~The Bridal-Groom Shower~

When two people are at one
in their inmost hearts,
they shatter even the strength of iron or bronze.
And when two people understand each other
in their inmost hearts,

their words are sweet and strong,

like the fragrance of orchids.

The Couple shower invitation

A bridal shower inspiration (courtesy of save-on-crafts.com)

The pretty bride-to-be...Maria Christina Lozada...we fondly call her Ting. She is my hubby's
niece and we have seen her grow up from her crib to becoming a lovely lady and pretty soon in
September, to be the most beautiful lady in the room-the bride-to-be.

The soon Mister in the household-Jaime Alvarado, Jr. We welcome you to
the family and to many happy years of family gatherings with long strings
of in-laws, aunts and uncles, cousins and cousins, nieces and nephews...plenty of Filipino food
especially pancit...and many nights of dart home-tournaments.

Let your love be stronger than your hate and anger.
Learn the wisdom of compromise,
for it is better to bend a little than to break.
Believe the best rather than the worst.
People have a way of living up or down
to your opinion of them.
Remember that true friendship
is the basis for any lasting relationship.
The person you choose to marry
is deserving of the courtesies
and kindnesses you bestow on your friends.
Please hand this down to your children and
your children's children.


Ting-here's a photo for your inspiration... all-white collection of dishes and
dinnerware. We share the same passion for white.

~Finding My Balance~

I love work and I love working...but there comes a point when it saps all my energy that I lose sight of what gives me true joy. Finally, today, I found myself blogging again...and it is because I am able to take hold of my passions once more...

Work...work..work

I have forgotten to say hi to summer until I felt the stinging heat on my skin.
This pretty bamboo parasol was provided when we attended a friend's wedding at the Church's garden.

Taking a glimpse at my blooming hydrangeas always makes me smile.

And enjoying them in a vintage pink pitcher...

...and even better, sharing them with friends. I gave my dear co-worker, Leeta,
the first harvest which turned out to be the biggest ones in the patch.

I bought myself these pretty purple flowers for my kitchen window. I just adore flowers.

Watching my small ivy plant grow is pure joy.

Choosing a gift from Pottery Barn for our niece's bridal shower and wedding
and seeing it wrapped in this elegant setting is just wonderful.

...{and yes}...watching my granddaughter, Madeline, play video games
just fills my heart with love and happiness.

~At Wilson Creek Winery~

It was such a pleasure to see the growth of the wineries in our local city of Temecula. We have been so drawn to our jobs and routine, we almost forgot to stop and smell the roses. Ten minute drive from our house brought us to our favorite winery, Wilson Creek Winery, famous for its Almond Champagne that our guests love to take home. We were surprised to see so many changes...

The tuscan-style building now stands before us and houses the Champagne Ballroom and wine-tasting room, surrounded by simple and yet elegant gardens.

...surrounded and inspired by vast vineyards..

...a really nice time of the year to visit when flowers are in bloom..

...and the gazebo all dressed-up with hanging flowers...

...you can almost feel it's time for a wedding...

...grass-filled gardens shaded by tall trees- perfect for a picnic or to enjoy a beautiful afternoon...

~Breakfast in Leucadia~

A Saturday morning brought us to the coastal community of Leucadia in the city of Encinitas (CA) to watch our little line defender, Madeline, play soccer. A regular game becomes a great event for grandparents like us. Misty with a little drizzle could not stop her from playing. Tiny as she looks, she outruns most players and can kick the ball hard.

As excited as we were, was the Mom of course.

Now ready for breakfast but stopped by this quaint shack for grandma's blog.

I would not exchange this wonderful breakfast for sleeping in Saturday mornings. It is so refreshing and relaxing to have breakfast in a small hometown cafe....

...with banana and whip-cream-topped pancakes (my favorite)...definitely better than
homemade!

...and uncle and niece in constant competition for love and attention. That's Nathan, our 11 year-old, not really enjoying breakfast, and Madeline, our granddaughter, in a mouth-filled grin, seemingly knowing that she is the star of this lovely morning.


Leucadia...a cozy and homey surf community, the streets lined with small beach shops...

...aqua-painted walls covered by bougainvillas...

and towering eucalytpus trees...what a breath of fresh ocean breeze!

~Childhood~

“There is a garden in every childhood, an enchanted place where colors are brighter, the air softer, and the morning more fragrant than ever again.”Elizabeth Lawrence

“The things which the child loves remain in the domain of the heart until old age. The most beautiful thing in life is that our souls remaining over the places where we once enjoyed ourselves”...Kahlil Gibran

“When you finally go back to your old hometown, you find it wasn't the old home you missed but your childhood”...Sam Ewing

“Childhood is that wonderful time of life when all you need to do to lose weight is take a bath.”...Richard Zera