Spring Tea

Every year, the Talbot Wives host a lovely, LOVELY Spring Tea in Redondo Beach.  This year, I was feeling much more myself and had a wonderful time.  (Last year at the Spring Tea, I was about 13 weeks pregnant and so incredibly sick.  I was miserable shade of pistachio green and I sat fanning myself from nausea, even tho it was a chilly 60 degrees outside).  Needless to say, this year was superb.

The sky was blue and the sun was warm and we had a wonderful morning (a baby free morning, mind you) with great conversations and many lessons in hospitality.  I think everyone was encouraged to reach down and embrace their very own inner Martha Stewart by the time it was said and done.

The tea included several courses of savories, scones with clotted cream and of course cupfulls and cupfulls of tea with sugar cubes and floating flowers.  And of course it was all served on beautiful, heirloom, "real" tea sets.  It was lovely.  Simply lovely.

Stephani and I (we have baby girls about two weeks apart).  

Stephani, Me, Sarah, Darcie, Haylee & Danielle

Tea and Sugar cubes with Floating Fondant Flowers.

Jenny, Sarah, Tiffany (who had baby Maddie!) and Stephani

Crystalinda, Jill, Sara & Karen

Family Camp Out!

We did it!  First camping trip with Charlie Ann - a success!

However, I will admit that I was having some serious regrets/doubts that first night... I was up every 30 minutes afraid she was either freezing to death (the low was 30 that night) or suffocating in the sleeping bag.  Needless to say, this mama did not get a whole lotta rest [and of course Charlie Ann was sleeping great..]  But by the time the second night came, I had a new plan and it worked great.  She just woke up once to nurse around 4am.  Perfect! (That second plan involved sleeping her in that giant pink puffy snow suit instead--she had warm cheeks all night)

There's a lot of photos... it was a well documented trip - ha.

Talbot Wives Weekend in San Clemente

I am blessed to be working with the Talbot Wives Leadership Team this year at Jarod's school.  This is a ministry for wives of husbands who are in school and it is wonderful!  I don't know what I would have done without them when I moved to SoCal last summer, knowing no one.  They are a fabulous group of faculty wives and student wives.
We had a retreat in San Clemente last weekend and I was completely blessed by the time away in a beautiful home and the fellowship of women.

Our First CookOut

We had a "first" yesterday evening--a GRILL OUT! I made burgers (for the first time!) and we grilled up a few Oscar Meyer 'dogs (for the first time too!). It was totally fun, totally good and totally on my repeat list for June! Haha. In honor of the upcoming summer, we decided to have a Barbecue theme for Jarod's weekly spiritual formation group at Talbot. So we jammed 10 1/2 people [that inlcudes little Nannie :)] into our teeny apartment and shared a meal and some fun conversation together. Everyone pitched in, brought part of the menu and shared in prep & clean up. Jarod did especially awesome grilling! :) It was such a good, good time. We feel so honored to already have a strong community surrounding us and good friends to share life (and burgers!) with out here. And I was totally enjoying myself and FORGOT to take any pictures! Haha.

Girls Morning in Old Towne Orange

So my little Book Club friends are quite wonderful. We all spent Saturday morning in Old Towne Orange having breakfast at a FUN little spot called "The Filling Station," went antique browsing and got inspired for decorating ideas (when we can afford it, which is when all of our husbands are out of school and making bank--haha).

This is Rachael. Her and her husband are moving to England in just a few weeks where Ben will work on his doctoral degree in Cambridge. I am SO going to miss this girl!

Heather and I were most intrigued and inspired by the antique shops. We are vowing to have a little antique/vintage craft day pretty soon.

This is everyone in the Book Club: Laura, Rachael, Anne, Heather and me!

This is "The Club" at Laura's house, discussing 'The Red Tent' by Anita Diamante.

But, back to Orange. Look at this SUPER cute little craft idea. They are selling for like 15x's the amount that we could make them for. We just need a little felt, some hot glue & hair pins:

This room ABSOLUTELY inspired me. I love the distressed wood that has been painted lovely whites and slate blues. I love the mirrors, the jars with tree buds, the fun throw pillows, the framed map of the bay, and the wicker. IF Jarod and I move to Santa Barbara, I TOTALLY want my house to have this cool, calm, cozy, beachy feel. Love it, Love IT!

And, what trip would be complete without seeing this:

Farmer's Market

Tonight we took a spontaneous trip to the Fullerton Farmer's Market with our friends, the Rosa's. So fun! Sampled some of the BEST fresh fruit, ever! I had ginger ice cream for dinner. Yum. I also had some amazingly good hummus (avocado & cilantro).. Jarod makes a really good homemade hummus already, so now he has some inspiration for spicing up his traditional recipe. The Market was totally enjoyable; fun music, delicious food and close friends. Little Nan is almost 3 months old! And she is awesome, totally chillin' with Mama, never made a peep. :)

Beachcomber Cafe in Crystal Cove

A late brunch at Beachcombers Cafe in Crystal Cove, near Newport Beach. What a fabulous find, Anne! Such a fun and relaxing morning with the girls. And... we saw dolphins just a few yards from the beach!! It was amazing!!

Little Nan Rosa

The night before last, Jarod and I returned Margo to her owners and celebrated the birth of Lani & Evan's Little Girl. Gosh, she is just the smallest, most precious thing ever!

Lani, Evan & Nan

Jarod, Evan & Lil' Nanie

Us & Nanners