Currently

We are home!!!

After a long Summer of travel, I couldn't be happier to say those words.

We had planned on staying put after our California trip, but when we got a last minute invitation to visit our best friends at the Cape, you know we had to drop our bags off at home and go. We made it back home just in time for the LM to turn 8 (!!!) and even snuck in some time in our beloved Boston, the highlight being the LM's first Red Sox game on Friday. Now, for us, it's crunch time. The kids still have two more weeks until school starts (longest. summer. ever.) so getting our life back in order after being gone for so long is priority number one. Slowly, we've been unpacking, decluttering, and making the rounds at Target and Whole Foods (always fun with the kids in tow.) At some point we will stop eating ice cream for lunch every day, and honestly after all we've been devouring, a trip to the gym has never seemed more appealing. This Summer was absolutely one for the record books. From Costa Rica to my Sister's wedding. Camp to New York, and then Cali to the Cape, we really had the time of our lives. Even though we all are are pretty sick of each other at this point, there is not one thing I would change about the last few months. I'm so happy the boys are at an age where they will remember all the great times we had, because this Summer was most definitely one I will never forget.

Here is a little glimpse of the last few weeks. Our new motto for Summer fun,  just add water.

{checking out the seals in La Jolla}

{nightly marshmallow roasting with Grandpa}

 {legoland, all day, every day}

{escaping the heat at the aquarium}

 {the LM, perfectly captured}

 {a very familiar scene this summer}

 {from Costa to Cali, more time with Grandpa...}

{...which made Gray very happy}

 {forget Disneyland, this is the real happiest place on earth}

{after a night at the legoland hotel, I think our mecca has been found}

{the boys playing at the park on the beach where I grew up (pictured above)}

{look at Gray's little hands... I melt}

{ice cream BOAT... and all my favorite little people (minus my goddaughter who was a little under the weather}

{childhood, in picture form}

 {best friends for their entire life... it doesn't get better than this}

{the Cape... absolutely magical}

{oh Boston, we missed you}

 {really missed you}

 {now we are 8! clearly, we also love New England sports!}

So many great memories, but like they say, there is no place like home! I hope you all have been having a wonderful Summer as well! I'll be back to posting regularly, and be sure to pop in tomorrow because I have some excited blog news to announce!

The Best Of Robin M. Anderson

 

Right now the boys and I are some 10,000 miles in the air, heading to California for our annual trip. Thursday, my husband had another surgery to help with his ongoing pain situation and while he's healing we figured it would be the perfect time to leave a quiet house. He is now happily at home, being doted on by his parents, while the boys and I are gearing up for a marathon two weeks at LegoLand California. I have to wonder if we can beat our 14 day streak from last year? It's good to have goals, right???

Given that I'm going to be flying solo for the next few weeks, I knew there was no way that I could devote the time needed to keep the blog running, so unfortunately I'm going to be on hiatus until August 20th. Rather than leave you all empty-handed I pulled together what I like it think of as my "best of."

These a few of my favorite posts from over the years.  I hope you enjoy reading through some of the archives!!!  If you'd like to follow our Cali trip, you can follow me on Instagram where I will still be posting.  See you all in a two weeks!!! xoxo

Our Home, Before & Afters

The boys' room
The Kitchen
The Master Bedroom
The Living Room
The Guest Room
The Bathrooms

Home & Design

Favorite wood consoles: a roundup

Affordable brass lighting: a roundup

Best marble accessories: a Roundup

Favorite gallery walls: a roundup

A hint of mint
Home lust: black exterior
Forever obsessed: palm leaf print
Barn light inspired pendants
Green with envy
A painted door
Bohemian inspired home decor
Surf inspired home decor
Banquette seating
On patterned tile
Flower Power

Wardrobe Essentials 

The trench
The fisherman sweater
The denim shirt
Striped tee
The blazer
The boyfriend jean
Army jacket
The silk blouse

Fashion & Style

The capsule wardrobe
Giving them the shoulder 
8 easy summer looks
Look I'mlLoving: monochromatic sunglasses and hair
Red + White+ Blue
The denim skirt
Jumpsuits for the win
Rainy day chic
Summer swimwear picks
Black, white and neutral all over
The turtleneck
Stacked
Summer whites

Hair & Beauty

Pink hair: really don't care
4 short hair style tips
Summer hair care
The easy trick for platinum blonde hair
Do or dont? Nail art
On mascara
Winter Beauty
Skin part I
Skin part II
Genius trick for thin eyebrows
My favorite beauty products 
What's in my makeup bag


My Sister's Wedding

The cake
The linens
The bridesmaid dress
The invitations
The venue
The flowers
My little sister got married
Save the date cards

Weddings

An elopement to remember
Do or don't non-traditional wedding dresses

Food & Drink

The perfect drink for summer

6 favorite side dishes

8 favorite kale recipes

6 favorite fish recipes

6 favorite vegetarian pasta recipes

7 asian inspired dinners

8 favorite one pot meals

9 favorite breakfast (for dinner, or lunch, or desert) recipe

7 favorite summer recipes

7 popsicle Recipes 

Vegetarian Bolognese 

The weekly dinner drag

Motherhood & Family

In the picture
The end of and era
It was bound to happen
Free
Lucky
Toned Down Christmases 
Pretty in pink
Little Man, not so little
The time my kid went to overnight camp

Fertility

Here's the thing
It's going to happen
A faker
2 week wait
Back to the drawing board
The little embryo that could
Taking a month off
Back to the drawing board
It's going to happen
Chicken
Cautiously optimistic 
Pregnancy update
Maternity portraits part 2

Travel

New Orleans; the time of my life
Costa Rica travel advice
Costa Rica Summer 2015 here, here, and here
Costa Rica Summer 2014
A week in NYC
My favorite Boston and NYC restaurants
The paris itinerary 
Northern California coast
Big Sur
Fiji here, here, here, here, here
Maui

What I'm Reading

July 2015
March 2015
April 2014

The Time My Kid Went To Overnight Camp

The morning after my sister's wedding, the LM and I left the house at 6am (do you even want to know how much that hurt??), picked up two of his buds, and made the 7 hour trek to his first week of overnight camp. I had very mixed feelings about our 7 year old being away for a week but he was going with three of his friends ages 12-14, and he was so excited about going that we thew caution to the wind and signed him up. The plan was that I would stay at a nearby inn the first night, and check in with him on my way to the city. He had a little flip phone so he could call me anytime he wanted (and believe me he did) but given that the camp had a separate cabin for the little sprouts, aged 7-9, we figured if they accepted these ages then they were certainly well versed in things like homesickness, eating/ sleeping issues, etc. If it was up to us, the LM would have actually stayed with his older friends, but in the end it was great that he was in the younger cabin because the "Cabin Dad" (who sleeps with the 12!!! campers) was actually someone from Boston and we knew him and his son well which was a huge relief.

My Little Sister Got Married

I know, I said I'd be posting while in NYC but after an unexpected delay on our flight back, and a marathon four days, I have to admit I was a little relieved to find that in my haste I had forgotten my laptop back home. I'm now back in Boston, and I'm so excited to share with you all a few pictures from my sister's wedding. The incredible husband and wife team that my sister hired to shoot the day are still working on the professional pictures (which you know I will be sharing as soon as I get my hands on them... in multiple posts) but for now I couldn't be happier to show you some shots from the night that can be summed up in one word; magical. 

The whole day, from beginning to end was more than I could have ever dreamed of, and while there were times that I definitely questioned what on earth I was thinking planning a wedding on top of everything else we had going on, I could not have been more proud of how the event turned out. It was truly the best gift I could give to my little sister, and when I looked around at people laughing, dancing, and drinking the night away, I knew that we had truly succeeded in our goal of making the perfect evening. From the music, to the food, and even the weather (which thankfully decided to cooperate at the last minute) the night was so special and I know it's one that everyone who was there will remember forever. 

Here are a few pictures from the night that was.

Currently

... And just like that, the last three weeks have flown by and we are nearing the end of our time in paradise. We have only 4 days left in our home away from home, and believe me, we plan on soaking up every last second. On Friday, we went fishing and not only did we catch some fish but we caught ALL the fish. Seriously, it was insane. We lured over a school of some yellow fin tuna, with some bait  fish we caught earlier in the morning, and we couldn't drop a line in without hooking one giant tuna after another. "Sushi for days"became an understatement, and ever since we've been passing out fish like water to all our friends in town. Definitely a day to remember.

After a few cloudy days, we are happily heading back to our camp on the beach. I have to admit I've gotten used to the slow pace of life down here, and true to form we've begun spending our nights dreaming about what it would be like to sell off everything and move here full time. Of course, that's just a dream, but man it would be nice.  For those of you who'd like to see, here are a few pictures from the last week or two. If this isn't what summer was made for, I'm not sure what is. xx

Currently

Well, we've officially reached the point in our trip where we all love/ hate each other in equal measure. It's probably no coincidence that today also marks the halfway point in our little adventure. I'm pretty sure that the point of our annual Swiss Family Robinson Anderson vacation is to get as much family time in as we can, but what we always seem to forget is that we as a family we really can get on each others nerves... a lot. Luckily, the tide is about to turn because in a few short hours my dad is arriving, and there is nothing better than new blood to change the dynamic around here. We always have such a wonderful time once he arrives, and the boys couldn't be more excited if Santa Claus himself were to walk through the door. Considering the amount of goodies my dad always has in tow, I can see why!

LOVE WINS!!!!!

What a day! Ever since I heard about the ruling on same-sex marriage I have been crying happy tears of joy and doing a dance very similar to the queen herself, the notorious RBG. Knowing that my kids are going to grow up in a world where they can marry whomever they choose, (when they are much, much, much older) free from discrimination and hate truly means everything to me. To a be a part of the civil rights movement of our time is not something I take lightly, and I am so thankful to those who dedicated their life to fighting this necessary fight. 

Currently

We made it! I know I shouldn't always be so surprised, but with two kids, a thousand bags and skateboards/ surfboards/ scooters it's always such a relief to walk in the door and know that we actually survived the journey. Before we left there was some chatter about another possible baby, but all it takes is one long travel day to remind us how lucky we are that we've reached the point of iPad + push pop equaling all day sedation. I'm convinced that the perfect birth control will always be an airplane ride with anyone under the age of 8. Seriously, the airlines should offer this as a service. 

We're Off + A BIG Announcement!

My apologies for the lack of posts this week. Tomorrow we are off to Costa Rica for almost a month, and between design jobs, friends visiting, and the million and one things I had to do before we leave, the week just got away from me.

In case there was any question, while we are away I promise not to do a disappearing act like in years past. Double pinky swear. On Monday, things will be business as usual around here and I'll try not to  post too many vacation pics! ;)

The BIG news is that on Monday I will be launching our next #BOSSLADIES tote and as I mentioned before it's going to feature the biggest female #BOSS of all, Ruth Bader Ginsburg!!!

You guys, just wait until you see her. My partner absolutely killed the design of this bag and I couldn't be happier with the end result. She will be available for purchase around 11am est and I'd make sure you get in early. Like the Jenna, she will be a limited edition and based on all the inquiries I've received RBG is going to move fast!!!!

Since I can't leave you all empty handed, here is a little teaser of the notorious RBG.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and I'll be seeing you Monday!

Favorite Gallery Walls: A Roundup

 

Hi! My name is Robin and I have gallery wall obsession. 

Whew, I said it. 

I've been reading that gallery walls may be heading the same way as the accent wall, as in becoming outdated, but I swear that I will never give in to such nonsense and plan on becoming an old lady surrounded by my gallery walls. I say walls as a plural because yes, I have more than one, and yes, I want more than I currently have. 

Here's the thing about the gallery wall. I have kids, I have a past, and I like pretty things. I'm not alone in this and I find that if you want to display your personal and beloved objects, art, and photos you have two options. The first is buy a bunch of little frames and display them on every flat surface in your home. The second is to put them up on the wall and create a gallery display out of them. One can make your adult home look like your dorm room, and the second can make such a beautiful impact that you can't believe how empty your walls looked before. Trust me on this. I spent the first 33 years of my life with option one, and the last three with option two... I'm not going back!

I think my main hesitation in creating a gallery wall was that I just had no idea where to start. We had a bunch of random frames (most of which were white) and not that much small art. Sure, we had more photographs of the kids than we knew what to do with, but could I really make a bunch of pictures of my kids look aesthetically pleasing? I wasn't so sure. 

The End of an Era + 7 Going on 17

It's the end of an era! Today marks the last day at our beloved nursery school and while I'm thrilled at the idea of one drop off and one pick up, I'm just heartbroken to think we will never again walk through these doors. In the last few years I've developed some serious anxiety when it comes to saying goodbye and after a sleepless night last night I am currently preparing myself for those last hugs and trying to not ugly cry like I did through my entire wedding. 

Oh The Places You'll Go

Every year I have the greatest intentions of capturing the day to day minutia with regards to the boys, and every year I find myself coming up a little short.

Currently

 

Another school year is quickly coming to a close, and as of next Friday both boys will officially be home for the Summer. I know I just typed that line, but honestly my head hasn't really be able to process what that will mean. I actually love having them home because it means the pace is much slower during the day, but finding ways to keep these boys busy (that doesn't involve punching one another) is often more challenging a task than I am sometimes up for. At least the LM has a few weeks of lacrosse camp before we leave for out annual Costa trip, and Gray is a pretty good sidekick so long as he knows there is ice cream somewhere along the way. I'm telling you, for a kid who spent the first two years of his life allergic to dairy, he's certainly not having any trouble making up for lost time ;).

On the personal front,  I just took on my fourth home project this morning and I can't believe that I am really doing this decorator thing, and even better is how thrilled people have been with my work! Right now I have very little infrastructure in place for help with the boys, (read none) so I'm pretty excited for what will happen in the Fall when both kiddos are in full day school. My newest project is a BIG one so I plan on spending a big chunk of the next few months focusing on that, while finishing up some earlier projects which are quickly moving along. Also, I'm not sure if you all saw on my Instagram about the piece that my favorite boutique Dress wrote about our line, but the cat is out of the bag and it's true- the next woman featured in our #BOSSLADIES series is going to be none other than RBG herself. The totes should be available for purchase in the next few weeks so keep your eyes peeled, I have a feeling she is going to sell out fast!

Other than that we are back to our old routine now that the LM is cast free. Skateboarding, followed by lacrosse, sleep and repeat. Gray is thrilled to be joining is big brother in school next year but we are all a little sad about leaving the nursery school that has been our home the last six years. With the kids they call this the "mad, sad, glad" time of year and I think that pretty much sums up my feelings perfectly.

I realized I haven't posted some family pictures in quite a while so for those of you who would like to see, here is a little of what we've been up to the past few months. 

Sorry, Not Sorry

For you ladies out there, how often do you find yourself apologizing?

Me?

I do it ALL THE TIME!

My husband always comments on it, because its actually super awkward that I am always saying "I'm sorry" 10,000 times a day.

Some guy bumps into me at Whole Foods and my response is "I'm sorry, so sorry, I'm sorry." Or something will happen with the kids (usually at a child appropriate place) and if I think it's bothering someone I will begin to apologize profusely for myself. It only gets worse when we are in a foreign country, where I find myself saying it over and over but really for no reason. I have no idea why but it feels like I am always apologizing for something! I actually thought this was just my own little tic, but then we saw this skit on Inside Amy Schumer a few weeks back and we both almost died.
Apparently I am not the only one who does this!



I have to ask, is this habit one that is central to all women, or just certain women? Certainly I've never heard my husband do it in such a rapid and unnecessary way, or really any other man for that matter. I'd love to know if any of you are also in the habit of constantly apologizing?

Other annoying habits I'd love to loose include:

I say "like" all the time. The more nervous I am, the more I say it. I don't know if it's the former Cali girl in me or what, but a few weeks back I saw an interview I did, in print, and was horrified at the number of times I said "like."

I also do what the LM and my husband call the "fake laugh" when speaking with new people. This too is also a nervous tic, but I really can't help it. I just laugh at everything! Now that the LM has been pointing it out, aka making fun of me, and I've tried really hard to stop but that too seems an almost impossible habit to break!

Do any of you know any tricks for losing something that is so embedded in your vocabulary? I guess being aware of it is the first step but then I have to wonder if I will end up saying "I'm sorry" for saying "I'm sorry?" Like, I don't know... haha ;) (Look at that I was able to get all three a row!)

Seriously though, I'd love any advice you have!

P.S. Amy is just killing it this season! If you don't watch you should!
P.P.S. I totally would have been the one to offer to get the guy something for his stomach!
P.P.P.S. Hope you all have a wonderful long weekend!

A Birthday + A Surprise

Over the weekend I turned 36 (yay!!!) and decided to take the pink haired plunge that I had been dreaming of. When the time came I had no hesitation to go for the full monty, and was more than a little disappointed to hear that the pink may not stick to all my hair. Turns out because I am a highlighted platinum blonde, and not a full platinum blonde, that to get the look I really wanted I would have had to strip or double process my entire head of hair. Between the bleach and Costa Rica I feel like my hair is already as dry as it needs to be, so I opted to just give it a go as it was and three pink applications later I left the salon looking like this.

Jenna Lyons Inspired Mother's Day Gifts

One of the best gifts I ever received was from my best friend in Law School. Right before our first visit to Costa Rica (ever!) she gave me a beach tote filled with sunscreen, candy, magazines, and books. It was so thoughtful, and was the perfect thing to receive before our trip!

In honor of Mother's Day, I thought I'd put together some Jenna Lyons inspired Mother 's Day gifts centered around our tote for all the lovely ladies in your life. I realize that no woman is just one thing, so certainly you can pick and choose through the options, but I would imagine that any woman would be thrilled to receive our tote filled with goodies! For those of you who want to grab a Jenna for yourself, we are running low on the totes so make sure to get yours before she sells out!


The Design Fanatic 

1.The Jenna Tote// 2. My new favorite design book, I am pouring over every page! // 3. A classic, I still pick this up every month for inspiration // 4. A great design book local celebrity Erin Gates, this reads like a novel and has some great tips that anyone can incorporate into their space 

The Book Worm

1. The Jenna // 2. A fun thriller she won't be able to put down // 3. My favorite read of the year. Grab the tissues for this one. // 4. A reader recommended this to me and I now tell everyone to read it! It's non-fiction but reads like a thriller // 5. I loved this sweet story about a woman who sufferers from temporary amnesia // 6. Who doesn't love a new pair of glasses? These frames from Warby Parker are a favorite of mine

The Baker

1. The Jenna // 2. The coolest rolling pin EVER //3. I love this cookbook from Food 52 // 4. Star Wars pankake cutters... sure to make mom and the kiddos smile // 5. Princess cookie cutters perfect for all the princesses in your life

The Lux Mom

1. The Jenna// 2. The candle on everyone's wish list // 3. I feel like everyone is talking about this shampoo, it's supposed to completely transform your hair // 4. I'm dying to try this mask that is made with actual gold

LAX

I have big news to report from the Anderson family!

Happy Easter (Bunny)

Do most of you celebrate Easter? We don't really recognize the day beyond the egg hiding, egg dying, and candy eating part, but I must admit it's always one of my favorite holidays of the year because it means that Spring is on its way. I always forget to get something for the boys, and today I did my annual mad dash to CVS and the bookstore to stock up on some goodies, lest Sunday morning arrive and the Easter Bunny skipped our house. Even though we don't really decorate, there is one tradition I've kept going for about 20 years, since my sister was little, which is putting these bunny footprints around the house to signal that the man with the big ears was here. We always forget to put them out, until late Saturday night and then we have to frantically place them all around the house. I'm pretty sure this weekend will be no different since we are finally starting this show!

For those of you who celebrate the day, or have kiddos I've rounded up a few fun Easter themed links from around the web. xx

How beautiful are these DIY marbled easter eggs? As someone who is excited when I can get two different shades on each side of the egg, color me impressed!

I'm absolutely make this bunny shaped ice cream cone for the boys Sunday night. I'll probably just stick some cut marshmallows on the top of some pink ice cream, but for those of you who are super crafty, here is the tutorial for the sweetness above.

Tomorrow I'm upping the pink factor in my hair, and I'm using this as my inspiration. Pastel pink, just in time for Easter!

I love this idea for an Easter themed school snack! You could always substitute baby carrots, or cheese crackers for a healthier alternative. 

This Robin's egg themed cake is way beyond my skill set, but I just think it is so beautiful. For you bakers out there is actually a tutorial if you are up for the challenge!

15 of the best brunch recipes for Easter.

These pom pom chicks are adorable! I'm filing this away for next year!

Lastly, did you all know that the best way to make hard boiled eggs is actually to bake them? Seriously! I tried it a few years back and not only does it make the egg taste better but it also makes you house and freezer smell free.