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10.05.2023

the thursday special.

 

the best fall candle.

I've tried my fair share of fall candles, and I do declare the Capri Blue Pumpkin Clove to be the absolute best. At $38 it's not cheap, but they last a long time, burn more evenly than other brands I've tried, and the jar is cute. Also the smell: it's not a cloying pumpkin (it's more like you spent the last hour baking pumpkin bread) and it's everything you could ever want when channeling those cozy fall vibes. 

10.04.2023

september, in pics.

 

Hello! Not sure where the last month went, but it sure did fly by. Cozy season is upon us, and I am very, very happy. Here's how I spent the last month:


there was a lot of u.s. open watching labor day weekend.


I upgraded my bedside table situation with these beauties from west elm (they have built in chargers!)--I'm quite pleased with the result. 


the bug chewed on my pillow.



I spent a lovely afternoon in Bristol, Maine that reminded me for the umpteenth time why I live here.


got fancy for my cousin's wedding and it was the most fun.


played golf with a dear friend at outlook, which has become my favorite place to play.


8.31.2023

the thursday special.

 

Wilfred - The Only Coat - Aritzia

Wilfred - The Only Coat - Aritzia 

Wilfred - The Only Coat - Aritzia


I know it's the last day in August and people aren't thinking of winter coats, but you should. I have been on the hunt for a classic navy coat for a while now, but I didn't feel like shelling out an insane amount of money. Thanks to Aritzia, I didn't have to. My sister recently picked up some really cute clothes there for work, and when she sent me the link to the Wilfred I jumped on it and I'm SO glad I did. It's super classic and a slightly oversized fit--I took my usual size (M) and it has plenty of room for sweaters. And, it's a wool/cashmere blend that is supposed to keep you warm in temps down to 14° F, so I think I'll be set come later in the fall/winter. Sizes are selling out fast (some sizes/colors are backordered until March 2024), so if you too need a classic coat this season, grab it.

8.28.2023

august, in pics.

 

Well, not sure how another month has speedily passed us by, but here we are: the last (partial) week of August. I am personally very much looking forward to the cozy times to come and easing into all things early fall. Here is what I was up to the past couple weeks:


my sister, brother, and sister-in-law came up for the Gregory Alan Isakov concert at Thompson's Point. We had a delish dinner at Fore Street first, and the concert did not disappoint. 


a fun work outing at a Portland Seadogs game (my first time, and I will definitely go again).


hit up scarborough beach a couple of times and got rather tan.


enjoyed the garden at my parents' house.


went to the cape for a mini bachelorette/ bridal weekend for my cousin who is getting married in september (which is crazy to think about).


ordered a new fancy dress for said wedding. 


had radishes and brown butter at one of my favorite local spots, friends and family.


the bug swallowed and regurgitated a peach pit, which resulted in a trip to the emergency vet and a major freak out from yours truly, but she is fine. 

Here's to getting to getting into the post-summer grind.

7.27.2023

the thursday special.

 

the best water bottle ever?


the magical straw and guzzle option

I recently got an Owala Freesip water bottle after seeing a colleague's during a meeting a work, and I think it might be my most favorite water bottle of all time. It's stainless steel so it keeps drinks super cold and has an optional handle that pops from the top for easy carrying, but what I love most about it is its built-in straw AND the option to guzzle water if that's the method you want to use to drink. And sometimes, you just need to guzzle, you know? This has officially replaced my hydroflask and yeti as my beverage container of choice, and I cannot recommend it enough.

7.25.2023

a modern house in nova scotia.

 

I feel like the New York Times is an overlooked resource when it comes to design inspiration--I absolutely love its Real Estate section and there have been a number of houses (either for sale or featured) that I have bookmarked over the years--here's one of them that was on the market in 2022:

photo by doublespace photography, via NYTimes

photo by doublespace photography via NYTimes

photo by doublespace photography via NYTimes

photo by doublespace photography via NYTimes

photo by doublespace photography via NYTimes

photo by doublespace photography via NYTimes

I've found myself drawn to modern, giant windowed houses more and more--I know there's an aspect to them where you feel like you're on display and living in a fishbowl, but a secluded location on a beach? Sign me up.

7.20.2023

the thursday special.

 

táche pistachio milk

It's no secret that I love pistachio flavored things. As a kid I loved pistachio ice cream (and instant pudding, yikes) and more recently I was a huge fan of the seasonal pistachio latte at Starbucks. So imagine my surprise and utter delight when I discovered táche pistachio milk! I just placed my second order--it's definitely a bit pricey (it ends up being $60 through their website for six 32-ounce cartons if you don't subscribe to autoship) BUT I used this exclusively for coffee during my first order and even with a hefty splash I could stretch a carton for a while. It's slightly sweet, thick, and you get a nice but not overwhelming pistachio flavor in every sip--I love it for making lattes with my nespresso and it's also delish with cold brew. 


7.17.2023

it's summer.


Oh hello! I'm checking in once again in the throes of an incredibly humid and soggy summer. This weather has not been conducive to good hair days or my marathon training--once again, I think I've been more optimistic in my running abilities than reality allows.

I took a nice trip to Quebec City with my mom at the end of May--I was able to work a few days and also get my fill of croissants. My sister and her husband came up from Pittsburgh for a week in June, and it was great to spend time with them and catch up. And then my sister and I jetted off to Denver for a couple of days for the Head and the Heart concert at Red Rocks, which was incredible. We stayed at the Thompson in LoDo and I couldn't recommend it more--great amenities and location. We had a delicious dinner at Super Mega Bien (get there early and sit and the bar) and also grabbed coffee and pastries at Little Finch and had a tasty brunch at Snooze.

Here are some snippets of the past few months:

all you can eat mussels in quebec city at bistro saint malo.

an always perfect sister visit.


a small dog that lives her best doggie daycare life.


a jaws marathon.


the head and the heart at red rocks.


dinner at leeward, which is one of my favorite restaurants in portland.

I have another sibling weekend/concert at the end of July and aside from that, it should be pretty low key. Here's hoping for less rain and more beach days.

5.01.2023

it's may!

 

a cozy bug.



Pittsburgh view from the Industrialist



a long weekend in Miami,

It's a new month which means another opportunity for a fresh start--I know January 1st gets all the attention (and maybe even February if January is considered a warm up, which I wholeheartedly support) but I am a strong proponent of every month being an opportunity for a blank slate, so today, that is exactly what I am doing.

I had a quick trip to Pittsburgh in March to see my sister and go to the John Mayer concert, which was great--we once again stayed at the Industrialist, which is a newer boutique hotel (same place we stayed last year for the John Mayer concert that ended up getting canceled), and it continues to be my favorite spot to stay in the city. We also had an amazing dinner at Meat & Potatoes and a smash burger lunch at Moonlit--it was a very quick trip but we packed in a lot. 

I kicked off April with a long weekend to Miami (again with my sister) and we stayed at Eden Roc. It was the absolute perfect getaway to escape the end of winter/early spring in New England, which is never fun--the weather was perfect, and we just lounged at the beach and pool and got a little too much sun. We also had delicious meals at Yardbird, Joe's Stone Crab, Nobu and the Surf Club and every place was super delicious and fun. It was the perfect way to say goodbye to winter.

I have also re-embraced getting highlights and now am much more of a blond, got new pairs of glasses and am channeling my inner Gwyneth each time I wear them, and finally got my washer and dryer installed which has been an absolute game changer.

Spring is fully here, and I'm about to fully immerse myself in marathon training (trying for Chicago yet again if I can keep myself injury-free) and some ample time on the golf course.

Sending warm and allergy-free vibes your way.

2.27.2023

life lately.



Gregory Alan Isakov in Boston,


Liberty Hotel.

A very good breakfast sandwich from Tandem


Evidence of Portland's Valentine's Day bandit.


oysters at eventide.



the coziest of bugs,

Hello, hello from snowy Portland--I'm not sure what the weather is like where you are, but I was pulled into a false sense of snow-free security during a supremely mild February. Now snow is back and I am not that jazzed about it. And I know that's what I get for living in Maine but still...the high forties had me fooled.

Speaking of February, my gentle January turned into an equally gentle February--I'm finally feeling like I've eased enough into this year to hit the ground running. I have a Miami trip planned for the first week in April that I am very excited for, and the hotel for the Chicago marathon this fall has been officially booked so I need to start building a running base.

I can't believe that it's already almost March--here's to kicking things off right. 


1.25.2023

a couple of condo things.

 

moved my mirror from the corner and mounted it on the wall, with a peek at my new dresser.


new dresser.


new hardware.


I hadn't made a ton of changes to my place in the past year or so, and I recently got the itch to made some improvements. First up was getting a new dresser (this one from West Elm)--I have a pretty large walk in closet and haven't needed a dresser the whole time I've lived here, but I'm finally putting in a washer and dryer and need the extra closet space. My building has laundry in the basement and there is a laundromat a block away, but I'm at the point where I've had enough. I'm honestly surprised I made it this long without one, and I'm super excited to get this taken care of.

I also added new hardware to my kitchen cabinets--when I moved in the cabinets were basic wood and my mom painted them which made a huge difference (thanks, Mom!) and I finally installed hardware last weekend. I went this these knobs, these pulls for the cabinets and these pulls for my drawers (not shown) from Rejuvenation, and it's crazy how such a little thing can make such a big impact. After I figured out how to correctly use a drill (clockwise, not counterclockwise) it was easy.

There are still some things I'd love to upgrade, like appliances and a bathroom redo, but these small changes are already making be very happy.

1.23.2023

new year, same me.

 

a january mood.

Hello! Yes, I'm still here, and I'm fully embracing the concept of a gentle january (which honestly, is so much better than trying to attack a new year with aggressive energy and being burnt out before the month is over with). That's not to say I don't have any big plans--I definitely do, and some are already being chipped away at, but I'm also giving myself a little grace. January through March are tough months, and if I need to sleep a little longer in the mornings and maybe not have a smoothie for breakfast, that's okay.

The end of 2022 was a whirlwind, but was really nice. I spent the holidays with family, and was able to make it up to Quebec between Christmas and New Year's, which was perfect--so cozy and so many croissants.

I'm working on some condo updates and also am trying to figure out travel plans--I'm definitely going to Colorado this summer but might need a bigger trip. Europe? We shall see. And I'm also trying to get back into running shape--I ended up deferring the Chicago marathon last year due to multiple injuries and have been going to PT, so I'm hoping it's in the cards this fall.

In case there was any doubt, Mabel continues to be a delight and an absolute sweetheart.

I'm hoping you're being gentle with yourself as we start 2023, and I promise to not be a stranger.