KIND

We were at a swim meet this weekend and while sitting there Kate gave Grandma a great big hug.  I watched and smiled and got a tap on the shoulder. A gentleman behind me observed this and said that was so nice, I should have taken a picture.  Darn.  So I grabbed my camera and tried to recreate the moment.  That of course didn't happen.  

So Kate and I got silly.  We started taking some self-portraits as we often do. Think tongues sticking out, bunny ears, etc.  I feel another tap on the my shoulder.  The same gentleman is packing up to leave and he shows me his iPad. He took some lovely photos of Kate giving me a great big hug.  He thought it was a special moment to share.  How kind.  He handed me his business card and said if I email him he would send me the photos.

Turns out this man's son was looking at the swim photos and thought our photos were taken accidentally so he deleted them.  Sigh.  My new friend is having the IT department at the University of Delaware, where he works (think math professor with a PhD), working to retrieve them.  Oh my.

So the next time you catch someone else's special moment, take a picture and share.  

Tracy

this & that

1. Ok..enough of this weather. I know you love to ski, but would it warm up already? We took a field trip to the beach today just to see the brisk, blue ocean. It made me want summer even more. I'll even take spring!

2. Well done on your room freshen up! (insert round of applause here) Love the gray walls, camp blankets ;) and super-fresh-and-modern work station. The boys must love their "new" room. I do.

3. If you have a daughter, you should read Girl Land by Caitlin Flanagan. As the cover read, "Boys. Other girls. Menstruation. Dating. Diaries. Sex. For most girls, these are the signposts along the road that leads from childhood to adulthood, in the territory Caitlin Flanagan calls Girl Land." Honestly, as a mother of two daughters, the book scared the daylights out of me (especially the chapter on proms) but it did provide wise advice for navigating Girl Land in today's complex world.

4. There may be a field trip to The Golden Nugget Flea Market in Lambertville soon! I am sure my kids will love it. (not) Although, they do love walking across the bridge that takes them from New Jersey into Pennsylvania and back again. Maybe a promise of ice cream will gain me some extra time at the flea market too. Great picks (with a little digging and a bit of vision) ~ still regret a small oil painting of an old man I passed on. Wish me luck! (with the kids that is ;)

tricia

Spring at Spring Lake

REVEAL

I actually carried thru on a project.  It took a week, two weekends and a lot of help from G&B (Grandma and Buddy).  The goal was simple: freshen up and add function. I think we succeeded.

I love the boys room and their work space soooo much.  And so does someone else. Take a peak below.  

Tracy

Before

After

Surprise

I Heart NYC

For Grace's spring break, she and I snuck into the city to enjoy all things New York.. I wanted her to experience the city like a local instead of a tourist. To (hopefully) achieve this, we stayed at The Mark on the Upper East Side and became part of this neighborhood for a few days ~ we explored the Guggenheim Museum, enjoyed the shops along Madison Avenue, walked through Central Park, hailed taxi cabs (Grace loved cab rides ;) and frequented nearby restaurants. All in all, I think we did feel like locals, even if just briefly.

{On any vacation, it is tempting to pack too much into one visit..this is what I learned on this trip --> often, less is more and experiencing a place in an 'authentic' way yields memorable memories. Think quality vs. quantity.}

tricia

view over Madison Avenue

from our room

at The Mark

Hello Spring

Winter wasn't ready to depart without one more blast of snowy weather. Brrrrrr. While I love a cozy, day by the fire as snowflakes fall..I am ready for spring to arrive. While walking the dog, I spied a bunch of Lily of the Valley, already in bloom. Perhaps nature knows something we don't. Let's hope so!

tricia

WHITE

I think everyone is ready for Spring which officially starts on Wednesday, March 20th.  But today it is snowing.  And hard.  We are expecting 2-3 inches.  Our biggest snowfall of the winter.  Go figure.  Let it snow!

Tracy

p.s. boy bedroom renovation is done --- getting ready for the big reveal :)

SAVE

Is it just me?  I don’t remember daylight savings time kicking my butt as much as it did these past couple of years.  A friend on Facebook said the same thing.  I feel it especially in the spring when you spring forward.  Waking up at 6:00 am feels like 5:00 am even though going to bed at 10:00 pm should feel like 9:00 pm.  I don’t get it!!!!

Tracy

Somewhere in Manhattan

thank you!

One of the many reasons I love having a sister is the wise advice I receive just when I need it the most. Life is a long, windy road filled with ups and downs..sometimes a sister is just the compass I need to keep me on track. This is what she told me..

1. sometimes you have to be happy with good - everything in life doesn't have to be great - good is good enough 

2. be "light" in life instead of "heavy"

3. look for the accomplishment not the failure

4. think in terms of goals instead of quotas

5. be happy!

Thank you for the advice super sister. You made my day.

tricia

rainy day photos

MNIMAL

It’s funny how styles change and if you look close enough you can see a style come full circle. 

IKEA was popular post college mainly due to affordability.  Then I saw my style evolve to more woods and antiques which are typically more expensive.  But I find myself circling back to the minimal modern look.  And thus IKEA (again).

We are redoing the boys bedroom.  It is shared space and there is a four year age difference.  The room is tired and needs to be repurposed to add study space for the 8^th grader and redecorated.  Not one ounce of our house goes unused and we are always trying to squeeze more function out of each and every space.  We added shelves to the closet, we moved some furniture around, we are painting the room, adding furniture and decorating.  Easy, right.

Thanks to T&T I had a fun and productive trip to IKEA.  I had a list and bought everything on the list.  Truly amazing for those who know me.  Keep an eye out for the bedroom renovation big reveal.

Tracy 

The Orchardist

If you happened to see me over the weekend, chances are my nose was buried deep in a book. (just ask Ed!) The Orchardist by Amanda Coplin has been on my reading list for some time..finally I spied it at the little bookstore in my town. I can't think of the last time a book caught me like this one did.

{The plot: at the turn of the century, an orchardist happens upon two pregnant teenage girls in his orchard. As these lives intersect, a story of compassion, misfortune and hope unfolds.}

Don't miss this one ~ save it for the summer or a quiet weekend. You may end up with your nose buried in this book too.

tricia

PS someone told me there was too much Easton last week..I beg to differ! ;)

Photo Friday 99

Can you spy a 't' at Salvage Goods in Easton?

(note the 'T' on the wall ;)

"Now and Then" at a ski trip in Vermont

TASTE

Creative vibe and cool shops but what Easton, PA has is taste.  For some reason, this city seems to be the hub for great restaurants in the Lehigh Valley.  Not sure why but the list does not disappoint.  

On this particular outing, we chose our restaurant based on schedule.  Shops wouldn't open on a Sunday until 11:00/12:00 so we thought what would be better than brunch.  We met at 10:00 am at Maxim's 22.  A new French Bistro that has been getting great reviews.  

Upon arrival, one T was already there and had Brut, Baked Brie and Marinated French Olives to start.  Wow --- there's more.  Then there was lobster omelets and croissant egg sandwiches to be had.  Divine!

The decor was very well done.  They truly captured a French Bistro in Pennsylvania.  I loved the bathrooms (odd I know).  You loved the creative touches including the fact that the #22 in the name is from a restaurant owner's high school football jersey number.

After shopping, we stopped in at a local bar --- Pearly Baker's Alehouse.  The building dates back to 1869.  Noteworthy was our super waiter (I think he was flirting with us), the amazing buffalo french fries, good drinks and energy considering it was 2:00 pm on a Sunday afternoon.  

What a great day!

Tracy

Mercantile Home

How cool is this? --> Mercantile Home (in their own words) "is a creative lifestyle brand dedicated to community revitalization and job creation. In our studio, based in Easton, Pennsylvania, we design and produce artful accessories for both the individual and the home utilizing new, organic, and recycled materials." Well said.

When we visited Mercantile Home recently, we were inspired by the creative vibe in the store ~ especially the sewing/craft area where artisans were busy working away. The store has a treasure trove of handmade goods. A few of our favorites..woven bracelets, brightly painted gnomes, cozy blankets, golden horseshoes, candles and one-of-a-kind teddy bears. Best of all, the prices are incredibly reasonable and any purchases support a local economy.

FYI: if you can't make it to Easton..

you can shop their online store --> Mercantile Home

tricia

Field Trip: Easton

Recently, the t's met for another outing in Easton, Pennsylvania. There were some new shops and restaurants to investigate..perfect for a gray, Sunday morning. I appreciate little pockets of creativity and passion anywhere and everywhere. It is inspiring to find people who are passionate about what they love, whether it is cooking, sewing, art, etc., and their passion becomes their trade, so to speak. While Easton may seem like a town that time forgot, there are creative places sprinkled here and there. The t's have lots to share, including a few picks from the field trip.

tricia

a map is helpful to navigate the city

chalk art on a side alley

the t's