Jet Lag

Back to the airport and, this time, it's off to Kansas City! I'll be back next week with tales of Midwestern barbeque... 

via

Confetti Christmas

I confess. I recently received an email from West Elm announcing that their Confetti System ornaments were "going, going, nearly gone...." and I (irrationally?) took the first opportunity possible to head down to the city store to stock up. I timed the trip to arrive right as the store was opening, and I pulled up to see a line of people winding around the storefront. 

I may or may not have had a mini internal panic attack at the idea of missing out on this exciting collaboration, only to find out that the line was for a Young House Love book signing and not for my beloved holiday decorations. Needless to say, there were baskets, tables and trees full of stock to pick from--and that's when I remembered that it's only mid-November. 

Not that I let that stop me.

Monkey Bread

What’s a girl to do when she wakes up on a lazy Sunday and her boyfriend randomly requests Monkey Bread? In my case, the answer is simple: pull up Pioneer Woman’s unbelievably easy recipe and get to work….

Because, often times, the boyfriend isn’t the only one wanting to pull off and eat gooey pieces of sugary, buttery goodness early in the morning. And sometimes, when you’re in denial that winter is creeping in, the only thing that makes the idea tolerable is an excuse to get out your snowflake plate.

Girls Weekend

Pausing to admire our new manicures and pint glasses in the warehouse

My best friend from grad school recently came into town for a long-overdue visit. She’s always up for adventure, and I was thrilled that she let me put together the weekend itinerary. I went for a mix of my favorite visitor-in-town standbys and threw in a unique destination new to me—Half Acre Beer Company. We were among the last few people let in to tour, and the day seemed meant to be. Unsurprisingly, food and drink played a fairly large role in our spree. 

Wishing a Happy Birthday to my favorite morning read before hitting the L to head down to Old Town

Getting excited for lots of laughs at the Second City show

Capping the night off with the best ribs in town (sans dancing)...

...and late night cupcakes, an incredibly thoughtful hostess gift brought all the way from Jilly's Cupcake Bar

Happy Veterans Day

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.

-John F. Kennedy

Boston in 24 Hours

We took an early shuttle from the Cape into Boston on our final day, committed to squeezing in all of the city’s sites in 24 hours. Fortunately, that little red line marking the Freedom Trail can really take you places if you let it. Boston is a delightful mix of old and new, and there is a surprise around every corner.

After a full 8 hours of walking, interrupted only for a sandwich at Volle Nolle in the North End and a few Harpoons at the historic Bell in Hand Tavern, we gratefully settled into a restaurant booth at the legendary Omni Parker House hotel to sample their renowned rolls, scrod and Boston Cream Pie. Later, while walking through the lobby on the way up to our room, we paused long enough to hear a tour guide talk about the haunted room that happened to be located directly across from ours.

Eastham

Never ones to take it easy on vacation, we spent our final day on the Cape walking along the beach at low tide, hiking through a nearby Cedar swamp, visiting the Cape Cod National Seashore Visitor Center and preparing a fantastic (and lively!) meal with family in the dark of night on the crushed shell driveway.