Summers in Oregon usually are packed with lots of outdoor adventures (hiking, biking, running, exploring) as well as arts and crafts. And this year, it has been no different. Here are the arts and craft projects I have been working on this summer
Straw Tray
From straw, I braided 6 meters worth of straw together — harder than it seemed and caused my fingers to ache. But, worth the pain.
August is one of my least favorite months — it means that summer is almost over and I start having MAJOR anxiety about school starting back up and all the changes that will take place this year. I am trying to slow down and appreciate the moment, so here is what I am loving *RIGHT NOW*
1. Spider Man
We went to the Marvel movie on Saturday night — and believe it or not, not only did I stay awake (HUGE accomplishment), but I actually loved it. Highly recommend.
In Oregon, one of my favorite activities is to go to one of the hundreds of farms and pick fruit or veggies. And this past week, we went to a Peach farm — which is one of my favorite U-picks of the season (who doesn’t love peaches?). We collected 16 pounds of peaches — so we kept some fresh to have as snacks, made a peach galette, and dehydrated the rest.
Peaches galore.
As mentioned earlier this week, last week I was in the Bay Area stuffing my face with the most delicious food, ingredients, and meals. And one of my FAVORITE things (I have yet to mention) was the breakfast — Axe Pancakes.
Currently only available in California (you can get them on Good Eggs in Bay Area, and in various stores in Southern California). You buy this big tub of pancake mix that is frozen and store it in the freezer until the night before you want to use it.
Last week, I spent a couple days with my sister from another mister( aka my best friend), at her home in Northern California. We had the best time hanging 0ut and not doing much other than eating (our favorite pastime together). Here are some of my favorite meals we ate during my stay.
The two of us at Land’s End in northern CA looking at the Ocean and the Golden Gate Bridge — HIGHLY recommend this walk / hike — truly gorgeous the entire 3.5 miles — from every step.
When I was in Paris, one of my favorite items I purchased was a pair of sunglasses from Jimmy Fairly. Jimmy Fairly is the Parisian equivalent to Warby Parker — stylish, trendy, current glasses and sunglasses at reasonable price points. I could have bought so many of them but landed on one pair — The Napoli. And they just opened their first USA store in NYC so I can’t wait to try more of them on!
Walking in Paris eating a kale salad. On brand. (In the sunglasses) (and with the tote bag that comes with the sunglasses –even better).
I promise you soon that I will get back to normal posts versus currently loving, but I just have so much to share and it is easy to cram everything in and be a GOOD post, versus a short mediocre one đ So here is what I am currently loving in July — because wow, it is mid-July (I actually saw a sign that said a festival for June 2026 and I had to think if it was an old sign or we were still in June and it was upcoming….helllooooo summer)
Hands down my favorite new sunscreen. If you are in Europe, buy a lot and you will be happy. I read about it — and WOW is it good. Better than any other sunscreen I have ever tried.
I have been in Cap Ferret (south west region of France) for the past two weeks and I have fallen in love. This place is unlike anywhere else I have been and I love every bit of it. Here are just some of the things that I love about it here.
1. Parasailing
SUCH a fun afternoon — we thought it was just going to be up and down, but it was a whole boat ride excursion and one of the highlights of the trip so far. The kids went up (I did not), and there were two other French families on the boat so it was fun to talk with them.
Before the summer travels started, I made my way to the newest needlepoint store in New York City, Penny Linn. Located on the very very far west of Manhattan, it was an incredibly beautiful space filled with more fibers and threads that I have ever seen in my life! Very different than my usual go-to-needlepoint-stop Rita’s (which I will forever call home base and love), this shop was HUGE. Massive. It had thousands of canvases to browse and select from, although as an avid needlepointer, I wished there were larger scale canvases. Â That said, of course, I left with two canvases that I LOVED and so many cool threads to use for them. So if you are in need of a new needlepoint store in the city, DEFINITELY suggest going. And if you want to shop from their online store, I also love that website!
Check them out! I love their matchbox selections — so trendy and cool.
I loved this pizza box and worked on it during my time in Paris.
OK, I know last week I did a “currently loving” and mentioned a lot of what I was loving in Paris, but there is so much to love, so here is another list of my favorite current things in Paris 2026.
Over half a mile long, this tunnel near the Tuileries is so fun to bike / run in. But you can’t be claustrophobic! I loved looking at the art as I ran by — so many talented street artists out there!
Since I was alone in Paris, I had many things on my to-d0 list. One, was find the best Jambon-beurre sandwich in Paris. So I spent HOURS (yes, HOURS) researching and looking at where I could find this best sandwich.
Jambon beurre is ham and butter in French. It is a classic sandwich and one I love to eat more than any other sandwich. (picture of pig because of the ham).
I have been following and “flashing” space invaders for the past two years and what fun it has been! It has been a great way to explore cities (especially when in France) and to always look up. Space invaders are created by a French artist “Invader” who has been putting up different mosaics in over 30 different countries. There are almost 5,000 of them, and thanks to an app, you can track them (“flash”) them and get credit for seeing them. It makes EVERYTHING that much more fun.
It is especially fun when traveling with the kids, because they are also determined to find them (truth be told, no one is as determined as me to find them, though).
OK so yes we made it to Paris and it was a big blur — lots of friends in town that made it so much fun as well as jam packed. There is so much to love here and I could post a million posts on what I love. So I am going to start with just a few right now from the first week and then come back with more! But here is what I am loving in Paris.
1. European Espresso
It tastes and hits differently in Europe. Love it so much.
OMGGGGGG where did the time go? I am sorry for a mini break — it was the end of the year craze with school finishing up and then packing up for the summer and flying to Europe. But I am back! So expect regular posts. Today — what I loved first part of June in NYC and tomorrow — check back, what I am loving in Paris. BUT for now, here is what I am loving right now!
1. Floral Arrangements
I did these flowers for my daughter’s luncheon post graduation (from 8th grade). I was super proud of myself (yes, humble brag) because I loved the way that they came out! Sometimes I don’t love what I do with flowers, but this time, I was happy.
Earlier this week, with a group of friends, I went to look at some art in the TriBeCa galleries — LOVE LOVE LOVED it. Not just the art in the galleries but the galleries themselves. I highly recommend touring these three galleries (we actually went to 7!) if given the time at any point if and when in NYC.
Currently at the Gallery, is Lynette Yiadom-Boakye. I found her work breathtaking, especially in the Tribeca space.
A very cool space. Huge, tall ceilings. Beautiful old moldings. Felt like an old bank.
Happy June 1st! Can you believe it? I CANNOT HOLY CRAP. Ok, but here is what I am currently loving right now.
1. My Boy
Cheesy but true, the most important thing I am loving is the fact that my son came back from boarding school yesterday. It was as if I could breathe again — yes he bossed me around to do everything and I have been knee deep in laundry and unpacking, but MAN, how I love having him home.
As you know by now, I spend a lot of time being crafty. Needlepoint is a good source of meditation for me, where I just sit and needlepoint. I feel like I am accomplishing something even when sitting still. I have become an avid needlepointer in the last 6 years — and although I like bigger projects, I always love doing these bookmarks. I start from scratch and do all of it — needlepoint, cut, sew, pom pom, etc…and I wanted to show you the process.
This is the hardest part. The needlepointing. It takes forever. Even though they are small. They take forever.
Inspired by the instagram account @centralparkbenches, I decided to take my own little tour of Central Park yesterday and look at all the fun benches and plaques. As someone who spends A LOT of time in the park — running, walking, playing, sitting, needlepointing, talking, etc…– I always have loved looking at the inscriptions. On my run, these are some of my favorite — and I want to have one of my own when I die!
Love this one so much.
Made me cry.
Cute and poppy.
Dark, but I love it.
This one literally made me cry — look at the final date.
So true.
Love this one, too.
Fun.
A woman enjoying the park and its benches.
___
I loved my little scavenger hunt looking at the Central Park benches, and I cannot wait to spend more time exploring different areas of the park with these benches. HIGHLY recommend. And if you are on instagram, follow @centralparkbench
There is a new viral dessert on the Upper East Side — and it is called Dot Cakes. Little mini cakes with frosting and sprinkles in a cup — dot cakes. WHO KNEW? But trust me, it is worth the craze and the waiting and the anticipation to get them. Tusia first discovered them from her best friend who lives next to the gourmet grocery store in the city that carries them, Butterfield (also gone viral for its frozen yogurt), so she has had them as snacks and desserts all year long. But that said, recently, something blew up on the internet and now you CANNOT get them. And they are one of those things that once you have them, you always want them and need them.
Mini cups.
On Saturday, I did a thing I have not done in a very very long time, and that was to run a half marathon. Yes, I run a marathon every single year, but it has been over 6 years since I last ran a half marathon. I know it sounds crazy – but it is a VERY different experience than running a marathon. The pace, the energy, the preparation — all very different. But for whatever reason, I signed up this year to do the Brooklyn Half (over 18 years ago, Ken and I did our very first half marathon — which was indeed the Brooklyn Half Marathon).
Race started at 7 am in Prospect Park — a 45 minute drive. Which meant, that I needed to leave my apartment by 5 am to get there in time to go through security, etc….It was pretty painful, but it was also very nice watching the city come alive.
Influenced by instagram, I purchased this screen free digital camera — and I LOVE IT!!!! It is a vintage feel, screen free, digital camera — Camp Snap. It is a point and shoot, no screen, and then you upload it to your camera whenever you are ready (holds 500 images!) It is designed to help student stay present in the moment and full engage with their surroundings.
A ton of different colors to choose from.
I choose the turquoise — it is SUPER light, easy to hold, and even easier to take photos. Look how easy!
I realize that I just did the currently loving May 2026 Part 1, but here we are, a weekend later, and I still have so much to share with you about what I am loving.
1. Multi-generational Shopping TripÂ
The three of us went shopping on Saturday for the two ladies birthday! Yep, my fierce Mother-in-law turned 79 on Saturday! And my strong daughter turns 14 today! Shopped till we dropped together in Soho (all for Tusia’s birthday!)
It has been up and down weather in NYC this month, but so much to love and (also look forward to). Here is what I am currently loving:
1. Noah Kahan “All Them Horses”
I love Noah Kahan. Deep love. And I love his new album — especially this song. I have listened to it over and over again recently and every time, I love it more. Highly recommend.
2. Lilacs
Last weekend, I went to my first college reunion ever at Pomona College — and wow, it was a blur and so much fun. I spent more time traveling than I did at the reunion, but it was 100 percent worth it. I graduated from Pomona College in 2001 — I loved my experience from there — the academics, the campus, the faculty, and most of all, my friends. I have been incredibly fortunate that despite all of us living in different states, we are still very close friends. Truly, friends that I forget I know from college — they are just best friends.
Landed at 10 pm — dressed appropriately (Pomona College is in Claremont — which is a town 35 miles east of LA, but in LA county).
Mother’s Day is right around the corner — literally — and there are so many goodies from Natori that I want to share with you all!
Toile Cotton Sateen Sleepshirt
I love this easy, breezy, cotton sleepshirt with its fun and unique pattern. Great for summer!
