happy galentines day!

you know how last year i was valentines-ing it up in france? asia & i did a fun little photoshoot, had a relaxing day filled with french wine & baked treats...and it was perfection.

well, turns out having 18 little valentines is pretty fantastic too :) 

kids finally finished their february book reports - hence the wall full of adorable bears

we made valentine "mailboxes" the day before, so as they arrived at school the kids crowded around bags to mail their valentines & get sneak peeks into their own mailbox

beautiful day to celebrate love :)

my own mailbox

LOVE 

the rest of vday was spent with great friends - toasting to us, being young, being single & living the fabulous lives we do

champagne & raspberries!

dinnertime

 ~ a happy (belated) valentines to you all ~ 

bises

a real nor'easter

snowsnowsnow!

nemo was fabulous, a pain perhaps in some ways, but it spurred me to get over to waveny park in new canaan with a few friends

here are some pics of our snowventures!

mountain in the middle of town

gorgeous connecticut tundra

denison does nemo!

B & I

the sledding hill

finding nemo out east

a snowy compound

now THIS is winter

cars have been shoveled and plowed out, gloves thoroughly soaked through, a trek into town for 

bagels, hot tea & plans for sledding

brings me back to days in evanston - building igloos and snow forts with family & friends, broomball on a make-shift ice rinks, "glaciers" on the lake, sledding at the paddle courts, and hot chocolate with mini marshmallows

with a february birthday i've always had a soft spot for winter, and days like these remind me why

here's to a new england winter! :)

the best things

sometimes the best things are not what you choose

& if you just choose to do what you want

you rarely experience new things

(said a friend)

casual wise words that hit home & are a friendly reminder that it all works out, 

& sometimes it's best just to enjoy the ride

Greenwich Point Park

went here with L before she returned to TX, a beautiful spot on the sound i'll be returning to many times!

beautiful views of the sound & nyc in the distance

l & i at the beach

bises!

the east coast...down south

My second week of winter break was spent with friends & extended family in DC, another east coast city I adore. Monuments with friends, an art museum, dinners & games with family, & a fabulous start to the new year!

never would have thought i'd call this state home :)

the sparkle krew

a brunch...français

Arlington National Cemetary

great words from a great man

hello great uncle iggy!!! 

let's just pretend we're back in paris

annapolis, MD

bises!

happy (belated) christmas & a december catch-up

Christmas has come and gone, and as we approach the New Year I was reminded of how poor a job I’ve done recently with this blog…so can you guess what one of my resolutions is for 2013?

Before we leap into “Best of’s” and “Year in Review” and “resolutions”, I ought to catch you up on the past month. The first weekend of December M, B & I went into NYC for some Christmas Tree viewing, shopping, and a fun night out. Let it be in writing that this was the first weekend in NYC I have actually enjoyed in YEARS. KO came to visit for awhile which was absolutely wonderful, took another weekend in NYC to museum hop & brunch & lunch in Chelsea. Then, after a blur of holiday assemblies, Hanukkah dances & stories, immigrant journals, ice skating and holiday parties…we all left for two weeks off. Me, back to Philly & then Chicago. On Sunday, I’ll make my way to DC for New Years!

So here’s a catch-up of this past month in pictures…

m, me & b in nyc

the tree!!

chelsea market lights

kids getting into the holiday spirit on their hw

kevin durante's shoes made into a share!

ice skating with my hockey boys!

m & her gals

the art of scent exhibit in nyc - SO cool!

german christmas bar in nyc - xmas light heaven

personal pizza night makes it to CT...yumm

more ice skating <3

apprentice secret santa exchange

immigration day for the third day! we did a mock ellis island experience for the kids, citizenship test & all

welcomed back to chicago with greens & reds all over the skyline!

home!

three of four woods!