Boteh Mini Shorts

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I have been living in these boteh mini shorts the past couple of weeks. It has been so hot and these are just so easy to throw on over a swimsuit. They are more booty shorts than I am used to, but they are so easy and comfortable, and no one sees me (except here, HELLO!) so here they are. Loving them.

 

SHORT SHORTS. But they cover your bootie. And they are the perfect thickness — not too thin, not too thick.

I even wore them in public.

A different day, same outfit.

Not a selfie, not a good look, but trust me, they feel good on. I love the colors and the design, too, obviously.

 

They are one of the shorts that I am SO happy I bought because COST PER WEAR is so low. I wear them all. the. time.

Currently Loving South of France Edition

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I have been in the South of France the past two weeks and have been loving the slow and simple life. Here is what I have been really loving.

 

1. Exploring by Boat

 

So much fun to explore the Calanques (the mediterranean version of a fjord) by boat. Highly recommend!

 

2. Exploring by Kayaks

 

Kayaking is NOT easy. Especially when it is just me with the two kids on it and we all have to paddle. Our destination was a ways away (the Calanques) and took a lot of will power and arm strength. Not for the faint! Once we got to where we wanted, it was so beautiful and the kids jumped off and swam around and snorkeled. Truly worth it, yep, even with the complaining and the sore arms.

 

3. Exploring by Hikes

 

It was hot. It was long. It was not what we expected. But it was so beautiful and a good day nonetheless.

 

4. Exploring by Car

 

The kids favorite way to explore — the car! 🙂 Just joking, or kind of, sort of. We went up up up this hill we look at onto, and it ws so beautiful to see the town and the water from a different angle. Once again, enjoying the simple things!

 

5. Sunsets

Boy, do we love sunsets! Oh and yes, Cruzzie buzzed and dyed his hair.

 

6. How to Lose Your Mother

 

Absolutely loved and devoured this book. So sad, so raw, so beautiful.

 

7. Water Sports 

 

All day everyday we are in the pool with some kind of game taking place.

 

8.  Market Strawberries

 

Not sure there is anything tastier and more delicious than French strawberries — and yes, they taste differently than other strawberries.

 

10. Head Scarves

 

In the market, we made friends with a vendor who sold us a scarf to wrap around your head. It is beyond cool and chic, and I so love it on Tusia!

 

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So that is what I have been up! Loving the slow moments. What are you loving — and happy early July!

Janessa Leon Bucket Hat

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As it is summer time, and I love being outdoors, I am constantly searching for new hats. When I came across the Janessa Leon Bucket hat that was easy to travel with, I immediately bought it. It is super packable, light, easy, and has a super wide brim to protect your face. Although my kids say I look like a light bulb, I LOVE IT.

 

You need to size up — I am wearing a medium and it is snug.

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La Bonne Brosse

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For the past several months, I have heard all about ‘La Bonne Brosse‘ — a new (3 years old) hairbrush that is uber expensive, and uber worth it. With a daughter in tow in Paris, and her being obsessed with beauty products and her hair — we were blown away to see a new addition to my in-law’s Parisian apartment’s neighborhood. So, of course, we drank the kool-aid by stepping in to the store, learning all about it, and leaving with a new brush.

 

Beautiful brushes — but you can’t just pick up any brush. You have to get your hair analyzed (or you need to know what your hair and scalp like) and then they choose the brush for you. There are 7 different types of brushes — for thick, thin, straight, curly, baby, etc…

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Giverny: Monet’s House and Gardens

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Sorry for the delay in posts — we are in Paris and have been nonstop with activities, museums, steps, and eating! The best! Anyways, I am now no longer jet lagged, no longer every second packed, and so I am baaaaaack. One highlight of the past week was a trip to Giverny, where Monet lived and painted. In all the years I have spent coming to Paris, I have never ever been to Giverny before. And it did not disappoint! Not only that, it exceeded expectations, and I highly suggest that everyone make a trip to Giverny if you have not yet been.

 

Every morning on our way out the door, we took our photos and did OOTD (outfits of the day) where we told each other our outfits.

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Muji Notebooks

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I am always on the search for the perfect little notebook to carry on — especially with summer travels approaching, I love having a notebook to quickly write down some thoughts / plans / to do lists / bucket lists, etc…so I have been on a long search for the perfect little notebook. Of course, Muji to the rescue! Not only are they the just-right size, but the price is unbeatable! 2 DOLLARS and 90 CENTS per journal. LESS THAN 3 dollars. Talk about a steal!

 

Black or tan. Or both

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Caffe Panna

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Nothing beats a scoop of ice cream on a hot day. Actually, even on a cool day, a scoop of GOOD ice cream makes everything better. Last week, I was introduced to Caffe Panna, an ice cream shop located on 19th and Irving, started by Hallie Meyer (the daughter of Danny Meyer, famous and fabulous restauranteur). I was super excited to try this ice cream, and it EXCEEDED my expectations. It was so so so delicious, and I want to go back and try multiple different flavors. And yes, I am lactose intolerant, and ice cream hurts my stomach, but this ice cream was worth it, trust me.

 

How cute is the store front? It Is just a window where you order and receive the ice cream.

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Currently Loving June 2025

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BLINK and here we are in June. In disbelief at how time flies, floats, and passes. So here is what I am loving right now.

 

1. My Boy Home

 

My boy is back from boarding school and I couldn’t be happier to have him home. And with me. And in my arms. He had the best year and I am forever grateful for this experience at his new school, but man, I have missed him. And so happy to be reunited.

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The Comfy

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We were given the BEST gift over the weekend — and so of course, I have to share with you. The Comfy! It is a blanket in a hoodie! It is warm, comfy (duh) and the best. Even as summer approaches (yes, we are past Memorial Day, but it isn’t summer yet!), this comfy is the best and will be worn all the time!

 

The Comfy — comes in a million colors.

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Steve’s Key Lime Pie

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I have a lot of favorite desserts, but one of my TOP favorite desserts is key lime pie. And now just any key lime pie, but Steve’s Key Lime Pie. Steve’s pies are sold at dozens of stores in Manhattan, but if you want the freshest, then you have to travel to Red Hook in Brooklyn to his store. Yep, 30 minute drive — but oh so worth it. Especially on a beautiful sunny day, nothing beats eating Steve’s Key Lime Pie with the water view.

 

We used to come out to Red Hook every weekend to grocery shop, walk around, and feel like we lived in the burbs. Now, it is a fun adventure to go just to look out at the water and eat pie.

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Gymkhana Weekend at Thacher

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This past weekend, the family flew out to Ojai, California, to be a part of the Gymkhana Weekend at Cruzzie’s school. This “Gymkhana” is the culmination of Thacher’s mandatory freshman horse program. As a freshman, you are given a horse for the year, where you are responsible for them, day in and day out. EVERY SINGLE DAY, the freshmen have to muck (before classes — rain or shine, Saturday and Sunday), feed (every evening), and learn how to ride (5 afternoons per week). This program teaches discipline, routine, courage, care, and skills. Gymkhana is one of Thacher’s central traditions where the ninth graders (and many upperclassmen who continue to ride) compete on teams in all sorts of horse races: barrels and poles, the rescue race, ring spearing, even the notoriously-difficult Silver Dollar Pick-up. It was a one of a kind weekend — so proud of Cruzzie, so proud of his classmates, and in awe with their hardworking, dedication, skills, and heart.

 

Practice on Friday afternoon when we arrived.

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Pierce’s Pledge

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Heartbreaking story that almost is too difficult to write, and definitely too tragic to make sense of — but one that must be shared. Our friend, Jim has a beautiful girlfriend, Lesley. In 2021, Lesley’s 9 year old son, Pierce, was shot and murdered  by her ex-husband. One cannot imagine the pain and despair of losing your beloved child, in a horrific and preventable tragedy. Let me repeat that again — Pierce was shot while sleeping by his own father. Who then took his own life. Lesley, the mother, did not find out about the death of her own son, until she went to school to pick him up the next day.

 

Pierce.

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Leatherman’s 10K Trail Run

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Tusia and Ken completed their first 10k Trail run this past weekend — so much mud, water, cold, dirt, AND fun! The Leatherman’s Loop — 10K Trail run.

 

It was not only Tusia’s first mud race, but her first 10k. And in tough conditions with cold and mud. And she loved it!!!! It helped her that her friend and friend’s dad were there to encourage and help one another. Made all the difference. We were laughing because there is NO WAY WHATSOEVER Tusia would have been ok to do this race alone. Having a friend made all the difference.

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Doughy

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As many of you know, one of my favorite pastimes is to browse gourmet grocery stores. Yes, I know, weird, but nothing is as calming and fun than being in a great grocery store! So it is no surprise that on one of my recent trips to a great grocery, I came across, Doughy. Doughy is a healthy cookie dough company, where you can eat the dough raw, or bake it like a normal cookie. This dough is vegan, gluten free, grain free, low in calories and sugar, and made only with 7 ingredients. WAAAAAAYYYY healthier than eating Pillsbury cookie dough (which I often do) and also, way tastier.

 

I fell in love with this company that I needed more than the little tub I got at the grocery, and went straight online, to their website and purchased a case of 3. I have yet to try all of them, but knowing that I finished a mini tub on my own, I have complete faith that I will be able to eat all this before summer time.

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No Cap Candles Co.

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Super cool, my bestie’s daughter created a candle company as a class project for her school, Girls Middle School (in California). The assignment was in her entrepreneurial class, in order to teach the students how to create a business from start to end.  Rosie, along with three other friends, started No Cap Candles. This company is a brand of candles with trendy names, designed for teens.

 

As a supporter of Rosie, I of course, was going to buy at least one candle. But because the candles are SO creative, zesty, full of fun and spark, I had to buy one of each! How could I not! I am so so so impressed by Rosie, her dedication to this company, and how the end result is so great.

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Two New NYC Restaurants

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This past weekend, we wined and dined in some new restaurants — both of them we loved and would return in a minute. Therefore, needed to tell you all, as both are special and must visits.

 

Cafe Louis Vuitton

 

Located on the 4th floor of Louis Vuitton’s NYC flagship, this cafe is a gorgeous location to have a special meal.

 

Tusia did her hair and looked gorgeous for our mother-daughter Good Friday (aka no school) date.

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Flower Girl Workshop

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Last week, I took my THIRD flower workshop, and I couldn’t have loved it more. In the past five years, I have taken three flower arrangement classes, all from the NYC florist, Flower Girl. Every time, I leave having more of a sense of how to create a beautiful creation. Trust me, if you have access to take a flower arrangement class, take it. So fun. So fun. And I love coming home with a new bouquet, too! WIN WIN.

 

Final Product!

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Jesse Krimes at The Met

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If you are in NYC before July 13th, I highly recommend stopping by the Jesse Krimes: Corrections exhibit at the Met. It is the best exhibit I have seen in a long time — and the story behind it is amazing. And even if you don’t have the chance to see the exhibit, I highly recommend learning more about Jesse Krimes (from this post, but also the other articles link, etc…) — he is someone to know of! Long story short, Jesse was put in prison for selling drugs, and during this time, he created art with the items he has access to while in prison.

 

This piece, called “Purgatory” is when Jesse was in solitaire confinement for a year (awaiting trial as he could not afford bail).  He created this with bars of soap and decks of cards — and put the faces of people from the paper using hair gel to create an impression on to the soap.

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Juice Press Sprouted Almonds

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OK, I didn’t believe it at first — but there is NOTHING like these almonds. Nothing. Sorry, I wish you could find “sprouted raw almonds” that tasted just like this from somewhere else, but nope, not possible. Only from Juice Press.

 

These almonds. Worth the hype. I didn’t want to believe it. But they are this good. Trust me. You can buy them at Juice Press (which btw, ships nationally!)

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