halfway to baby.

These photos are from an early September midweek getaway to Martha's Vineyard. We took the Jeep out to Norton Point with a day pass purchased at the gatehouse (beach trail entrance). I was 14 weeks pregnant. As I type this I'm 20 weeks and really enjoying the whole experience so far. I'm feeling incredibly grateful for it. I'm content to be relaxing on the couch in the evenings because that's when the baby kicks up a storm! There is no better feeling than little baby kicks; they are the definition of life affirming joy. This weekend I took a couple long walks to enjoy the beautiful fall weather. I learned early on that running while pregnant is not for me, but I definitely feel my best making time for both rest and light exercise. 

Seeing the 18 week ultrasound was pretty incredible too - fully formed little bones, arms punching and legs moving about. We are not finding out the gender. Both our initial instincts sensed a boy, however, around week 17 I had some new instinctual feeling that it is a girl. Truly, this baby's gender will be a surprise!

I know it's going to be hard - harder than I can really imagine and I know we're not going to get any sleep (I know the things everyone tells you but NONE OF THE THINGS at the same time.) But, we are so excited to be parents!! 

Race Point | Provincetown

Cape Cod is a magical place. You can live here your entire life and only scratch the surface of the beaches to explore. The dunes are vast and largely protected. This particular day in mid June was bittersweet. We were out on Race Point in Provincetown - the very outer edge on the tip of the Cape. It began full of promise, high expectations, and the celebrations of a 30th Birthday. We loaded up the two Jeeps with provisions for a full day on the beach and a night at the light keepers house (booked months ago). We're talking coolers of food and water for two days, ice, firewood, a grill, tables, chairs, clothing and more. We passed the ORV (Over Sand Vehicle) inspections, purchased a pass, aired down the tires, ventured through the clearly marked dune trails, and set up our spot on the beach overlooking the vast Atlantic Ocean. 

At 12 noon Natural Resources came by to let us know a Piping Plover nest had hatched and we had to evacuate the beach! In a state of disbelief and confusion, along with the rest of the beach goers from fisherman to families, we all packed up. Feeling lucky though, our crew headed for the lighthouse to check in early and hit the beach on foot. We were also turned away from our accommodations for the evening, even though we were parking our Jeeps and leaving them off for the next 24+ hours. We offered to drive back to the parking lot and take the standard ATV shuttle (typical for those staying at the lighthouse) back in, but something somewhere along the way went wrong and this was also forbidden. (Natural Resources blamed the lighthouse, the lighthouse workers blamed them, finger pointing all over the dunes!!)  Major disappointment set in. 

Piping Plovers are no longer an endangered species and I believe that one tiny nest hatching a couple miles away should not be allowed to disrupt respectful humans living life. On a happy note, I'll leave you with the uninterrupted beauty of Race Point dunes and with the good intentions of returning someday to fulfill the experience.

The Year 2015

It is time for a little reminiscing on an amazing year. I am very grateful for all of it. Thank you, 2015. 

[January]

Travel - We kicked off the year with plenty of skiing in Maine and Vermont. 

Boston Restaurants - I had a chance to experience East by Northeast before they closed a few months later / Discovered Besito serves really good Mexican food in Chestnut Hill.

Coconut Curry Lobster Noodles @ East x Northeast + Tres Leche Cake @ Besito

[February]

Travel - Jetted off to Northwestern Canada where we skied in Alberta at Banff and Sunshine and in British Columbia at Revelstoke.

Boston Restaurants - enjoyed a terrific meal at the new Earl's in Assembly Row

[March]

Travel - It was all about the USVI and BVI this month. My cousins picture perfect wedding on St. John / a day trip to Water Island / 5 days on Virgin Gorda / a day trip to Anegada / a day at Coki Beach on St. Thomas / This trip is one of my favorite to reminisce on - I still get lost in the Caribbean landscapes and lifestyle; sparkling teal waters, azure sky, pristine beaches, fish tacos and painkillers for days, snorkeling with tropical wildlife for hours....

Boston Restaurants - checked out the new Japanese Hot Pot Shabumaru in the Westin Copley / Feasted on Skrei (premium Norwegian Cod Fish) at Legal Harborside. 

[April]

Travel - The day we all hiked and skied Tuckerman Ravine in New Hampshire was one for the memory books!

Inspiration - Despite all of the Caribbean Sun in March, I was still okay returning home to Charlestown and the snowpocalypse. 

[May]

Travel - Again with the travel posts taking up an entire month! I was really encouraged and inspired by my press trip to Cleveland, Ohio. If you are going to send me to a city and pay for my flights, hotel, dinners, drinks and experiences, you better believe I am going to soak in every detail and write honestly about it all in return. (Hint: I plan vacations for friends + family all the time and am AVAILIBLE for press!)

Boston Restaurants - Select Oyster Bar was one of my favorite openings of 2015. If you haven't checked them out yet, make it a point to get there in 2016!

Inspiration - In a rare moment of downtime - home at my apartment on Bunker Hill Street in Charlestown. This is where I lived for a moment in time and it was so, so glorious!

[June]

Travel - All about New England this month: a weekend in Newport, Rhode Island / a weekend on Martha's Vineyard + a phenomenal dinner at Red Cat Kitchen in Oak Bluffs. 

Boston Restaurants - I had been neglecting to keep up with the restaurant scene posts for months, so I started a series of "where I've been lately" roundups. The June edition includes five all time favorites: Highball Lounge, Eastern Standard, Row 34, Island Creek Oyster Bar and Shojo.

[July]

Travel - The annual girls trip brought us to Charleston, South Carolina. Notable restaurants we visited: Bin 152, FIG, Poogan's Porch and Chez Nous. Additionally, Bob and I spent the 4th with his family on Lake Winnipesauke.

Inspiration - The Hendricks Gin Flying Cucumber. One of the coolest things I've ever experienced! You have to see it to believe it!

[August]

Travel - We spent a glorious amount of time outdoors. The month kicked of with back-to-back hiking and camping weekends in The White Mountains: Mount Madison + Osgood which was followed by Mount Washington + Dolly Cop. From there we took a week off and made the rounds: Bob's sisters house on Lake Winnipesauke --> A quaint Bed + Breakfast in Wellfleet --> my Mom's house in Yarmouthport. I actually didn't post anything about that week - it was a much needed escape for family time, us time, lake time and beach time. 

Boston Restaurants - Had a wonderful meal at Babbo Pizzera with the girls. I have recommended Babbo to quite a few friends and co-workers, everyone's feedback has been overwhelmingly positive / Tempo in Waltham treated me to a delicious evening.  

Inspiration - I partnered with Ribera Y Rueda Spanish Wines on their Si What's Next Campaign and had a ton of fun! Also, I moved in with Bob in Newton!

[September]

Travel - This summer we got an ORV beach pass + a paddleboard and had a lot of memorable weekends on Crowes Pasture. September is particularly great because it is still warm and all the tourists have faded out.

Boston Restaurants - Checked out Southie newcomer Coppersmith at their soft opening. 

[October]

Travel -  OREGON ROAD TRIP. Bob and I on the road for 9 days. It was incredible. We visited: Portland, the Columbia River Gorge, Astoria, Cape Disappointment, Shipwreck Beach, Cannon Beach, Newport, and the Willamette Valley. 

Boston Restaurants - The October round up edition features favorite spots in Allston + Brighton! Deep Ellum, Devlin's, The Breakfast Club (pictured) + Thai North,

[November]

Boston Restaurants - The November round up was for two newcomers: Branch Line in Watertown // Gracenote Coffee Roasters in the Leather District. And two old favorites: Granary Tavern in the Financial District // Silvertone in Downtown Crossing. I also attended a slew of media dinners: Masa Taqueria in Woburn, Not Your Average Joe's in Waltham and Liquid Art House in Back Bay.

Inspiration - We hosted Thanksgiving! I took a hard hat tour of the under construction Godfrey Hotel located on Washington Street in Downtown Crossing right across the street from my office. 

 

[December]

Boston Restaurants - Another big month for dining out in Boston, most notably at Clio for their Final Service. There was dinner at Lincoln 51 (above) with the ladies, Loretta's Last Call with my sister, Seasons 52 with Bob, and Dim Sum at Hei La Moon. 

Inspiration - My sister, Leah, started her own blog: Joy of Outside - definitely check it out! Her and Alex hosted our family Christmas complete with an amazing Hot Chocolate Bar.

Travel - The Green Mountains to bring in the new year with friends!

I feel really lucky for it all. I hope everyone is having a great start to 2016!