pretty flowers don't lie

Happy long weekend readers! Hope you all get to do something special to celebrate the last unofficial weekend of the summer. New York has started to cool off significantly at night and in the mornings – I can hardly believe the change from feeling clammy at 7 AM compared to now really needing a sweater to walk to work. It feels like fall is coming, and I really want to hang on to a few more hot days. This weekend I head back up to Boston – this time to spend time with my friends. Looking forward to going out, having brunch and just hanging around relaxing. I also seriously want to take a little nap one afternoon, I really don’t know why that sounds so amazing on a list of things to do this weekend – but like a thirty minute snooze seems amazing in my mind right now. Have a great long weekend!

(The photo makes me laugh, from Ants' Factory)

i feel naked

Imagine my delight when I saw this amazing Tobias Funke doll online - since I love Arrested Development. I love his cutoffs so he is never nude- and blue for his Blue Men Group auditions. Definitely one of my favorite characters - just the things that he would say - so ridiculous. This completely made my day!

(photo from Dooby Brain)

my heart, my soul

At least once a year, I sit down and watch all of the original Anne of Green Gables mini-series, even if it comes on PBS - I can't turn away. I watched this about a hundred times when I was a child to which I owe the Disney Channel for playing it regularly before they moved to trendy shows. I love this movie, and this love story. Who doesn't love watching Gilbert wait for his Anne-girl for years while she slowly realized how much she loved him? Funny, sweet and endearing, the characters are truly lovely. I could watch this over and over, and be warned- I don't want you to ask me to stop once I am in the middle.


(photo from Musings of a Carpenter's Daughter)

summer in the city

Long on my list of places to visit in New York has been Governor’s Island. Only open on the weekends in the summer, this island park has been a bit of a mystery to me – but I knew I wanted to go and explore it before the summer ended. Over the past weekend, I enlisted my friend T to join me on my adventure. After an extremely short Ferry ride from the South Ferry (right next to the Staten Island Ferry), really it felt like you could have swam across if it wasn’t the harbor, we arrived and started walking.  We toured Castle Williams first, which was ideal for me, as I have an unhealthy obsession with former prisons. This would be my 3^rd tour of old prisons, which may sounds creepy but I find it so fascinating (I’ve been here, and here, and planning to see this one in October).  So imagine my delight that I was going to see another historic jail/ military facility – I was giddy with joy. The tour was free and the Park Ranger was very knowledgeable and had lots of interesting insights on the old building and the park itself. I had no idea that there was a little town of Coast Guard families living on the island until 1996, and I would have loved to have been able to walk through the old buildings if we were allowed to. After we wandered a bit through the park, around the old officers’ quarters, and Fort Jay. It was a truly beautiful day and full of history. I’d definitely come back to take in some of the cultural events again.

Letters to Norby #1

I’ve decided to add a new series to my blog, “Letters to Norby”. I am partly inspired by Jimmy Fallon’s thank you notes (I love those – I find them so funny) and I am terribly excited to be an aunt, and cannot wait to have a relationship with my nephew. I thought it would be fun to write him letters about things going on around him, funny things about his family, and reminding him that even before he was born he was incredibly loved by many. Maybe one day he’ll look back and roll his eyes at his Auntie, but hopefully be secretly glad I did this. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I am enjoying writing them.

Dear Norby-

I am not very patient when it comes to meeting you, but I will say I’ve been waiting a few years to have a little nephew to spoil and love.  I cannot wait to take you to see all the fun kid friendly places in New York, including the Natural HistoryMuseum – to explore the dinosaurs, The Transit Museum – to see the trains and play, The Bronx Zoo – to make funny faces at the animals, and to Dylan’s CandyBar – to make you even sweeter. I am sure we will do lots of fun things when you come to visit, but I’ve already started my list.

See you soon.

Love your favorite Auntie


(photo from The Natural History Museum) 

wild horses....

I believe it was about sixth grade when scrunchies were a major fashion statement- remember when you would wear them around your wrist when you weren't ponytailed? I cannot quit the habit of having a ponytail holder (no longer the fabric covered scrunchy popular with gymnasts) on my wrist at all time- unless it's in my hair. I do kind of feel a bit like a kid still since I am brought right back to middle school when I see my wrists. I decided it was high time to find a more grown up looking - or shall I say more bracelet like. I found these adorable hair ties from Mane Message. I love how they look like ribbons on your wrist but look very cute holding back your hair.

kicking sand from beach

Just a few last pictures from my week on the cape- I happened to get a great shot of a sailboat that made it look like there was nothing else in the water. I often like to speculate what it would be like to live on a boat and see the world- wouldn't it be lovely to just decide where to head to next after seeing a great port. I also got an interesting shot of the jetty with a cloudy sunset - I am already thinking about when I can head back to the beach- it's one of my truly happy places in the world.

be true to your school

As everyone else is getting ready to go back to school, I love to do a bit of fall shopping too – big sis is a teacher so she still follows the seasons like we did when we were kids. JCrew is having a great sale right now- 30% off all sale items with the code LoveIt. I found a few items that  I couldn’t wait to add to my closet.

Love love this anchor t-shirt – completely fun and fits in perfectly with all the navy I already have in my closet. I cannot wait to pair it with….

This amazing bold red skirt – so it’s a little fourth of July, but red is reminding me of the leaves changing over anything else.  Leaves and fresh picked apples- so good!

And last but not least a fun color blocked top- I think I can pair this with some skirts for work as well as jeans on the weekend.

this is the tale of the castways

It felt very appropriate while in Cape Cod, to be reading a book based in Nantucket. I was killing time at the airport before my flight and was perusing the 50% off pre-read books to see if any looked good or were by authors I’ve read before, when I spied The Castaways by Elin Hilderbrand. Having read books by her in the past, I figured this would be a great vacation read since it should be a little scandalous, happy little beach read. Oh boy, was I ever right – think of four couples who live on the island who intermingle in each others lives, some in aspects that are a bit shocking. Everyone seems to have a love interest outside their own two-some, and seeing the weaving landscape of the group and their dynamics is interesting to say the list. Definitely consider this for a great escape from deep thinking books – no googling needed, just a great way to enjoy passing time in the blissful sun.

go chasing rabbits

While on vacation on Cape Cod, my family and I had a neighbor that liked to stop by to say hello and snack on the grass. I was able to capture this little guy on camera, and I got very close - not so close to pet wild animals but close enough to see his soft fur.

let me go home

I really think I devour books- I am the book monster these days. I spent another night wide awake finishing The Road Home by Rose Tremain. This novel takes place in London, following Lev- a Russian gentleman seeking his fortune after he is widowered and left jobless in his homeland. I loved his work ethic and drive to succeed, while he strived for a better life and opportunity for himself and as well as his family and friends left behind. This novel hit home on the personal relationships in Lev’s lives, how his friends and family were so important to him, and that he’d do anything in his power to improve their lives. I found the contrasts to life in Russia and the more modern London very interesting – making me wonder how people lived in both communism and post communism times.

anniversary made for you

My blog turns one year today. It is actually something I wasn't sure I'd see through for an entire year - I have a habit of starting blogs and doing one post and then never doing anything again. On this one I managed a heck of a lot more posts just having fun bringing my thoughts on various things to all of you. Thank you for coming and visiting me, if you like what you see I hope you come back, say hello and enjoy!

(photo from pinterest)

Beach blanket bingo

Just a small smattering of pictures to start vacation week. So many umbrellas- and not a soul using most of them.

watching the sun shine

Happy Friday Dear Readers. I am heading off on vacation today, and I couldn't be more excited  to get away from work and the hot city and relax on the beach for a week. I am looking forward to toes in the sand, saltwater and sunscreen.  Hope you all have a wonderful, relaxing weekend.


(photo from style me pretty)