Picnic in Central Park on Labor Day.

We had the laziest of Labor Days. It was wonderful. We are in our final stretch up here in New York (I have so many fun adventures to share with you over the next few weeks, I'm excited!), so we wanted to enjoy the city a bit more before saying goodbye. We grabbed some Shake Shack (they had a blueberry pie ice cream concrete, so heavenly) and walked to our favorite part of Central Park, in Strawberry Field, where the trees are so old and stretch into the sky. I love this part of the park, so stately and green. Everett and Stevie played frisbee while I stretched out on our blanket and just watched. This mama is feeling less sprightly lately, so sitting and laying are really my jam. Then our dear-hearted friends Anthony and Jessica joined us, and we sat in the park for a long time, laughing at Everett (who took up a solitary game of throwing sticks) while we talked about life. We capped off the day with a healthy concoction from Juice Generation - my favorite is "get your greens on", which has apple, mint, kale, spinach and pineapple in it. So fresh. I'm missing my Vitamix juices up here, so this is a good fill-in.

A few photos below!

See what I mean about those trees? I mean come on.

This was a free frisbee that Everett caught in the 4th of July parade - it's smaller so it's perfect for his little hands!

This really cracks me up. When he throws it, he immediately looks behind himself in the other direction.

The trees. The trees are so delicious. Can you see the twinges of autumn?

He looooooooves him some Jess.

Per the usual, kid ate all my concrete. (P.S. Concretes are a milkshake/ice cream concoction that God whispered in someone's ear and now we all get to enjoy, via Shake Shake. This one had pie in it. A whole slice of blueberry pie!!! #sopregnant

I hope your Labor Day was relaxed. Pray for us as we get packed up and on the road this weekend - we are driving home from New York to Atlanta (I know, everyone says we are crazy, and I'm beginning to think they're right). Stevie actually has a big presentation today that is the culmination of his project work up here. I am so proud of that man for working so earnestly in every area of his life - his job, his family, his faith, his health. He is so super disciplined and really inspires me to be the best version of me, because I see him constantly honing who he is to be the best version of him. Just feeling really grateful for him this morning and how his efforts have given our family amazing opportunities like being able to come up to New York for the month. He's a rock star.

Next week we will be home! Hurray! I think my garden has literally turned into a jungle, so says my mom.

P.S. - Last London post is up tomorrow!

6 On-the-Go Items for Toddlers.

We've been traveling for the last month or so, and I am so grateful that we have Everett along for this stint in New York. We missed him so much when we were in London! And I'm extra extra grateful that my sis-in-law Lauren and dear friend Vanessa flew in for the weekend to join us on some NYC escapades - they brought that little piece of home that we were so desperately missing. I have lottttttts of city fun to share with you, but I want to touch on HOW to adventure in the city with a toddler. I am so grateful that OXO Tot sent us some travel gear that makes getting out and about with toddlers a whole lot easier. I wanted to share about our experiences snacking, playing and sort of potty training (??) while on the go.

Getting out on the town with kiddos is no joke - it requires extra planning, thinking through each scenario, prepping additional snacks (or as Everett asks for, "treats!") and packing a few extra clothes and gear "just in case". All you parents know what I'm talking about. But I just feel so strongly about getting out and having adventures, without letting the daunting potential challenges of traveling with kids hold us back. Toddler travel can definitely bring on the unexpected, but I just feel really grateful for the opportunities my family has had together. New York City is my favorite city in the world, and I would never want to withhold Everett from experiencing the crazy bizarre wonder that is New York. Bring on the skyscrapers, crowds, and of course, treats! (Along with hand sanitizer and stroller naps please.)

1. Handy Stroller Hook

As you can see, our first stop of the day was the most important - Shake Shack on the Upper West Side. Nothing like an 11am cheeseburger and a shake to really get the day started right. I love stroller hooks in general, but this one from OXO is super large - it's gripped and could easily handle the weight of a huge shopping bag. Which means I should do some more shopping :)

2. On-the-Go Wipes Dispenser with Diaper Pouch

This one cracks me up, because Everett literally carried it around with him the whole time he was out of the stroller, calling it his present. "See Mom, see? My present!" He loved it. And you know what? I've tried out several of these diaper pouch contraptions over the years, and this one is by far the most compact and easy to use. No lie. Which means it's kind of like a present to me, too. We kept pulling out wipes on this particular day, obviously to change diapers, but to wipe off dirty hands (Everett touches everythingggggg) and it was super convenient to be able to hang it from the stroller and easily access those wipes whenever we needed.

3. 2-in-1 Go Potty™ with Travel Bag

A word on potty training. We aren't actually pushing it yet. But - my kid is SO INTERESTED. And perhaps this is TMI but he wants to flush the toilet for me like, every time I go, and he sits on the potty and home and pretends to wipe and flushes for himself. It's the cutest. So I think we might be getting close to that time where we actually try to train him. I just want to be sensitive to the fact that he's a boy and they usually train a little later. But when we pulled out this on-the-go potty, he flipped. He loved it so so much. Please imagine my child in Central Park yelling "I did it!!!" as he pretended to go on this potty. Well, you don't have to imagine it, because we photographed the whole hilarious scenario. I know this potty will come in handy in the coming months as we begin to train him to use it on the go :) P.S. it includes some really cool liners, so it never feels like you're touching something gross. Just a little extra bonus for those of us moms who get grossed out easily (anyone else raising their hands here?)

4. Flippy™ Snack Cup with Travel Cover

Everett's most-asked for snack is bunnies (Annie's Cheddar Bunnies, for those of you who know what I'm talking about). This little snack cup is perfect for his bunnies because he can reach in and grab some, but not too many at a time. And there's a plastic cap included, which keeps the germs at bay (and my peace of mind intact!)

5. Transitions Soft Spout Sippy Cup Set

We have been trying to move out of the sippy cup world, but when we're out and about there is no way I am letting my kid have a regular cup in his stroller. Spills everywhere! This is a unique cup that adapts as the child grows - from a 3-month old all the way to a big kid. There are a few attachments that change it up, and it can ultimately operate as a regular, lid-less cup. But for us, we are rocking the sippy cup situation during our travels. Makes life simpler, and spill-free.

6. Cleaning Set For Straw & Sippy Cups

Thankfully, we haven't had to use this handy little kit yet because all of our gear is still relatively unscathed by our city explorations. But this is a nifty little 3-piece set that allows you to clean the straws, lids and other hard-to-reach parts of the snack and cup set that the dishwasher just can't quite diminish. I have a feeling that this will be coming in handy very soon...

There he is, the man (and photographer :) of my dreams.

OXO Tot is one of those brands that most moms undoubtedly have in their arsenal of baby gear without even realizing it. Over the years, we've used these snack containers on the daily, so it was nice to have an upgrade that is really more age-appropriate for Everett. This is just one of those "no, duh!" kind of brands - the products perform beautifully and function exactly as they should every time. So instead of changing multiple outfits while out and being loaded down with unnecessary gear, we are able to focus on our adventure of the day! Which in this case was a Shake Shack picnic in Central Park, a visit to the Met (with an impromptu stop at the rooftop bar - and a mocktail for this pregnant mommy) and service at our old church, Hillsong. I'll share more pics from this wonderful day oh so soon :) I still have more London fun to share, too!

The post is brought to you by Activate by Bloglovin and its advertiser OXO Tot. All opinions are mine alone.

Spontaneous 2 Days in NYC!

Two weeks ago, I said to Stevie, "Hey, I made a dinner reservation for our anniversary. I know we haven't talked about it, but I went ahead and just picked a spot and a time."

His response was annoying. He was like, "Well, I made a reservation, too. Can you cancel yours?"

Um, no. I'm certain I picked a better restaurant than whatever Ted's Montana Grill location he chose.

He continued, "I made a reservation at Fig & Olive." And then he just smiled sweetly. Because Fig & Olive is my all-time favorite restaurant in NYC.

So of course I freaked and jumped around, especially as he explained that he had a few work things to do in the city, but my mom was going to watch Everett for the quick 2-day trip, so I could just enjoy my days there and see friends, and of course, EAT.

And that is exactly what I did.

This trip was the BEST.

Being kid-free was so liberating. I could shelf all my mom duties for a few days and just do what I wanted - I rode the subway to some of my favorite spots, met friends all over town for lunches and dinners, and even shopped a little. And doing all of this alone was so therapeutic - I'm not alone too much in my life, and I actually really need that kind of time to recharge. I spent a lot of time wandering and thinking. About my family. About my dreams. About this blog. Lots of thinking. And coffee drinking :)

I've been so excited to visit this new landmark, which feels like it was erected just to beckon me back to town. Located in Brooklyn Bridge Park, this Oy/Yo sculpture was constructed after we moved away. My sweet friend Crystal met me at the park and payed homage (and took this silly photo) with me. It rained on us a little bit and cooled off all the steaminess and it was just wonderful wonderful.

From the Manhattan side of the bridge, it reads YO. I love that.

I'm pretty sure this guy was delivering a bunch of Amazon Now packages. How cool, huh?

One thing I wished I had gotten a picture of is something else I saw on the street with zillions of people walking. I saw a mom rollerblading with her baby in a stroller. Yes, rollerblading. And while she was blading, she was leaning over and feeding her baby kale chips. Only in New York, guys.

Okay, so let me just give a little recap on meeting my girl Amber Fillerup of Barefoot Blonde. (I like talking as if we are actual friends, because, well, I am a geek and its my blog and I can.) For those of you who don't know her, she's a mega huge blogger who shares fashion, beauty and family travels on her enormously famous blog. #goals

One of the days we were in the city, she posted something on Instagram about having a little meetup down in Soho, so I asked Stevie if he wouldn't mind joining me to try to meet her before our anniversary dinner. He was soooooo cool about it and joined, even though he was one of like, 3 guys at the entire event. We waited in line for a bit, but there were good appetizers and drinks, so at least he got to snack before our dinner. But what was really cool is that I actually got to meet with her and talk with her and her husband (who takes all her photos and videos.) I told her I was a blogger in Atlanta (shameless, I know), and she shared some blogging insights and advice with me (some of which included Stevie quitting his job to help me full-time! bahahaha) and we talked about our kids being the same ages and then we took some selfies together. AND I gave her my card. I know you guys, I am kind of the worst. But I was also on cloud 9 and thennnn while we were talking, Glamour Magazine came up and took our photo together and posted it on their Instagram! I thought they might have been doing that with everyone, but nope, it was just me and Amber. I died a little bit. When I finally got in the cab to go to dinner, my Instagram was blowing up and I was having a moment like, what just happened??? Meeting her was so so cool. And you guys, she was seriously the kindest.

I got to see what the big times looked like. It didn't look bad.

So then we went to dinner. I shared more of these outfit details here.

9 years of marriage with this love! I can't even believe it. After the craziness of that blogger event, we settled into the nicest table in the house at Fig & Olive (per Stevie's request), and before we even got a chance to order they were greeting us by name and bringing me a mocktail. Because they knew I was bumpin'. This place is ridiculously classy.

Stevie and I spent the meal recapping our favorite moments and challenges of the past nine years together. We have done so much growing up over the past nine years, and I am so grateful that he has given me the space to continue becoming who I am. We have both pursued so many dreams over these years together and we've experienced the rise and fall of some of those dreams. Some dreams we are in the middle of, like raising a family and building careers and throwing all our extra energy (ha) into developing our skills and gifts. And some are still looming far ahead. But they are out there, waiting for us to pull them close and bring them into fruition.

I love this man more than ever.

Haha this post is long, wordy, and mushy. Is anyone even still reading?? Sorry guys, but not that sorry.

Oh, and then there are these angelic humans. Meet our BFFS in NYC, Anthony and Jess. They are the kindest, most generous and obviously GORGEOUS people. A few years ago we all lived on the same block on the Upper West Side, and we started attending their Hillsong small group when we discovered that we would most definitely be life-long friends. On this particular trip, they wanted to celebrate our anniversary with us, and treated us to the fanciest dessert and drinks I've ever had, at the Michelin-star Gabriel Kreuther on Bryant Park. Anthony even arranged a kitchen tour, and I got to gawk at all the gorgeous French cookware. This experience was a big surprise and we were sorely under-dressed, but somehow the ritzy hostess let us in anyhow. Anthony and Jess are two people who are really going for their dreams, and they continue to inspire me and Stevie in our faith and our our pursuits. And they are just a ton of fun. It really hurts saying goodbye to them every time.

There are so many other stories I could share from this amazing trip, but I'll spare getting overly wordy here. I came away from the city feeling inspired, loaded down with new ideas for this blog and with a fresh perspective on my life. I am so thankful that I had the chance to get away and celebrate with my love and be alone and see friends and eat so well. Especially after the past three months of staying in bed and trudging through the first trimester of this pregnancy :)

If you're heading to NYC soon, check out my NYC page or search "New York City adventures" in the search bar over on the right.

That Black Jumpsuit.

Last week, Stevie and I took a spontaneous trip to New York City for our anniversary! The 3 days were a blur of impromptu fun and delicious eats and seeing darling old friends. On our actual anniversary, we stopped by a blogger event downtown in Soho (where I met Amber Fillerup Clark of The Barefoot Blonde and almost died of glee. More on that next week though :) and then we went for dinner at my favorite NYC restaurant - Fig and Olive in the Meatpacking district. If you are planning a trip to NYC, looking for somewhere a little more upscale to celebrate an occasion, this is a MUST. The food is outstanding and the service is impeccable. When we sat down to our corner table, the waiter greeted us by name and then assured me that my non-alcoholic mocktail was already being prepared. They really read their Opentable reservation notes, you guys! This place is just the classiest. Go there.

Sporting an itty-bitty baby bump is always a bit awkward, like, um, did that girl eat too many tacos or is she actually pregnant? I've decided to embrace this weird stage and just wear what I want. I'm currently mixing a lot of maternity clothes with just a few non-maternity items. Things have gotten thicker much faster this time around (just in time for bathing suit season, hurray!), so the choice is to either whine about what what to wear every day or just wear it and proudly sport that beer-belly-looking-non-beer-belly.

I loved putting on this black Urban Outfitters jumpsuit, borrowed from my cool little sister's closet. I just felt so sassy and free, without the constriction of a waist band holding me back from ordering dessert :)  I paired it with an old pair of BCGC heels, Free People bralette, Kate Spade bag and Anthropologie earrings. Most of these items are a few seasons old, but I've linked to some similar styles below.

Silence + Noise Portia Jumpsuit

Ann Marino Bettye Muller Daphne Strappy Sandals

Galloon Lace Racerback

Wenny Drops

Cedar Street Small Hayden

Tell me, would you every wear a jumpsuit? What's your favorite date night go-to look?

Things To Do In New York City With A Baby.

Those wild grasses of New York City.

I know I sound like a broken record, but guys, we had SO MUCH FUN on our family trip to New York last week!

It was a work trip for him, and a play trip for me, so I was the one spending most of the time shuffling around the city with my darling, almost 1-year old son. And even though I have lived in NYC before, and visited a million bajillion times, there is always something new to be discovered in this fetching, enticing, frantic city. And exploring it with my kiddo? Well, this opportunity was no exception. My eyes were opened to a whole new slew of opportunities and places to be discovered with a baby/toddler in tow. I wanted to share a few of my finds for all you adventuring mamas (and papas!) who want to tote their babes along while exploring the big city.

That happy boy.

Making friends.

We packed a few balls to pull out and be played with at a moment's notice.

Babies love fountains. They just LOVE THEM.

Everett roamed with daddy in his stroller, he crawled around Books of Wonder (don't judge, the kid REALLY needed to get out of his seat and it was an obvious play area for babies), and there he is on the subway, where he actually threw his ball in that woman's face. I practically melted into a puddle of sweat on the floor, I was so embarrassed.

These two little dreamers.

Baby and Kid-Friendly places in NYC:

Washington Square Park- For the gorgeous fountains, epic live music, and frolicking in the grasses. We might have eaten some stray dandelions, too.

Books of Wonder - Best bookstore ever! He was free to crawl on the carpet and play play play to his heart's content. This is a very special book store, and reminds you of the Shop Around the Corner from You've Got Mail. So sweet.

Picnic in Central Park - Because when you have an adventurous kiddo, picnics are the new way to lunch. We did this on several occasions, grabbing meals from Whole Foods and Shake Shack and enjoying them in the park. There are so many open field areas to lounge on the grass, too. It was a great place to pull out all the balls that Stevie made me pack for Everett, and we rolled them back and forth to each other. That child is getting pretty good at playing ball. It's really cute, but its even funnier how proud Stevie gets when Everett rolls the ball towards him. Oh boys.

FAO Schwartz - Talk about making a kid dream. My baby's eyes practically popped out of his head at all the wondrous toys, displays, animals, and joyful atmosphere. You don't have to be a big kid to enjoy - this place is even for babies! Heck, even for adults, we really love it there, too! I always want to over shop and Stevie is always like, "We can find it on Amazon later", and of course, we never do. Because this place is special and the toys in it are just rare, rare finds.

Hudson Eats at Brookfield Place in Battery City Park - Such an awesome place for a baby, because there are TONS of places to eat and you can sit inside or outside and stare at the ocean, the boats, Lady Liberty and Jersey City. Needless to say, my child was pretty quiet while we were all eating, because he had so much to look at and take in. Score.

Raining? It's no problem. There are so many places that you can stroll around with your baby that are so enjoyable and entertaining:

Time Warner Building at Columbus Circle - It's like a really nice mall. With really nice restaurants and bathrooms and coffee and pastries. These are mom necessities, right? Also, while you're there, make sure to check out Landmarc, which is known in the city for being an upscale, kid-friendly joint. Everett ate my entire grilled cheese there. Along with his own lunch.

The MoMa - This is New York's Museum of Modern Art and it is amazing. Luckily, it was located right around the corner from our hotel. I headed that way, then the rain stopped, so we didn't actually visit this time around. But any of the museums are really great for kids, including The Children's Museum, the American Museum of Natural History, and the Met!

Have something to add to this list? We seems to find ourselves there at least 1-2 times a year and I would love to know of some more kid-friendly places! Because, you know, I plan on bringing this little one with me everywhere :) If you have more to share, please do! I'm sure other mamas would want to know, too!