Notting Hill: Family Style

When you live in Notting Hill,
the increase in rent
requires a sacrifice of the size of home
you could get in other areas of London.

So for us, 
"home" expands beyond the four walls of our tiny flat
and into the picturesque neighborhood that surrounds us.

The bustling market
full of once-loved treasures,
the pretty cafes that tempt you as you pass by
with their windows piled with fresh goodies,
and the endless sea of the iconic colorful houses
all come with settling in Notting Hill...

... and we think that's worth more 
than a second bathroom
or extra storage space.

So after our Houzz shoot the other week,

we jumped at the chance to have
Noah Darnell shoot some pictures of our family
wandering through the neighborhood.

I had every intention of sending these out 

as our Christmas cards,

but it never happened.

Luckily, I still have an amazing selection

of really sweet pictures from that day.

Some that mirror the images
Liz took of us for my bump shoot
around Notting Hill.

I love having our lives at this point in time captured.

I have no doubt that if or when we move on from our lives here,
I'll pour over these pictures
and long to relive these days again.

(Thank you, Noah!)

Started in the 0.4% and now... that face. 

*images by Noah Darnell

Christmas Card | 2013

To each one of my readers,

who I humbly consider my friends...

Thank you for all you have done

to make this year more than bearable...

but making it wonderful for us 

in so many ways.

I hope that 2014 brings joy and light-heartedness

to your family...  and ours, too.

And if it doesn't...

well,

He is still good.

Our love,

Tyler,  Lauren & Viola

2013

Christmas In London (via National Geographic)

Being in Britain

has taught me many things.

The art of milk with my tea.

(English breakfast? yes. Earl Grey? no, just lemon. Herbal or green? no.)

The appropriate weather to wear

my wellies in... and not to wear them...

(walks in the country? yes. site seeing in the city? no.)

What's so magical about sticky toffee pudding...

(and where to eat a really delicious one.)

I've also learned to play it cool.

The Brits are great at that...

they famously coined "the stiff upper lip,"

and man- they know how to compose themselves.

...

But today,

I'm going to be a total American.

A really obnoxious American, at that.

Because I can't play this cool at all....

I'm on National Geographic

with a big fancy quote 

about Christmastime in London.

National Geographic, people!

image via danskinner, flickr

Go on, and check it out.

And if you have a suggestion for London at Christmastime,

feel free to drop it in on the article.

(Who knows, you might be the next source for a London piece!)

I wanna smooch her under some mistletoe.

The other week

I got to pop into the 

Shop Up Event 

hosted by Babyccino Kids.

While we were there,

Amsterdam photographer, Maud Fontein

had set up a cute photobooth

and snapped some pictures of Viola.

Oh my goodness,

this kid is happy 

to be in front of the picture.

We were laughing so hard

at her posing

that we couldn't really focus

on the task at hand.

Obviously, Maud got some winners

through the laughs though...

*image original to Aspiring Kennedy

Your prize for being good all year.

In the midst of gift guides

that are scatted around the inter webs

at this time of year

pointing you in the perfect direction

for buying for loved ones...

It's prudent to keep you eye out

for what you'll be buying

with your own Christmas cash

in the post-Christmas sales.

Doesn't it always seem that you end up 

with a few crisp bills

from relatives at this time of year. 

I love it.

So I like to pre-shop a bit...

so that when those mark downs hit,

I can snag them.

Here are some of my favorite picks under $50...
minus the awesome boots.

And remember,
if online shopping isn't going to cut it for you
and you're forced to trek out to the mall...

Stay hydrated  
(skinny gingerbread latte)
and keep energized
(peppermint ice cream)
so you don't wear out
and fully enjoy the holiday madness.


Happy Christmas!

a good year: my addiction to wine.

The holidays are the perfect time

for writing cards expressing sentiment,

picking out the perfect gift for your loved ones,

baking a beloved family recipe...  

and, of course, wine.

image via

Whether it's mulled wine in a Christmas market,
sparkling wine toasting to the year at close, or

for many people, as the cure for too much time 

spent up close & personal

with relatives you'd rather not be related to...

But this year,

can I suggest it 

as the antidote for 
a humbug holiday attire instead?

Thanks,

because that's exactly 
what I'm about to do.

My crush on this wine-stained obsession

started when I bought (via ebay)

my first pair of Lanvin flats.

Since then,

it seems to be popping out at me

at every flick of the magazine page.

It just seems perfect for this time of year...

paired with glittery gold accents

or muted with a toned-down olive or camel,

it's just a good staple to have in your closet

for the winter months ahead.

Before your head starts to get fuzzy

from all this wine babble,

let me just leave it with some quick pics.

... and I'll finish my Ocado food order 

for our Thanksgiving lunch tomorrow.