FRIDAY Q&A: MY FAVORITE FAMILY TRADITIONS, THE PIECES I WEAR MOST IN QUARANTINE, THE HARDEST THING ABOUT BEING WELL-KNOWN, AND MORE

Happy Friday, friends! It was quite a snowy one in Connecticut and it looks like there’s even more in the forecast for early next week. I used to use these Friday Q&A posts to share our plans for the weekend but let’s be honest, who really has weekend plans anymore?! In any event, I’m wishing you all another cozy and restful weekend at home!

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1. What’s your favorite tradition as a couple/family?

A lot of our family traditions revolve around Christmas — eating lobster, smoked salmon, and my grandfather’s asparagus Hollandaise on Christmas Eve, each family member reading a page of ’Twas The Night Before Christmas (specifically this version!) before we go to sleep, and opening gifts on Christmas morning one at a time from youngest family member to oldest. I’d love to come up with more weekly or seasonal traditions as Teddy gets older — would love to hear some of your family traditions in the comments!

2. How much furniture has followed you from your original NYC studio?

Maybe around half? I lived in New York from 2013-2015 and I wasn’t investing a ton in furniture at that time in my life (lots of IKEA and Joss & Main finds!) but I still have the quatrefoil mirror (currently in our living room), the acrylic console (my mom is currently using it as a desk in my parents’ loft space but you can see it in the foyer of our previous rental here), the navy scalloped headboard (currently in our guest bedroom), the birdcage chair (reupholstered and currently in our playroom), and the round IKEA dining table (currently in our basement as I’m hoping to give to one of my brothers when they move into new apartments in the city). 

3. What clothing and accessories do you constantly wear during quarantine?

Old Bucknell and Nantucket sweatshirts, this Amazon fleece jacket, this Summersalt sweatshirt, Dudley Stephens pullovers, Lululemon tops, Align leggings (all day, every day), and these J.Crew slippers. I can’t wait to have a reason to get dressed up again!

4. What’s the hardest thing about being well-known?

People sending messages to express thoughts they would never say in person. It’s anxiety-inducing to check blog comments and Instagram DMs not knowing what might pop into my inbox on any given day! I’ve gotten less sensitive over time (I started my blog in 2009!) and I’m trying to work on remembering that people’s comments are more often a projection of how they’re feeling about themselves, but I’d be lying if I said I’ve never let a hurtful comment derail my mood for the better part of a day.

5. Are you not into gold hardware in general?

I’m assuming this is in response to the polished nickel hardware I’ve used in our kitchen and our hall bathroom so yes, polished nickel is definitely my preference! I do think unlacquered brass is beautiful too and equally classic for an older home (maybe I’ll do that in one of our future bathroom remodels? truly endless projects in this house!) but anything brushed nickel or shiny gold is not my personal preference.

6. Will you get a nanny when baby #2 arrives?

We hired a part-time nanny just before Teddy’s first birthday and we hope she will be with us for many years to come! We’re not sure yet how her current hours will shift once baby #2 arrives but that’s definitely on the list of future questions I can’t control right now. 🙂

7. Will your husband be going back to the office?

At some point, yes, I imagine he will go back to commuting into the city most weekdays, but his office has no set date for when that might be at this point. I feel like most of my friends who work in the city have a target date sometime between July and September but again, it’s hard to predict what the world will look like then and I’m really trying to focus only on things I can control!

8. I’m looking for a new living room area rug in either gray or blue. Any suggestions?

I’m truthfully not a huge fan of gray decor in general — I much prefer a sisal rug in the beige/tan family to add a little warmth! But if you want something with blue in it, I love the look of this, this, and this. And there are lots of gorgeous designs on this new-to-me site!

9. How is your Grandy doing?

So sweet of you to ask. She’s hanging in there! I can’t wait until we’re all vaccinated so we can safely plan a visit, especially so we can introduce her to baby #2!

10. You have one day on Nantucket. Where are you going?

Getting iced coffee and blueberry muffins from ‘Sconset Market and doing the Bluff Walk to enjoy all the rose-covered cottages and homes overlooking the Atlantic. Heading to Madaket for some time at the beach and tacos and margaritas at Millie’s (clearly I’d plan my day around all my favorite foods? haha). Then head to town, poke into some favorite shops, and have a lobster roll and glass of rosé at Cru for dinner. And I guess if I only have one day and I’m really packing in all my most indulgent favorites, I’m definitely waiting in line for a waffle cone at Juice Bar for good measure. 🙂 The bottom of my Nantucket guide has suggested itineraries for weekend trips, family-friendly vacations, bachelorette parties, mini-moons, and more so definitely check that out if you’re planning a trip!