April 2017

As a Mom, Mondays are my favorite. Mondays are, as often as I am able to, reserved for being at home with E. Recovering the house from the weekend (by Sunday night, I’m literally dying to clean) and being with E are the only two priorities. I am ordinarily a get up and dressed-for-the-day kind of person, but I give myself Mondays to keep my pajama pants on, throw on a clean shirt and have an easy, at-home day.

Elliot is at an amazing age: she still wants to match me (Hanna Andersson has the most amazing pajamas for the entire family. Once you start, they’re pretty hard to beat comfort wise) and tells me that I am her best friend, but she is also more independent with each day. If I have things to get done in the kitchen, she posts up at the sink and will play with scoops and bubbles for hours. I am constantly in awe of the wonderful imagination that she has; in ways it has challenged me to revisit my own that may have been lost in the cob webs. Something that I am learning as she gets older is that she has a desire to help and be a part of what is going on, so her sink playtime is evolving into her being given tiny tasks and loving every second of it.

Back to the Hannas, though. I am incredibly picky about what I sleep in. I don’t love regular pajama pants because they ride up my legs and end up in a nice glob behind my knees. Leggings make me feel claustrophobic and joggers are too tight of elastic around the ankle. Enter Hanna Andersson legging pajamas. The have a nice wide ankle, so they don’t ride up my leg or cut in to my lower calf and the are so. freaking. soft. They use all organic cotton and have an unconditional guarantee. What else can you ask for?

Who else is picky like me? Or am i the only spaz who has taken 10 years to re-find the perfect PJ?

Photography: Instant de Vie Photography

Pajamas: Hanna Andersson, Mom and Mini

Button Down: J Crew, similar here

Bow: Little Poppy Bow Co.

Stool: Ikea

Yellow Egg Bowl

I think we are all guilty of over-thinking holidays and special occasions, myself probably more than others. I have an incessant need to plan and have everything timed out, but I think as a host, the joy can get lost.

This year, as much as I fight it, I’m trying to learn the beauty of keeping it simple, using what I have and putting extra attention into specific areas that really make a difference as opposed to being obsessive about every tiny, likely unnoticed by others, detail.

For my husband and I , flowers (and the food/drink) are the most important and I genuinely enjoy the process of making arrangements. He also grows orchids, so I have quick access to some pretty extraordinary ones. This also opens up the opportunity to use local florists for cuts, which I love. As Elliot is getting older and wants to be a part of things, I try to include elements that are special for her; the flowers kill two birds, but I like having playful aspects, like a darling waist cape and bunnies.

With Easter approaching quickly and summer upon us, I thought I’d show an example of something I’m hoping to do this summer more often, but would be equally perfect for a low-key Easter gathering. A picnic, that’s dressed up a bit, but easy and relaxing no less! I find that a charcuterie plate and fresh fruit right in the colander are so simple and quick to pull together; Sweet treats and books lend to special moments that are hard to come buy at a busy dinner table. And my favorite is getting to watch Elliot simply imagine while we observe. Honestly, I feel like you can’t go wrong with whatever your family favorites are. I promise, if you take the time to do it, either in a park or your back yard, the charm of it is addicting and won’t disappoint.