small towns, scenic routes, smiles, and tennessee

I can't remember how I stumbled upon the Shelter + Roost website, but I am glad I did. I'm also not sure I will ever find myself looking to vacation in Tennessee, but at the very least, these vacation properties are worth a browsing session for decoration inspiration and set-up ideas. Who needs a hotel when you can stay in one of these absolutely beautiful homes? A few of them have a few more decorations than I personally think they need, but overall they are all gorgeous and look so peaceful. I also love that they use a plus sign in their name.  If you ever find yourself in Tennessee, stay in one of these homes and let me know how it was. Click here to visit their website.

it's not too late to whip it, whip it good

His waistband says
Mr. Whippy.

We are having an array of guests over for Memorial Day Weekend and I am SO excited - I just can't hide it. Our little beach party was planned far enough in advance that I was able to (finally) use my Mr. Whippy cards. I bought eight of these things years ago - like I am talking at least five, probably more - and have been waiting for the perfect time to use them. I sent three off to our friends, which means we still have five more to use at a later date. Score - more beach parties!

I wish my weekday evenings were not as jam-packed with things to do, but we are just going to have to make it work. Thankfully, the weather looks good for Saturday and Sunday and I typed up a draft menu earlier today. I went with our tried and true dishes, but it is only a draft and we could update it with different options, if we choose. Now I just need to figure out which days are for baking and which days are for cleaning. In addition to great food, fine wine, and friends, we also get to see a concert and dance our tushes off. This is going to be a hectic week, but the prize at the end of it is a three-day weekend and the start to summer. Bring it on. 

visitors to not only our homestead, but also the city

My Dad on the 86th Floor.
Photo credit:  My Mom

My parents came to visit me and I could not be happier! I am actually sad right now at this instant because they left this morning and it is always emotional leaving family, but I LOVE and very much appreciate that they made the trek down to New Jersey and were brave enough to venture into the city with me yesterday for some urban sight seeing and exploring. We took an eight o'clock boat in and walked through South Street Seaport and up past City Hall. We boarded a subway (yes, really brave parents) and headed up to Herald Square, where they entered into the Empire State Building Observatory. We said our good byes in the lobby because I had to go to work for the first half of the day, and they proceeded to travel up, up, up to the eighty sixth and one hundred and second floors. Once their feet were back on the ground, they walked to the northern most point of the High Line and followed it south. I met them after they were through the Chelsea Market Passage and traveled the rest of the way, down to Gansevoort Street, with them. They got a quick tour of my office building and then we walked to Mary's Fish Camp (located on West 4th and Charles Street in the West Village) and enjoyed an A+ lunch full of seafood and deliciousness. We took the subway (again) back to the ferry pier and headed home. We stopped at Strollo's Lighthouse for an after lunch ice cream after we landed in New Jersey. It was the most wonderful day and I wish they could visit every week! Click here for the menu at Mary's and try not to drool.  

home is where...your winter snow gear is

My husband was actually home last weekend and we spent last Friday night in front of the fire, listening to records and laughing about life. Whenever I sit by the fire, I sit as close to it as possible because I just plain love it and feel very lucky to have one. One of my Christmas presents was a pair of Crazy Creeks (the portable camp chair), which I requested so I could sit extra close to the warmth of the fire, complete with back support. As I was nestled in my chair at the start of last weekend enjoying a White Russian, I gazed into our foyer and noticed something that made me really happy inside - the basket on our bench was overflowing with hats, mittens, and scarves. I remember when I put the basket on the end of the bench and it sat empty to pseudo-empty for many weeks. I kept wondering whether it would ever give off the impression that our home contained a family; though be it a small family, a family of people who weren't afraid to be out in the cold and could provide additional warmth to those that visited, if the need arose. It is definitely a simple pleasure, but it made me think about our lives and our home...and I smiled. Our home feels lived in and like it is truly ours. We have our routines down and our things are intermingled now more than ever.

envision a world free of tuberculosis

Today, the wife of one of our bestest friend duos, reached out to inform us about tomorrow. The post below is mostly her words I want to share with you. While I don't ask much of anyone (even as a fundraising/development professional), this is something very meaningful to me.

I'm writing about tomorrow, which has become an important day in the land of my friends and I. This Tuesday, March 24th, is World TB Day, and one my my dearest friends was diagnosed with tuberculosis this past August and is currently taking a strong regimen of antibiotics in order to fully recover from the disease. In an effort to promote awareness about TB-related problems and solutions and to support worldwide TB-control efforts, he has been asked to testify at the State House on Tuesday in Massachusetts, which he has taken the day off of work to do. It has been a long seven months for him, but he remains a constant reminder to all around him of what it means to wake up every day and choose life. Through all he has endured, he has remained the devoted husband, father, friend, and doctor that he is...and then some. In honor of his resilience and World TB Day, I am asking whoever is able to make a small donation to Partners in Health, to not only support the import work they day, but to also give him a little spirit boost. Click here to make a donation - any amount is appreciated and of course there is no pressure. 

back to back travel plans with opposite weather

The miles and elevations of Lincoln Gap Road. The
Warren approach is left. The Lincoln approach is right.

We returned home last Monday from Florida and left again last Wednesday for Vermont. In other words, we went from seventy degrees to "feels like" negative double digits. I can't complain though because Vermont only felt that cold for a few short instances on our entire trip. In addition, having five full days with friends we get to see once a year (sometimes less) is nothing to whine about. Eleven of us shared a home we rented in Warren, Vermont. The home was more of a gigantic cabin than a house and was designed by the famous architect David Sellers. Not only does David design homes, he also designed Lincoln Lodge at Sugarbush and the Mad River Rocket - a sled he created. 

Our five days in winter paradise consisted of skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, and sledding. A small group of us even drove north up to Burlington, so we could enjoy a Penny Cluse breakfast and a quick grocery run at City Market. The same group even made time for a hot buttered rum in front of the fireplace at the Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe. The best part of the entire weekend (for me) was the sledding. I read about a guide service that drives you to Lincoln Gap Road - a road that is closed all snow season because of how much snow it receives. The grade is very steep (6%), making it impossible to keep clear and safe all winter, so the town shuts it down around the 2.7 mile marker (approaching from the Warren side, not Lincoln). We parked our car where the plowing ended and embarked on the mile plus hike straight to the top, gaining about one thousand feet in elevation. Then, we hopped on our sleds and sped down. We joked about going thirty to fifty miles per hour, and although I don't truly believe we were going that fast, there were times when we were flying. It was one of the coolest things I have ever done. If you are in the area, make the trip and just keep walking up. Although it is steep, it is only a mile and you will get there sooner or later. The guide service charged fifty five dollars to provide a ride and a sled, but we did it all for free and had the time of our lives - a few of us brought our own sleds and conveniently enough, the homeowner had a few Mad River Rockets ready for our use at the cabin.

farewell wishes for a dear, dear friend

My banner.

One of my most cherished friends is moving to Switzerland today - Basel, Switzerland to be exact. I am excited for her and the adventures she will have, especially after (recently) getting a taste of Europe myself - boy, is it pretty out there. We had a going away party for her this past Saturday at the home of another cherished friend, and served her favorite food and decorated the house in Swiss decor. One of my tasks was crafting a banner. I spent some time researching bon voyage party ideas, but making a banner that read "Bon Voyage" seemed silly for someone that was moving to a Swiss German-speaking land. So, I googled bon voyage in Swiss German and found that the term "Gueti Riese" encompasses three endearing farewell wishes - Godspeed, Bon Voyage, and Have a Good Trip. Perfect!

As you may know, cutting is not one of my strong points, so I wanted to make sure I found something that would produce results that looked both quality and heartfelt. All too often me + scissors = one big mess. To my surprise and delight I found a free template online. Score. A website called Beauty and Bedlam provides a link not only to letters, but blank banner panels, hearts, and ampersands as well. It was a lifesaver - isn't life delicious. I decided to print the letters on white paper in black ink and mount them on a circle of patterned scrapbook paper that was half an inch larger in diameter. I went with the triangle panels and used patterned scrapbook paper for those too, mix-matching patterns between the two different shapes. I chose to use patterns that were mostly black and red because those are the colors of Basel. If you need to make a banner, use this template. You can make it say whatever you need and it came out looking quite nice. Click here for the template.    

celebrating many, many milestones this year

The happy family that runs
the place.

This past weekend we celebrated my mother and father's sixtieth birthdays and their thirty-fifth wedding anniversary. Instead of a forty-person blowout, my sister and I decided to have a soup to nuts dinner party with them, our grandparents, and my husband. I researched online for spaces in western and central Massachusetts that had private dining rooms. Needless to say my options were not as plentiful as they would have been in New York City, but I narrowed it down to a few and began making inquiries. I was shocked at how rude certain event planners were and knew we would run into some scheduling conflicts because of the time of year, but it ended up working out quite well. (Yes it is November, yes Thanksgiving is this week, and yes it will be December next week. Like whoa!) 

To our joy and delight, our dinner party needs and wants (and there were more than a few!) were met by a restaurant in Southbridge, Massachusetts, called the Vienna Restaurant and Historic Inn. They had a private parlor space available, complete with a wood-burning fireplace, and served German, Austrian, and Polish-influenced food. Win. Although I wouldn't normally choose a venue that was an hour drive away, I knew my audience well enough to know no one would mind the commute. Needless to say, it was a little strange at first because when you arrive at a dinner party you normally sit at a dinner table, but we scheduled a cocktail hour in front of the fireplace to start off the evening, complete with passed hors d'oeuvres. Once we were finished, I gave a speech to honor our wonderful parents and then we finally moved to the table. Before our soups and salads came, the birthday boy and girl opened a few gifts - the rest were opened before dinner was served. Dessert went off without a hitch and then we bundled up and prepared for our drive home. The woman who served us owns the restaurant and inn with her husband. She was an absolute dream to work with and made our birthday/anniversary event quite special. If you are in need of a private space and A+ service, I suggest you take a trip to Vienna (not the Austria one, although I'm sure that would be nice too). Click here to visit their website and order the fried sauerkraut balls.

i am really looking forward to my weekend

I get to have a sister weekend this weekend and I am so excited!! I hope you have fun plans too. In honor of us, I think you should hug or call your sister or brother, and if you don't have one hug or call your best friend. Be safe and happy...and warm. xo

we will have guests & they will know what to bring

My Thanksgiving invitations are done and were either hand-delivered, or put in the mail today. I am loving the way they turned out; each family gets a mini red leaf, a green and yellow acorn with the time the party starts, and a wood-grain leaf with their requested contributions. The three pieces are held together by a brad I bent one way, which still made it feel secure - if I bent each side of the brad opposite ways a little poked out from the top. Let's hope this is our great start towards crushing our very first Thanksgiving dinner. 

(Something else to note is that we put 2:00 because we actually want our guests to arrive at 3:00...always late.)

lightning strikes...maybe once, maybe twice

This is her design. She is so cool!

My husband's cousin, who (I guess) is my cousin too, is a very talented fashion designer who went to the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). Her main focus has primarily been bathing suits, but she is extremely talented on all design fronts (in my opinion). She has worked for O'Neill, Juicy Couture, and is presently employed by Victoria's Secret. She is no joke. She is also the biggest Stevie Nicks fan I have ever met. Each year she attends an event called Night of a Thousand Stevies, where fans from all walks of life join as one and dress up like Stevie. I have made tentative plans to join her at the event, but something always comes up, or it works out that my husband is finally around after not being home for weeks and I opt for spending time with him over gypsies, spinning sisters of the moon, and drag queens. Maybe 2015 will be the year though - fingers crossed! 

This morning I received an email from her about a scarf competition she entered. Stevie Nicks is conducting a contest where she will choose one lucky winner to design a show-stopping shawl to celebrate the release of her new album called 24 Karat Gold (of course it is called that). The shawl she designed for it is made with sheer silk chiffon, metallic gold embroidery, lace trim with beaded fringe, and handmade tassels and she needs your vote to win - though I imagine if Stevie wants one over the other the votes won't really matter. Let's support her and her exceptional talent. Click here to vote (and you must have a Twitter or Facebook account in order to do so).        

cheers to the weddings of my adventure away

Stock photo. This sign was not
at either wedding.

As reality slowly starts to spill back into my heart and head, I want to reflect back on my experiences during the past week. Although it will be difficult to find words that will accurately portray all of the emotions and love I felt, I am going to try. I am choosing to dedicate one post to the two weddings and another post to the vacation portion of my little adventure. This one will be for the weddings...

While some women have trouble connecting with other women, I have been lucky enough to find ladies in my life that I cherish. They have been my rock during hard times and have showered me with unconditional love through many ups and downs. They have listened when I needed to talk and held my hand when I needed support. Two of these important ladies were the ones that got married these past two weekends. I have seen them both involved in toxic relationships and it made me happy (beyond happy actually - I was an emotional mess) to see them marrying two wonderful men. 

Although weddings can be hectic and full of many things to do, I took the advice I was given on my wedding day and remembered to look around, take it in, and breathe. These two ladies managed to bring together friends and family from all over the globe, some of whom I was very close to and haven't seen in ages (read: ten plus years...not getting any younger). I wish both events could have lasted for months instead of days. It is amazing to watch two people that love one another express it and share it with others. It is an honor to be a part of something so sweet and innocent and it is a blessing to be able to watch a lifetime of love begin. I sincerely hope their love lasts forever and they continue to respect one another as much as they did on their special days. I thank them for the memories and applaud them for a job beautifully done.  

 

a celebratory dinner for love on our pati-o

Instead of going out on Saturday evening, we decided to make dinner at home. We* did surf and turf (lobster and steak), cast iron potatoes, caesar salad, grilled veggies, and corn on the c. We opened a bottle of Frontenac we were given after our rehearsal dinner, which took place at the Stoutridge Vineyard in Marlboro, New York. It was quite good and fit well with our menu. We ended up eating around 6:30 and even though it was still pretty light out lit candles - it just felt like the right thing to do for an anniversary dinner. We went into town for a drink after dinner was cleaned up and had a dance party once we got back home (with ourselves). It was such a fun day...I wish every day could be carefree, full of hiking, dancing, and lobster. 

*Disclaimer: My husband made the entire dinner. I shucked the corn and set the table. I am really loving how all of our patio linens and colors are coming together though. 

celebrating with a walk in the woods

Hiking up Butter Hill
to Storm King Mountain.

My husband and I had an amazing day on Saturday. It wasn't super sunny, but that was okay. We headed to the Hudson Valley in our new car and took a hike (aka, a walk in the 'woods' for our 'wooden' anniversary, which is the theme for five years) about forty-five minutes south of where we got married. Although we were on the opposite side of the Hudson River from our venue, but we could still feel the love. We did a two and a half mile loop and stopped at two nearby produce stands - a farmers market and a farm store. We discovered some amazing New York cheese and picked up some local produce...and let's not forget about the cookies. The farm store had a bakery and the cookies were something else (read: delicious, chewy, and soft - the best kind). I have been trying to eat decent because of all the events and bikini time on the horizon, but I am not sad I ate a cookie (or three) from this bakery. It was a productive day full of a few mini adventures. It was also the first time he has been home for it since our wedding and the only day in the last five years it hasn't rained. It was truly delightful. 

a shining example to all the husbands of the world

Illegal photo I took on the
the unfinished section
of the High Line. Shh!

On this day five years ago, I woke up a little stressed and very nervous about all of the plans and details coming together in front of our most cherished family and friends. What I wasn't worried about was getting to marry the man of my dreams - a man who encompasses sweetness, hilarity, compassion, and most importantly unconditional love. He is the best human ever and I know how lucky I am to have found him. I really do thank my lucky stars each and every day (for real) that our paths crossed. Even when he is traveling, he sends me the sweetest text messages throughout the day just to remind me he loves me (literally just got one, not even kidding). On this year's anniversary (which we will actually celebrate tomorrow because he is traveling and I am working today) whose theme is wood (mind out of the gutter), we plan to visit the area we got married in (Dutchess County, New York) and take a walk in the 'woods'. Cherished memories are better than gifts.

It is my wish in life that everyone finds someone who treats them with the respect they deserve and accepts them for exactly who they are. There will always be things you may want to change, but it shouldn't be big things. Open your heart and your mind to everyone out there. You never know how or when you will meet your match, or whether or not he/she will have dreadlocks - he just might and hopefully he will cut them off one day, haha! Don't place limitations on someone that could be your match and make sure they can boogie down. Dancing is fun and you should do it often. So, this post is to honor my golden husband - he is my dream, he is my shining star, he is my little slice of heaven and I love him so very dearly.

if you like pina coladas, in the dunes of the cape...

I had the most wonderful long weekend on the Cape with my sister. We had productive days, but still had fun - I love those types of weekends - they're the best. I took Friday off from work to maximize my time because it is a solid five hour drive. I am all for leaving late on Sundays when it is any season except for summer, which also influenced my decision. Because it is summer, I knew I would be leaving promptly at eight o'clock on Sunday morning, so a day off on Friday was in order. 

We quickly caught up after I arrived Thursday night (which never takes long because we are talking, texting, emailing, etc. all day every day because we love each other so much). We were up and at 'em on Friday before seven thirty and stopped to grab breakfast and lunch. There is a nearby farm market that has the most delicious delights. We got to the beach and went for a run. Then, we changed into our bikinis and spent the next four hours on the beach. The water was clear and warm. The sun was shining. It was perfect! We left and headed home to shower and change. Our plans for the night included stopping at Cape Cod Beer for a tasting and a clambake. I was thoroughly impressed with the beer at the brewery; the porter tasted just like maple syrup - score! The clambake was interesting to say the least; a lot of Vineyard Vines-clad children and adults, a beautiful view of the ocean and boats, delicious food, and a commodore who liked setting off a mini cannon. We left and met up with a few friends once we had our fill of our own personal dance party and dj. I am not sure what the other clambake attendees thought of us and our moves, but we sure had fun dancing to Stevie Nicks and Paul Simon. Our night did not end extravagantly late and we woke up on Saturday around the same time. 

We followed our morning procedure from Friday, but instead of a run I got to see my sister's new place - which is adorbs - very excited for her to be living in such a cool area! After the beach we decided to have an early dinner. We were finished with appetizers and ice cream cones pre-seven o'clock. We set-up a little viewing area and watched the movie Bridesmaids for the hundredth time together. It really was fun and I can't wait to visit again soon. I hadn't been to the cape in ages (like fifteen years or more) and I am happy to say a lot is still the same. It made me happy and comfortable and eager to do more exploring! I just wish time wouldn't pass by so quickly when we are together. Time flies, I guess...

having a horrible time in newport, like really bad

Second Beach, one of the
 worst beaches on earth.

I had a truly glorious weekend. Although I did not arrive at my destination until after ten o'clock on Friday evening, it still felt full. I had one of the greatest beach days ever on Saturday with my mom, dad, and sister. The beach in Newport (as in Rhode Island) was packed, but we managed to have a great time - aside from the moment my sister and I got pooped on by a seagull. It felt like someone splashed me with water. Nope, not the case. It was poo poo and it was all over me, my towel, and my beach bag.  Everyone says it is good luck, but it sure didn't smell like good luck. Anyways, even though I was there for an entire week last year compared to the thirty six hours of this year, I was able to do the majority of my favorite things, which includes; fancy cocktails at Fluke, Second Beach, Sweet Berry Farm, eat lobster and ice cream, shop on Thames Street and at the Newport TJ Maxx (one of the best TJs on earth), hang out with my parents and sister, and look at cool boats. I even went on a four mile run while I was there. I didn't feel overly rushed either - everything just fell into place. The things I did miss were my husband being with us, visiting Providence, eating at the Boathouse in Tiverton, and visiting Sakonnet Vineyards - he was working and there just wasn't enough time to visit the other places. I love Newport so much and appreciate being able to make time to visit each year. Some years I am there for longer than others, but as long as I get to go for a little while, I am content. I think people need to stop talking about how great it is though. It was very crowded, so tell your friends that Newport sucks and that they should find somewhere else to go on a summer vacation. (haha)

keep your eye on the prize, hold on

What a week. It appears the weekend weather for the east coast (aka the right coast) is going to be quite perfect. I hope you find time to get outside; whether it be a hike, a swim, a bike ride, or my sister's favorite - a frickin cannon ball. I also hope your weekend is full of these (see above). Mine is going to be and I am thrilled. I can taste the lemon and butter now... too bad I will be eating a warm sandwich for tonight's dinner, while driving. Eye on the prize, I guess. Lobster tomorrow! Travel safe and sweet dreams. 

put on your big girl pants and just go for it

I have been getting these overwhelming thoughts and feelings lately pertaining to travel. They surface a few days before I need to use a form of transportation I don't normally use. I am a pretty confident traveler (or at least I used to be) and can navigate myself around most places with ease; I have experimented with New Jersey Transit trains, PATH trains, buses, ferries, cars, taxis, and subways - and that was just to get myself to and from work. For some reason this feeling does not come on for my work commute; it only emerges when commuting to and from personal plans. I really shouldn't be complaining because the personal plans I have are the best ever. I get to see the people I love most in this world, and because we live so far away from everyone this is the way it has to be. I am just noticing these feelings more and more as of lately. It is not like they completely take over my body and I end up refusing to go somewhere. Instead, it is just this nervousness and I think to myself "how the hell am I going to do this by myself"...but then I just do it. If I want to take mini vacations and see my people, I really don't have a choice. Nothing is ever as scary or as intimidating as I imagine it to be either. It all ends up working out just fine; it's just a little nerve-racking doing things you aren't accustomed to. Here's to putting on my big girl pants and just going for it sometimes. Challenges are healthy and you should do something that is out of your comfort zone on a regular basis. It will make you grow.   

there is nothing like a cone after the beach

I went to the beach yesterday with my husband's family, who at this point in life I consider my family too. And just to be clear, they aren't replacing my own family; they are just being added to it. There were about twenty of us and we sat on the beach and laughed all day long. I walked back to the car with a cousin and his girlfriend, and was treated to a cone at the ice cream store on the way. The shop used to only sell pre-packaged ice cream novelties, but now they sell hard ice cream and soft serve too. Score-a-rama. I ordered Mint Chunk Chip, which was delivered in a plain cone (aka not a sugar cone). I couldn't remember the last time I got hard ice cream on a plain cone, but to my surprise and delight it was incredible! I don't think I'll go plain every time, but I have made a vow to order one again in the near future. I really love ice cream.