Celebrating "half a century"...

This week marked a BIG birthday for yours truly....

A few of my "besties" hosted a truly lovely lunch at my friend Jackie's house....in celebration of the big event....my friend Jackie's talents for setting a pretty table were readily on display...she made the floral arrangements herself...so girly...I LOVED it!!

When I walked in I was totally surprised by an oil painting custom made by Jackie (who is a prolific artist) just for me for the occasion...

She had taken a picture of me by her pool this Summer and made it come to life on canvas. The gesture brought me immediately to tears as I walked in the room. Her talent and generosity and friendship...what a gift!- in every sense of the word....

It now proudly resides in my foyer...and every time I pass it a smile comes across my face!

I just loved spending the afternoon surrounded by all the warmth and love of precious friends...                                                                                          My friend Dawn (pictured left) labored for hours on a video that captured so many of the fabulous moments we have all spent together...                                                                                       We watched it as a group as we began with a ceviche avocado appetizer...this montage is something that will make me smile for years to come...

                                    although I cried through a lot of that too...

My friend Renee...another creative force to be reckoned with...presented me with a gift box (with a one of a kind purse inside) that she cleverly decorated herself with ribbon and tissue paper...so cute!

I just love Jackie's teacup collection....thought you might as well...

 The toasts kept me laughing and crying
 most of the party... my teenage daughter even stopped in for a minute taking a break from school....she gave a wonderful toast too!
 

and then came dessert...such a colorful collection of confection.....

These 'ladies who lunch" are a lovely bunch- I'll tell you...!! Thank you girls for your friendship.



Then... just when I thought it was all over...there was more being planned behind the scenes for later...little did I know....




My "bestie" Marika had planned a surprise party....



 under the guise that she and her husband were taking me and my husband to the city for dinner....



My husband and I were greeted at their door by this fun display of affection...



those crazy kids made me laugh and had been planning this surprise for months...



and then the serious fun began...



Miss Marika is also a "hostess with the mostess"..she sets a mean beautiful table too...I love that I have such talented girlfriends who spoil me!!!

Everything was delicious...and that girlfriend cocktail was right up my alley! Vodka, Pink Lemonade, Fresh Mint and Raspberries and a squeeze of fresh lemon.

The conversation was lively and we had such a great time...intimate dinner parties are just the best!

 

Marika's musically inclined daughter and her equally talented friend gave us an impromptu concert as well...which made the evening even more enjoyable...merci' m&s....

I will be honest...leading up to this day I was getting a little "freaked" by the notion that I was actually turning 50. I know they say 50 is the new 40 etc. etc. but come on- you're still 5-0! It's not really the number for me it is what it represents...that time is moving so quickly!

 I still feel like I am in my 20's in sooo many ways... well, my girlfriends rallied...filling my week with such happiness and feelings of love that I know that I have lived well...and that a life well lived should be celebrated every day...

Thanks ladies for making my life and this week too... such a fun ride!  What would we do in life without girlfriends?

                           XOXO Emily