If I had to pick my top four beauty items for the summer, this would be my list (well actually, I would include Tony and Tina’s Coconut Butter Bliss that I swear by, too…..)
Must Haves — every single one of them.
Summer Must Have Beauty Products
summer
1st Week of Summer 2017 in Oregon
It is hard to believe that ten days ago, I was in NYC….it feels like I’ve been gone for months! My life in Oregon is quite simple, but it is easy, wonderful, and I love it. Here are some pictures of the past week – Enjoy!
We do a lot of biking in Eugene. My parents actually don’t drive anywhere. So we have fun biking around the river, picking the kids up from camp, or just doing errands. In this photo, I am with my daughter and my littlest niece, Nadia. (My helmet is from Sawako Furono Helmets)
Summer 2017 Reading List
Pat on my back…..one of the few things I am good at doing over the summer is reading. (Forget about reading the rest of the year!) Check out my Summer 2017 Reading List!
Books to read….but not THESE math books.
Summer 2017 To-Do-List
Greetings from Oregon! The kids and I have officially relocated for the summer. Every year, I am a broken record with very similar summer to-do lists. It either means that I set the right intentions that I want to repeat OR that I have goals that I never end up accomplishing….I really hope that this summer, I am able to commit to my list and make it happen!
1. Learn how to breathe.
Waves = calming sound = meditating?
1509 Perfume
And yet again…another essential oil to add to my list of favorite scents! This scent, 1509 Baby Breath Bud, is subtle, clean, and comforting. Each bottle of 100% pure fragrance oil is hand packaged and created. The healing oils (amber) are free of synthetic material and safe for your body. The smell is rich and soothing at the same time — a must for summertime.
Also comes in a travel size. Just as cute (with baby breath, too).
Gap Sunglasses
A chic friend (she is European, therefore, she is chic) was sporting sunglasses the other day. I loved them, and had to ask where they were from. And the answer…. GAP! Cheap and stylish! So of course, I copied her (thanks, Iva!)
Iva! Chic, beautiful, and oh-so-European.
Park City, Utah
It feels like a million years ago that we were on vacation with our dear friends in Deer Valley / Park City, Utah. In reality, it was just a week ago (another trip to the West Coast this weekend for my sister’s wedding sure makes time confusing). Deer Valley was the perfect ending to a fabulous summer, filled with lots of activities and simple family fun with great friends. Here is a recap of our trip with recommendations.. Deer Valley is a PERFECT summer getaway (particularly at the end of the summer after Utah schools start up… everything was empty which was perfect!)
Utah
Blueberry Hazelnut Crisp
With a flat of blueberries in our house from our local CSA, I went on a hunt to find the best blueberry pie recipe. That said, searching “best blueberry pie” on the internet does not necessarily lead to the best blueberry pie, especially when I add words such as “low sugar” or “healthy.” So instead, I went the old fashioned route and asked a friend for a recipe. Needless to say, this much more experienced baker (read ‘older’) instantly emailed me her go-to-blueberry crisp recipe. So I made it (but of course, with some minor adjustments) and IT IS SO DELICIOUS.
The result.
Ingredients for Crumb Crust and Topping:
My Eugene Summer Routine 2016
I love my summers with my parents in Eugene. It couldn’t be any different than our routine in New York, and I love the change of pace both for me and for our family. Not very glamorous or fashionable or social; but very nature-centered, kids focused, with lots of fresh air. Take a look.
I wake up very early and do my morning workout before the kids eat breakfast. I just get up, and do it. Then, after the kids are fed and dressed, I take Cruzzie to camp (in the car). From there, Tusia and I start our day of Tusia-Mama Camp (the oh so exciting camp) which means:
Trips to the grocery store…who knew that they could be so exciting? And who knew I needed to go most days? (Her cousin Nadia is pictured – Toosh is hiding behind the grocery cart).
Ice Cream Flower Pots
One of my dearest friends from Ken’s Stanford Business School class, Katie, is someone I have always looked up to. Not only is she brilliant (obviously), fun (best dancer ever), smiley, honest, and real, but she also has the best homemaker skills of anyone I know. Yes – totally sounds sexist, but when I met her when I was 25 years old, I didn’t know anyone who sewed their own curtains, made their own scalloped potatoes for dinner parties, and hosted lavish, extravagant sit down dinners with all homemade dishes. So I am thrilled to have Katie guest blog today on “Ice Cream Flower Pots.” Thanks so much, Katie. Love you dearly.
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My mom first made these “ice cream flower pots” for my 10th birthday party which was a joint party with my dear friend Carrie who had a birthday the same week as mine. We themed the party “Pink and Purple” so all our friends wore everything pink and purple, as did our moms and my older sister who was the “helper”. The party was afternoon backyard games and a BBQ at Carrie’s house, and then a slumber party at my house. The ten or so girls in attendance are still some of my closest friends, and to this day, everyone remembers the “ice cream flower pots” that thrilled us all when they were revealed as dessert. They embody the creative and festive flair that my mom was known for bringing to everything she did. She passed away 6 years ago and I miss her every day, but making treats like this on a lovely summer day for the ones I love makes her feel close in my heart again.
Beautiful flowers….but wait, it’s a delicious dessert!
Summer 2016 To-Do-List
I realize that for many of you, summer started almost a month ago. But it is never too late to create a summer 2016 to-do-list / wishlist. (Here is my To-Do-List from last summer). Enjoy!
1. Go to Hot Yoga twice a week. (Already been twice in this past week, so we are off to a good start! #HumbleBrag)
Shavasana counts in yoga, right? (This is my dad last year on the Oregon Coast)
Summer 2016 Reading List
Summer (for me) officially begins tomorrow when I fly out to Oregon with the kids to spend the summer with my parents. Once out there, I have no friends, no life, no tutoring, and no real responsibilities (not necessarily very “summer-like” for most people….but it is my way of recharging). It is the PERFECT time for me to read. I have a long list of books I would like to read this summer, so here they are. If you have any book suggestions, please share.
Books / xoxo / Cruz
Typical Summer Meal
Here is a sample meal from my mother. And yes, she is a creative genius in the kitchen — she rarely looks at recipes and constantly uses her imagination to combine the freshest ingredients she finds. The key is organic and fresh veggies!
Tomato, Cucumber, Parsley, Anchovy salad. Fresh veggies from the CSA. True perfection.
Some of the Reasons I Love Eugene…
For new readers of the blog (thanks The New Potato!), I live in New York with my husband Ken and two kids. But I “summer” in my hometown of Eugene, Oregon with my parents, and Ken comes back and forth. New York and Eugene couldn’t be more different, and I have come to love the contrast, and appreciate the positives (and negatives) of both. Here are some of the reasons I love Eugene, my first and always true home… (I bleed tie dye)…
And I am trying my hardest to make tie-dye a big part of my kids’ life, too.
Hula Hoop Greek Sandals
Ladies, take a look at my new sandals. I get happy just LOOKING at them. They are bright, fun, flamboyant, colorful, special, unique, and simply happy.
Party on my feet!
How To: CSA Veggie Box
Wonder what to do with a weekly CSA veggie box? Take a peek inside our Wednesday box (my parents get a box twice a week in Oregon) and see the creations assembled and imagined by my wonderful Mama!
Fresh, crisp, local, organic veggies. My dream come true.
Josie Patch Isles Shorts
Summer uniform: elastic wear shorts! More precisely, Josie Patch Isles Shorts. Soft woven… drawstring… the fabric is extremely soft, comfortable to slip on, and light for summer days and nights.
Patchwork
Hummus Kick
Not since 1997 have I been as into hummus as I currently am. Major mega hummus kick. Currently, here are my two favorite hummus (plural version?) to eat!
Edamame! Soybean heaven! So rich and good — can’t.stop.eating.it.addicted.oh.my.
Beginning of Summer…
Here we are, Oregon Summer 2015! I arrived just a little over 24 hours ago from New York and it feels like I never left. I must say that I have had a hard time adjusting the first week….I always want to make a plan and have a hard time not having a “busy schedule”. That said, after a week in Eugene, I get the hang of doing nothing and get to be way more mellow and relaxed (all of it disappears the moment that I land in NYC). Totally jet-lagged, exhausted, and tired, here is a quick look at some photos of my first 24 hours in Eugene.
A walk to a flat area (we live in a steep hill in every direction) where Tata (my father) was able to teach Cruzzie how to ride a bike. (and yes, That’s Life!)
Summer 2015 Book List
I hope everyone had a nice Father’s Day! I had a wonderful time celebrating with my guapo, devoted, hands on, loving husband who is the BEST father out there; by riding carousels, sweating buckets at the Playground, drinking milkshakes and eating at Fred’s with my Father-in-law (also a terrific father). Next up, celebrating my own incredible fanny-pack-wearing, dependable, loveable, and smartest man alive father– when we go to Oregon on WEDNESDAY!!!! Not only do our packed bags signify the summer, but so too does my stack of fun books to read. So here is my summer 2015 Book List!
Summer 2015 To-Do List
Since summer’s now here (well, kind of. Yes my kids are out of school but I am still in NYC…), I put together my personal to-do list for the season, filled with things I’d love to accomplish before Labor Day. Lots to do in just a small amount of time.
1. Drink rose and gobble up oysters at Grand Banks on Pier 25 in NYC. Doesn’t it look ridiculous? Unreal, oh-my-god-I-want-to-go-now.
The restaurant is on a BOAT! But not this type of boat. And definitely not this captain.
Mini Melissa Kitty Shoes
While it hit other states hard, Juno the Blizzard didn’t really hit NYC….but we still had (a tiny amount of) snow, no school, lots of hot cocoa, sledding, and snow angels. I was a little disappointed to wake up to 2 (ok, 6 total) inches of snow, but super happy to be with the kids and play in the snow. I hope all the JG readers in New England are doing OK.
Stella Cove Matching Swimsuits
Grilled Romaine Salad
Lavender Festival
Over the weekend, we went to the Lavender Festival on the McKenzie River with the family, including our nieces and nephews. What’s at an Oregon Lavender festival? Lavender. And a couple of lavender vendors. And, well…that is about it! That said, we enjoyed the scenery, smells, colors, and ummmmm lavender.
Purple lavender haze
