summer in the poconos

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We spent our summer vacation at our favorite local lake (and house)…it was our fourth year at Lake Naomi! I get emotional looking back at previous years – I seriously cannot believe Henry + Marie are five. I unplugged as much as possible, and rarely checked social media. That ‘s a tall order for most of us these days, but for me especially since it’s partly what I do for a living. The time off was so refreshing, and our days were filled with fun and memory making. Things I don’t want to forget about this year include (but are not limited to): watching the kids as they bravely navigated the pool during swim lessons, eating fresh blueberries on the beach, family kayaking, rainy day monopoly + movie night, sandy showers, bunny spotting, long lazy afternoons, and a lantern-lit date night. It was family quality time at it’s seasonal best.

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petit saint james | part un

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If you’re a devout Francophile like myself, chances are you’re smitten with Saint James. Their classic marinière (sailor) stripes are iconic French fashion. Made in France at their atelier near Mont-Saint-Michel, the brand’s history spans an impressive 128 years. I highly recommend reading their story, as well as this piece written by my friend Lindsey Tramuta. Needless to say, creating and sharing content on their behalf is an honor for me. I may have squealed a little bit seeing my children in their first Breton stripes – they wore them for Bastille Day and their fifth birthday, which happen to coincide! Henry is wearing the Minquiers T-Shirt + Marie is in the Coquillage dress…more photos below!

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bastille day in nyc

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If you follow me on Instagram, you know that we surprised the kids with an early birthday trip to NYC (much like we did last year). They’ve been asking to go back, and we feel very fortunate to live within two hours driving distance! We packed a lot of activities into less than 48 hours, but our favorite and most-anticipated part of our stay was attending the FIAF Bastille Day Block Party. It’s the biggest Bastille Day event in New York – twenty years strong. And before you start to wonder – no, this is not sponsored by FIAF, but the kids do look très français thanks to Saint James (more on that soon).

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the lantern fest – with kids!

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We had a magical family experience recently at the Lantern Fest – I’m so excited to share it with you. I’ve been wanting to attend some type of lantern festival for most of my life. Floating lanterns have a history throughout Asia, as well as many other countries, and are used for purposes like religious worship, to make wishes, and of course, for fun. I can’t remember when my fascination with them began, but it was certainly pre-Tangled era. Speaking of Tangled, many children are familiar with this concept thanks to the film, and it happens to be a kid-friendly event. Children of all ages are welcome, but I was glad that Henry and Marie are at an age (almost five) where they could really participate. There were many fun activities for kids, to include: bouncy houses, face painting, live music and dancing, and of course ice cream and treats. We ALL had such an enjoyable and memorable time…click through for more, including the breathtaking finale!

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