Currently

 

Another school year is quickly coming to a close, and as of next Friday both boys will officially be home for the Summer. I know I just typed that line, but honestly my head hasn't really be able to process what that will mean. I actually love having them home because it means the pace is much slower during the day, but finding ways to keep these boys busy (that doesn't involve punching one another) is often more challenging a task than I am sometimes up for. At least the LM has a few weeks of lacrosse camp before we leave for out annual Costa trip, and Gray is a pretty good sidekick so long as he knows there is ice cream somewhere along the way. I'm telling you, for a kid who spent the first two years of his life allergic to dairy, he's certainly not having any trouble making up for lost time ;).

On the personal front,  I just took on my fourth home project this morning and I can't believe that I am really doing this decorator thing, and even better is how thrilled people have been with my work! Right now I have very little infrastructure in place for help with the boys, (read none) so I'm pretty excited for what will happen in the Fall when both kiddos are in full day school. My newest project is a BIG one so I plan on spending a big chunk of the next few months focusing on that, while finishing up some earlier projects which are quickly moving along. Also, I'm not sure if you all saw on my Instagram about the piece that my favorite boutique Dress wrote about our line, but the cat is out of the bag and it's true- the next woman featured in our #BOSSLADIES series is going to be none other than RBG herself. The totes should be available for purchase in the next few weeks so keep your eyes peeled, I have a feeling she is going to sell out fast!

Other than that we are back to our old routine now that the LM is cast free. Skateboarding, followed by lacrosse, sleep and repeat. Gray is thrilled to be joining is big brother in school next year but we are all a little sad about leaving the nursery school that has been our home the last six years. With the kids they call this the "mad, sad, glad" time of year and I think that pretty much sums up my feelings perfectly.

I realized I haven't posted some family pictures in quite a while so for those of you who would like to see, here is a little of what we've been up to the past few months. 

The Moorings Hotel & Spa: I Want To Stay There

Have you all watched the Netflix series Bloodline? It took us a little while to get into it, but now we are completely hooked! Actually, it took my husband a while to get into it, most likely because throughout the first few episodes I would yell out "that house!" every 5 minutes in regards to the fictional inn that is central to every episode. It has always been a secret dream of mine to run away and open a bed and breakfast and I can think of no place better than the Florida Keys to make that dream come true. With lazy days, white sand beaches and ample supplies of margaritas, I keep telling my husband I would die to stay in a place like the one featured in the show. Oh, and don't even get me started on the hammock that hangs at the end of the pier... let's just put a "reserved for Robin sign on that one."

Well, it turns out that the fictional inn is actually a real inn and you can bet I want to stay there! With multiple cabanas and an insane main house I can't think of a better place to escape winter than the Moorings Hotel and Spa. I did a little digging into the hotel and I am absolutely in love with every inch of the property. Throw in a Kyle Chandler sighting and I really can't think of a more perfect vacation. For those of you who aren't familiar with the setting, here is a little taste of the Rayburn House err Moorings Hotel.

Our 7 Favorite Summer Recipes

GRILLED CORN WITH QUESO FRESCO, LIME & CHILI

It is 90 degrees outside and I for one could not be more excited about the sudden uptick in temperatures! After the winter we've just had I am more than happy to spend the next 4 months sweating all day and every day, and for everyone already complaining about the heat just remember one word; snow!!!

A Desk In The Boys' Room

If you had asked me at the beginning of the year what the LM would be most excited about in first grade, I most definitely would have said science or sports... and not necessarily in that order. As the year is quickly coming to a close it turns out that his true passion is actually art and writing. My husband and I are still kind of floored by this, and more and more the LM is retreating to his room to create comic books, or since they studied French impressionists at school, trying to recreate a famous work of art from that period. Obviously I am thrilled about this, and to be honest I'd be happy if he was doing anything other than asking for the iPad, so after seeing him hunched over on the floor the other day I asked if he would like to have a desk in his room. The kid was so excited you would have thought I'd asked if he wanted to go to Disneyland! He hasn't really started getting that much homework yet, and when he does he works at the kitchen table, but with a chatty three year old brother I can tell that he is starting to want a place where he can sit and think a little bit. I figured we would get a desk for their room down the road, but after getting this picture from his friend's mom who took him to a skate park over the weekend, I figured the time was now, and quickly picked out a sweet little desk for this room. 

Sorry, Not Sorry

For you ladies out there, how often do you find yourself apologizing?

Me?

I do it ALL THE TIME!

My husband always comments on it, because its actually super awkward that I am always saying "I'm sorry" 10,000 times a day.

Some guy bumps into me at Whole Foods and my response is "I'm sorry, so sorry, I'm sorry." Or something will happen with the kids (usually at a child appropriate place) and if I think it's bothering someone I will begin to apologize profusely for myself. It only gets worse when we are in a foreign country, where I find myself saying it over and over but really for no reason. I have no idea why but it feels like I am always apologizing for something! I actually thought this was just my own little tic, but then we saw this skit on Inside Amy Schumer a few weeks back and we both almost died.
Apparently I am not the only one who does this!



I have to ask, is this habit one that is central to all women, or just certain women? Certainly I've never heard my husband do it in such a rapid and unnecessary way, or really any other man for that matter. I'd love to know if any of you are also in the habit of constantly apologizing?

Other annoying habits I'd love to loose include:

I say "like" all the time. The more nervous I am, the more I say it. I don't know if it's the former Cali girl in me or what, but a few weeks back I saw an interview I did, in print, and was horrified at the number of times I said "like."

I also do what the LM and my husband call the "fake laugh" when speaking with new people. This too is also a nervous tic, but I really can't help it. I just laugh at everything! Now that the LM has been pointing it out, aka making fun of me, and I've tried really hard to stop but that too seems an almost impossible habit to break!

Do any of you know any tricks for losing something that is so embedded in your vocabulary? I guess being aware of it is the first step but then I have to wonder if I will end up saying "I'm sorry" for saying "I'm sorry?" Like, I don't know... haha ;) (Look at that I was able to get all three a row!)

Seriously though, I'd love any advice you have!

P.S. Amy is just killing it this season! If you don't watch you should!
P.P.S. I totally would have been the one to offer to get the guy something for his stomach!
P.P.P.S. Hope you all have a wonderful long weekend!

Green With Envy

You all know that if there is one common theme in our home it's that I love decorating with navy blue. I don't really do it intentionally, and even when I try to infuse another color like black, I always find myself circling back to the my safe and beautiful navy. It's not that I don't still love blue, which is good considering that our home is covered in it, but I have to say sometimes when I dream of our next home I wonder if I could actually decorate in a different color pallet and still love it just as much.

What color you ask?

My Sister's Wedding: The Cake

It's hard to believe it but we are now in the final stages of planning my little sister's wedding and I'm thrilled to report that we figured out the linen situation thanks to one of you lovely readers! I will post on what we decided to do once they come in, but let me just say that they are going to be more amazing than I ever dreamed of! We've experienced very few hiccups during this whole process (knock on wood) and the main one involved the wedding cake. Originally we both wanted to a do a macaroon cake for guests, and in addition the groom's cousin offered to do a small cake for the couple to cut in to. While sourcing macaroons we found that 1) they are very expensive, and 2) don't do well in heat and humidity. Considering the wedding is on the water in July, one of the hottest months of the year, we quickly discarded that idea given that I could think of nothing worse at a wedding than presenting an expensive cake of deflated macaroons. 

On My Radar

Reading

Right now I'm reading this book and Can't.Put.It.Down! You thought Amy from Gone Girl was maniacal? Just get ready!

Listening 
I don't know why I am incapable of finding new music to listen to, but as a 90's child my heart lies in that decade and that decade alone. Right now I have this best of compilation from my former idol playing on repeat right now. The cover of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" is worth the download price alone.

Spring's Biggest Trend: The Denim Skirt

This season the denim skirt is back in a MAJOR way and I have to ask... did it ever really leave? I can distinctly remember the three denim skirts I have owned in my own lifetime and I wonder how/why they were ever discarded from my daily wardrobe. 

First, there was the white one that I used to wear with boat shoes every day of middle school. Then the denim mini in high school that I would throw on over my bathing suit topped with a hoodie from a local surf company (a fashionista I was not.) Finally, there was the one I bought in law school that I wore all over Europe the first summer my husband and I were dating that I paired with a striped shirt and flip flops which I thought felt incredibly chic but looking back I'm thinking probably made me stand out as a tourist!

On Pinterest

Have you read this piece from the New Yorker titled A Day in the Life of Pinterest? It made me laugh out loud and it is a little frightening how accurate it is! As usual they nailed it!

Happy Saturday!

P.S. My Pinterest Profile.

P.P.S. I'm guessing it's only a matter of time before someone actually names their kid Pinterest. haha

4 Short Hair Style Tips

A few years back I cut my too long hair into a bob, or lob, or fob (whatever it's called these days) and ever since that first snip I haven't felt the urge to go back. Sure, there are still times I yearn for long, mermaid like hair, but the reality is that a shorter cut suits my fine hair so much better and a mid-length cut is just so easy to style for everyday wear that I can't really think of a reason to ever grow out my hair again.

Now, that's not to say I don't get a little bored with my cut and right now I'm again paying the price for forgetting that I am not a layer person. However, generally I've found that there are enough ways to style my shorter length and I'm often getting asked if I just got a hair cut when in fact I usually go 6 months without one because I love the way each cut grows out. When I had longer hair I would typically just wear it in a pony tail or top knot, but since I've had a shorter length I've found that I've needed to be a little more creative with my styling. This is the downside to a shorter cut, but the upside is that I've pretty much disowned my blowdryer and the curling iron really only makes an appearance on very special days.

Below are the 4 easy ways that I've found are best for styling mid-length hair and the hair products that I just can't live without... no blowdrying necessary.

Best Marble Accessories: A Roundup

The biggest compliment that I can receive in regards to our home is that it feels "homey." I absolutely love it when friends are over and feel comfortable enough to plop down on the sofa and kick their shoes off, or when someone comments on how "lived in" our space feels. Since this is the place that the boys will likely remember as their childhood home it is really important to me that the space they grow up in feels warm and inviting.  

I feel like there are only two ways to get this look, the first being actually living in a space forever and organically collecting and acquiring things. The second, which is what most of us do, is to fake it.

Current Home Lust Item: A Black Exterior

Every few years the topic of moving to California comes up in the Anderson household, pretty much like clockwork, and right now my husband is again daydreaming about how nice it would be to live closer to the surf. My response is always "over my dead body" but since I have to be a reasonable spouse the family knows that if we had to move for his work we'd obviously go. Anything short of that however, we're staying put!

A Birthday + A Surprise

Over the weekend I turned 36 (yay!!!) and decided to take the pink haired plunge that I had been dreaming of. When the time came I had no hesitation to go for the full monty, and was more than a little disappointed to hear that the pink may not stick to all my hair. Turns out because I am a highlighted platinum blonde, and not a full platinum blonde, that to get the look I really wanted I would have had to strip or double process my entire head of hair. Between the bleach and Costa Rica I feel like my hair is already as dry as it needs to be, so I opted to just give it a go as it was and three pink applications later I left the salon looking like this.

The Tribal Hotel: I Want To Stay There

You all know that we love Costa Rica. That country has truly become our home away from home, and right now we are again ramping up for our monthly Summer trip. It's beautiful, it's safe, it's easy to get to from the United States, and it is very tourist friendly. It's also very popular right now. Each year we head back to our sacred beach, only to find more and more people laying on the sand. While this is great for the tourist driven economy, it does sometimes make us feel a little disappointed and we are slowly turning into those people who say "remember when?" It's not that I mind a crowd, but more so that it tends to negate the feeling of adventure that we used to feel when pulling off the dusty road into our little secret slice of heaven.

When it comes to traveling with the boys we definitely aren't looking to change destinations anytime soon. The things that make our little town so popular are the same reasons that we feel comfortable bringing our kids there. It's safe and quiet, and after our last injury filled visit I am even more convinced that if something were to go wrong that we would receive incredible care. With two rowdy little boys, something is always sure to go wrong as evidenced by the staples the LM received in his head earlier this week after a fall at school!

My husband and I were discussing this the other night, thinking of places that could be the "next" Costa Rica and I remembered reading about The Tribal Hotel in Nicaragua in one of my monthly magazines. At the time it was the decor that I remembered being impressed by, but when I went on their site and saw that all rooms (even their suites) were under $200 dollars a night, I was really in love. Set outside the town of Grenada the hotel is perfect for a getaway that combines exploring the colonial city, with laying by the pool (my specialty) drinking cocktails (also my specialty). I don't know if this is a place I'd bring the kids yet, but I am definitely jockeying for a long weekend away with my husband here. You know my inner bohemian absolutely loves the decor and after drooling over these images I can absolutely say that I want to stay there!

Who wants to leave tonight? ;).

Pink Hair... REALLY Don't Care.

Spring has finally sprung in Boston and you can't walk more than a block without running into a perfectly pink Cherry Blossom tree. As a Californian, I never really appreciated what events like blossoming trees and falling leaves can mean for your psyche. Despite a busy week and an unexpected head cold, I lately feel like I am skipping as I make my way through town...listen, the 80 degree temperatures don't hurt things either.

The cherry blossoms also symbolize that I am about to become another year older. My birthday is on Saturday and typically it means very little to me. Since it's always close to Mother's Day the boys  do something nice (i.e. ask me what I want) and we will hit up our favorite Korean Barbecue spot. I don't mind a quiet day because in all honesty I am just not a big birthday person. Usually I find myself saying that little has changed in the past year, but I have to admit this year I definitely feel older. Actually not older, but more mature.

Do You Wear Lingerie?

Do you wear lingerie on a regular basis? I have to admit that I've never really been a fan. In fact, I was even thrown a lingerie themed shower the day before my wedding and everyone knew me so well that I only received pajamas! 

I used to think lingerie was too much effort, but after last weekend I may be changing my tune. 

My Favorite Boston and NYC Restaurants + Honorable Mention

We are back after an incredible weekend in the city and other than a sore liver I am happy to report that the weekend was just as amazing as I anticipated! The fact that Summer decided to show its face a few months early was just the icing on the cake, and even though the service at our hotel was less than desirable, the rooms and amenities were pretty fabulous. This view from our balcony certainly made waking up just a little bit easier after a late night. A few A list celebrities were also staying at the hotel and one of the highlights of the trip was watching the paparazzi get in a tizzy every time we walked out the door. Nope, sorry... not her! Man, that is one crazy circus, I can't imagine what that must be like day in and day out!

Without question my favorite thing to do while in NYC is eat, and certainly there are unlimited options. While plotting another trip this Summer trip I began listing off all the restaurants I want to visit and it came as a surprise to no one that they were the same ones that I always want to patron. Turns out that I am one of those people who when I find something that works is very hesitant to change it up! Given that we don't go out very much, I think I just want each time to be as good as it possibly can be. I'm not eager to risk a night when I know there could have been a better option! 

When in New York my tried and true favorite places to eat are the following. Most of these recommendations came courtesy of my sister-in-law (the all knowing New Yorker) so I really can't take credit for them, but I can say I live for dining at them. 

A Weekend At The Greenwich

There are weekends and then there is THIS weekend. 

THIS weekend I'm throwing my sister a bachelorette party and unlike most parties this one includes taking the train to NYC, meeting up with some of our closest friends, checking into the famed Greenwich hotel, walking through Gramercy, SoHo, and Tribeca for a little window shopping (ABC carpet I'm coming for you!)  swimming at the hotel (spending most of our time at the swim up sake bar,) massages, brunches and dinner. In short, total girly bliss.

I mean... what more can I say. It's going to pretty much be the most incredible weekend ever and I can't think of a better way to celebrate the girl I love more than life itself.

We leave this afternoon and I'm frantic getting everything together before I go, so I will leave you with some design porn that only the Greenwich Hotel can provide. I've been to the hotel a number of times, but I've yet to actually stay there and I'm not going to lie, I'm a little too excited to see which room we will be in!

You know I'll be taking my share of pictures and I'll report back next week!

Happy Friday!