happy birthday twin sister

I am so lucky to have a twin sister.  Today is our birthday and over the years we have tried to celebrate together, but sometimes life gets in the way...The middle of May is a busy time of year.  There's graduations to attend, we've been to the Preakness many times which falls on the third Saturday In May and there's always baseball games and lacrosse jamborees at this time of year.  But no matter where we are and even if it's not together, I always feel happy to share my birthday. 

add-a-pearl + madewell and brandy melville

We recently came across my add-a-pearl necklace that I had as a baby.  I hadn't even thought about giving it to Madeline.  As soon as she opened the box, she put it on and said she gets compliments every day.  It really does look so sweet on her.  She's wearing it with a denim shirt from Madewell.  We both LOVE this store!  We started shopping at the first one in SoHo and then Greenwich, CT.  When we moved west we used to have to drive to LA, but now there's one at South Coast Plaza.  She paired it with a stripe tee from Brandy Melville.  We came across this store in Santa Monica last summer and now there's one in Fashion Island, Newport Beach.  The price point seems to be around $28 for tops and surprisingly everything holds up well.  Have you shopped at Madewell or Brandy Melville?

I found out after a google search that add-a-pearl is a Chicago based company since 1854. 

thank you notes . . .

I have long been a fan of the written note.  This little book, The Art of the Hand Written Note is a favorite of mine and I read through it every few years.  Margaret Shepherd is brilliant in saying how, why and when we should write notes.  I think I speak for many that when I receive a handwritten note in the mail, I'm absolutely thrilled.  It does not take a lot to sit down and write a note, stamp and address the envelope, but many people are sending emails, tweets, or whatever.  Don't get me wrong, I love email as a form of communication, just not all the time.  I am so happy when I open my mailbox and see the familiar handwriting of a good friend or sometimes intrigued when I see my name and address written carefully on an envelope with an interesting stamp.  We receive so much mail that goes directly into the trash that receiving a personal note is a welcome surprise.

How I wish my handwriting looked like my friend Sydney's!

It's usually after the holidays that I stock up on holiday note cards for the coming year.  Stores have the best sales on holiday items, and I can never have too many.  I found these letter press cards at Pottery Barn in July...I never even saw them during the holidays. 

I keep boxes like these with all of my supplies in my desk/armiore.  Everything from school supplies, art supplies, ribbons, markers...

Some of my favorite shops are those that sell notes and papers.  When I'm in NY I can never pass up a Kate's Paperie.  On the west coast I love the selection at Paper Source.  I also love Milestones In New Canaan, CT.

This adorable handmade thank you note was what sparked the idea for this post.  As I was walking through my daughter's room, I noticed this sweet little card.  She had just gone to a tea to celebrate the 16th birthday of her good friend on Sunday.  This note arrived on Tuesday!  I love this girl!

On the inside of the note, she had the words New York cut out.  She knows how much NY means to Madeline and how much she misses it.  Isn't that so sweet to personalize her thank you note in this way?

My dear friend Nancy takes the thank you note to a whole new level.  You can imagine my joy when after a visit to our home in CT with her family she sent this little book of pictures from our adventures, a lobster dinner at our home, the kids hanging out together. .. I always have it on a book shelf and love to look at it.  It really was the sweetest and most thoughtful gift I've ever received.

After covering the book with a map of Manhattan, she somehow creates a fold-out that neatly goes back into the book after looking at it. 

So, what are your thoughts on the written thank you note?

a perfect mother's day...

My day started out with home made cards and pancakes.  My husband made lobster rolls for lunch...amazing with a beer and a few games of bocce ball.  The kids decorated the house with white hydrangeas and candle light and mushroom ravioli with brown butter sauce for dinner.  For all you moms...hope you enjoyed your day!

c a k e

In honor of Mother's Day I am making a cake my mom makes.   I promised her I was going to make a cake from scratch...she would have it no other way...she lives in Denver so there is always talk of which cake recipe works better in high altitude.  I've never had to worry about that.

All set to make a cake from scratch...and then I saw this cake mix at Trader Joe's.  I love the packaging...PINK!

The carmel frosting is what makes any chocolate cake so good. It's made with 1/2 c melted butter, add 1 cup light brown sugar and stir until it comes to a boil.  Add 1/2 c light cream and bring to a boil for 1 minute.  In the bowl of an electric mixer, add the butter and sugar mixture, 1 tsp vanilla and about 2 - 2 1/2 c powdered sugar, until it is the right consistency.

Happy Mother's Day! 

are you a list maker?

I have always made lists.  Just the other day my daughter and I were talking about this habit.  We both confessed that sometimes we add something to the list that we have already accomplished and immediately cross it off.  What's that all about?  I'm almost afraid to know the deeper meaning behind it.  The list above was done my daughter at age 5.  It was our first summer in New Canaan, Connecticut.

                                                                      go to the beach
                                                                      eat dinner
                                                                      catch fireflies
                                                                      take a bath
                                                                      get our jammies on
                                                                      watch a movie
                                                                      go to bed

I usually start out making a list using lined notebook paper.  I list things I need to do, errands to run...all the usual stuff and then I fold it into quarters so my lists are organized by stops I'll be making.  I know I could do this on my iphone, but there's something about physically making the connection to writing it down with a sharpened #2 pencil and then the act of crossing it off.  No---I do not cross off my grocery list items.

 For years I used Rhodia notebooks that I purchased at Kate's Paperie.  Then we moved here and I noticed Target even carried them for a while, but now I just use something I like--that I can find in my bag and try not to be too high maintenance about my notebooks.


So do you make lists?  and if yes, have you made the switch from paper and pencil to your electronic devices?

sweet peas

f

The hills of San Juan Capistrano are blooming with Sweet Peas. 

It was very hot today and since I forgot my snake bite kit...I was a little bit chicken about staying around long enough to get all the colors.  I pretty much just grabbed what I could that was on the very edges and ran...

Even just a few little bouquets like this around my house and you could smell their fragrance.

They are so pretty...