Ringing in 2014

It's almost the start of another new year, and with it, it seems appropriate to reflect on one significant realization I had in 2013 - which is to immerse yourself in a deeper appreciation of those that support you, show love to you, and to remember who those people are each and every day. I feel blessed to have just spent the last 8 (awesome!!) days with my family back in my hometown. It was the first time we've been with my family for Christmas in three years! 

Falling into fall (a bit late).

So I thought I'd catch up on our Fall happenings before we head into Winter, but the Winter Solstice just happened last night, so that plan's a wash. Well, better late than never - that's my motto, anyway - and these photos from October and November are just too cute not to share :)

1 // The leaves starting to cover the ground and turn brilliant shades of yellow, then oranges and reds. FALL - that's one plus about living in Maryland!

2 // A real Maryland crab feast. On a boat on the Potomac River!

3 // Cooking lessons with Max. He loves to cook and I can't help but hope he'll be the next Junior MasterChef! He's also obsessed with wearing his apron. (Remember when he wouldn't leave the house without his bib?) During this lesson, he was fascinated by the long stalk of fresh brussel sprouts. He helped pluck them all off. After Dadda halved them, he put each one of them into a bowl for cooking.

4 // Me fixing Max's 2nd birthday balloons - I filled his room with them overnight for him to wake up to. In theory it sounded like a great idea. In practice, he was a bit terrified. Go figure.

5 // My baked-from-scratch birthday cake for the birthday boy. It was a labor of love.

6 // Birthday Boy at Glen Echo Park. We took him to see a live production of his then-favorite bedtime book, Goodnight Moon.

7 // Max feeding Baby FurFur his birthday cake. That boy!! He's so generous and loves to share food with his pets. (Although somehow, he knows not to feed real FurFur any food. Good boy!)

8, 9, 10 // Dadda and Max Day at Butler's Orchard for a fall pumpkin festival. They played on tractors, picked pumpkins from the patch, petted sheep, and apparently Strongman Max is capable of pushing wheelbarrows.

11, 12, 13 // Halloween at Cabin John Playground. We rode the Halloween train, dressed as a little Tazmanian Devil.

14, 15, 16 // Moving Day! Our lease ended but we were lucky enough to find another place in the building next door. Max had a blast lining up the milk crates and pretending they were choo-choo train cars, and that old store cards were "tickets." To which he'd hold out a handful like he was some high-roller in Vegas and shout, "Party!!" I have no idea where he gets his imagination from! ;-)

From Malta

The radio silence around here is because we've been busy wrapping up things around work, settling into our new home, and getting ready for our big holiday in Malta!! Yezzzzz, Malta! Are we crazy for taking Mister Max on this trip? Probably. (But less crazy surely than for considering taking him to Zanzibar in Africa, which was our first choice.) Two flights, 17.5 hours later, we've been in Malta for the last five days and I'm happy to report everyone's having a good time, especially Max! Lots of pics of this beautiful Mediterranean island nation coming soon.

Birthday details, Part 1

This felt like the longest week ever, between finishing up our lease/preparing to move and tons of stuff going on at the office. Thankfully it's the weekend, and looking at pictures from Max's Big 2 makes me forget about all those other annoying, little things.

Max turns 2!

We celebrated the Big 2 birthday on Saturday. Though we didn't have a big party, I thought the occasion had just the right amount of pomp and circumstance, and surely he knew it was a special day and felt special, too. It was filled with red balloons, his favorite bedtime story coming to life in the form of a musical stage production, and birthday cake. Yeap, lots of cake. Why, even our stuffed animal Baby FurFur got some. (More birthday details coming soon.) 

 

It's Monday! Plus a fun baking lesson.

Max's first baking lesson about a month ago was a battle of wills. He didn't totally understand the concept of things coming together in the art of baking. You might think, well he's 23 months old – of course he doesn't understand patience – but actually, his little spats weren't about waiting for the cookies to be done, it was that he couldn't deal with the stuff getting mixed together.

The best steak you'll ever have

It was the first week of fall but we wanted to capture the essence of summer at least once more. (This was before temps rose back into the 80s as it currently is, of course.) This Jalapeno Espresso New York Steak recipe is arguably the perfect transition from summer to fall. The coffee forms a lovely crust, which when you slice your steak, you get the subtlety of those chocolatey-nutty espresso notes infused in each bite – without feeling like you just downed an entire cup of 'jo. And really, there's something cozy about firing up a grill outdoors when you can feel the crisp, cool air around your toes. Bonus: now you'll have a use for all those leftover packets of hotel room coffee.

Weekend notes

This weekend we went to a backyard bbq at the house of Fella's colleague. Between the five couples, there were at least 8-10 young toddlers and babies around. (Hard to say for sure how many, because they seemed to multiply every time I turned around, go figure!) The spread was delicious and the patio ambience was Pottery Barn-esque. It reminded me of the fun I used to have entertaining pre-baby and had me wishing for a bigger space now.

^^ Those two plates of food are Max's.

Groomed

With new beginnings comes new hair, right?

(Note: It's pure coincidence that we're dressed in matching denim-on-denim.)

This was the last picture of Max taken before we went on our merry way to his second ever haircut. We know, he's way overdue. I mean, look at that mop. I don't even really blame people for still asking if he's a girl. (Now, Momma on the other hand – she could really use a cut, too!)

So it went something like this . . . 

Mustard

In the first week of fall, it seems appropriate to speak of transitions and fresh beginnings. Now feels like the right time to officially announce the blog's facelift. Doesn't she look fresh? For awhile now, I've been contemplating changing the blog's original name from when it began in 2010, Capes Chairs and Cows, to something that better represents me now as not only an individual, but also as a mother. And that's how Bloom & Habit came to be – along with bigger pictures and a cleaner user interface. These changes jumpstart a whole new kind of dream and give me a more straightforward purpose for growing this little space into something special.

Bye bye, summer

Before we knew it, we officially said goodbye to summer a week ago. But before that happened, we finally managed to hit the condo association's pool for the first (and only) time before it closed for the season. (We tried one other time at the start of summer, but that never panned out because someone had a meltdown before we could even cross the parking lot.) So here we are now, better late than never – the last time was in Mexico when Max was 18 months!

Fall transitions

Ever since the owners of our condo informed us a few weeks ago that they intend to move back in after our lease (which concludes October 31, BY THE WAY!!!), I've been feeling all kinds of emotions, every single one connected to the big C: CHANGE. There's an overwhelming mix of sadness, guilt, fear of the unknown, and dread rocking my world right now. 

Sadness to leave what's become our home over the last year in Maryland after leaving Chicago.

Guilt for having to uproot Max again for the third time in his little life.

Fear of not knowing where you're going to live and whether you made the right choice about where you end up.

And dread.

Max becomes a real boy

I wish I could keep up with recording every single one of his milestones, but they seem to happen at a pace far more rapid than I can write about. I'll start out by saying, like Pinocchio, it's like he became a real boy overnight.

Seemingly out of nowhere, the boy is suddenly capable of all sorts of wonderful things! Like, when he saw this little plastic measuring cup laying around (that used to be a play thing for him not so long ago), he led me to the fridge, held the cup out and said, "Wa-wa!" I was doubtful after the last time which was a disaster, but said, "Well, okay, Max, but you have to sit down to drink." So, he plops himself down on the kitchen floor next to FurFur's dog bowls, and like magic, just knew how to drink from the cup without spilling, real slow and steady. Drinking from a cup seems like such a simple thing, almost a non-skill in and of itself, but to a toddler, the tiniest of things are often the hugest accomplishments!

Recent trip to the playground

Or I could have titled this "Trains, Cars, and Bulldozers." Mister Max is pretty serious about his playgrounds. He likes to take it all in from a distance, away from the throngs of kids. Then he proceeds to find the nearest set of wheels––in this case, a sweet blue car with shiny red wheels. And of course, since he's The Boss, he instructed Dadda and Mu-mah to hop in!

On family

Hello, and sorry for the radio silence. Things have been busy! I think that's my tune lately, isn't it? We had a wonderful visit with PauPau and GongGong (Grandma and Grandpa) and Auntie Jessi, in from Florida. After only one hour of being a little overwhelmed and cautious, Max flourished amongst the family, his little-big personality getting even bigger. It's so rewarding to see how much Max appreciated having family around––constant companions always ready to play and to be lead around. Just give us the marching orders, yessir.  

Things I learned about Max's perspective on life, during my fam's visit:

1. Max is definitely going to be a CEO, the big boss, el jefe. If this wasn't already apparent from the time he was able to hold my hand and lead me around a room (around 16 months), then it is now. When I say lead, I really mean lead. He gently guides me around, he also manipulates my hands into doing things he's perfectly capable of like he's an evil genius puppet master. The only way I know how to describe it. He puppeteered each member of the family during their stay, too. That boy!!

This is summer.

We're experiencing a heat wave here in DC, just like everyone else in the country, it seems. Last week presented highs of 105 heat index and there's no end in sight––seriously, the steering wheel of my car actually burned to the touch and that was at 6pm!! Nevertheless, in between friends from out of town visiting us, we've been trying to keep up with summer, picking blueberries, staying cool with splash fountains, planting herbs, dining alfresco at a Spanish tapas restaurant, and introducing Max to Ethiopian food. Eating without those silly things called utensils, you can imagine, was a big hit with my little man-child.

Strawberry fields forever

The last weekend before strawberry season closed out over here, we decided to check out a nearby orchard for the first time. Max LOVES berry picking! You should have seen the look on his face, when I told him he could eat them, too! This pretty much cancelled out every Bad Mum-ma instance when I tell him he can't eat stuff off the floor. Big eyes, even bigger stomach, let's just say.

May + June Update

{ 20 months }

When I sit down to write here after a long time away, I often feel like kicking myself a bit for not continuously jotting down all the big––and little––things that seems to happen on a daily basis around here. One day, I know I'm going to regret not remembering every single amazing accomplishment my little man is making. So here's my best attempt to recollect what we've been up to the last couple months!

Statement.

One of the best things about going back to work is wearing my closet again. I'd be lying if I said it didn't excite me to play with new ways of styling old items. And let's be real, after 18 months as a SAHM, just about everything in my closet feels new to me (though I might also have hidden a few brand-new purchases, or 15). I love the fact that I can wear my precious silks and pencil skirts again, heels with no height limit considerations, and handbags that don't contain diapers. Being a working mom on the go, it's more important than ever to me to keep my wardrobe well-edited. I'm loving the versatility of neutrals, interesting prints and textures, and eye-catching accessories – all of which make getting dressed for work in the morning (with a toddler clinging to your leg) a breeze! Props to all the mommas out here!

Just another day as a track star

And here we are, taking our daily walk with FurFur. On the weekends, when The Fella is around, we do "family walks" – long, leisurely ones around the neighborhood. We let Max walk on his own (usually with his Snoopy in tow), since there are two of us to keep tabs on our two kids should one of them try to wander off. Max is sporting his little Cubs track suit, one of my greatest finds at a Chicago yard sale last summer!

Monkey baby

My conversation with Mister Max a couple weeks ago, around 19.5 months. He said his second word!!

Max: Mum-ma!
Me: Yes, Maxwell? (while washing dishes)
Max: Mum-ma! Na na na na! Mum-ma mum-ma mummmmmaaa!
Me (finally looking up): Max, I don't understand you. What do you need?
Max (pointing): Na na! Na na! Ba na na!
Me: Ohhhhh banana! Cool, you said banana!
Max: Yah. Yah!

Okay, Mister, here you go––and folks, this is the anatomy of how a lil monkey eats a ba na na!

{ p dot s } how cute is his little Cubs track suit? More baby style pics coming soon!

Mum-Ma

Sorry I've been neglecting this little space for awhile – but I wanted to pop in and report back that Max's first word was "Ma-Ma" at almost 19 months old! He said it for the first time with real intent on Mother's Day while we were in North Carolina!! (In fact, he said it probably like 20x on repeat, and all while leading me around.) Also, it sounds more like he's saying "Mum-Ma" – like a little British boy and it's the cutest thing ever! Another heart-melter*? On that Mother's Day just he and I took a late afternoon walk, hand in hand, when he suddenly pulled me over to a grassy hill and plucked a few yellow flowering weeds for "Mum-Ma." Heart. melting!

p dot s. just minutes after the heart-warming display described above, there might have been a tantrum meltdown of epic proportions.

 

A weekend in bloom

As much as I hate living in suburbia, I will agree that this region of the country is exceptionally beautiful. And this year we experienced our first cherry blossom season in April. Yes, I'm aware, it's May now. (Sooooorry, just catching up now on old photos here on the blog.) Even though the height of spring feels like it's now passed with most trees fully green and flowerless, I'll never stop looking back at these photos from mid-April of beautiful flowering trees in my neighborhood, in the parking lot of Max's daycare, in the city, everywhere. We had just missed the full bloom peak of cherry blossoms while in Mexico––I guess there are worse reasons––but nevertheless, it was still a gorgeous day out in the city first watching the Cherry Blossom Parade downtown, then picnicking by the Tidal Basin.

Random hilarious picture of the day

I would be a little concerned, too, Max!

D.C. tour, part 3: BlackSalt oysters

Raw oysters at BlackSalt in the city. More than a dozen. 30, to be exact. The most fun night out I had in a LONG time. Sweet West Coast gems were my favorite, mmmmmm. Drooling now. That's all.

D.C. tour, part 2: National Kite Festival

The Fella and I went to a kite festival one other time. Yep, apparently kite festivals are a thing! It was in Austin, Texas, and that one was a spectacular sight for sore eyes! All the hipsters and hippies in Austin (which was basically the entire city) came out in droves to fly their kites. This festival here in D.C. was not nearly as impressive in scale or flair, but the setting––right on the National Mall lawn in front of the Washington Monument––could not be beat.

D.C. tour, part 1: White House & downtown

It was my first visit to The White House since we moved here. Heck, since I was a kid! Our Chicago friends were visiting us at the end of March, at just the start of D.C.'s coveted cherry blossom season. My girlfriend is obsessed with Obama, so naturally, the big white house was tops on her D.C. bucket list. Funny enough, her first reaction was, "It's soooo SMALL!" (It actually is, compared to other heads of state residences.) We had a good laugh and proceeded to take a lot of photos outtakes of us four before getting the money shot––with all four of us looking at the camera and almost smiles from the boys. This is no easy feat when you have two active toddlers who would rather not be in your arms. The first hint of cherry blossom buds were out, and though they weren't in full bloom yet, they were lovely anyway.

Max: March & April

Highlights from the last two months include: frequenting the local library (Elmo made an appearance that day!), building his new toddler table with Dadda, making "green smoothies" with Momma, climbing up hills, climbing down hills, shaking maracas brought back from our Mexico trip, and riding trains! I'm always surprised when looking at pictures at how fast our little boy seems to mature!

Lately

The last couple months have been a whirlwind for me and Max both. Some highlights: 

1. We hosted good friends from Chicago here in our new home! It was overall such a blast and refreshing to go into the city with them and sightsee. Sometimes you just forget to push yourself to explore beyond your comfort zone until you have visitors you need to entertain! Fun times included: National Kite Festival down at the Washington Monument; raw oysters at BlackSalt; and random driving tour through the Capitol at night.

Hola from sunny Mexico!

We're here in beautiful Playa del Carmen visiting good friends, soaking up the amazing sun, sand and surf! Sounds cliche, I know, but isn't that what paradise is? Rough life, yep! Max is living up the beach life, so much that the rotten kid won't take his naps back at the condo. We're here for a couple more days before we have to head home to the cold.

... and sometimes you just gotta lick.

We celebrated Easter early with my loving family back home in Florida when we were visiting in February. My sis and I staged a little Easter egg hunt for Max and his cousin in the backyard. We don't miss any opportunity to find a rocking outfit to match the occasion/props. The kids had fun hunting fighting for eggs and baskets. (Though, Max's version of "hunting" consisted mostly of tasting each egg, then throwing it back on the ground.) Did I mention I was an Easter egg hunting champion back in the day? Yep, I was even photographed in the local newspaper when I was about five years old.

Like a baby

Good news: I've never had the flu before. Bad news: I do now. I just learned the hard way that the flu gives you a cocktail of nasty symptoms: fever, chills, aches, sore throat, fatigue. Basically, like you've been hit by a truck. You know what's worse than having the flu? Having the flu when you have an active toddler who needs you all the time. Well, life goes on and you muddle through it as a stay-at-home-mom. Faced in this town with no family nearby, I seriously considered dropping off Max to a temporary childcare thing––but he's sick, too, so I resisted the urge––for one day that I was absolutely incapacitated (read: The Fella came home from work to find me immobile on the couch, no lights on, cape cocooned around me, blanket pulled over my face). That's how bad I was. I did my best to treat myself like a baby all weekend long––hot honey and lemon water, lots of couch time and eating oatmeal––and it's finally paying off, five days later. 

What do you do to make yourself get well quick? 

Confessions of a mom

Lately I find myself consumed with thoughts about work, working, and the workplace. That's because I'm making my return back to work. I accepted an offer today. GASP! As if that is so extraordinary of me, yea I know. Surely the many working moms out there must have some good tips from the trenches on how to transition/survive, yes? I cried already at the thought of leaving my precious baby little one while driving home from a second interview, pretty certain a job offer would be extended to me––and it was––and so now, I'm going back to work. It's been 17 months of staying at home that I can't help but worry about so many things: Will I still be a good mom? Will I fare okay in corporate America? Will my heart be in the work? Will I make it to work on time in the mornings? Will I make it to daycare in time to pick him up before they close? Will the dog be okay? Will he still remember how to be gentle with the dog? Will I still have the energy/time to prepare healthy meals? Will he still love me? If you're reading this, please tell me how you do it all!

17 months ago.

Let's take a walk, shall we?

It was all Max's idea to take his Snoopy dog out on a walk. A real walk outside, folks. Clever boy just one day decided it would make more sense to walk this little wooden doggie outside of the house, same as how Momma walks FurFur.

Mini-Me style

Max's cool dude style is just too good, Dadda has to copy it! The Fella came home with this new sweater today after running errands shopping, and it totally rips off of Max's preppy look, don't you think? They wore these look-alike cozy knits to an early-bird dinner of yummy Neapolitan wood fired pizza. Like father, like son. Or in this case, like son, like father.

10 days of sunshine

Max and I both left Florida a few pounds heavier, with much-needed haircuts and some weird tan lines. The way my family keeps us well-fed and pampered, this was a true vacation in every sense of the word! I had 10 glorious (neurotic) dog-free days, and FurFur had a mini vaca from Baby. I didn't have to lift a finger once and I had built-in babysitters for Max. Which allowed me to escape for little chunks of time to visit with girlfriends, laze by the pool (I got tanned in less than 15 minutes!), and to have late night dinners out with my sisters, mom and aunt. I got to play with my beautiful niece. Max got to play with his beautiful cousin. We made it "rain pom poms." We were all together for my mom's birthday, which we celebrated all week long. I'd call this all pretty awesome, wouldn't you?

Angry Bear, a Valentine's Day special

Why do all the cutest kids things always seem to be uncomfortable, impractical, or expensive? Or all three together. Take these Converse-like high tops. They look so freaking cool on Max (I want a pair). But. He. Can't. Walk. In. Them!!! I tried to convince him it's the price you pay for beauty and fashion, but he was having none of it. He stood frozen in the same spot, until I finally caved and changed shoes. Then he was happy to go along on a Valentine's Day walk with Momma. Love!

Happy Chinese New Year

It's hard to remember what frigid cold weather feels like, as Max and I have escaped to South Florida to visit the family and to catch some rays. Glorious, warm rays. Yes, I am gloating a bit :)

I'm presently lounging by the pool with palm trees fanning me, getting some work done, catching up on the blog here and looking at the past weekends' Chinese New Year celebrations in Maryland where we made new year's arts and crafts at a neat visual arts center. Where it was COLD. See the stay-puft jackets? The Fella tells me this week in Maryland has been the coldest of the year yet, so maybe by the time Max and I return in 10 days, the worst of winter will have passed? Here's hoping! Happy Chinese New Year, may your slightly-nonsensical fortunes be as appropriate to you as Max and mine were to us!

Max at the firehouse

Max has been into anything with wheels since he turned one, and lately, he's been especially obsessed with fire trucks and cars (some kids have woobie blankets or soft "lovies," but Max's are mini wooden cars, as you'll note he's hanging onto in most of his pictures nowadays!). His favorite books are "Deputy Mater," "The Wheels on the Bus," "The Big Book of Trucks: For Kids Who REALLY Love Trucks," and a spread from a Highlights magazine issue that has illustrated cars on a road. He gets mad when I try to flip to another page without the cars. Even more recently, he gets super excited and points at every parked or mobile car outside, so I'm constantly squealing with him "Red car!" "Blue car!" . . . 

Independence day

Where to begin? In an attempt to derail Max's recent fussiness/pickiness during feeding times, which has been translating into terrible tantrums (like when a certain mini-me is wrapped around my legs shrieking for food/attention/what-have-you, or when he is flinging the spoon back at me because he doesn't want what's on it, he wants applesauce), I have been making a concerted effort to give him more independence. It's easy to forget he's not a baby anymore, and with this, he should be learning how to do things. Allowing him to take leisurely walks to explore, dawdle; carry his (empty) tray to his high chair; stand on a step ladder so that he can see me prepare his meals; let him "use" adult utensils; wipe the table; climb down stairs without my help . . . 'cuz maybe if he feels like a big boy, he might act like one, right? << hahahahaaaaaaa >>

Textures

Last week there was one day that was astonishingly warm. I think it reached a high of 68 degrees, and it had me really regretting the fact that I had dressed in several layers to take Max to the playground in nearby Gaithersburg for a playdate. Still, I could forget about my poor choice in dressing, as it was the first time he held my hand and my friend managed to capture the moment!! (Little things like this make me so happy!)

I wore red tights and red boots, neutralized with shades of black, gray and navy in different textures: wool, tweed, and linen. Kinda haphazardly thrown together while trying to get out the door during a mini toddler-meltdown, but I'm pleased with the outcome anyway. But who am I kidding? It's obvious who the star of this show is (a certain lil dude).

FurFur's snow day

Remember when I blogged about Max's snow day? He's not the only one who enjoyed the fluffy white stuff. FurFur deserved a good romp in the snow, too. Although, these days in suburban Maryland we like to keep her on a leash, unlike her snow days of yesteryear. I bet she misses those big dog parties in the snowy field across our condo in Chi-town. I know I do!

Grandma

For a weekend strolling around in stately Georgetown, I felt it would be fitting to wear my grandmother's old coat which I discovered in her New York City apartment after she passed away last year, all carefully folded up and tucked away in an old leather carrying case deep in her closet. I'm pretty sure this caramel-colored coat goes back to when she was a young woman; my dad tells me she most likely brought this with her from Hong Kong when she first came to America, some 30 years ago, so maybe this coat is even older?? It definitely feels like a coat from another time––sturdy, yet elegant––in fact, the second time I wore it was to dinner in downtown D.C., and as I stepped onto the Metro, I couldn't help but notice how everyone else was in leather moto jackets or hipster parkas and I couldn't help but feel rather regal and mysterious in a long coat, flouncy skirt and all.

Do you have any cherished, vintage pieces?

Max's snow day

Even though it's nearly 60 degree weather today as I write this, I just had to post these cute pics of Max on his first snow day in Maryland just last week. He couldn't stop giggling in delight and waddling around like a baby penguin in the white stuff. He had so much fun! (Despite being stuffed into a way-too-small Size 3-6 month snowsuit from a year ago––look how big it was then!––and face-planting into the snow.)

Fifteen degrees

It was fifteen degrees for much of last week despite the bright sunshine you see here! That calls for lots of thin layers like Uniqlo's Heattech tops and oversized husband sweaters. Not to mention fleece scarfs, mink fur hats from Russia, stay-puft winter coats and a new pair of furry boots that I got in Amsterdam in 2010 and have yet to wear once until now! Fifteen degrees sounds like the perfect occasion for them, agree? I have to laugh, because wearing these remind me of that new commercial for Temptations treats for cats.

Entourage

So Max has one. And entourage.

After my dad left Maryland, my mom, aunt and sister followed suit and came to entertain me Mister Max. (Who am I kidding, people only come to visit these days because of a certain cute baby!) We walked around all weekend looking like Max's very Asian posse, having tea and cupcakes in Georgetown in D.C., lunching in Bethesda, strolling around my neighborhood . . . I kinda half expected him to break out the Gangnam style moves. By the way, did I tell you he dances now? And by dancing, I mean that he bounces his little tushy and "gets low, gets low" like a little hip-hopper.

GongGong: Grandpa or Bodyguard?

Whoosh! And he's off! At 15 months, now that Max has figured out the whole walking running thing, he's always leaving us in his dust. Which makes at least one of us always looking like a bodyguard, two steps behind and keeping tabs on the little bugger, and the other one staying two steps ahead like a paparazzi to take all these cute photos. GongGong (a.k.a Grandpa) was in town visiting not too long ago. Max enjoyed taking GongGong on long strolls to the park, "reading" his Chinese newspaper, and showing how he high chair-dances to rock music while eating bourbon-glazed chicken wings and corn on the cob at Freddy's Lobster + Clams. One in each hand, of course. #Messy

Mini street style: Inauguration of Maxwell

This is Max on Capitol Hill. Future Senator in the making, perhaps?

On our trip into the district over inaugural weekend, Max donned his most patriotic outfit, a slightly too large RL chambray shirt layered over a red plaid shirt, striped suspenders and skinny Levis. A sweet slice of Americana, I think I may have to eat him up . . .

Inauguration day: red, white and blue

No, we're not crazy enough to head into the district on actual Inauguration Day; I insisted we go over the weekend ahead of the masses! (That's why they pay me the big bucks.) We took the Metro into Union Station, which we did not know would be so grand and historic looking. It was! We walked over to the hill and around the National Mall, just like the tourists we kinda are. It felt electric in D.C. this weekend. The district was plastered with presidential paraphernalia, along with rows and rows of Port-o-Potties lining the streets for the Inauguration. Momma thought about using one, but they were all zip-tie closed until the big day! (That's why they pay those congressmen the big bucks.) Even if your candidate didn't win the presidency, I think we can all agree to hope for a better four years for America, looking forward. Happy Inauguration Day! 

Red coat

When we moved, I took the opportunity to edit my wardrobe and begin building a closet strongly based on neutrals and timeless pieces, like this amazing red trench that was my mom's. It's a German label called Neulberg she purchased in Hong Kong over 35 years ago! In my opinion, there's nothing better than a classic silhouette in a bold pop of color. (She also got Max this adorable red plaid jacket!!!) I wanted to take my family, who was visiting, to our favorite seafood place, but we discovered it was closed that day. So, we ended up at Rockit Bar & Grill, which reminded me of good times back in Chicago. Thank you, Mom!

The best lamb loin chops you'll ever have

If you've been searching for that signature dinner party dish that will WOW your guests, look no further. These lamb loin chops will be the best you've ever tasted, and they're easy-peasy to make! It is my go-to recipe for hosting guests and it never fails to impress no matter how you plate it.

Winter neutrals

Being a Miami girl, it's inherently hard for me to turn away color and prints. These will always hold a spot in my heart and closet, but lately (as in the last few years), I've been finding sartorial comfort in neutrals, which I find to be age-appropriate and easy to wear because of the endless ways to mix them up without much thought and still look put together. For winter, I'm loving a classic cream coat (similar here) and other neutrals like black, gray and white.