gold rush

Somehow I’ve blinked and I’m enjoying the little notification that popped up on my phone reminding me that a year ago today I moved into town. Apparently I set a reminded in my phone titled a ‘a year ago today your life changed’ and boy has it ever! Not really sure where the last year has gone because it doesn’t feel like it’s been that, maybe a few months – but, besides getting lost in that fact I started packing for the upcoming trip, which not knowing where we’re going for someone that’s mildly OCD is a struggle. Not to mention I’ve now lost my keys to the store front among one of these bags… so that goes with saying I can’t believe in a month I’m hoping to open the doors to a new jewelry boutique in town that’ll hopefully give back to the town and some of our favorite charities throughout the year! That is… if I find the keys. What about everyone else? Are you scrambling to get ready for the trip? @townofbayview​

First of all, congratulations on celebrating a year in town and also opening a jewelry store in celebration of that! I promise you that I will be the first customer in line on your opening day to support you and buy out the store. Because you know, it’s impossible to ever have too much jewelry. I’ve only been in Bayview since January, but I still feel like the time has flown by and I can’t believe I’ve been here for 6 months already. I hope you come across your keys somewhere, because it would be tragic if you had to break into your own storefront or something. Please tell me you have a spare somewhere too. Or is that lost as well? I feel like I most definitely overpacked for this trip. But I also have a small human to pack for and I swear she needs just as much, if not more than I do. I’m just happy to finally be here so we can explore and see everything there is to see and do here. We should get together sometime this week! Maybe have a girl’s day with our little ones? Or we can even have a mom’s day out with just the two of us! I just miss your face.

Oh yeah, I grew up on the East Coast… Boston, then DC, before moving out west for work. Well, I spent a lot of my time working in Canada, but the coast is the same up that way. A farm in Pennsylvania? That’s amazing. It sounds serene. I can imagine it’s a beautiful place to spend time when you need a break from everything. I don’t understand how anyone could dislike New York. Sure, there are parts that are unlikable, but every city has that. You just have to find the good in it. Aw, a weekend with your family? That’s so sweet. I’m sure that was time well spent.

Boston and DC are both amazing cities. I’ve been to both a few times in the past, but of course I’d jump at the opportunity to go visit again. I haven’t explored much of Canada, but from what I’ve seen it’s beautiful there. There’s just no city in the world quite like New York. There’s some sort of magic to it that you just experience whenever you’re there. It was amazing! Both grandmother’s of my little one were in town. So they were on babysitting duty for the most part. Which they didn’t mind, since they were more than happy to spoil her and make a fuss over her.

Thanks honey and gosh I really do hope so. I have so many fond memories of my grandmother teaching me to bake and doing so with both her and or my mother when I was little. Hence it’s name

I’m sure both her and your mother are super proud of you right now! I did manage to find some time to drop by and try out some of the treats. Absolutely delicious, just as expected.

That is most definitely the cast. I think that some people are just so iconic that you can’t help but think of them in particular roles.  Johnny Depp definitely is great at character roles.  I think that someone else worth mentioning would be like a Jennifer Coolidge. You see her face and your instantly think of iconic roles.  I am not huge on cooking but I can cook well enough to not starve. I think it’s always cool when people are especially skilled with this stuff.  I am sure that you’re fantastic at that.  I try really hard to not have regrets about what I eat.

Jennifer Coolidge is a national treasure. I actually just rewatched Legally Blonde the other night. And I saw A Cinderella Story again not too long ago. Two of her most iconic roles, in my opinion. At least you know the basics so you can get by! I’m just one of those people that likes to experiment and the kitchen has always been my outlet. 

girl, can you believe they put us both on the same team? we’re gonna be the bomb here and no one can come close. do you have any secret talents that you can give me some tips on so we can really win this thing? because i really don’t want to lose. your daughter helping us, right? @gxhadids​

I don’t know about you, but I think we make a pretty great team. I mean, I know we ended up losing in the end. But clearly we were the dynamic duo. Khai was way more distracted by her flags and pom poms, rather than paying attention to the game.

I hear you on that, like they’re happy until they’re a bit overstimulated and then you have to step in or just let them sleep, in this case. I do love the way this town does up events, they’re always a lot of fun. Did you guys have a fun 4th celebrating with the family? I hope your moms enjoyed all the festivities! Sno Caps with popcorn? And the butter doesn’t make it a total mess, or is that in a good way? Honestly, that’s my philosophy on buttered popcorn too, no such thing as too much and have the shake the bowl or bag around for even distribution. Makes a mess too, but again, completely worth it. 

Oh she definitely crashed hard once she got back home. All the attention and excitement was just too much for her and wore her out. We had a blast! It was nice to have both the grandmothers in town at the same time. It was even better that they volunteered for baby duties, so it was nice to have a bit of a break and just have fun with some friends that I ran into as well. I feel like when you make the decision to get popcorn, you accept the fact that it’s going to make a mess. But it’s totally worth it. 

Oh, absolutely. I’m used to the rocky beaches of the Pacific though so it’s been a little weird getting used to all of the… flatness. Not that I mind! A beach is a beach in my opinion. I did make it to the fireworks show! It was lovely, even if I did turn in a little earlier than planned. What about you, Gigi? 

I know what you mean. I was born in Los Angeles, so the beaches here are much different than the Pacific. But I feel like I’ve always been an east coast girl at heart. My family has a farm in Pennsylvania. Plus I’ve fallen in love with the city of New York after spending so much time there for work over the years. And of course, Bayview is where I call home now. At least you made it to the firework show, that’s the most important part. I had a nice little weekend with the family!

It’s going to come before we know it! I’m having a hard time believing it’s already July, if we’re being completely honest. I can’t wait to see what you guys do!! The weekend was a good excuse to put work down and just.. enjoy time out. You know? How was your weekend? 

Tell me about it. This year has just been zooming on by. I mean, July is already about halfway over. We’ve talked about some fun ideas fro her party. You’ll get an invitation once they’re sent out, don’t you worry. My holiday weekend was great! Both my mom and Zayn’s mom were in town. So it was nice to spend some family time all together.

It’s bananas, no doubt. She’s going to be a year? In September? What the fuck? I cannot believe that! It seems like just yesterday that she was a mush ball. She still is, of course, but every time I see her she’s sprouted up more and more. Like a little weed. Oh, god, Rosie is dying to spend her entire life at Davey Jones’s. I don’t know what it is about that place, but it’s universally loved by all. With good reason, of course, it’s like Bayview’s own little Disneyland but without a mouse. Maybe we could get a dolphin or starfish or something cute to be the mascot that sells overpriced photo ops. Stop, you’re too kind! I’m excited for it — hard to believe it’s already upon us. Nerve wracking as fuck, but exciting all the same. I love that! Is she a little water bug? Girl, I hope you’ve been getting your tan on with all these pool days. Where do I sign up to crash one of ‘em? Working mamas know the grind all too well. You’re a legend, though, if anyone could figure out the balance, it’s you. You’re young and spry, you bounce back waaaay quicker than I ever could have. 

Tell me about it. I’m in shock that I’m the mother of an almost one year old. I feel like it was just yesterday that she was a tiny little nugget living in my belly. I was going through old pictures of her from when she was only a few months old and it’s crazy how fast she’s grown. Honestly, I’m with Rosie. I just love the atmosphere of Davey Jones. It’s like a hometown county carnival, but you can go hang out there anytime you want. Well, whenever it’s the summer season, that is. Plot twist: we’re the dolphin and starfish who stands on the boardwalk for photo ops. It can be like one of those late night television pranks they pull on random people. Congratulations on the premiere though! I still need to get my butt to a theater and go see it. I’ve been consumed with work lately, so I haven’t had the chance to yet. She is a little water bug and I have been working on my tan! Luckily I haven’t gotten too bad of a burn yet this summer season. So everything had just been turning to tan. You should join us sometime for one of our little pool days! Psh, if anyone is a legend it’s you, babe. You’re a literal super hero after all.

There’s never enough room in the regular movie theaters for your legs. Especially considering the fact that you’re not supposed to put your feet on the seat, you know? Fine, but what do you expect me to do with them, then, right? Me neither, although it’s probably not a bad idea to look it up, see what parts might be worth skipping, yeah? If nothing else, pick something that doesn’t interest you and bail then. We did a little bit of everything, swam in the ocean, played lots of frisbee, cooked some s'mores, chased crabs around, it was great! Did you take home a lot of sand?

Seriously! I’m the type of person that likes having their legs resting on something in front of me like that. They should really redesign the seats and create some special type of footrest for those who want it. That sounds like a lot of fun! My holiday weekend was pretty similar. Good food, good company, and lots of fun memories. Unfortunately, I always feel like I bring home half the beach when it comes to all the sand. I’m honestly just glad both the grandmothers were on bath duty for Khai after the beach. So they had to deal with cleaning up all the sand she brought back home with her.

There you go. I still have a list of movies that I want to show my kids. Just waiting until they’re a little older to get the full grasp of the film. You can’t go wrong with the classics, though. You’re right about that! It’s important to grab all the snacks before the movie starts. Well, there’s popcorn, obviously, then anything sweet or sour are usually my go-to’s. What about you? 

There’s some movies that you just have to wait until they’re a certain age until they can fully appreciate them. How old are your little ones anyway? I do love sweet and sour things. I also love the chocolate and salty combination. I have a habit of getting SnoCaps and dumping them on top of my popcorn. It’s the perfect salty and sweet mixture.

you think that will work? i hope so. she does not need to know all the stuff her daddy did in his early teens. i don’t want to lock her up… but perhaps we should. i’m joking i’m joking. maybe. i love her so much. this weekend has just been amazing. though i think we might have to check so that the grandmas don’t steal her away from us, they seem just as obsessed with her as we are and i don’t blame her. yes, i will have to see what seems best. it just seems like a lot of work to have a farm by yourself, but perhaps a small farm house, just a couple of horses… i could perhaps manage that. she is our perfect girl and she deserves the perfect birthday party. do you think we need to start getting invitations out as soon as possible? i don’t want anyone to make other plans. they all need to be there. i mean, fuck work, our baby’s more important right? of course my mum will be here, maybe my sisters too. we will see if dad can come too. i hope so, i mean i don’t have nearly close to as much clothes as she does, and i need them too!

Well, I think it’s safe to say that Khai is the most spoiled baby in the world. I still have new clothes piled up in her nursery that I have yet to wash and put away. I did have a blast over the holiday weekend. It was nice to have both grandmother’s around to babysit and also spend family time with. We’ll have to try to all get together more often for little celebrations, even if it’s only for a nice dinner or something. A whole farm definitely is a lot of work. I mean my mom has a lot of help on hers between her and my siblings. Plus of course she has a few hired helpers around to look after the animals when she’s away or just needs some extra help. Yolanda has it all figured out and down to a science at this point. I think we can get to work on some invitations! We can play around with some designs on the computer and take them somewhere to get printed out. She’s going to have the most epic first birthday party ever. She deserves it! I hope your sisters and your dad will be able to make it. I know both my parents will definitely be there. I’m not sure about my siblings though. it depends what their schedules are like at that time.

It is. And you know, it’s even worse when they ask you to explain what is the movie about. I mean, in my case because I’m not so good at telling stories. Oh that’s nice! I bet that they were excited to see Khai and how much she has grown since the last time your moms were in town. But it’s really great that everybody is having a good time and is finding some balance. Of course! I’ve been camping on the beach so I’m gonna be here all day long for food, drinks and fun time.

I’m right there with you. There’s nothing worse than when you’re trying to explain something and you can just see the interest draining from the person’s face. They definitely were! She definitely got spoiled by them, that’s for sure. So many new outfits and toys. Her entire nursery is piled up with new things I haven’t gotten the chance to put away yet. It was nice to see you for a bit over the holiday weekend! How did you enjoy yourself?