i'm the last to know everything.  so, chances are you're already in on this goodness.  but, if not, check out fab.  it's like gilt groupe but better (in my opinion).  more funky unknown stuff.  which is great for the hipster in me.

happy halloween!

happy halloween!

hope it's a spicy one!  (get it?)

and i promise he didn't cry the whole time in it.

we'll be back tomorrow with more halloween costumes.

i know, you're so excited.

parker's thoughts: when my legs work better, ima getting the heck away from you two.

i moved into a house full of books.  there's a lot of them, for real.  before i even had a baby shower, parker had a bookshelf full of them.  lindsey has one in her bedroom, also packed to the brim (and of seriously good kids' books... have you guys heard of these ones?  they were a hunt favorite before i came along and now they're my favorites as well), the third floor has multiple built-in shelves, as well as the computer room.  not to mention steve's got an office at work where every single wall is covered in shelves from floor to ceiling.  we watch more tv then we should given the fact that there's all this good reading to be done, but we do like books quite a lot.  i think reading with kids is awesome (and i wish i did more of it).  i am trying really hard to commit to reading a chapter book with william and lindsey at least a few nights a week before they go to bed.  we're a few chapters into the giver... one of my childhood favorites.  i think they'll like it.  i remember it blowing my mind when i read it years ago.  and i've started reading to parker too.  at least a book a day, sometimes more, sometimes less.  i think he's enjoying it.  he looks intently at the pages back and fourth as i flip them.  we've read a few but little blue truck is one of my favorites so far--and the illustrations!  love them.  and parker will even sit on my lap as i read to william and lindsey.  i'm hoping he learns to love reading at an early age and not get sucked into computer and television like so many kids these days (even mine at times... despite, like i said, our crazy amount of books).  and finally, we're reading some hemingway in my book club.  he's a beautiful writer.  and now i want to go to paris.

anyway, what are your favorite books?  for your kids?  for yourself?  

so, i've been a blogger for a little over two years.  it's weird to even say that cause i don't really feel like it's a job.  more of a fun hobby.  "what do you do?"  "ohhhh, you wanna know what i do?  i blog."  that never feels right.  nevertheless, i've been blogging and thus have met some incredibly cool people along the way.  a comment here, a comment there (i was gonna say "a comment here, a poke there."  this ain't facebook, bridget!).  an email exchange, then a few more.  and bam!  we're tweeting about renting a house and hanging out in real life.  well, that's how it went for me anyway.  i've been following candis since literally the beginning of time (in blogger time) and elizabeth shortly thereafter.  shannon i've known for awhile, and molly is a newer love of mine (but a love nevertheless).  it was quite exciting to plan some real face time since i have come to consider them real friends of mine.  so that's what we did.  it was a little silly how we were almost outnumbered by baby boys... a bit like a brigade of babies coming down newbury street (there may have been a few looks) but parker, everett, westley, + behr had the chance to meet and parker promises to be a more fun playmate next time (when i'm less freaky about germs and he's a bit older).

oh, and the ever-sweet molly got us ironic hipster glasses.  cause, like cupcakes, the word swoon, and bangs... hipster glasses are all over the interwebs and it wouldn't really be a proper bloggin' retreat without some.  won't it be ironic if i actually get a pair myself for reals one day?  cause i might.  then you can reference this post and laugh at me.

pink sequin lady so wanted in on this bloggin' thing soooooo badly.  she was all, "look how i accessorize!  can't i come???"

we also met up with natalie in the city for some pinkberry!

the weekend wiped out parker.  we spent the next morning in bed cuddling till like noon.  no lie.

and i have to thank molly for all of the pictures.  i sucked at taking pictures.

today we have a giveaway from a favorite etsy shop of mine:

tree and kimball!

tree and kimball is full of amazing jewelry 

made from deep-colored vintage laces. 

you will get compliments like crazy with these unique pieces.

plus, lisa, the shop owner, is an absolute gem.

today's giveaway is from her newest fall colors...

a necklace above!

to enter:

{u.s. residents only}

+ leave a comment below and include your email!

extra entries: 

{separate comments!}

+ which one will you choose: 1-6?

+ favorite the etsy shop

+ tweet/blog/FB about it and provide URL (separate comment for each)

+ like tree and kimball's FB page

giveaway closed.

sarah is the winner!  congrats!

the only thing we can do is play on the 

one string we have, and that is our attitude.  

i am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me 

and 90% how i react to it.  

and so it is with you, we are in charge of our attitudes.

{charles swindoll}

{other once-a-month pictures}

i'll leave you for the weekend with this: lindsey, looking for a pre-dinner snack, goes in the fridge and grabs this... a raw head of broccoli.  SHE DOES HER MAMA PROUD!

i may or may not be going to see + meet (like in person, ya'll) some of my long-time blog friends this weekend.  i mean, girls that i feel like i practically know and consider legit friends even though i haven't heard their voices.  woah.  hopefully we decide we like each other as much in person as we do over emails + blogs.  and if we do?  goodness, this weekend will be slammin', folks.  and hopefully they're really who they have been portraying themselves to be over their blogs for the last few years and not some 55-year old man with greasy hair.  eww, can you imagine?  that would take a lot of work to actually be someone else on a blog for 2+ years, don't you think?  unlikely.  so, if i'm not back on monday with a post of our happenings, call the authorities.

i'm pretty sure it's gonna go swimmingly.

and i'm out.

(oh, and that vlog i said i'd do?  i will do it.  before 2012.  promise.)

yeah, i eat healthy a lot of the time.  but i definitely indulge in things like mac and cheese and ice cream more often than perhaps i should (read: a lot.  today i had some tj's halloween oreos.  WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO ABOUT IT?!).  anyway, when i do indulge, i don't want to waste it on mediocrity.  breyers?  meh.  i'm all about haagen dazs these days.  kraft mac and cheese?  aw, hells no.  homemade, baby!  (or, if i'm being honest, annie's does a pretty good boxed version).  anyway, when i was a wee little girl growing up in nj, my friend's mom used to make this and i'd somehow worm my way to their dinner table if i knew this was on the menu.  it's really good.  make it.

macaroni + cheese

(from mrs. gold but technically good housekeeping)

8 T butter (nobody said it was low-fat)

1 medium onion, minced really small (secret ingredient, i think)

2 T flour

2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp dry mustard

3 cups milk

16 oz. sharp cheddar cheese, grated

1 lb. pasta (elbow macaroni is best)

melt butter on medium heat.  add onions, cook until clear + tender (about 10 minutes).  add flour, salt, mustard, a dash of pepper  mix until blended.  slowly add milk and cook until smooth and slightly thickened, stirring constantly.  remove from heat and add cheese.  stir until melted.

add 1 lb. of cooked elbow macaroni (cook a minute or two short of tender because it will cook more in oven).  put in casserole dish and cook at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.  5 minutes without the lid.

EAT AND BE GLAD.

oh, and to cancel out the goodness that is that mac and cheese? 

see below.

also, i'm in two more places today!  

here at mackey madness talking about three things that are defining me these days.

and here at what wegan did next talking love story.

shabby apple sent me this lovely skirt a little while ago and here's what i did with it.  a satiny shirt with a funky leather belt (completely changing up the more polished feel to the skirt) and then another more wintry look with a sheer wool sweater and a skinny red belt.  how'd i do?  cause, ya know, tales of me and the hubs isn't a bona fide fashion blog ya know.  even with mah red lips on.  

anyway, it's from their academia line and i'm liking a lot of it.  here's some of my favorites.

you want some shabby apple goodness?

use the code huntlife10off for your own

10% discount this week.

i'm psyched about this next giveaway as letterpress is the bomb.

old try is a southern print shop (but based out of massachusetts, what what!) with

the coolest limited-edition prints full of southern sayings... 

some from virginia, mississippi, among others.

their stuff is so unique and their aesthetic is perfect--whether or not you're nostalgic for the south.

they've already been featured on designsponge too!

ya'll (so appropriate) want in on this?

they're giving away a

print of your choice.

{to enter:}

(u.s. residents only)

//leave a comment below with which print you'd choose!

include your e-mail address!

{additional entries:}

(separate comments for each!)

//like them on FB

//follow them on twitter

//tweet, blog, and/or FB the giveaway (leave new comment for each)

giveaway closed.

carla jean is the winner.

| louisa may alcott's house... can't you see just seeing it inspiring the march sisters?! | parker came along on his first history lesson and slept through most of it | minuteman national park + parker and i at north bridge | steve + i at minuteman | sleepyhollow cemetery where we saw the graves of thoreau, emerson, alcott, nathaniel hawthorne, and lots more |

massachusetts is seriously rife with american history.  most of which i ashamedly don't know much about.  apparently i didn't pay enough (or any) attention during those lessons.  walking around a place like concord, though, makes me realize how much i would like to know.  i'm all, "steve, what happened here?" and he's like, "you know.  the shot heard 'round the world?"  and i'm like, "wait, that wasn't hiroshima?" and he just sadly shakes his head at me (ok... we didn't actually have that conversation but my lack of knowledge on historical matters is pathetic).  so, i'm going to start learning more about these significant events in our nation's history... some of which have happened (almost) in my backyard.  and now that i've written it here, you've all got to hold me accountable (and this was one of 2010's resolutions but apparently i didn't make good on it).  anyway, the kids' grandparents were here this weekend and took the kids on a special little trip to an indoor water park and hotel.  so, it was just steve, parker, + i.  we woke up saturday morning like, "what should we do!?"  steve suggested concord and i went with it.  that place is so nice.  the homes, the downtown, the churches, the parks, the history.  we had lunch downtown, then walked to minuteman national park and then to sleepy hollow cemetery.  it was a crisp fall day and the leaves are beginning to change and while i'll be seriously pissed at massachusetts when it covers us in snow in a few months i was very much, "i love you new england!  you have the world's most beautiful fall!"  and that was that.

hi all.  i'm over at the lovely casey's blog today talking about my love story.  yeah, yeah, yeah, you've heard it before.  nevertheless, it's there, suckas!

and then sit back and have a cup of their pumpkin spice coffee.

cause that shiz is good.

also, i'm over here today talkin' bouts marriage.

Parker's Nursery.

At long last, I'm posting Parker's nursery.  This basically took me so long because I don't do well with planned posts (like the vlog... that will happen this weekend... I think).  And because I keep making small changes and thinking... ok, now it's done.  No, now!  Wait.  No... now!  I'm pretty sure this pattern will continue.  Anyway, his nursery has been completed since before he was born.  Truth is, he hasn't spent a night in it, but pregnant women and nesting go hand-in-hand so we got 'er done nevertheless.  I say we, but really, Steve worked on the room a whole lot more than my big-bellied body did.  I went to Philly for my shower and came home to a painted nursery and new closet shelving.  I bought things at Ikea... he put them together.  Got the crib... he built it.  He was the man.  I already loved him but fell for him even more when he completed the wish list of this slightly-hormonal-pregnant-girl-with-a-vision.  So, finally, here it is.  Mostly complete.

A few of those pictures I just ran up and took (low-light... nighttime... my apologies!) to show a few of the details of the room.  And the flag garland that was moved up to the shelf--a more kid-friendly place, if you will.  So there it is.  My idea from the get-go was gray + white (and any wood to be really neutral) with citrus pops of color.  The paint ended up being way more blue than I thought, but I love it.  Now, I guess I'll source it cause that's what people do.

And keep in mind I got the big-ticket items with a fabulous discount... benefits of working at a baby-maternity store for the months leading up to pregnancy!

| Paint : Behr Prelude | (inspiration from this nursery... still one of my favorites!) 

| Crib: Robin Crib by Oeuf |

| Chair: Empire Rocker by Nursery Works |

| Curtains: Target |

| Rug: Martha Stewart Custom cut from Home Depot |

| Dog, Squirrel, Trees, + Frog Pillow: c/o Erin Flett |

| Floating Shelves, Short Bookcase, Lamp: Ikea |

| Quilt (hanging on crib): made by my Mom |

| Baby onesie banner: made by my sister |

| Baby: made by me + Steve with God's help (cheese-ball alert!) |

| Child of God print: Sugarfresh Etsy shop |

| Most of the above pictures by the lovely Sara |

i have no complaints.  october in boston can be downright dreary, but not this one.  it was in the 80's and we were ON THE BEACH.  IN BATHING SUITS.  IN OCTOBER.  it was awesome.  everyone was busy doing other things except william + i (and parker... he managed to work it into his schedule).  so the three of us took off for the beach.  glorious.  we brought along some drinks, and apples and pretzels and dip and sat for a few hours soaking in the sun before it goes away for the winter.  parker sat happily checking out the beach and listening to the waves, then ate, and slept.  he's a beach bum already!  then, we came home, turned on some bob marley, i opened myself a blueberry beer and made roasted brussel sprouts and an orzo veggie salad and steve put away his work for the night so we could just hang out.

it was a good day.