Gentry Photo Shoot

This year I am co-chairing the Junior League Home Tour during the holidays.  It has certainly been a lot of work, but one of the highlights so far was prepping for and participating in the Gentry Magazine Photoshoot.  Halo did all of our hair for the pictures, Rosewood Sand Hill let us stage the photos in their ballroom, designers donated their time and we got to get all dressed up and enjoy champagne cocktails all the while!  

Audrey helping me pick out shoes!

Heather, my Home Tour Co-Chair

Heather and the "gentlemen" - our fabulous designers

Enjoying dinner and drinks on the terrace post-shoot

they sent me home with half the centerpiece- it was gorgeous (and huge!)

The crew - left to right:

Heather Caelius (co-chair), Calla Griffith (VP Fundraising), Susan Martin (Sustainer Advisor),

Michelle Altick (co-chair), Karen Fryling (Sustainer Advisor), Rahela Abbas (President)

Designers

Escape to the Big Island

Back in August we stole a nice week or so away from reality and relaxed on the big island of Hawaii.  We stayed at the Mauna Kea resort and enjoyed lots of swimming at the beach and in the pool, making sandcastles, kayaking, morning runs, too many Fredricos, some golf, picnics at the beach and family time!

Hula Girls

views on the morning runs along the ocean

checking out the sunset and enjoying her ovaltine shake!

making new friends.

 watermelon!

barefoot in paradise

sisterly love.

golfing at na'nea

 view from the course

beaching it

lunch at the four seasons

 one of many friendly geckos

 getting ready for a night out on the town

Leis from the Fairmont Orchid

cocktails on the sand

wiggly worms trying to sit still

 checking out the sunset.

 the altick ladies

incredible meal @ Brown's Beach House/ Fairmont Orchid

Picnic Dinner on the Sand!

Silly with Daddy

Snuggly with Daddy

Mas Fredricos please!

Lounge Lizard

Living the dream

pretty hula girl

Sisters!

Semi-private hula lessons!

Aloha and Mahalo Hawaii!

August: Come and (almost!) Gone

August what happened to you?  Summer happens in a flash... here's what we've been up to!

Impromptu gatherings with old friends:

Gina, Sophia and Henry Shoemaker

Alex, Brady and Baby to be Kearns

Amelia, Audrey and Michelle 

Climbing tables at Menlo CC Friday night dinners

This is Amelia before her signature chocolate sundae

with Ellie and Papa

Amelia Checking out the Bubble Bath Car at Menlo's Connoisseur Marketplace

And of course a pink ice cream cone to go with her party dress

Baby Audrey being silly in her jammies with Vegas...

Spontaneous dinner with Aunt Kelly at Milagros/ DT RWC Jazz Festival

Peek a boo Audrey

Night Night Audrey

Day at SF Crissy Field with the "Whole Family" (aka Vegas comes too!)

Audrey wearing Sissy's swim cap

Amelia and best bud Conor playing impromptu soccer.  Getting ready for AYSO this fall!

Keeping warm on the cement at Menlo Pool

Bringing home art projects at "under the sea" summer camp (I have a whole underwater forest of friends at home!)

Playdates with girlie friends

Enjoying the bounty of our garden. Amelia actually loves tomatoes and basil and mint.  (we actually grow mint for aunt kelly's mojitos!)

Checking off "making our first apple pie" from Amelia's bucket list.  Surprisingly, it actually turned out pretty good!  Thanks to a combination of the Pioneer Woman's Pastry Crust, and The Barefoot Contessa's apple filling and crisp topping recipes!

Daughters wearing their momma's vintage dresses.  Thanks for saving these Mimi!

Sweet Audrey

A little voluntarism with the Junior League - Junior Giants Day....

Teaching Kiddos how to make healthy snacks.  Fruit and Granola Parfait.

Learning the Art of Make Up Application - no adult supervision requested.

Lots of veggies and fruit with smoothies.

Girls attending their first horse show - menlo charity horse show at the Circus Club.

Tiring the girls out at Bumble

Strolling through downtown Menlo Park - stopping for a treat at Susie Cakes.

Oh and getting tan in Hawaii!  Pictures coming soon....