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Rumor has it that spring is just a couple of weeks out, although truth is we typically don’t see real spring until at least April here in our neck of the woods in the northeast. Even though it has been about 15° every day so far this week (actually not an exaggeration), I am definitely starting to get that spring itch. The one where I want to throw open the windows, scrub every last inch of the house, spend an afternoon arranging plants in little pots, painting a room a fresh new color, changing out all the linens and generally just freshening things up. Basically, I’ve got spring fever.

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Back when I was still pregnant with Emerson, I started hunting in earnest for the perfect baby book. I wanted something that would be special for her as she grows older and wants to flip through the pages, but frankly, I know myself well enough to know that keeping detailed records, creating monthly scrapbook pages or in some other way extravagantly keeping memories in a physical way was never going to happen. I finally picked the Lucy Darling Little Artist Memory Book, which is easily among the best baby books out there.

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For those of you who have been missing my traditional Friday link love posts (which came up several times in the reader survey recently), please know that I’m working on some really fun new content when the site relaunch goes down in a few weeks! (Let’s just call it a month, because my hunch is that’s where we’re going to end up.) I’m going to be keeping much of the content you love, bringing back a few old things with a new spin, and working in some new ideas that I hope you love. As of this week, and one epic day-long shoot on Wednesday, I’m working on video content, too!

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An alternative title to this post could easily be, “Best Ever Vegan Tomato Soup.” Because it is indeed the best ever and it is indeed vegan. It’s also about the easiest thing to make that there ever was, even if you wanted to make a big pot on a weeknight. The basis is a bunch of roasted tomatoes, onions and garlic. Drizzled with olive oil, sprinkled with salt and pepper and bursting with flavor. I like a variety of tomatoes (such as tomatoes on the vine, cherry tomatoes and little heirloom tomatoes) for little extra depth of flavor, but truly you can use whichever kind of tomatoes you have on hand or that look good in the grocery store. A big bowl topped with French bread croutons makes a meal unto itself or the perfect accompaniment to a grilled cheese sandwich. (I’ll be sharing one of my favorite grilled cheese recipes next week! Yum!)

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Today’s post is long overdue, but no less exciting – the completed renovation of our dining room! Our dining room is easily one of my favorite rooms in our house and one where we spend a lot of time. Unlike a lot of people, a majority of our meals are actually eaten around our dining room table and we also play cards here a lot on the weekends. The kids can be playing a board game on one end while we’re playing rummy at the other and it acts as the perfect hub for entertaining, eating, and lounging. Because I’m getting ready to make some final decisions in this space regarding curtains, a big area rug to anchor the room and art, it seemed like the perfect time to take a look back at what this room looked like when we closed on the house and what it looks like now.

Read More about Our Dining Room Renovation (Before and After)

Guys, I am so excited to be joining up with an insanely talented group of moms for the Real Talk with Real Mom series spearheaded by my friend Jen of The Effortless Chic. Most of these ladies have been blogging together about motherhood for a year or more now, and I’m really looking forward to being part of the pack. I’ll be using this as an opportunity to talk more about about the various issues, large and small, surrounding motherhood (and how I try not to screw up my kid) on a monthly basis in a way that is hopefully an interesting read for you. My monthly posts will also link to each of the other participating moms so you can read their stories and perspectives, too. This month we’re all dishing on friendships and, quite honestly, this could not be a more timely topic for me.

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This super pretty gingerberry sparkler is a cocktail that I made over the holidays and shared over on Inspired By This. I had fully intended to share the post then, but if you recall that was right about the time that I came down with the first wave of the death plague that decided to hang around for nearly a month and it just never happened. That said, this cocktail would make the perfect bubbly concoction for sipping while you’re watching the Oscar’s this weekend!

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Friends, this easy cheesy broccoli cornbread recipe is seriously incredible. Have you ever made cornbread with Jiffy mix? Because that’s the basis of this recipe! One of my friends made her version for our chili cook off Super Bowl party a few weeks ago and it was a huge hit, so naturally I had to give my hand a try at giving it my own twist and serving it up for you guys.

Read More about The Best Cheesy Broccoli Cornbread with Jiffy Mix

Happy Valentine’s Day, friends! However you’re celebrating or not celebrating today, and whomever you may spend your day with, I hope you have a day that leaves you feeling loved. Speaking of feeling loved, I’ve been holding out on you guys and today seems like the perfect day to spill the beans – we’re getting married! …

Read More about Happy Valentine’s Day and WE ARE GETTING MARRIED!