This Past Week In Review...

This past week has been a busy one. It hadn't left much time for me to blog but it was nice to have a little vacation. The southerner's came to visit us from South Carolina and ya'll did we have a good time!

When I say "the southerners" I am referring to Derek's cousins. They live just outside Charleston South Carolina and boy did they bring a lot of fun up to Boston this week!  The weather hadn't panned out as we had hoped but we did get a few good 80 degree weather days.  Wednesday was the perfect day to spend in Boston. Derek and I took in the fun of being tourists, even in our own city. 

We had some lunch on Newbury Street and once we had our bellies full, we had our energy for the next 3 hours of shopping. We walked Newbury Street for a few hours and then the guys ditched us to go enjoy some sangria (there is only so much shopping Derek will do) as we continued onto Copley. Once our shopping excursion was over we hit the original and famous Boston Duck Tour. 

Boston from the Charles River on our Duck Tour.

 Then on Friday we had a Baran / Robinson Family Lobster Bake at our house. Derek went diving for lobsters during the day (we did a little more shopping) and when we returned they had just arrived home ready to start cooking.

George investigating a lobster for the first time. 

We mixed corn, mussels, little neck clams, sausage, potatoes, oranges, lemons and of course lobster into the 6 gallon pot and let it cook. There was one other recipe but it's a Baran family secret so I can divulge ;)

This the the Lobster Bake when it was done and ready to eat!

A photo of the ladies. L to R. Melissa, Margaret, Dawn, Page, Julie & I enjoying a glass of wine before the feast ( thanks for sharing the photo Paige!)

 Saturday was our day out on Day's Off.  We piled 11 of us onto Frank and Margaret's boat and hit the water. We went to Gloucester, down the Annisquam river, back out into the ocean into Salem to pick up some more family that were in from Florida and then to Marblehead for dinner.

So beautiful out on the water.

Sailboats sailing around Baker's Island

George passed out in my arms.

The Baran/Robinson Clan all together in Marblehead Harbor after a delicious dinner! Photo courtesy of Melissa :)

We had such a wonderful week ya'll!

XO,

Our Newest Addition

After years of waiting and waiting, we decided it was time to just do it and add to our family! So we did! The beginning of April we welcomed our newest Baran, GEORGE.

You thought I was going somewhere else with that, sorry. Not quite ready...yet.

We are soooo in love with George. He has taken up so much of our time over the last few weeks we barely have any time to do much after work.  He is a French Bulldog and he is the cutest, smartest little guy. At 9 weeks I taught him to sit and come to his name (although he has "selective hearing" - ehhmm, ladies you understand).  We are working on "giving paw" and "rolling over".

He's been home for almost 2 weeks and has adjusted to life here in Boston very well. He loves his big sister, Bodi (chocolate lab) and although she wasn't very fond of him in the beginning, she has now realized he isn't going anywhere.  As of recent Bodi starting to take him under her wing. (or paw....) and teach him the ropes. He follows her everywhere. It really is so endearing!

Right now we just love to play with him and take a bazillion photo's. He is changing everyday. Currently he has 1 ear straight up but the other is slowly catching up.
 Here are a few pics to share.

His favorite toy, his lion baby. Trying to find a good place to hide it.

First car ride....to the vet.

Sleeping on Derek. 

George sleeping pose. Upside down or head hanging off the bed.

Just being George. This was his take on his 3rd day home.

Trying to organize my magazines and of course he starts to teeth on them!

In his pen with Bodi keeping him company

Wild Bat Pig!

Chewing on everything he can. Can't wait for the "teething" stage to be over!

Snuggling... 

Licking peanut butter out of the Kong pacifier. 

Our next mission... To get him to DANCE...yes dance. Just like this guy. 

More pics of George to come as he grows with our family! 

Design Your Life!

G

Almalfi Dreaming

It's Sunday so I am taking a day off of blogging about design & styling to divulge into my dream vacation...This is how it began.

My father and I always spoke of traveling to Italy together to visit the coast where my grandparents grew up & lived until the 1930's when they came to America. He spoke about a town called Vico Equense which is a town inside of Avellino on the Almalfi coast.  This is the town where my grandparents met and fell in love, where my grandfather learned to make ricotta and mozarella cheese from the jesuits. This is the same town where my grandfather became exporting olive oil & italian tomatoes into America. 

Joe (my father) spoke fluent Italian so he would be the perfect sidekick. He always said that when we go, I will be coming home alone because he won't ever want to leave.

Vico Equense

Unfortunately that trip never happened as my father passed away in 2009 after a long battle with cancer. My dream to go hasn't gone with him and the desire is only getting stronger.  Although I always talked of going with my dad, it is my husband now that will be traveling with me. 

My husband never got the chance to meet my dad as he passed 8 months before we met. 

We got married in Mexico in late 2012 and because we had a destination wedding we never took an actually honeymoon. This is what I want for a honeymoon. Ten days of roaming the beautiful coast of Italy and experiencing what my father never was able to all while showing my husband my heritage and where one half of my family is from. This is a dream that will happen!

Can you really get any more gorgeous than this?  

Vico Equense

Sunset

House on a Cliff

Le Axidie

Convento di San Francesco

Restaurant

Map

Boating

Beautiful Sunset

Italy is a place I have only seen in pictures & have only imagined in my mind. The beauty of the country inspires me. My family was very lucky to have lived in such a majestic place. I look forward to traveling to the place my father calls Heaven soon. I hope this is what his heaven is like.

DEISGN YOUR LIFE! ~ G