Mid way through December, say what??? Here is what I am currently loving at this very moment in time.
1. Funny Meme
I had NO idea about this until I saw this — and now feel so dumb. Thought I would share with you all too, just to make us all smarter!
In our jammed pack time out west, we had our annual Food Eating Tour. Last year, we did San Francisco with Avital tours, but this year, our hostess picked the East Bay with a different company, Edible Excursions. It is now becoming an annual activity — to eat EVEN more after Thanksgiving meal — and I love it oh so much. I absolutely loved our tour this year — our guide was incredible (Rebecca), the food ridiculously delicious, and we experienced new cuisine together as a family — which I really loved. Highly, highly recommend.
Edible Excursions has been around for 20 years! Check them out if you are in the Bay Area!
WHO KNEW THAT YOU NEEDED TO GET A SCALP TREATMENT? Our dearest friend, Katie, told us about it (she drove from Sonoma down to Burlingame for this treatment), and so we added it to our itinerary of activities for Thanksgiving break. Tusia is obsessed with her scalp — probably in an unhealthy way — so she was dying for this treatment and so excited to try it out. I had never heard of this treatment before, and love trying new things — so it was for sure worth it. Zen Scalp Studio.
Totally random — but apparently all the rage. First, they look at your scalp with a camera so they can assess your scalp and its needs. It almost made me gag because it was so gross — like SO GROSS — but I went through with it nonetheless.
Over Thanksgiving break, we went on our annual trip to Northern California (well, we go to Northern California a lot more than once a year, but we have done it the past three Thanksgivings…). It was a nonstop fun filled weekend, not just with food, but with tons of activities. Hands down, one of the highlights was glass blowing. I mean, what is more fun than creating a holiday ornament! A BIG shout out to our hosts (sister from another mister) for organizing every single activity and finding all these fun experiences for us to do together — love doing life (and / or glass blowing) together.
It was a drive from where we were staying — but well worth it. Located on Mare Island, it is a random studio, but has everything you need to blow glass!
Recently, I came across a booth at a farmer’s market with the most incredibly happy and delightful garlands. Ever since I saw them, I am trying to figure out (a) how to make them (b) what I would do with them. Take a look at these insane beauties.
Ombre of colors.
This morning when I was walking the dog, I was in disbelief that there were Christmas lights on so many of the stores along Madison Avenue….but then I realized, we are 2/3 done with November and it is almost December….how did this happen? In any case, Christmas light season here we are. And here is what I am currently loving.
When I went to visit Cruzzie, I thought it would be nice to bring him and his friends something from NYC to CA. It had to be compact, easy to travel with, and something everything would like — which turns out to be candy. Bonbon candy. It was a huge hit and worth lugging it across the country.
During my California visit to see Cruzzie at Thacher, I also had the chance to spend a couple days with a beloved friend who moved to Montecito. Not only do I love my friend dearly, but I also love Montecito. It is the most picturesque, paradise, perfect place. This visit, a new bakery, Oat Bakery, opened up at The Montecito Country Mart and OAT MY GOD, (I love puns but can’t take credit for this one — it is from their website) it is so amazing. We went to get a little croissant / baguette / sweetness deliciousness, and three minutes after we left, I went BACK to get more.
The cutest bakery – The Oat Bakery.
Last weekend, I had the privilege of going to see my son at boarding school in Ojai, California. Although I had been there three weeks before to attend Family Weekend, I wanted another chance to just go see Cruzzie and his friends, and be with him for a relaxed weekend. It was an absolute incredible time — not just because I spent precious time with my boy, but also because I stayed in a secret gem hotel, the Turtle Conservancy.
The entry way.
WELP, October here we are! (or actually mid October!) It has been a whirlwind month of the Chicago Marathon and then visiting weekend at my son’s boarding school. Maybe life will slow down now??? Or not…but in the meantime, here is what I am currently loving!
1. Cruzzie’s Dining Hall
Cruzzie’s school, The Thacher School, is located in Ojai, California. It is the dreamiest place I have ever been — not just the academics, people, community, program, ethics, but also just the pure beauty of the school. Here is the dining hall at dinner. LOOK AT THAT SUNSET. You can eat outside. IT IS INCREDIBLE.
Spotted on one of my favorite style Instagram friends, I asked immediately where her reading glasses were from. Thankfully, they were affordable, in stock, and OH SO CUTE! Reading glasses from Anthropologie! WHO KNEW????
Ok, I might not look cute, but I love that they are different. AND THEY ARE 35 dollars!!!! I am so blind (read old) now that I need pairs in my bags because I can’t read anything anywhere.
What a treat! A last minute trip to Storm King — 500-acre outdoor museum located in theHudson Valley — where I have visited with the family several times before but this time, I went with some friends, and had a personal guided trip which meant GOLF CARTS, not excessive walking, so much interesting information. Highly recommend making the trek to visit Storm King — especially in the Fall foliage and glorious colors — and if you can get a tour, even better. I feel like I attended a class and learned so much.
The leaves, the colors, the sunshine, the art!
One of my favorite follows on Instagram is Erin Foster (and her sister Sara Foster). They are funny, witty, smart, quirky, beautiful, and real. So when they came out with a new show on Netflix “Nobody Wants This” — I jumped on the bandwagon to watch it. Sure enough, I binged the whole show over the weekend. I loved it so much — the jewish aspect of it (The main girl falls in love with a Rabbi so there are a lot of Jewish traditions throughout the show), the romcom, the humor, all of it.
HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND. Cute, easy, fun.
Almost October — last licks of summer (even though it is September). Here is what I am loving at the end of this month!
1. Funny Meme
SO. TRUE.
Since Cruz has been in California, he has truly become a California Kid. He looks SOOOO Californian with his hair, style, look, etc…So it was no surprise when he asked me if he could get a necklace (something he would have never have asked me for before his new school experience). Since I was clueless on what would look good — I asked a friend that knows everything hip and stylish. She knows all the hidden gems and secret places, and told me about “New Top Jewelry” — a store where you can have custom made jewelry made. I love that she doesn’t gate keep, and tells me exactly where to go. I am so thankful for this, because I would have NEVER EVER EVER have found this place on my own. It is located Soho border of Chinatown, and looks like a total random store.
GOLD! Chains! Charms! ID bracelets! Anything and everything you want!
Over two weeks ago, we dropped Cruzzie, my 9th grader off at school. Yes, he is at boarding school. No, it is not punishment. Yes, it is exciting. Yes, I miss him like crazy. Yes, he is in California and it is far away from NYC. But Thacher, is absolutely the best place for him and we could not be more excited and thrilled for him and this new chapter in his life. I love Thacher SOOOOOOO much and have to share some of the photos of his school just so you have more of a perspective on his life right now (because, sadly, he will not be pictured in many posts since he will be gone most of the time!)
Thacher is in Ojai — which is in Southern California. It is super hip, gorgeous, and beyond beautiful. So jealous of the location of his school! And I know Cruzzie is thrilled to not take photos — look how thrilled he looks here.
OK, continued from last week’s blog post of pressing flowers, we did it. We pressed them. We made them into bookmarks. (Almost ready — not quite — still need to figure out last minute touches!)
I took them out of the flower presser….
WHOA here we are. September. Kids are finally in school (I miss them) and it feels like we never had a break. HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE. Here are random things that I am loving!
1. Hazelnuts
I ate these in one sitting. I love hazelnuts (they are grown everywhere in Oregon) and this combination of sweet and salty are to die for. I bought these to bring back to NYC but then ate them that same day. Oops.
In our final days in Oregon, we went to a U-Pick Flower Farm (believe it or not, our first time at this gorgeous farm!) and collected the most insanely beautiful flowers.
Hot day, so Stevie would try to hide below the flowers. Didn’t really work, but hey, like the effort!
We wandered the flower farm for about an hour and picked the most gorgeous flowers.
Look at this dahlia! Unbeliveably beautiful!
Our final collection.
We went to the farm, not just to see the pretty flowers, but to create art with dried pressed flowers! It takes time — but we first needed the flowers!
Getting to work.
Putting the flowers to be pressed and dried.
Smooching the flowers for a week — stay tuned!
We loved going to this flower farm, and if you have a chance to do something similarly, definitely go. In the meantime, we will be waiting patiently for our flowers to be pressed and dried to create something (bookmarks)!
It NEVER rains in Eugene during the summer. I mean, it ALWAYS rains in Eugene during the year — but NEVER in the summer. I can’t remember the last time it rained in June / July / August — except this past weekend, on Saturday, we had thunder and lightening and a downpour of rain. We could have easily just stayed inside and watched Emily in Paris, but instead, we ventured to a good childhood’s friend’s house to play games with the kids. What sounded like a boring day, ended up being SO fun. We played two new games — both huge hits and fun for the kids and adults, alike.
This is a Swedish game that is a lawn game (we played inside the barn). You have to aim to hit different sticks, but it also requires some strategy and thought. Fun game — Tusia ended up winning one round.
Not just about aim though — requires some thinking! Huge hit for the youngest to the oldest players. We are definitely going to purchase this game — so fun
Fall is around the corner, but still trying to soak up every inch of sunshine and moment of summer. Here is what I am currently loving Part DEUX of August 2024. And please share with me what you are loving too — I always love hearing what people are loving at the moment.
1. Tru Fru
HOLY CRAP THESE ARE ADDICTING. The best little bit of sweetness and dessert. We love them in both dark and milk chocolate — but especially the milk chocolate raspberries. You must get. To die for. Frozen raspberries coated in white chocolate and then milk.
2. Rafting
Over the weekend, we went blueberry picking again, and decided to have a bake off that afternoon with the blueberries we picked!
The blueberry patch is located on the McKenzie River. It is a farther drive than the farm we usually go to, but they have 80 different types of blueberries and it is all organic and super beautiful, so it’s worth the extra drive.
This could have been included in the roundup of my currently loving, but it is so good that it needs its own post. Osea oil! It is ridiculously amazing.
I bought it with a body dry brush too — and now I am obsessed with both. They are incredible and life changing. Yes, who knew that brushing your dead skin off your body could feel so good? And then putting this oil on afterwards? HEAVEN.
As mentioned last week, I am obsessed with sea glass. I am equally as obsessed with Space Invaders. So, this week, I combined the two! LOOK!
When we were in Europe, we found 52 space invaders! 49 in Paris, 2 in Menorca, and 1 in Sainte Maxima. This was the last one on our last full day in Europe! So exciting.
As I have mentioned before, I love searching for sea glass. It is almost an obsession — once I start, I cannot stop. It is SO satisfying and so fun — I love everything about it. Right now, I am in the South of France, and NO ONE collects sea glass — in fact, when I do it, everyone comes up to me and asks what I am looking for and what I am going to do with it — and because of the fact that there is no one collecting it, there is SO much sea glass. It is awesome!!!! And I came up with an idea what to do with the sea glass and I am so excited!!!!
For the past 4 days, every morning after my run, I spend 10-30 minutes looking for some sea glass. Yes, very flattering photo. But I wanted proof of the fact that I was in my running gear, walking on a rocky beach, spending time looking for these little jewels.
So much to love on the island of Menorca! Here is what I loved on Menorca during our two week stay. (And if you are thinking about visiting Menorca –DO IT!)
1. Beaches
So many different types of beaches! I loved them all. Rustic, small, popular, chaotic, lounge chairs — every style, I loved.
