This Connecticut summer has been a tricky one- weeks of sweltering heat and then, suddenly, it feels like fall. And while some members of my family wish that summer lasted all year long, this mama loves that sweet sweater weather more than cake. Which I love. A lot.

Schedule

It's been a gloomy, rainy week here in Connecticut. And this mama is going a little stir crazy. After a very {very} long winter cooped up with a baby that has now officially entered toddler-hood, I was quite looking forward to spring days spent outside. Unfortunately, this New England weather has different plans, again leaving us up to our own {indoor} devices. 

Schedule

A few months ago I was perusing Pinterest {as I often do} and stumbled upon the most gorgeous photo of a woodsy outdoor dinner party. The photo was moody in the most charming way- a lone rustic farm table in the woods; lit by candlelight, set with mismatched tableware, and accented with assorted blankets to fight any chill. I showed the image to my husband in passing, mentioning that I would love to recreate the scene one cozy fall night.

So we officially have a sixteen-month-old on our hands. A little toddler that doesn't just walk, but runs; a Chatty Kathy whose pastimes include making pretend phone calls, building little lego lands, hours of board book reading and hanging with Peanuts and the gang.  And while I'm not always sure exactly what she's saying- she's saying quite a lot; those little babbles filling my heart with so much joy and excitement for the words her sweet little voice will someday say to me.

There are few things that get us excited the way holiday decorating does- the first glimpses of it conjuring up such excitement for all the last quarter of the year has to offer. For us, the holidays start with the fall; and on that first day we pull out our trusty fall wreath and start mulling those spices. And while we always have pumpkins, this year I wanted to take a more sophisticated spin on the seasonal favorite. So when we found these unique beauties during a recent trip to our local Terrain, it was love at first sight.