boston, in december, at night.

It’s perfect, isn’t it?

It’s been a busy couple of weekends and I haven’t gotten to take my walks with my camera as often as I’d like lately. With holiday this and holiday that it’s been kind of crazy around here, which is fun (and makes me forget about the cold for awhile), but it’s also exhausting. Ever since December’s hit I’ve been wanting to visit Boston at night to capture the lights in all their glory. You know, walk around with my camera, enjoy the city, do my thing. Last night brought me to Beacon Hill to meet up with new friends, and I finally got my wish.

Here they are! THE LIGHTS! They sparkle! And they are BEAUTIFUL.

Twinkle perfection.

good thoughts for a friday in november.

Friends! HEY!

I feel like it’s been awhile since we’ve seen each other. Seen? Heard? Read? Hmmm….

I’m going to have to sit on that one for a bit. This whole blogging thing totally boggles my mind sometimes. AND I LOVE IT.

So… what have I been up to this week…good thoughts, good thoughts. Let’s see…

Last weekend I spent another weekend in Boston (evidence above!). I met up with Clair and Mackenzie for coffee, which is my favorite, and strolled Newbury Street and the Public Garden with my holiday spirit in full force. This coming weekend will bring yet another Saturday and Sunday at home. There is sleeping in to do! And crafts to be done! And Netflix to watch! It’s all so exciting. Sometimes I wonder if I will ever spend another weekend away again or if I will just be in Boston FOREVER. Just kidding! I know I will travel again! But this might be the longest streak ever in the state of Massachusetts, or so it feels. And it feels pretty good.

+

On Monday and Wednesday I participated in the most incredible workshop at school, Family Stories in Picture and Writing. I worked on collage art and spent my time writing down and telling my dad’s story. It was such a wonderful experience and incredibly important for me to record and write down. The artwork aspect of the story telling is amazing, and I’m considering sharing some of the artwork I did here on this ‘ol blog. I think you guys will be impressed! It’s also amazing and wonderful to me how everyone can be successful while doing this artwork and writing– and I’m so excited to try this literature project with my own first graders.

+

On Tuesday morning we exercised our right to vote, and on Tuesday night we cheered and cheered and danced along to Stevie Wonder’s soul single with a smile in our eyes and pride our hearts. You go, Mr. President, YOU GO!

+

I’ve been making handmade decorations for the holidays and even had to break out my hat and gloves on Thursday morning because of the SNOW! I don’t like cold, but I’m having a hard time doing too much complaining with this stuff in my kitchen. Y.U.M. With enough hot chocolate and six full seasons of Dawson’s Creek to dig into on Netflix, I think I’m officially all set for winter. BRING IT.

+

Other things I’m loving?

This Hip Handmade Holiday E-book. So fun!

This dry shampoo. I wash my hair twice a week now! Not even kidding!

This She & Him Christmas record. Our turn table always gets the most use around the holidays.

These killer leopard print boots. Target! $14.50 on sale! Gleee!

This best-selling book. Wow. I finished it last week and I cannot stop thinking about it. It’s truly an incredible story.

And, last but not least, the new instagram profile pages and pinterest secret boards! I, for one, think they’re both pretty rad.

Any good thoughts you want to tell about?

Happy Friday, friends! And, as always, HAPPY WEEKEND!

let’s go to harvard square.

Yesterday was our second day off because of Superstorm Sandy.

The first day I was bored out of my mind, and the second, which we spent in Harvard Square, was much MUCH better. I don’t know if you can tell this about me or not through this place that is the internets, but I am one of those people who cannot sit still. I am a mover and a shaker. So Monday, I almost didn’t make it through due to restlessness.

BUT I did. AND I’m here. And all is well.

In all seriousness, though, that storm was pretty terrible. PEOPLE OF NY! I’ve been thinking about you tons! And I love you all! Especially, ESPECIALLY you who are my friends. Thoughts and prayers, everyone. So many thoughts and prayers.

We were lucky through the storm and only had minor house shakes (due to wind) and only just the slightest flicker of power loss. Really, it was nothing much at all. We stayed inside all day Monday with our candles ready and our sugar supply high and by the end of the night the only thing dwindling was the mega bag of pumpkin reese’s I bought for the trick-or-treaters (whoops).

The pictures in this post are all from our Tuesday frolic in Harvard Square. Harvard Square is super close to where we live so we decided to head over there for the afternoon to spend a little time in Cambridge. We got burgers at Flat Patties, shopped at Black Ink and Anthropologie, treated ourselves to some Burdick’s, and even went (finally!) to the Harvard Museum of Natural History. It was incredibly impressive and is now added to my “Best of Boston” list (which I’ve never written down, but definitely carry around in my head). After our trip to the museum we ended up at… big surprise… Border Cafe. What can I say. Except it’s just OUR FAVORITE.

Were you affected at all by the storm? If so, I sincerely hope everything’s alright and that you’re safe. If you were in the path of Sandy did you have a “hurricane day”, too? How did you spend your days off?

(Fingers crossed you drank hot chocolate and ate Mexican.)

Also, what are your favorite spots in Harvard Square? Tell me your secrets!

Wishing you all well. Xo.

photos + a post from a week in october.

Last night, around 8 PM or so, I had a full on dance sesh to Simon and Garfunkel’s Concert in Central Park. Zanner was cooking dinner (butternut squash soup!), and his brother was over hanging out, and little Rue puppy was spending the night with us, and we were listening to the record player, and “Late in the Evening” came on, and my body just started moving. I mean, seriously dancing. Like, the dance like no one’s watching kind of dancing.

MAGIC, people.

No one was watching, of course, which made it all the more amazing. Zan and Erik were oblivious in the kitchen and there I was, just busting out my moves and grooving to the beat. I wish there was a video to show. I was on fire. There is hardly anything better in this life than an unexpected dance session in the comfort of your own home.

You should really try it sometime.

And that song? Oh, it is SO.GOOD. Perfect for dancing to in sweatpants and a high pony. If you’re into that sort of thing.

+

These pictures are from last Sunday. I walked around a lot in my new boots (that red brick line is the good ‘ol Freedom Trail) and enjoyed the sunshine and the warmish (for October) air. I basically just felt like yelling out the whole time, THIS CITY! This beautiful, wonderous, beyond gorgeous city!!

Holy heavens, my heart.

Happy, HAPPY weekend to you. All of you!