A Childhood Tradition, Recreated
Growing up, I spent a month every summer with my grandparents in Pittsburgh. Just me, no siblings. It was so special, and I made countless core memories from that time. Evenings were spent taking winding walks with my grandma, weekends were for Kennywood with the girls I met at the church festival, and of course, ice cream every day! Looking back, I’m not sure if it was more fun for me or for my parents who got a little break? Because now that I’m Lucy’s mom and my own parents insist on taking her in for a few weeks during the summer, I can clearly see that it works both ways!
We’ve been Lucy-less for the last handful of weeks, but we reunite with her this evening, and we CANNOT WAIT. Like, I’ve been dreaming of squeezing her little arms and squishing her face and kissing her until she says (through giggles, always through giggles): ¡No gracias! We video chat with her every few days, and I screenshot her smiling face and crooked self-cut bangs, and I look back at these photos while hearing her squeals.
Although we miss her so much it hurts, I’m grateful that my parents are recreating my childhood tradition with their granddaughter, and I know they cherish it, too. While Goose makes the kind of memories you imagine playing on a summer highlight reel – sunny days, splash pads, dripping ice cream cones and face paint at the fair – it’s also a wonderful time for Scott and I to slow down, reconnect and reset. And this time around, we treated ourselves to a last minute trip to…
… Palm Springs!
We’ve been to Palm Springs several times (with many years in-between visits), and each time we somehow fall deeper in love. The dry heat, blue skies and dusty landscape is so different than our life in the Midwest! Chilled pools, palm tree-lined streets, a vibrant art scene and a slower pace are welcomed. This time, we took a day trip to Joshua Tree, and we had the best time snapping photos, balancing my camera precariously on boulders or within the nooks of tree trunks.
Every day was a balmy 115-degrees, which was spent either poolside or desert hopping. The desert! I will always have a soft spot in my heart for the desert landscape, if only because it feels other-worldly to this Chicago girl. And can I admit, we liked the heat? When our plane landed back home in Chicago to the tune of 75-degrees, I instinctively reached for a throw blanket and settled in by the fireplace on the patio. We’re feeling rested, inspired and so, so ready to tackle this kitchen renovation!
Palm Springs, we will be back – with a little Lucy in tow, soon.
See also: Our Palm Springs babymoon! The most relaxing respite in the midst of nesting.
Other Things This Week:
This slat wall DIY headboard with built-in shelving is stunning!
Kimberly Rubio, mother of 10-year-old Lexi who was murdered in the Uvalde mass shooting, shared her story and heart at the March Fourth rally in Washington DC this week. It’s utterly devastating, important and powerful. Imagine if just one politician changed their stance on assault weapons. Two? Three! This is not okay, this will never be okay, and I echo her words: We are mad as hell.
This Anthropologie mirror dupe left me speechless!
After a near-decade, my trusty flat iron bit the dust (and they don’t even make it anymore!). After endless hours of research (ha), I landed on this hair straightener and immediately shared it to Stories because it blew my mind. And now after over a month of use, I can honestly say: WORTH IT. Quick heat up, solid heat retention and gets up to 450-degrees, a necessity for my coarse Asian hair. I’ve never straightened or curled my hair so quickly! Shop it here.
Succulents for sale! I’m itching to try this with Lucy and one of her besties.
How to teach kids not to like someone.
Weekend Sales
- Anthropologie: Extra 40% off all sale items
- Boutique Rugs: Up to 80% off + 30% off second rug with code PDAY
- CB2: Up to 30% off furniture and decor
- The Company Store: Up to 60% off End of Season sale
- Equilibria CBD: 15% off for new customers with code YELLOWBRICKHOME
- Everlane: Up to 60% off sale items
- Gap: 50% off sale with code MORE
- J. Crew: Up to 70% off sale styles with code BIGGERSALE
- J. Crew Factory: Up to 60% off everything!
- Madewell: Up to 70% off Secret Stock Sale with code CLASSIFIED
- Old Navy: Up to 75% off clearance items
- Rugs USA: Up to 75% off Beat the Heat sale, no code needed
- Sephora: Free shipping on all orders with code FREESHIP
- Urban Outfitters: Up to 40% off home and furniture items!
- West Elm: Up to 40% off outdoor and garden
- World Market: Members receive 10% off store pick up orders
Have a Happy Weekend!
What are your plans for the weekend? Aside from squeezing my daughter tight, we’re catching up with old friends, hitting the beach and have every intention to eat all our meals outdoors. Have a happy, safe and fun-filled weekend, friends!
Have a great weekend! It’s funny the things we remember as kids, and now working on the specific things we hope our kids will remember from their childhood. Will they remember summers like we did? I sure hope so, and I have fond memories of going to my aunt’s house in the summer because it was different (she lived on a homestead with outhouses and grew all their own food).
How special!
This post makes me smile. :) It’s great you all got a chance to relax and refresh your souls. (Also, as a western PA native, yay for Kennywood!)
Kennywood forever!
Grandparent one-on-one (or two) is amazing. My son is with my parents for 10 days this month and they have all loved every minute together doing special things like eating lobster rolls and ice cream all the time! We also love Palm Springs and Joshua Tree. Went for the first time in April and it was magical! And the food scene is pretty unbeatable.
We have the same summer tradition. When I was a kid my sisters and I stayed with both sets of grandparents for a week in the summer, and now our little girls spend a summer week with my parents as well. I say it’s a win-win-win, everybody wins: the kids, the grandparents and aunties and cousins who get to spend the week with the girls, and for my partner and me to have some kid-free time.