away we go // the beach & in coming home

we just got back from a sweet little holiday spent in florida where andrew's parents live for part of the year.  we got to play in the sand, splash in the cool ocean water, ride camels at the zoo, and eat our weight in sea food.  i think i had fish tacos everywhere i went and boy was it ever yummy.  give me all the tacos!

it was such a great trip.  it came at that point in the year, smack in the middle of the lull and drag of march that can sometimes be rather gloomy after having spent so much time indoors throughout the winter months.  as the snow snowed on here in the midwest we eagerly awaited tasting the salty sea breeze on our lips and long afternoons spent in the sunshine with no agenda.  we found that sort of respite on this little getaway of ours.  theo dug in the sand for hours and hours with his little straw hat on and stella chased sea gulls and collected shells.  we went through heaps of sun screen and took long naps in the middle of the day.  it was so much fun watching our babies experience so many new things for the first time.  thinking about the joy on their faces brought on by this adventure makes me smile right now as i lay in bed listening to robins chirp in our backyard.

as beautiful as this holiday was, i think the thing i loved most about going away was actually in the coming home part, as silly as that might sound.  i relish in peeling back the covers of our bed after having been gone for more than a week.  rocking theo in his nursery early in the morning, the sun still somewhere over the atlantic.  waking to familiarity and comfort, and having strong coffee in my favorite mug.  listening to our little ones pitter patter across the hardwood floors in the morning as they make their way from room to room.  the parts of home that you just can't get when traveling.

the first few days spent somewhere new is exciting and refreshing and hopeful.  but coming home after a long bout away is a whole other level of wonderful.  home compared to anything else always wins.  going away, as always, puts things in perspective and really makes us appreciate what we have, even if the nearest beach is miles and miles from where we sleep.

away we go // nashville, tennessee

theodore and i got the chance to sneak away for the weekend to nashville. waiting there were seven beautiful women whom i've met through instagram, along with two brand new baby boys, liam and noah. we planned this little get together awhile back and it could not have come at a better time for me. with all of this moving business it was a welcomed distraction. this trip helped ground me and boy did it ever feed my soul.

instagram is a funny thing. i have met some of me best friends in this social space and continue to find connections on a regular basis with mothers and strong women from all over the world. this little group of women that gathered together in nashville was nothing short of sweet. we came from all coasts to get to know one another better. to share our lives and our hearts. to really grow in the spirit of friendship. it was really quite something.

together we ate delicious meals, watched ridiculous you tube videos in our pj's, picnicked at a vineyard, clanked cocktails, laughed, snorted, shared paletas, and roamed the farmers market. there were times that i felt we had known each other for years. and they way each one of them embraced little theodore, well that made my heart smile.  traveling by yourself with a baby is not the easiest but they all helped me and made our trip pretty effortless.  it helped that theo is basically the most calm/gentle/patient baby ever.  no joke.

as i walked off the plane back home in missouri i felt a real sense of gratitude.  how lovely it was to spend quality time with likeminded, down to earth, kind women.  what a blessing in my life they all are.  i feel like we need more connections like these in our lives.  i know i do.  real, genuine connections that embrace womanhood, lifting each other up in love and in friendship.  as short as life is, we owe it to ourselves to nurture relationships such as these.  foster bonds with women that offer positivity and grace.  these woman did this for me. we have plans to meet up again in octoboer, but this time here in kansas city! as their host i am already dreaming up places we should visit.

some of my favorite places we went include:

picniced at arrington vineyards 
snacked at las paletas // try the avocado!
shopped at white's mercantile & imogene + willie // i could live in these sweet stores
brunched at grays on main // the farmer's daughter is the way to go
cocktails at pinewood social // everything was scrumptious here
played at the franklin farmer's market // try the orangeade made by the amish folk

nashville, next time my husband is coming along!

away we go // chicago

we just returned from chicago and had the loveliest time.  the weather was ridiculously delicious at a solid seventy on both days.  lucky us!  the kids, my helpful mother and myself accompanied andrew on a business trip and did a bit of exploring while he attended day long conferences.  we took the double stroller (which was the best decision ever!) and trekked our way around the city.  we walked a ton, let me tell you, and ate some very fine fare while we were at it.  when we weren't walking through neighborhoods and peeking through storefront windows, we cabbed it and got to see village life at its best.  i had no idea how many quaint areas of this city existed.

before getting on the plane, i made up a list of some places i wanted to try with the kids.  i am so glad we took the time to go to each because they made our trip extra special.  we also met up with some friends in hyde park on our way out of town.  such a sweet little family they are, and i am pretty sure our theodore has quite the crush on darling jane!

some of my favorite places we went include:

the shedd aquarium // stella got to see a dolphin show, touch star fish, see sea lions swim, and watch a tiny nemo fish swim about.
lunch at publican quality meats // oh gosh.  everything was outstanding but the roast beef was supreme.
coffee at heritage general store // we had rosemary coffee and blue berry cornmeal muffins.
shopping at west elm // i picked up a few new white enamel pieces to add to my slowing growing collection.
brunch at plein air cafe // the pot pies were heaven.
millenium park // the bean, of course.

until next time, chicago!