Llama Llama New Mamma Baby Shower

What better way to celebrate 

Mother's Day 

this week

than sharing a sweet

New Mamma Baby Shower.

A couple of months back

Megan's own Mamma

threw her a Baby Shower!

I volunteered to do the styling.

And these adorable Llama invites
that Christa ordered

were the perfect jumping off point!

When I style a party

I like to pick just a couple of  major focal points

and

really go in deep with layers.

For the main table here

I started with a folding screen 

to frame the visual space.

Next I added textiles to the table.

I built up the sides with baskets

that captured the  relaxed, festive 

feeling I was going for.

How fun are the garlands I added to help

bring home the Llama theme!

A new bamboo tray worked 

effectively to  contain and present the glasses.

I found these felt flowers at Target

They were such a quick and easy way to add in some more 

fun color.

This woven llama basket from Target

was a must have!

Instead of using cut flower arrangements 

I chose to use potted flowers.
I opted to use a pale pink Kalanchoe throughout

I stuffed the llama full of potted flowers!

I even found themed wrapping paper

and used more of the felt flowers

to finish off the present!

How adorable are these sweet deserts

done by one of Christa's friends!

Christa, (Megan's mom)

did little Kalanchoe pots

for party favors

They were a perfect touch

and 

also added to the shower decor!

The second main focal point I styled

was a special chair and photo backdrop

for Megan to open presents.

Since the party was not at my house

I used a folding screen as a backdrop.

I draped the screen with a faux fur throw

added in a bamboo share with a tasseled pillow

and 

finished off the vignette with a luxurious tassel garland 

from Crate and Barrel kids.

Here is a happy and beaming Megan  with her Momma!

It was such a lovely event 

celebrating the new Momma to be!

I am a big believer in
Celebrating Life Moments!

Talk about celebrating
Life Moments

Hunter and Megan 

had a fabulous maternity shoot!

I thought I'd share a few of their pictures!

And welcome sweet, sweet

 Lennon Rae Beardsley

who arrived March 29th!

Wishing new Momma Megan

a lifetime of  heartwarming

Mother's Days!

As always my friends

I wish you love and joy

as you style your life

You can see
Hunter and Megan's


Beachside Proposal

Engagement Party

Rehearsal Dinner

 Wedding

and 

The Reveal Party

Around Our House and Gardens ... Freshening Spaces

Jeff and I  have been busy with home projects 

the last couple of months 

here at our small home in Southern California!

We redesigned our side front yard into 

an outdoor room with a raised terrace!

Jeff did all off the construction, single handed!

From removal of the grass

regrading the space

and 

an addition of a rock terrace!

I brought in a new furniture set and potted plants for the terrace

and 

voila

a perfect setting for Jeff and I 

to enjoy sunset cocktails!

Here in Southern California

outdoor space is at a premium

so we  are intent in maximizing   all of ours!

Last summer's project was the installation of 

a raised garden bed on the other side of our driveway.

I wanted a spot to grow herbs and cut flowers,

We took out a section of grass 

that we didn't use

and 

replaced it with  a highly effective raised planter.

Jeff did this project on his own as well

all the way from design to execution.

This spring everything is absolutely thriving!

Especially my beloved sweet peas!

I have tried off and on for years

to have a crop so plentiful for interior cut flowers!

I get excited every morning I see the blooms!

We still use the other side of our front yard for weekend

morning coffee

on our other raised terrace

we put in years ago.

We took out the lower surrounding front grass last year as well

and

 replaced it with succulents and rock

for an updated landscape.

Our coffee terrace is always my favorite spot 

for morning coffee with Jeff!

Inside the gate is our courtyard

that I updated this season

with a new rug and pillows

as well as freshening my potted plantings.

Last summer we did potted privets all along the  exterior courtyard wall

for a green screen for in the courtyard.

I dote on the privets with weekly care

and 

they too are presently thriving!

On a shelf in the corner

I gathered some cacti from

Ellis and Elliot's wedding

three years ago.

I had been growing them in pots in the backyard.

This year I pulled them to a place of visual honor and mixed them in with

other potted succulents.

On the window shelf I pulled together vintage lanterns 

to mix into my plantings.

Inside this spring/summer

I decided to go with an all neutral color palette.

I love how the colors and textures play so wonderfully together

to create a serenely calm space.

I echoed the serenity vibe with a 

calm centerpiece of large pillar candles

in a wooden trough filled with pinto beans.

The macrame runner finishes the look.

Taking out one candle

I replaced it with some of my 

home grown sweet peas!

It's the perfect and easy way

 to change up the centerpiece weekly!

To really help update the dining room 

we changed  out our old chandelier 

for this new one!

Our media room also got some updates to pull it all together!

One of my very favorite inside updates is my hat wall!

I took down all of the pictures that I had up for so many years

and 

replaced them with my collection of straw hats!

I love decorating with personal items that I love!

I edited the shelves under the stairs aggressively

taking away almost half of what was there.

The edit breathed new calm energy into the vignettes.

After I edited the bottom shelf

I added a new lamp for a little bit updating.

Well that includes my little tour around 

our house and garden updates.

Now that the front yard is complete

you can find Jeff and I in the backyard

during the weekends  this summer.

We have a whole list of new updates 

to freshen up our back spaces!

Are you doing any home updating?

If you are

I'd love to hear all about them!

As always my friends 

I wish you love and joy

as you style your life

Easter Brunch Styling

This week I am working on styling our family 

Easter Brunch

for this weekend.

So what better time I thought 

to look back at a couple of previous years

of our Family Easter  Brunch

for some personal inspiration.

Then I thought it might be

 a lovely idea to share styling ideas here

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!

The birth of our first grandchild two weeks ago

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 this one

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.

So for now the Easter Bunny has been replaced with

grown up treats

for our grown up children.

Like a sweet Mimosa station.

Sliced star fruit are the perfect stylish garnish.

Especially  when served  in vintage inspired glassware!

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 last 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.

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.

Two years 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,

the idea has been retired

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

These pictures are from two years ago,

the last Easter my Mother was able to make it to our family brunch.

Again, reason enough to make family celebrations special!

Creating joyful family memories can't be overrated!

So this year I will once again be changing things up

for our

Family Easter Brunch.

We will be doing a  pop up rooftop picnic

in San Diego

at the luxurious complex building that ironically both

Ellis and Elliot
and
Hunter and Megan both live!

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

And now we will be joined by baby Lennon!

Families are always in transition.

Some 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