Looking ahead

This has been a truly unimaginable week living here in Boston. From the fatalities and injured from the initial bombings on Marathon Monday, to the final nail biting capture of one of the culprits last night, it has been something out of a movie. But it does have a good ending and the city prevails. Wow, this really is a united city and this bombing has only made us closer and that much stronger. Many questions need to be answered but at least we have some closure and are not as fearful as we felt 24 hours ago.

But as they say, today is a new day. My husband, kids and I headed in to Boston today. It just seemed like the best thing to do - pay our respects and support the Back Bay. We are less than a 20 minute car ride into the city. It was incredibly moving being at the Berkley street memorial consisting of crosses for the victims, teddy bears for Martin and flowers and notes from people. Most people simply stood quietly, some prayed, some cried, but most of all people just seemed extremely calm. I feel that everyone in the city and my neighborhood is just so much more pleasant, courteous and patient right now. No one is in as much of a rush it seems and we are all so aware of the fact that whomever we cross paths with might be a responder, a family member of an injured one, a runner, or onlooker on that tragic day. Especially the first responders, they have just been so incredible and now I will always remember to thank them for what they do whenever I cross paths with them. I just saw a post of a picture of an armor clad cop brought gallons of milk to a home in Watertown with a family that was on lockdown. You just can't make this stuff up.

Part of our excursion today was also to the new beautiful Restoration Hardware store (more on that soon) but what was really capturing was the view from this gorgeous window, as if purposely framed - the memorial where I had just been standing. I felt at ease and not like I was imposing to take a picture of it from this vantage point. I just couldn't while right there. 

Our hearts are heavy. And after 13 years here, Boston, you're my home.

Storage tip: Busy Moms

Organizing toys around the house when you have little ones can be a full time job, but if you figure out a few clever ways to keep the clutter at bay, your home can still look put together and stylish. I have always said that just because you have kids, you can still have a well-kept home. Well, we all have that one sofa cushions that is turned over because of stains, but you get where I am coming from if you have a type A personality like me.

So with organizing as we enter a new year on my radar, I was about to go back to The Container Store to get a giant canvas storage basket for my kids toys, but luckily I spotted these giant bags at Marshalls for a quarter of the price in time! You can store a ridiculous amount of toys in this in about 2 seconds flat! They are from Taylor Madison Designs (website is not that great, but the bags are) and the rope handles, large size and fun designs were so great, that I bought one for my laundry and an orange one for my sons room too for stuffed animals. $12.99 a piece from Marshalls. They would be great for the beach or keeping towels in on the patio in the Summer!

My playroom area at home

Love this rope detail

Cape Town Inspiration

I just got back from a three week vacation in Cape Town, South Africa, and am slowly getting back into the swing of things with: (a) no beach; (b) no pool; (c)no maid and (d) no family. Ugh. It's hard but I took loads of photo's to keep those memories alive and to show you some fun places and things that we did during our stay. Good design is EVERYWHERE in South Africa. And good food is too, so if you're looking for a stylish and fun vacation Cape Town is the spot to go.

This place in Camps Bay, the Bungalow,  is filled with good

looking people (maybe too many posers for my liking)  and good 

food. A little pool in the middle of the place is quite unique and gets

some of the good people to watch into the pool 

(my daughter in the foreground)

This is how they serve a kids 'hot chocolate' at 

Camps Bay's "The Grand"

Camps Bay beach, need I say more

Penguins at Boulders beach

Yes, they really swim with you. I'm with my

son here trying to get close to the cuteness

Restaurant near the beach with the penguins. 

There must be hundreds of places that are gorgeous to eat at,

 that are on the water in Cape Town

This was a really great looking restaurant that we stumbled

upon in Langebaan up the west coast. Neutral palette with

yellow accents, always a winner in my books

Love the fun exterior with wood stick (latte) purgola

There are hundreds of vineyards just outside of Cape Town.

We visited Babylonstoren and their stylish but casual approach to

the interiors, gardens, food and wine was incredible. This Cape Dutch

building houses the wine tasting, bread and cheese shop and gift store

Refrigerated cheese store

Bread shop. Ridiculous yummy home

made breads. And shots of the gift store below.

I love this traditional unfinished bench that was 

placed outside the main building. Simplified Cape

Dutch details are everywhere! 

We all need a giant vine ball~

The views are just incredible too

Plums, free to taste

The greenhouse restaurant. So, so lovely.

The BEST scones! Served with jam, cream and lemon curd!

And homemade ice creams below were a hit.

 

AND get ready for it. This is how a McDonald's looks in

Cape Town...

I finally got to see my sisters new Just Cruizin' store that 

I had helped design. (The store and) the clothes 

are gorgeous! I have a whole closet full of 

new Summer clothes for when it warms up!

Loved this indoor market in Hout Bay. The vibe and 

food was unique to Cape Town and south Africa

Just in case the beaches are not gorgeous enough for you, there are so 

many other outdoor places and activities that set in gorgeous surroundings

This park in Greenpoint is by far the best park that I have ever taken

my children to!

Look straight ahead and then there is this

I wish that I had taken more photos of some interiors along my way, but this gives you a sense of the great beauty that surrounds you in this, the Mother City. Until next time, cheers.