bon weekend

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Having spent much of my childhood playing in the snow, I expect (and always want) more of it, and it seems Mother Nature has granted my wish. We are (literally) snowed in right now in Pennsylvania, but thankfully still have power (fingers crossed it stays that way). I’m feeling a mix of exhilaration and legitimate concern…if you’re a mother, you’ll understand what I mean. While this photo does not convey the amount of snow we currently have, hopefully it evokes the mood of a cozy winter weekend. Here are some links for your weekend enjoyment…stay safe + warm east coast friends. 

BON WEEKEND!

 a love letter to winter

 when motherhood is easy

the french are storming brooklyn

afar’s top ten destinations for 2016

amazing video house tours via nytimes

henry + marie’s “wild” new room

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The wait is over – I can finally reveal the kids new room! It’s been a long time since I’ve shared Henry + Marie’s bedroom – since their nursery, to be exact. When we sold our home, we knew we would be creating a “big kid” room for them in our new space. Our industrial loft has greatly inspired my decor decisions, and I’ve enjoyed designing a more modern + minimal space. With awesome bones (hello exposed brick + beams) and beautiful light, there wasn’t too much to be done. I knew I wanted to have an accent wall behind their bunk beds and immediately started searching for wallpaper. However, we needed something renter-friendly, and that’s when I discovered Chasing Paper. They have an amazing line of high quality, removable wallpaper + wall decor. I quickly became smitten with the “wild” print by designer Sarah Watson and knew it was the one. Most importantly, the kids adore it – they’re working on names for each animal!

 

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three and a half

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It’s so cliché and so true–time passes by at warp speed when you have children. The days are long, but the years are short, as the saying goes. It seems like yesterday that Marie + Henry were wearing these shoes, and now they are encased in glass. I look at them every day in disbelief – were their feet really that small?! Three has proven to be a trying age (the terrible threes is a thing)…but despite the tantrums and sibling squabbles, they are happy and well-behaved little people. They’re currently very arts-oriented, with painting, crafts, music and dance being their favorite activities. Most days are spent giggling, which is something I wish we could all hold onto. Happy half birthday my babies. Let’s not rush four, ok?

ladurée with kids – paris edition

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Would you believe I still have content to share from our Paris trip?! I have a big finale planned, once I reach the end of it all…and I’ll be reaching that point soon (very soon). We made reservations for brunch at Ladurée, at the Champs-Elysee location (we had plans for the Arc after), and asked photographer Ashley Ludaescher to join us. I was curious if it would be suitable for toddlers  – I had seen a few there before, but never my own! Knowing how well-behaved Henry + Marie are gave us confidence, but hey – they’re still toddlers. We went in with the mindset that it wouldn’t be a leisurely experience, but that it was possible. Plus, I introduced them to the joy of macarons early. Start ’em young, am I right?!

 

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the hive gathering

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You are looking at a pile of heaven customized Nutella jars for The Hive, a European gathering of digital storytellers, tastemakers + bloggers. While the thought of scoring one of those jars gets me excited, I am even more thrilled to announce I’ll be a speaker at this year’s conference! I was so flattered when founder Yvonne Dewerne reached out to me and invited me to speak – it didn’t take me long to say yes. I’ve been anxious to attend since it’s inception, and this year it’s being held in Dublin! I cannot wait to explore Ireland and my Monahan roots (recommendations welcome). You can see the list of incredible speakers here (more to be announced) – tickets go on sale next week. Come join the fun in April!

image courtesy of bridgee melling photography