I may be a day late and a dollar short, but here’s to wishing the world’s greatest little bro an ab fab birthday. Last year at this time, I was quaking in my boots at the thought of you getting behind the wheel of a car. Well, now you are and legally so. This time around, you’re preparing for SATs (and kicking ass) and college applications to schools near me. What could be better? 

I’m not sure how it all happened, but you’ve grown into a young man who I couldn’t be more proud of… even if I ate ice cream. (Look at that grown boy with an ice cream OD. What’s not to love?)

Happy birthday, Bubba. From the proudest sister around.

Nothing like waking up bright dark and early (read 4 AM) to get your Monday jump-started. A not-so-quick 1.5 hour plane ride (should have been 45 minutes, but who is counting…), a short walk, few turned pages on a metro ride in and back to the grind all by 9 AM.

It’s not so bad to be back (yet). I can’t remember the last time I’ve had 5 uninterrupted days of peace at home with my family (and wild turkeys - See: yesterday’s post). Just what I needed to prep for the holiday season.

Hope you all had a wonderful thanksgiving. Lots to be thankful for this year and lots to look forward to in the next… just as soon as I finish wading through this crazy inbox.

Now, off to enjoy a bayside dinner with the family. I’m just going to leave you with this…

Ta ta for now.

The day we’ve I’ve been waiting for is… here! My official first day of summer/last day in the office. Hello beach. Hello sunshine. Hello sunny forecast. And freckles. And waves lapping the beach outside your bedroom window. And lazy mornings, Coronas on the porch, vibrant sunsets, the sweet smell of honeysuckle, sandy sheets, and fireworks.

And family.

Seems to me that a sufficient amount of time has passed since my last update.

8 sleeps til the Cape!

Scenes from the Weekend: Zach & Corey’s wedding at the Cape. There aren’t words to describe how much fun we had.

Happy birthday, Emma! Cheers to countless more years of a smile that lights up every room, hugs that warm everyone’s heart, and all of the laughs you bring.

Can’t wait to celebrate your 24 years just over 24 hours. Cape Cod, here we come!

Photo circa 2005 - at the Cape during an age of timeless fashion… L-R: Zach (soon-to-be-married!), yours truly, Alessandra, Emma. Photo bomb courtesy of my Dad. I see you there!

You guys. Bacon ice cream. Let me start with: I don’t like ice cream. Whatever, judge all you want. I DO however, love bacon and if there was ever a reason to maintain my omnivore status (I contemplated vegetarianism for a hot second and by that I mean, second), bacon IS the reason.

Rewind to Saturday night dinner with mom’s best friend from high school and her family. I return from the ladies’ and am pop-quizzed by the GOH, my mom’s best friend’s husband/birthday man, “What’s the first word that comes to mind when I say, “Bacon Ice Cream”?” Obviously, my response was ”yum.”

And it was. It was more than that. It was AMAZING. And it’s all I can think about. I’m now trying to figure out, how I can get myself to Alexandria on the reg to visit Brabo for dessert. If you have wheels and are up for an adventure, call me! You won’t regret it.

Just scored my first round trip ticket of the summer to the Cape for the Munoz-Price wedding. COME SOONER JUNE 10!

Mom. Pomegranate margaritas. Ballets. Black Swan. Football champs. Bowl bound. Brunches. Birthdays. Singing. Museums. Laughing fits. Movies in bed. Cheese. Wine. Hugs. Tears. Yoga. Wine. Gossip. Cheese (sensing a theme?). Bangs. Blond. Dim Sum. Old roommates. Love and Other Drugs. Mmmexican. Live music. Reuniting. Old friends. New friends. Balloons. Bourbon. Laughs. Smiles. College.

I don’t even care if it’s cold. These hours, days, and weeks… I wouldn’t change a thing.

Scenes from the weekend:

Finally, finally(!), got to see one of my best friends from home, Jackie, and her beautiful baby girl, Olivia Grace. (I can NOT get over the fact that she is walking.) 

Here is my mom hoarding the darling OG. Don’t get too excited over there, Donna! We don’t need you getting any ideas.

Weird are the things that take you back, make you yearn for home, the comfort of your childhood bed and the soothing sounds of your parents voices trailing down the hall.

There is something about summer that I can’t put my finger on. Something that reminds me incessantly of the joy of that comfort. The comfort of home.

Last night, I went to bed confusing boredom for sleepiness, restlessness for impatience, and lack of inspiration for a rut. And as I lay there, trying to fall asleep and hoping to wake refreshed, I turned to memories of a beautiful story I loved so much growing up, one that always left me smiling - Amy the Dancing Bear.

Amy was magical, graceful, and at the same time, rebellious. A dreamer. Her dream to spend an evening taking in the warm summer air while dancing before the sunset and keeping company with the rising moon. Listening to the evening birds chirping and taking in the sweetness of the vines crawling around her window. Funny how a childhood story can, after recounting the page-by-page pleasure, make you realize you’re not sleepy, impatient or bored.

Quite the contrary. You just miss home. A place to dance freely, a place where you can count the stars, a place where you can hear your parents’ voices trailing down the hall. A place to just be. Uninterrupted by the distractions of daily life. A place of peace.

Think it might be time to book a ticket.