Tales of Me and the Husband

glenwood canyon + glenwood springs.

yesterday, we drove out to glenwood hot springs with steve’s brother, sister in law, and niece.  his brother had mentioned that the drive out on 70 was really amazing but i didn’t realize how amazing it was until we reached the canyon.  it was unbelieveable!!  between the cliffs on either side of you and the river (with occasional rafters–something i’d love to do one day!) snaking along the highway, it was really incredible.  the drives all around colorado are so different than massachusetts.  and the east coast, really.  we’ve got so many trees saddling right up to the interstates so you never see very far.  here, you can see for miles and miles.  steve grew up in chicago, and spent a lot of time in the midwest, so he breathes a little lighter when he can see a long ways.  something about it suits him.  (but the breathing lighter is quickly replaced by him feeling a little bleh because he has the weakest stomach when it comes to car sickness… even when he’s the driver.  that, my friends, is a post for another day because it can be kind of ridiculous sometimes.)
and then!  straight out of the canyon, we reached the glenwood hot springs.  it’s huge!  there’s a few pools, each one getting further from the natural source and subsequently cooler.  still warm, but not hot tub warm like the first pool.  seeing as it was 90 degrees out, i opted for the biggest pool and the luke warm one.  it was cool, no doubt about it, but i think i’d enjoy it more in the winter time when the steam is so thick above the pool that you can’t see to each end and there is snow on the mountains around.   that’d be amazing.  so, my two cents!  visit in the winter.  and also, be aware that it’s pricey + definitely community-poolish (you feel me?).  at $17 a person for kids 13 and over, they ain’t cutting you any deals!  but, the drive alone was worth it.  that drive was something to behold say i.    
all of these pics are from the iphone.  i can’t wait to get home and download the pics from my good camera because there are some keepers on that!  i do love you, iphone, but you are limited!

colorado!

hello from vail!  we’re here for a few days but have been in colorado since the 4th.  steve’s folks and brother + family live out here and it had been too long since we visited them (they came to us last!).  and what a fabulous place to visit.  you know those places that are just pinch-me beautiful?  vail’s definitely one of them, and you know if you’ve been or live nearby.  it feels like this perfect little town tucked safely inside mountains all around.  and the views!  oh the views are amazing.  i do love the east coast and would be hard-pressed to leave it but man… the views here are definitely tempting.

thank you for your tips on ig about places to go, see, and eat at!  we’re definitely going to check a few of them out.

hope everyone had a happy 4th!!

american blogger.

american blogger was here!

if you’ve never read a bit about it, you should start here.  good chance, you’ve already heard of it though.  so let’s go!  chris wiegand and his airstream pulled up to our home a few days ago and we spent the day together.  first and foremost, i must say, chris is so great.  he puts you at ease right away and is just laid back, easy to talk to.  this was no surprise after meeting his wife casey a few months ago.  she’s the same way.  chris sat down to a meal with our family when he arrived, after the airstream tour, of course, and we all got to know one another a bit.  i think the whole having an idea and following it despite the fact that it’s out of the ordinary is really incredible.  there’s a lot of people just thinking i can’t… i’m sometimes one of them… so to see an idea born, executed, followed through… i have great respect for the whole thing.  and cannot wait to see the project when all is said and done!

chris, thank you for including me in this project, and safe travels on the rest of your journey!!

{follow along chris’s cross-country film journey by following him on instagram here.  and if your sans instagram, casey posts lots of updates on her blog here!}

a quick trip to new jersey but… mostly pictures of these boy cousins.

almost immediately after our breakfast date, we left nyc and went straight to the shore where my parents and sister’s family live.  parker napped nearly the whole way (high-fives steve!) and we arrived before dinner time.  parker and quinn have seen each other a handful of times since parker’s been born (quinn’s one year older) but it’s mostly been parallel sort of play.  now!  they interact!  they “talk” – parker’s still working on this piece and at one point quinn said, “mom, why isn’t he talking to me?”  fear not, nephew!  he’ll talk to you more soon.  at least, words you can decipher the meaning of!  (quinn even said, in the sweetest little voice, “follow me parker, you’re my best friend.”)  and it was just so, so, sooooo sweet to watch.  i mean, words really aren’t doing it justice.  kate’s one of my best friends in the world and now we have these sons who seem to love each other too.  it made me really happy.  (and, there’s one more young boy cousin – sam! – but my sister was busy moving out of her house while we were down so we didn’t get to hang much.  next time, sam!  the trifecta will be complete!)
and, there’s the sweetest little girl.  a few pictures up, that’s nora.  quinn’s little sister.  the newest cousin!  (she’s seven months old and pure chunk and goodness.)
we went to the stone harbor beaches, playgrounds, and even snuck out for some girl time (my sister, mom, and i) at the new reeds hotel for drinks.  it went too quickly, but isn’t that how these trips always go?  we’ll be down later in the summer for a longer period of time.  
until then, boys!  
this is my fave pic of the weekend.  those studs. 
and a video.  because, it’s funny.
(aaaand this is the first time parker and quinn hung out.  they’ve come a long way.)
and that’s enough linking for now.

breakfast at the gramercy terrace.

when you’re in a place like new york, it’s fun to eat at a semi (or very) swanky place at least once.  who am i kidding.  it’s always fun to do that, new york or no new york.  we don’t do it very often (um, never?) so it’s a treat when we do.  the night before’s pizza was low-key so we decided to do something on the more special side for the next morning’s breakfast.  my friend rachael mentioned that she’d done the gramercy terrace at the gramercy park hotel not too long ago.  she reminded me that ashley had done a post on it and ashley’s got really great travel recommendations so, there you have it.  long story short (or maybe long?), two good sources were giving it two thumbs up.
off we went.
but not before, while getting ready that morning, we peeked out my friend’s apartment window to see the side of the street where our car was parked entirely empty save our lone minivan half a block down.  steve ran down the street and moved the car… street cleaning.  despite our best efforts at reading (and deciphering, as the case may be) the signs, we nearly were towed.  disaster averted (small disaster, but disaster nevertheless), and off we went for our breakfast. 
the hotel in and of itself is beautiful.  it’d be quite the experience to stay there one day – one day and yes!  fingers are crossed!  you walk through the lobby and then you take the elevators up to the top of the hotel where the terrace is.  it’s all lush and green with plants and vines and has a bit of a greenhouse feel to it.  we opted for the continental breakfast instead of ordering off the menu.  there’s hard-boiled eggs, various meats and cheeses, fully stocked breakfast cereals in nice glass jars (william and lindsey would go crazy for this.  sugary cereals for the taking?!  we may have to return.), milk, including chocolate, croissants and bagels and danishes, berries and bananas, and, my personal favorite, thick greek yogurt with muddled fruit in single-serving glass jars.  we got ourselves two coffees as soon as we sat down, and the cream came in a little silver mock-carton container.  and there was plenty of it.  steve and i go heavy on cream in our coffee and the restaurant was not stingy.  a much-appreciated gesture as i hate asking waitresses for things but the two creams per coffee that they plop on your table  alongside your coffee mug never seem to be enough.
our table was just outside the doors to this fabulous lounge room with plush leather chairs and couches and a ceiling of suspended lightbulbs (4,400 of them to be exact!).  and, close to the brunch food as well.  you can imagine parker’s delight at all the berries and bananas there.  and he ate some of my yogurt as well.  happy campers, all three of us.  he’d have been content to stay much of the day, i think.  “mom, just keep the blueberry supply flowing.”  he even went so far as to pluck one from my plate even though he had several on his.  blueberry-hoarder indeed.
afterwards, we walked clear ’round the gramercy park noticing that there were people in there but the first gate we tried was locked.  well, the next one must be open then!  no luck.  then it must be the next one still.  finally we’d circled the whole park to come up empty each time and a kind passerby walking her dogs gave us the scoop: you need a key to get into this park and only hotel guests or those who live directly on the park are granted access.  with our heads downcast (ho hum, us common-folk!) we walked around a bit more before heading back to the car.  oh, and got some pretty cute pictures of parker on the outside of the gates. 
and that concludes our 24 hours in nyc.  onto new jersey we headed next.  you still with me?
p.s. google reader’s officially kaput, i guess?  i’m on bloglovin’ if that suits your fancy.

new york, new yoooooork.

hello friends!  i am back from a little trip to nyc and nj.  one of my closest friends from home is pregnant and we drove down for her baby shower, a little family time at the shore, and a quick stop in the city along the way.  so… that’s where i’ve been!  though, i suspect you knew that, if you’re on instagram anyway.
so, we’ve done this stop a few times, but i want to do it EVERY TIME.  stopping in nyc along the way is like the perfect road-trip-break-up (about four hours there, and about three to my parents!).  and who doesn’t want an excuse to meander around that city for awhile?  we were there for a quick (and exhausting) 24 hours, staying at my friend’s on the upper west side (thank you laura!!).  as soon as we got there, i changed out of my ‘road trip clothes’ (you know…) and we walked the city for what felt like ten miles.  at one point laura texted, “where are you now?” because we were planning to meet for dinner.  whatever it was i texted back prompted her to write, “and you’ve walked it all?!”  indeed, we did.  though, to most of you new yorkers, i’m sure you do that every day.  so we should stop congratulating ourselves??  
i’d heard so much about the high line and it certainly lived up to its expectations.  what a strange little oasis in the middle of the big city.  we loved it.  we stopped for popsicles that were being sold at a little stand up there along the way–coconut and passionfruit–and then listened to some jazz being played.  oh, and let parker out to stretch his legs (from car seat to stroller, the kid needed to be free!) of course.  
then we met laura for pizza, walked around some more, and found ourselves at eataly.  it did not fulfill my italy longings but it was so fun to see all these people bellied up to the counters drinking their coffee drinks and eating foods of all kinds while conversation buzzed about.  and that place goes on and on.  i compared it to philly’s reading terminal but waaaaay nicer.  we grabbed some wine for the evening and some berries for the morning (parker is a berry-tarian at this point.  it’s a thing.) and made our way to a spot on the grass at madison sq. park.  i brought a blanket in the stroller and alas, this was the opportunity to pull it out.  only until some park official man shooed everyone off the lawn.   nevertheless, we got to recline on the blanket for a few glorious minutes by the lights of the city (and shake shack which is so perfectly placed there too).
it’s a pretty great place, that new york city.  and i can see why everyone loves it.  i don’t get there nearly enough but i love it just the same every time.
tomorrow i’m posting about our breakfast the next day because it just needs its own post.  that’s that.

here and there.

{a veritable failure of a picture on the boston commons the other day.  blaming this one on you, sun!}
well, the last few days have been busy.  hosting guests and going places and celebrating graduates (jordan!  hurrah!).  and now, william and lindsey are off in minnesota visiting cousins on their mom’s side of the family.  i suspect they are eating lots of watermelon, swimming in lakes, swatting at mosquitoes, playing with their cousins, and having a grand old time eating their grandmother’s fine cooking.  she’s better than me at the huge spread of delicious nearly thanksgiving-like meal.  they’ll get their fill, no doubt.  i sent them off with a goofy note to be open ONLY AFTER TAKEOFF.  it promises kitchen dance parties upon return (lindsey) and threatens william not to fall in love with any girls out there (it’s only a week; this shouldn’t be hard, but then, you don’t know william personally.).  
every morning when parker hears someone, anyone go downstairs he exclaims expectantly, “whim?!”  that’s how he says william.  it breaks my heart a little to say, “william will be home soon!” when in fact, william’s just left.  but whim, if you’re reading this (he doesn’t read my blog, but will one day?), do know that parker misses you dearly and is eagerly awaiting your return!!  (and lindsey, the same goes for you too, but he’s just not as good at saying your name, as you well know.)
parker took a whopping nap today – go kid, go! – and upon waking, i whisked him out the door to a lake where we met steve.  i brought a summer salsa (this salsa’s really perfect and i do plan on sharing the recipe at some point when i get my act together.) and we had the whole place to ourselves.  the water was warm (when i’m saying that, you know it’s really true.) and parker had fun collecting rocks, throwing rocks and nearly nailing steve in the head with them.  then, we went to pinkberry where the little dude found himself a table, sat down, and waited for his yogurt while steve and i ordered in line.  it was funny.  “guys, i’ll just grab a table.  order me the original with the blueberries and granola, thanks.”  it was one of those summer nights where even at 7:00 it’s still 80 degrees, but compared to the 90+ it was a few hours earlier, it feels downright dreamy.  
it’s been nice over here in my neck of the woods.  how’s yours?

a list of good things.

1. smoothies in the morning.  parker likes to take his in a big cup these days.  and he’d also like it if you let him do it all by himself please and thank you.  don’t even think about helping.  (our favorite – any combination as long as it includes banana and spinach.)
2. jora’s instagram feed.  she and her family are spending seven (count it, seven) months in positano (in positano.  it bears repeating.).  one of my favorite places ever.  her feed is my number one right now.
3. walking in from the grocery store to steve and parker eating oatmeal and watching planet earth.  specifically, the monkeys.  like a pair of sweet old men, those two.
4. reading this book.  i think i’ll talk more about it in the future, but for now, i’ll say, it is giving this overburdened by the troubles of the world girl (that’s me) some comfort.  and i can be a pretty big naysayer of these types of books, so i guess it’s saying a lot?
5. burrito bowls.  guys, it’s like the perfect shoot-i-forgot-about-dinner dinner.  vegetarian or with meat, it’s delicious and everyone loves them.  rice, sauteed veggies, chopped lettuce, beans, cheese, sour cream… yum.
6. getting in bed at night and, as long as it’s not too late, watching an episode of game of thrones with steve.  yep, megan roped us in.  holy violence!  but still, a little addicted.
7. the wedding i saw on ashley’s blog.  oh my gosh.  sorry friends and family, but i could’ve bagged the whole day and done it this way.
8. lindsey’s sense of humor.  she is seriously funny.  the other day steve and i were talking about how actors and actresses are so tiresome sometimes and, without missing a beat, she goes, “ugh!  i’m right here!”
9. converse in a color called beach glass???  yes.
10. we’re coming up on two.  it makes my heart a little heavy, i’m going to be honest.  one to two went by faster than zero to one.  nevertheless, here’s the little montage (long montage, actually) i did for his first birthday.

you got some good things lately?

Bring it, summertime!

Despite the gloomy rain that has come and gone (mostly come and stayed) the past few days, I do believe summer’s basically here.  It’s here in the scabs that Parker has on his shin and ankle that he likes to pick and pick the moment he wakes up (do your kids pick their scabs?).  MINE DO.  It’s in the strawberries that we’ve sliced the greens off of, and sometimes the bruises too, eaten by the handful.  It’s in the grilled veggies, seasoned with only some season salt and olive oil – perfection!  It’s in the summer trips on the books and sunscreen purchased and the pool parties we’ve attended (the only thing better than your own pool is a pool directly across the street owned by good friends of yours who are the most gracious and inviting hosts).  It’s in coffee, heavy on the cream, that I’ve enjoyed on the porch most mornings while Parker watches out for chipmunks from the screened windows.  It’s in Gracie’s open mouth, an almost constant state of panting, likely because someone passing in or out of the house gave into her begging “fetch with me!”  It’s in bathing suits hanging from a hook in the shower drip-drying.  It’s in peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with a side, a small side hopefully, of gritty sand in the teeth.  It’s in William’s writing on our dry-erase calendar: LAST DAY OF SCHOOL.  It’s in sunshine, late into the evening, with enough time to go out for ice cream after dinner.  And then, in the sticky hands and slight chocolate mustaches that follow.
Bring it, summertime!
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