A few weeks ago, looking for a little escape from the crowded city, we hopped in the car and took a drive out to Western Mass. After stops in Amherst and Northampton, we ended up in the sweet little town of Stockbridge and stayed at the most welcoming and historic B&B [1862 Seasons on Main]. It was the nicest, most relaxing weekend I’ve had in ages. I love my city life, but when the chance to get away for some peace + quiet arises, I can rarely turn it down.
We may be more seashells than Southern belles, but still had tons of fun sipping raspberry-infused juleps and celebrating the 139th Kentucky Derby! Did you don derby hats or sombreros during this beautiful spring weekend?
I know I speak for many of the citizens of this city when I say thank you. Your outpouring of love and support is so appreciated.
Yesterday, Governor Deval Patrick and Mayor Thomas Menino set up The One Fund charity to support victims and their families. Former classmates of mine from Emerson College have designed these Boston Strong t-shirts, which I urge you all to purchase, as one hundred percent of the proceeds will go to The One Fund.
Never have I ever been more proud to be a Bostonian
#BostonStrong
My heart hasn’t fully been able to comprehend what happened in my beautiful city yesterday. The Boston Marathon is argued to be the biggest day of the year in this town. It’s a day about celebration, about charity, about springtime, about tradition, and about watching everything you’ve trained for pay off. I can’t express how thankful I am that my family and I are ok, and that all of my friends have now been accounted for. My deepest sympathies go out to the victims and everyone affected my yesterday’s events. I love Boston with every bone in my body, and I know we are going to come out of this even stronger.
[ Little snippets of life lately... be sure to follow along for all the action live! ]
… and not the normal five things you see around here.
I rarely get personal on this little blogaroo. It makes me anxious to share more than what I did this weekend. But first Anna did and then Melanie did and that sweet girl tagged me so now I’m feeling inspired to. Here are five things you may not know about me. Unless you’ve been reading this thang for quite a while. Then maybe you’ve picked up on some of it :)
[ 1 ] I claim to live this nautical New England lifestyle, which is true now, but wasn’t always. At least not out of the summertime. I was born in Michigan. I moved to Pennsylvania when I was 8. I came to Boston for college. I stayed, and two years ago my family joined me. I hate the question “where are you from?” because I never know how to reply without some longwinded answer. But New England is the place I associate most with home. We’ve been coming to the south shore of Massachusetts and staying on the same street my whole life, and it’s been the only consistent home I know. I don’t plan on leaving anytime soon, and I recently realized I don’t think I’d be capable of living too far from the water ever again.
[ 2 ] I work in cookbooks! And yet I can’t cook to save my life. I like dabbling in baking though– see here, here, and here for evidence.
[ 3 ] I had eight best girlfriends in college. Green Street Girls we were known as, after our Cambridge apartment.. Now they are splattered all across the country and nothing breaks my heart more. Sorry to go all SisterhoodOfTheTravelingPants on you, but I feel so much more at peace and complete when we are together. It hasn’t happened since our graduation, but I have faith that it will soon.
[ 4 ] I consider blogging a wonderful creative outlet, but one that’s a bit more important to me is dance. I think a lot of people have a hard time understanding why it’s such a huge part of my life and why I still put so much time into it at my age– if you’re curious, just watch this video. And listen. I like to think you and a many others will better understand then :)
[ 5 ] I have epilepsy. Now that’s something I definitely haven’t told you before! But I think it’s time I do, because I realized a while ago that I should be using this public forum of mine for more than just outfit posts and accessory talk. One small thing I can do for the big issue (affecting 65 million people worldwide) is raise awareness. One of the greatest things you can do for me? Take a minute and a half and read this Seizure First Aid guide. Should you ever be with a person while they’re having a seizure, knowing how to react is the most important thing.
Whew that was not supposed to be a downer of a post– I promise I won’t do that again anytime soon! Now it’s time to hear from you! I’m supposed to pass this along, but I tag whoever is willing to share :)
After a long day skiing at Wachusett Mountain in Princeton, Mass this past Saturday, we couldn’t leave town without a quick stop to the Wachusett Brewery. Wachusett happens to brew my most favorite blueberry beer– I do have rankings for my blueberry beers– and it was so fun to tour the brewery three friends started years ago after leaving their engineering day jobs. New England, you never cease to impress me.
Luckiest girl in the world right here. So grateful for the chance to spend my 24th birthday with some of my best friends and best family. They spoiled me to infinity and beyond, as you’ll see from the snapshots below. And thank you all for your sweet tweets + comments as well, looking forward to an exciting + sparkly year! xx
And one of the best gifts of all? I’m featured on LaurenConrad.com as their Chic of the Week! Check out the feature here and the original [so anthro] outfit post here.
[ Traditional conversation hearts ]
[ Sweet treats from my mama-- I prefer macarons over chocolate any day ]
[ Last year's Valentine's TOMS; purchase this year's here ]
[ Spicy red nails ]
[ Messages left in the snow ]
Happy Valentine’s Day sweet readers! While so many find Valentine’s Day ridiculous, I happen to love the holiday. Whether you are in a romantic relationship or not, I fully believe today is about celebrating the people in your life who bring you love– whoever that may be. Enjoy it! xx
Nemo has come and gone. It wasn’t all fun + games but we survived and even got to enjoy some snowy playtime once the blizzard winds died down :) Hope you all stayed safe + warm throughout the storm!
