Weekend Links.

What do you have planned, this rainy long weekend? Sadly, our beach and pool party plans had to be scraped due to the awful three day forecast, so we are falling back on our Winter schedule of alternating Museums. First the Children's, then the Museum of Natural History, and probably the Museum of Science. While this is all fine and dandy, I was really looking forward to some outside time. Summer, are you out there? Why, oh, why are you taking so long to get here this year? 

I hope you all have something fun planned, and maybe some unexpected sunshine as well. I'll see you all next week!

This cover is insane. I had to download the whole album after discovering it. Can you believe this kid was from American Idol?

Another week, another devastating news story. My hearts go out to everyone affected by the OK tornado. Again, so many little lives lost too soon. This piece brought me some comfort.

This is making the rounds, and had me rolling on the floor. 

Summer in a bowl.

How great is this photo wall? Such an easy way to add impact to any room!

My friend's sister has started a Kickstarter campaign to take her earth-friendly, uber-cute HankyBooks to mass production. A 10 dollar donation gets you your own HankyBook! So great for those perpetual runny noses. 

I read this yesterday. And again last night. And again this morning. I can relate to every word. Last night I made a pledge to my kids that we ALL would stop yelling at each other. We are one day in, and I'm astounded to find that the calmer I can stay, the quieter they are. No more trying to "out noise" each other to get a point across. It ends today. 

I just signed up for this with my sister and a few other "skater moms." The longest I've ever ran IN MY LIFE is 4 miles. I'm actually really excited!

The insanely gorgeous Cup of Jo model, Caroline, cut her hair! Can you guess? Yep! I'm obsessed!

Speaking of gorgeous, how beautiful are these mother daughter moments? Did you notice the ombre hair ;)

Finally, let's not forget the real reason behind this holiday weekend. (grab a tissue first) Thank you to our troops and their families for the huge sacrifice they make. I hope we can bring them all home, and soon. 

Wardrobe Essentials: Save, Crave, Investment #4

 An army green utility jacket is one of those layers that you always end up wearing about 50 times more than you would expect. I wore mine twice this week... and it's only Thursday. First, pairing it with a chambray shirt, and a cheetah print skirt (a gift from my girlfriends for my birthday), and then with a pair of white jeans, over a white lace blouse.  During the Spring/ Summer/ Fall, it’s the perfect jacket that can easily be worn over almost any outfit, and it acts as a necessary layer when the temps dip down in the evening, as they always seem to do around here. 

Below is some army jacket inspiration, and, of course, where to get your own;  on any budget. The crave version (at a great price point) is great because of the nipped in waist, but that rag and bone jacket is beyond dreamy. Whatever version you choose, you wardrobe will surely thank you. 

source 1/ source 2

source

Prior "essentials can be found here, here, and here. 

Ombre... SUCCESS!

 After the Ombre that wasn't last week, I was a little nervous going in to today's appointment. I had this photo in hand, and was fully committed to the look. Go big or go home, they say. 

After a quick bleaching of my ends, I left the salon looking like this. 

Ombre success!!! In person, it's a little more dramatic, but I love that it isn't so over the top that I will look crazy when dropping off my kids at school. As much as I would like to be a rock star, I realize that I am not. 

 To get the look, my hairdresser did this cool trick where he teased all my ends, and only bleached a small section of the leftover hair. This keeps it from getting a straight line of bleach, and helps it to look a little more nature. Err as natural as ombre can look. 

I could not be happier with the final result, and I am so happy that I was brave enough to go for it. The best part? No root maintenance through the Summer. Super double bonus!!!!

Are any of you trying out any new looks? Tis the Season!!!

Do or Don't? Rug Under the Dining Room Table.

 A few weeks ago, my husband and I had what I like to refer to as "RugGate 2013." I was convinced that we needed a rug under our dining room table, and he thought this was the worst idea ever; given that we have two young kids. My thoughts were, 1) our living room and dining room are one and the same, therefore we need two different rugs to clearly define the two spaces, 2) the wood table, with the wood chairs, with the hardwood, was way WAY to much wood, and 3) I couldn't think of a better way to add color and texture to such a small space. My husband of course had one, and only one argument... we have two small children. In the end, I traded two fabric ottomans that I had recently ordered (which he hated) for the rug, and agreed to put a small piece of a white sheet under Gray's area. To seal the deal I bought a bottle of Resolve carpet cleaner. Yesterday the rug came, and it is/was everything I thought it would be and more. My husband, who of course initially was against the idea, not only helped place the rug, but also didn't make a peep once it was down, meaning he liked it as much as I did. Sure, we can't keep it perfectly clean, but I am more than willing to trade a few minutes of my day cleaning the rug, for the ridiculous difference it makes in our entire living space. 

Behold, the winner of RugGate 2013.

Here is the before.

I mean... is it even a question how much better the room looks with the rug? I was joking that this home will always be known by two different time periods, Pre-Rug and Post-Rug. Everything Pre-Rug was dark and sad, and everything Post-Rug is happy and bright. 

Best decision ever. 

What do you all think? Especially those with kids (or adults who are messy eaters.) Would you have a rug under the kitchen table? Do you have one? Here are a few of the pictures that convinced me that it was a definite DO!

Oh, and this morning I bought this... just in case. 

P.S. The rug is a Souk from John Robshaw. 

Costa Rica Travel Advice.

 The #1 question that I get from readers, without a doubt, is looking for advice about traveling to Costa Rica. You all know that we absolutely love it, and having been traveling there for more than 10 years. It really is the perfect place to go with or without kids, and after trying out other places, we always seem to find our way back there. As it stands now, we spend a month there in the Summer, but as soon as the boys get a little bigger, I can absolutely see us buying a place there to spend as much of the year as we can. It's that good. Here is how we do Costa Rica. If anyone has anything to add, feel free to leave some suggestions in the comments section. Pura Vida!

The town we stay in is called Nosara (technically Playa Guiones), on the Guanacaste Peninsula. It's a super small town that has an isolated feel, without being totally off the grid. It is mostly populated by ex-pats which makes communication super easy, and the only tourists are surfers, yogis, and families. There is also a little grocery that carries american food staples (essential for my guy and his favorite cereal) but also diapers, sunscreen, etc... Also, there is a great health clinic which we have used more than once for those pesky bug bites and ear infections.

What we do is fly into San Jose and we take a taxi (there are dozens of vans waiting outside the airport) to this place http://www.bed-and-breakfast.cr/ We spend the night here and it's perfect. It's a little B&B owned by a swedish family and the rooms are clean and beautiful. It's about 15 minutes from San Jose (about a 10-15 dollar cab ride) where you feel like you are middle of the country. San Jose is pretty gritty, and we try to book it out of there as soon as possible... especially when we are traveling with kids.

The next morning we get a ride from a man named Wilson, who has been driving us for years. wilson_elsy@yahoo.com He speaks perfect english, has large van, and is one of the kindest people we have ever met. If you use him make sure to let him know that you know us! It's a 220 dollar ride (plus tip) each way to Nosara, and takes about 3 1/2-5 hours. Rental cars are fairly expensive down there, and it is a very dangerous place to drive in. We have found that the van is the way to go, especially with kids and gear. We also have him stop at the "Costco" of costa rica on the way down, and there we load up on a month's worth of necessities, including diapers. If you do rent a car, DO NOT DRIVE AT NIGHT. Roads are not often labeled, if at all, and there is a considerable amount of people drinking and driving. We always plan on leaving a few hours before we need too, just in case, because you never want to be stuck on the road past dark.

You can also take a small hopper plane (www.natureair.com) from a smaller airport, near San Jose, or fly in to Liberia, which is a little closer to Nosara. For us, most flights go from Boston > Miami > San Jose, so this is usually our route of choice. If you take the plane, luggage is limited to under 25 lbs and is strictly enforced. No boards of any kind are allowed.

In Nosara we used to rent either a house or an apartment here. http://www.villatortuganosara.com/accommodations.php It's run by an American kid named Dave and he is awesome. There are condos, or you can rent the top or bottom of a house. It's super quiet, clean, and right near the beach. He has a business (http://www.thefrogpad.com/) that rents movies, bikes, and boards on the premises and there is also an internet/phone cafe as well. Wireless comes with the rental. There are kitchens and a little supermarket around the corner. Dave will be able to help you arrange surf lessons, horseback rides, massages, etc... We use bikes to get around the town which is tiny. There are a ton of great restaurants and if you go I can fill you in on where to eat... it's pretty cheap and all locally owned! They even have an ice cream shop which is completely homemade! (my kids' favorite)

More recently we've been renting homes through this company www.surfingnosara.com and have yet to be disappointed. In the summer we rent the Concha, and when traveling by ourselves the Olaje. Basically if you give them your dates, and budget, they will send you whats available and we have found that it is all pretty negotiable.

This place is also great if you want a small hotel room, and we used to stay here all the time when we first started visiting. (http://www.harborreef.com)

 If you practice yoga, but there is an amazing yoga institute (http://www.nosarayoga.com) which offers drop in classes 5 times a day, and a few miles away is the best zip lining in costa rica (http://www.missskycanopytour.com). If it's your first trip to Costa Rica, and sitting on the beach isn't your thing, I cannot recommend a trip to the Arenal Volcano enough. We've stayed here, for a more authentic experience, and here for a some more luxury. Even if you don't stay at the Tabacon, you can still pay to use their hot springs which are a number of pools built around water heated by the volcano... an amazing experience.

As far as when to visit, we prefer "off peak times" i.e. the Summer, but year round, you can't beat it. The rainy season runs mid August- November, and it is no joke. Most of the people we know come state side around that time, and then go back in December. I've heard that it can rain for a month at a time!

I hope this helps those of you who are looking to visit, if you have any questions please feel free to email me, or leave a comment and I'll get back to you!

We leave in 29 days... not that we are counting ;)

The Time I Accidentally Turned Myself in to a Brunette.

Sometime around my last birthday, I decided I was in a mood for a change. Yes, I know I just cut all my hair off, but given that I liked it so much, it didn't really feel that much like a change; more like a necessary improvement. I've had the same blondish hair my entire life (except for a year in college when I visited the dark side) and I have been toying with the idea of attempting ombre locks for some time now. I know, I know, some people say this look has come and gone, but I find myself actually liking it more and more as time goes by. I figured that at 34, my time for a more extreme hairstyle is coming close to an end, so better to try it now, instead of wishing I did it a few years from now. Besides, the idea of low root maintenance throughout the Summer was very, very enticing. 

So, I went for it. 

My before blonde.. the same blonde I've had forever. 

The look I was going for, a more subdued ombre. 

I thought I could just lighten my ends, keeping my crown the same, but my hairdresser said we would have to go a little darker. Actually, more than a "little darker" because some of the initial dark would fade out. He then said he wanted to only bleach the ends slightly, in case I hated it, noting that we could always add more later. (As in another appointment.)

You all know where this is going... don't you.

We died my roots darker, pulled the brown through a bit, and with a second process we barely bleached the ends. Technically, my hair is "ombre" but it's a brown with a light brown fade, and not all that noticeable.  I quickly learned you have to be a bit brave when going for this look, and if you aren't ready to commit the first time, you will be making a second appointment. 

Mine is Wednesday.

 My ends most definitely need to be lighter. A lot lighter. But not too light, because that would be "too much." Honestly, the whole thing has me in a tailspin. It could turn out awesome, or I just ruined my hair. We will have to wait until Wednesday afternoon to find out which is which. Until then, there is a lot of baseball cap, ponytail action going on around here. 

Since I have no shame, you all can see for yourself what I am talking about. 

The "after" my dark brownish, light brownish not so ombre, ombre. Here are a few of dozen a selfies that I sent to my sister ALL WEEKEND long, looking for advice. 

(double ombre)

(not ombre + after skate helmet hair)

There you have it. If you are going to go ombre, you can't be a chicken. I am hopeful that I am going to love the end result (at this point it's not like I have a choice... right?) I think with the top fading a bit, and the ends lightened, I will have the exact look I wanted. Whether I can pull it off, is a different story entirely. 

... stay tuned. 

P.S. I have to note that my bestie M, told me this was not my greatest idea. I know, M, I know... there may be some need for drinks Wednesday night! Eek. 

Weekend Links.

Well, hello there, amazing leaf blazer... what are you doing in my closet? I thought you were on a no shopping challenge??? Okay, okay, I had a little slip in my year long challenge. *Technically* it doesn't count since I returned something from my birthday for credit... but I can't lie to you all, so there it is. 6 months was a good run, and I'm fully committing to the next 6. Some things just are just too good to pass up, you know? 

Other than hanging my head in broken shopping challenge shame, we don't have a lot planned for the weekend. I think skater mom might make and appearance in New Hampshire tomorrow, so if you hear an ambulance whizzing by you, be sure to look for me ;).  Sunday, I am going to take the boys to the museum of Natural History, and the LM is really looking forward to a play date at his new school in the afternoon. The weather around here is expected to be perfectly "Spring like" so I hope to be outside most of the time, soaking up as much sun as one New Englander can... in May.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend, whatever your plans may be. If you are in a bloggie mood, here are some fun links from around the web! See you all Monday!

I am addicted to this song. Is FUN the Queen of our generation? I sure hope so!

Speaking of silk blouses, I can't believe I forgot Everlane!!!! I'll take one in every color please!

We will pretty much take our kids anywhere, but are a little skiddish when it comes to major cities. This guide to Paris with kids, has me re-thinking this. Let's be honest... I just want to go back to Paris!!!!

Do not mistake monotony for boredom. This is right on. 

As the least photogenic person on the planet, I read every word of this... twice!

So true! A big, "I'm sorry" goes out to any person who has ever called me since the birth of the LM. 

A great DIY tutorial. I'm questioning whether I am this crafty. 

I happen to be a great braider (which came in handy, given that I have three younger sisters.) This may be my go to for Summer. 

I am dying to do dots on one wall in our living room. I can't decide if I should stamp or use decals. Hmmmmmmmm.

All week long, I have been craving key lime pie. I think I will make one, trying out this recipe!

This bathroom is EVERYTHING.

Finally, a great article about the future of Private Schools. I think this is probably true, in all places except Boston, NYC,  and San Francisco. 

Elizabeth Street Comes To Boston!!!!

 Since its inception, I have been a huge fan of Elizabeth Street. Huge. So, you can imagine my excitement when I learned that they were going to be expanding to my beloved city, Boston, and I was more than honored when I was asked to be part of their moms section! I can't give enough praise for their site and if you haven't heard of them before, you are in for a real treat!

 Elizabeth Street  is billed as the ultimate online destination for stylish moms around the world, that profiles a dynamic list of tastemakers who share their personal tips on the best there is for families in the area, and as an avid reader, I can't even begin to tell you just how useful their website is. This information is presented in an array of forms on the site, from a daily street style diary to the perfect weekend itinerary to alternative day trip ideas. I can't tell you the number of times, before any trip, that I  have first gone to the city and neighborhood where each mother lives to see their picks for where to eat, shop, and find "must sees" for the kids. I've found this to be such great resource, because you are getting advice from people who actually live in each area, rather than from someone trying to promote a an establishment for opportunity. 

I am always getting emails regarding what to see and do when visiting Boston, and I am so thrilled that everyone can now get advice, from a variety of women who live here! The Boston section is launching with select local representatives including Hadley Douglas, Julie Starr-Wood, Lisa Pierpont, Alli Achtmeyer, Moi ;)... and many more. New profiles are added regularly, so make sure to check back often! 

Below is clip of my profile. You can see the entire Boston moms section here. 

A big Boston welcome to Elizabeth Street! You couldn't have picked a better city! I know, I know, I'm a little biased! ;)

The Teacher and The Student.

 In my attempt to stay relevant to my little skate rats, you all know that I have decided to take up skateboarding. I quickly have learned that 1) my kid makes it look easy, 2) it is really hard, and 3) grown women look really really awkward when they are learning. I discovered the last one by looking at videos that the LM loves to take of me, to show me how proud he is my effort. You all are about to learn number three, for yourselves, and all I ask, is that when you see me around town, that you don't laugh at me... for too long ;). My skate career seems to just be beginning, because the LM loves skating with "skater mom" so much, I swear I will do this as long as he will let me, or until I break something. 

Here is the teacher.

... and his goofy student.

Those videos were taken a few weeks ago, and since then, the LM has again progressed with his skating. This video is from last weekend.

I tell you what, I'm afraid to see what this kid will attempt when he's 6! All I can say, is that I am NEVER trying that!