Backyard Summer Birthday Celebration!

Last weekend we celebrated our

son Hunter turning 24!

His late May birthday

always seems to 

jumpstart our

Summer!

The weather was perfect for a 

Backyard Dinner Party!

I chose blues and whites as my accent color for 

The Tablescape

I mixed  blue  and whites 
with all kinds of 

Natural Textures.

From woven placemats, wooden chargers, cloth napkins, ceramic plates

iron silverware,  enamel cups and wrapped wicker glasses.

For the centerpiece

 I kept my 

rectangular cement planters

that I grow succulents in

interspersed usually with candles.

To give a 

Party Feel

for the centerpiece

I filled the candleholders with fresh white flower arrangements.

They were simple to do.

I purchased 2 grocery store bouquets

of differing white mums

and 

cut the flowers down to short stems

making individual bouquets for the candle holders.

They were 

simple and efficient

adding the perfect 

Party Flourish!

I was very happy with my

'tablecloth'

which was actually

 four different tapestries!

We recently added the large umbrella to our 

10 foot Farm Table

which made getting a traditional tablecloth to work 

wasn't going to happen.

My solution was to take one tapestry 

on each side

 simply fold it in half

and 

then uses two more across the ends of the table.

I was so happy with the subtle color 

texture play 

it brought to my tablescape.

For me

 dressing a table is like 

creating a painting

using color, layers and textures.
Really not to different than styling a great outfit!

To bring in even more color play

I simply wrapped our bar stool seats

with light blue bandanas!

I loved the added

 pizazz

the tapestry tassels 

brought to the table!

I find so often solving a styling situation

in a non traditional way

can illicit some beautifully creative solutions

if you stay open to trying new ways!

I finished each place setting with a bottle of our 

favorite sparkling water.

I woke up the morning of the party

with the idea the Topo Chico bottles

would add just the right amount of 

a yellow punch.

You never know when creative ideas 

will strike!

Jeff and I chose a colorful and fresh menu

for the party.

I love doing parties with Jeff

I make everything look gorgeous

and 

Jeff makes everything

taste delicious!

How fun is this
 vintage serving piece.

It pacts a big punch of style

elevating crudites

to a  party level!

I love what Jeff did with the cucumbers and cheese!

Our menu consisted of 

salmon on the barbeque

with

tofu skewers.

Jeff made individually wrapped vegetables 

to accompany the salmon.

They were as pretty as they were delicious!

For my party outfit

I kept it backyard casual

with an off the shoulder top and white jeans

I kept my hair up and unfussy.

but brought
 a dose of glam with my 

bold sunglasses and shell choker

that is actually a headband 

from my upcoming 

Accessory Collection!

It made my heart so happy 

to have some of my 

very favorite people

at the house!!

Especially this little nugget

who is up and walking these days!

It always just makes my heart melt 

seeing 

our boy

with 

his baby girl!

And it always reminds me 

of how much
I enjoyed being his Momma!

And I couldn't be happier Hunter 

married the love of his life.

They have been together since they were 14!

Quite the 

Love Story!!

We made this sweet the collage  for their

Rehearsal Dinner

You can see that  fabulous 

Tablescape HERE

Lenny is one lucky little girl

to have these two as parents!

Isn't Lenny the sweetest!

Having grandkids

is everything I heard it would be!

I set up a little pool for Lenny

and  ...

She got to meet for the very first time

Hunter's old

Big Bear

who has been tucked away safely in storage 

for many, many years.

Big Bear was a favorite of Hunter's when he was little.

So much so 

Big Bear

was allowed to accompany the family

on so many road trips!

Big Bear traveled with us to

Mammoth Mountain

Monterrey

The Montage in Laguna Beach

Disneyland's California Grand Adventure

to name just a few of our families destinations.

Which meant when Hunter out grew Big Bear

I couldn't bear to part with her

so I brought her to storage

where she has lived for so many years.

I hadn't even foreseen such a 

heartfelt time 

seeing her now with 

Hunter's daughter!

I am so glad 

I listened to my heart

and kept this sweet bear!

Happy Happy Birthday Hunter!

We are ever so proud of the 

man, husband and father 

you have become in

your 24 Years!

Sweetest Young Family!

Thank you for letting us celebrate you!

XOX

As always my friends

I wish you love and joy

as you style your life

Home Sweet Home

Like most people

Jeff and I have been spending our time recently

At Home Sweet Home

And I have never been more 

Grateful

of all of the love, creativity and  hard work

we have invested in our 

modest little suburban  track  home.

I have always believed that living a beautiful life

could be done without an unlimited budget.

We have been happily making our little home and gardens

our dream home for 25 years now.

When we moved into out little home

there were no yards or hardscape what so ever.

Now our small front yard has 

3 completely separate sitting areas

as well as a raised planter for a cutting garden.

Last year we took out the grass on the left side of the driveway

and 

created this luxurious seating area

with two cozy nest chairs

and a gas fire pit.

All of which we got from Target.

Jeff and I often start our day here with coffee

and 

come again for sunset cocktails.

Creating this 

'Garden Room'

has given us a beautiful spot 

where we can engage with our neighbors

at a safe distance!

I enjoy and am committed to 

Living A Beautiful Life.

I believe in slowing down enough 

to take the time to appreciate the small moments.

I have been making an effort to dress for our 

cocktail hour

At Home.

I don't do it everyday

but when I do it always elevates

a simple occasion!

I believe you don't have to have a lot of space in a garden

to have a luxurious space.

Jeff created this sandstone terrace

last year

and

 this small space has continued to evolve

over the last year.

I began redoing our front planters

the last couple of years

taking out all of our flowering annuals

with succulent.

They actually play very nicely with our tropicals.

We start everyday at home with coffee time.

On the weekends 

we take the time to really savor the ritual.

Jeff and I have so enjoyed our front terrace 

fire pit 

we have added  a second one 

to the backyard.

  Turning it on really adds to the ambiance of the space.

This is what our backyard consisted of

25 years ago when we moved in.

We have lovingly transformed it

year by year

 into

the outside sanctuary it is today.

It's probably my love for our backyard

that kept me loving our

'starter house'

and 

turning it into 

'our little dream house'.

I feel like I am always working toward

bringing her to her full potential.

My little house and gardens 

 feels like family.

This picture is from the first front terrace we put in 

on the right side of the driveway.

In this picture you can see

Jeff just beginning the wall that divides

the front terrace from the private courtyard behind the wall.

I am a big believer in maximizing

every square inch of our small plot of land.

Last year we took out our remaining front grass 

and replaced it with succulents

The front terrace is another lovely spot for

cocktails and socially distanced conversations

with the neighbors who pass by.

Behind Jeff is our raised planter

that I grow my cut flowers, herbs and tomatoes.

Our clematis is thriving.

As are the roses in the back.

It's this view

that I love the best!

Our back fence is covered in 

espaliered citrus.

I am sharing these pictures of our gardens 

in the hopes of inspiring you to

add some beauty to your life.

I believe there is much beauty to be found

and 

created

out to the ordinary.

Make your home

your very own sanctuary.

As always my friends

I wish you love and joy

as you style your life