gratitude

Happy November.

This month has always been a very special treat for me, for it's the perfect blend of fall and winter, with the excitement of the holidays folded in, generous dashes of family gatherings and beautiful decorations, rounded teaspoons of leaf piles, dustings of snow. I get giddy just thinking about it.

I think back to my childhood Novembers, which were always packed with a flurry of activity, family, delicious foods and smells wafting from the kitchen, pumpkin-anything, cozy nights in front of a holiday movie, with a roaring fire in the background. My parents raised us in a home wrapped in love and happiness and I can only hope that my children will feel and know the same. 

This November, we'll be spending a lot of time in our home, getting to know this little baby, who is still quite comfortable inside me, I might add;). We feel like we're as ready as we'll ever be to welcome this little guy into our home. A home that we built on love for each other... and now a love for this little boy (and Luna too, we must not forget her:)). I look at how Matt is preparing for 'the big day' and it nearly brings tears to my eyes. He's already a proud papa- it's so sweet. He's so protective and attentive and he won't let me do anything around the house. He rubs my belly every day with such a proud look on his face, something that Benjamin will never see, at least not from this perspective, but something that I get to see every day, and will cherish forever.

I'm full of gratitude this November. Gratitude for my past, for our future, and for today.

Happy November:)

xoxo

an autumn sunday at home

a nosy little pup

new england foliage

Benjamin's room in progress

fall's finest

a room with a view

Happy Weekend 

feeling under the weather....

What's better for a sick or sad soul than a grilled cheese sandwich and mug of tomato soup?

Hmmmm.... nothing that I can think of.

I hope you're enjoying the week:).

xoxo

Today's Sweet Pleasures

Happy October, friends:)

It's a sunny, though somewhat chilly, fall day here in New England. The perfect kind of day for a local fair, filled with fried dough, rickety rides and children screaming with pleasure. I say this because the teeny-tiny town that I grew up in in Connecticut, is hosting it's annual autumn fair. I used to go, without fail, every year. In middle and high school, I would plan my outfit (definitely something with layers, comfy shoes, and a coordinating scrunchie) starting in the late summer, anticipating the excitement of the beginning of the school year, hanging out late with friends and enjoying the best of the best of fall. Oh, and did I tell you that I used to march in the marching band at the fair? This was a big deal and we were very cool ;). Oh, how I love local fairs.

I won't be attending this year, though I have plans to start the fair thing again when my little guy comes, as I'm sure that I can find a few good fairs local to my home in Massachusetts. Today, though, is full of other fall pleasures, including:

- poached eggs, toast  and coffee out on the back deck

-the smell of freshly cut lawn
- household fall clean-up chores
- open windows and cozy sweaters
- laundry on the line, again:)
- maybe the baking of an apple pie, inspired by Johanna over at Birds on a Wire
- a few strolls down our driveway, which is now covered and colored with fallen leaves

What does your fall day have in store for you??

xoxo

B

Try to remember the kind of September

 Where did the month go? To me, this is the most lovely month of the year, yet it flies by in the blink of an eye. How has your September been? Filled with apples and cinnamon, the precious reds, yellows and oranges of foliage and cool evenings tucked under blankets?

This month has been insanely busy, though wonderful, nonetheless. We've been living in a home that's being renovated, so it's a bit chaotic at times, but only a few more weeks left... I promise to post photos once our house is put back together. Right now it looks like it's been hit by a tornado.



 We spent some time at the Cape early this month, our babymoon, as we called it, and it was the most relaxing vacation we've ever had. We read, slept, grilled, had fires on the beach and enjoyed the end of summer/ 'welcome autumn' weather.

Mattie windsurfing.... Luna looking longingly at her love;)

Renovation in progress....

We've had some very special visitors this month, despite the house being in shambles, including one of my very dear friends, Amber, and her brood. We went to a local farm, where her babes got to admire the farm animals and, along with the joy of seeing the farm through the eyes of the happy little sweet one, we also treated ourselves to some homemade cider donuts. They were completely and deliciously fall.

adorable family:)

This past weekend I turned 30. Matt brought home some peanut butter-chocolate ice-cream cake (he knows me too well) and we spent a relaxing time with our families in Connecticut. A much mellower version of the big three-oh than I've always imagined, but just perfect.

I've been growing daily, or rather I should say that the little guy has been growing daily. We've taken to calling him Benji. And I have to say, I think this Benji's a dancer.

I hope that you are all enjoying every moment of this beautiful month and I look forward to sharing the sweetness of the fall here in blogland with you.

xoxo

Today's Sweet Pleasures

Cucumber and tomato salad, with vegetables pulled fresh from our garden

The smell of apple crisp wafting from the oven

A cool breeze coming in through open windows

An afternoon nap with hubby & Luna

A pumpkin-scented candle
Laundry hanging out to dry on the clothes line

Peanut butter and pumpkin spice spread on whole grain toast

The name Benjamin- soon to belong to the little guy inside of me

Baby kicks tickling my belly

The anticipation of what September, my favorite month, will bring

Knowing that today is the first of a three-day weekend

Dinner and an outdoor fire with friends this evening

I hope your Saturday is full of sweet things:)

xoxo

Anthropologie Lovin'

Happy Monday:)

I was just scoping out the Anthropologie website... one of my favorite stores.

The stores are full of fun & fabulous household items, clothing, soft linens and good-smelling perfumes and soaps. Their clothing is always feminine with a touch of funky.... here are some of my finds:)

Have a wonderful week!

xoxo

** all images from anthropologie.com