These flowers arrived at the door the other day from our friends Sylvia and Lodovico in Italy. I was blown away. They’re so beautiful and she’s so kind. We miss you, Sylvia!
Some weekend reading!
4:00, January 23.
That before dinner hour time when energy is low, kids are “staaaaaarvingggggg” but food isn’t ready yet, and all creativity has been used up so you’re just hanging on by the skin of your teeth till bedtime. You have that at your house too? The other day I poured myself a glass of wine, and said, “To the book nook!”
five things I’m loving right now.
one. I’m always looking for the perfect craft/art/thing-to-pass-the-time-that-isn’t-a-screen for the boys for winter time. Well, there’s no such thing. BUT, there are certain things that keep their attention longer than other things, that are interesting and new and that have an easy clean-up and function well.
cooped up in January.
A strange week that’s felt more like two or three. Being cooped up in the wintertime has created something of a time warp, moving slower, sometimes faster, but mostly slower like the freezing of ice on a lake. Are we there yet? Is it ready yet? Is the four weeks of a frustrating one-armed life over yet? No, but week one is.
weekend links.
It’s a new year! Hope you’re welcoming 2017 with open arms. What other choice do we really have? Thank you, as always, for reading. And especially for commenting here and on Instagram. I love learning about my readers from favorite hair products to shared struggles and joys in motherhood or marriage. So glad to have this space, and to have all of you along for the journey. If there’s anything specific you’d like to see more of in this new year, feel free to comment or email me! (P.S. Above loafers found here.)
an afternoon in Portsmouth.
Too many housebound days over break made for a desperate woman (me). You know, the winter doldrums, the colds that are passed around, an unwelcome gift, the hacking coughs that make for bleary-eyed parents come the morning light (bless Steve, he handled all of Parker’s middle-of-the-night coughing while I slept blissfully unaware next to a quiet Anders). And so, we decided to go for a quick trip to one of our favorite seaside towns.
2017 and White Chicken Chili
I’m not one for New Year’s resolutions and never really have been (related, perhaps: I’ve never given anything up for Lent either. Maybe I’m just selfish? Unmotivated?). I was with friends the other day–a New Year’s Day lunch which I hope might become a tradition because it was such a lovely way to begin a New Year as opposed to waking up hung over and regretting decisions made the night before–having soup and cheese and crackers and homemade bread and wine. One of my friend’s posed the question: any New Year’s resolutions? I tried my best to stay deadpan as I said, “No. [pause] I’m really my best self right now.”
christmas morning 2016.
Christmas morning! I’m wondering how much longer my kids are going to be in this picture for me. There’s definitely some grumbling, “That picture again?!” “YES. THAT PICTURE. TODAY AND ALL THE CHRISTMASES FOREVER.” It’s the least they can do, right?! Never mind Jordan is hardly visible in the back. But nevertheless! All six, one frame. Let’s move on.
four things I’m loving right now.
number one. la la land. i saw it (by myself; there’s something positively magical about seeing a movie by yourself–and in reclining theatre seats no less.) the other night and loved it. the end was so thought-provoking, real, and a huge departure from a typical movie ending. the acting was–duh–fabulous. (emma! you were amazing!)
number two. this coconut moisturizer. full disclosure: first aid beauty sent me a package with a few different things in it. i was pretty into my normal routine, but have slowly been trying a few of the things. so far this is my favorite. it has a sort of pearlescence to it. don’t fear! it doesn’t make you look like you’re ready for a disco with a glittery face (i’m wearing it here.). it’s just a really nice dewy primer before i use this foundation which otherwise can be a bit drying if i don’t moisturize first. it also has a nice light scent to it. i love it.
number three. cosmic kids yoga. my sister told me about this and parker’s been loving it. she does yoga while telling stories and sort of acting out the story through yoga (think “we’re on the death star now! put your hands out like you’re gliding!” during the star wars one.). i peek on parker and he’s doing it along with her. i feel a bit less guilty for putting the tv on when he’s getting a bit of exercise through it?!
number four. the charlie brown christmas dancers you most want to party with. made me laugh. spot on. parker and i always laugh hardest (and impersonate) the guy in orange.
hope you guys have a happy new year!! see you in 2017 (so, next week).
my quest for bigger, more voluminous hair.
Remember the days when flat irons were all the rage and we would try to remove every bit of body and volume in our hair with one??? Now, it seems I’m the exact opposite and I want BIG HAIR DON’T CARE. Give me volume and body and bed head and I’m a happy girl. But nevertheless, I’m a determined woman and I’ve been on a quest for big, voluminous hair and while I don’t quite have it down (at least getting it to stay that way all day long), I’m getting there. I was at a Christmas party recently and a friend came up to me and was like, “Your hair. It’s bigger. Are you using extensions?” And I was like, “You just paid me the highest compliment.” (I’m not using extensions but is that really the next thing after eyelash extensions that everyone’s gonna be doing?! Stop this train! I can’t keep up!)