we bought a house

October 3, 2018 by Kirsten

on a windy monday

at the end of september

we all shook hands

and signed legal tender

with shiny new keys

and dusty cake toppers

turning box after box

into cardboard door stoppers

surrounded by trees

and a block all our own

in a little blue place

called fourteen gorton

we’re hanging our shirts

and stacking our glasses

making plans to stay home

while this autumn rain passes

gooey pumpkin loaf

in our fancy new oven

and a purring dishwasher

keeping all of the suds in

we’re warming the hearth

and decorating the rest

two birds flew the coop

now we have our own nest.

food and flowers and brick walls I’ve posed with

April 5, 2018 by Kirsten

I’ve used up all of my words between pages of planners. But a picture’s worth 1000 words, right? So here’s a collection, or something cliché like that…

summer staycations

July 13, 2017 by Kirsten

My GOODNESS, you guys, these past few weeks have been jam packed with travel, family time, homework, teaching, picnicking, kickboxing, yoga-ing, sunset-chasing, sweating, firework-watching, and a teeeeensy bit of sleeping, just for good measure. I know I say this about every season of life, but July is truly proving to be one of the busiest yet.

Since I’m busy teaching at the FBP Summer Dance Intensive and a few other summer workshops around the area this month, I’ve sticking close to home with some fun New England jaunts between homework cram sessions. A little round up of seasonal spots to match this smorgasbord of photos, if you’re interested…

Watch Hill for a beach day, a glass of rosé at Olympia Tea Room, and a sunset.

Little Compton for the cutest general store, massive waves, and a nostalgic private(ish) beach.

York, Maine for family dinners, lighthouse jogs, and watching a little bug dig holes at the beach.

Boston for Fourth of July fireworks, Turkish breakfast, serene museum visits, massive vegan salads, and yes, another long walk on the beach.

Providence for proper Prospect Park picnicking and catching up with best friends.

a beautiful day in the neighborhood

April 11, 2017 by Kirsten

On the first Sunday in weeks together and alone, You and Me set out to see the city on foot. White shoes, sunny skies, let’s try this neighborhood on for size. Somewhere between breakfast and lunchtime, turn up our noses at donut lines, beeline for eggy Portuguese treats, with a side of cilantro and fresh lime. I love Foxes and maybe that’s the Point, after all, therein lives your favorite coffee joint. All the way down Gano to the pink non-hotel, under the bridge, green river smell. Approaching our new regular- the one full of expectancy- we spot silly kids dangling atop our catalyst of synergy. All the while you play harmonica and I speak in rhyme, tomorrow singing Yesterday will be today’s paradigm.

fine

September 8, 2016 by Kirsten

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What a fine, fine weekend.

We had Nick’s, we shared old bay popcorn, we watched indie films, we made cornmeal blueberry pancakes. We shared space, we adopted cacti, we antiqued. We put a new spin on an old school game, we napped, we laughed. We spoke easy twice, we donned a red fez. We crafted in the sanctuary, we admired the Pearl, made a new bridge friend, we visited an old one. We ate pears and pico and peanut butter. We hoofed it downtown, we got lost in the watery fires, we hunted wine, we met friendly faces. We invaded Brown, we limboed lower, we sipped Del’s, we climbed a roof. We sat in ghostly study halls discussing the miracle of childbirth. We rubbed tired eyes. We held hands. We walked home.

A most very fine weekend, indeed.

goodbye, sweet june

July 6, 2016 by Kirsten

June began with a wedding and ended with a window. The weeks between brought sunshine, studying and sugar. Most days were dominated by a study of the social history of Providence as chronicled in architecture (one of the best college courses I’ve taken thus far) and twirling about with Free People. In the sugar department the aforementioned gourmet donuts via new kids on the block, pvdonuts, do indeed taste every bit as good as they look. You can’t call yourself a pvd kid until you’ve tried one, and they are well worth the wait. So go get ’em, guys.

In travel news, it seems Watch Hill always calls us without warning. But I’m not complaining; our spontaneous trips to Westerly always yield good conversation and a refreshing shift in perspective. Together we leave with a deeper understanding of each other, the kind only an empty beach, popcorn, and pinot grigio can invoke. And of course, Olympia Tea Room never disappoints- sometimes Marcia even offers free cake…

cutesy couple photo by Michael Collins.

i n t e r m i s s i o n : providence edition

May 20, 2016 by Kirsten

a time to build up, a time to break down
a time to dance, a time to mourn
a time to cast away stones, a time to gather stones together.

As they say, to everything, there is a season. There has been much food, culture, and luxuriating in my favorite little state these past few weeks. I’m looking forward to getting back into my tea and homework tours soon, but for now, we turn turn turn…

+ a sunset picnic playing catch up at Pr ospect Park

+ 2 visits to Oberlin in 2 weeks

+ a trip to Trinity to see friends in Oklahoma!

+ an old school Exeter slumber party complete with fireworks and cartoons

+ a (rather spontaneous) 5-course dinner/wine tasting with Theresa Heredia at Flemings to benefit the ballet

+ brunch at The Beehive to celebrate a special birthday girl

+ beers for the ballet is happening this Saturday at Hope Street’s annual spring block party. Come visit me in the beer garden if you’re local!

i n t e r m i s s i o n : boston edition

May 20, 2016 by Kirsten

Spring is synonymous with transition.

In this space between The Lake and Eaton Street, this time between curtain call and class introductions, lives a rare creature: a vaguely familiar shadow of me, one that feeds on a careful mix of relaxation and exploration, leisure and productivity. The incarnation appears in the intermission between season and school, adventuring and sleeping and biking and eating one too many cheese plates (is there such a thing?).

Swan Lake closed just about 3 weeks ago, and my summer school semester at Providence College begins Monday night (Social History- Providence Architecture!), and in the mean time I’ve been filling the gap between the Bean and PVD. Stay tuned for more from Providence, but for some recent snaps around Boston…

+ a stop in for English breakfast, a raspberry fruit box and floral inspiration at the newly enlarged Tatte in Brookline

+ perusing the (immaculate) shelves at Boston General Store (also in Brookline) just in time for a lovely bridal brunch at Pride’s Crossing

+ my first visit to M’s favorite Saffra Bakery for avocado french toast

+ a trip to Boston Opera House for Boston Ballet’s Swan Lake

+ dumplings and crust(y)aceans at Gourmet Dumpling House in Chinatown

+ drinks over Boston at the Prudential Center’s Top of The Hub

g r o u n d e d

April 27, 2016 by Kirsten

Theatre week has officially begun! We were at The Vets until 10 pm last night for the first of many teching, testing, spacing, and dressing rehearsals before Friday’s opening. Swanning about night after night promises to be quite exhausting. I’m feeling grateful for what’s keeping me grounded between flights, a few fresh things around my home:

this little sprig……because bell flowers should always reside next to bell garlands.

this embroidered sleeve……because it’s attached to a new jacket that makes me feel like the coolest lady ever.

this envelope……for being wall-worthy.

this little group of matches……because I’ve been separating my collection into minis, and it feels surprisingly new.

these flowers in a tall beaker……because PEONY SEASON!

this powerhouse granola……because it was “accidentally” left behind by a sneaky manfriend (plus it’s the most colorful and delicious* granola option in PVD).

these mossy friends……for breathing some springy life into my bathroom counter after a little chop and some fresh water.

this little bit of lace……because it was a spontaneous purchase and I do not regret it one bit.

this invitation……because it’s not every day one of your oldest friends gets married- with an invitation as beautiful as her friendship to accompany the occasion (and yes, this will also be clipped up on the wall. if anyone knows how to resist taking decorational advantage of beautiful script, a vintage ribbon and an actual leaf, please, don’t tell me!)

*verity of this statement to be determined…stay tuned…

w e s t s i d e weekend

April 20, 2016 by Kirsten

Have love, will travel.

Thank you, last weekend, for deciding to be delicious and sunny. Thank you for taking M and me to the West side of PVD for drinks at the dark little bar that always evokes intriguing conversation and encourages a close proximity and makes me feel like we’re on a first date. Thank you for working your magic on the wait list at North and bringing us bok choy and crispy sweet potato goodness in such a timely manner (by North standards, that is). You gave us raw bar refill pondering and hipster gawking and secret smacky kisses. How did you know that’s exactly what we needed?

Thank you, last weekend, for bringing us back to the West Side for White Electric greens and Spring-tinted teas. Thank you for taking us to Armory Park to debate the superiority of pita bread versus its baked chip counterpart while watching a 10-year-old boy being pulled on a skateboard by his fat English bulldog. Thank you for ice buckets and afternoon naps, for family dinner, big brothers in bibs and little girls in glasses. Thank you, sweet weekend, for sending swans my way and for flaky french pastries on warm Monday mornings. Thank you for hand holding and optimism and 70 whole degrees. Thank you for the well-timed playlists and the blooming trees and thank you, dear weekend, for making me smile midweek.

Setting The Barre

Tag Archives: lifestyle