Friday Favorites
The last few weeks of summer are upon us, and if you follow along with me you know I'm pretty excited for what's in store. Theres a crisp chill in the early morning air, orange + black goodies grace the market aisles, and the days are ending just a tad bit sooner; meaning the leaves will soon turn into that magical burnt color that makes my heart melt. That being said, I don't think I've ever quite enjoyed a summer the way I've enjoyed this one- and while I'm excited for fall, there's a small part of me that is sad to say goodbye. I guess a little one will do that to you.
Double Chocolate Chip Cookies
Because I'm the person that cozies up in a poncho + wants to bake as soon as there's the slightest hint of a chill in the air, I took advantage of the crisp sixty-degree morning yesterday and baked a batch of cookies.
Sure, it was only in the sixties until roughly 8am, but those few hours of autumnal feels were bliss all the same. I'm not much of a baker during the summer- leaning more towards ice cream and rosé as my warm weather treat. But there's something about the last few months of the year that get my baking clock-a-ticking.
Friday Favorites
A week back from vacation and boy does it feel good to be home. Yes, I miss the breezy perfection that was the nor-cal air; but nothing beats mornings waking up in our cozy home with my two loves. And since our trip out west kicked Maddie into a routine of 12 hour sleeps, I've had a little extra energy to spruce up the house, organize MM's wardrobe (this girl's a-growing) and spend some extra time in the kitchen during these last few dog days of summer.
Napa Part I
I was born in California- just like my mother and father, and my maternal grandfather and great-grandparents before them. Being the oldest of four, I was the only one of us to be born there- the rest of us calling Connecticut home since the day they were born. But while my parents moved east before my second birthday, the rest of our extended family remained in California- grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts, uncles cousins and friends that have always felt that family. So my parents would take us back every summer- to explore the mountains, vineyards, beaches and cities with our family.
This past week my husband and I took our Maddie to meet her great-great grandmother in Napa. We made a vacation out of it- celebrating summer with family and close friends in one of my favorite places. My memories of summers out west are some of my very dearest- the smell giving me all the feels still thirty years later. And after just one week, it warms my heart to know our girl will grow up with the same feeling...
Bananas
They say that as a mom, there are some days that you'll feel like you can barely get out of your pjs and brush your teeth; while other days you feel like you can rule the world.
For me, most days are somewhere in between- Maddie will always be fed, she has a daily bath, and most of the time (thanks to Nana) she'll be dressed to the nines; whereas you can usually find me in sweats, rarely getting half way through a cup of coffee before it turns ice cold.
But somehow yesterday was one of my more productive days...
Beach Bum
This summer has made it official: my baby girl is a beach bum. It comes as no surprise really, as her dad is a lover of all things nautical- sand, sea + ocean air. And just like her dad, she's happiest after a few hours spent running along the shore + kicking around the Sound. Luckily, we are just a few minutes from the beach; making daily trips possible, if only for an hour or so.
Day Tripping | Newport, RI
Sometimes, summer days call for an impromptu family road trip. And if you're lucky enough to have a mini traveler that enjoys car rides, those road trips can take you to some pretty spectacular places. This past Sunday my husband loaded up the car and surprised us with the most beautiful family day in Newport, RI. Having spent our honeymoon here a few years back, this New England haven will always have a place in my heart.
This particular day we spent perusing Bowen's Wharf- doing a little shopping and stopping at our favorite establishments for the freshest seafood bites around. The weather was perfect; the company perfection, the view pristine, and the food superb. It was the perfect quick getaway- and now that I know our MM is up for the trek, I look forward to more family fun days on the wharf- if even for just an afternoon.
Onederland
It's hard to believe it has already been two weeks since we celebrated MM's first birthday. It turned out to be a lovely day- filled with family and friends and lots of yummy food.
After weeks of toiling and lots of pinterest research, I decided on a Onederland themed event- a Maddie in Onederland "tea party." In effort to keep the party somewhat low-key, I kept the decorations to a few cute finds on Etsy- garland, cupcake toppers, and a few other accents. And while I contemplated renting a life-size chess board, I opted to have the kiddos paint a few large roses red.
Beachside Picnic with One Hope
Live in the sunshine. Swim in the sea. Drink the wild air.
I fell in love with the beach soon after I fell in love with my husband; his affinity for sandy feet and salty hair being infectious as they were. Despite growing up more poolside than seaside, he made a convert out of me- persuading me with clambakes, beachside corn-hole, summer sails, and sunset picnics replete with our favorite wines.
And while corn-hole and sails come a little less often now that we are a party of three, the sunset picnic still remains a weekly tradition. Living just a few miles from our local beach, we often throw together an impromptu picnic a few times a week- packing the essentials for a quick an easy weekday date, if only for a glass of wine and quick bite while the sun sets.
One
Before Maddie was born, my mother had a dream about her future granddaughter. I was mid-way through my pregnancy and knee-deep in envisioning what my daughter would someday be like. Who would she look like? What would she smell like? Would she be happy or fussy or somewhere in between? Would she be gifted with our best qualities or cursed with our worst?
It's a conversation we'd have often- a guessing game with no real right answer, other than to have a healthy baby girl.
In her dream, my mother's reverie painted the picture of a free-spirited blondie- a girly-girl twirling her skirt, dancing barefoot on the grass; with not a care in the world. She called me the next morning to share her predictions of my little one- giggling to herself as she imagined this carefree foil to my very tightly wound self. I think it made her the perfect combination of both nervous for me and slightly satisfied- the way grandmothers can sometimes feel when their daughter's first discover what it's like to grapple with their own children's personalities. {Some might call it karma.}
And it made me somewhat nervous too, at the time.
The Bangle Bear
In less than a week my little lady will turn one. And I really can't believe it. It feels like only yesterday we were sleeping in shifts; rocking a five pound new born to sleep into the wee hours of the morning. That little peanut has quickly transformed into a little human- one with a big personality and an even bigger smile.
It's like I've said before- the days are long, but the years are short- and this one flew by in the blink of an eye.
But before the big day arrives, there's much to be done. This week I'll be in full on planning mode- preparing for family to arrive, gathering some finishing touches for my girl's Onederland and putting together a slideshow as I very likely fight back tears.
And like all other busy weeks over the last year, I'll likely be sporting a mom-bun- because who has time to blow out their hair when you're raising a tiny human?
I Love Us
I've been obsessed with little gold necklaces for as long as I can remember.
It probably all started with Carrie Bradshaw, as most fabulous things did twenty years ago. Admittedly, I was a sucker for her "Carrie" necklace- asking for my own for my fourteenth birthday. I wore it with fidelity until one blurry night in my mid-twenties. I miss that little necklace; and often still look back fondly on the sweet memories made while wearing it.
Now, a mom in my early thirties, my love for little gold necklaces continues.
A year ago my sister gifted me a beautiful nameplate that would perfectly fill the shoes of the one I had lost- this one engraved with a much more important name than my own. It's stayed on my neck since the day my Maddie was born, and it will forever be one of my most favorite things.