Get Your Greens

We spend the Fourth of July Holiday tucked away in the Green Mountains, a place I reference often as it’s a landscape that unifies our family and recharges our minds and bodies. I find that I struggle to truly sink into relaxation in this season of life — reading a book feels like a major feat these days. However, being in the natural world, hiking, exploring, breathing in the mountain air, getting a little gritty while disconnecting from my inbox and overscheduled life, it is a feeling that brings me great comfort. Luckily, we’ve introduced our son to this way of life at an early age and he thrives in this environment, too. It makes my heart happy. Especially when the outside world feels so heavy, to be able to nourish ourselves in a pure landscape…it’s our comfort food.

In a way, I have a different identity when we are in Vermont. In the winter, I live in leggings and oversized sweaters. Casual city. In the summer, I’m usually outdoors, in hiking pants, a bandana and dry-wick top. I look like a glorified troop leader. With the summer season front and center, I thought I’d share some of my favorite go-tos for life spent questing for mountain time.

HIKING PANTS
The key is to wear pants in the summer given the bugs and ticks. These lightweight Patagonia pants are perfect.

BADGER BUGS
We are big on the natural products and have troves of this natural bug spray at the ready. I do think the natural products make your hair and skin a bit more oily, so a proper bath is required post-endeavor!

TRAIL SHOES
I have traditional hiking boots and trail sneakers. I do like the ankle support the boots provide, however I recently switched things up with these Solomon Thundercross shoes and have been quite pleased. A good summer alternative when you don’t want to wear a clunky boot.

BANDANA
I have a large assortment of bandanas, from gas station finds, to Pucci prints, and more. A recent score from Nickey Kehoe has been a constant. Load them up with bug spray before tying around your neck or in your pony tail.

BACKPACK
We are big fans of OSPREY products — from their baby packs to kids packs and adult packs. They do a great job of designing their products that adapt to the body form, be sure to invest in a pack that is for your respective gender. I fill mine with a banana and the essentials like keys and trail maps, but I’m mostly in it for the water supply.

MELAMINE PLATES
I scored these incredible faux-bois wood grain plates at a chic shop years ago. They are impossible to find online, however they have been so useful for outdoor picnics at home, at concerts in the mountains, and at campsites. I highly recommend having a stash!

Farewell!

Saying goodbye to this funky cabin brings so many unexpected emotions. It’s gone through iterations (some questionable), and a place where we’ve shared countless memories with friends and as a growing family.

From dance parties, to Fort Fern quests, birthdays, New Years Eves, Troop Misty Moss endeavors, champagne in the snow, après ski, winter R&R, shooting fireworks off the deck — there are so many fun moments to recall.

Affectionately known as The Eagle’s Nest, it was imperfect and ever evolving. It played host to some pretty significant milestones in various seasons, it was a place where our dog Bear spent his last vibrant days, where our son was introduced to Vermont just a few weeks old, and our first home project as a newly married couple.

We are so happy to pass it on to another ski family and have already loved making new memories in our log cabin, not to far away…

Birthday Flowers

As a parent, there are often unexpected, random moments with your child that quite literally melt your heart. Last fall, my four year old son and I were planting Allium bulbs in our front garden. I watched with delight as he took charge digging each hole, positioning the bulbs correctly and smothering the surface with its dirt.

Toward the end of this task, he paused and looked up at me with his big brown eyes and asked, “But Mommy, when will they bloom?” I responded, explaining that while we are planting now, they won’t bloom until late spring, closer to his birthday in June. (The concept of time is still very much a learning endeavor with young children). He then joyfully squealed and said “let’s call them Birthday Flowers!” My heart exploded.

What I particularly love about flowers is the sentimentality that is often attached to them. For example, Black-eyed Susans and Bleeding Hearts will forever remind me of my Grandmother, and her Adirondack Garden. Foxgloves and Queen Anne’s Lace will conjure visions of our mountain wedding, and peonies always illicit thoughts of my sister.

Below, may I present said Birthday Flowers, a little joy we can all look forward to year after year.

A Small Victory

I went to bed last evening with a grin on my face. For what seems like years, I’ve had stacks of books on my bedside that I’ve never been able to finish. Perhaps it’s the English Major in moi that is simply uninspired or burnt out at this point. Or the fact that my brain is constantly swirling and can’t seem to really get in the groove with a book, unless I am on the beach or by the sea. I’d read a few chapters here and there, get bored, and move on. The other week, I decided to pick up Ina Garten’s Memoir and instantly, it became the perfect book to fall asleep with. A friend described it as “cute” and I think that is an accurate representation of its essence. It very much chronicles her hard work, persistence and intuition that resulted in her success. She touches on the difficult childhood that shaped her, in addition to sharing fun stories, adventures in Paris and a deeper peek into her relationship with Jeffery, her husband and biggest champion. The memoir is wholesome, honest and comforting, akin to her cooking.

Speaking of cooking, I’ve been spending more time mapping out lovely family meals, Sunday Suppers, and home cooked dinners with friends. I recently made Ina’s Creamy Chicken Thighs with Lemon and Thyme — wow! It has so much flavor and made for yummy left overs. I highly recommend.

It’s a small victory, but one I’m celebrating — finishing her book! As we head into the warmer months here in New England, it also gave me an added motivation to stay committed to growing my library. Next up, Graydon Carter.

In the meantime, read Ina’s memoir, see here.

Spring Pre-Order

I could not be more thrilled to look forward to this lovely monograph as Tom Scheerer is King in my world. His last book lives prominently on my coffee table and its spine is so soft, its pages stained in wine — the amount of late night studying by the fire has been both educational and therapeutic.

Add to your own cart, here.

SANTA,BABY

My last post referenced our new beginning in a cabin we recently moved into in the Green Mountains. Naturally, my mood boards are flooded with images of Ralph Lauren’s Double RL Ranch, Miles Redd’s Adirondack project and Emma Burns’ Wisconsin compound. This new home is an authentic log cabin with “good bones” we look forward to taking our time with, making it a true legacy home for our family. I’m not one that leans contemporary, especially in this woodland setting — I spent so much time in the Adirondacks in my younger years and have developed a deep appreciation for all things “camp” that we want to strike the balance of something that feels rustic and rugged, with a slight cheerful yet moody spin.

I hardly have the brain capacity to wrap my head around what properly furnishing this home looks like, but I did stumble upon the below desk that continues to flirt with my mind. I adore its red tooled leather top and am such a sucker for casters — she would make for a chic desk to work remotely from the mountains, or even a fabulous bar.

Santa, BABY!

Nostalgia & New Beginnings

The Thanksgiving Holiday was one of the coziest yet, and perfectly timed after a robust Autumn. Twenty-one inches of fresh snow certainly aided in the cozy factor and made for great hiking, sledding and sporting. It’s hard to believe I am writing on the 3rd of December. Time truly does gallop by.

Over the holiday we moved into a new cabin up north, which we look forward to making our own over the next few years. (Queue the log cabin design boards, ikat lamp shades, bark covered wallpaper and Old Hickory furniture). Having parted with most of our furniture in our former cabin, it was particularly nice to celebrate Thanksgiving gathered around family pieces that are simple yet sentimental. A cedar-legged table that lived in my Grandparents’ New York camp played host to many meals, alongside newly upholstered antique Chippendale chairs from my parents’ former dining room. The brass candlesticks also came from my parents’ former dining room —I have vivid memories of my Mother spray painting their tin shades to black one year when our childhood dining room evolved into its Toile Theme.

I am thankful for so much this year and being surrounded with the people I love (and drive me crazy), along with these initial joyful pieces in our new home, brought so much joy.

Here’s to relishing in the simple pleasures this holiday season.

Charming Childrens Coats

After a fast and furious few weeks, we are spending the weekend at home with just about zero plans. As my husband says, I don’t know how to be bored. Thus, I am using the time to get caught up and begin to look to the holidays.

With the weather officially turning here in New England, it is also about the time when I order new winter clothes for my four year old, who grows with every blink of an eye! This darling Austrian Wool jacket was on the list — I love how warm, chic and versatile they are for children. Their metal buttons and contrasting trim are equal parts charming and traditional. I have said this for years — the best clothing for children comes from Spain!

Perfect Percale

Sometimes I’ll accidentally stumble upon things that really click with me. As such is the case with these Lands End floral bed linens. I personally love the quality of Lands End linens, (and frankly, swear by them over Matouk and the like), and seeing this chic print was an immediate “YES!” from moi.

I plan to use them in Vermont for our son’s log cabin bedroom. I adore the subtle Alpine nod, the white ground is just enough to make these sharp but playful.

View the sheets here — happy shopping!

maine musings

My husband and I were able to get away for a few days in Maine to celebrate our anniversary, and frankly, unplug from work for a few days. Though, “unplugging” might not include hiking to Barred Island whilst on a conference call….oh, entrepreneurship!

Though our trip had a few bumpy starts with car trouble and the like, I can confidently report that our time together in Deer Isle was carefree and fun — a departure from our busy routines at home. Of course, connecting together in such a raw, rugged landscape, as we try to do on our anniversary trips, felt really special with the transition to Autumn. We stayed at an adorable coastal cottage owned by Basha Burwell, one of the authors behind The Maine House books, which was equal parts charming and quirky. The magical tidal swings and pink skies alone were so wonderful to soak in.

For such a low populated region, this area of Maine is known for its incredible artists, makers and culinary endeavors. Apart from waking up to the hum of lobster boats and the glittering sea, we were spoiled with the best lobster rolls at LDI Lobster on their last weekend open of the season, along with pizza and salad from Tinder Hearth, NY Times cited as one of the “Best US Restaurants” in 2023. Neither disappointed and what we particularly loved about those experiences was how casual and beautiful the surrounding landscape was, there was zero pretense or formality to each meal, it was all about the ingredients and tie to the land and waters, truly a gift.

A notable highlight was visiting with Odette from OH Pottery, in Brooklin, Maine. I have had her barn imprinted in my mind ever since it was featured in House & Garden UK last year and have enjoyed seeing some of her pieces showcased in shoots, to include Gil Schafer’s Maine home. She was kind enough to invite us into her home and studio to learn more about her process and select pieces we brought home with us. Below, are a few snippets from our visit.

If you’re planning a trip to Maine, I highly recommend all of the aforementioned places, and do reach out if you’re looking for added insight. Sadly, The Haystack Mountain School of Crafts was closed, a destination top of my list, but we will definitely return to experience this all important place — add it to your travel list if you find yourself in the area.