Mother's Day 2015

Today it feels as though we've skipped right over spring and ran right into summer. It's very warm and humid out and I'm wishing that I took the time this weekend to switch my winter and summer clothes because I really had a hard time finding something to wear this morning. How was your weekend? We had a really nice one. All I really wanted this weekend and for Mother's Day was to spend as much time as possible with Penelope and so that's what I did. Saturday was spent catching up on life. I spent some time reorganizing Penelope's toys which was long overdue and I finally have a reduced sense of anxiety over how cluttered our apartment feels. Shaun made steaks for dinner and it was glorious to just be home, drinking wine late at night and watching TV.

On Sunday, we had a packed day of visiting family. We started the morning with brunch at my parents house. We dined on bagels, cheesy scrambled eggs, cheese blitzes and more. We played outside with bubbles and chalk and just enjoyed a casual day with family. My aunt, uncle and cousins joined us and our best family friend was in town from Poland. After brunch, we hopped over to visit Shaun's parents for the rest of the afternoon. We grilled burgers and hot dogs for our first grill of the season. I'm so ready for a long summer filled with burgers and hot dogs! We spent more time outside playing with bubbles and even got a little soccer going with Penelope.

I hope you had a wonderful weekend! I'm so thankful for this wonderful weather that allowed us to have so much outdoor time :)

Happy Friday!

{our favorite spring indulgence: loaded hot dogs from boulevard drinks in jersey city}

It's the most glorious weather today in New York and I'm looking forward to welcoming a wonderful weekend with open arms. We'll be celebrating Mother's Day with both of our moms on Sunday and meeting friends for brunch tomorrow. Hopefully we will have some outside time and I also have some less-than-ambitious mom's day crafting on the docket for Penelope and I to do tomorrow (for her grandmas). Tonight, I'm hoping for a mini Shameless marathon as we still haven't finished the last 3 episodes and if I get some solo time, I have 2 more episodes of The Jinx that I simply cannot wait to watch.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend celebrating the moms in your life. Wishing the happiest day to all the Moms out there, whether with us or not, the moms-to-be, the moms who want to be, and the moms who are all doing their very best every single day. Sending so much love to you all!

{via}

And now some links to get you through the day!

toddler cold vs. allergy symptoms

some solid mom/life hacks

i really want to try this coconut butter coffee

we are kind of obsessed with john oliver right now, esp when he takes down standardized testing

should these foods go in the fridge or the cupboard?

what are you making for mother's day? i'm going with these baked blintzes and a cherry clafoutis

whole foods is launching a lower cost spin-off

 this new york city edible classroom garden is pretty amazing

an interesting take on mac n cheese

why a rear-facing car seat is recommended until age 4 {i'm a nut about this. P is 27 months and still comfortably rear-facing!}

you too can be enjoying a mason jar salad in 5 easy steps

i cannot WAIT to watch this documentary on Carroll Spinney aka Big Bird

i love this beauty advice for my daughter

what do you think of reese witherspoon's new product line?

and finally: 22 ways to upgrade your avocado toast. yum.

Four Things

 

I was pretty excited when Ashley from A Silver Twig tagged me to participate in the Four Things survey. I love these things! So fun! I found Ashley's blog after she posted the article, Why Your Crush on My Husband is Not Ok, and really loved her style. Many of her topics resonate with me, and I'm happy to have made a new 'blog' friend in Ashley! So without further ado, here's my four things!

Four names people call me:

1. Rachel

2. Mommy

3. Ray

4. RH --->I work with 2 other Rachels in a 13-person company!

Four jobs I've had:

1. Brand director at a brand licensing agency

2. Brand licensing coordinator for a major children's brand

3. Slide label girl at a large architecture firm

4. Intern in daytime television PR

Four movies I have/would watch more than once:

1. You've Got Mail --->like a zillion times actually

2. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation --->a holiday staple

3. Wedding Crashers --->a beloved basic cable classic

4. Despicable Me & any other animated film #momproblems

Four books I would recommend:

1. The Pillars of the Earth--->one of my all-time favorites

2. The Outlander series--->I'm knee deep in book #3

3. The Girl on the Train--->read it in under 24 hours

4. The Goldfinch--->a commitment but oh-so-good, esp. since most of it takes place in New York

Four places I have lived:

1. Old Bridge, NJ --->where I grew up

2. Manhattan --->I went to NYU

3. Jersey City --->our first apartment

4. Jersey City --->we bought an apartment in a different neighborhood

Four places I have visited:

1. Aruba --->our annual family vaca

2. Madrid, Spain---> our last big vacation before we had Penelope

3. Charleston, South Carolina --->my sisters and I took my mom for girls weekend last year

4. Tallinn, Estonia

Four places I'd rather be right now:

I'm happy where I am, but am also suffering from severe wanderlust!

1. New Orleans, LA

2. Paris

3. Napa Valley

4. being touristy in just about any city

Four Favorite Foods

1. pasta --->any variety but esp. spaghetti

2. chocolate cupcakes w/vanilla frosting

3. red wine

4. peanut butter --->on a spoon works for me

Four TV shows I watch:

1. Shameless

2. Jeopardy ---> our nightly staple.

3. Game of !@#$ing Thrones

4. Outlander

Four things I'm looking forward to in 2015:

1. Family vacations --->this year it's Aruba & Delaware

2. My sister's wedding

3. Sitting by the pool and swimming with Penelope

4. My aunt & uncle's annual PA camp out --->which reminds me, I need a new air mattress!

Four things I say all the time:

1. What is it, my love? --->when talking to Penelope

2. I can't. --->as in, I can't even. literally.

3. I love that/I hate that

4. Where's my little sweet p? --->to which Penelope responds "right here!" and I die.

Four people I'm tagging:

I hope you ladies will join in!

1. Christine @ I hate running

2. Lauren @ Keep it Sweet

3. Emily @ a nutritionist eats

4. Sues @ We Are Not Martha