nybg:
The peonies are looking spectacular right now and want you to visit them!
“One of the deep secrets of life is that all that is really worth the doing is what we do for others.”
― Lewis Carroll
With that said, I cannot thank my mom and sister enough for throwing the most wonderful baby shower in all the land. They spent countless hours bringing together a clever and special mix of details for this elegant affair.
It all started in early January when we found out we were having a baby. Two days after learning the news, my mom and sister got on a plane and flew out to New York to be with me. We celebrated with tea at Bergdorfs and that’s what spawned the theme for this baby shower. Not knowing the baby’s gender, we went with ‘whimsical storybook’ and from there I watched the magic unfold.
The event was held this past weekend at the Peninsula Hotel, overlooking Michigan Ave, in Chicago. From the moment I walked into the Grant Park room, I felt like I was in Wonderland. My mother was in charge of the cake and spent many a nights perfecting the art of French macarons and hand painting sugar cookies to look like pocket watches. My sister did an amazing job with the overall design, from the purple and gold lanterns and floating peonies overhead to the antique letterpress signage and mad hatter decor. She searched high and low for mini tea pots and massive tea cups for the flower arrangements, as well as vintage Lewis Carroll nursery books to adorn the goodies table. She affixed hand cut tags like ‘eat me’ and ‘drink me’ to the gift boxes and libations. And each guest was invited to take home a letterpress poster with either the saying “Off with her head” in pink, or “It’s always tea time” in blue, rolled up like a scroll on their way out.
It was like a dream that I most certainly will never forget.
The party favors handcrafted by my niece, the cake and Macarons by my sister and the cocktail party was at Sullivan’s in downtown Chicago.
If you want to change the country, change the law: former Mayor Daley to the graduates of DePaul law school today in Chicago. He encouraged graduates to think about the big issues such as gun violence. Daley asked during his commencement address: ‘Why is it harder to buy a car than it is to buy a gun?’
This is a great country, it will be better because of each and every one of you.
“
| — | The former Mayor Richard Daley, commencement speaker at DePaul University Law School graduation and former graduate of DePaul Law school in 1968. His father and also former mayor Richard Daley graduated from DePaul law school in 1933. |
Point Loma gardens in San Diego at the annual garden walk are worth a look, and my growing obsession with hats takes off. Check it out here at GardenEnvy.
