Birthday book

My lovelies, I wanted to share my dad's 60th birthday present (just because I'm so excited about it). I made him a hardcover photo book filled with snapshots from all stages of his life. It was so much fun looking through family shots and choosing favorites, including a few he had never seen! (How hilarious is his expression in his wedding photo, by the way?) When I gave it to him this past weekend, he was so touched and couldn't stop looking through it. It was one of those truly special life moments.

(P.S. I made the book through Pinhole Press, and the book felt beautiful, with silky paper and a linen cloth hardcover. This book is the exact one I choose, but there are a bunch of other lovely options. Would be amazing to make a wedding album, too, don't you think? xo)

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Dad's birthday weekend

My sweets, I'd love to share a few photos of my dad's birthday weekend, if you'd like to see...
We rented a big house on a frozen lake in the Poconos. My aunt, uncle, cousin, sister, brother, brother's girlfriend, and, of course, dad all piled in, and we built fires, played games and made lasagna. We also went for snowy walks (it was surprisingly wintery!).
We brought 60 candles for my dad's cake, plus another 34 candles for my sister's husband, Paul, whose birthday was the same day.
It was quite a feat.
The birthday boys.
The night of my dad's birthday dinner, I made everyone stand behind a chair to take portraits. A little cheesy, I know, but I love them. (Above is Alex, me, my twin sister Lucy, and our little brother Nick.)
Since we're usually squeezed into a tiny New York apartment, it felt awesome to hang out in a sprawling five-bedroom house. Even the sofa was enormous. Here, Alex and Toby chilled on Sunday morning.
(And one of them drooled a lot.)
Toby was visibly thrilled to be in a huge group all weekend. (One morning when I came downstairs after taking a quick shower, he was happily parked on the sofa between my dad and uncle, watching No Reservations with Anthony Bourdain, like a little couch potato. It was hilarious.)
It was such a great, cozy, relaxing weekend, and made me want to do these types of mini family getaways more often! xoxo Happy birthday, again, Paul and Dad! We adore you!

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Happy 60th birthday, Dad!

My dad turns 60 today! This is a photo of his family when he was growing up--he's the oldest of six kids, and you can see him at the top (in his rad roll-neck sweater).

Dad, we love you so much! You light up a room; you're always up for anything, from rainy bike rides to museum adventures to rousing games of Taboo; and, most of all, you make us all feel so safe and protected. (Maybe it's that whole James Bond thing.) I feel so lucky to be both your daughter and your friend.

Happy birthday, Dad! See you soon!!!

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NYC staycation

Our staycation in New York last week was really refreshing and relaxing. (Thanks again to Miss Moss for guest posting!) While my mom took care of Toby, Alex and I met up with friends, rode bikes to Williamsburg, went bowling (for real), got massages, sipped gin cocktails at this rad bar, saw The King's Speech, hit up the Guggenheim, and went ice skating in Central Park. It was so great to just be together and "knock around," as Alex says. We felt like tourists in our own city.

We also chilled with my mom and Toby, including brunch at a Mexican place in our neighborhood, where Toby thought the tablecloth was delicious. :) We miss you already, Mama!

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Back to the future

For her Back to the Future project, photographer Irina Werning, where she invites people to reenact their childhood photos. Awesome.

(Thanks, Raj)

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Family photos

Sweet Paul has a bunch of great holiday craft tips, like making your own cupcake toppers and wrapping paper using family photos! Here are his easy instructions...

(Via Card Style)

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My sister Lucy

In yesterday's gift guide, I mentioned that my twin sister Lucy teared up when she first met Toby. Here are two photos from that day, back in September. As you can tell, the love-at-first-sight was mutual. :)

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One billion seconds

This weekend, my brother Nick emailed my twin sister and me to congratulate us for reaching exactly one billion seconds! A billion seconds, he told us, equals 31 years, 259 days, 1 hour, 46 minutes and 40 seconds. I love how, true to form, Nick adjusted for daylight savings, leap years and time zones. :)

(Photo by Maple Syrup Only)

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Home inspiration: Trapeze!

My friend Sophie (of the amazing children's brand Oeuf) has a wooden trapeze in her Brooklyn living room. She used to go to trapeze school in California, and now she has taught her kids a bunch of tricks. "They do knee hangs and swing quite high," she says. "They think I look like a big whale, but I do it to amuse them. We thought they'd use it for five minutes and never again, but it's completely part of their daily life. We call them monkeys."

(Photo from Milk Magazine)

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Birthday picnic + family photos

For her husband's birthday, Elizabeth surprised him with a Central Park picnic. She decorated a bench in his honor, made a seven-layer chocolate cake from scratch, and brought along their sweet daughter and the family dog. Then she had an amazing photographer take family portraits, so they'd always remember the occasion. (Good thing her husband wore a cute outfit to work that day!) Isn't that an incredible and creative present?

(Family portraits by the fabulous Brookelyn Photography; styling by Elizabeth, who is half of the new company You + Me)

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