in the eye of the storm.

well, where do i begin?

a) we are a little disappointed

b) we are even more relieved

a month ago exactly, while sitting in sunday school, we were told we were having a stake-wide lesson that day about hurricane preparedness. since the last hurricane to hit nyc occurred three decades ago, we all had a good laugh. let's just say it was the last type of preparedness i could ever imagine having while living in this city. after the lesson, todd and i did as counseled and followed up with our own family home evening lesson consisting of checking the readiness of our 72-hour kits and developing our family plan-of-action.

as you know, the 2011 nyc hurricane has come and gone, and looking back, there is no disputing the inspiration our leaders were blessed with in order to teach and prepare us as they did. truly amazing! as my dad said, someone needs to write an ensign article about this!!

although we didn't have to dip into our food storage or use up our 72-hour kits, we, along with the rest of the city, are prepared for our next hurricane, earthquake, tornado, or other natural—or unnatural— disaster.

i love new york city. i love my church. and i love my newly stocked pantry! go irene!!

come on irene.

we're ready for the worst but hoping for the best with this impending storm. 

we've got our water, batteries, and non-perishable food. 

{all salty and sweet of course}

and although i laughed a few christmas's ago when my mom gave us 72-hour kits,

i'm wishing i would have bit my tongue. 

thanks mom!

an instagram kind of week.

 

babies on the brain.

{photo taken at week 12}

babies babies babies! that's all that's been on our minds in the matheny household as of late.

every morning before i get out of bed, i check all four of my baby apps to see how baby m has progressed over the last 8 hours. obsessive, i know, but i can't help myself. i'm becoming that parent. you know the type.

and let me just tell you about my latest obsession—the nursing mother's companion. 

a real thriller. honestly. had no idea about half that stuff in there. i can't stop reading {and looking at the pictures!}

here are a few other handy things i've found:

.............

26 things no one warned you about being a parent.

i need this for newborn photos. need! {this one too}.

listen up pops.

lions, tigers, and babies! careful now.

since we're having a v-day baby, this is a must!

rainy day? martha stewart to the rescue.

40 sayings from your parents that you swore you'd never use (but do!)

coolest family photo ideas.

a morning date.

anyone who knows me, knows how much i love food. 

especially breakfast food. 

todd and i are always up for finding a new brunch place, 

and this weekend we just so happened to find estancia 460.

a yummy buenos aires restaurant in tribeca.

me: dulce de leche french toast. i die.

hubs: bistecca grilled strip steak and mozzarella. lots of mozzarella.

my dear little orange.

i'm so happy you're in there kicking away! 

we're pretty thrilled about you.

love you!

xoxo

beach day.

summer, 

please don't leave. i love the beach too dearly. 

and i got a really akward sunburn line the last time

i was there, so i need at least a few more weeks to fix that.

xoxo.

friday sno-balls.

it's friday, it's friday!

 what do you have planned?

we'll be out and about showing todd's adorable sister, kim, 

the city and eating. yes, lots of eating.

our first stop...imperial woodpecker sno-balls.

sweet. delicious. and the perfect summer treat.

{pretty chic with its adorable chinese take-out boxes too, no??}

enjoy!!

fun thursday finds.

happy thursday!!

 we're almost to the weekend, and i'm feeling great!

............

getting married soon? love this wedding aisle.

just bought a hallway rug, but wish I would have seen photo 13 first.

love fruit? hate the flies? banish them forever with this trick.

an easy peasy {and healthy} summer treat.

adorable tunic dress. very alexa chung.

diy pvc mirrors.

kate spade. never fails.

"meet the mets. come on and meet the mets."

i have been singing the met's theme song for the last two years, and i've finally been able to put it to some use! and it only seemed fitting that we go with two of the biggest mets' fans out there, the holloway's. 

although the game had an hour rain delay, and pretty much rained the rest of the game, we had our handy dandy—and rather fashionable—panchos to keep us dry. went it wasn't raining though, it was really a beautiful night and the fans were awesome. 

although i love my yanks, the mets put on quite a show...

family {photos} are forever.

most people are all about shooting the perfect facebook photo or dreaming up the funniest blog post. with my dad, not so much. he's moved on to bigger things like the family christmas card. even if it's only january, he's scheming the next family photo. so of course when my entire family was together for the first time in two years, you know he was planning weeks in advance for the photo shoot. and since i have involuntarily become the family event planner, this task fell on my shoulders.

this is how it went down: we all get dolled up fighting for a mirror and the steamer, argue about the color scheme, run out last minute to buy the forgotten yet handy tripod, trudge to our destination, and then complain for the next two hours as the sun beats down on our cheesy smiles. as you may tell, i love family photos about as much as i love watching youtube boxing tutorials with the hubs. i think a few times my brother broke out into the "we are a happy family" song just to tick us off even more.

here are a few cherished memories of that blessed day:

arts and crafts with the seester.

He's home! He's home!

the time has finally come!

and for the first time in 2 years, i was able to snuggle back up to my big teddy bear! my younger brother chase returned home from serving a two-year mission in oaxaca mexico this last week, and it has been the sweetest reunion as my whole family came out to nyc to celebrate.

chase is adorable and just the sweetest and most thoughtful guy. he grew so much over the past two years, and i am so proud of him and the decisions he's made in his life. just by being around him i can tell he came to love the lord so much and the people he served. ah! i can't get enough of him! now i'm just jealous he and syd get to head back to provo together to get their party—and education—on.

{ how lucero brothers reunite}