The New #101in1001

It's a new year and a new 101 in 1001 list is in order. This is my third list of 101 things I'd like to accomplish in the next 1001 days. For me, 1001 days (2.75 years) is a happy medium between writing a to do list and keeping a bucket list. It's my way of dreaming big and making regular progress toward meeting those longer term goals. So here goes!

I've already crossed off a few items on my list, follow along HERE. And if you're curious about what's been on my list before... Check out my last list HERE.

It's been 6 plus months...

It's been six plus months... since my last confession and I've eaten no less than my weight in Halloween candy and Ina Garten's rigatoni with sausage and fennel.

But you guys! The Bozeman move finally happened and we couldn't be happier. Literally we wake up grinning ear to ear... and we're obnoxiously happy. Yes, we're those people (face palm) but it's funny

what a place can do to you, especially a place you built.

So let's get right into it, shall we?!

EATING // We made a dank snack this past Sunday. Believe it or not, I'd never roasted a whole head of garlic. So while I peered into our new oven with fear at a softly tinfoil'd ball, I realized what a revolution for me as a cook. Without new oven stress, roasting garlic is dang easy and DAMN delicious! Don't believe me? Take the time for Food52's Crispy Brussels Sprouts and Roasted Garlic Lemon Aioli.

HOME*WORK // The garage is still Mount Vesuvius partially because of the height of the

remaining boxes but also because each box was packed with no care by our movers and may destroy

my heart with its messy hot lava contents. JK, but what's real is that it's been a journey and I'm quickly tiring of opening boxes of random things just thrown together.

We also have a ton of settling in to do... But we can't wait to share our home with you. For a few sneak peeks, follow me on Instagram and via #ProjectBoylan... I simply can't help myself.

CRUSHING ON // Tata Harper's Illuminating Eye Creme. I recently purchased Tata's moisturizing body oil (winter is coming/already here) and selected the eye creme as a free sample on a whim. I don't know how Tata does it but I swear this magic in a bottle gives this tired mama a dewy glow that could only be achieved by lots of diamond dust. Literally diamond dust is an ingredient! Each use makes me feel closer to Gwyneth, which is an obvious added benefit.

READING // I recently sped through Ruth Ware's The Turn of the Key - which was the perfect read for getting spooky around Halloween. Not amazing writing but entertaining nonetheless. Now I'm a few short pages away from finishing A Spark of Light by Jodi Picoult, which should be required reading. Oprah calls this book "a nail biting thriller" but it's much more than that as it tackles a fictional shooting at an abortion clinic. Piccolo's skill in writing about this emotional hot-button issue while simultaneously putting a human face on it is startling.

THANKFUL FOR // The power of google docs. For the past year, I've been tracking and planning our furniture needs of our new house in a google spreadsheet. This spreadsheet automatically updated its budget while also tracking our current on-hand furniture, new selections, sales, prices, the quantity needed and final purchases! Dare I say this nifty tool was the secret weapon to keeping our happy marriage as I was able to design our space while also keeping our finances in check? 100% yes. And now we're almost fully furnished, there's a little bit of me that misses it.

THINKING ABOUT // DC. We're heading back to our former hometown for Thanksgiving and excited to see family, friends and revisit some of our favorite haunts. We'll lunch at Le Diplomate, snag coffee and treats from Little Pearl (now a Michelin star restaurant - eep!), take a spin around our favorite museums and of course stop by Salt & Sundry for a few necessities (mainly candles and hand towels).  DC folk, what's new that we can't miss?

WATCHING // Whelp, Silicon Valley is back on and I'll just leave it HERE...

WEARING // These Jeffrey Campbell Culvert Sherpa Combat Boots. They're incredibly comfortable  and responsible for keeping me warm and stylish on some of the most frightfully cold days. I snagged them early during Shopbop's site-wide sale. Who would have predicted me in combat boots? I sure didn't see it coming but I have no regrets.

Well... that about does it...  I'm excited to reconnect! Now take on the day like Bey, okay?! And come back Friday because I'm doing a snappy roundup of my favorite gifts this holiday season.

P.S. Dope Iris Apfel portrait by Victoria Villasana. 

Life by Design

As mentioned, life is a little slower these days but admittedly it's just as good if not a little better.

Our Bozeman house build is well on its way - SQUEE!  Our boy is officially ONE and had his first taste of Momofuku Milk Bar Birthday Cake (after a full of week of baking) - AND he loved it, three cheers! I finally made it to the top of  Mt. Helena. Definitely worth the hike for my gluts and the view! Last but not least... Henry is loving to explore the world of food - albeit much of it ends up on the floor to Woodley's absolute delight.

Happy Friday, dear Sunnies! Who's watching Beyonce's Homecoming this weekend? EEP, I can't wait!

WEEKEND MUSINGS

We've now celebrated in style that our little guy is officially ONE so I thought it was worth updating on a few musings...

EATING // Even with our move to Montana, we've continued to be loyal subscribers to Blue Apron. Given our work schedules, this meal delivery service is such a big help during the week but I worry the options are getting a little less fun. For one, I do NOT support sandwiches for dinner AND how much chicken can someone really take?! But not having to meal plan makes life easier, especially as new-ish parents, so we're likely devotees for life or at least for the foreseeable future. Are there other meal delivery services we should try? Please comment below with any and all suggestions! (Special side note... I cannot stop snacking on Dang, it's that DANG good!)

HOME*WORK // Drywalling is happening at our Bozeman build - hooray! And if things stay on

track, we should be celebrating America's birthday (the 4th of July) in our new abode - whoopee! And we cannot wait. Helena is still a bit sleepy for our taste but Bozeman feels just right.

CRUSHING ON // GP. I've fallen hard for Goop and want to do everything I can to reach Gwyneth Paltrow's level of good human and beauty. If you haven't subscribed to the podcast, do. If you haven't subscribed to her e-newsletter, do. Enough said.

READING // If you have a housekeeper like we do, you might want to read Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother's Will to Survive by Montana's Stephanie Land. It's not the most eloquently written book but it tells a story most of us haven't heard but should.

THANKFUL FOR // The Hubs and I are beyond thankful for ALL our family who came to town to celebrate Henry's first birthday. Although the little dude was battling an ear infection (unknown to us at the time) and not quite himself, we loved every moment and his first bite of birthday cake was PRICELESS.

THINKING ABOUT // I cannot stop thinking about our upcoming trip to Palm Springs and LA! Palm Springs has quickly become an annual destination but this will be our first time to LA as a family. Anything we can't miss? Also, where should we stay in the star studded city?

WATCHING // We just wrapped up watching the final season of Catastrophe. The last episode is a bit startling but the talented folks who play the husband and wife duo will keeping you laughing until the very last scene. Thank goodness VEEP is back to keep us smiling!

WEARING // I love this BKR sweater. It's perfect for spring not only for its color but also because of its flair. Hello balloon sleeves AND mini ruffles! Did I mention it's machine washable?! Extra points for that with a one year old in tow!

Now what are you waiting for...? Take on the day like Queen B, okay?!

Henry is ONE

In just over a week our Henry will turn ONE! We can hardly believe it... I swear I was JUST pregnant! To mark the occasion, we're hosting our families at our apartment in Helena next Saturday afternoon. It will be wonderful to fill our little home with love to celebrate our vivacious, kind and smart little boy. Still bald as a cucumber, what Henry lacks in hair he makes up for with JOY! And boy does he know how to spread joy through his smiles, giggles and snuggles. We couldn't feel more complete!

To match our little guy's spirit, we've planned a bright and colorful fiesta complete with a Momofuku Milk Bar Birthday Cake, letter balloons to spell out his years, party hats, a knit crown for him to sport and custom laser cut invites and banners. We're keeping it simple with a taco bar and the gifts at a minimum. But the Hubs and I did snag a couple items for the boy including these sunnies and this book by Joanne Liu.

Life by Design

Happy New Year and hello from Helena... "Home of the homebody!"

Our transition from fast-paced DC to sleepy Helena, Montana, has been a little tougher than we anticipated. Despite Helena's diverse age population the town is Q-U-I-E-T, which means our family of three is learning to make our own fun and adventures! I imagine this means the blog will change a bit as the Hubs and I dig into new recipes, hit the road for mini trips to visit west coast friends, continue to hike and find new activities but I promise to keep scouring the internet for hidden gems (like Vitruvi's essential oils diffuser - OMG what a game changer) and keep things sharp, sparkly and on the up and up.  

Our big news of 2019?! We've broken ground on a new home in Bozeman, Montana! That's right lovers, we are BUILDING A FREAKIN' HOUSE and we can't stop grinning from ear to ear! Being the design lovers we are, building a house is our perfect project and we're enjoying every minute. Especially because our new digs will be right down the block from my sister and her fam AND our soon to be hometown has a vibrant Stars Hollow vibe with a side of hipster!

As the house takes shape, we'll be sharing details here but for now enjoy these photos...  From the top... Our sweet Henry at 8 months (photo by Uncle Nate), reuniting with our besties Josh and Paulo in Missoula over Thanksgiving, hiking Mt. Helena and the initial framing of our new abode --- eeeep! 

Cha-cha-changes!

Whelp, a lot has happened since the last post in July... I got a new day gig, we sold our DC house annnnnd we have moved across the country to HELENA, MONTANA! These past three months have been quite the whopper but the Hubs and I are taking it in stride and finally starting to catch our breath. Things we've learned along the way...

1. Moving is THE worst. Because our ultimate goal is to end up in Bozeman (MT) after the Montana legislative session, our move has been a bit more complicated. Our stuff will arrive Election Day in two places - some things going to storage in Bozeman and some things coming to our rented furnished condo in Helena. We're crossing our fingers AND toes the division of our goods goes smoothly...

2. Henry IS Henry. Despite all the change, Henry continues to smile and roll with whatever comes

(*Image Credit)

his way. He's no longer in a nanny share and had his first day of daycare last week. As expected, Henry loves interacting with ALL the other kids and ALSO has a wicked cold - which we also anticipated. 

3. Change is HARD. Although our longterm plan has been to return west, we were unprepared for our move to happen this year. There are only a few opportunities in my home state of Montana that size up to where I want my career to advance. So when the call came, we got our affairs in order, threw in a penny for luck and hit the road but that does NOT mean it's been easy. Every day has been HARD work.

4. Woodley IS Woodley. Despite his years and wise (looking) gray beard, our high anxiety dog Woodley continues to be high anxiety and needs time to adjust. Unfortunately, we learned this the hard way... AGAIN! Halloween dinner cost us some interior car upholstery and our only warm bedding (AKA our down comforter). But don't worry, we learned our lesson and are now the weirdos parked around the corner spying on our dog via baby monitor...

5. It's OKAY to rely on your people. I am fiercely independent and do not like having help from others. It doesn't matter if you're family, friends or a complete stranger. I'm the person who yelps "I've got this!" while balancing a baby, all the groceries and rapidly typing an email on my phone. But sometimes it's okay to accept help. Although this a lesson I'm still trying to learn. I think it's important in order to not sweat the small stuff.

6. CRY, it helps. This transition has been nothing but H-U-G-E and shedding a few tears makes it a little more bearable. We left DC when one of our dearest friends became pregnant and I envisioned us buggying our littles together around town... When I finally felt like I had gotten a routine as a working mom... When we felt settled in our house and loved every nook and cranny... We left DC and our Sunday Suppers with the Hubs' parents which elevated DC to feel like home. So let those tears run guuuurl, you need it!

7. Buy ALL the warm stuff. Yep, we moved from a warmish east coast fall and it's now full on fall/winter in Montana (i.e. snow this week --eeek!) I finally will admit my decade on the other coast has really made me a wuss and I have not invested in pieces other than "city warmers." Time for this mama to go shopping and get practical!

8. When in doubt, DRESS your baby as a fawn. But seriously. Halloween came at just the right time and we dressed our little dude as a fawn, which is western speak for baby deer. And GAHD DAMN IT, Henry was the cutest thing and continues to don his costume because it's the only warm thing we own that fits him. #HalloweenForever 

9. Get your nails done. For real. Get your nails done, fluff that hair and put on your armor. Life is freaking scary and you better believe it's easier to face what's coming when you feel prepared!

10. Worry LESS (or do something about it!) Worrying less is not my forte so instead I've become a master at re-chaneling energy. This means... scared about the election? Go out and canvass. Anxiety not letting you sleep? Go for a hike. Easier said than done but it's worth a try...

Later Gators...

Goodbye, 2017

To celebrate the coming year, I've rounded up my top 10 moments of 2017... Are you ready m'dears?! Buckle up, here we go in chronological order...

ONE... THE HUBS' BIRTHDAY! Hosting 21 friends and family members in our tiny house for the Hubs' belated golden birthday dinner. And don't forget Julia Child's beef bourguignon and Momofuku Milk Bar's Birthday Layer Cake both from scratch!

TWO... JAPAN! Our adventure included the southern islands, Kyoto and Tokyo to boot! Eeek! This little country truly stole our hearts. I promise a write up for Kyoto and Tokyo is in the works.   

THREE... PORTLAND! I gushed about our Portland weekend here, need I say more?!

FOUR... INN AT LITTLE WASHINGTON! Easily our top meal of the year. The price is steep but every morsel pure genius! Perfect for a special occasion like celebrating turning 32. 

FIVE... WE'RE HAVING A BABY! Can you believe it?! This spring we're expecting our first baby and we couldn't be more thrilled!! Get the back story here... 

SIX... WESTPORT! Our annual pilgrimage to the Hubs' family's cottage is always a highlight. Does anything beat lobster and the beach? Especially when pregnant?!

SEVEN... GRAY MALIN! Pinch me! Can you believe our baby's first celebrity was Gray Malin?! The Hubs and I have adored Gray's work for years so getting to meet him almost made me faint.

EIGHT... MEAN GIRLS, THE MUSICAL! Tina Fey's latest work is pure magic, truly a must see!

NINE... IT'S A BOY! Finding out we're having a little dude has us dreaming of all things boy. We're almost ready for the room reveal but here's a sneak peek...

TEN... CHRISTMAS IN MONTANA! This year being home for the holidays was extra special. For the first time in nearly a decade all the cousins were reunited which now includes spouses and kids too. Family time is just what the doctor ordered!

Now... who's ready for 2018?!