Celebrating Turning 60

It was a big birthday for me this year

I turned 60!

So if there was ever an occasion for a new

Birthday Dress and Crown

this was the year!

I ordered this fabulous pink maxi from Beholden

and

 I just love it!

It has all the drama and whimsy

 I was looking for in my 

Birthday Ensemble!

I added the double ruffle top from Anthropologie underneath.

The lines of the top

work perfectly with the skirt of the dress

like they were absolutely meant to go together!!

My pearl necklace and Crown finished the look.

My extra large cashmere wrap from 

Catherine Robinson

could not have been a more perfect finish!

This wrap was a splurge for me years ago

but is absolutely timeless!

It feels like this wrap had been waiting for this celebratory dress!

My birthday celebrations  included 

Surprises

 too!

With the help of my 

darling daughter Ellis

Jeff arranged

 to throw me a surprise party

with my wonderful friends!!

The party took place at one of my always favorite places

Lido Marina Village

And it was at one of my very favorite restaurants!

Malibu Farms Lido!

It was a gorgeous luncheon

at my favorite table!

My dear husband turned my favorite table at Malibu Farms 

into this!

 Jeff did the  wonderful flowers down the center of the table

from my favorite florist in Lido

French Buckets!

He even had a special Birthday  Bouquet made for me!

He had champagne all around!

Each place setting had one of these sweet potted plants.

Jeff made the  party favors
with tiny trees and ceramic pots from

Rogers Gardens

that he  put together himself!

The potted trees were a perfect complement to the

 Malibu Farms
 interior!

And a gift for everyone to take home 

as a reminder of the special lunch!

Jeff also commissioned a gorgeous
Birthday Cake 

that he had made at a bakery.

He knows my style well

and

 found the inspiration picture online

printed it off

and 

brought it to the baker to reproduce!

It was these sweet details that really touched my heart!

That and a table filled with so many of my

very favorite friends!

I was truly touched that they all showed up for my

Birthday Luncheon!

I really choked up when I walked in and saw them all!

Looking around the table 

there were friends I had known since my kids were littles

to so many that have become dear friends

because of this blog.

You just never know when or from where

lifelong friends 

will enter your life!

And a special thank you for Trina

(in the front left corner)

who traveled all the way fro Utah 

just to surprise me!

And there were 

Birthday presents

 as well!

So many thoughtful gifts from the heart!!

Like this sweet poem from my dear friend Sue!

And I am ever so grateful

I get to

 share a Granddaughter

 with this one!

Megan's Momma is truly a joy!

After lunch there were more surprises to be had!

Jeff reserved a gorgeous suite at Newport's newest boutique hotel

Lido House!!

Our suite was quite spacious
with even a kitchen, living room and bedroom!

One of my favorite parts of the hotel

is the
rooftop bar

with panoramic ocean views

It's a wonderful vista to watch the sunset!

And spend time with old friends!

As I begin my 

Third Act of Life

my heart is full.

I must admit years ago

turning 60 might have frightened me

but today
 I am quite content turning 60

and 

beginning my third act.

My first 30 years were about becoming an individual

and 

all that entails.

My second 30 years were all about 

raising 3 wonderful individuals.

Now at 60

the whole world is before me

and
 I have time to

savor it all!

I am excited to find all the beauty I can in life.

To invest in my health and well being.

To do good where I can.

Continue to Grow my Soul.

To love Fiercely.

To Create.

To show up and make every day count.

To be Grateful for it all.

As always my friends

I wish you love and joy

as you style your life

Summer Entertaining

Last month I  did a summer birthday party for our youngest son, Hunter

who turned 22!

The inspiration piece for the party

these fabulous enamel cups from 

the Hearth and Home  Magnolia line at Target.

I wanted the decor to have a masculine vibe

and 

the black and white color brought it home.

I have been pretty smitten with the whole

Hearth and Home Magnolia collection 
since the dishes came out.

I have been collecting little by little for a few months now.

It's crazy how updating a few daily use pieces makes my heart so happy.

Adding a little more everyday joy!

The family birthday party

was a perfect excuse to add in the black and white textiles 

form the collection.

I left my dining centerpiece made up of

driftwood

air plants

and 

quartz candles as is.

It added the perfect cool, fresh look I wanted.

and the centerpiece played perfectly with all the place setting textures.

I used the tea towels from the collection for oversized napkins.

I mixed and matched several for added interest.

For appetizers I did a beautiful cheese board.

I have been so inspired by

 Suzanne of the Crazy Blond Life!

She does the most beautiful boards I have ever seen!

You can find her  amazing post HERE.

Whenever I entertain I like to bring in fresh garnishes from my garden.

for the bar glasses I simply pulled out a wooden tray

lined it with another of the coordinating tea towels

and 

added lemons and rosemary
 for a fresh finish.

The birthday dinner was Italian inspired.

I hired my darling daughter and accomplished entertainer in her own right

Ellis of the Ell Blog HERE

to make 3 different types of lasagne.

These Chianti bottles were as much added decor as poured table wine.

Another of my party styling go to is using

 an over sized champagne bowl

filled with ice, lemons and rosemary

to present all of the bottled drinks.

The crostini's were another of Ellis's creations.

An easy and visual  passed appetizer.

Because we had a lot of people at Hunter's Birthday dinner

I did two cheese boards.

To accommodate  all of our guests 

I set our big farm table in the backyard as well.

For this table I used the large check tablecloth

from the same

 Hearth and Hand Magnolia Collection.

I really loved how the two table coordinated 

but were different at the same time.

Fro the backyard

I used the blue rimmed enamel cups.

My centerpieces were sweet and simple

using vintage bottles with a single peony in each.

No birthday dinner would be complete

without a 

Birthday Cake!

This beauty is from our local Von's Pavillions

made magnificent with these amazing tapers!

I first was introduced to these amazing candles by my dear friend

Andrea of The French Basketeer HERE

I bought them at Ace hardware in Laguna Beach of all places.

But you can order them online from the maker HERE

This completes my 

Summer Birthday Party recap.

I hope I was able to inspire you 

to entertain in your own backyard!

Wishing my 'baby' a great year of 22!

Now it's on to finishing all of the wedding details

for his marriage to his gorgeous fiance' in just two weeks!!

You can see his  beachside proposal HERE

and 

their engagement party HERE

As always my friends

I wish you love and joy

as you style your life