Labor Day Weekend Snapshots.

It's official. Labor Day is over and so I shall henceforth invoke a week-long sobfest and gnashing of teeth, mourning summer's bittersweet goodbye to us all. I mean, technically we still have a few more weeks of this insanely hot season, but let's be real. White is over. Lounging at the pool? Over. Ice cream cones? K, I will probably milk that one a bit longer ( <-- bahahaha MILK!!!) But in all honestly, as sad as it is to watch summer fizzle out, I am so excited to welcome the Autumn season with open arms. It feels like a really good time for a shift in the weather, for my family in particular, because we are truly beginning a new season in our lives. New home, new routine and schedule, Stevie with a new job role and Everett at a new school and everything just feels new. I always love fall because the weather is boss and it means my birthday is soon and I can pull out all my old friends (AKA boots and scarves) and the lack of humidity is just SWEET AS PIE. But this fall feels especially one-of-a-kind in our little home because we are making everything ours for the first time, as a family of three. It feels really good. And really grown up. Which is weird. But a really good weird.

I hope your Labor Day was tons of fun, filled with barbecue and swimming in someone's pool (hopefully yours!) and playing outside and staying up late and perhaps even having an adult beverage, too. We did equal amounts of goofing off and working like dogs. The house feels like a never-ending beckoning of "HELP ME", but we are attempting to draw a few boundaries and trying to have a bit more fun, too. I mentioned last week that I haven't been having all that much fun lately, even though I am really happy to be in our new home. Enjoying the abode and having fun aren't necessarily the same thing though. And thankfully, we decided to be a bit more intentional and have fun during this holiday weekend. Stevie went to play golf and I had a gal's day out, going out to lunch and getting a massage and drinking something called a volcano bowl (!) with my pal Kelley. BEST DAY EVER. We also had a relaxing meal at my parents, swam in their pool, admired their foliage (things have really grown since we moved out!) and I even took a nap. A NAP GUYS. We also chowed down on some killer pulled pork sandwiches (I'll have the recipe up here later this week) and did a TON of working in the yard, sawing off trees branches and chipping them up into mulch. And perhaps planting some tulip bulbs. Because I am out of control in my yard. OH. And my garden is showing signs of life! The tiniest little chutes you ever did see have sprouted and I almost cry every time I walk out there to water them. It was a good weekend friends. I hope yours was, too :)

Adieu, dear summer. You've been a delicious, delightful time.

Planting My First Vegetable Garden.

I have always wanted to grow a salad.

I used to dream of it. I wanted to live on a pasture in an old white farm house and walk outside, past my chickens and horses and pick the vegetables that I grew from seeds in my own little patch of Earth. Of course, in my dream life I also simultaneously lived in New York City and was a famous actress and wore red ball gowns everywhere. It doesn't have to be either/or in the dream world, right?

Well, I've done the New York City thing, and even though fame was never whispered about my stint as an actress, I had the opportunity to give it my best shot. And now, well, it's no white farm house, but it's my house. My green house, actually. And in the back, there are a few rows of above-ground garden beds that are so perfect for vegetables it's not even funny. It's real. My real, rustic, perfect little patch of Earth for my own little produce community.

I spent a lot of time browsing Pinterest for tutorials, talking to friends who are master gardeners and eavesdropping on conversations between the Pike's Nursery employees and customers like myself. I have found myself consumed with questions about which varieties are best for my climate/zone/neighborhood/backyard, where to plant which items, how much to water or how little to fertilize, how to deter deer from my yield, what kind of soil is best, how long until plant maturity, how to prune, etc. The questions go on and on! My Google searches over the past month have become ridiculously suburban. But finally! The planting has begun! And I must say, I'm pretty proud.

Here's what the garden beds looked like before:

I was ready to rip out all those bushes. Clearly, this bed was made for gardening! But it would be a serious investment to replace all of them at once, so Stevie and I decided to focus on the area where catnip was planted and replace that with my first round of Autumn vegetables. In case you're wondering, the catnip is the crazy green wispy plant that looks like a weed. Actually, it was getting choked by a lot of weeds. I believe the previous owners planted the catnip because it's supposed to be a mosquito deterrent? Whatever. It had to go.

I bought so many seeds. Too many, actually, when I realized how much space they would take up. I also bought some plants that had already been growing in their containers. I transplanted them, along with planting some seeds, all which should produce a fall harvest! THIS FALL.

Stevie's a good gardening teacher. He warned me that the most time consuming and laborious part of this endeavor would be pulling up all that catnip and PREPARING THE SOIL. I sort of laughed at him, like, "Yeah, but I'm AMPED. This is going to be so fun!!!"

I mean.

It quickly became time consuming and, yeah, laborious.

Thank goodness my trusty sister came along for the entire planting excursion and kept me laughing. She had me in stitches while we attempted to wheel the tons of muddy soil and weed-eaten catnip up the hill and dump it in the back corner of our property. And she laughed with me when every single neighbor in our hood came by to say hello while we were working in the front yard. There was a solid hour and a half that we just stood in the sun, shielding our faces, making small talk with my new community. What a trooper, my dear sister. That gal is not only a true friend, but a seriously hard worker.

Oh yeah. And we did crap like this.

Early in the day shenanigans.

All in all, it took two days to get the garden planted. Once the catnip was fully removed and the soil was tilled and added and given some magical growing elixir, we got our plant on. We planted cauliflower, carrots, romaine lettuce, galactic lettuce, radishes, strawberries and two types of kale. I am so excited to watch my baby plants grow! I will keep you updated on how things begin to progress. I have no idea what I'm doing, so if you're an idiotic gardener, then we can be friends. If you're a master gardener, wanna come over and tell me what I did wrong?

Have any of you ever planted a garden? What do you wish you had known going into it? Any how-to's or tips that you wouldn't mind sharing with the class?

Have the happiest of weekend to you, friends!

On the Living Room Floor.

I'll admit. I haven't been having tons of fun lately.

Moving just isn't. It isn't! Yes, I am thrilled to be in my new home and yes, I am thrilled to start piecing together the decor and yes, of course I am excited about the prospects of my vegetable garden. May it be fruitful and multiply! (If my vegetables are fruitful, well then, we're on to something). But am I having fun? Am I doing fun things? Not really. Not yet.

I'm just unpacking.

It's hard, lame work. It takes forever. But it must be done. In order to find the socks and the light bulbs and the bobby pins and those little collar things Stevie puts in the corners of his dress shirts. It must be done.

So I've been an unpacking fool and I am equal parts annoyed and bored with the task because its taking FOREVERRRR. I just want to be done.

But on Sunday we took a break from all the painting and furniture moving and box unpacking and just let loose a bit. We actually enjoyed each other, as a family. The three of us. We went to church. Ate lunch. Played on our new rug in our new living room. Went plant shopping. Bought gardening tools. It almost felt normal. But what was even better is that it felt FUN. And it had honestly been a few weeks since I felt like, wow, that was really, truly fun.

I just wanted to share a few of these photos because they make me feel happy and content. And lately I haven't been either of those things. I just want to keep it real. Sometimes life isn't overly hard or too easy, but it's unfun. However, even in seasons of strangeness and moving and feeling unsettled and as if you've misplacing your purpose (perhaps it's in that box over there), there is still a chance. An opportunity to find the joy in something really small. Like watching your baby son stare out the glass door in the first home you've ever bought. Like watching your big tall husband play with the itty bitty fluffy stuffed animal on the living room floor. Like feeling the arms of my boy wrap all the way around my neck while I smother him in kisses. These things are so precious. These are my sweet moments of true fun, real joy.

I don't have a lot of boxes unpacked. I don't have a fancy job. I don't have a zillion dollars and I don't have the answers to most questions. But I have these two souls, and this moment right now, and this cozy living room floor. And that is enough fun, joy and laughter to give breath to my lifetime.

An Ode to Riverside Dining.

The scene was exhilarating, maddening, memorable. Dinnertime in the city. A wall of windows reflected the setting sun over Atlanta’s lazy Chattahoochee River. The silverware sparkled. The music was sweet. My whole family was finally together in one place, all of us, together again! We gathered to celebrate my beautiful little sister’s graduation from college. We were all so proud, beaming with sheer joy, laughing and pouring the wine and drinking in the moment’s wonder.

I, however, was sorely distracted.

My baby son was squirming in my arms, pulling on my fancy dress, and yelping incomprehensible phrases. It was past his bedtime, and he was tired and hungry. I did my best to contain him while we were seated at our white-clothed table, but to no avail. What’s a mom to do?

As the waiter approached the table, I was so distracted by Everett eating the crayons and throwing the appetizer that I didn’t take a moment to look at the menu. However, instead of rolling his eyes and (not so subtly) judging me for bringing a baby into this hoity-toity joint, our kind waiter just smiled and said, “Ma’am, please take your time.”

Whew. Take my time? Don’t mind if I do. I almost asked him if I could take my time in the form of a 20-minute break at the bar while he played patty cake with my baby. Don’t worry, I only thought it.

The meal came out and it was spectacular. The chef made Everett something special since there was no children’s menu, and he ate and ate and ate. Like the rest of us. This restaurant wasn’t an Atlanta landmark for no reason. Each morsel, taste, spoonful, and decadent bite was rich with  flavor. Even my little boy had calmed into a food stupor for a few moments, so I actually had a chance to enjoy my half-glass of wine and laugh with my sisters.

It was a moment of perfection. The wait staff was so discreet that I hardly noticed when they whisked away a plate, refilled a beverage, and let me keep our mess of baby food and teething toys and sippy cups in my quadrant of the table. We toasted to my sister’s future over and over again. The glowing eyes of my loved ones encircled my periphery, and I felt like the luckiest lady in the world.

When Everett got fussy, the host suggested that a walk through the garden might calm the baby down. He escorted me through the French doors that led to a riverbank path. The outdoor space was peaceful and green and he was enamored by the simple beauties. The tall tomato plants amused him, the fat bell peppers made him laugh and the cranes skimming the top of the water had a hypnotizing effect. As the sun took its final plunge into the river, I knew that this place was the right choice to celebrate such a special occasion, due to both the excellent cuisine and the fact that I didn’t feel like a complete nuisance to the wait staff. In fact, I felt so cared for, when I would normally be feeling frantic and out of control.

I am so grateful that a restaurant as esteemed as this would train its staff to treat all guests with such an incredible amount of attention and care. This place didn’t need my business, but they made me feel like a priority in an environment that was a challenge for my large family with multiple children along for the ride.

This encounter makes me think about how I treat others, especially those who have different situations than mine. Sometimes I don’t take enough time to consider how I can be of service. I tend to drive impatiently, tap my foot while I wait in line, eat in a hurry and talk on my phone while I’m doing ten things at once. But if I took just a bit of extra time to emulate our kind waiter by making those around me feel like they could take their time in my presence, well, how much better would people feel? A lot, probably. A whole lot better.

Thank you, Canoe. Your distinct excellence inspires me to approach others with the same sensitivity and respect that you showed me. And thank you for making me feel cared for by approaching family dining as just that – a special memory for the entire family.

Want to meet purveyors who are making a difference with their customers? Check out BonAppetit.com’s “Out of the Kitchen”, an ongoing exploration of the relationships that build and sustain the food industry. See how hyper-local food markets operate and how their focus on quality and service keep customers coming back for more.

Many thanks to Epicurious for sponsoring this post.

Happening Lately.

Happy Friday!
I hope you have ridiculously fun weekend plans in store. That involves partying with the homies and whatnot. We are hoping to wrap up a whole host of house projects (and probably start on a few more, let's be honest :) And we are having friends over to our mess of a new home, but thankfully, they're dear friends, and won't care that we are still living in a construction/moving box zone.

This photo of my sweet Everett just gets me. That boy in that teeny little backpack. This week we FINALLY had a turning point with Everett's little pre-pre-school program. It's been three tough weeks of him wailing every time I drop him off (and me wailing as I leave the building - twice now a few of the teachers have actually walked out with me while I cried. Such a girl) But my boy is such a strong one that he has actually cried continuously and not calmed down. Which has led to multiple meetings and phone calls with his teachers and the administration about the best way to "immerse" him without traumatizing him. He's the only one who has the level of endurance that is actually surprising the school admin team. Waaaaaayyy to go. Now I realize that a lot of people may have opinions about the best way that I *should* be doing this. Some have told me to just "rip off the band aid" and let him cry because he will eventually overcome his frustrations. Some of have told me that he is just way too young and I need to be nurturing/spending all my time with him. No matter which camp you fall in, I completely respect your opinion. I also have had to go with my gut on this one. Which, I'll admit, has been shaky at times. I was so glad to receive a text message from his teacher on Thursday, telling me that he was having a great day, finally, NOT CRYING, and playing outside with the other toddlers! I literally wept (all over again) and praised the Lord for it. Because honestly, I could use a few hours to myself. To like, shower. And unpack. And drink the coffee. And I know that spending time around other kids is so good for him! I'm praying that this turning point sticks.

I bought myself a slew of succulents.

And hung them on my back porch.

And named them Jasmine.

Because what else do you name succulents, really?

Hiiiiiiiii Jasmine. You're pretty.

The past few nights I've been sitting on my back porch after Everett goes to bed, sipping red wine, watching the sun melt into the steamy Georgia sky, and dreaming about what to grow in my yard. Thankfully, the folks who lived here before us took really gorgeous care of the outdoor space, and there is a ton of potential to grow flowers and plants and vegetables. I am so excited to get started on my own green thumb. It's something I've dreamed about with Stevie since before we were married, and now! I am so excited to grow a salad! A SALAD.

I mentioned here before that we were gifted a ton of beautiful old furniture when we moved into our new home. I've taken some time in my garage this week, when Everett is napping or with one of his grandmothers, and I've been sanding, painting and distressing some of the furniture and making it the way I like. It's a ton of sweaty, hard work, but it's also really creative and therapeutic. I used to love refinishing and upcycling furniture, but then I spent years moving around a bunch and getting rid of everything. IKEA became our go-to furniture spot and I didn't keep anything I had spent time upcycling. But now I have a whole house-full of furniture that is just crying out for a little love (and paint!) I am so happy to have the opportunity to create something unique for my own home. I will have a few of the projects up on the blog over the next few weeks, if you're into that kind of thing :)

These flowers are a housewarming gift from my sis-in-law. Aren't they just incredible and fluffy and sweet? I just love hydrangeas? These are amongst the zillions of kinds I want to plant in my back yard. Stevie doesn't want me to get overwhelmed with planting too much, but I am so excited that I could practically float away! Monday is the day, folks. I will be a sweaty, frenzied, soil-fertilizer-seedling mess, but I will be a HAPPY mess. I'm planning to focus on some autumn vegetables and a few big perennial bushes in some places that need a little lift. Any gardening tips for the first-timer? Like, the uber first timer? I don't even own gloves.

Happy weekend to you, friends!

* Everett's backpack is from Pottery Barn and can be found here.