Paris Bound

It's happening, my goodness, it's happening! In just a little over a week, the Hubs, Henry and I will be en route to Paris at last - SQUEE! Originally we'd planned to become francophiles last November in celebration of our baby on the way. But due to unforeseen pregnancy complications, we chose to postpone our trip. Now with our little bundle in tow, we're heading out for a grand European adventure!

So m'dears... Here's our to-do list... Although Henry and I will be first timers, we already know in our hearts... "Paris is always a good idea!"

+ FOOD
Berthillon // Luxury ice cream and sorbet.. Need I say more?!
BigLove // We've heard the pizza is not to miss!

Cafe de Flore // Apparently this little restaurant is one of the oldest coffee houses in Paris and wine on the terrace is simply divine.
Cafe Ineko // Quaint with enough beautiful little dishes and decor to be featured in Vogue?! OKAY...

Claus // Many have claimed this joint offers the best croissants in the city.
East Mamma // For ALL the pasta!

Le Comptoir General // A quintessential french setting for cocktails. Time Out says "FIVE STARS!"
Le Madonnina // One of the Hubs' picks, and supposedly "REAL bomb!"
Le Pain et Des Idees // A fine traditional bakery to eat bread and more.
PaperBoy // Boasting to have one of the best brunches in Paris.
Rose Bakery Tea Room au Le Bon Marche // I'm not always a girl for sweets but the carrot cake is supposedly awe inspiring!
Telescope // Coffee... (!!!)

+ ACTIVITIES
Eiffel Tower // Duhhhh... enough said! And yes, I imagine us taking in the view via picnic!
Louvre // A newbies must see...
Love Lock Bridge // Apparently all the love locks have been removed. Is it worth being a law breaker?
Musee d'Orsay // Set in an old train station, this museum hosts many of the classics.
Musee de l'Orangerie // "The water lilies. American abstract and the last Monet."
Musee des Arts Décoratifs // Sadly we missed the Christian Dior exhibition but the current Hermes exhibition has piqued my interest...
Musee National Picasso // Because Picasso (!!!)
Musee Yves Saint Laurent // A true fashion icon, we must pay our respects in his home city.
Palais-Royal Gardens // A summertime visit means a walk through these gardens is at the top of my list!
Place des Vosges // The oldest planned square in Paris.
Sacre Coeur and Montmarte // A grand church with architectural features like woah.
Sainte- Chapelle // You don't need religion to know this little chapel is tops!
Versailles // Another duhhhh... enough said!
Walks // We're gate checking our umbrella stroller and packing our walking shoes. For starters, I hope to explore the Marias neighborhood also known as the Jewish quarter, the Rue Rambuteau and the youthful and energetic neighborhood of St. Germain...

+ SHOPS/GOODS
Colette // Apparently "the trendiest store in the world!"
Dries Van Noten // To look, not buy - OBVIOUSLY! The online preview? ($$$$$).
Goyard // I love the color play and pattern of their totes. Goyard truly lives colorfully!
Lemaire // French women and menswear that hints at Need Supply's clean and simple style.
Maison de Vacances Home Design // You don't need to speak french to know this home goods shop is all about vacation style.
Merci // A little bit of everything for everyone... home goods, womenswear and menswear.
Petite Bateau // For ALL the basics for Henry's closet!

+ STAY
Hotel Fabric // The Hubs booked this boutique hotel given its central location and room layout that can easily host three!

Our list is sure to grow... Especially as I page through Vanessa Grall's Don't be a Tourist in Paris! But seriously... be a dear and add your additions below!

*Image Credit.

Life by Design

BLUE hydrangeas

The Hubs hung this framed abstract calendar page to continue the celebration of Henry

Mosquito season is here, which means our hydrangea beuts are heading indoors

Our youngest member of the family is officially TWO MONTHS (!!!)

Life lately has included heaps of hydrangeas and M-I-L-K (or as the Hubs calls it, "boob gold")! I've frankly been shocked and awed by the production of both these items. The silver-lining to all our May showers? Our hydrangeas have been growing gangbusters and are BLUE! You guys! We planted these bushes six years ago but after the first year, the flowers turned Pepto-Bismal pink. I've been battling ever since to get back my blue beauties by adding supplements to the dirt, burying a rusty nail (a total Pinterest fail) and reading up on gardening. And then this year... nothing, I did NADA and now our hydrangeas are blue AND bigger and better than ever!

While the hydrangeas have been growing, Henry too has been gaining on the charts. We celebrated two months this week and all the giggles, smiles and poo that goes with it! It's also a FACT that at our two month wellness appointment, our pediatrician was blown away by the volume of my milk production and my Hubs (completely fascinated by my new skill) glowed with PRIDE. 

On a final note... We love this little boy beyond and keep hoping time will slow down but our dude keeps on sprouting! Don't want to miss a a beat? Follow our Instagram stories to see what trouble little H and I are getting into on the daily! 

Weekday/end Musings

EATING // Frozen dairy! Whether it's ice-cream or gelato, Henry and I are touring DC's best frozen treats to beat the heat during my maternity leave. Favorites include Jeni's for ALL the flavors (14th Street NW), Pitango Gelato for pistachio and local rhubarb (Capitol Hill), MilkBar for cereal milk soft-serve with sprinkles and the cornflake crunch - OBVIOUSLY (City Center) and Bon Matcha for Matcha soft-serve (19th and I Street NW). SQUEEE! And have you heard DC is soon to have a MilkBar flagship that will roll out experimental desserts weekly? I think I found a new side gig... Chief of the Test Kitchen! The flagship opens THIS Saturday (June 2nd) so watch out!

HOME*WORK // The silver-lining to our east coast torrential rain is that our flowers are near perfect. Last year, we missed our blooms but this year our hydrangeas are on fleek! Don't believe

PSA: happy life, happy wife... happy mommy! Graphic via Letters are Lovely.

me?! See here as "Exhibit A." 

CRUSHING ON // DC's new Line Hotel. While my bestie Nicole was visiting, we finally made the trek to this former Christian Science church now hotel and OMG... It is everything I dreamed of and more! If the Line wasn't in the most inconvenient neighborhood in the city (Adam's Morgan is kind of the worst) - I would be there today, tomorrow and always! Of course we ate at Eric Bruner-Yang's Brothers and Sisters... That Potato Rosti Eggs "Benedict"... Yeah... No matter that parking is like poking your eyes with needles, I can't wait to return! Even to just lounge in the space... The Line is beyond beautiful! 

READING // Per recommendation, I read All the Ugly Wonderful Things and loved this tragic story that ended with sunshine. As the divisions in our country seem to increase daily, this smartly written novel was a great reminder about how fortunate we are to have our life in DC and a healthy, happy little boy. It also highlights what truly matters - not money, not objects or possessions - but L-O-V-E!

THANKFUL FOR // The human body. Almost two months out from my c-section, I'm shocked at how fast my body has recovered. I hit my first workout class over the long weekend and my goodness did it feel great! Moderating myself and not over doing it remains tough but when I hop back on that yellow SoulCycle bike this weekend... It will take everything in me not to belt out Gloria Gaynor's "I will survive!"

THINKING ABOUT // I'm officially half way through my maternity leave and although I get a full 16 weeks home with my guy, it already feels too soon to go back at the end of July. Especially now Henry has started smiling. You guys! My heart nearly exploded with that first sign of his upturned lips. I just can't even! Please make time slow down... 

WATCHING // Eeeek the drive-in at Union Market is back for a new season! Weather permitting, tonight we'll be cuddled up with Henry watching Clueless. Click here to see what's playing next... 

WEARING // My new mom uniform. Always a fan of jeans and a t-shirt, I find myself wearing this classic pair on repeat. I'm currently obsessed with this soft tee from Cuyana and these distressed Frame jeans.