In the back of my mind I always knew I wanted to do it up for a special 30th birthday party. Usually each year passes with a small family celebration, but entering a new decade called for something more! And while the first idea for a backyard party died away as the weather got cooler, I was ecstatic when I was able to book the Roots Reclaimed Studio for the date!

So a cocktail style party with a crostini bar, photobooth, lounge area, and diy crafts + best friends from high school and the wedding industry + the studio warehouse = party of my life!

Love the invitation that my graphic designer sister, Elizabeth, created for me!

I can’t help but show off my logo sign because I love it so much!

Because I wasn’t sure about the temperature in the warehouse we gathered all the pashminas among us three sisters and put them out for all the girls to borrow for the night!

There’s nothing that says all grown up like a crostini bar! It was so much fun seeing my vision come together!

My mom and sisters really worked hard behind the scenes helping me shop, cooking, chopping, baking etc. Then Nicole and Beth from Roots Reclaimed styled it all to make it pretty!

My friend Angela came early to make cute recipe signs to get everyone started in trying out new combinations. But I think the best part was creating our own new yummy flavors!

Cute mason jars from Roots Reclaimed for drinks and a little eos lip balm for each friend to take home!

After everyone grabbed a drink and plate of yumminess, we gathered in the warehouse to feast and chat!

With the dessert bar not too far away!

You can’t beat the ambiance in the warehouse!

Cute nooks and crannies all over the place!

I had to represent my love for pumpkin spice lattes somehow and diy is very me, so each friend put together a little jar of pumpkin spice sugar scrub to take home!

Paper wrapped market roses tied up with a string completed my thank you gifts to my friends!

My makeup done by the fabulously talented Jess of Polish & Pout fame!

Thanks to all my wonderful family and friends who helped make the night special!

It’s funny how much you can forget, even from the last few months until you look back at your pictures. So much happened this past winter, good and sad. But that’s what these pictures are about, real life!

-Sedona, Arizona red rocks, looks nice and warm but was really freezing cold
-Christmas day, visiting our grandpa for the last time
-celebrating Christmas late with our cinnamon rolls in the morning tradition
-we don’t really give each other gifts any more, but here are a few I couldn’t resist buying for the fam
-finally, the first paperie for my new branding!
-game night with old and new friends

-rubber stamps with my new branding
-Black and Blue Collar pull off the funniest positions
-cutest tea bag by Tea Forte
-game night at a friend’s house consisted of shooting a .38 inside with a laser bullet!
-my fav — Burt’s Bees grapefruit lip balm
-tired hand but happy heart, fancy calligraphy for all my favorite Grass Valley wedding vendors

-sweet valentine gifts from my mommy including dove chocolate and a cute mason jar drinking glass
-Black and Blue at it again
-washi tape tags
-coffee, smoothie, and water in my cute drinking glass, how I always start my mornings
-sunrise over Ghirardelli on a road trip to Santa Barbara for United 2014
-full moon over San Francisco at Rodeo Beach as the sun set over the water

May your day be full of pink, hearts, chocolate, and love!

This doesn’t even begin to capture the extent of my fall, but does highlight some of the small joys during those months! Here’s a peek into the best season of the year!

-thankful for Sunday afternoons with brothers who buy me chocolate
-fun behind the scenes sneak peek from a secret photoshoot
-first pumpkin spice latte of the season, but definitely not the last!
-tapas and dessert at Living Well’s Gala
-tonight just confirmed the face that I greatly dislike guesstures, but empire kinda got me when my “name” won over the entire group!
-settling in for the long night of work with psl to keep the peepers open

-experiment of pumpkin and sweet onion quesadilla–so yummy!
-my family knows me too well! cute stationery and lemon smelling hand soap for my b’day!
-fresh fruit and veggies make the best table decor!
-chocolate chip oatmeal pancakes + les mis music to the start the birthday
-know this Daesy Grace, you are loved and wanted. your story is a picture to all of God’s love and goodness!
-my beautiful flowers from Art in Bloom Flowers

-happy one month b’day Daesy Grace! #nicu #securitybadge
–last night with this sweet baby girl, so of course that means a photo shoot and polka dot bow!
-nothing like espresso chocolate chip cookies in the morning
-ice skating and pretending it’s actually a cold winter!
-Thanksgiving walk, so much to be thankful for!

I could say that the freezing cold outside is making me nostalgic for those warm sunshine days of summer, and while that might slightly be true, the real reason for this post in the dead of winter is because I’m so behind on my Life via iPhone series! But even a glimpse at my old posts reminds me of why I want to get back on track and keep going with it.

So often we get caught up in the day to day and preparing for the next big event that we forget those small moments that make up life. It’s about treasuring those memories, being grateful for the experiences, and capturing them not only to reminisce later on, but to be able to pass them on to future generations! While some people erect monuments or post plaques, I blog so as not to forget!

-California cries as dear friends move to Virginia
-celebrating the 4th of July Martha Stewart style
-the baby squirrel I saved from my cute, but deadly, kitties
-oh, just spoiling the brother who came to visit
-plums from our tree bathed in beautiful California sunset light
-summer sand volleyball turned into soccer under the blue skies this year

-fresh fruit makes for some yummy smoothie experiments
-camping with the church fam
-including our annual “lack of talent” night
-favorite moment of that week–father baptizing son in the clear, blue waters of Tahoe
-our annual 5-day club turned into a whole vbs w/some of the original kids helping as leaders this year
-during nasty online attacks, my sister reminded me that He is my Fortress and Comforter!

-my reserved spot at Patricia and Neil’s wedding–I have the sweetest couples ever!
-homemade peach ice cream
-milkshake tasting with a PHC buddy
-came across this sweet note from last summer–so blessed by my brides & grooms!
-last coffee shop night with friends before they leave for school
-enjoying every last summer night before it ends

-in the land of real ice cream
-about to try my first five guys burger
-Sunset Point, Bryce Canyon National Park
-Temple of Sinawava, Zion National Park
-from summer showers in Utah to the desert heat of Death Valley National Park
-origami at the Manzanar memorial monument