But last month, everything changed. A big, shiny, colorful, brand-spanking-new Trader Joe’s opened!

My husband, who only goes to the grocery store under the threat of starvation, was completely baffled by my excitement … read more by clicking on the article below

A Study on Brand Loyalty: What You Can Learn From Trader Joe’s | MarketingProfs Daily Fix Blog.

Great article on branding using my favorite store as the example.

Tuesday, May 29, 2012
1 p.m. Shotgun
Pelican Hill – Newport Beach – North Course
A Premier Golf Challenge

Soka University will celebrate the 11th Annual International Festival from 10:30 am to 5:30 pm on Saturday, May 5, 2012. Enjoy an expected 900 musicians and dancers performing on three stages and over 250 non-profit, craft and business exhibitors!  The 2012 International Festival will again be part of the Orange County’s Imagination Celebration, presented in cooperation with Arts Orange County and the Orange County Department of Education.  We are grateful to our Presenting Sponsor, The Orange County Register, who will also print the 2012 Festival Program.  There will be lots of international food, exhibitors, games and activities, two art exhibitions with presentations by the artists, ceramic sales and demos, a children’s play area with Superslide and Bounce House, student projects — and muc

h more!   Here’s the program for 2012!

Admission is FREE for everyone!  Parking is $10 on campus and we ask that you carpool and have exact cash available for parking fees to speed up the lines – we do not take credit cards.  FREE PARKING is available at the Ziggurat (Chet Holifield Federal Building) 24000 Avila Road, Laguna Niguel — with free shuttles running every 30 minutes beginning at 10 am.

via Soka University’s 11th Annual International Festival – May 5, 2012 – News and Events – Soka University of America.

Took a wonderful trip up to Lompoc to judge an image competition for the Gold Coast Professional Photographers association. This panoramic was created using 16 individual images I captured on a back road.