Easter Memories ...

I actually pulled the pictures in this post together last year.

But it felt too close to share.

My heart was still missing the family times too much.

But this year I can look at my sweet pictures

with a truly 

Grateful Heart.

Memories can really be such a gift

when handled with with care

in a full and grateful heart.

With happy appreciation

instead of a longing for days gone by.

Especially at this stage of life.

A beautiful look back as

an encouragement to continue to make 

Beautiful Memories 

no matter 

which stage of life

we find ourselves in.

I still remember this Easter so vividly.

I designed and sewed all three outfits.

Jeff dressed up as the Easter bunny

Easter baskets were made

eggs hidden

my parents and brother came over to join us for brunch

and 

egg discovery!

I knew even way back then

I wanted to create beautiful memories

and 

Celebrate our life together.

My sister died when I was in my early 20's

I learned then

to never take time together for granted.

I grew up loving Easter!

Besides family time

it was always a new Easter dress, shoes and a hat!

Oh how I've always loved a great 'outfit'!

I realize I learned to love on my family

dressing them

and

making things pretty from my mother

as you can easily see here in an Easter photo

from the late 70's.

My parents besides being teachers

also opened a fabric store.

I designed and made most of the store displays.

My love of clothes and accessories

continued to deepen

and 

I set off to college to learn all I could.

So when I had my own family

special Easter outfit designs

was something I loved to do!

As well as designing special indoor and outdoor spaces

for our children.

Jeff built this sweet playhouse 

with a storybook deck and garden.

I have always been interested in making 

the everyday beautiful

so styling Easter is always a highlight for me.

Even something as simple as candied eggs

in a beautiful bowl

finished with some fresh lavender

can make the ordinary beautiful!

 

We rented a bunny costume every year

while the kids were young

and

back then it was a big expense for us.

But I am ever so grateful er did it!

Not only did it bring the kids so much joy at the time

it made for these pictures I treasure ever so much!

We also started having the bunny visit the children on the street as well!

Adding so much joy to our block parties!

Slater  was so full of joy and happiness

it literally brought tears to his eyes.

My dear Hunter.

And my beautiful girl.

My parents always came each year.

My mother always in her Easter best!

My brother as well.

Several years ago

when the kids were still around

I really wanted that Easter Fun back.

But how to recapture it with adult children?

I decided to buy and put up a ping pong table in the backyard!

I thought it would be such a simple thing to do

it ended up taking Jeff hours to assemble!

But it was still worth it in the end!

That year since everyone was past 21

I hid little bottles

and 

even a couple of eggs with cash.

The hunt was on!

That was the last Easter we were all together.

I'm forever grateful

for all the effort I put out making 

things beautiful and special.

Now as life goes on as it does

some of us are missing

but

we have also been blessed with 

new wonderful family members.

Easter celebrations can be in different places theses days

Like the year we had a beautiful Easter

on the rooftop in SanDiego!

 

We are not all together these years.

But there is still so much to celebrate.

And  the  precious memories remain.

And I am so ready  to make

New Easter memories

and

 to continue to

Celebrate the Everyday

Everyday.

Thank you so much for your visit here

and 

indulging my trip down memory lane.

I'd love to hear your favorite Easter memories!

As always my friends

I wish you love and joy

as you style your life 

Easter Brunch Styling

This is a quick styling post

for me as much as anybody else.

But I hope you enjoy it and can hone some styling ideas for your next

Spring Brunch!

You see I am quite behind on my blog posts

and

haven't even posted my Easter brunch.

I did a few things differently this year 

and 

I want to make sure I remember them to do next year as well!

So here are my styling notes!

One of my favorite parts of brunch styling this year

was and abundance of spring flowers!

I bought them in mass this year

especially lilacs and tulips!

Our family brunch was scheduled for 1:00 in the afternoon.

Since we had several kids staying with us

I remembered to do a lovely little breakfast in the morning.

It was  made up of fresh items from the bakery and plenty of fresh fruit.

Aren't these chocolate eggs massed in ceramics the cutest thing ever.

I was able to customize these eggs to my brunch colors

by simply editing our all of the yellow eggs.

These pale pastels are what remained!

A mimosa bar is always an easy crowd pleaser.

I try new mixed juices with a standby OJ each time.

I served the mimosas casually in juice glasses in the morning

and 

brought out my coup glasses for the actual brunch.

While I massed flowers in basket bouquets

for the brunch farm table outside

I foraged in my yard

trimming my citrus and ivy to run down. the center.

Then I simply added citrus from the store into the impromptu garland.

Note to self 

next time I do this I will do it closer to the time we actually sit down.

I did this in the early morning

so by the time we actually sat down some leaves were already starting

to curl in the afternoon sun.

For those of you who follow my blog

you already know I have no fondness for actual cooking

but I do know where to shop for some beautiful foods!

Like this gorgeous glazed cake topped with edible flowers!

To give it more impact

I simply put it on a cake plate

set on a tray with macaroons and peeps!

Our newest tradition  we added this year was 

an adult 'egg hunt'!

Since all of my children are of drinking age

and 

still wanted a traditional Easter egg hunt

I hid some top shelf bottles in the yards for some fun.

Finding the Saint Germain even came with a golden egg

cash prize!

It was a lovely  bit of novel fun.

So much so I hope to remember to do it again next year!

So there you have my notes for

a lovely spring brunch my friends!

Maybe there are some tips you'll want to integrate into you next brunch!

And a brunch all about spring florals

is always the right time for a floral crown!

As always my friends

I wish you love and joy 

as you style your life