FRAME

You and I sister have been antiquing together for a LONG time.  I would say around 16 years to be exact.  I can remember our first trip to Renninger’s together (in Kutztown, PA).  I really didn’t want to go because antiques are old and dusty and they kind of grossed me out.  But I left that day as top shopper.  I was drawn to baskets and wood and had armfuls of stuff for my new house.  I still have some of the items. 

Something I picked up from you is don’t buy any artwork unless it is already framed (except if you really love it).  Chances are you will buy a print and never frame it.  Especially me.  For some reason though, I feel I have been drawn to artwork lately.  Maybe I need to freshen up my house, things are starting to feel stale.  So when in Brooklyn what did I buy … art.  Well flea market art to be exact but what is better than that. 

Happy to report I am on my way to framing and hanging …

Tracy

Unframed

TA DA --- Framed!

this&that in photos

The cicadas have arrived in New Jersey

and they are pretty much everywhere!

My kids are fascinated by them

and poor Tripp doesn't know

what to do with them..

Emma usually wears some kind of "get up" to school.

This means that nothing matches, at all!

She finally wore a snappy dress..I wonder

if her teacher recognized her. Hmmm.

A dear friend has been making Ed a 

super-healthy-green-juice-drink

to help with his recovery.

There is one on our doorstep

every morning! 

I love the messages written in

green on the bags...

(thank you!!!!!!)

Ok..same dear friend hosted both of

my little ladies for a sleepover

to give Ed a little peace and quiet.

Wagon loaded up with their

bags and pillows.

(thank you again!!!!!)

Photo Monday ;)

A Great Gift Idea for Kate

from Everyone in New Jersey

(Cupcake anyone?)

Birthday Treats for School

in Pennsylvania

BIRTHDAY

Happy Birthday

KATE!

HERE ARE 7 THINGS ABOUT KATE THAT ARE GREAT: 

1. DOODLER. Many books filled with all sorts of drawings, songs, you name it!

2. HEAD STRONG. Part of being a Gemini?  Perhaps.

3. CUDDLY. Always on my heels and next to me.  She "loves" me. 

4. CONFIDENT. Kids in class look to Kate to lead the way.

5. CATCHER. Will stare you down with beady eyes as you approach the plate.

6. DECISIVE. How refreshing.

7. SMART. Loves school and loves to read.

I wish I were more like you Kate.  Don't ever change!

Love,

Your Mom

WELL

A shout out to Ed (husband to one t)

GET WELL SOON!  

"With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts." Eleanor Roosevelt

Street Art in Brooklyn

Peonies Please

I am in love with peonies. Every spring, around this time, the peonies arrive ~ sadly, their stay is always  brief. A friend spied these spectacular blooms on a corner in New York City and scooped up several bunches. I spied them at the grocery store today and did the same. With a few deep snips and a glass vase, my peonies were ready to bloom.

Peonies are known as the flowers of riches and honor. They embody romance and prosperity. Additionally, they are an omen of good fortune and a happy marriage. (one t adores anything resembling a fortune or horoscope ;)

tricia

Girl Meets Boy

Okay..everyone already knows how much we love the Brooklyn Flea Market. Enough said. Instead, I want to share a funny story about a shopping adventure in Williamsburg -- >

On a sunny, Friday afternoon, the t's explored Williamsburg. They turned a corner, came upon a tiny shop called "AD HOC" and popped in. Immediately, both t's began noticing the chic picks..a striped shirt, board shorts, a cool zipper case (see pick of the week) and graphic canvas tote bags. The t's began scooping up stuff, deciding who was getting what and heading into the dressing room. To boot, the shop owner was super nice.

It was around this point when both t's realized AD HOC is a men's shop! (I repeat ~ a men's shop) There is a chic tomboy style out there and we were tapping into that, even by accident. When it comes to fashion, the preppy/classical/surfer looks can work with girls and boys. Who knew?

Photo Friday

Scenes from Williamsburg, New York

EAT & DRINK

It was hard to walk a block in Williamsburg without stumbling upon a quaint, cozy, neighborhood restaurant. Each had a unique flavor but all had a similar style of industrial meets vintage. Best, we truly loved each and every restaurant we visited. Funny, we never made a reservation..our plan was to walk and see what we found down the street, around the corner. Here are a few highlights..

Cafe Collette: after checking in, we asked a young woman

at our hotel to recommend a spot for lunch.

Without hesitating, she sent us on our way to

Cafe Collette. And, we worried where

she would send two moms from the suburbs.

Not to fear, it was perfect. We ate at the bar

and took in the energy as locals strolled in.

We had the best salad ever..how about 

fried chicken on a bed of lettuce??!!

Bakeri: on our way to the Brooklyn Flea Market,

this tiny (I mean tiny) bakery was perfect for 

a quick coffee and a few baked goods.

If the ladies behind the counter are wearing

blue jumpsuits, you are in the right place!

ps the jumpsuits are for sale too

On our walking travels, we kept passing a restaurant 
with a crazy rustic Tequila sign.  
Looked perhaps like the local, rough and tough bar.

We were adventurous and wandered in.  
Shazam ... amazing.  
Lobster tacos and Sangria!  
Great music and great decor.

Dinner was equally as fine.  
One t was set on a Beer Garten ... what!
Super large space divided into three separate areas.  
Literally find a seat and sit anywhere.
At a large table with a bunch of strangers or 
cozy up to the bar or along the wall or in a corner.  
It all works. What a great vibe topped off with live music.  
The cuisine totally matched.
Think soft pretzels, cheese platter and beer beverages.

WYTHE

Every great girls weekend starts with a great hotel.  My thought is that we don't splurge on expensive Broadway show or concert tickets so why not splurge on some good digs.

This year's pick was the Wythe Hotel.  The hotel opened around this time last year.  Here is a quick description from the hotel's website:

Wythe Hotel started with the discovery of a factory on the Williamsburg waterfront. The building was constructed in 1901 and has been converted into a 70-room hotel.

Minimal, industrial, chic would be my best description.  It was perfect (except for the crazy fast closing elevators).  There is a bar on the 6th floor and we witnessed a line to get in on both Friday and Saturday nights.  How hip.  As guests staying at the hotel, we could bypass the line.  We did this once ... walked past the line with confidence and headed to the elevators.  A line monitor followed us, broke out into song, commented how pretty we are (noted that one t looked like a teacher) and swiped us up to the 6th floor without even asking us if were guests.  We chuckled.  It was like the old experiment of act like you belong and you can get in anywhere.  

Truth be told, instead of nightlife on Floor 6 with a view, we opted for Floor 3.  We crawled into bed, under our covers and watched TV.  Ahhh, an important part of recharging ones batteries.

Enough said ... here are some of our hotel pictures.  

PS ... the Wythe Hotel even has their own Instagram page (the coolness continues!).    

Tracy

No Sleep 'til Brooklyn

Each spring, the t's descend on New York City for a weekend filled with shopping, sightseeing and exploring. As you may know, one of our favorite traditions is a visit to the Brooklyn Flea Market. Well..this year, we decided to stay in Brooklyn for a change. Williamsburg was our 'hood of choice with flea markets on Saturday and Sunday. Stay tuned with us all week..

heading over the Williamsburg Bridge

(one t had the Beastie Boys

blasting on her iPod)

nothing says the city

like a yellow taxi cab

the t's arrive after tons of traffic

and getting a tiny bit lost

(no swagger with all of that luggage ;)

our home for the weekend

the Wythe Hotel

I LUV MOM

Both t's received the Mother's Day gift

of a trip to one of their favorite places..

the Brooklyn Flea Market.

(a huge thanks to both of our families)

A thoughtful vendor - who has piles of

letters we love collecting

had this message waiting for 

all of the shopping mothers.

Well, an earlybird, grabbed the "V"

before the flea market officially opened

and ruined the sweet message.

(bah humbug!)

Happy Mother's Day to all of the

amazing moms out there.

The world is a better place

with moms in it.

xo

both t's

Picture This

What is something the t's have in common?  Both have fairly large photo collections of their children ~ done by a variety of photographers, styled in many ways and all framed gallery style. So..recently, I heard that photographs of children, and families in general, should be relegated to more private areas of one's home, like the bedrooms or upstairs hallways, etc. Once,  I read that a decorator in Manhattan allowed just one framed family photo to be on display in the entire apartment!!!! (what???!!!!)

Well...I took some inventory in my home and this is what I found ---> most photos of the children are upstairs in the hallways and bedrooms. (whew!) I have a salon-style arrangement of their baby pictures on a large wall in my bedroom, which I love walking by many times a day. And, on a wall near the children's bathroom, there is a gallery style collection of black and white photo collages. Downstairs, inside one glass cabinet, I have a small collection of personal photos in silver frames..funny, but the cabinet makes the photos more "private" and almost decorative objects. Last, is the big rule-breaker..over my living room sofa I have oversized photos of each child hung closely in a long row. It covers the entire wall. No missing the kids here! Honestly, in my choppy Cape Cod, it was the only wall big enough to fit this collection of photos. I figure after a drink or two, no one may notice. ;)

tricia

WORDS-2

No. 2

Figure out what you want.

And learn how to ask for it.

A Natural Beauty

Lately, I've been stocking up on beauty products that are a bit more natural and "green" so to speak. It finally dawned on me that if I take care to read labels and choose wisely regarding what I put into my body, I should take the same care choosing what I put on my body (it gets absorbed eventually) Kind of makes sense, huh?

Luckily, there are are so many new products popping up everywhere. Trader Joe's, which is known for healthy food, is also an excellent source of natural beauty products. I adore their shaving cream, lavender salt scrub, and shower gel to name a few. Recently, I noticed my Neutrogena face scrub now comes in a natural version! Of course, a great go-to brand is always Kiehls. Easy breezy..

Tricia

Photo Friday 102

Communion in New Jersey

New Favorite Drink in Pennsylvania

More Words..

BLOOM WHERE

YOU ARE

PLANTED

tricia

(look closely, you may spy William)

WORDS

I know you and I both love a good quote.  I recently came across some inspirational words or thoughts (not necessarily quotes) that caused me to pause and think.  Thought I would share.  There are a couple and I will spell them out in a couple of posts.  So check back.

No. 1

GIRLS need to feel good

in order to do good.

BOYS need to do good

in order to feel good.