A few of my favorite shots from our weekend in Cleveland with my best girl Lauren and her kiddos. We flew in on a Wednesday so I left Lucas home with daddy and made it a girls trip with Sol. The purpose of the trip was to attend Lauren’s very first art show in collaboration with her son Keegan. The show was pure magic and I am so happy we were able to attend. I’m so insanely proud of my best friend.
We spent the rest of the time together exploring Cleveland, thrifting, and just hanging out. And drinking wine. Lots of wine ;). I can’t wait for our next trip together – we are waiting for you in NYC!
We spent the weekend away in beautiful Cold Spring – just one hour our of NYC. It was just what we didn’t know we needed. Our friends recently moved from the city and have made this amazing town their home (and now I kind of have house and town envy..). We left Friday night and on Saturday morning we woke up, had breakfast, and headed out for a hike.
The weather couldn’t have been more perfect for a day spent outdoors. At one point we even stripped out of our jackets. The foliage was INCREDIBLE and the views were out of this world. Lucas had the best time (except for a few complaints that his legs hurt from all the hiking..city boy for life ya’ll) and Lillie was happy just to be strapped to the guys and take in all the loving. I swear even Humphrey (our dog) was smiling the entire time. The kids slept reallllll good that evening. The following day we took Lucas fishing and that was by far his highlight of the weekend – post coming soon ;).
I had been itching for a getaway out of Manhattan and this weekend fed my soul. To our dear friends Jackie and Jack, I can’t thank you enough for inviting us into your home and showing us all of this beauty. We can’t wait to be back this winter for the snow!
Summertime in NYC. It’s my absolute favorite (after Fall of course). The warm, muggy air, the buzz of children playing, music blaring from corner stores and late night get togethers on stoops. Another plus are the birthday parties. Lots of friends gathering in local parks, pizza take-out, and love. So much love. We kicked off the summer in Brooklyn to celebrate little Oak who turned two and the day was absolute perfection. We are so ready for more warm, beautiful days just like this.
Spring in NYC. Pretty much the best (after Fall of course ;). As soon as that warm breeze hits the air, I am itching to be out of the house every day. My very favorite place to go with the kids is Central Park. The Conservatory in particular is absolutely stunning with it’s fountains, gardens, and maze-like pathways which Lucas loves to run through. I got to have a play date there last week with H&M, Heymama, and one of my very best friends in the world (since we were 11 you guys!). Pretty sweet! Viviana, the babies, and I all wore H&M and just walked around the park. It was perfect. I’m obsessed with this seasons selects at H&M (that red dress is my absolute fave and it was only $20. I mean…) and they have always been my go-to for staples for the entire family.
The best part of the afternoon was watching our little girls kiss and interact and of course seeing all the beautiful blossoms popping up. There is nothing better than beautiful, pink covered trees. Trust me on this!
Heymama asked Viviana and I to take a little friendship quiz and it was so much fun. You can read our answers below:
Nicole
+ What do you love most about your friend?
She’s incredibly loyal and the most amazing mother to her three girls.
+ What do you think she appreciates most about you?
Our ability to get together at any point and pick up right where we left off.
+ Her favorite thing about you is?
My honesty and our trust in each other.
+ Best memory of you and your kids together?
The day she came with her daughters to visit me the day Lucas was born. To see her children hold my baby was a surreal, perfect moment.
+ How are your parenting styles different?
I actually think we are pretty similar in that we both have similar approaches and are pretty traditional. I think she might have the disciplining thing down to a science and I’m still learning!
+ Best piece of parenting advice she’s ever given you?
Patience and how to discipline with love.
+ How would she describe herself in three words?
Funny, strong, loving
+ How does she react to her kids tantrums?
Viviana has the patience of a saint and is able to be firm yet remain incredibly calm.
+ Name her favorite tv show? Favorite guilty pleasure tv show?
Sex and the City. Any of the Housewives.
+ Funniest thing she’s ever done?
We have so many hilarious moments that we’ve shared. We’ve been friends for 20 years (crazy!) so we have been through it all together.
+ If you spend a date together with your kids, what would she want to do most?
Take the kids out to explore NYC. We’d go to the Central Park Zoo and then eat authentic Chinese food.
+ If your friend could take a trip anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Fiji!
+ Most perfect day for your friend “sans kids”?
A day at the spa then out for dinner, dancing, and drink with her girlfriends. A mama can dream!
+ What’s a guilty pleasure she wouldn’t want to admit?
Lots of wine!
+ Who is your friends style icon?
Kate Moss
+ If she could be anyone for a day who would it be?
Sofia Vergara
Viviana
+ What do you love most about your friend?
Her ability to stop and take a second to capture all the beautiful moments life has to offer, because lets face it how many of us value the little details of every day life.
+ What do you think she appreciates most about you?
The fact that I am always honest with her, no matter how big or small the situation is, I will always give her an honest response.
+ Her favorite thing about you is?
Being able to text me at any time for an on the spot recipe!!
+ Best memory of you and your kids together?
The best memory of the kids together has to be when we surprised Lucas and picked him up from school one day. He was so happy to see us and the girls were so excited they were able to visit his school.
+ How are you parenting styles different?
It all sums up to city life vs the suburbs.
+ Best piece of parenting advice she’s given you?
Telling me not to give up on breastfeeding and encouraging me to keep going even when I felt i couldn’t continue.
+ How would she describe herself in three words?
Funny, Classy, Trendy
+ How does she react to her kids tantrums?
Even if she wanted to scream her head off you would never know, she is always super calm with them and some how seems to talk them into realizing they made a wrong choice.
+ Name her favorite tv show? Favorite guilty pleasure tv show?
Sex and the City. Love and Hip Hop.
+ Funniest thing she’s ever done?
We were at one of the saddest get togethers imaginable but you can always count on your bestie for a good laugh. Nicole was pumping and her milk was spilling out everywhere. She peeked out of the bedroom desperately looking for the first female in the room to come help her. She was soaked!
+ If you spend a date together with your kids, what would she want to do most?
Have a picnic in Central Park.
+ If your friend could take a trip anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Dubai
+ Most perfect day for your friend “sans kids”?
Sleep in, wake up to fresh iced coffee in bed, followed by a lunch date with her closest girlfriends. Return home, take a nap, wake up and get ready for a low key dinner date with the hubs.
+ What’s a guilty pleasure that she wouldn’t want to admit?
One word: chocolate! Hahaha!
+ If your friend could have one wish what would it be?
To one day own a brownstone on the upper east side.
+ Who is your friend’s style icon?
Audrey Hepburn
+ If she could be anyone for a day who would it be?
Everyone in pajamas and/or undies. A mama covered in breast milk. Endless nursing sessions. Popsicles for a mid-day snack. This is a little glimpse into what you mind find if you come visit us nowadays. My love Mary snapped a few shots while her and little Olive came to visit us last week. I’m finding that visits from friends and family have been essential this time around and I’m so thankful for my beautiful tribe.
A few weeks ago my beautiful loves gathered in Brooklyn together to celebrate my daughter, Lillie Sol. Lucas’s baby shower was a huge affair and this time around I wanted something a bit more simple and intimate (and ladies only!). Besides getting stuck in traffic on the way there the afternoon was magic. I am just so thankful that I have a group of women in my life that care so deeply for my family and I. My little princess is quite the lucky little girl with so many tia’s that love her so much already!
This post was supposed to go up a few weeks ago but let’s just blame pregnant mama brain here..
The sweetest Brooklyn afternoon was spent with lots of friends, Lucas’s included. He adores this duo and I feel the same about their mama. There was lots of chasing, squealing, and collecting of all the acorns. Lucas was such a gentleman he made sure to help keep them safe in Sophia’s pockets ;). Such a charmer this one. We are looking forward to more awesome dates and adventures this month.
I’m a lucky girl. Florida means family for me. And this lady is my long distance sister. And those adorable boys of hers? They are my world. We talk on the phone. We face time. A LOT (oh hey husbands, sorry about that ;). But there’s nothing like seeing those beautiful faces in the flesh. We got to spend one glorious day together sharing lots of laughs and piña coladas. It was also the first time our significant others got to meet and it just solidified everything in a way. Does that make sense? I hope so. Either way, I’m missing my babes but I treasure the memories we got to create and I can’t wait to see my clan again in just 4 short months. Hip hip to magical friendships.
Oh California. You stole my heart. Truly, you did. I’m a born and bred New Yorker and was raised to scoff at the mere thought of moving to the West Coast. So what that you have warm weather year round. We have snow! We have Seasons! (Fall really is my favorite, just a little FYI). But no. You had to just go and make me eat my New York City words. I FREAKIN LOVE YOU. A beach day in January? On the day my home town was suffering from an ice storm? Yes please. I’ll take it.
I spent 6 glorious days in the California sun with some of my best girls. On a frigid Friday morning (5am to be exact) my love Natassia and I met at JFK airport. We were welcomed in LA at 10am with nothing but sunshine. We hopped in our rental car and made our way to West Hollywood, where we stayed with our friends who totally ditched NYC for LA (I get it now. I get it.) The photos above are from one of my favorite days. We drove from Hollywood to Malibu beach and planted our butts in the Zuma sand. Afterwards we headed to Moonshadows for a delicious, late lunch and cocktails. #winning. The rest of the trip was equally as amazing although I missed my boys terribly. Thank goodness for FaceTime. I’ll be posting more photos and a little more about my trip tomorrow. I could really use some Cali sun in my life right about now. New York temps are headed up to 25 tomorrow and that’s considered warm in comparison to how cold it has been. I’m missing you LA.
