Another lap around the sun, and this weekend I’ll officially turn another year older! I don’t have any big plans this year — just a Sunday with the family and, ideally, starting the day with a solidcore Pilates burn. As always, I’ve rounded up a mix of things I’ve had my eye on, a few practical upgrades, and some definite “want, not need” items. Here is what made the cut for my 2026 birthday wishlist:Jack Rogers Palm Beach Thong Sandal In metallic Gold - Do I already have these? Yes. Do I need another pair? Also yes. Enough said. Mine are VERY well loved and could definitely use replacing. Matching PJs, for Lily & Mama, -I’m open to a handful of brands and liked a set from Little Sleepies, but our longtime favorite, Kyte Baby, is taking the cake with these. Mark, if you’re ...
August Fun: Family Time, Charlotte Adventures & New England
August, that was fun. I celebrated 14 years of Sparkles and Shoes, had quality time with both of my grandmas (90 and 96 years young!), spent nearly every weekend at the pool, and explored lots of new places in Charlotte, including the science museum and a handful of new playgrounds. It really felt like a month packed with little adventures, family time, and lots of reasons to get outside. We are still very much getting to know our new city, and one of my favorite parts of this season has been discovering new places with Lily and Henry. From concerts and playgrounds to museums and neighborhood events, there was no shortage of August fun.Now I am posting from New Hampshire, where we are lucky enough to spend a week with Mimi & Papa enjoying lake time, farm visits, boat rides, and a ...
Things My Three Year Old Has Said
Lily turned three back in March, and just before her birthday she officially “graduated” from both Early Intervention and her private speech therapy. We are so incredibly proud of her, and these days she is talking up an absolute storm.Besides the nonstop “whys” and questions as she tries to figure out how the world works, she has also developed some very strong opinions, a surprising amount of sass, and a way of phrasing things that makes Mark and me laugh on a daily basis.Three is such a funny age because she is constantly listening, absorbing, and then repeating things back in ways we absolutely do not expect. Her vocabulary seems to grow every day, and with it, so does the running commentary.Here are a few of my favorites lately:——-Me: “Lily, let’s finish coloring ...
Moving to Charlotte, North Carolina!
The cat is out of the bag — we are moving to Charlotte, North Carolina! As we speak, I am on a plane with the kids and Mark is driving our car down to the new house we have bought in Charlotte, North Carolina. In almost any other city it would be called the suburbs, but our address is actually still within the city proper: Charlotte, North Carolina.It feels a little surreal to finally type that sentence. We did not make this decision lightly, and the “why Charlotte?” question is one we have heard from family, friends, and strangers alike. There were spreadsheets, countless conversations, house hunting trips, school research, and a lot of back and forth before we decided this was the right move for our family. I will dig much deeper into the why in another post, but for now, a few of ...
