Land’s Sake

we went strawberry picking last week with friends. the pickings were very very slim, but we still had a great time outdoors. the best part: we discovered land’s sake! a farm in the suburb right next to us. It’s only about 10 minutes away with a charming veggie stand, and all kinds of cool workshops and events.

once a month they host a supper club: a monthly series of gourmet dinners expertly prepared by a local chef featuring fresh produce from Land’s Sake Farm and other nearby farms. Each monthly three-course dinner at the Barn highlights a seasonal theme served family style to 40 guests in an historic tavern. how fun is that?!? sign me up!

{all photos by me.}

Posted in boston, family adventures, friends, jane, kiana, KJ, love summertime, myla, sela | 3 Comments »

summer barbecue.

my kids are finished with school for this year, woo*hoo!  while we are putting the final tweaks on our summer plans – i am hoping to enjoy as many barbecues as possible – i love grilling for dinner.  Here are a few visual ideas for your barbecues this summer.  i have had an obsession lately with recycling aluminum cans for projects.  as you can see below – they make great pots for succulents! i love the silver contrast with the green plants.

also, one more detail below – while passing basket liners at whole foods i grabbed a pack to use for paper airplanes – a little activity that match the fun for the kiddos at your summer soirees.  you could also put crayons on the table & let the little hands color on the brown kraft paper.

my idea for the mason jar is to use them to hold the napkin + utensils, then use it for drinks. I am planning a homemade soda bar for our father’s day celebration this weekend, and will share with you more details next week, but those mason jars are going to be used!

sources – water bottles, wooden crates, gingham napkins, mason jars, and mini chalkboards {great for photo props!}

check out more outdoors goodness for your summer right here.  three cheers for summer!  now we just need some hot temperatures here in new england so we can go to the beach!

{photos by me.}

Posted in love summertime, parties, party plans | 2 Comments »

*new to me*

swimwear means summer, sunshine, warm weather – and all of these combined mean lots of happy moments.

as promised, here are my favorite-ladies *new to me* suits for this season… i love every detail this year, the stripes, the bows, the colors, you’ll see the perfect mix of vintage inspiration with up-to-date trends.

i chose a few one-pieces, and my favorite combinations of two-pieces. i think two-pieces should not match, so i put in the time to pair up my recommendations for you. i’m kinda dying over what i came up with, i want them all.

go get click happy and plan some glorious moments in the sunshine!  you can see my kid-swimwear recommendations for 2012 here.

one two three four five six seven eight nine
ten eleven twelve thirteen fourteen fifteen sixteen seventeen eighteen

{round-up by me, this is not a sponsored post.}

Posted in fashion, love summertime, new to me | 3 Comments »

*new to me*

today i want to talk swimwear because frankly, i have a serious fettish with swimwear. i believe it’s because i adore sunshine. swimming pools. and the beach. these are at the top of our list for happy places, right after red sox games.

did you know january till march is the best time to buy a swimsuit? i’m not kidding. the best suits come out when it’s still winter. you can find a good suit all the other months of the year, but the best designs are available – now. and, this year – i am seeing lots of stripes, bows, and ruffles. dear see jane blog readers, what is better than that?

here’s a round-up of *new to me* suits that are my favorites for the little people in your life.
apologies for only two boys suits. the girls just have more to choose from. however, those two swim shorts for boys are really good choices!

one two three four five six seven eight nine ten
eleven twelve thirteen fourteen fifteen sixteen seventeen eighteen nineteen twenty
twenty-1 twenty-2 twenty-3 twenty-4 twenty-5 twenty-6 twenty-7 twenty-8

p.s. the selection at target is better than what they are offering online! run, don’t walk!
next monday i’ll post my favorite suits for adults for 2012!

{collages by me. this is not a sponsored post.}

Posted in fashion, love summertime, new to me | 4 Comments »

turquoise

oh man, these kids were hard to say good-bye to… in fact, i may have given them more farewell hugs than even kiana did. for years, these girls & guys have hung out at our house – quite often i sit only a room away laughing almost as hard as they do at how crazy funny they are. for the past few summers, i’ve had them running through my kitchen on summer nights during night games – they play with all of our younger kids just like they were their own siblings… in fact, you can see myla on the front row snuggled up with one of our favorites – cayman. and, without a second thought i love each of these kids as if they are my own.

…miss thirteen has always had the best of friends in our neighborhood and at school. no drama – ever. just genuine, respectful, kind, loyal, good, kids. i have always prayed she would be surrounded by them through all of school – so, here’s really hoping she finds friends like these beauties in boston. at least comparable. ::fingers crossed!::

Posted in friends, kiana, love summertime, myla, parties, Uncategorized | 5 Comments »

mustard yellow and pink.

sela’s going-away party! sela requested “mustard yellow” which happens to be one of her favorite colors – and then when we were buying treats/etc. she kept saying “mustard yellow….AND PINK!” totally fits this baby girl of mine.

how cute are all these little girls? omgosh, killer. all those swimsuit ruffles!

this party was fun for all my kids because each bestie of mine who has a miss four-five, has older kids who are also buddies with my older kids, so everyone had fun – again!

shannon was taking the picture of myla & boston, and pointed out how myla was almost as tall as him now! myla loved that – she has always thought of herself as the shortest one her age, and she really grew so much this year! shannon: pretty much the funnest momma around – she was going down our water slide with all the kiddos!

my little miss four wanted her toes to match mine this week, so we were purple twins. ::smiles::

Posted in friends, jane, KJ, love summertime, myla, parties, sela | 4 Comments »

red.

myla-moosey’s party!!!

the four amigos. cason – 12, kj – 8, brevin – almost 10, and myla – 11-and-a-half. you would think they would be buddies by the oldest two and the younger two… but, no. cason – twelve hangs out with kj – eight because they are the gamers… and brevin – 10 hangs out with myla – almost 12, because they are the quirky little athletes. i cherish these cuties.

{myla & kayman}

aubree/paris/madeline/brevin/cameron/myla/cason/tj/nate

myla’s party quickly moved from the pool to the sand volleyball pit.

this sand pit {fyi – it’s FOUR feet deep with sand!} is just as loved as our swimming pool, i might miss it the most out of our entire home – all the fun volleyball memories…

Posted in KJ, love summertime, myla, parties, party plans, sela | 2 Comments »