Friday, May 13, 2011 at 10:34PM 
I just finished up another round of product photos for Spirit Horse Herbals, please enjoy these made with love natural products for every need. You will not be disappointed, promise!
Spirit Horse Herbals Etsy Shop
Thursday, May 5, 2011 at 09:26PM 
Even though it was more than 10 years ago, I remember it like it was yesterday. In ethics class we were defining and discussing our fears. Through the process it was determined that my biggest fear was falling down the Angela stairs during one of my many trips up and down it during the school semester. To this day, the cement staircase to the right of the doors above still makes me nervous. Looking back on this memory I cannot help but laugh at the innocence of this omission. Unfortunately, as the years have passed my outlook on the world has widened along with my fears.
Even though the innocence of being in high school is a distant memory, I am honored to remain a part of my alma mater as an active alumnae. One such event is the annual Ursuline Garden Party which was held early last month. This year the event was held at Ursuline and included auction prizes, champagne, plants to purchase, music, and of course, scrumptious eats.
After 130 years, Ursuline will be graduating their final Senior class this year. I have hope that the transition from Ursuline and Cardinal Newman being separate schools to a single school will be successful for all parties.
When it was determined that I was having a daughter, one of my original thoughts was that she would be able to carry on the Ursuline tradition in thirteen short years. Although the specifics have changed, I know that she will become a part of the legacy and values that have defined Ursuline as an outstanding educational institution. And, maybe that legacy might include the Garden Party that my girlfirends and I started assisting with four years ago.
The back of the Garden Party invitation reads 'Once an Ursuline Girl, Always an Ursuline Girl. The Legacy Continues.' And, I could not agree more.
Sunday, October 3, 2010 at 09:24AM 
Although fall is quickly approaching outside my office window this morning, you can always bring summer weather, summer memories and summer tastes back with a quick trip. A quick trip to Yo-licious in either Windsor or Rohnert Park. Summer in a cup on a fall day? Yes, please.
To celebrate the opening of the Rohnert Park store, the owners requested some store images and detail shots of various yogurt creations.
My dad and Shasta make the walls of Yo-licious even a little sweeter...
The next time that the colder seasons are making you wish it was a little warmer outside, head on over to Yo-licious for a custom yogurt treat. Promise, you won't regret it!
xoxo
Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 08:34AM 
Being an active member of the community is an important part of my life and one thing that I enjoy is seeing how others choose to give back. One such person is my talented and beautiful Aunt, who is currently the President of the Santa Rosa Garden Club. Despite the recent blog posts based on gardening related activities, I do not have a green thumb - whatsoever. In fact, a family member was asking me what happened to the hydrangeas that were planted in our backyard and I could not recall them being planted, much less removed. That is all my husbands house territory.
That being said, I do highly enjoy the beauty of landscapes and celebrating the gardening talents of others.
Last Wednesday, the Santa Rosa Garden Club held a successful fundraiser with acclaimed author Elizabeth Murray who shared images and stories from her time spend at Claude Monet's Giverny estate. To state that I was impressed is an understatement - her images and words were inspiring. The event was a first class operation led by volunteers and included some of my favorite things - fragrant colorful flowers, mouth watering desserts and champagne!
I assumed that the floral arrangements would be pretty and I just love it when my assumptions turned out correct :)
The desserts were all homemade traditional New Zealand feasts of color - is your mouth watering yet? If not, there is another dessert picture in a few moments...
One of the arrangements outside was placed in a blue and white vase, which coincidentally Elizabeth discussed in her presentation, as Monet had the same vase pattern on his front porch. My Aunt was so excited about her vase selection!
Since I did not receive a photo model release from the 150 attendees, I am not including any "people" pictures, except the one below of the audience outline against one of Elizabeth's pictures of the garden grounds and resident cat. The leading lines of the flowers and the pathway are just spectacular - what a great photo taking opportunity!
Thank you Aunt Susan and the rest of the Santa Rosa Garden Club - it was an honor to witness such a great community event. Your passion for landscapes, for beauty and for getting a "younger" generation involved in gardening is admirable and appreciated by many. xoxo
Monday, April 5, 2010 at 07:54PM 
Fourteen years ago, I entered onto the campus of Ursuline High School. A nervous, somewhat naive, freshman entering a private school campus after attending public school throughout my life. Beyond my nerves, I was overwhelmed, but in a very positive way. I was overcome with the community feeling at the school, and during the next four years this sense of community pride grew.
The transition into a private school, although daunting, was one of the best decisions my parents and I have made together.
Founded on the the tradition of "Serviam" Ursuline High School plays an important part in Sonoma County by encouraging volunteer opportunities and overall community involvement. This concept has followed me beyond graduation and I now continue my serve to the school as the Alumnae Association President. One of my favorite events to help organize to the Annual Garden Party.
You might be asking yourself, what is a Garden Party?
What a great question! It is a late morning to early afternoon event, held at the ever fabulous Union Hotel in the charming town of Occidental...
There are beautiful decorations (lots of fresh flowers that define the springtime)...
Add in some mouth-watering home made breakfast pastries...
Some Easter time decorations...
And tables full of plants, herbs, trees and shrubs for sale and you have a Garden Party!
To make the event a success, you also need to have a few resident gardeners (that is a job description that I am unable to be assigned to!)
To make the event even more personable, you can add some high school student decorated "garden art"...
To make the event even more meaningful, all proceeds support future generations of Ursuline girls by providing alumnae scholarships.
To make the event more enjoyable, classical piano notes floated throughout the ballroom as the result of the talent of an Ursuline senior...
All events are the result of hard work by volunteers before, during and after the event...a Garden Party event is not exception to the power of service...
My favorite and continious partners in crime, Morgan and Meredith...
It is rare that I would post photos of (gasp) myself on this blog, but I really really like this photo of my mom and grandma and I...honestly, I am surrounded by such beautiful women, inside and outside...
Helping to lead the event throughout the year, is the Garden Party steering committee (we are missing a few members, but here are the majority of us)...
Now that you have learned about all of the essentials to planning a Garden Party, we hope that you will be able to join us next year! xoxo