~Our daughter, Katie's Birthday and Simple & Sweet Fridays #230~

Our daughter, Katie's birthday was July 22nd.

She just turned 29, I can't believe how fast time flies.

She and her boyfriend, Harry came to visit from Portland, Oregon.

We celebrated dinner out and 

I made a chocolate cake for dessert.

I found this

 Nordic Ware Vintage Bundt Cake Pan 

at Williams Sonoma.

The cake always turns out so pretty!

Katie and Harry

The next day 

we took our boat out on Mission Bay with the family.

 The weather has been in the 90's in San Diego.

Perfect weather for swimming in the Bay.

Carly and Katie

My husband, Stan, 

acting like a kid!!

Stan, our daughter, Carly, me, Katie, our son, Scott

It was so nice having the family together to celebrate 

Katie's birthday!

Stan, Maggie (our lab), Kaylee (Scott's girlfriend), Scott, me, Harry (Katie's boyfriend), Katie and Carly.

The next day was so hot,

we all went swimming in our pool.

It was a wonderful weekend with the family.

Hope you're all having a great summer

 with family and friends too!!

Last weeks features:

Debbie Dabble - Craft Room 2016, Where Bloggers Create

Pinch of Nutmeg - Creamy Chicken Tetrazzini with White Wine

On Crooked Creektt - Where Bloggers Create. . .Studio One!

The North End Loft - How to Have Charming Farmhouse Greenery Without a Green Thumb

Debby Goes Shabby - Shabby Pallet Potting Bench Part II

Sparkle - AUTUMN LEAF STENCILED TABLE RUNNER

Celebrate & Decorate - A Mad Tea Party!

The Red Painted Cottage - SUCCULENT OBSESSION

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~New Chalkboard for the Garden & New Roses and Simple & Sweet Fridays #229~

I wanted to share with you a project I just finished.

A Chalkboard for the Garden!

I've gone to many garden tours and loved the idea of having a chalkboard in the garden.

You can list flowers, vegetables or even herbs that you want to grow.

In the clearance section at Home Goods,

 I found a great chalkboard.

It was a Broyhill vintage chalkboard with hooks on the sides.

I loved the design, so I could hang fresh flowers from the garden. 

We have a very large section on the wall near our outside sink

 that needed a special touch to it.

Here is a photo from a distance.

I love the color red, but wanted to match the trim of the windows.

I applied the white outdoor paint lightly,

 so you could see some of the red paint underneath.

Stan helped me hang it.

I was lucky to find the right size chalkboard.

It looks pretty as a focal point from the other side of the garden.

Now I can pick fresh flowers everyday!

A light lunch after the finishing the project.

I picked some swiss chard.

 And made minestrone soup with it.

Almond and chocolate croissants

for dessert.

Great day!

Here are some photos of our new roses in the garden.

~Princess Alexandra of Kent Rose~

~Pat Austin Rose~

~Carding Mill Rose~

Last weeks features:

Everyday Living - Butchart Gardens

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Julie's Lifestyle - GRILLED FISH WITH ASPARAGUS IN FOIL PACKETS

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Hyacinths For the Soul - July 2016

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Delightfu E Made - Cherry Almond Crumble Tart

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~Lunchtime in Paris- Mary's Birthday Party and Simple & Sweet Fridays #228~

I wanted to share with you a birthday party I hosted,

 for my dear friend, Mary.

The theme was

 "Lunch time in Paris".

I love France and everything about it.

Fresh bread, wonderful food, wine and romance!!

 What a perfect idea to use Paris as the theme for this party! 

I made a restaurant sign using butcher paper and black marker.

I just love the way it turned out.

My mannequin is festive too!

I wrote my friend's names with a calligraphy pen 

on glassine bags.

 They took them home with cookies I made.

Purple and white was the color scheme.

 I used my mother's antique silverware to 

add to the Parisian look.

I added a linen runner from Pottery Barn to the white rustic table.

Purple crystal wine glasses from Home Goods and 

beautiful Purple and Creme Roses from Trader Joe's

 tied the table together.

I added accent pieces with a chalkboard 

written with pastry goodies on it and a 

place mat I found at T. J. Maxx with a Paris map on it.

An Effiel Tower Candelabra given to me from my friend, Yuri.

I found these charming French macaron ornaments at a little French store in San Diego.

~Maison En Provence~

They were perfect to hang on the chandelier over the dining table.

I placed antique music sheet paper inside vases 

with dried lavender on the wall.

I made a hand-stamped candle holder with Paris script.

 It was a great touch.

I added pink Himalayan salt and pepper in small containers.

A painted chalkboard tray was used for a cute sign for the bathroom.

I found these cute little piggies at a vintage store in Lake Tahoe.

I bought some dried lavender from Trader Joe's

and hand-stamped a Paris label on them.

Some french wine and Ooh La La drawing added to the whimsy! 

I fell in love with these napkins which,

 was the first thing I bought for the party.

~Different French Cheeses~

I wrote out each cheese onto black chalkboard stickers,

then placed them on some labels I aged with tea.

Fresh Bread, Brie and Butter

~A French Peach Martini~

I found the recipe online,

 but used Peach Vodka instead.

Martini Recipe

I made French Onion Soup

I used chicken broth instead of beef broth.

French Onion Soup Recipe

Quiche

Quiche Recipe

Quiche and butter lettuce salad, walnuts, blue cheese 

and raspberries.

For the Birthday Cake!

~Amaretto Bombe~

Chocolate almond cake soaked in amaretto syrup &

covered in chocolate ganache, decorated with

chocolate drizzle.

I bought the Amaretto Bombe cake at our local bakery near us,

Hans & Harry Bakery in Bonita.

I made some French butter cookies(Petite Sables De Paris)

French Butter Cookie Recipe

I also made Madeleines.

Madeleine Recipe

The chocolate oreos were made from a 

package from 

Williams Sonoma, Bouchon Bakery

I stamped them with a Paris cookie stamp.

Chocolate truffles from Godiva Chocolates 

was the first choice!

French Handmade Macarons from Lette 

Happy Birthday Mary!

(Linda, Mary, Me, Tami, Yuri and Virginia)

It was a wonderful day celebrating Mary's birthday!

We love Paris!!

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Old Things New Blog - RECANING A VINTAGE CHAIR

Unique Junktique - A WEATHERED SALTWASH BUFFET- “COASTAL INSPIRATIONS”

Cloches and Lavender - Lamps to Holders

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Home Cooking Memories - Hummus Pita Pizzas

The Victorian Tailor - Gypsy Garden Love

Penny Wise - Let them Eat Cake! A Marie Antoinette Bastille Day Dessert

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