Category Archives: friends

xoxo

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I hope you had a lovely Valentine’s Day! Jeff and I celebrated by going to an amazing chocolate party.

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As a fundraiser for the co-op, Chef Chad Durkin gave a pastry demonstration on how to make whoopie pies and adult chocolate milk.  As you can see, there was a table full of chocolate and one of the best moments was when I found the most perfect chocolate – a german chocolate “brute” at 67% cocoa. It is the perfect bitterness for me and needless to say, I happily went into a chocolate coma after eating several pieces.

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Photography credit: Albert Yee. For more of his photos, click here.

Postcard Birthday Poster – Jeff’s 30th

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Back in May 2011, one of my favorite blogs Oh Happy Day, posted a DIY project that seemed like a great idea for Jeff’s 30th birthday (July 16).  Jordan has been living in Paris with her family for over a year and always posts amazing craft projects and inspiring photos from her life.  She partnered with one of my favorite artists, Shanna Murray and I knew it was exactly what I wanted to do for my guy on his special day.

 

How special would you feel if you got 25 post cards that read I’m so glad you were born?

I followed Jordan’s instructions and simplified a bit more by printing out a letter with the instructions and attaching it to the “pieces of the puzzle” on pre-printed card stock.  I also pre-stamped and addressed it for everyone so that way all our friends and family needed to do was cut it out, write on it, and put it in the mail.

It worked out perfectly because most of the postcards arrived while we were away in Europe, so it was a great present to come home to – who doesn’t love getting mail?

Thank you to all our friends and family who participated, and thank you Jordan and Shanna – Jeff loved it so much that he wants to frame it!

If you would like to do this for a loved one, click here for more details and templates.

 

 

 

 

Going back in time where community reigns

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While we were visiting friends in Durham, North Carolina over New Years weekend, we went to an Intentional Living Community about an hour from Chapel Hill called Blue Heron Farm.  Jeff and I kept checking in with each other while we were there with glances and smiles and it was clear we were both intrigued. As we toured a small portion of the 64 acres and a few of the homes on the property, we learned that the farm started about 15 years ago.  The house where we had lunch was saved from being knocked down from highway development – it was purchased for $5000 and moved for $7000! Jeff and I have talked about prefab homes before but we never knew about being able to move houses.  Learning about that alone made the trip worthwhile and being surrounded by like-minded people, babies, nature, food and lots of love was icing on the cake.

“True community is not simply an aggregate of people… but people which have made a commitment to communicate more authentically, more intimately, more vulnerably.” – M. Scott Peck, A Different Drum

Apple Orchard

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I had a beautiful birthday weekend, complete with a day at the apple orchard with friends, family, music and cupcakes!  It was fun to show Cecelia all the apples and pumpkins (aren’t these things more fun with kids around?)  Thank you to my sweet husband for arranging this fun surprise for me, I love you!

 

Homemade Pizza

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I hope you are enjoying the start of a happy Memorial Day weekend! I have a long list of things I hope to do, including going to see Bridesmaids, researching our trip, going shopping (I have been inspired by these ladies) and making homemade pizza.

But I can cross the last one off my list since last night we enjoyed some homemade pizza with a good friend over a few beers.  “Porch drinking” as he called it – gosh I love summer.

Weekend Recap

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Wow, what a busy weekend for Philadelphia…LoMo Flea Market, Flavors of the Avenue, Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts and the Broad Street Run.

On Saturday night we made our way up to Center City to wander around PIFA’s Street Fair to see the ferris wheel, trapeze artists and Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings.

I highly recommend seeing Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings live!  Sharon is an excellent performer, dances like a maniac and gives 150%.  You can’t help but join her in shaking your hips to their funky and soulful music.  The guy in the photo above is my friend Josh who I met through the co-op and helped me set up this very site!  I was so psyched when I saw him jump up on stage with her. 

I did it!  I ran 10 miles in 2 hours and 1 minute.  This is a photo my mother-in-law snapped of me at mile 9.  My brother Jeffrey stayed with me for a couple miles in the beginning but he had a faster and stronger pace than me so he took off and I was on my own.  I felt a little relieved to be able to do my own thing and not feel like I was holding him back.  After 4 miles (which are the most difficult for me) my breathing leveled out, City Hall was getting much closer, and I recognized my surroundings.  I was inspired by so many people throughout the run – children in wheelchairs outside of Temple University Hospital cheering us on, Students Run Philly Style, a guy doing the course on crutches (!), and my friends cheering me on at mile 7 gave me the extra boost to keep going - so thank you!

Jeff shed 17 minutes off of his time from last year, coming in at 1 hour and 27 minutes.  I am so proud of him!  Jeff was a part of a running team at his school and about 14 students crossed the finish line yesterday with him and the 4 other coaches.  It was a proud moment for everyone and we celebrated with a big picnic at FDR Park afterwards with our families.  It was so funny to be called “Mrs. Rupertus”, the students are lovely and it was an honor to share in this accomplishment with them.  I have a feeling it will be a memory that sticks with them for a very long time.

After the picnic, we went over to my neighbor’s roof deck and celebrated with some beer.  The weather was perfect.  Life is good.

Frenchtown

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Yesterday I spent the day in Frenchtown, NJ, home of author Elizabeth Gilbert.  In celebration of a friend’s 30th birthday we went up to visit Liz’s store Two Buttons and the attached restaurant, Lovin’ Oven, for some shopping and lunch.  It was a perfect day with beautiful weather, friends and food.  We even got to see Liz and her husband Jose (I think) who were hanging out in the store offering home made bread and wine.  “Would you like some wine, darling?”  Two Buttons is filled with amazing furniture, decor and hand made objects.  I’ll definitely go back with Jeff when we have some money but I did leave with a little token – a river rock with “Committed” etched into it for our garden.  Next time I’ll bring my books in hopes of Liz’s autograph.

While everything on the menu is great at Lovin’ Oven, the dessert was the best part so be sure to save room if you go.  Pictured is the chocolate caramel sea salt tart which was AMAZING!