"My Andrew"......

 

 It has been 9 years ago today that my grandson Andrew made me a "grandma"......From a tiny baby back in New York, to our So. Cal boy now, each & every year has been such a priviledge to be part of. 

 

 

 From a baby, to a toddler, small boy & now a 9 year old.... each stage has been so exciting! Who knew how this little person would have taken over our lives & hearts!

 

 

 Our family has become much larger with Andrew in the middle of it all!....Between family activities, weekly baseball games & the everyday, this sweet boy connects us all with love & enthusiasm...& reminds us daily what strong "family ties" we all are a part of.....

   I asked Andrew a few weeks ago, if he would like to come down & stay with us a few times over this coming summer?....reminding him that I would understand  if he wanted to spend more time with his own friends. He didn't miss a beat!..."Nini!...I NEVER feel like that! You're my family!"

....O.K. did I mention I love this kid!

 

 

 So Andrew....on this day, May 18th, 2013, I want to thank you for being my grandson...for making me a grandmother......for being sweet & kind & funny & smart. For being a great reader, mathematician, baseball player & friend .... For being a great kid!

 

And now being a big brother..... you & I can show Declan how special it is to be a "grandma & grandson"!

I love you beyond words Andrew!.........

Nini

xo

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"The Great Gatsby"......

 

 

 My one Mother's Day request was to go see the movie, "The Great Gatsby". I had adored the version with Mia Farrow & Robert Redford when I was in my teens, in the late 70's, so I was so excited to see how this new version was!

 Well it didn't disappoint!.....The movie is spectacular!....Leonardo De Caprio & Carrie Mulligan  are fantastic, as well as Toby McGuire!.....It is a visual delight, being transported to another time of opulence & beauty!....And the clothes!!! The glorious clothes!!

 I highly recommend reading about the world that F. Scott Fitzgerald created in the pages of "The Great Gatsby",.....

or better yet, spending an afternoon at the movie, allowing his world to envelope you!

 

Enjoy!

 

Heidi

xo

 

" pale & ethereal"...

 

 

"the lovely Daisy"....

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"Mother's Day".....

Over the years, Mother's Day has been celebrated in a variety of ways. As a child, it was presenting my mother with a hand crafted card made at school.....Then in my teen age years, it was finding a sweet affordable gift I knew my mother would love. After I was married, Mother's Day became one where the entire day was devoted entirely to my own mother & my mother-in-law, brunch with one & dinner with the other. Then soon, I too joined the motherhood club, so the day became even busier, hosting celebrations for the matriarchs of our family, mothers, grandmothers, aunts, etc.

   A few years later my husband & I moved from Washington State to Southern California, where all of a sudden the day was all about me!....Of course gifts were sent to our mothers, but the day was very much my own...which selfishly I quite enjoyed! This is how the holiday remained, until my own daughter Holly, had my first grandson...& so the day was shared happily together.

   When Holly was married a little over a year ago, & since living over an hour away, I was remembered generously with a lovely gift, card & phone call on the special day!.....However she spent the day with her husband & children, last year with one son, this year with two.

    With just three of us at home now, my younger daughter Mallory & my sweet husband have made sure that Mother's Day has remained a thoughtful & memorable day.

    My message is this.....Mother's Day is a very important day. It can take many forms. It can be enjoyed many ways, with lots of people or just a few....a large celebration or a quiet one. From one year to the next, this day's celebration may change,.... but no matter how you choose to spend it, Mother's Day is special,.... & one that every mother truly appreciates.

Thank you to my family for making me always feel loved...

Love you bunches...

mom

 xo

 

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"Strawberries/Rhubarb/Pie".......

 

 With Mother's Day in just a few days, I am seriously "hoping & hinting" that come Sunday, this incredible strawberry-rhubarb pie will be lurking around somewhere in my house.....

 

 

And if you would like to take it one step further, ( I always love taking things one-step-further!)....

Serve your pie in these very charming pie-shaped boxes!.....AMAZING!

 And the spoons??...Really?....Can't get much cute-er!

 

Happy Pies!

Heidi

xo

 

Note: Photos from Pinterest/Dine & Dash & Etsy/ALAMODO

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"A Garden"......"A Library"

 

We are planning to move into our new house in just a few weeks.....

    I have room for a very large garden, which I am mentally imagining to include raised beds, berry supports & lots of trellises for climbing veggies, as well as a couple rambling roses!.....So the "garden" is a very realistic goal...

  As far as the "library" reference.....I believe for now, a couple bookshelves we have had for years may have to do!.....However, when our budget catches up with our wish list...built-in library shelves will be first on my list!

Happy decorating!

Heidi

xo

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