In Print

We've been SO busy working on the house that I really haven't had a moment to write! 

So I'll just share these images from the September/October issue of Serendipity magazine. They're from the shoot I did at the Racetrack back in July. 

CT or Bust

So, we're here. For good. Full-time Connecticut residents. I wasn't planning for this quite yet (and we all know I am a planner). But the economy took a nose dive and so did our plans to gut renovate. Chris and I made a pretty solid decision to hold off on the major work until things are a little less volatile in the marketplace. We were supposed begin the work in two weeks, which meant moving back to our little studio in the city until the house was ready. I was kind of looking forward to that. I never really said goodbye to NY, because I always thought we'd be going back. We still have the studio and can of course go in anytime. It's just different... 

However, this was the smartest, safest, and least stressful decision we could have made and we are both super happy with it. We don't need the extra space (yet) and our house is such a gem. It just needs a little help. 

So, we are "sprucing"! The (new) plan is to paint the entire house inside and out, re-finish the floors, add some new furniture, do some landscaping and get on with it. 

I've never done this before and I'm a little anxious. I must have perused the Benjamin Moore color wheel a thousand times. Ballet White? Antique White? White Dove? Maritime White? How is one to choose? Or know what will look best? I nervously settled for Sailcloth for the living room. I'm afraid I chose based on name. But it looks good! Kind of boring, but neutral. Chris wants to paint the ENTIRE house stark white. Absolutely not. So in order to compromise, I must pick boring neutrals that are mere shades away from white.

I'll post before and after pics soon! 

Gorgeous Girls

Bella and Linnea came to visit a couple of weeks ago. We went to the beach, painted bird houses, cooked out and had a sleepover :) How GORGE are these girls???

my favorite shot :) 

Beach Pavilion

Blueberries!

I made these Blueberry Crumb Bars a couple of weeks ago. I got the recipe off of 

Smitten Kitchen :) 

Note: I found that putting them in the fridge to store makes them less crunchy! I like crunch, so def won't store in fridge next time...

Oh, and I ran out of blueberries-so I threw in some raspberries I had. LOVED the raspberries in this recipe. Would add more next time. 

You've GOT to be kidding me?

You've got to be kidding me #1: 

We have Reinier's car this week-YAY! I drive to Tod's Point yesterday morning, arriving at 7AM on the DOT (again, if you go before 7AM, no pass required). 

The woman comes out of her booth saying, "Can I help you?" 

I reply sweetly, "Is it after 7?" 

"Yes, it's 7:01." 

Me, "Oh, well 7:01?" Thinking, who cares?! It's one minute past. I'll be more prompt next time :) 

She doesn't budge. "Town rules." 

WHAT?! I say, "Really?" 

Robotically, "Town rules." 

UGH. I turn around, pull my phone out of my purse and notice: it's 7:00AM RIGHT THIS MINUTE! I pull BACK around. 

"Ma'am, my phone says 7!" holding my phone out the window for her to see. 

"Well my clock says 7:03!" What?? How did we just advance three minutes in a matter of 30 seconds??? 

"Well, my phone is on satellite time-most accurate!" 

Angrily, "Do you live here!? Where is your pass?!" 

"I don't have one yet!" 

"TOWN RULES!" 

You've GOT to be kidding me.

You've got to be kidding me #2: 

So, I have the car this week, right? I am thrilled to venture out to Whole Foods in Cos Cob! After driving around (lost) for half an hour, I arrive to find Whole Foods closed. They lost power. You've GOT to be kidding me. 

And finally, You've got to be kidding me #3:

I drop off a couple of dresses and a scarf at the dry cleaners, they hand me my ticket, I leave. Glancing down at the ticket in the car, I notice that to dry clean a small scarf cost $10.50! I bought the scarf at a yard sale for $2!! It's not even real silk! And a dress-$19.75?! I could buy a whole new dress for $20!!! You've GOT to be kidding me????

Hot & (Totally) Bothered

To save $89.99, I took Big Red into the city for a tune-up on Thursday. It was free at HUB where we bought our bikes. And as my only mode of transportation, the poor thing has taken a beating over the past couple of weeks.  

It was about 110 degrees in the city on Thursday. I rode to the Old Greenwich train station around 10AM (you can only take bikes on trains that arrive at Grand Central AFTER 11AM). As people stared, I lugged Big Red up two flights of stairs, spilling my coffee all into the basket AND into my helmut resting in my basket. Ugh. No one offered to help. 

Then I wheeled her onto the train and took an awkward seat around her. We arrived at Grand Central, and walking off I notice we are at the lower level. Awesome. I pick the bike up (barely) and walk up FOUR flights of stairs to ground level. Chanting, "I can do it. I can do it." The thing ways a TON. 

Again, no one offers to help. Well, ok, I take that back. One old man said to me gruffly, "want me to help?" No no, I've got it. Don't bother. He tried to pick up the back, but it only made it worse. 

Where are all the gentlemen when you need them?? Oh, right... I'm in yankee-ville. Not down in the sweet South. 

Shoot. 

I feel as if I might faint. I now have to walk the damn thing down 42nd street across eleven avenues till I reach the West Side Hwy. Now I am chanting, "I can't do it. I can't doooooo it."

Dripping. My elbows and eyelids were sweating. Finger tips and toe-nails, sweating. Anything that could sweat-was. 

DRIPPING. 

I finally make it. Get on, and cruise down to Charles street. Drop my bike off with George and proceed to wipe my entire body off with paper towels. My pretty little silk,  just-dry-cleaned dress is SOAKED. Gross. 

ooops, these are out of order. Big Red in Times Square & (below) Grand Central

I want to badly to just cruise around my old hood for a bit, before meeting Alst for lunch. But in this heat-there was no way. I hop in a cab. I'm WAY early, so I stop into Red Cat, sit at the bar with my book and sip on pink sangria and snack on cold fresh radishes :) 

Alst and I chat catch up over lunch :)  Then I head to photog class, where we work with reflectors and diffusers. SO much fun!! 

Below are my two best shots of the class assistant, Oscar. 

I beg Chris to stay in the city for dinner and we do. We meet downtown at Hudson Clearwater. SO delish! I took the Highline down. These are some shots from the new addition.