historic hudson

Hasbrouck House in the fall

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The weekend before my fortieth, I was joined by my bestie Angie for a weekend adventure in the Hudson Valley. I’m so lucky to have a friend that says “yes” without hesitation to the idea of a girls trip and is game for whatever my heart desires (love you Ang). We drove up together, had the most beautiful weather, and even caught some early fall color. I’d been wanting to stay at Hasbrouck House for some time, and we managed to snag the one + only “friend suite” on the estate (it’s geared towards couples and is super romantic if that’s what you’re looking for). Despite our lack of romance (although no shortage of love), the 18th century mansion was the perfect backdrop for exploring the area, and the accommodations were both chic and cozy. The staff is welcoming and goes out of their way to make sure your stay is relaxed (not sponsored, just sharing the love). We had a great time wandering around, and I’m sharing our itinerary!

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this is 40

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“I have already lost touch with a couple of people I used to be.”

Joan Didion

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Today is my fortieth birthday and surprisingly, I have not been dreading this day. On the contrary – I’ve been eagerly awaiting it. The quote I shared really resonates with me, as I’ve lived a lot of life in my forty years and have naturally evolved. I’m most certainly not the same woman I used to be, but at the same time, I’m enjoying going back to my roots in many respects. Having been a wife for over ten years now, and a mother for seven, my identity and needs have been somewhat in the background for a bit. I believe my forties will be a decade of bringing those back into focus, finding more balance, and making more time for myself. So many of the women I know and admire are in this decade of life and I hear it’s one of the best. Of course, this age does not arrive without the clichés…despite my excitement, I found myself having what some might call a crisis over the past few months (to include shopping for the motorcycle I’ve always wanted, lol). Reaching a (hopefully) mid-life point does seem like a natural time to assess where you are in life. Am I exactly where I want to be, on both a personal and professional level? The honest answer is no (although it’s close), but to expect things to be perfectly aligned right at this moment in time is of course, unrealistic. I’m really happy though…damn. I am happy.

thank you for all the love + birthday wishes

lake reflections (part two)

lake-winnipesaukee

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This summer was one for the books – it began with a trip to England + France and (essentially) ended here, in New Hampshire at Lake Winnipesaukee. Having spent almost all of my childhood summers here, it is a sacred place for me, and introducing it to my husband and children was absolutely priceless. I’ve been waiting for the right moment to share it with them – I wrote about my feelings in this post two years ago. I’m happy to report that it was worth the wait, our time with my extended family was wonderful and warm, and my feelings for Lake Winni remain unscathed.

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bastille day birthday

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It’s become a tradition for us to celebrate our Bastille Day babies in NYC! Henry et Marie were born on the eve of July 13th, which to my delight meant it was already 14 juillet in France. I took that fabulous Francophile fact and ran with it since day one (their first birthday party was pretty epic), and thankfully they have fully embraced the holiday and culture. They requested to attend the FIAF block party again – an amazing event 20+ years strong that is fun for the whole family. The last time we were there was for their fifth birthday…they had so much fun that they never stopped talking about it, so we promised we would return. It’s crazy how much they’ve grown since then…it’s hard to believe it’s been seven years. Bastille Day also happens to be the anniversary of @thefrancophiles, my passion project of three years now!

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london with kids

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Our time in England was so special to share as a family, as it was a first for us all! I’m sharing our London recap first before sharing our countryside adventures. I had big plans for London – the essentials (changing of the guard, museums, historic monuments, etc.) as well as some extras, but was quickly humbled as I realized how long it took to navigate the enormous city. On the morning we attempted to see the changing of the guard, we ran late and instead ended up following their trail (IYKYN), unfortunately. Hopefully we can have that iconic experience next time! We ended up strolling through Hyde Park, and the kids really enjoyed getting up close and personal with the swans. Click to see more of our adventures…

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