heather & olive

Sunrise over the Hollywood sign.

The Standard in West Hollywood.

White Chocolate Hazelnut Mousse at Nick and Stef's.

Sister selfie.

Brisket taquitos with rice and beans.

Delicious cocktail that I can't remember the name of at the Cactus Lounge.

Sister selfie #2.

I mean, we had to.

Johnny Cake with Fried Chicken.

Blood orange mule.

Melrose Umbrella Company.

The Saddle Ranch wedge.

Crab tacos at Nobu.

The best sushi OF MY LIFE at Nobu.

Croft Alley.

Avocado toast.

Plane views.

{ portland ferries }

{ an empty dining room at scales...but not for long }

{ the best and most buttery lobster roll I've ever had }

{ great show by the head and the heart }

{ brookside brunch at the waterhouse}

I know the calendar says fall, but it has be H - O - T around these parts. I'm very glad I decided to keep my a/c unit in my bedroom (it's been a lifesaver the past couple of nights).

After a very busy week last week it was great to have a jam-packed but fun weekend. Friday I did nothing (I swear, as much as I look forward to Friday by the time it rolls around I'm so tired all I do is veg and go to bed early...which, on second thought, I'm actually fine with).

Saturday morning I got in a barre class and then headed north to Maine. I stopped at J.Crew Factory and I was pleasantly surprised with the cute fall stuff they had, so I did a little shopping, went to When Pigs Fly for my favorite date and sopressata pizza and then took a little nap. My brother arrived in York and we headed up to Portland--it's his birthday next weekend and we decided to do a little sibling celebration weekend together. I honestly can't think of the last time we've spent time together just the two of us, and I had so much fun.

We walked around Portland for a bit and then went to Scales early so we could get a seat at the bar before the dinner service started (Scales is run by the same restaurant group as Fore Street, so I had high hopes for a delicious dinner). It did not disappoint. We had cocktails and oysters, then shared a couple of appetizers that included an insane bluefish pâté, crab cakes, and then split the best lobster roll ever. If you're ever in Portland, I highly recommend stopping by.

Then we went to Thompson's Point to see the The Head and the Heart (I saw them earlier this summer with my sister) and they were so, so good. The venue was great and the weather cooperated which was perfect.

Sunday morning we got bagels at the Bagel Basket, and headed home. I was planning on being a slug all afternoon but my parents were taking my grandmother to brunch in N.H. so I tagged along with them to the Waterhouse--the weather was beautiful and I'm so glad I decided to go. The next thing I knew the weekend was over. I was pretty tired come Monday, but it was seriously such a good couple of days.

I can't believe it's the first of August--time is seriously flying by. Truth be told, this summer has been a pretty rough one for my family and we've been most recently dealing with the death of my sweet grandfather who passed away last week. I'm so lucky that I have such an amazing support system and we're able to lean on each other, but I also hope we can catch a bit of a break soon.

I've been able to make it up to Maine for a few long weekends which has been great, and this past Saturday I saw The Head and the Heart with my sister in Boston at Blue Hills Bank Pavilion (such a cool venue). The band was so good and I'm hoping to go to their show in Portland in September.

Other than that, I'm plugging along. I have some things in motion that will hopefully come to fruition in the fall but I need to constantly remind myself not to get stressed out over the stuff that's beyond my control (something I really, really struggle with).

So...deep breaths. I'm using the start of a new month as a clean slate and fingers crossed there are good things to come.

On Wednesday evening, my brother, sister-in-law and Piper welcomed little Quinn into the world. She is so tiny and perfect and I'm so incredibly happy for them and their little family.

Have a wonderful weekend!

cloudy day, windy city.

jackie at the art institute.

too many palomas.

short rib hash at sable.

eataly souvenir.

Last Thursday my sister and I headed to the Windy City--she had some things to do for work, so I decided to tag along and make a long weekend out of it. We used to go to Chicago annually but we haven't been since 2014--it was a long overdue sister trip.

When we landed Thursday night we checked into The James (a favorite hotel in a great location) and walked over to the Slurping Turtle for ramen. Every time we visit we always squeeze in a meal there, and it never disappoints (especially during cold weather).

On Friday my sister had to work all day so when I finally pulled myself together I went to the Art Institute. It was my first time there and they had so many amazing pieces, from Miró to Pollock--I especially loved seeing A Sunday on La Grande Jatte and channeling my inner Cameron Frye. After a few hours walking around I stopped at Remington's for a burger and read Pretty Girls (which is such a good thriller). When my sister was done we had a drink at the hotel bar, then headed out for dinner at GT Fish & Oyster and it was absolutely delicious--super fresh and good for sharing.

After my sister's meeting on Saturday morning, we went to Sable for brunch--they had a different chef from the previous times we ate there (no more Heather Terhune from Top Chef), but it was still very good (although I missed the small plates). We then trekked over to the Willis Tower to visit the Skydeck but by the time we got there the wait was over 45 minutes and I didn't feel up to it. We headed back towards the hotel and went to Eataly--this was my first time there and it totally lived up to the hype. We had wine and cheese at one of the restaurant bars and then did a little shopping--I'll definitely need to visit the one in Boston but I'm glad I don't live too close because it could be dangerous. I would be there every day. Saturday night we went to the original Morton's for steaks and chocolate mousse and then called it a night because our flight on Sunday was pretty early (and I was honestly so tired from all of the walking).

It was the perfect short getaway--I seriously love Chicago and I love sharing it with my sister...we're already planning the next trip.

Now comes the battle of working my first full week in 2017. Womp womp.

...with Monterrey, Mexico.

View of the city of Monterrey from Chipinque Ecological Park.

Cathedral at sunset in Santiago.

Former jumping field/current garden.

Ivy-covered hay barn.

Authentic breakfast of concha (Mexican sweet bread) y café.

Post riding lesson (so hot and sore).

Some souvenirs that I can't wait to break out once the temperature warms.

I just got back from a quick 3-day jaunt to Monterrey to visit my aunt, and I can honestly say I have never had a place affect me the way that it did. I was completely unprepared to fall in love with the city, and that's exactly what happened. All of the people I met were incredibly nice, the views of the Sierra Madre are insane, I was surrounded by horses (my aunt is a trainer) and the food was delicious.

It was so great to spend one-on-one time with my aunt: I usually get to see her once or twice a year (despite being a major city, there are no direct flights from Boston to Monterrey and takes a full day of travel to get there from New England), and it was such a treat to talk and catch up with her. Her house is incredible (high ceilings, tile floors, gorgeous gardens and the cutest dogs) and she's a truly generous and supportive person.

I came back Sunday physically tired but mentally refreshed and recharged to make some changes and try new things. And true confessions: there's a huge part of me that wants to pack my bags and Olive and head back down on a more permanent basis. I love High Street House and being so close to my family in MA, but despite the quick trip, I also felt at home in Monterrey. It's definitely something to think about.

I seriously had the best weekend in Maine with my mom and sister. I'm so lucky to have these two ladies in my life and that we share the same interests (food, shopping, beverages and inappropriate jokes). We hit up Stonewall Kitchen to stock up on jams, ate fried clams and slurped some oysters at Robert's, watched movies with Olive and ended Sunday with a delish lunch at the golf club. I wish every weekend could be like that one--sometimes you just need a little girl time with your favorite people.

This weekend was the best--the temps have finally cooperated in the Northeast (70s and high 80s???) and I'm loving having the windows open and wearing short sleeves.

Snail placeholders available here.

{ via }

The past couple of years have been...trying. And the past couple of weeks have been especially tough, as I've finally had to face a couple of difficult issues head on. It's so, so easy to put the tough stuff aside, but I've come to the very basic realization that this doesn't solve problems: it just prolongs the inevitable. So, I sucked it up, put everything on the line, and I dealt with them.

And it totally sucked.

But I also feel as though a weight has been lifted, and while I know that my life is certainly not perfect, it's still pretty friggin great--trials and all.

I couldn't have come to this place without my parents: they are without a doubt, the most generous, understanding, loving, incredible people I have ever known, and the fact that they have my back no matter what sort of life obstacle I present to them speaks volumes of their character. To have their support means the absolute world to me, and I hope one day I will be able to repay them. (Although I'm not sure I ever will.)

I love you, Mom and Dad. You are the best.

Everyone, I would like to introduce you to my younger (and wiser) sister, Mer. Mer, take it away!

This is Mer on her wedding day last year in Jamaica.

Thanks, HMC. I was so excited when my sister asked me to write a guest post on her fabulous blog. I knew she wouldn't just let me take the reins and chat about anything I want (in which case I would probably just show pics of my dogs and cocktails) and so I'm going to let you in on a significant lifestyle change I have recently made: becoming a vegetarian (pescetarian).

Right around Ash Wednesday, I was shown some very disturbing videos about the conditions of many 'farms' from around the country. This, paired with my discovery of Esther the Wonder Pig, made me decide to stop eating meat for Lent. Now, I'm barely a practicing Episcopalian so everyone thought it was pretty funny that I even wanted to give anything up-- and it's well known that I LOVE bacon. However, I made a decision and I wanted to stick with it despite the naysayers. It has turned out to be so much easier than I ever could have imagined! Not only am I eating more of the things that I already knew I loved, like avocados and portobellos and other veggies, I am so much more aware of what I'm putting into my body and the nutrients I need which I was previously getting from meat. I've never been one to drink a cup of milk, but I've discovered almond milk and have been enjoying several servings a day. I'm also eating more tofu and fish, and have even started taking vitamins (the adult gummy kind, of course).

{ via Esther's Instagram}

I hadn't really missed meat until this past weekend, when my sister got wings that looked absolutely delicious and when I was (slightly) hungover Sunday morning and knew bacon would help solve the problem. That said, this whole lifestyle shift will definitely go way beyond Easter. I will never try to push this on anyone and I can be around people who are eating meat. I also don't think I'm 'clean-eating' and still love diet coke and nachos and other things that I should probably stay away from. I've been following a gluten-free diet for almost 8 years since the unfortunate discovery of a wheat allergy, so I'm used to having to pay attention to the ingredients of everything I eat-- but this has somehow made me realize that as I get older (30 this year womp womp), I need to take better care of myself and this one body I have. I consider myself a runner and have even noticed that I feel stronger and healthier when I'm hitting the pavement.

I'm not saying I'll never have meat again, but if I do, it will only from known sources, like the local farms near my home. And that's all for now.

***
Good job, Mer Mer!