Living With Kids: Gina Cater
Gina and her family made a big change a few years ago. They moved from the Bay Area, where they lived in a 990 square foot cottage and walked everywhere, to a 5-acre piece of land in rural San Diego County. The way she describes their home and their adventures building a “homestead” sound equal parts exhausting (raising crops and animals is so much hard work!) and exhilarating. It must be exciting to sit down to a meal where you have grown most of the food yourself. Gina dug into her photo archives and has year-round photos of the property to share. You’re definitely going to want to stick around. Welcome, Gina!
…A Few Things
Hello, Friends. How are you? Is it really December 20th? How is that possible?
We are very much looking forward to the weekend. Today, Oscar and Betty had their first ortho appointments in France (we made appointments as soon as we moved here to continue their orthodontia and this was the earliest we could get in! — apparently they need more orthodontists here.) And Flora is performing with her class at the big cathedral in the middle of town.
Other fun things: Olive arrives tomorrow from the South of France. And Ben Blair and I are headed to Paris on Sunday evening, so that we can pick up Maude on Monday morning. Plus, a two-week break from school begins this afternoon!
Today also marks my mother’s 75th birthday. I’ve been thinking about her a lot and what our home was like growing up. So much of how I approach holidays and celebrating all come directly from her. I’m so glad she was born, and I’m so glad I was born to her.
I have a really good link list for you today. Some of the pieces are long-form, so maybe you can save them for reading over the holiday break. Here are a few things I’ve been wanting to share:
…The Blairs in Central Park 2009 & 2019
In July I told you about our family vacation to New York City. It was the first time Ben Blair and the kids had been back since we moved away from New York — ten years earlier!
A couple weeks before the trip, we considered the possibility of putting together a family photo shoot in Central Park, during our week long trip, that would mimic our original Central Park photo shoot from 2009. But we weren’t really interested unless the amazing photographer of the original shoot, Candice Stringham, was available. Alas, Candice moved away from New York many years ago — and she isn’t really doing family photos anymore, because she’s currently the Marketing Director at My Mind’s Eye.
…Random Thoughts
I hope you’re in the mood for a Random Thoughts post. Here are some of the things on my mind:
…A Few Things
Hello, Friends. How is December going for you? Did you have a good week? I’ve had a challenging one. My Alt Summit work load is particularly heavy this month and I’m definitely feeling the strain. The hardest task at the moment is trying to find an A-list Keynote Speaker. This is my 16th conference, and it’s always tricky, but this year seems extra hard. (And hey, if you have any connections, let me know!)
I’m feeling happy the weekend has arrived. Our plans include taking the kids to go shopping for their sibling gifts and getting the house ready for our older kids to arrive for the holidays. How about you? Anything you’re looking forward to this weekend? I’d love to hear.
And I’ve got some good stuff on my link list this week (was it just me or was their lots of major news this week?). Here are a few things I’ve wanted to share:
…Argentan Croissant Tour
In today’s advent calendar envelope, the card said: Croissant Tour — test 4 to 6 bakeries. So that’s what we did. After the kids got home from school we set out.
Our goal was to pick up two croissants from each bakery and then bring them home for a test taste to determine our favorites.
…Living With Kids: Karley Vehaun
I’m sure Karley Vehaun’s home is just as charming 365 days a year — but it is particularly fun to see it all dressed up for Christmas! Karley at mixing textures in her home, from the rattan and wicker furniture, to the plants and the live greenery everywhere. You can practically smell the pine boughs when you look at these photos.
Karley has two young kids at home too and has a great perspective on being a parent to toddlers, and all of the wonderful and sometimes annoying things about them. Welcome, Karley!
…A Few Things
Hello, Friends. How are you? Did you have a good week? We are in full holiday season mode at our house. For the first time in a long time we made a simple advent calendar. It’s just 24 little envelopes with an index card inside, with a simple activity written on the card — things like Read The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, or Hot Cocoa Bar, or Window Shop on Main Street, or Watch The Santa Clause. I put a chocolate inside each envelope too.
I can’t believe how nice it’s been to have something for the family to look forward to each day. And as a bonus, it’s really helpful for making sure I actually do the things I like to do during the holidays. If you’re wishing you had started one on the first, why not just start today? It doesn’t need to be fancy and your kids will love it!
But I know you’re here for the link list, so I’ll jump right in. Here are a few things I’ve wanted to share with you:
…Living With Kids: Emily Iapic
Come say hello to Emily Iapic from Beaver, Pennsylvania! Emily sounds like so many moms that I talk to. She’s got kids ranging from 13 years old to 10 months and is trying to embrace the chaos while still living in the moment. Emily and her family also have such a fluid and interesting attitude about home schooling vs. public schooling for their kids. So many parents are passionate about this issue and I love the way Emily and her family are open to both options for different kids at different times. I think you’ll really like getting peek inside her home.
Welcome, Emily!
…The Very Best Gift Guide: 26 Miscellaneous Gifts (Plus Family Gifts too!)
I originally made this gift guide for miscellaneous categories — co-worker gifts, neighbor gifts, teacher or coach gifts, white elephant and silly gifts — stuff like that. But then I realized almost everything on this list is good for teens too! So consider this a miscellaneous list + teen list. Plus I included a few ideas that are perfect for family gifts too (items the whole family would enjoy). There are 26 options and more than half are $15 and under, with a whole bunch under $10 too.
As usual, I started with last year’s list and updated it with a bunch of new picks. I hope this guide is helpful!
…The Very Best Gift Guide: 26 Miscellaneous Gifts (Plus Family Gifts too!)Read More »
The Tall House: Work Has Begun!
This post is to get you caught up on what’s happening with our new house in France. But first let me clear up some confusion about the three different French houses that show up in my photos.
…A Few Things
Hello, Friends. Happy December! How are you? How was your Thanksgiving? And your Black Friday? How about your weekend? We’ve had such a full happy week since I last checked in with you. My sister Jordan and her husband Paul, and their three kids, trekked all the way to France for Thanksgiving and oh my goodness it was such a treat to be with family for the holiday.
We made a full Thanksgiving feast with a gorgeous table, we took the Ferneys to see the new house(!!!), we decorated our rental house for the holidays, we picked up a Christmas tree, we went to the holiday markets in Rouen, and we made a simple advent calendar too. (All of this was detailed on Instagram Stories, and you can find the expired stories in the Instagram highlights if you’re curious.)
I didn’t get a chance to publish my link list on Friday, but I saved so many good ones for you that I still want to post them. Here are a few things I’ve wanted to share with you:
…A Few Things
Hello, Friends. How are you? How are things going? We’ve got an exciting day ahead of us. We are closing on our French House today! (It’s the house with the stairs pictured here.) I can not wait to get to work on this house. It’s a really special place and I can’t wait to make it our home.
If you’re curious, I’ve been sharing all about the house on my Instagram stories (there’s even a highlight called French Home), and I’m working on shooting some photos so I can give you a tour here on the blog.
On a completely different topic, I know I haven’t mentioned it, but I’ve been watching the impeachment hearings as closely as I can over the last two weeks. I was emotional to realize that the strongest, best, most patriotic testimony has come from immigrants to our country — Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, diplomat Maria Yovanovitch, and Dr. Fiona Hill.
Did you get to hear Dr. Hill talk about her accent and how it would have held her back if she lived in England? Seeing these brave public servants is a beautiful testament to the potential of America, and a wonderful reminder of how important and valuable immigrants are to the fabric of our country. We should celebrate and welcome them.
And now, here are a few things I’ve wanted to share with you:
…Living With Kids: Beccy Bingham
Beccy is one of the most talented people I’ve ever met. (Full editorial disclosure: she’s my little sister.) Not only is she an amazing mom to two wonderful kids, you’ll see from this post that she is also an incredible designer and has a home full of stylish and well curated pieces.
She also runs an art market & maker fair a few times a year, and runs her own jewelry business where she hand makes all the pieces. I think you’ll really love getting to know her and taking a peak inside her gorgeous home. Welcome, Beccy!
…Market Day in France
Every Tuesday morning, next to the big church in the center of town, there’s an open market. The market happens all year long, rain or shine.
It includes produce vendors, cheesemongers, seafood sellers, butchers, and bakers. There are also booths that sell hot and ready-to-eat food (like a food truck without the truck). And depending on the weather, there’s also a section that sells mattress and trinkets and household goods.
Our rental house is right in the center of town, so the market is only 50 yards or so from our house. I don’t know if our life will ever be more convenient than it is right now.
Would you like a little tour of our market day?
…A Few Things
Hello, Friends. How are you? Did you have a good week? Mine has been really domestic — it was full of stuff like laundry, mending a Christmas stocking, baking an apple crisp, organizing shelves. Stuff like that. How about you?
This weekend I want to tackle the last “moving in” tasks on my list, like hanging artwork in our bedrooms, and figuring out mounting hardware for our bedside lamps. Flora June also has a swim meet this weekend — her first here in France! We’re very curious to see how it compares to our swim meets in Oakland.
In other news: Oscar’s Eagle Scout paperwork was approved! Which means his Scout Leaders are now working to set up an Eagle Board of Review — which will be conducted via Skype or something similar. If Oscar passes the Board of Review, then it’s official: He will be an Eagle Scout.
It’s been a big week for headlines as well. Here are a few things I’ve wanted to share with you.
…Parenting Advice
I read this parenting advice from Tom Hanks last night and I keep thinking about it:
“Somewhere along the line, I figured out, the only thing really, I think, eventually a parent can do is say I love you, there’s nothing you can do wrong, you cannot hurt my feelings, I hope you will forgive me on occasion, and what do you need me to do? You offer up that to them. I will do anything I can possibly do in order to keep you safe. That’s it. Offer that up and then just love them.”
…Living With Kids: Treehouse Tour
Something a little different for this week’s Living With Kids post. We sold our Oakland house. It’s really gone and I can hardly believe it. Would you indulge me while I share a goodbye tour of the Treehouse?
I admit, I’ve had to keep wiping my tears as I prepared this post. We loved this house so much — and our life in Oakland that the house represents — and it was really hard to leave. Come say farewell with me.
…Cleaning Out Six Years of Storage
Today was Veterans Day in the U.S. and WWI Armistice Day in France. The kids didn’t have school and we decided it would fun to go through all the stuff we stored at our cottage when we moved away six years ago.
Oh my. It was a mess! We knew this already because when we spent the summer in France three years ago, and checked in on our stuff, it had already been invaded by field mice. That summer, we didn’t have the time or energy to deal with it — so we ignored it.
But now, we have a rental house with an attic for storage (and we’re purchasing another house that also has an attic for storage). Both are more secure than our rustic little cottage, so I felt confident about tackling the project.
…A Few Things
Hello friends. How are you? How was your week? Planning anything fun for the weekend? I hope we can keep it low-key at our house — my goal is to finish unpacking the office and setting up our bedroom. And if the weather is decent, I’d love to go out walking in the countryside with the kids. How about you?
I’ve got lots of good stuff this week, so I’m going to jump right in to the link list. Here are a few things I’ve been wanting to share with you:
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