Hello Summer ... Hello Gratitude

 I've lost my way with writing my blog.

I've decided I want to make my way back here.

My Instagram account slowly took over

but now the noise there makes me question it all.

I miss the old days when it was just about community and pretty pictures.

But nothing sounds like old people talk than yearning for the good old days.

Instead I think life is about continually evolving to get the very best out of  our life.

This summer I have decided to have 

A Beautiful Summer

one full of the magic I remember from  one summer when I was young.

My dad was finishing his Master's in Kansas.

Our family of four was staying in a one bedroom  student apartment.

My younger sister and I in the bedroom, my parents in the living room.

My days were full of calm and happy family togetherness

craft classes and a new best summer friend.

In the sunlight evenings we would walk down by the cows in the pasture

to the ice cream store for a cone.

I don't think I ever even told my parents how much I loved that summer.

I think the simplicity of the days calmed my mother down.

She spent so much of her life overly busy

with the obligations of family, being an elementary teacher

and making a beautiful home.

But I'm sure the main reason she was calm that summer

was because  my sister who had down syndrome and a heart condition 

was healthy.

And because  we were only visiting Kansas from California

we were a tight little family unit.

We would drive on the weekends to visit my parents siblings and families.

It was a simple, peaceful and calm summer.

There was the first moon landing

my dad splurged for a small black and white TV

to watch the occasion.

I remember just how tiny that student apartment actually was

but as I bring up the memory

it fills me with contentment and love.

It's funny how we can spend so much of our life in search of the bigger and better

when so much joy can be found in the simple and calm.

So that is what I am  creating this summer.

Simple beautiful summer days filled with calm.

At my age I really don't know how many summers I have left.

I want to make each one count to me.

I am too old to not make the most out of each day.

I want to find simple ways to feel the magic and the calm of summer

while loving on my people.

Slowing down 

to savor and enjoy

the beauty of the life I have created

I have been on social media for well over a decade.

I have always been aware of the effects  it could have on my mental health.

I know when to step back when I'm feeling drained.

I think I am writing here today to remind myself not to get caught up 

in the noise.

Whether form too many opposing political opinions

or

as simply too many accounts that leave  me feeling not enough.

I am older and wiser than to fall into those traps.

But obviously I still need to remind myself

not only of my own story

but what I am actually trying to achieve

in designing my one life.

I want to continue to make my life my art

one day at a time.

I want a calm, beautiful, magically joyful life

full of love and creativity.

I want to drown out the noise that I should 

always be achieving and doing more

and 

even wanting more.

I am beginning to realize for me

maybe a simple life is the best life.

To have the time to exhale, reflect and rejoice

in the small beautiful moments that make up a good life.

To feel the peace of contentment.

I am choosing to get off that track that has always  to lived in my head.

I want to live with a grateful heart

savoring intentionally the beauty and creativity

a day can bring.

I want to continue to live an artful life

with creativity, passion, love and joy.

As always my friends

I wish you love and joy

as you style your life.

 

Easter Brunch Styling

 I am working on styling our family 

Easter Brunch 

for this weekend.

I always look back here on my blog

 at what I've done in the past

to jump start some fresh ideas.

So I thought I would update a previous post

to consolidate some of my favorite ideas I've done over the years.

Last year we did this adorable 

'Vegetable Garden'

It's made with a base of homemade hummus

planted with vegetables.

This Vegetable Garden is such an easy idea to do.

the vegetables are just set into the hummus in rows.

It makes such a colorful and healthy addition to our brunch menu.

We will definitely be doing this one again this year.

As a matter of fact my daughter and I have just 

decided to do a

 Garden Theme Easter Brunch

this year!

My tabletop brunch decor for our

Easter Garden Theme Brunch

My living room centerpiece.

how adorable are the little eggshell candle holders

wirh my vintage swans filled with glass pearls!

My courtyard centerpiece consists of 

a wooden tray, potted plants, finished with vintage wooden eggs.

Now I thought it might be

 a lovely idea to share  some more of styling ideas 

from the years

for those of you entertaining this week!

I for one love some quick and chic ideas.

Like above where I used

Easter candy in my table styling.

I decided my color scheme and bought candy 

I then refined the malted egg colors by removing the yellow that didn't 

play in my scheme.

I tied it all together with cut lavender from my garden!

How sweet are these simple Peeps displayed on a hand made board!

Having grandchildren now

always has me very sentimental 

about my raising my own three children.

Celebrating holidays fully

 has always been part of our

Family Culture.

I can still remember the joy of these three

when the Easter Bunny

surprised them at our house.

(Jeff has always been such a loving, fun Dad).

It's memories like these 

that are the motivator for me

to do my best to create joyful memories 

for those I love.

Moments where you can

take it all in

and 

push them deep into your heart

for joy that lasts a lifetime.

Fast forward so many years later

I am still striving to make 

Family Celebrations 

fun and relevant.

Years ago the Easter Bunny was replaced with

grown up treats

for our grown up children.

Like a sweet Mimosa station.

Sliced star fruit are the perfect stylish garnish.

Living here in Southern California

our brunches are always outdoors

weather permitting.

I like to keep the table on the informal side.

Here I have used the palest percale sheet as a table cloth.

Added a macrame runner.

A cement planter was turned into the quickest of centerpieces by simply adding

tiny tea roses and some of my wooden eggs

that I have had for years.

Vintage Madeline pans

made for a perfect way to display the 

Deviled Eggs.

These candied Robin eggs in the softest of colors

do double duty as 

decor and treats.

Set atop a vintage textile

I finished the presentation with

cut Jasmine from my garden.

Here I bought potted Tulips from the nursery

and 

massed them together in a rustic container.

I finished the edges off with my well used

wooden eggs.

A styling tip I always recommend 

is to invest in some quality pieces

that you'll be able to use year after year

in new inventive ways.

For another quick and easy centerpiece

I bought a flat of baby tears ground cover

and transplanted it into a wooden box

and 

once again finished off with my wooden eggs!

Super simple and visually impactful!

I collect cloth napkins in different styles and color ways.

For some reason I have an aversion to paper napkins always

I never once have bought paper napkins 

even when the kids were little.

I just think cloth napkins elevate even the most simple food.

For this brunch I simply pulled out my lavender collection.

A Bagel Bar dominated the meal.

Jeff grilled the bagels on the barbeque.

We did a spread of toppings

for individually delightful bagels!

The year before I took a bakery bought cake

to the next level

by setting it on a cake riser

which I added to a vintage tray.

Then I simply garnished the tray with

macaroons, peeps 

finishing with jasmine from the garde and edible pansies!

I'm always looking for ways to make family gathering fun

so one year I came up with the idea of putting up a

ping pong table in the backyard for brunch.

It worked out nicely

but to be completely transparent

I had no idea how much work it would be.

I always imagine super simple.

First it barely fit on the roof of the car coming home.

Next  I assumed the came put together, right?

No such luck. 

Poor Jeff spent hours the night before in assembly.

But it look good and function well.

If you ever want to try it,

plan for extensive assembly.

That said

looking back years later

it really was a lovely Easter brunch memory.

One  year I also started doing an adult children egg hunt

after hearing about the idea from Hunter!

I bought pretty little bottles and hid them in the yard

with one of them coming with a cash prize!

Now that we have grandchildren,

that idea has been retired

but it was certainly fun the two years we did it!

Looking back at pictures when my parents were with us

make me so happy that I have always made family celebrations a priority.

I certainly don't take anything for granted with holidays.

i learned that the year my sister died in 1986.

We didn't have a Christmas that year.

I decided I would forever do holidays

making the most of them when I was able.

I have kept to my word for almost 40 years now.

Creating joyful family memories can't be overrated!

In 2019 we did  a  pop up rooftop picnic

in San Diego

at the luxurious complex building that ironically both

Ellis and Elliot
and
Hunter and Megan both lived in that year!

Our family has been so very blessed with the two marriages.
I couldn't be prouder of them all!

I am so excited to once again add an egg hunt back into our

Easter Brunch

 for our sweet grandchildren.

I am grateful every single day that

Hunter and Megan moved back here to SoCal!

Getting to watch our darling grandchildren grow up

really is 

the dessert of life!

Families are always in transition.

Some members leave us

while others come with much joy and love 

and 

join in.

For me

styling and hostessing

is a way for me to love on my family

and 

celebrate the moments

great and small.

And hopefully show my family  just  how very much

they each mean to me.

As always my friends

I wish you love and joy

as you style your life

Beachside Pizza Making Party

Taking a page out of my idea of

Crowning Ourselves

I through myself a family

Beachside Pizza Making Party

Ellis gave Jeff and I

 a portable pizza oven

 for Christmas

so I thought a little family beachside party would be a fun way to use it!

Conceptualizing parties is always a favorite of mine!

So picking a red and white color scheme

with a vintage flair  for 

a  beachside pizza party

 was my jumping  off point

As far as parties go

bringing everything beachside from home

for a set up

required quite a bit of planning and list making.

I really reveled in the challenge.

I was very 

intentional about enjoying the party planning process and 

the  set up.

We got to the beach 3 hours early

to secure a good spot

and

to be able to set up without any time pressure.

I was so happy I chose to 

wear a set up outfit

and then

changed into my 

Party Outfit.

I did a

 trial run party set up

 the day before at home

so I could know for sure how many folding tables, textiles, florals ect. 

I would actually need for the party spread.

I had individual

 boards for pizza making

I ordered

 parchment papers

 pizza trays

s and 

rolling pins 

as well.

We had all of the toppings pre prepared as well.

Jeff of course was in charm of the 

pizza  oven cooking

We had a vintage cart that works perfectly for the pizza oven set up

which includes a propane tank

that sit on the bottom shelf.

After the set up I changed into my

 tulle skirt and off the shoulder gingham top

but the wind gave a chill in the air

so I was happy I brought my denim shirt.

I was so happy with how the set up came together!

all the pre prep really payed off!

I happily wore my red rain boots to my party

because I hate the feeling of dry sand 

they worked so well for me!

I set up a child sized coloring station

filled with crayons and a roll of craft paper.

I always love to have a little creative play 

worked into my parties

especially when my sweet grandchildren are involved.

Ellis made a

 beautiful Italian snack board.

My friend Rachel brought

 a tasty salad!

Rachel and I met almost 30 years ago

when our children attended a Waldorf playgroup!

Needless to say our kids are all grown up by now

which gives us plenty of time to ocean kayak!

This canopy is from Business and Pleasure

I set it up in case the grand kids wanted a cozy play area.

I've made the fabric pennant banners over the years.

I love how they so easily add a pop of fun and whimsy to any party!

I couldn't be happier how my multi generational party turned out!

My heart is so full of love\for everyone who came out for our

Beachside Pizza Making Party!

As always my friends

I wish you love and joy as you 

style your life