A Simple Graduation Dinner

We celebrated our final high school graduation here this week.

I have realized the need for flexibility  in celebrating graduations this year

beginning with celebrating my daughter's college graduation HERE.

The set  time of graduation is a given 

that must be obviously worked around

to best capture

and

celebrate the moment.

In the past we have always

gone to a celebratory lunch out

at a fabulous restaurant

as they have all been

 until this year

morning ceremonies.

Hunter's high school graduation

was 7:00 in the evening

with grad night festivities to follow

immediately after.

The idea of getting everyone

where they needed to be

made a early dinner at home the best choice.

But the evening celebratory meal

also called for simplicity

as we all had to leave right after!

We chose to order catered platters

of Mexican food

Ellis made a fabulous advocado salad

as a center point for the meal

followed up  with a celebratory

bakery cake!

I chose to echo the meal with

bright festive fun colors!

Using my new picnic throw

I pulled out  of my Fiesta Ware inspired dishes

and

even finally had a chance

to use my vintage California glasses!

The platters of food were placed on the table buffet style

and 

we enjoyed eating alfresco

in the perfect summer air.

I used the cake as a centerpiece

placing it on the 

cake stand

I  made years ago.

The stand has seen many a birthday cake in it's time.

On one side I used girly hand made buttons

for Ellis's celebrations

and

 on the reverse

the buttons were all boy.

I made the base from a piece of wood

and 

added the iron legs

in order to boost

any cake into immediate visual importance!

My vintage glasses pulled 

this quick and simple theme 

together perfectly!

I have really enjoyed

coming up with 

celebration solves

this graduation season.

Realizing all the more

in the importance

of flexibility

in being able

to savor and enjoy

life's moments!

As always my friends

I wish you love and joy

as you style and savor

your life

A Final High School Graduation ...

Hunter

my youngest

graduates high school today.

Another life milestone

for all of us in the family.

Another reminder

of the power of

learning to 

Hold On 

and

Let Go.

A day to reflect on

just how much 

I love this guy.

To adore the little boy 

he was

and

marvel at the man he is becoming.

To remember when he was four

and 

I daily dressed him and his siblings

Hunter after 

seeing the other kids

at school as we dropped off 

his older brother and sister 

was the first to decide

he wanted 

to dress differently

than I had chosen.

He explained his reasoning

clearly

without conflict.

At four

he already had a voice

of his own
and

new clothes were purchased.

Hunter has always

been 

the most intuitive

person I have ever known.

When he was little and we would watch TV together

he would turn to look 

to see if I was tearing up at a show

even seconds before

I even knew it was to begin.

How do you sum up

eighteen years …

of being so proud of someone

for knowing their path

and 

being able to makes choices to get there.

When hunter was 15
 he decided

homeschooling was not what he wanted

and 

he chose to transfer into our

neighborhood high school

and 

 without knowing anyone

walked into the gym

and 

joined the football team.

Sticking with it through the season

even when it wasn't everything he had hoped.

As Hunter graduates today

I am ever so proud of

not only of the man of character he has become
but the people he has chosen to be in his life.

Today's graduation also has me reflecting

on how very much I have changed

from my oldest's graduation four years ago.

When as proud as I was of my daughter

and

 her accomplishments

I was full of fear

of what was around the corner

and 

was beginning to feel

the loss

of what had been.

This time around at graduation

I have already been around the  many corners

enough to know

even as I must let go

there will always

be room and reason to still hold on.

Congratulations

my dear Hunter.

I am so blessed and proud 

to be your mother.

As always my friends

I wish you love and joy

as you style your life.

Hello Monday … Hello Gratitude

Hello to a very reflective and grateful Monday.

Our weekend was spent in

Avila Beach

attending and celebrating

Ellis's graduation from

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

I was ever so grateful for our room

at the Light House Suites.

The view was not only amazing 

but the suite ended up to be the perfect place

to host the celebration.

(In my next post I'll share what really worked).

I am so grateful that the party

was such a beautiful and meaningful success.

There was much planning and packing involved

but in the end

like so much of life

it was the  letting of expectations

going with the flow

and 

intentionally

celebrating the moment.

while

being ever so grateful for each person 

who was there.

One of the many gifts of getting older

is being able to navigate

to the important points of life

and

 being able 

to immerse in these moments

while

 committing  them to heart

to have a memory to be pulled out

and 

savored over and over.

To not get lost in the business of life …

but instead

be open to seeing 

precious and meaningful moments unfold.

To be able to appreciate 

the here and now

the past

and 

the futures possibilities

all in a moment.

To joyously celebrate 

the accomplishments of others.

To truly appreciate 

the value of family

and 

the importance 

of relationships.

Not just mine with them

but just as importantly

all of theirs with each other.

It warms my heart like none other.

To be able to step back

and know 

even when I'm not still around

I have left behind

what I wanted to leave.

I am most grateful 

to have gotten to an age

I can not only

see the bigger picture

but truly savor and appreciate it as well.

As always my friends

I wish you love and joy

as you style your life