~Summer is DEL MAR~

Del Mar is a coastal city in northern San Diego that we just love to visit in the summer. Its sandy beaches, mix of older cottages and modern homes, friendly atmosphere, and small-town cafes give the place a very cozy ambiance. This is where our family often went swimming when the kids were younger and will remain a favorite spot for our grandchildren.

Vintage-truck on the street-why will I not love this place!

My cottage dream house with white picket fences.

We spotted a beautiful wedding ceremony as we rested on the grass.
What a breath-taking scene!

~Friends and Family At the Couple's Shower~

{The very soon bride-to-be, Ting, with a dear friend}

We have an upcoming wedding in my hubby's family in September- for the very much in love couple-Ting and Jaime. And although the couple's shower is the next big event to the wedding, for the bride's family (Lozada-De la Cruz), it is an even bigger occasion. A family get-together...
hours of cooking in the kitchen...catching-up with everyone's lives...meeting new acquaintances ...and playing darts is becoming more and more part of the event.

The bride's family-the Lozadas- Vicky, Arriane, Cathy, Addie and Ting

The host, mother-daughter team.

More dear friends who shared in the laughter and joy of the occasion-we played games, ate, and played games again.

A crafted bouquet for the wedding rehearsal the ladies put together.

The Family Ting grew up with...

{Lola Mommy Luz and Ate Grace}

{Uncle Remar and Aunty Marie}

{here with Noemi and Aunty Gay}

{we played darts and here are the winners with cash prizes}

{the recently dreaded opponent in darts, Kuya Nino, with Tita Glenda.
Second place is not that bad}

{No family gathering is ever complete without the kids}

{yes, the mother-in-law competed, too)

{with a professional darter on site, my hubby Reu, tha game is on!}

~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.