Co-ed Baby Shower

 

Once I wrapped my mind around the idea of a co-ed baby shower, the planning became easy and fun.  We had the location; patio overlooking the golf course at my daughter and son in laws country club, so the theme naturally became girly golf related.  I found the perfect pink golf cart welcome sign, made pink striped table toppers and ordered hundreds of pink golf tees.  

Set up was a bit crazy, because it was seriously windy, but we persevered and my helpers literally taped things down while I arranged brightly colored flowers in pink vases.  The menu consisted of sandwiches, salads and fruit, perfect summer food on a warm day.  An added touch to the sandwiches were cute pink golf cart toppers I found on Etsy. We served wine, beer and seltzers, plus iced tea and lemonade.

Unfortunately, our beautiful summer day, turned stormy and about halfway through, we all scrambled to move inside, just before the rain hit.  The staff was so great and the party did not miss a beat.  Our guests had a great time, including the men probably attending a baby shower for the first time. But, more importantly, the parents to be were happy to be surrounded by family and friends showing how much baby girl is already loved.

Life Lately - In Photos

 

After our European  trip, that was followed by another trip to Michigan to babysit, June has been a catch up month.  Catching up with friends, catching up on playing golf and catching up on so much trimming.  Florida is getting a typical rainy season after a few years of drought like summers and you are reminded it is the tropics after all; where a plant grows so fast it needs weekly trimming.

This weekend I will be back in Michigan for Melissa’s baby shower.  Everything I shipped arrived safely and all I need to do is pick up flowers at Trader Joe’s.  Lots of pink flowers I hope.  I will post photos next week, but our theme is a girly pink golf par-tee at their country club.  It is a couples shower, so I had to wrap my mind around pulling that off for a bit, but it should be a lot of fun celebrating granddaughter number two.  

Lastly, we had a great 4th of July weekend, starting with my birthday at a Mexican restaurant and also fireworks on the beach.  I always pinch myself watching the fireworks burst over the gulf.  So lucky to live where I do.  Also, adding a photo of a cute 4th of July girly that I get to see very soon.

Mediterranean Spring - Portofino and Tuscany

 

The 2 days that we spent in the Italian Riviera and in Tuscany were my favorite of the trip.  We explored Portofino after docking in the harbor and taking a tender that gave a magnificent view of the colorful buildings. Our guide shared how Portofino remains quiet and controlled by its oldest families despite the glamour of Madonna and various Kardashians renting villas in the summer.  We also took a short boat trip to Santa Margarita and had time for lunch and a delicious aperol spritz sitting at a lovely umbrella table on the cobblestone street. 

Tuscany was everything I dreamed it would be and I kept reminding myself to soak in every second.  From San Gimignano to the 18th century winery where we had a wine tasting and lunch, the views, the flowers and the food were beyond amazing to this small town American girl.  A future dream would be to stay in a villa in Tuscany and just soak it all in for an extended time period.  Cook good food, drink good wine, eat gelato daily and just stop and smell the flowers as the saying goes.  

Next and final chapter in this trip series is Rome.