When it comes to baking, I'm a "the simpler the better" kind of gal.  Meaning most of the time, if not all the time, you can find me baking some kind of cookie, or a simple bar, or brownie variation. Cakes, pies, and tarts, as delicious as they may be, simply being too intimidating for this novice baker. But with a kitchen full of freshly picked apples, I wanted to venture beyond my comfort zone and try sometime new.

So when I found the rustic, freeform pastry known as the galette, I knew it was the perfect way to spread my baking wings.

By now you've probably realized that I'm a fall lover, through and through.

I love the season's crisp air. The decorations- from burnt orange flowers to white pumpkins and multicolored ghords. The tasty treats- football food; all things pumpkins and apples and spice. The coziness of its sweaters and scarves; the transition from flip-flops to booties. And excited anticipation of some of my most favorite holidays.

Before I had MM I had a very specific vision of how I'd dress my mini. I pictured a trendy little girl clad in gender-neutral tones and cool Marc Jacobs-style prints. And no pink. None. So I guess if memory serves me,  I more took a firm stance on how I was not going to dress her: No pink. No frills. No lace. No Peter Pan collars. No prep. Nothing girly. And in the end, this list of "no's" couldn't more accurately describe my daughter's entire 'drobe- the contents of which scream "Little French Girl" much more than the kidchella-vibe I had envisioned.

Now that my mini is essentially a toddler- one with a lot of energy and very little desire to nap- I rely on our daily acitivities big time. Maddie loves getting out of the house and exploring- exerting that energy, meeting new people, seeing new things, and learning about her ever-growing world. I sometimes forget just how amazing it is to watch her see something for the first time- like a turkey gobble as it wobbles right before her; a llama kissing its mama; or a cow licking its nose. 

When I was pregnant and it came time to register for my shower, I was clueless. Beyond a car seat and stroller, there were so many "must haves" that I was in the dark about. With a little research, I unveiled a whole world of newborn essentials- from Diaper Genies and Mama Roo's to Nose Freidas and Baby Bjorns. Yes mamas, we need things like this for our bundle of joy. But we also need a few of the more beautiful but oh-so-necessary trinkets for baby- burp clothes and bibs, blankies and booties, onesies and sweaters. And when celebrating a mom-to-be, who doesn't love to add a bit of luxury when showering the ones we love?

A few short months ago we ventured out west to visit family in California's wine country. It was beautiful as always, and as I mentioned before, it was a pleasant surprise to find the trip to Napa just as enjoyable as ever with the addition of our Madeline. The week was spent at the beautiful Carneros Inn- lounging, eating, visiting, and of course drinking lots of wine.

If you follow along on Instagram, you may have noticed we've spent the last few days exploring East Hampton with family and friends- cozied up in the most spectacular cottage, indulging in amazing food and drink, and excitedly awaiting the nuptials of a very dear friend.

Most of our family has never ventured out this way- including our MM; so we've taken this joyous occasion as an excuse to enjoy all things Hamptons.

I think its safe to say its official: My baby girl is growing up. Sure, she'll always be my baby in the figurative sense of the word; but literally speaking, it would appear I have a full-blown toddler on my hands. One that wants to "go-go-go" from the moment she wakes up- and she tells me just that. Each and every morning. And just like any transition over the past fifteen months, this one took a growing pain or two; before I realized that her fussiness was, in fact, boredom.  And seeing as we've found ourselves in those last few weeks of summer where everyone seems to be on vacation and baby classes have yet to start, we have been filling our days with as many homemade activities as we can.

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.

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.

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.

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...

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...