mySanDiegolife

nybg: The peonies are looking spectacular right now and want...

Tue, 21 May 2013 11:53:57 -0700

'Do Tell'

'Cytherea'

'Kevin'

'Bev'

'Ellen Cowley'

'Salmon Dream'

'Lovely Rose'

'Ludovica'

'America'

The peonies are looking spectacular right now and want you to visit them!

lambeck: “One of the deep secrets of life is that all that is...

Mon, 20 May 2013 22:40:34 -0700

“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.

lambeck: More baby shower pics

Mon, 20 May 2013 22:38:28 -0700

lambeck:

More baby shower pics

Chicago at the magnificent mile

Mon, 20 May 2013 14:33:41 -0700

Chicago at the magnificent mile

Photo

Mon, 20 May 2013 14:31:23 -0700

Swedish pancakes at Ann Sather’s in Chicago.

Mon, 20 May 2013 13:55:30 -0700

Swedish pancakes at Ann Sather’s in Chicago.

The party favors handcrafted by my niece, the cake and Macarons...

Sun, 19 May 2013 22:08:28 -0700

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...

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:31:57 -0700

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."

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:14:02 -0700

“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.

Great day in Sweet Home Chicago today: law school graduation....

Sun, 19 May 2013 11:55:19 -0700

Great day in Sweet Home Chicago today: law school graduation. Way to go, J!

The Mad Hatter very merry un-baby baby shower. Hats encouraged....

Sat, 18 May 2013 21:36:07 -0700

The Mad Hatter very merry un-baby baby shower. Hats encouraged. Food delicious! Big success!

Alice in Wonderland baby shower tea party.

Sat, 18 May 2013 15:51:40 -0700

Alice in Wonderland baby shower tea party.

Photo

Sat, 18 May 2013 14:09:26 -0700

lamborough: Blooming in my yard (scoreboard Jayro!)Gorgeous!

Wed, 15 May 2013 22:25:30 -0700

lamborough:

Blooming in my yard (scoreboard Jayro!)
Gorgeous!

Point Loma gardens in San Diego at the annual garden walk are...

Sat, 11 May 2013 00:18:43 -0700

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.

"There’s no book you can write, no amount of twitter followers, no award you can win that will..."

Thu, 09 May 2013 10:19:13 -0700

“There’s no book you can write, no amount of twitter followers, no award you can win that will ultimately make you happy. You will only be happy when you start to focus on the simple daily experiences that make you happy. And that might mean letting go, of other things.”

- Iain Thomas, I Wrote This For You (via thatkindofwoman)

Backyard/Local bouquet challenge #7: calla lily with radish gone...

Tue, 07 May 2013 18:13:51 -0700

Backyard/Local bouquet challenge #7: calla lily with radish gone to flower, fennel and epazote leaves.

I made a friend on the internet who is obsessed with gardening,...

Mon, 06 May 2013 19:01:43 -0700

I made a friend on the internet who is obsessed with gardening, roses, blogging and England; and then I blogged about her garden, of course.

Check out Christina’s San Diego rose garden here.

Rosemary Lemon Drop with Danny de Vito’s limoncello.

Sat, 04 May 2013 16:30:28 -0700

Rosemary Lemon Drop with Danny de Vito’s limoncello.

In the Lone Star state

Fri, 03 May 2013 11:32:23 -0700

In the Lone Star state