Wedge salad and a glass of red wine. Color me happy.
On Tuesday evening, my husband and I returned home after 44 hours of travel from Uganda. It was our first time visiting Africa, and it felt both intimate and immense. I have so many feelings and memories from the trip that I want to reflect on, yet for that evening, I was grateful for our two daughters, who picked us up at the airport and had dinner waiting.
I spy Elizabeth in the background. She heads back to London tomorrow. I will miss her so much. Here you see a slice of extra cheesy pizza with arugula scattered on top.
They had the table set, the wine open, the candles lit, and pizza in the oven. It was divine. A wedge salad started us off, and we finished with a few chocolates.
Here it is the half-way point of the year and I’m not quite sure how we got here so fast. We’ve been on the road.
the athletes before team open water swim practicethe bike stagethe early morning sky from our bedroom deck
Sixteen of us gathered in Mont Tremblant to cheer on second son Maxwell while he competed in the 70.3 Ironman. It was an achievement on so many levels: he doing the triple athletic crown, us doing the summit get together.
the arrival of London girl and Boston girl. They met up at the Montreal airport. There were so many moving pieces to get us all in one place. tank tops and denim were on full rotation cross-body bags too for walking all overRory and BaPa in matching fits; unplanned Gang’s all hererace day cheer squad
There were times husband and I couldn’t string together a full sentence or think a clear thought, we were organizing and hosting all of it. Every moment as they say priceless.
precious and handsomeall in for Peyton we all love pasta 🙂 we all love beer tooEthan grilling for the crewApricot and plumb oysters are always a good ideabeautiful and handsomedenim rules every day is a new day
Anyway, back in the USA now and trying to prep the country house for 4th of July activities. Went to two nurseries and almost all plant materials are gone, picked up what I could and decided I was just going to go for it. We have the full property to get ready for guests by the coming weekend, it’s full tilt go time. I know I do most of it for my own satisfaction, I also know that when family and friends arrive they expect the full experience, again, my total doing.
Back in the USA and came home to this fine displayyay hydrangeas, husband and I planted these seven seasons agogathered these annuals to fill our pots, it feels late in the season yet doing it anyway the potting areaFlat lay of the neutral wardrobe with a very good book, thank you Diana 🙂
Here’s my thought: go with your gut and gather supplies in a color palette you know and love. When time is of the essence it’s hard to try new things. I chose red, blue, yellow, and chartreuse, all colors I wear on my body when not wearing neutrals. I chose the best plants they had on hand and leaned into making good things happen when I was deep down feeling anxious and stressed.
Anxiety and stress won’t get those plants in their pots. Head down, and dug in.
Home or away, it seems we’re always on the road.
root bound, but it’s okay. I teased them about before planting while boating, she decided she was done so she simply got her binkey and put herself horizontal on the floor, love that
One of my go-to style tricks is to start the day with a black bodysuit and black skinny jeans and runaround everywhere and get stuff done. When it’s time to leave the house, office, or studio and face the world outside simply layer over top: a jacket, a knit, or even a dress, add some […]
Family, and a few close friends, know I can throw down a four-letter word or two with the best of them, unfortunately. Profanity has been a recent addition to my lexicon, as has wine-drinking, if you count the last five or eight years as recent. While raising kids using four letter words or having a […]
Yeah, every time I travel, I buy a new pair of jeans. Always searching for the next best pair thinking they will somehow make life better. This time it was Mother, a high rise and an extra wide leg because you know about those extra wide legs. These are a little tight, probably could have […]
Last Mother’s Day weekend we were in NYC doing wedding shower things and four daughters gifted me with some beauty things from Bluemercury. One of the products was a divine lip balm from La Mer. I absolutely loved it as it gave just the slightest hint of soft pink color, moisturized and conditioned, and gave […]
Came for the weekend, staying for twelve plus or so. Husband says every day can be a Saturday, not quite there yet. We’ve been checked in at downtown Greenville SC Springhill Suites, and have yet to ride those cool retro bikes. Peloton yes, every morning in the hotel gym, and outdoor steps 12,000+. Bought a […]
So, a few nights ago spent way too long in the closet packing for spontaneous weekend getaway. I decided very last minute to join husband for trip to see third daughter’s college theatre performance. That was Thursday for early morning Friday flight. Once in Charlotte connecting flight delayed, so we simply decided to rent a car to get there in time. Ended up packing the usual, two dresses, a black sweater, white jeans, black jeans, grey tee. Wore the usual, black silk blouse, blue denim, trench, it was raining. Packing drives me absolutely crazy. The ridiculous thing is that it always comes down to the exact same stuff. I’ve been asked repeatedly to do a packing post, and not sure why I hesitate. I guess it’s just that I dread the whole ordeal, and sharing the process seems so very personal. I get it done, and most always in a carryon, yet I sit on the floor and wonder why oh why. Once I get on the plane all is fine, it’s just throwing stuff in the bag that freaks me out.
While on said plane, I did a complete virtual wardrobe overhaul. Kind of fun as it’s just virtual and you can delete items at will. In the cart were wide leg white linen pants, and black cotton straight leg trousers, thinking and knowing I will totally hit send on those two.
Transitioning between seasons can leave gaps in the wardrobe for sure, and that closet sit-down when trying to get out of town was no fun at all. Pants are the hardest thing to get right. They require try-ons and most often some alterations. I think if you find some you love, buy in multiples.
Every time I travel, I buy a new pair of jeans, always trying to get them right. I have stacks of jeans.
In the meantime, here are some photos of my current other favorite pair, shot by my son, and of course paired with white stretch cotton blouse.
For the show wore black jeans and black silk blouse with white scarf, so very original. The Furman Theatre production of John Proctor is the Villain, a new play by Kimberly Belflower, was outstanding, and so relevant to the world around us. I laughed, cried, and was emphatically moved, in all three two hours runs. Here’s a screen grab of some of the cast, our Elizabeth second from left. She too likes to wear black. 🙂
entire cast did amazing job, Elizabeth, second from left
Every day dress, clothes: plaid pants, white blouse, navy tweed cardigan, and need/want new pants.
Day eighteen, maybe. It’s now Monday, was supposed to fly out yesterday, that flight cancelled, and today’s flight cancelled too so who knows. One day runs into another, check.
