to the Grand Cayman Island for an intimate celebration to one of the coolest Caribbean islands to visit. Here are two photos that capture living at it’s finest. One is of Karian looking glamorous in her pink studded blouse with Tom and the “Spa Party gals” from The Crosby. Hey, guess what? Life can be incredibly good sometimes, right?

Karian and Tom Forsyth on the Grand Cayman Island

Gift Baskets for Christmas, Lemon Twist Gift Shop in Rancho Santa Fe, California.

Magical Moments this Holiday Season, The Book Cellar, and An Important Mission

  “Machel’s Ranch” The latest happenings Around Town and Inspirational stories featured in the Rancho Santa Fe News

The RAncho Santa Fe News, located in Rancho Santa Fe, California

If you could go back in time and be a child again would you? I have often heard others ponder their childhood with much warm hearted memories. What was it about being young that seems elusive to us as we find ourselves in a wide open field in the midst of our lives? Could it be that we understand time better or rather recognize with age as we gaze back and remember who we once were? During the holiday season my childhood memories always come back to me, like a flickering images from a movie reel.

            I grew up on a farm near Springfield, Missouri.The winters were cold. The pond froze over and we would skate across it in our cowboy boots. Then we would watch our breath rise up to the white sky and blend in with the blanket of snow falling down on us below. The “Us” would be my brother, sister and me. We were pretty tight as kids. We built massive forts in the snow, played a tag game called chicken and fox over the icy pond. I never believed in Santa because we lived on a farm and I knew there was no way he could really fit inside a wood burning stove. We always watched “It was a Wonderful Life” and “Scrooge.” We had “Taffy Pulls!” Live moved slowly when I was young, and I didn’t know as a child that wishes and dreams can sometimes take you away from what you loved the most. So now each season, after the turkey has been served and as families are decorating their homes with mistletoe, I find myself remembering the young girl I was and early my beginnings. This holiday season, remember to look back, count your blessings and be thankful for each season. Sometimes we never know how magical our moments are until they are gone.

My childhood Christmas Memories of ice skating on a pond when we were young.

Around Town

CORRECTION: Well, my favorite book store in the whole wide world must hate me! Recently, I realized my serious gaffe after someone pointed out the name on my coffee cup, “Book Tales,” which most of you probably know is in Encinitas. That is a wonderful bookstore, too. However, my favorite bookstore that I try to frequent at least once a week exists just around the corner from the Rancho Santa Fe Library  is “The Book Cellar.” Please forgive! My only excuse is I write late night into the early hours of the evening and sometimes mistakes can happen when you do this. So for the record, if you would like to read and buy books in Rancho Santa Fe, “The Book Cellar” is a gem of place. What I do, is always donate the books back, when my room starts to take on too many stacks against the wall or they start falling of my night stand. Make sure you stop in this holiday season for a book as a gift. They have fabulous prices.  And, the quiet, still space between the rows of bookshelves just warms your soul.

During the first week of November, Dr. Michael and Lynne Skyhar stopped in at the Lemon Twist Gift & Produce Shop in Rancho Santa Fe. Lynne and Dr. Mike live in the area and were just so wonderful to meet right as dusk was setting across the valley behind the shop. We shared some quick conversation and they were kind enough to let me share this photo in my column that evening. I love meeting new people. Mike and Lynne were very gracious and kind. Thanks for stopping in at Lemon Twist and for reading the column Mike and Lynne. Happy Holidays!

On November 13^th, I attended Esther Wong’s Charity fundraising party in Cielo with my best friend, Jill Sorge. The party was hosted by Esther, Taylor, Diane Wong and the Santa Fe Christian India Mission’s team. Part of the proceeds from this event will be included in a check they are presenting in person in India at the Grace Home Orphanage and school. My favorite part of this party was watching the video clip from their last year’s trip over to India last year. If you are interested in helping donate to this charity, here is a link with information: http://www.sfcs.net/about/Pages/why_sfcs.aspx. I have included a beautiful photo of Esther and Taylor Wong from that day.

On November 15^th, Many beautiful blondes and brunettes from Rancho Santa Fe made it to Mission Valley to attend Bloomingdales Shopping

Meet the High Powered Real Estate Women in San Diego, shopping at Bloomingdales to help raise money for Rady Children's Hospital.

event, which benefited Rady Children’s Hospital here in San Diego. Look at this fabulous shot that I have included from this event! In the line up, we have Kim Smart—from Smart Interiors, Elaine Gallagher, Ally Wise, Candace Sears, and Jan Doyle-Wehlag. All of these lovely, smart women are business professionals, friends and most of all, they are shopping to benefit Rady Children’s Hospital. Well done. Make sure you shop this Christmas or donate extra items that you don’t need to charity in need.

On November 19^th, It rained all day in Rancho Santa Fe. But that didn’t stop the Sassy Santa Event that my gal-pal Krista Lafferty organized with the Garden Club. When I stopped by that  Saturday there was a massive food truck feeding the shoppers out front, a Santa listening to children’s wish lists, and a plethora of local businesses beating the Black Friday date by one week. Inside the Garden Club,  felt festive and warm. I enjoyed strolling the isles and seeing all of the vendor’s  merchandise.  Here is a photo from that day, too. Congrats to Krista, The Rancho Santa Fe Rotary and to all of those that came out to support local businesses this holiday season. Please continue to “Shop Small” this season, too.

Rancho Santa Fe's Sassy Santa Event was a SMASHING Success for The Rancho Santa Fe Rotary. Meet the Three women that made it happen. But most of all, my gal-pal Krista Lafferty.

SAVE THE MISSION: I received an email from Renee, a Ranch resident that is alerting me to some important news and to the community as

Predating California as a state by 52 years, this historical Mission in Oceanside, California is facing closure. Please help SAVE THIS Historical LANDMARK in the United States.

 The Old Mission San Luis Rey de Francia” in Oceanside is facing closure if enough money is not raised to save this landmark. Here is the link you must check out: http://www.sanluisrey.org/Seismic-retrofit/.  Know as the “King of Missions,” is a famous Natural Historic Landmark her in Southern California. Founded in 1798,  San Luis Rey’s Historic church predates California even as state by 52 years. Open 7 days a week to the public, take time and visit this landmark with your family, but more importantly donate if you can before we lose a valuable part of California history! Thank-you, Renee for alerting the community to this important information.

“Shop Small” at Lemon Twist Gift & Produce Shop in Rancho Santa Fe

Shop Small today in Rancho Santa Fe at Lemon Twist Gift and Produce Shop. Find Poinsettia, wreaths, talavera pottery, hostess gifts bags, gift baskets and homemade cookies, spice breads and muffins! Spend $40.00 and receive $5.00 off your order, if you mention you saw the coupon this website.

Mackenzie Thorpe, “Blessed” Legends Art Gallery

Shop Small on November 26th at Lemon Twist Gift & Produce Shop in Rancho Santa Fe.

Shop Small on November 26th in Rancho Santa Fe! If you live in or around Rancho Santa Fe, Please SHOP SMALL with us! Lemon Twist Fruitstand is also a beautiful Gift and Floral Shop with Unique gifts for this Holiday Season. Shop small is an important campaign across America that is promoting BUY AMERICAN. Why?

 MAKE our Country flourish this holiday season by supporting your local owners and small businesses! This is the season to show love, support and to shower those you love with that one small, unique or amazing gift that lets you know how much you love them. Lemon Twist offers small gifts for under $1o.oo, too. From Homemade Jams, Organic local Honey, Organic Citrus, Talavera Pottery, Candles, and other trinkets, we have Unique gifts here, too. So what to do this weekend with your family? SHOP small with Lemon Twist! We located in Southern California in Rancho Santa Fe. Not only do unique gifts, your shopping experience here is reminiscent of “Norman Rockwell” painting, only in modern day style. Enjoy some free coffee on us, while you shop. We will be offering $5.00 off any $40.00 purchase or more if you mention you read this on Machel Penn Shull’s website.

Also, what do with your family? Take a hike right behind us at the San Dieguito Trails! Don’t miss out on participating on this National Pride Day by supporting  SMALL LOCAL BUSINESSES. If we are too far for  you, please do SHOP SMALL on November 26th, 2011 in your local community. Here is a link to other shops in surrounding areas! http://bargainlink.com/thrift-stores.htm. San Diego, CA Thrift Store Directory

Be proud to be an AMERICAN!

http://www.sdrp.org/trails.htm

San Dieguito Trails. Shop Small at Lemon Twist, then go hiking with the family.

Gift baskets, Unique Gifts, & Baked Goods at Lemon Twist Gift & Produce shop in Rancho Santa Fe

Lemon Twist Gift Shop, in Rancho Santa Fe, California-Across from Cielo

Buy Locally in Rancho Santa Fe at Lemon Twist Gift Shop this Holiday Season!

Shop locally this holiday season. Lemon Twist has Unique Gifts, hostess gift bags, desserts, party trays, gift baskets, plus Organic and local produce from farmers here in Southern California. Open Tuesday- Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. For special orders, call ahead at 858-444-6060. Homemade chocolate chip cookies and baked breads too! $5.00 off any $40.00 order when you mention you saw this at Machel Penn Shull’s website.

Dusk in The Ranch

"What We See and what we don't is up to us." ~mps