PARIS: Family Style

I can't believe our time in Paris

is going by so quickly.

We only have about a month left.

I'd like to say it's flown by,

because it feels like just yesterday

we were in Hawaii...

but the truth is,

we have done so much!

We've loved getting to know our little neighborhood

here in the Marais...

We've had such a great time exploring the city with my students...

and finding our own special spots

when it's just us out running errands alone.

We've had friends come and go

to make the weekends a bit sweeter...

It's been so wonderful!

We aren't finished yet...

but it's weird when you realize

you are over the halfway point

of something.

But that's where we are at now...

and so it's time to savour every thing bit longer

and be a bit more intentional with how we spend our days...

I'm so glad to take these sweet photos back with us

to help us remember this fun time of life.

Thanks, Noah, for capturing our springtime in Paris.

It's so us.

Not perfectly groomed or dressed,

but just here...

wandering around a city that we love

and enjoying the day for what it is.

Anyway, here are a few of them
to show you a quick glimpse
of our little "la vie quotidienne."

*photography by Noah Darnell

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

In The Houzz: Babyccino & Co.

This month,

I hit the jackpot

when getting to do 

a Houzz hometour 

of the Adamo Family.

If you aren't family with the Babyccino Kids site,

well, you should be.

Even if you don't have kids,

Courtney's instagram will win you over.

Her life/family/style is just...  gorgeous.

So it was no surprise to find 

that her home in North London

near Hampstead Heath

was anything other than charming.

I got to go with my friend, Noah,

for the home shoot

and we had such a nice morning

working around the house

while the Adamos ate breakfast

and got ready for a weekend in the country.

Go on and check out the home tour...

and, in the meantime,

 enjoy a few outtakes 

from our fun morning 

with the Adamo family.

Check out my other home tours 

as Houzz' London contributor here.

*photography by Noah Darnell for Houzz

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

Amber & Tyler: Notting Hill Engagement Shoot

If you don't know my friend, Amber, by now...

you should.

I was trying to think of her today

and how to best describe her

and the word "thoughtful" kept coming to mind.

I hope that everyone is as lucky as I am

to have a friend like Amber.

From hooking us up with the best hotel for our babymoon,

to the most beautiful "babies shower,"

to hosting & cooking for family after Viola was born,

and so many countless other ways 

she selflessly is a friend to me,

I feel truly honored to get to be a bridesmaid

in her upcoming wedding to Tyler.

No, not to my Tyler, 

her Tyler-

who deserves his own post for being great.

The wedding is also in Maui 

so, duh, I'm completely thrilled.

When I saw her engagement pictures,

I actually clapped with delight.

What can I say?

I'm a sucker for seeing

the people I love

being madly in love

in a neighborhood I love.

So here they are,

the Micklesons (to-be)

in all their Notting-Hill-lovey-dovey-goodness.

(And their little pup, Pippa!)

We love you both so much!

If you want to buddy up to Amber

(which I totally recommend)

start her by checking out her cute blog, 

Nouveau.


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If you're in the mood to look at more pretty pictures,
check out my maternity pics
taken in this same neighborhood
by the talented (and dear friend), Liz Denfeld.

*photography by Kytography