Category Archives: winni + billy

the twins are ten

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Apparently we blinked…Marie and Henry (our Bastille Day babies) are ten! Time is accelerating at shocking speed these days – at least, it feels that way to us (the adults). I try to remind myself that it’s only a construct but I’m not sure that fact offers much comfort. We spent their birthday week visiting family down south, and stayed at a luxe home thanks to the generosity of a good friend. We barely left the house and it felt like a five star vacation. We usually try to head north this time of year and avoid the scorching temps, but it was impossible to say no to a private pool. Next week we’re hosting a birthday party with their friends at home which feels like such a treat after years of isolation (and yes, we’re still being careful). Needless to say, we’ll be taking the month of August to recover, lol. You can see more on this post, and below…

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our first philly christmas

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The first holiday in our Philadelphia home got off to a great start. We usually cut down a tree but this year we kept it simple and found a local spot that had trees fresh from a farm (we’ll be giving it to goats when it comes down). I wanted to honor the age of our home with 1920s inspired decor and wrapping, and focused on Art Deco vibes. I used mostly vintage items as accents, ribbon I’ve had for years, but did purchase some handmade paper (we’ve carefully saved each piece so that we can repurpose it next year, which is a small way we can reduce our waste). We added this special ornament to our collection, in honor of our first city christmas. We had exciting plans, but 2021 was getting ready to test us in a big way.

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a beautiful day in brooklyn

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We decided it was time for another family adventure in Brooklyn, to include our new furry family member, Winni! I haven’t formally introduced her here, but you can see more on my Instagram highlights. The weather was gorgeous the day after my event, so we crossed the bridge over to Brooklyn and paid a visit to one of our favorite spots, Jane’s Carousel. It had been a while since we visited…take a look at the Steller story I created in 2015 – they were so little!! After a few turns on the carousel we walked along the waterfront, witnessed a proposal, visited our favorite playground, and had a few belly laughs over Winni trying to chase pigeons. She’s a great little traveler and we can’t wait for more family adventures!

harry + hermione

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We started reading Harry Potter together for homeschool earlier this year and the kids immediately identified with the characters…specifically Harry and Hermione (no surprise there). They actually share many traits with those two, so it seemed a perfect fit. As a special treat while abroad this summer, we surprised them with a stop at Platform 9 3/4 in London, where they each chose a wand! It was only natural that they went all in for Halloween, and of course we had to get our new furry baby in on the action. The cutest little furry Gryffindor pupil you ever did see! Our neighborhood bike path provided the perfect backdrop for our photoshoot before heading out to trick-or-treat. Cue the leaves!

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celebrating billy

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One year ago today I said goodbye to my furry baby + soulmate. While there will always be sadness in my heart on this day (and always)…there is also great joy. We were together for thirteen years–he will forever be one of my life’s greatest gifts. His love changed me. He made me a mommy, long before having (human) children. Today will be a day of celebration. We are reminsicing with the help of this beautiful photo book, and taking a trunk load of supplies to our local ASPCA in his honor. I intend to continue to share his light + love with the world…today, and always. He was a truly beautiful soul.