In Oregon, there are always some fun neighborhood signs that make me smile (living in NYC, we dont really ever see signs in windows, etc…). So yesterday on my run, I took some pictures of the signs I most enjoyed.
Not pretty, but a simple and good message that I enjoyed seeing.
I might as well make this a baking blog now because that is all I have been wanting to post about recently! HA! I am the worst cook, but I love baking and experimenting in the kitchen. Recently, we made mango sorbet AND mango ice cream in a bake off — and hands down, the winner was the mango sorbet. So if you feel like making something SUPER easy, delicious, and refreshing, make this!
First, you peel the mangos (make sure they are good ones — it makes all the difference). Then, you blend them with water, a little sugar, some lime juice, and THAT IS IT!
Last month when I was in Paris, we had the privilege of bringing a good friend of Tusia’s with us. It was so much fun to explore Paris together and to share with her all our beloved spots. As a thank you, the friend’s mom bought us each Mary Janes from Flabelus — a European brand of shoes that is SUUUUUUPER popular with a million colors, styles, and a great price point. It was so much fun shopping the three of us to each pick out a shoe. As the mom told us, she wanted us to each pick out the shoe that best represented our personality. It was great fun to pick out the shoe all together — and a great souvenir of the trip. Thank you, Alice!
The shop is beautiful — so many colors, so many styles, loved them all.
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!
This summer, if you happen to be in Paris, I highly suggest viewing the following museums and exhibitions:
I have been at least half a dozen times, but it never gets old. The clothing is beyond beautiful and it screams beauty.
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…
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.
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
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.
The best new card game, Kombio! If you don’t have it, get it now! Speed, memory, strategy!
Looks like a deck of cards — so easy to transport and keep in your purse for wherever you go (and need to play a game at the drop of a hat!)
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.
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.
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.
May here we are! (or Mid-May, here we are!) This is what I am loving right now.
1. Murals in the city
Murals. Love Biggie.
A lover of fresh flowers, I recently decided to try some paper flowers in the home. Although not fresh, they are a close second, and I am so happy with my purchase!
These are made of paper!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
April has been cold, rainy, and dreary. But there is still so much that I am loving. Here it is:
1. Othello
Jake Gyllenhaal and Denzel Washington both were incredible. The whole thing was incredible — especially the second half. Loved it, and highly recommend.
My daughter does not eat salad. Like ever. Never have I ever seen her eat a salad before. And yet, somehow, she not only devoured this entire salad at a friend’s friend’s house (yes, friend of a friend), but demanded that I get the recipe and make it for her. So when that happens, you FOLLOW THROUGH. Thank you, Dana, for giving me a new salad to feed my child and finally saying she eats salads! Ok, so this salad is from Baked by Melissa (who knew she did anything other than cupcakes?) — and trust me, make it. Your non-salad-eating-child will change their mind. It is basically a lot of healthy, nutritious, delicious greens all in one — dressing and the salad itself.
Ingredients:
GREEENNNNNN
For the salad Continue Reading
Week n umber 5 million of Spring Break….and here is what I am loving.
Granted, I am a huge Survivor fan, but there is something about this season (season 48) that is so good. I love it so much and HIGHLY recommend it — great for families or solo, but it never disappoints. And Jeff Probst — you are the best host ever.
For the final three days of our trip to Europe, we went to Paris, where the days were filled with walking, shopping, eating, and art. We saw two different art exhibits that I absolutely loved. Although they are closed now (we went to both in the final days), if you have the chance to see either of these artists in the future, I highly highly recommend.
Olga de Amaral is a Columbian artist known for her fiber art — and holy crap — this was one of the best exhibitions I have ever ever ever seen. It was in the Cartier Foundation — a museum, I had never stepped foot in before — so it was also fun to see a new spot (randomly, it closed this past weekend and will be moved to the different side of Paris in the next couple of years).
One of the difficulties of having two kids in two different schools (in two different states!), means that they have different spring breaks. Our son, Cruz, had the first two weeks of March off, and my daughter, Tusia, has the last two weeks of March off. FUN FUN FUN! So for Cruzzie’s second week, I went with my friend Catherine, her son, and another one of their friends to Crans-Montana and Paris. Crans- Montana — NEVER HEARD OF IT BEFORE — but you should keep on your radar, because it is such an incredible place.
Crans-Montana is a ski town in Switzerland. It is a 90 minute drive from Geneva, and super easy to get in and out of. And don’t you love meat, cheese, and pickles?
