This past weekend I had the pleasure of throwing a fall picnic in celebration of our very special twin nieces’ birthdays.

As fellow autumn lovers, I envisioned an outdoor, rustic vibe for them that was laid-back and whimsical enough for their pre-teen fancies. I’ve attempted to execute a backyard picnic in the past; and I can assure you, it is no easy feat. So this time around I enlisted the help of Dream and Party- a local event planner, party rental, design visionary all in one.

Last month, our girl turned three.

Gosh, where does the time go? 

The past few years I've thrown together some Pinterest-inspired parties- Maddie in Onederland, followed by a sunshine themed brunch to celebrate year two.

Yesterday, I tried to play Supermom.

As someone that quite vocally rejects the idea of the perfect parent, this was entirely out of character. But I woke up inspired: to try to be organized, and responsible, and run like clockwork.

Brrrr! At the risk of sounding redundant: its cold. And if you're home with the littles like Yours Truly, then cabin fever may be setting in already. This past week I brought out all the stops to keep MM entertained indoors. We dined out at our favorite restaurants. We attended the best local drop-in classes. And we even enjoyed some of our favorite indoor activities at home- in the comfort of our PJs. 

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Christmas is in five days, and I really can't believe it. It's crazy how time flies the older you get- and times that by ten when you start to have a tiny tribe of your own. We've been hardcore about  Christmas activities this year, starting way back before Thanksgiving when we took a trip on the Polar Express in Essex, CT. Yes, this year we've covered a lot of holiday territory; and in case you're in need of a little last minute cheer, I've compiled a list of five {semi-local} things you still have time to do before the big day arrives:

Over the weekend I conducted another very helpful poll on my Insta Stories. It's one of my favorite new features on Instagram, and lets me know a little more about what ya'll are looking for, and how I can make this little blog of mine better.

I asked what you wanted to see more of here at LL; and the overwhelming majority of you answered that you wanted to see more of my favorite things to do here in CT. Just in time for our local giveaway. 

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Since my husband and I were first married {four years ago this Thursday} we have taken an annual trip to our local nursery to enjoy their Pumpkin Patch and fall festivities.

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This past week we packed up the kiddos and headed to one of our favorite local farms, Silverman's Farm in Easton, CT. My husband and I have been going for the last four years- sometimes for the apple picking, sometimes for the pumpkins, always for the apple cider donuts. 

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If there's one thing I know for sure, it's that there's really nothing that beats some good 'ole fashion family time. And lucky for us, so much of our crew lives so close by. So yesterday my sister-in-law and I loaded up all the cousins on their day off from school and headed to our favorite little farm to pick apples and see some pumpkins.

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BBQ's, Fireworks, Baseball and Lemonade Stands do All-American summers make.

Growing up, I can remember whipping up a batch of lemonade and setting up shop at the end of our street, eagerly awaiting to greet thirsty customers and collect my coins on a hot summer day. It's a quintessential summer memory, and one that I had hoped to share with MM one day.

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This Connecticut summer has been a tricky one- weeks of sweltering heat and then, suddenly, it feels like fall. And while some members of my family wish that summer lasted all year long, this mama loves that sweet sweater weather more than cake. Which I love. A lot.

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Five years ago in  September, I met a tall, handsome drink of water that would soon become my husband. It was a Sunday morning in a local pub- his eyes were glued to the New England patriots on the tube. And despite the fact that I had never laid eyes on him before, I quickly learned we were both townies, and had crossed paths many times in our lives. 

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I don't know about you, but shopping for my hubby can be hard. After nearly four years of marriage, we've covered most of the typical gifts to give a significant other- watch, cufflinks, lacrosse gear- check, check, check. OK, lacrosse gear may not be that typical, but nonetheless its already been crossed right off that list.

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Over the weekend we celebrated our girl's second birthday. And I just can't stop asking myself: but really, where does the time go? It seems like just yesterday we were assembling layers of her smash cake, wondering how our newborn babe had grown up so fast. And it just doesn't slow down.

Happy almost-weekend, friends!

Does anyone else feel like it suddenly transformed into summer overnight? After months of hoping and wishing for a little sunshine to come our way, it finally arrived here in Connecticut. And boy, it was worth it. MM and I didn't miss a beat, and went right back into our summer routine: early mornings spent as the first ones at the beach, with just enough time to soak it all in before it gets way too hot.

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