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Reunion 2013 // style

One of my favorite pre-Reunion prep rituals is the selection of an appropriately obnoxious purple and gold ensemble. In the spirit of the event, I swaddle myself in the college colors for nearly a week straight.

Yes, my wardrobe has an even more appalling level of purple since I’ve returned to the collegiate motherland as an employee. It was bad as an alum, but we’ve reached next level purple saturation chez Cart.

I’m obsessed with my new Tieks ballet flats – super comfortable, super durable, super playful pop of color. I needed to go a size up in them (I’m normally an 11 and had to really embrace my big foot status by ordering a 12 (that dang big toe!) Just a note!). And those polka dotted pants from Uniqlo? Yeah, they’re drawstring. Boom!

That purple skull necklace, a 30th birthday gift from one of my dearest college friends, was definitely a highlight of the look. At first glance, people assumed they were purple beads. My their faces were priceless when the reality of the strand became clear.

Many thanks to Kate for the snaps (she was documenting the whole weekend’s festivities and spent a moment with me on Saturday afternoon to capture this look).

Shop ’em: Mustard ballet flats by Tieks; Purple pants by Uniqlo; Sandbar Tunic by Stella Carakasi; Skull Necklace by Shebee

Currently Reading

Thanks to Sunny’s FGM for the hat tip.

Now go read, because, YES.

Daisy

Some more experimentation with flowers and childhood.

Daisy (Bellis) . . . Innocence

Dotty Chicken

Our dear friends headed west yesterday, on the move to California. As a farewell gift they gave the girls these adorable tees.

I am totally and completely obsessed.

Surprise surprise.

You can buy the shirts here from Silk Oak.

We will miss you so, J & J!

23/52

“A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013.”

Sunny: Back to early morning light and oh that hair! I wish my bed head were that breathtaking.
Kaki: Daddy’s girl.

More details about The 52 Project here. To view all the portraits in the series visit here.

Month 22

ourtland Whaley,

The tides have turned!

It is official. You are now far easier to put to bed than your Big Sister. I can’t believe that I’m even writing those words for fear that you personally will bite me in the butt (I wouldn’t put it past you), but it’s true. This month, your rolls reversed. After 21 months of restless nights, bedtime hysterics, and much pillow weeping, you now go to bed with near ease. While your sister negotiates and whines and deliberates back rub after hair play after bedtime story after potty break after drink of water after I AM GOING CRAZY! – you, my ever-affectionate second born, nestle into my arms for a rock and a cuddle before curling up like a stink bug, butt straight in the air, arms tucked beneath your belly, with your blanket draped over your entire person (head included. You and your sister have inherited your father’s propensity for suffocated sleeping conditions. It makes me claustrophobic just thinking about the three of you with blankets and pillows draped over your heads while you slumber.)

*shudder*

You now pretend to read, blissfully pointing at words in your books while declaring, “A-E-A-E-A-E.” You have mastered those two letters, and they substitute for the other 24 whenever you sing your ABCs. It is nothing short of perfection, so I will never correct it, so enamored am I of this phase.

You love cheese with all your heart and soul (thus the C selection for this letter). You would do anything for cheese, even endure days of constipation in the name of massive dairy consumption. In that sense, you are your mother’s girl.

You also can scale your changing table in 10 seconds flat and the other day I discovered you on the brink of attempting a leap from your changing table perch into your crib. Apparently you think your SUPER BABY!

You display similar antics around swimming pools. And you think running away from your parents near crowded, car-filled streets is more hilarious than when Hanna licks your ear.

Related: I am officially going grey.

You continue to be affectionate and huggy and kissy and all that ooey gooey amazing I am going to squeeze you to pieces and it never ever gets old. Never never. Tonight as I rocked you at bedtime, you draped both arms around my neck and then gently patted by back in rhythm with my swaying.

Don’t ever change.

143 Mama

Ergobaby // Love Carries On

Here are some of my fave snaps from a recent shoot for Ergobaby. I so adore working with this company. It lets me connect with some incredible parents and babes, all the while getting a chance to do something I love for a company I completely adore. #winning

Erica and Cooper are a delightful pair – and Cooper’s big sister is one of Sunny’s besties. We spent a morning wandering the MASSMoCA campus, which is always a completely swoonworthy experience.

Keep an eye on Ergo’s #LoveCarriesOn campaign for a peek at some of these snaps on their site.

Reunion 2013

I’m in recovery mode. But it was a good good weekend, despite the fact that the campus could now host a Berkshire Tough Mudder. Those Ephs sure know how to get down with the get down.

Friday

I’m knee deep in Reunion festivities so this shall be brief. Sure, there’s a flood watch until 8pm Saturday, but that’s not stopping the party. Do you hear me, MOTHER NATURE? BRING ON THE MUD!

I couldn’t resist sharing these images from this past Friday. A post-work rendez-vous at our neighbor’s pool with friends who are our family. And, man, are we a lucky group to claim this place and these people as our own. Especially on rainy, chaotic work weekends like the one before me. These people are what keep me sane the second weekend of every June.

Those chubby baby cheeks, and wacky toddler antics, and goofy preschool smiles sure don’t hurt either. And, coming this fall, Baby Brie gets a Kimmy! Hooray for little girls. Happy weekend to all!

Currently Gawking

One of those moments where your friend does something badass and you’re stupidly proud. Also, PREACH!

…free to write and dream and walk the earth and shout at power, and dance, dance with beautiful strangers!