Moving Mode: We Arrived on Tuesday and I Am Still Speechless!

We're finally in our California home and the feelings are overwhelming.  I'm proud of how brave and excited the children have been throughout this experience and grateful for how smoothly and safely our arrival took place.  I'm finding it hard to put my emotions into words or translate it into photos.  The house is beyond wonderful, it's a perfect fit for our family and the way we live.  It all still seems surreal and I'm rendered speechless.  Until I feel like I can express myself again, take a look at a few images from our first two days:

Our first BBQ, bamboo creeping in from the outdoors, our lush garden, the womb chair, an evening fire and a family reunited.

Hello, California! 7 Things To Do Soon After Our Arrival.

Although I was not able to complete my Farewell, New England list, there will be plenty of time ahead to work on my California one.  Take a look at a few of the things I would like the family to do soon after we are all reunited and settled in:

1.  Walk the Strybing Arboretum.  I volunteered at it when we lived in SF 18 years ago and I would love to show the children its vast plant materials and microclimates which make it so unique.

2. Eat pizza at The Cheese Board.  The kids are worried that there isn't any good pizza in California.  I want to prove them otherwise.

3.  Cocktails in our courtyard (hope this happens upon arrival!).   This one will continue to happen, over and over again....

4. Take the kids to the Presidio, where the Golden Gate Bridge and the Pacific Ocean can be seen, felt and heard.

5. Soak in hot springs.  One of my favorite places happens to be Wilbur, but there are so many others...can't wait to try them all.

6. Drive down Route 1 to Big Sur.  Not only do elephant seals abound and the kids are so excited to see them, but it's simply a magical place.

7.  Reconnect with our West Coast friends and make new ones.

There are so many things I'm eager for our children to do and see, but most importantly, I want us all to feel like we are home.

My next post will be from California!!!

Cocoon: Past, Present and Future.

True to its name, Cocoon has had many transformations.  Originally founded as a retail store in Boston eleven years ago, it has since evolved into an interior and botanical design firm, and as of late, a lifestyle blog.  With the pending move to California, our clients and readers have been asking what will become of Cocoon on the West Coast.  Being instrumental in its transformations over the past 10 years, I'm confident that Cocoon Home will continue to thrive as it morphs into its future.

Sorting and organizing for the California move, I found advertising postcards and business cards from years past that reminded  me just how far and long Cocoon has existed in one form or another.  Take a look at remnants of Cocoon's past and keep posted for updates on its promising future:

Moving Mode: Living In Limbo

Living in limbo has been more challenging than I expected:  with the children missing their dad (me, too), the lack of routine, the overflowing suitcases, and the images of our home in California taking shape, we're all feeling anxious to begin our new life.    Having said that,  I've decided to cut our East coast summer adventures short.   On July 17th, the day my husband and I will celebrate our 18th wedding anniversary, the kids and I will board a one-way flight to San Francisco!  Realizing full well all the beautiful places and friends we would have visited along the way if we continued onto Maine, made this decision a particularly difficult one.   Nevertheless, we're grateful for the time we've had with family, the opportunity to reconnect with childhood buddies and for all the friends who so kindly offered to host us during our travels along the Atlantic coast. Take a look at what awaits us on the 'other' coast:

On Sunday, I'll head back to Cambridge to drop off our van for its cross country transport and on Tuesday, the kids and I are going home.

Honey And Vinyl

We spent our last night before our move with neighbors extracting honey to the tunes of Al Green on vinyl.  With high anxieties and fragile emotions it was exactly what the family needed to get our minds off the change ahead.  The sweet smell of honey, the bitter taste of beer and the sound of a turntable made for a perfect last night in Cambridge.  Take a look a few images from a memorable evening.

Thank you LB & MT.

For the next month while we await the arrival of our belongings at our new home, the kids and I will be spending time in New Jersey with family then heading up to Maine with friends for one last East Coast hooray.    Our one-way tickets to California are booked for July 27th.

I'm looking forward to our adventures but am anxious to get our West Coast life started.