Dresses, dresses, dresses...

Help! I want to get a new dress for this year's holiday parties. I've been getting by with old wedding/bridesmaids dresses for a while, and I think it's time I add an actual party dress to my wardrobe. The problem is...I hate shopping.  I will probably have to go to the mall (ick) eventually, but maybe I can narrow down my search before I go.

I did some looking online, and the above pictures represent the dresses I saved. I like the cute cocktail dresses, but then I have to remind myself that it will be December in Boston - when I remember that, I start to appreciate the long sleeved options. The main goal is to be cute and comfortable, though.

Do you have any opinions?  Please share!

Top row (left to right):  #1 , #2, #3
Middle row:  #4, #5, #6
Bottom row:  #7, #8, #9

To Not Making Plans...

We had a really nice weekend.  The weather has been glorious, and it has allowed us to play outside in the warm sunshine all day long.   The weekend was a mix of planned events - birthday parties, camp orientation, a neighbor's graduation party - and the unplanned.  

After camp orientation, we decided to go out to dinner, but we had some extra time to kill.  So we went to a nearby playground for a bit.  When the boys wanted to leave, we still had some time, so we went into a local bookstore.  I just love bookstores, and I really loved my boys' reactions to the idea of going into one.   "Ooh I LOVE bookstores!  Can we get a book?  Please?!?"  I'm a sucker when it comes to books, and all four of us left with a couple.  We then enjoyed a nice dinner, eating outside, and the boys were entertained by their new books.  Awesome.

Sunday was similar.  The day was relatively wide open, so we spent a lot of time working and playing in the yard.  The boys were getting a little bored, though, so I thought I'd take them someplace nearby to ride bikes.  The place we were going to go had an event going on, so we had to come up with a plan B.  We decided to go to Wellesley College, which is also very close.  My husband goes running there all the time, but I actually hadn't seen a lot of the campus, even though I pass it every day.  It is a beautiful school, and we had a really nice walk while the boys had fun riding through tunnels and down the hills.  

We had fun at a neighbor's cookout, and we finished the day eating ice cream and yelling at the TV during that crazy USA-Portugal World Cup game.  

A beautiful weekend.  The planned and the unplanned.  

Aaron asked me what we have planned to do this week.  He is one who appreciates having plans every day.  I have a few ideas of things we might do, but we're going to play it by ear.  I need to show him that being spontaneous is a beautiful thing too.  

Little Things and the Week Ahead

We had such a wonderful day celebrating our little man.  It was threatening to rain, so I was nervous and contingency planning.  Thankfully, we didn't have to break out the "Pin the tail on Bullseye" inside the house, as the rain mostly stayed away.  It was muggy and very hot, but I'll take it!  The boys had a blast, and I did too.  

an adorable gaggle of boys

The last couple days have been cloudy, with on and off showers and storms rolling through.  So instead of venturing out to a local swimming pond, the boys and I have spent quality time at home.  It's been surprisingly okay.  So far, I've heard very little of the dreaded "I'm bored".  I know it has only been a week since school let out, but still...I feel like my boys are figuring out how to entertain themselves more, and we are all getting along pretty well.  We are plowing through our Summer Fun List pretty quickly - I think we need to slow down!

I've been able to take note of lots of the little things, such as:

• playing catch in the yard
• picking our first cucumber and cherry tomatoes
• riding bikes up to the library
• the resulting silence in the house after we return home with a stack of books
• the smell of banana-zucchini bread filling the house as I attempt to use up all our perishables before our trip
• allowing the boys to sleep later and later (today was 8:30!) as I enjoy a bit of quiet in the morning
• watching the boys create works of art
• learning new things as we take on 'pick-an-animal day' (today was sea turtles)
• walking through the grass barefoot

Tomorrow, we are off to the beach!  We are headed back to our favorite little town in Maine.  (Although I should admit that we have not explored enough of that beautiful state.  Need to see more.  What we've seen is so beautiful!)  We will be there through Saturday for our first taste of the ocean of the summer.  All I want to do is dig my toes into the sand and listen to the waves.  Ah....I can't wait!

Around The Yard...

Day 28 of The Challenge.  Only pictures.

Weekend Recap

Another awesome weekend.  Actually, I'm going to back up to Thursday night, because that's when the fun really started.  In our school auction several weeks ago, I won a night out at a yoga studio.  I was able to invite a bunch of my friends to join me for a yoga class, followed by wine and refreshments.  Doesn't that sound awesome?  Well, it was!  I was a little nervous about it, because I honestly wasn't sure how many friends I could round up on a weeknight, but there ended up being nine of us, and it was perfect.  We had such a great time, talking and laughing without having to manage the kids at the same time.  Actually, we were having such a good time that I neglected to check my phone.  If I had, I might've noticed that my husband was calling and texting me, wondering why I was so late!  I guess we were having too much fun.  Kevin pointed out later that perhaps it's an indication that I don't go out enough, and I think he's right.  I can't remember the last time I went out with girlfriends.  I need to do that more.  

Saturday involved mostly yard work, prepping the garden beds for planting.  It was fun to get dirty and see progress in the yard.  (Oh!  And have I mentioned we're getting a patio?  The workers are here as I type, laying brick and getting us ready for a summer of being able to eat outside.  Yay!)  We interrupted our yard work to take the boys for ice cream and play frisbee.  That night, we watched the movie The Impossible.  Have you seen it?  It's the true story of a family that survived the tsunami in Thailand.  It will definitely keep your heart pumping, and you will cry.  Even Kevin cried.  Big happy tears.  That is a movie that will stick with me for a while.  

Sunday was a social day.  We started with having friends over to our house for our usual Sunday morning pancake breakfast.  They have three little girls, and the five of our kids had a blast playing together.  We had fun too - winners all around!  We fit in a little more yard work, and then we went over to another friend's house.  Lots of playing and talking and laughing.  An awesome end to a beautiful weekend.  

Winter's Last Gasp...

I guess Winter isn't quite done after all.  She decided we needed one last snowstorm, and we're right in the bullseye that is expected to get 6-10".  This is actually just fine with me - I am hoping enough of it sticks around for the weekend so we can get in a good sledding session.  In the meantime, I enjoy the peaceful beauty of falling snow, even when it's getting whipped around by strong winds.  It's beautiful.

Checking In...

We woke up to a winter wonderland this morning.

I realize I haven't really written very much here lately.  Life is moving along, as fast as ever.  Being at home has somehow made it harder for me to stop and sit down.  It seems ironic, but I feel more than ever that I should always be doing something.  Every day has its list of tasks and chores, I've been able to exercise most days, and of course I get lots of time with my boys.  It's all good, but I do crave alone time, that time to sit and ponder.  I need to go back to my routine of spending some quiet time by myself after the boys go to sleep.  It simply feels good to quiet my mind, and when I'm able to do it, I can focus even better on all that needs to be done.  

I survived Winter break!  I had some activities planned, but I also wanted to allow time for the boys to be bored and play on their own.  Nathan is skilled at keeping himself entertained, but it's something that Aaron still struggles with.  They did pretty well overall, though.  We finally made it back to skiing this weekend, too, which was great.  Nathan is starting to make good progress, and I think he'll pick it up quickly next season.  

Last night I stayed up too late to watch the Oscars of course.  Jennifer Garner was my favorite on the red carpet.  Such a gorgeous vivid color, stunning necklace, and Ben on her arm.  Beautiful.  So now I'm a little tired, but I'm excited to start a new week.  Can you believe it's almost March already?  I'm hoping for a bit more snow and a couple more days of skiing before the Spring rains set in.  The muddy season is not my favorite.

I'm also still getting things here and there for the house.   This week's additions include a new lamp for the living room, and a picture for the entryway.  I've long wanted an Alicia Bock photograph for the house, but it's so hard to decide when they're all so beautiful.  This tree caught my eye, and when I saw the name, I knew it belonged in our house - The Joy Tree.  

alicia bock photography

So I'm off to start the week.  As always, there is much to be done, but my singular goal is to find a little peace along the way.

Love Poems...

Here are a few of the greatest love poems ever.  The Shakespeare sonnet was read at our wedding, and it remains a favorite of mine.  

We are celebrating Valentine's Day with lots of cards, hugs, and our new tradition of chocolate-covered strawberries.  I hope you're having a great day and celebrating in your own way as well!

e.e.cummings

Weekend Recap - A Ridiculous Amount of Snow

let's paint!

new masterpieces

the storm began...can you see the boys sledding outside?

The view from the front door on Saturday morning

He could stay out in the snow all day long.

They canceled school on Friday, in anticipation of the start of a big winter storm.  That morning, before the snow began, the boys played outside and rode their bikes on the clear street.  By the afternoon, they were sledding.  The next morning, we woke up to about 30 inches of snow!   Crazy.

I'm a huge fan of a blizzard.  It's a great excuse to stay home, cozy up by the fireplace, and do fun indoor things as the snow swirls around the house.  30 inches is a bit much, but the boys are having a lot of fun playing in it.  My shoulders are sore from shoveling, and I'm okay with that.  We played, shoveled, drank hot chocolate, painted, played games, watched movies, and went outside to play some more.

Sunday was a glorious day.  As the trucks and plows still attempted to clear all the streets, we spent an afternoon at a local sledding hill.  It was a bright and sunny day, and you could tell everyone was so excited to be back outside.  We had a great time, and my calves are going to be a bit sore now too.

School is canceled again today, and there is a light freezing rain falling.  The boys are outside playing, and I have some indoor plans ready to keep us occupied for another day.

School will still be there tomorrow.

Happy New Year!

We woke up with a light dusting of snow on Christmas morning, which was just perfect.  We had a great day at home.   Family, food, presents... All exactly as it should be.

Today we are headed to Barcelona to visit my sister and her family.  We will celebrate the new year six hours earlier than usual.  I won't have anything posted until we return.  I hope you all have a wonderful and happy New Year!

Cassis and Pinterest

Paul Signac - Cassis, Cap Canaille, 1889

I ran across this painting on Pinterest, and I thought it looked familiar.  I pulled up our honeymoon pictures and found the one below.  This was the view from our hotel in Cassis, France.  

Good memories.  I remember really good, crisp white wine.  Cute little boats jammed into the harbor.  Seafood at every meal.  One particularly memorable dinner where Kevin ran out of patience trying to speak French.  The woman at the restaurant just laughed at him.  She brought us good food and more wine and chatted with us a bit. 

Fun thoughts provoked by a picture found on Pinterest.  Yes, it can be a time suck, but it can also be fun and thought-provoking and even useful.  

Autumn Beauty

This tree made me happy today.

The Little Things...

Well, I guess if it has to rain, I'm glad it's happening primarily during the week.  We had a glorious weekend.  We went outside after breakfast and didn't go back in until bedtime.  The boys mostly wanted to ride their bikes and scooters, so that's what we did. 

The house is in such a state of disarray, but we're managing pretty well so far.  I keep my focus on the little areas of the house that are actually in my control, keeping them as tidy as possible.  I also find myself feeling grateful for so many of the things we have.  We've been selling and giving a lot away over the last couple weeks - how lucky we are to be in a position to do that.  I hope these things are useful and provide value to their new owners. 

I've chosen a few pictures of some of the things making me happy around the house this week.  Above...my mother's day gifts.  I can't wait to put that aloe plant in my new kitchen! 

Below...our new bench for our entryway.  We searched for a really long time for this bench, and I'm so happy we finally found this one.  It's perfect for the space and really helps keep the area more organized. 

My new pillow! My mom bought me this for my birthday. It is a handmade knit sham, and it is super soft. I wanted one throw pillow for our bed and searched for a long time for something just right. I'm so happy I found it! Thanks Mom!

And last but not least...I received a gift in the mail from one of my lovely blogger friends - Louise from Lou, Boos, and Shoes.  Lou developed a line of handmade facial oils, and she recently decided to open up her own internet shop!  It has been so inspiring and fun to watch her idea grow and flourish.  I was excited to give the oil a try, and I adore it.  You might be thinking something like what my husband said when he saw it, which is "Isn't it counterintuitive to put oil on your face?"  But trust me - it's awesome!  It sinks in immediately and doesn't leave a greasy feeling at all, and the smell is amazing.  You really should go check it out - the shop is called L'Apothecary.  Thank you so much, Lou!

Strawberry Print

via Lucile's Kitchen etsy shop

I'm starting to think about details for our new kitchen.  I find myself looking at faucets and cabinet pulls and window treatments in all the pictures I see.  I wonder if we'll have any wall space.  This pretty print would be lovely in a white kitchen.  

Thinking about Less...

I don't have much to say this week.  My mind is elsewhere.  I've been reading and watching and listening to a lot of news lately, and although I think it's important to stay well-informed, it can be so incredibly depressing.  When hearing about the uprising in Egypt, the war in Libya, the tragedy in New Zealand, and our own comparably trivial troubles, including the protests in Wisconsin and our continued failed attempts at balancing the budget, it can be difficult to bring focus back on my own little life.  But of course that is exactly what I should do.  I can't control all the chaos in the world.  

I also just finished the book, Say You're One of Them, by Uwem Akpan.  It's fantastic, but only read it if you are okay with the fact that it will break your heart and haunt your dreams.  It's simply painful to come to terms with the fact that so many children in the world face such tragedy.

I've also become rather disillusioned with the blogging world lately.  I don't know - I think I'm just uninspired.  While this mood lasts, I may cut back a bit on posting.  Or rather, I'm going to post when I want to and not feel like I should put something out here every day.  We'll see.  I just went through the list that I follow and removed the ones that seem to post mainly about things.  There are so many out there that want to tell me what to buy, or what I should think is cool, or that seem to be trying so hard to make money.  I need to make sure I'm sticking with all the wonderful and inspiring and thoughtful blogs out there.

I realize this is a rather negative post, so let me leave you with a little dose of goodness...

via Stephmodo

'Reality Bites' was on last night, so I let myself get sucked in.  This is exactly the type of nostalgic optimism I need.  Love Ethan Hawke...

Isn't this gorgeous?  I can't trace it back to the original source, though.  Love it.

via coffeetablebooks.tumblr

A Few Thoughts on Oscar...

I stayed up way too late watching the Academy Awards.  I always do - I don't know why, but I love it.  A few impressions:  The show was a bit boring this year.  James Franco was a dud - sorry, James, but I expected more.  The dresses were beautiful.  Perhaps a bit plain - there weren't any shockingly outlandish ones that I saw - but nice.  I liked that there seemed to be a lot of vibrant colors.  Natalie Portman was gorgeous.  Halle Berry, as always.  My favorite was Marisa Tomei, although I guess a lot of the experts hated her dress.  I loved her hair.  I loved Cate Blanchett's hair too.  I love Colin Firth more every time I hear him speak.  I am amazed by how talented Christian Bale is when I hear him speak - I don't think I had ever heard him talk in his own voice before this year.  It's even more shocking than when Hugh Laurie stops being House.  I'll say it again - Sandra Bullock is flawless.  Robert Downey Jr is someone else that I love a little more every time I see him.  Has there ever been a more gorgeous pair of presenters than Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law?

Weekend Recap

Another weekend come and gone.  I was on my own with the boys, and we had a nice time together.  Hair cuts, fun at the library, playtime in the snow (yes, more snow), a birthday party, and a visit from Grandma.  All these activities helped keep us entertained.  During dinner one night, we talked about all the things we're looking forward to doing once it warms up.  Some of the responses included:  going to Italy, running outside without coats on, not having to wear boots, eating popsicles, riding bikes...  It was a lovely conversation.

While the boys slept, I enjoyed some alone-time.  I pulled out my guitar after way too long.  My fingers are sore, but it's such a great feeling.  I'm still hoping that one day I'll really be able to play.  I also watched Never Let Me Go, which I enjoyed very much.  It's a gorgeous movie.  I'm not sure if I would've liked it as much if I hadn't already read the book, though, so read it first. 

Now I'm off to start another full week.  It's a busy time at work, and my husband's out of town.  My mom reminded me to stick to what's easy this week, which is good advice.  I think I'll follow it. 

How to Appreciate (Survive) Winter

1. Go outside.  Sledding, hiking, skiing, snowball-fighting...there are lots of ways to have fun in the snow.

2. Plan trips.  I've spent a good portion of January making plans for the rest of the year.  We've picked out the place where we're going to spend our big vacation - 10 days in Tuscany.  [Insert very excited face here] I'm also planning a long weekend with family in North Carolina, a girls' spa weekend, and other fun events.  It always helps when I have something fun to look forward to.

We're going here this summer.  Yay!

3.  Bake.  Summer is for the grill, Winter is for the oven.  I also love making soups/stews and roasting, but baking is the most fun.  Probably because my son can help me the most with baking.  It's something fun we can do together, it's a great way to stay occupied on a weekend afternoon, and the results are something yummy!  (I'm going to make a carrot cake with cream cheese frosting this weekend.  Yay!)


4. Pick up a big book.  Summer is the time for the lighter, faster reading.  While the days are dark and cold, choose a heavier book.  Perhaps a classic you've always wanted to read.  One that challenges you.

5.  Buy yourself flowers.  I know it's a money splurge, and I know it's probably not a very "green" thing to do.  That said, I can't tell you how much it lifts my spirits to have a colorful vase of flowers on my dining room table.

6.  Catch up on movies.  The Oscars are coming up in just a few weeks.  How many of the nominated films have you seen?  I've actually done pretty well this year - I guess we chose wisely when going out, because every movie I saw this year was nominated.  But there are still some I haven't seen - I want to see Biutiful, and I heard The Fighter was really good too.

Biutiful stars Javier Bardem

What are you doing to survive the Winter?

Pins of the Week

*Croissants - Croissants, jam, and a cafe au lait.  Quite possibly the perfect breakfast.


*Another Entryway - Yes, I might be a bit obsessed with entryways at the moment.  How come it's so easy to find pretty pictures but so difficult to find the real thing?  


*Mila Kunis - Natalie is getting all of the attention, but Mila was pretty great in Black Swan as well.  She's so gorgeous.  


*Use it up... - I keep chanting this in my head, as I go through drawers and closets, piling up for the next donations pick-up.  Where does all this stuff come from? 

These are just a few of the photos I've recently pinned on my pinboards at Pinterest:  Mary Loves