A Memory of Marrakesh

 

Happy milestone birthday to my dear dear friend, Kara @karhazel .  This trip in 2002 remains one of my top memories. This was mid-way through our girl’s trip to Spain and Morocco.  Here we are on the Mediterranean Sea between Marbella and Rabat.  I have fun memories of clubbing the night away at the discotheque in Madrid and driving down through Sevilla to the Southern coast of Spain.  

We were busy “almost 30-something” professionals working hard in NYC but also taking plenty of time to enjoy ourselves.  We planned this trip just a year after living through 9/11 in NYC. We didn’t think we were invincible but we also felt there was a world at our finger tips to explore.   As we traveled on the ferry to Rabat, I remember a gorgeous woman in the restroom that asked if she could borrow my bright red lip coloring.  She was wearing a hijab and yet she still took pride In her perfectly stained lips that only she would appreciate.  

 We arrived in Rabat and visited Amy’s home and school she’d attended In childhood during a few years living of abroad with her family (we’d learned years previously that a "State Department" employee from Northern Virginia was code word for “C.I.A.”).   The coastline was like none I’d ever seen.  It was eye opening to walk into a rest stop along our journey and be the only women at the stop (and then we realized the bathrooms were coed and included literal holes in the dirt ground where we were to squat). 

Our experience with the people in Morooco still resonates with me.  Everyone we encountered was very friendly (thinking we were British) and even more sympathetic and warm upon realizing we were actually from NYC.  I’ll never forget the University student who was studying English and earning money while driving a taxi… we were so lost and a bit forlorn because we couldn’t locate our Riad.  This gentleman graciously showed us where to safely park our car and then he led us down maze walkways and alley ways.  We had to put our full trust in him and, along the way, he learned we lived In NYC and he unabashedly apologized to us for what happened on 9/11.  He delivered us to this great castle door and when it opened… it revealed the most amazing oasis of a Riad… owned by a Scandinavian couple who decided to open a beautiful destination for guests In Mirrakesh. Our room was adorned with the most stunning and vibrant textiles I’ve ever seen. The windows had no actual panes in them; animals and insects and people could climb through them if desired and yet I felt the most safe and serene I had felt in a very long time. There was a staircase that led to an unmarked door in our suite. There were candle lights on every stair to set a warm glowing ambience (and probably prevent us from walking up the stairs to the doorway). Of course we had to explore. As we opened the door at the top of the stairs we found ourselves on top of a rooftop. We were overlooking the entire medina in Marrakesh. We saw lights and sunsets and gorgeous colors.  We drank a bottle of wine and took in the landscape.   I could continue on about the millions of laughs we encountered while trying to have Kara take the perfect photo of Amy and me, before iphones and selfies… (kara we are lucky you still speak to us).  But honestly ladies, this wasn’t just a trip of the year or the travel of the century. This was a life-changing journey that we embarked on in our late 20s. It literally was life altering. And I am so happy that I shared this adventure with you women. Kara I’m so sorry I couldn’t be in Arizona with you this weekend to celebrate your 50th.  You ladies truly hold a special place In my heart.   Kara, you are one of the strongest and most “beautifulest”  people I know.  Happy birthday to you my beautiful friend.

Napa November Photo Reveal!

Happy January!  Remember Napa?  I started talking about 'The Countdown' in October, 2012.

I shared some of the craftiness that went into the planning for this party in early November.

For those of you that may not recall, I hyped my Napa November trip pretty heavily and promised to share photos as soon as I had them.  And then, I didn't!   Ha, really, I'm quite embarrassed about sharing photos in January from an event that happened in November. But I'm going to blame it on the holidays! 

If you're late to the party and have never heard me talk about 'Napa November' , in a nutshell, my husband (EG) and I both turned 40 last fall and decided to host a weekend in Napa to include a handful of our closest friends from grade school to present. 

Twenty five guests in total; some arrived as early as Wednesday but all were there by Friday for our big party.  I selected the Farmstead in St. Helena as the venue because of the authentic barn-style decor (the restaurant itself is housed in a former nursery barn).  Once I started planning the party with their event coordinator, we moved our party to their private dining area space.  It has the same authentic feel.  I really wanted to give guests a Napa feel with a chic barn house flair. 

I wanted the table scape to be filled with wild flowers and seasonal vegetables that were not the traditional autumnal colors (red, orange, brown).  I envisioned eggplants, aubergine, celedon (purples and crisp greens).  I wanted mixed vases and vintage containers.  Come on, ya'll, this is Vivid Hue...Nothing matchy matchy here!  (smile)

I found a photo of each guest pictured with EG or me at a point in our friendship and used those to create this photo clothes line.  It was a great way to commemorate our many friendships. 

Here is a close up of EG and me in NYC.  Each year we try to celebrate our wedding anniversary weekend by returning to NYC (without kids) and visiting all of the places we used to go when we were dating.  I * think* this was taken on our 7 year anniversary weekend.  (photo removed)

This weekend really was about celebrating our vast and meaningful friendships with so many special people (I know, I know, as much as I hyped MY birthday leading up to this...) This was a weekend filled with so many wonderful memories and hysterical laughter. 

These are the girls I go on my annual mom's Vegas trip with...

Even though there were 25 of us, I wanted the dining room setting to seem intimate.  I had the table set up like one long barn table.  We all set at a long table and it was pretty easy to converse with each other!   I had originally thought about sticking to white table linens but then decided to be true to myself and add a spice of color and pattern.  Yes, it was supposed to resemble a barn like setting, but I asked everyone to wear cocktail attire.  So I was already mixing things up.  Adding a fun table cloth just provided some additional flair. 

My theory is that you don't have to follow the rules all of the time.  This was my party so I did exactly what I wanted.  And it was exactly as I envisioned. 

There were some shabby chic and vintage elements in the room that added personality such as a vintage wheelbarrow with old barn doors.  An old birdcage and accents of orange. 

I made  a banner that said "Happy 40th Grahlings" from burlap and stencils and had the venue string it with twine and clothes pins. 

 

 

Here's a group shot of our happy group.  We really had a wonderful time.  My motto has always been "let's make a memory," and we certainly did.  It was a weekend that I'll remember forever. 

It's an amazing thing when there are years between when you see an old friend but when you get together, it's as if no time has been lost.  You're able to pick back up where you left off.  That's how you know you're really great friends.  As we get older and our own families demand more of our time, it becomes more difficult to give devote daily time to friends from childhood and college.  But when you can get together with friends and continue a conversation as if you have seen each other just yesterday, that is a sign of a friendship that can endure the test of time.  I cherish every single one of my friends.  I'm truly blessed. 

Happy 2013.

All photos courtesy of Matt Edge Photography 



xoxo Heather

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