...Or, more accurately, the best dad.

Father's Day is always a tough one. I mean, seriously...how many ties and belts can you buy a guy? For this Father's Day, I wanted to get Kendrick a present that he could use, you know? And, more specifically, use to do something he's wanted to do for a long time, but has never really had the time for: getting outside and just going. For the past couple of years he's spent all of his time either in class or driving back and forth between Yale and our place, and I know he'd love to make being outdoors a real part of his everyday, and so I thought I'd get him something to inspire him to do just that.

Needlepoint by my friend Erin

I loved our first house so much. I loved the leopard carpet, and the gold hinges, and the stone wall in the yard. The strange Greek myth wallpaper and the attic bookshelf. Mostly I loved that it was our first house.

When I started looking at places out here, I sort of resigned myself to the fact that we wouldn't find anything as sweet and charming or special as our little Tarrytown colonial; houses out here tend to be more of the all-one-level popcorn-ceiling ranch-style variety (until you get into the hills, when they become ridiculously gorgeous rustic cabin-type places, but are also, like, three million dollars per bedroom). I knew I'd love wherever we ended up, but I figured I'd love it because...I don't know, because of what we put into it. Not because of the house itself.

 Lurrrrve my new Gray Malin (nude) beach print.

 This article is an oldie, but explains virtually every argument Kendrick and I have ever had, and I bet it explains most of yours, too. (Mom, The Designated Worrier, via NY Times.)

 Mer-fins are a thing? That you can buy?