All about Greenwich - part one

I AM THRILLED to be back in Greenwich.  J and I moved here back in 2000 and had an apartment right on "the Ave".  We walked everywhere and the best part was there was a French bakery underneath us and a Starbucks next to that.  Every morning I woke up to the smell of pastry.  It was awesome.

The thing I love MOST about it here is that it is so charming and so safe. I could walk on the street here at any hour and feel super safe.  Also,  there are business that have been here for years and also new things popping up all the time.  I say it is the perfect amount of eye candy.

Here are some shots I got one morning after I dropped Brenna off.

 This was taken at the point.

 I just want to say I did not edit this picture in any way shape or form - I wouldn't know how!  Look at that amazing sky...........

 A view from the very top of "The Ave".

 some lovely little stores...

 that white building with the white awning is home of PASTA VERA and makes the best tri-colore salad with goat cheese I've ever tasted.

 oh, Sephora....I love you!

 Jonathon Adler is the new kid on the block.  He has a "twenty - four hour pot dealer" sign in his window.  whatever!?!?

 The prettiest jewelry store ever.  We purchased our watches there way back when we used to buy ourselves  really nice things!

 The view from the Lewis street intersection.  There is a lot more to see......

 Ralph Lauren's "Rugby" store. I have never been in, mostly because I'm not really a "dress.for.riding.in.the.country.clothing" kind of gal.  Gorgeous window displays all year round though!

Our old block. Unless I walk, that Starbucks is impossible to get in-and-out of if you are in a rush.

Well, so there is a little introduction to our town.  I've got a lot more to come!
Have a great weekend!!
xo
Chris

right now...

It is 37 degrees!!  Cold!

Praying for my MIL who is in the hospital with pneumonia.

Just finished making a hat last night with Jino for Brenna's "crazy hat day" at school - it is super cute!

Just finished these layouts:

This layout was a true labor of love.  I think it took about 4 hours total which is about 3 hours too long for me, but I kept coming back to it.  I love how it turned out.  This was made from the Brooklyn Flea and Handmade kits from Studio Calico.  That picture was our Christmas card picture this year.  It feels like it's impossible to get both girls happy, smiling and looking at the camera at the same time!

Another SC kit layout here.  Way more simple, I adore those buttons used on here and that sweet tag.  Misted it in Dragonfly by Tattered Angels.

We are off to visit Brooke's new school that she is starting next week! I hope she loves it and they love her.

Have a blessed day!!

time for a bit of crafty.good.ness

I've got a layout to share today. I did this for the color combos galore challenge.

As soon as I looked at the inspiration board, I wanted to embrace all the loveliness and pulled my inspiration from that.

I love this picture of Brooke. You will see a lot of layouts with this picture. It is true Brooke. So sweet yet naughty. She makes no apologies for it either. Lord - I love this child!!

Patterned paper: Studio Calico
Screen Print: Hambly
ribbon - unknown
Doilly - Martha Stewart
Paint - Jenni Bowlin
Chipboard letters: American Crafts
other: gems, crystals and siver pearls

Have a great day!
xo Chris

I'm back - for real for good......

we made a big, HUGE mistake and moved our family and all our belongings to Sarasota Florida.

In the long and short of it, it was not for us.

What we now know:

We are New Englander's. We love clams and cold weather and rocky beaches.

We love living close to our family.

We love being able to get prosciuto at a moments notice and not have the deli person look at you like you have two heads when you ask for it.

I love calling my sister in law and saying "put the coffee on, I'm coming over", and be there in 15 minutes.

I love hearing the train.

I love being back in Greenwich. Right downtown. It's busy, and charming and safe.

I love that my mojo is back. That I want to create something with my hands every.single.day.

I love that we go to the BEST Church ever. Grace Community Church ROCKS!

I love that the Lord has blessed us so much and in so many ways - even more so it seems since we made it back.

I drove 1300 miles with two little girls who did AWESOME. Jeno drove the rental truck and thankfully, we were only seperated once in Maryland (cause they have some crazy roads!)

So that is it. If you are still here, I know, that is a lot to read.
Just wanted to say Hi!

xo
Chris

the inevitable....

No matter how hard I try, taking Vitamin c and not kissing them on the lips, J and I have managed to catch whatever the heck the girls have.
Doesn't the good Lord know that if I'm down and out, then it's a free for all here?!? Like babies escaping the family room gates, opening boxes of cereal and having their way with them??

Poor Brenna was not herself on Friday when I picked her up from school, and by the time we were having dinner I could feel she had a fever. The next day she didn't get out of my bed, fevers returned as soon as the medicine wore off, she did not even to come down stairs. Brooke seemed fine, so we went for a ride to my dad's house to drop off a birthday card for my brother.

Fast forward to Sunday, Brooke wakes up with a 102 fever, coughing, crying, and J tells me he thinks he's coming down with "something". So I decided to miss church and take care of everyone. Last night was rough, everyone kept waking up for medicine and drinks and to put in complaints to Mama.
Hmmm, guess who woke up and felt like a truck hit her this morning? Yup, you guessed it. My back is hurting something fierce and my throat and chest feel raw. Not good! I can't even sit up straight! I think I have to break down and get some Nyquil or something to take stronger then advil.

I did however get this layout done on Friday night with my March Studio Calico kit. It is beautiful, with fun bits and pieces.

That bee stamp is so cute, I'm going to keep that forever!!

Well, I had better get some meds, juice and some much needed rest.

Just breathe......

Yesterday was so super productive! I love accomplishing everything on my to-do list.

Jeno cooked, and after a record early dinner (4:45pm), we took a drive to see the swollen rivers around town. Some had clearly flooded and there is something so awesome about a river run wild. I guess it will be something I will miss about living in Connecticut.

After that, we wanted to kill some time, so we went to TJ Maxx and got the girls CAAUUUUTE Church clothes. Matching little outfits. Those days are going to be far and few between, so I might as well get my fix in. (well, that is what I told J when he gave me the eye roll when showing him the outfits). And I got a pair of black flats. yay!! And while I was trying on shoes, Brooke cleared off an entire shelf of size nines. woops!


The BIG NEWS for the day is that Brooke said three new words. She's been slow to talk but tonight she said eyes, nose and mouth. Up until now it's been No No No and why in here sweet as can be voice.

I made this little page to document her last month. And, again more Candy Shoppe happiness here!

Oh I love this girl! She is so kissable and lovely and I so enjoy her. She is a mess and gets into EVERYTHING! When my friends tell me to bring her over, I usually ask them to up their insurance policy - and I'm serious! She is like a tornado entering a room every time!
Well, I am off to run some errands and enjoy the day! I hope you have a fun filled day!!
xo Chris

Isn't it something...

Yesterday, at Church, we heard how the prophesy of Jesus Christ was linked throughout the Bible, the exact scriptures all linked back to Abraham. For the record, I was raised a Catholic and went to private Catholic school for eight years, and never once was the body of Christ / sacrament ever explained to me like it was yesterday. Now, I'm not knocking the Catholic Church in any way shape or form - let me just say that, But, when they gave us the sacrament, we had to hold it until a certain scripture, and the entire time, I was reflecting about how the apostles must have felt when Jesus gave it to them at the last supper. This was his body and blood, did they understand what it meant? I looked down at my little piece of bread and wine (grape juice) and I had a moment of pure grace. I think it was the first time I practiced Eucharisteo and told the Lord, thank you for giving me you. Isn't that something?

Then we came home from Church, and the grocery store and napped for four hours! Jeno made us one of our favorites for dinner, pork chops with potatoes and vinegar peppers. It was delish!

On Friday night, I participated in some of the Jenni Bowlin crop challenges. I love timed challenges, they really push me to move my butt and to not over think a page. I love this first one and look how simple it is! All made from scraps too! For this one we had to use a quote:



and this one had to be about me:



Both were made from the February Studio Calico kit, Candy Shoppe and the add ons.

Well, I have a HUGE to do list ahead of me and I love nothing more than crossing off items on it. Today feels like it's going to be very productive!!

I hope you have a great day!!

xo
Chris