heather & olive

 

{ via rifle paper co instagram }

Hello, 2019. Did you have a good New Year's? Mine was perfect: I declined a couple of invites and spent the evening with Olive, cheese, and blood orange martinis--I finished season 6 of Game of Thrones and was in bed by 9:30. It was everything I wanted.

This past year was a bit of a mixed bag. The highs included selling my old house, buying a condo and moving to Portland, and the lows were having a bit of a health scare in May (thankfully I'm fine) and a job shakeup.

I started a new job when I moved to Portland in May, and while I knew there were risks involved (it was a small startup in a very specific industry) it was also the right decision for me at the time--I was ready for a change and this provided a new opportunity with a bit more flexibility than my previous job. I was let go at the end of October, and while it was a bit of a shock, I think it was for the best: it was really stressful and I was working insane hours. They gave me a really generous severance and I learned a lot from the short time I worked there--I have zero regrets.

So now what? I'm honestly not really sure. I'm actively looking for something new, but I'm also really trying to figure out what I ultimately want to do. There are a couple of things I'm working on (some related to my legal background and others on a more creative plane) and I'm excited to see where these things take me in 2019--in the meantime, I'm trying to remain positive and keep my stress levels low(ish).

That's where I am--wishing you all a healthy and happy New Year!

Christmas card 2018.

Wishing you all the happiest of holidays - I spent the last week at my parents' house in MA, and we had a perfect, low-key celebration. I'm looking forward to heading back up to Portland to ring in the new year and fresh start for 2019.

tree is up.

ceiling decorations at sichuan kitchen.

the BEST cereal ever.

Happy December! November went by super fast--I can't believe it's the last month of 2018.

I spent the weekend decorating and getting in the holiday spirit, and I was really excited that my Dominique Ansel Christmas Morning Cereal arrived on Friday. I bought it last year and it is so, so good but ordering online is somewhat stressful. They only make a limited amount and it goes on sale each Friday at noon so you need to be ready to order immediately. I lucked out and I can't wait to enjoy this Christmas morning.

Saturday I did a Pure Barre class and went to Trader Joe's and Target. I bought all of the truffle things at TJs and Target was a total nightmare (it reminded me how glad I am for online shopping). I spent the rest of the afternoon decorating and my place is looking very festive. Later I had dinner with my friend M. at Sichaun Kitchen, which is an authentic Chinese restaurant in Portland -- I had never been there before but it was really good. We split the veggie dumplings and I had ants climbing a tree (cellophane noodles with ground pork and spices) and I'll definitely be going back.

Sunday was dreary and gross so I spent the bulk of the day binging Game of Thrones--I finished season one and I'm excited to get through the rest. Later I made The Pretty Dish Roasted Garlic Tomato Bisque, which I think would have been really good but I accidentally bought fire roasted tomatoes with green chilis and it ended up being really spicy (so spicy that my face started sweating and my glasses fogged up. So that was fun). I'm going to try it again sans chilis.

And that's pretty much it--I'm all done with my holiday shopping and need to get my Christmas cards in the mail, but I'm really looking forward to savoring as much of this month as I can. it's my favorite time of year.

someone refused to go outside in the snow.

one of many festive holiday beverages.

my thanksgiving contribution: smitten kitchen's union square cafe bar nuts.

a very cute Sam.

beach photoshoot.

It's Tuesday and I think I'm still recovering from last week's Thanksgiving festivities. It was a fun-filled family week.

I headed down to Massachusetts to my parents' house on the Saturday before so I could dog-sit their dogs--they went to Bermuda to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary for a few days. I had a pretty crappy cold but took full advantage of their whirlpool bathtub and ample amounts of wine. On Sunday I picked up my sister in Boston and we did a little shopping downtown and had the most delicious martini at Atlantic Fish Company (they use crabmeat as a garnish and it was divine). The days leading up to Thanksgiving were a blur of eating and drinking and prepping--we met up with my brother for the best chicken wings around and it was nice to have some sibling time.

Thanksgiving was hosted by my parents and it went by way too fast, but I loved seeing my mom's side of the family and my nieces. On Friday my mom and sister and I headed up to Portland for some additional shopping and eating (a stop at Eventide was a must) and then we went to York and met up with my dad. The following day called for a trip to Portsmouth for Small Business Saturday and my sister and I continued to eat our way through the weekend. She went back to Pittsburgh on Sunday, and I was so glad to spend all of that extra time with her since she's not going to be home for Christmas.

I wish I did a better job of documenting it, but that was my week! Now I'm trying to hold off until December 1st to start decorating--I'm very excited for the next month of holiday celebrations.

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I don't think I've sent Valentine's Day cards since 1993, but these postcards from Rifle Paper Co. made me revisit what might become a new tradition. Check your mailbox, and Happy Valentine's Day!

Our local church, post-storm.

One of my favorite local houses.

Crappy weather calls for Olive snuggles.

A pre-Christmas celebration at my grandparents' house (c.1790).

After a very low-key sushi night on Friday, I woke up to around 8 inches of snow and I was loving it (the shoveling, not so much). I finished wrapping presents in the morning and then walked to town to meet my mom for lunch. Everything was so quiet and pretty with the snow and it made me so happy.

On Sunday I woke up early and did a PB class with my sister and ran a couple of errands (which included Iggy's bagels and Whole Foods' lox and scallion cream cheese--the best) and then we headed west to celebrate an early Christmas with my grandparents and my aunt (who I visited earlier this year in Mexico) and I had the best time. We ate and opened presents and it was absolute perfection spending that time with them.

I'm really hoping this week goes by fast, because I'm in full Christmas mode and punching a clock is cramping my holiday style.

As per usual, I got my cards from Minted. I love all of their options for designs, they ship super fast, and they're almost always offering a coupon code.

It also helps to have photogenic subject matter.

Happy Monday--we're waking up to 1/2 a foot of snow this morning, and I'm not that mad about it...especially because I'm working from home. I really don't mind the snow in December/January, but come March I'm ready to hop on a plane and not come back until June. Oh, the joys of living in New England.

On Friday I was super productive and got all of my Christmas cards in the mail--I'll post what I sent later this week.

On Saturday my mom, sister and I headed into Boston for the Nutcracker--I was looking forward to this for months. It's my absolute favorite holiday event.







We stopped at Bostonia Public House first for brunch--it was our first time there, and it was really good. I think downtown Boston can be tough in terms of finding a good breakfast/brunch spot, but this didn't disappoint--I would definitely go back. I kept things light and healthy with their short rib biscuits and gravy.


We then made our way to the Nutcracker, and it was amazing--my mom got great seats and it totally put me in the Christmas spirit. After a cocktail at the Four Seasons and some quick shopping, we made our way home and I went to bed super early.

On Sunday my sister and I did an early Pure Barre class (it was a struggle getting out of bed but I'm so glad we went). We then ran a bunch of errands and I was able to finish my Christmas shopping. For once I feel totally on top of gift giving and it's a huge relief. (Sidenote: I was super pumped to see that Target is carrying a ton of Hammond's candy for stocking stuffers--get the Pigs and Taters bar. Trust me).

I spent the rest of the day wrapping presents and watching movies, and made Ina's meatballs for dinner. Although the weekend was completely jam-packed, it was completely perfect.

Olive was ready for the weekend.

On Saturday I met my brother, sister-in-law and niece at Parker's for pancakes.

It was so festive and cozy and I stuffed my face.

Then we went to Pierce's, and I bought a tree.

I relaxed with some Elf...

...and did some decorating. It's not as fat as last year's, but respectably husky nonetheless.

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas--I'll be back in 2016!

I went for a hike with my dad this weekend, and finally used the panoramic feature on my phone.

There aren't any ornaments (just my gold pinecone garland), but I've been loving my big, fat tree.

Someone has been exceptionally lazy most mornings. I have to drag her out of bed.

via goop instagram

It's boxwood overload at my house thanks to to Trader Joe's and their $9.99 wreaths. I've been spritzing them with water daily and I'm hoping they last until Christmas.

I made a chocolate cake for Thanksgiving (along with my annual sweet potato contribution), and I think it's a new favorite.

My parents and I went up to Maine and took lots of walks by this cool house--you can't get more oceanfront than this.

I had a really nice Thanksgiving and long weekend. My parents hosted, and everything was delicious. Friday, my mom and I headed up to Maine to do a little shopping (and I was able to cross a couple of people off my list)--we went out to eat, ran a Turkey Trot in the rain on Saturday, took some pics for my Christmas card and enjoyed some strong Manhattans by the fire. It was super low key and relaxing and a perfect recharge for the upcoming holiday craziness. Happy December!

This weekend, I...


...painted my downstairs hallway Benjamin Moore's Revere Pewter. It took FOREVER, and I still need to make my way upstairs, but I'm really loving the color.

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...started reading A Little Life. I'm not that far into it, but I've heard such good things.

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...ran a 5K with my mom, sister and MET. It was for a good local cause, but it was brutal. I hadn't run since (maybe?) November 2014 and the event served as a gentle reminder that I am completely out of shape. I'm hoping my debilitating soreness is a motivator to get back into the running game.


...reintroduced Olive and my niece Piper at my parents' Easter Brunch. Olive was a little uncertain, but I think they'll be BFFs eventually.

Months and months ago, my mom's side of the family decided that 2013 would be the year of the crafty Christmas. I have zero skills when it comes to traditional crafting: the only think I know how to do is cook, so I put my pots and pans to use.



I decided that I would make English toffee, using this Ghirardelli recipe:

What you need:

I love getting Christmas cards. I also love sending my own, but this year I had a moment of  panic when I wondered if I was totally lame to send the clichéd "single girl with her dog" card. I expressed my misgivings to my professional photographer and confidant (my mom) and she asked what I was embarrassed about: this is my life right now, and I'm happy with it.

And she's right.

So, may I present my quite happily clichéd card for 2013:

I added a couple of festive updates around the apartment this weekend and was perfectly lazy. I watched a ton of Christmas movies, addressed all of my cards and made a divine Beef Wellington for dinner Sunday night (recipe to follow). It was heaven.

This year marks my very first solo grownup Christmas tree.

Can you sense my excitement and utter pride?

I'm keeping things simple with just lights and garland. All of my ornaments adorn my parents' tree, and that's where I want them to stay (for now). I got the garland from West Elm (on sale here--I bought three strands), and the star from Target (on sale here).