life

an afternoon at the tree farm.

December 11, 2013

Oh, December. You special little month, you. Thanks for bringing out the best of winter!

This year, as has been the way for the past several years, I’ve started the holiday festivities before Thanksgiving. Which I guess means I should be giving November a shout out, too. I definitely work in some Christmas carols in the house and in the car, throw around a little GLITTER GARLAND, and sometimes get ahead on my shopping, if I’m feeling it. {I’m always feeling it.} I’ve found in my old age that there is simply no reason to wait for the season. Get it while it’s hot! And if the mood strikes you the day after Halloween, SO BE IT.

One thing I do always wait for is our beloved Christmas tree. Wouldn’t want it to get dried out and empty of needles before the big day now would we? Heavens, no. The fresher the better.

The Sunday after Thanksgiving we drove back to Boston early in the morning with plans to head to the tree farm and cut down our tree. One of my favorite things about Zan being from Boston is that his family traditions are becoming my traditions, too. We go to the beach that he always used to go to as a kid, and also the tree farm where his family has cut down their tree for the past… hmmm, well, for a LOT of years. So many years that the owners know his family. It doesn’t hurt either that they always choose the MOST GINORMOUS tree in the lot. Go big and bring it home is their motto.

And while I love embracing these traditions, the whole tree-the-size-of-your-living-room is just NOT something I can get behind. Sorry Zanner! {To make it fair, Zan’s parents living room is about three times the size of our living room, so they make it work. It’s not easy, but they ALWAYS seem to make it work. Power it, I always say. POWER IT.}

Anyway, I suppose you’re curious now about the size of it, so, here you go!

{I told you they always get the most ginormous tree.}

!!!!!!!

Zan and I, being the early birds that we are {or were that day at least}, got to the tree farm before his family arrived, so we were able to hunt in the smaller sections {not the woods, ha!} for our little nugget of a tree. Not really a nugget in ordinary terms, but in comparison to the big guy, well, YOU KNOW.

We took a few rounds around the farm and after not too long we settled on this beauty.

PRETTY NICE ISN’T IT? I sure think so.

Also, after complaining quite a bit in the car about the weather {cold and rainy} I have to admit that I did appreciate the photographs it was giving me. Kind of serene aren’t they? But, yes, cold and wet, and gray. After we trudged our tree out to the pay stand, I spent the rest of the afternoon licking mini candy canes and drinking hot chocolate from the warmth of the heated car. Oh, the glory of red and white striped minted sugar. Love that delicious holiday treat.

Processed with VSCOcam with 5 preset

All in all, a Christmas tree hunt success!

My shirt, jacket, and pom hat are from Old Navy.
Scarf, Target/ Bag, Baggu/ Boots, l.l.bean
Also, you can buy the fleece hunter booty inserts HERE.
{Highly recommended. THE COZIEST.}

27 Comments · Filed Under: holiday, life ·

an autumn in boston.

November 23, 2013

Well, these might be my favorite photos ever.

Alternative title for this post: BOSTON IN THE FALL // THE LOVELIEST.

I mean, can you even? Is this place real?

{It is! It is!}

This month has been so good. I’ve not been here much, but I certainly have been out there. I’ve been busy at school {always}, playing with friends {best}, enjoying weekend days around the city, and November nights with hot yoga and reading and New Girl and my space heater {DREAM}. All seems right in the world right now and it’s a pretty cozy feeling. Next Wednesday I’ll head home to Syracuse with Zan and my sister for what’s sure to be a Happy Thanksgiving with my family. My Grandma and cousins are coming from Connecticut, and my mom’s sister and her family are traveling to New York from Indiana. I can’t wait to have everyone in the same place eating turkey and stuffing around the table, just being a family and being together. A happy holiday, indeed.

What will you do for Thanksgiving?
Safe travels to you if you’re going away–
and lucky you if you’re staying at {or close to} home.
A traffic-less holiday is a happy one in my book! :)

33 Comments · Filed Under: boston, boston photography, holiday, life ·

around the house…

November 11, 2013

This weekend has been all about doing things around the house. In the summer months it seems to get neglected because we’re hardly ever around, and in the fall the upkeep seems to be pushed to the wayside because of back-to-school. So, now that it’s November I figure it’s finally time to get moving on this house business. This weekend I was determined to get it clean and organized, and also tackle a few projects that I’ve had spinning around in my head for awhile.

My main project was to put up shelves in the office. I have so many prints that I’ve been collecting this year, and now I just need a space to put them all! I debated a gallery wall, kind of like this one, but it seemed in my head like it would be too much work. In the past I’ve placed prints and pictures on long wall shelves, which was my hope for this weekend— to put up the shelves easy peasy and VOILA! Instant update. However, this did NOT go as planned. Long story short there are 4 big holes in my wall right now because I AM NOT MEANT FOR THIS KIND OF THING. Apparently. Zan assures me that we’ll get it done and it will work out just fine, but after two days of frustrating mess-ups, I’ve decided to hand the project over to him/beg him to do it and hopefully I’ll have something to show soon. {Fingers crossed.}

Other projects included de-cluttering my dresser {things seem to get thrown there daily without a care!}, color coding my books, and deep cleaning my kitchen. I also took a trip to Ikea to buy some inexpensive frames— for my prints that have nowhere to go— but at least they’ll be all ready as soon as the shelves are in place. {Again, fingers crossed.}

I think my motivation behind all this cleaning/redecorating is that winter is coming, and with that, a lot of time spent indoors. If it’s going to be cold out, and we’re going to need to stay in and keep cozy, might as well be a space that I LOVE.

//
Mint flowers cans from IKEA
EAT sign DIY made possible here

14 Comments · Filed Under: apartment tour, life ·

this is new york city.

November 8, 2013

At this point, a memory, but one I’d like to remember all the same…

September, 2013 // 24 hours in New York City:

I arrive by train and stare in awe {for the one millionth time} at Grand Central Station. It never, ever gets old. After a quick mani/pedi that I’ve been DREAMING about all week {that is, in fact, as good as my dreams} I stroll through the crowded streets and then hop in a cab to the West Village. It’s my 3rd of 4th time there and I feel like I want to stay forever. I pop around for a bit, soaking in the quaintness and eventually find myself walking through Washington Square Park — quite by accident, actually. I feel like I’ve found a special place. I listen to some street performers, do a bit of people watching, and just enjoy some time just sitting in the sun.

I take lots of instagrams and lots and lots of Nikon photos. {No one here is surprised.}

I hop in a cab and head to the Brooklyn Bridge. I loooooove the Brooklyn Bridge. I take some more photos, take some more ‘grams. I walk over the East River, and then through the streets of Dumbo. I specifically want to find Jane’s Carousel and Brooklyn Bridge Park and when I get there, I do a dance— what. a. treat!

The sun sets, then my phone dies {too much instagram. oh!oh!}, so I roam the streets of Brooklyn by night. After quite the walk, I find Rebecca in her lovely Park Slope apartment and we embrace in a hug. We get grilled cheese, chat about life past and present, and then have a sleepover like the good old days. Making time to see best friends makes me the happiest.

The next morning I wake up, take a little walk through the BK, grab a baked oatmeal and a Grumpy’s coffee and eventually set out again for Manhattan from the 7th Ave Station. I meet up with Colleen {and Brian!} and Laura {and Michael!} for a great brunch on the Upper East Side. Getting together with bloggers in real life is still so strange / fun / awesome. Every time I have the best time. After brunch, Laura, Michael, and I take the nicest walk through Central Park. It is such a beautiful day— sun shining, warm air, and really, honestly, a perfect September weekend.

Outside the Park, I hug Laura goodbye {until next time!}, then make a stop at the Strand Book kiosk and buy a new tote bag. I head up 5th Avenue to Rockefeller Center before hopping in a cab back to Grand Central. I board a train back to Greenwich, sit back, relax, look through my photos. I think about past 24 hours with a smile on my face and give a silent cheer for another fabulous weekend in my favorite New York City. ♥

P.S.
Happy Wedding Weekend, Colleen!
You’re going to be the P R E T T I E S T.
LOVE YOU, BOO!

23 Comments · Filed Under: life, travel ·