Earlier this week Maddie and I sat down and came up with some ideas for our summer. She’s enrolled in a few camps here and there, but for the most part we don’t have many plans and I’m really looking forward to some quality time together, just us two.

Always one to level up the fun, Maddie suggested we put all of our ideas in a “Summer Bucket List Jar,” and on unscheduled days we will draw from it and let fate decide what we do… Genius!

For us, the most challenging part of this social distancing, by far, has been trying to explain to Maddie why she can’t play with her friends. It breaks my heart to see her so sad to be without her classmates and buddies- to have her wonder why she can’t go to the playground or have a play date.

Ok, if I’m being honest I’m playing a little fast and loose with the term teacher. I never technically had my own classroom. But I do have just a few units left before I earn my Masters in Education, and I spent over a year in a local elementary school as an in-house sub. Plus I do have a current GPA of 4.0, meaning I know a thing or two or writing a lesson plan.

Since Maddie started school two years ago, we’ve loved spending a little time together after pickup- catching up on our days and enjoying an afternoon snack. For the last few years, it has been some of the most precious time for the two of us; or at least for me, as her mom. I get to learn about her day; to take her emotional temperature; to sense how she perceived the way she was treated and what she learned; what made her happy or sad or mad.

Brrr! We went from playing outside without our jackets on Monday to our first snowfall of the season yesterday. And it was chil-ly.

Maddie was so excited at the prospect of a November winter wonderland- she had visions of building snowmen and sledding at the first sound of a chance of snow. And it sort of broke my heart when I had to explain that sometimes a snowfall is just a flurry- or hail- and we may have to wait a bit before we’re building Olaf this winter.

Fun fact: It is very difficult to snap pictures of two kids looking at the camera. I guess we’ll be working on that.

We’ve been suckers for matching holiday PJs here for years now; and now that Lila is here, the craze has only heightened. So when Sammy + Nat revealed their holiday design for mom and minis, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on these soft pretties. The print is so perfect- zoo animals on parade all decked out in Christmas goodness. We’ll be living in them well into the New Year- we just wish they had a pair for dad, hint hint…

A few weeks ago I shared my plan to preserve all of the paintings, crafts, drawings and keepsakes created by our MM over the years {here}.

After years of struggling over what to do with all of Madeline’s special creations, I finally found Artkive- a simple and easy-to-use service that will convert all your kids’ precious artwork into a beautiful hardcover book.

34 weeks pregnant and its just about time to pack my hospital bag. Eek!

I can’t believe how quickly the last few months have gone by- it really is so much faster the second time around. And we can’t wait to meet our newest girl!

To celebrate the arrival of Baby Number Two, I’ve teamed up with Greenwich Moms and the Local Mom’s Network to share my Hospital Bag Essentials and to give away one bag filled to the brim with all my must-haves to one lucky reader- valued at $1500!

This post was originally intended to be part of the “Weekend Recap” series. But with the temps in the 90’s the past few days, we didn’t do anything all that noteworthy other than stay cool. That said, we did keep ourselves super busy as a family- a trip to see The Lion King, a few dance parties, a lot of playing dress up and a couple home-cooked meals.

So, instead, I decided to do a little roundup of our favorite ways to spend a summer afternoon when its HOT, HOT, HOT.

This coming weekend my sweet mama will be throwing a little sprinkle for me and baby number two, and I can’t wait to celebrate our happy miracle with some of our closest friends and family from across the country.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve gotten a lot of requests for a registry for the event; but, truthfully, being that this is our second girl, there isn’t a whole lot we need this time around.

A few months ago, in the middle of spring, I began the hunt for Maddie’s next bike.

Naturally, I took to Instagram, where so many of you responded with such great recommendations: for balance bikes, training wheels, and local bike shops, that made my search that much easier.

As much as I love my fall, there are few things better in life than summer nights at the beach with the family. Growing up in a coastal town, our local beach has always held a special place in our heart. And while it took me some time to find a love for the sand- I was not a fan as a kiddo- I can now think of no better way to spend a summer sunset than together by the water.

Does anyone else struggle with what to do with all those pretty little masterpieces that come home from school with our kiddos? I sure do.

Ever since MM started preschool last year, I’ve been struggling about what to do with all the paintings, drawings, crafts and keepsakes that have come home signed by our girl. It’s made me a bit of a hoarder when it comes to her artwork; and I’ve been on the hunt for an alternative to keeping it in bins for eternity.

After traveling a bunch the entire month of May and the beginning of June, we finally had a full family weekend at home. And it was just what we needed.

Friday we celebrated Maddie’s birthday with a super low key get together at the house with family. We grilled and enjoyed some good old fashion Carvel ice cream cake and enjoyed our first official BBQ of the season at our house.

Easter is a little less than a month away, and it’s got me thinking about all things pink and purple and bunny and chick. Over the past few years it’s become one of our very favorite holidays to celebrate as a family, and we always have the best time collecting little trinkets for MM to open on Sunday morning- a mixture of candies, stuffed animal, tiny toys and trinkets. 

A few weeks ago Maddie and I teamed up with one of our favorite local mompreneurs, Jasmine of MerriMane, to share some of our local spots in downtown greenwich. MerriMane has been a favorite of ours since she launched just a few months ago- her sweet little fleeces the perfect combination of fashion and function for littles- so when she asked me to launch her “City Guide” series I couldn’t wait to show her around town.