Monday, March 2, 2015

This is how we celebrate...60...OOTD

Mr. HB and I discussed my 60th birthday...
how we would like to celebrate and we decided on a catered dinner, a gathering of family and friends.


We were originally going to go to a local restaurant with a private room.
 and just before we booked the venue our friends offered to host it in their gorgeous heritage home.
This table was set up in their living room!


 Thorn and Thistle is my go to for flowers and my friend artfully arranged them in her vintage vases and planters.


~ Delicious appetizers ~ 
crab cakes followed by lamb popsicles based on Vikram Vi'j's recipe
started the evening off as they were served while we mingled sipping flutes of Prosecco.
All the catering was done by our good friend Julie who is a superb cook and has an eye for every last detail.
She owns and runs Jules catering here in Victoria.
If you have a special event and need some help please give her a call.


We set up a bar...





Caesar Salad to start...



Home made pasta with Gorgonzola sauce with a garnish of crunchy walnuts


Lemon Chicken "Piccata" so tender that it practically melted in my mouth!


Rice pilaf
and trays of roasted vegetables.




Dessert was a chocolate quinoa cake served with whipped coconut milk and fresh raspberries.

Oh and there were cards, gifts, Euro's and tears of joy.


My children totally surprised me with a beautiful pearl pendant and bracelet from Birks.




A pretty silver star and a handy jewelry pouch for travel...


cookbook


I dressed up for the party...


I wore my favourite LBD with an artisan necklace by Debra Kay...
which was swapped for the gorgeous pearl pendant as soon as I opened the box!


Banana Republic Robson handbag and Stuart Weitzman shoes complete the outfit.

I am so grateful for this special party and thank you my wonderful husband, family and friends.
It was a memorable evening and I loved having everyone around helping me usher in the next decade.


We have frequently marked my birthdays on the sandy beaches at Point No Point.

Writing messages in the soft wet sand...
only to watch the waves wash my words away.





"Time and tide wait for no man."

~ Geoffrey Chaucer ~


“The world is a looking-glass, and gives back to every man the reflection of his own face. Frown at it, and it will in turn look sourly upon you; laugh at it and with it, and it is a jolly kind companion.”

  ~ William Makepeace Thackeray ~


Plan to keep looking for the magic in each day...
and savouring the beautiful.


In my early 20's in the Magic Kingdom...
where does the time go?

Inside I feel very much like that young woman...
 a few exterior changes...
My hair is grey, with laugh lines, my jaw is softening...
No longer 110 pounds ~ no longer able to fit into that size 6 leather jacket.
Still like to laugh and smile as often as possible.
Have fun and experience Joy.
Love spending time with our friends and family.
Grateful for our grandchildren ~ the greatest gifts.


Thank you for stopping by...
Hostess
XO

57 comments:

La Vie Quotidienne said...

Spectacular! What a wonderful party, surrounded by love. And what lovely gifts. Congratulations on a very Happy Birthday. I am sure this is one you will always remember.

Blue Booby said...

What a blessing you have in your family and friends. What a blessing you are to all of them. Happy, happy birthday my dear!

frugalscholar said...

from Amoretti by Edmund Spenser

One day I wrote her name upon the strand,
But came the waves and washed it away:
Again I wrote it with a second hand,
But came the tide, and made my pains his prey.
"Vain man," said she, "that dost in vain assay,
A mortal thing so to immortalize;
For I myself shall like to this decay,
And eke my name be wiped out likewise."
"Not so," (quod I) "let baser things devise
To die in dust, but you shall live by fame:
My verse your vertues rare shall eternize,
And in the heavens write your glorious name:
Where whenas death shall all the world subdue,
Our love shall live, and later life renew."

Stephen Andrew said...

Happy, happy birthday!! The party looks just fabulous and how lovely to have such a big table filled to celebrate you! A true testament to you. The gifts look fab and wow the food looks glorious! And the flowers, too!

Madame Là-bas said...

Your celebration food and flowers look lovely. How nice to have the party in a heritage home!
It is amazing how the years fly but it is satisfying to look around the table and to remember all the good times shared over those years.

Deborah Montgomery said...

Happy birthday!! What a wonderful party you had, the food looks delicious, and everything is beautifully decorated. Love the pearl necklace and bracelet you received. You look lovely in your picture.
Such a fun picture of you with Mickey and Minnie too.

Jennifer said...

Happy Birthday. What a beautiful celebration you had. Your pearl necklace and bracelet are fabulous!! Life's rich when surrounded by our loved ones.

Sue @ A Colourful Canvas said...

The very brightest of birthday blessings headed your way Leslie! Your celebration looks wonderful!

lizzie said...

Happy Birthday Leslie. Looks like you had a fabulous celebration with good friends and good food.

Be it ever so Humble said...

Happy Birthday Hostess! Looks like a wonderful time was had by all. Thanks for sharing with us. Tracey

Bmore Bungalow said...

Your birthday dinner looks splendid. Happy birthday!!!

Pondside said...

A very happy 60th, Hostess! It looks like you celebrated in style - just the way to set the standard for the decade ahead!

Sheila said...

Wow, a very Happy Birthday to you, Leslie! What a wonderful evening - and what a perfect way to celebrate this special day for you and all of your friends. Thank you for sharing it with us. Hug, Sheila

Sydney Shop Girl said...

Happy, happy birthday, Leslie! You are looking and you are fabulous.

SSG xxx

Jim & Sonya Guthrie said...

Happy 60th Birthday, Leslie!! No wonder you are going to Paris...great way to celebrate your special year. You look fabulous ;) Looks like you were given a lovely dinner party to bring in your new decade. Such special friends.

Susan said...

What a happy and delicious celebration of your special birthday, made even more so being in a friends' beautiful home....a wonderful memory to treasure!!

LynneinNC said...

Happy Birthday Hostess! Thank you for sharing with us the wonderful evening of celebration. It's great to be with friends to celebrate, too. I am so thankful for you and your blog. All the best!

Karen said...

Happy Birthday Hostess. Looks like a fabulous evening was had by all. Thank you for sharing.

SusanG said...

Happy birthday, Hostess! What a beautiful celebration for your 60th!

DaniBP said...

What a wonderful party. Happy Birthday! I hope this year is your best yet. xo

Kristien62 said...

Many happy returns, Hostess. What a lovely and memorable celebration.

Coulda shoulda woulda said...

looks like a very special occasion and good to see you had a lovely time! Best wishes

JudyMac said...

Happy Birthday to you! What a wonderful celebration with your family and friends. I continue to enjoy reading each and every post from the Humble Bungalow and look forward to your adventures in France. 😊

KSL said...

Happy Birthday ~ looks like you had a wonderful celebration, and what a beautiful necklace and bracelet your children gave you! Something you'll treasure forever. The dinner sounds so yummy too, and you look great and happy.

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday, thanks for letting us share your special celebration!
VancouverSuz

Patricia said...

What a beautiful party Hostess - Happy Birthday!

Susan B said...

Happiest of Birthdays to you! The pearl jewelry is lovely and so very much you. That dinner looks fabulous in every way.

Veronica Roth said...

Happy birthday Hostess, and many happy returns of the day. Much love from me to you. :D

Lorrie said...

Happiest of birthdays, Hostess! Wishing you much joie de vivre as you move into your 60s. You'll do it with style!

Sheree said...

Happy birthday, Hostess. Such a beautiful party.

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday Hostess. What a lovely way to celebrate Warmest wishes Mary

Marilyn said...

Happy birthday from over here in the UK. It looks as if you had an amazing party.

Julie said...

Happy Birthday Leslie - these photos definitely capture how wonderful the evening was - a great gathering of friends and family in a gorgeous setting. Thanks for letting us be a part of it! Please tell Isla how much we enjoyed playing hide and seek with her in the kitchen!

Julie

Unknown said...

Happy Birthday, my dear Leslie, 60 is a wonderful age. Enjoy! I must say you look smashing.
Love, L

Marilyn Leslie said...

Happy Birthday Leslie- You look mah-ve-lous! Looks like a wonderful celebration.

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday! I turned 60 on Saturday., and I'm no longer 110lbs either...along with a host of other exterior changes, haha.

JennyC said...

How lovely you look. So happy to be surrounded by family and friends. A milestone birthday.

Michelle Chun LeRoy said...

Happy birthday, to the writer of my absolute favorite blog!

Btw, you were adorable! But now, you're beautiful!!

Duchesse said...

Happy birthday and thank you for sharing your loving and sumptuous celebration!

Marie-Thérèse said...

I celebrated my 63rd in early February very quietly "entre nous" (just my husband and me). Your 60th celebration will be something to remember, savor and bring a smile to your face whenever you think of it for many years to come. Happiness makes us even more beautiful. You had me at the gorgeous table settings and sealed the deal with the Prosecco (one of my favorites!).

Joyeux anniversaire.

M-T

Jeannine said...

Happy Birthday! What a wonderful celebration you had - everything, including yourself, looks lovely.

No Sacrifice Bags said...

Happy Birthday! You look the same as you did in Disney. I love your Birk's pearls. What a special gift to celebrate your 60th.

LPC said...

Oh my gosh, how wonderful! You look in some ways YOUNGER than you did in your 20s. The happiness is illuminating. Your children really rallied for you. A very happy birthday L., across all the media, I hope you feel as happy and well-loved as you appear to be.

Susan ~ Southern Fascinations said...

A lovely celebration! 60 is wonderful!!

Anonymous said...

You look radiant as you celebrate such a special day! Wishing you a very Happy 60th!!
Rita

cherial said...

Happy birthday from the uk - i always look forward to reading your blog and seeing your lovely photographs. What a wonderful celebration! X

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday Hostess! You looked gorgeous and so did the tables and food. Such a lovely gesture of your fiends to offer their home which would have made the evening so much more intimate and special. We celebrated my best friends birthday on the weekend too at their home. Such a fantastic night was had by all we had a live band made up of her son and son-in-law and my son plus a drummer. They played all the oldies and a fair bit of karaoke happened! No voice on Sunday morning for me or Mr T. And some sore heads and feet from all the dancing. So lovely to have all my children and grandchildren under the one roof too as they all stayed the night here, close to the party venue. Funny how we still feel the same inside isn’t it? I still have my leather coat from the same vintage. Mr T and I had matching, custom made ones back in the day. Both my girls enjoyed a period of wearing it too. Love your pearl necklace and bracelet, so feminine. Enjoy the afterglow of your birthday - often it’s better that that dread of anticipating a ’significant’ one! Tonkath x

Susan said...

I am late to this party, but want to wish you a very heartfelt Happy Birthday! I think you will love your 60s. Thank you for the part photos. It looks like it was a wonderful celebration.

Anonymous said...

Hi Hostess. Happy Birthday! Its lovely to see what a wonderful time you had with family and friends. Rosie

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday!
With many more to come!
A fabulous celebration and what fun!!
Irene
Sydney

Jill said...

That is a very classy 60th birthday celebration! Everything looks perfect. I so enjoyed looking at all your beautiful photos. Thank you for sharing - Happy Birthday!

roamingpursuits said...

What a wonderful celebration.

kristieinbc said...

I'm glad you had such a special time with your family and friends. It looks like they treated you royally!

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday! Your friends and family clearly adore you, and you looked just radiant! All the best and for many more celebrations. Luciana, Edmonton.

t said...

Happy Birthday! What a lovely celebration of you! Thank you for sharing.

carenserv said...

Late to party also but Happy Birthday from Atlanta! Thanks for sharing your celebration with us, many happy returns!

Kim Campbell said...

I am behind on my reading, however the birthday wishes are sent with love. Happy Birthday!