Last weekend we packed up the truck and headed to Rhode Island- to the sweet little Quonset Hut run by the Moore family.

This past week was a great one.

Maddie was happy and healthy and back to school. We returned home from a family trip, and I’m currently packing our little family up for another one. I shared some thoughts on why I started this blog: both here and on my Instagram.

And I was touched by how many messages I received- that so many of you are going through the same journey; that most of you didn’t realize this was our story.

Hey, kids! J.Crew is having another sale- and there are some great coats included in it. Just in time for these lower Connecticut temps.

Happy Monday, kids.

I fully intended to have a fresh post up for you this morning, but our weekend away got the best of me. If you follow along on Instagram, you likely saw some snaps of our two nights in Tiverton, Rhode Island. Its just about three hours away from home in Connecticut- making it a pretty doable trip with the family- including Georgia. And we had the most beautiful couple days a few some close friends and our little family.

Hi, friends! Happy Friday! It has been a WEEK over here, and I couldn’t be happier to be packed up and headed for a long weekend away with family and friends. Maddie is finally on the upswing, and we are ready for a good old fashion New England getaway.

This past weekend we took the kids to the pumpkin patch, then headed home to watch some Halloween movies together- as is tradition in our house. I’ve already watched Hocus Pocus and It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown roughly 45 times this season- so I turned on one of my new personal favorites, Goosebumps.

I’m happy to report that this past weekend, it finally felt like fall here in Connecticut. And the Matkovics were happy to welcome the crisp air with open arms.

Friday night Phil and I celebrated our fifth wedding anniversary with dinner at one of our favorite local spots, Lugano- followed by a fire pit and a bottle of wine and lots of laughs at home, just the two of us.

Dear Husband on Year Five:

We made it. To the first numerical milestone.

Five years ago we said I do. We met only a little over a year before that. And I fell hard for you- for the friend you were; for the man you are; for the father I always knew you would become.

If I’m being honest, I’d say about ninety percent of our social life revolves around meals. A lot of our family life does, too, as a matter of fact. We’re into food- from green juices to meat and cheese plates and everything in between.

You guys: J. Crew is having a sale. All. Weekend. Long

And I’m pretty much loving all their fall goodies. It’s been a while since I’ve really invested in updating my wardrobe. My lifestyle has changed so much since becoming a mom- and my idea of of feeling “dressed” has shifted along with it. But this season I’ve decided to take full advantage of the savings and spruces up my closet a bit.

It’s been a while since I’ve shared a book review here.

I was really hoping to have five for you all for this next roundup; but I’ve been struggling to start/get through another one, and I wanted to make sure to share these goodies before the chaos of the holidays takes over for all of us.

There are few things this family enjoys more than a cozy fall Sunday spent with football, a fire, and delicious comfort food.

My husband and I met on a fall Sunday. In a local bar. Watching the Patriots. Over a few perfect Bloody Mary’s.

It’s been a rainy week so far in Connecticut. Making me crave lazy days by the fire; cozied up in our favorite blankets in our most festive seasonal pajamas. We’ve been quite dedicated to holiday pajamas since MM arrived- matching Christmas sets being our most favorite.

Where, oh where, did September go? It feels like this month has flown by- and I can’t believe that in just one week we’ll be welcoming October. If you’ve been around for a while, you know this is my favorite time of year. There’s just something so refreshing about the start of the school year; about the weather changing and the welcome of crisp nights, football season, bonfires and chunky knits.