Christine Chitnis: October 2011

Join Me...

A quick note to let you know that on Tuesday, November 8, at 7pm, I will be hosting a delicious dinner event at Tavolo restaurant in Dorchester, MA. Chefs Chris Douglass and Nuno Alves will present a three course prix fixe menu of foods from Boston's urban farmers markets, and I will be on hand signing my book! The Markets of New England dinner costs $40, and includes an autographed copy of my book- what a deal!

To reserve a seat, call 617-822-1918, or visit Tavolo at 1918 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester, MA. I would love to see you there!

Spooky Bat Garland

Here is a quick Halloween craft for your weekend. I am totally loving how this garland turned out...and it only took about 10 minutes to make! Click on over to The Crafty Yankee for the template and instructions.

By the way- what do you think of our colorful home? We painted it this summer, opting for a beautiful blue and a popping pink door! Here is a picture of our home before....quite a difference, huh!? It took a big dose of bravery to go for such bright colors, but here in Providence, it seems like every house is a beautiful, bright color. I was ready to join the club- and I am so glad I did. Our house seems cheery no matter what the weather.

Have a great weekend!

A Yankee Roadtrip

Yesterday, I was lucky enough to spend the entire day at the Yankee Magazine offices in Dublin, New Hampshire. EXCITING NEWS: I have signed on as a contributing editor for Yankee, so in addition to my Crafty Yankee online column, I will be contributing an "Inspired Idea" for every print issue.

I am absolutely thrilled with this news, as you can imagine. I never wanted to be a freelancer forever- let's face it, I am OVER getting rejected multiple times a week by different magazines. It is exhausting and time consuming, and I no longer have the time I once had to devote to scrounging for jobs. To sign on with a magazine as wonderful as Yankee is just what I have always wanted- a home, a regular gig, a chance to spread my creative, crafty wings!

So...back to the road trip. It was the longest I had ever been away from my little guy- I left at 8am, and returned home at 7pm. My husband stayed home to watch him, which gave me a stress- free day to enjoy the beauty of New Hampshire and the welcoming, warm attitude of the Yankee staffers.

Besides editorial meetings and work related stuff, we did have a chance to sneak out for a long lunch, and to peruse some of the amazing antique shops in the neighboring town of Peterborough. My two favorite shops, as seen here: Grove & Main, and Bowerbird. Amazing, simple, beautiful- and so well styled. I bought a few props for upcoming Yankee photo shoots!

On my way home, I managed to sneak a few shots of the gorgeous NH countryside, with the changing leaves in all of their glory. It was a peaceful drive, and I arrived home in just enough time to tuck my little one in for the night!

Vijay's First Birthday Party

It only seems appropriate to give you a party recap on Vijay's actual birthday! Today, exactly one year ago, our little man came rocketing into this world! Life hasn't been the same since...in fact, it just keeps getting better and better.

This weekend's party was epic, as far as first birthdays go. We're talking 90 guests, jugglers, and an acapella group. Clearly, we weren't messing around!

The wonderful thing about living near a college campus is that we have the opportunity to interact with young people all the time. When we are out and about, walking around campus, we end up meeting the coolest students- and student groups. Our jugglers and singers were both Brown student groups who had met little Vijay on one of our many walks around campus. They were so excited to perform at his birthday- their enthusiasm was incredible!

With the entertainment taken care of, I was able to focus on the party decorations, and desserts. The theme was "polka-dots" and decor included polka-dot paper garland, polka-dot mini-cupcakes, polka-dot balloons, a double layer cake, paper lanterns, and little signs with Vijay's picture dotted around the yard, sticking out of plants. We also had finger food provided by our favorite Indian restaurant, Rasoi. Samosas, tandoori chicken, vegetable fritters- seriously good eats!

So now the only question that remains- how the heck are we supposed to top this for his second birthday? I'm thinking elephants and acrobats, or perhaps the Brown Marching Band. Luckily- we have a year to get on that- first, a week-long nap. We are pretty beat from all of the festivities!

The First Year

We are celebrating my baby's first birthday this coming weekend (though his official birthday is October 25), and the mix of emotions that I am feeling is startling. I can hardly believe a year has past, and yet, I cannot imagine a time when he was not in my life. I can hardly believe I survived this first sleepless year, and yet, I feel like I have fully come into my own since becoming a mother.

There have been many long hours, frustrations and tears, but the year...oh, the year...it has flown by in a flurry of midnight feedings, afternoons at the playground, morning snuggles, and endless miles logged with the stroller. There have been day trips, and road trips, plane rides and beach vacations. But mostly- there have been so many moments where it is just me and my baby- going about our simple daily life- enjoying each others company, and learning each others quirks. It has been the most joyful year of my life- without a single doubt. I wouldn't trade a moment of it- not even those difficult, exhausting, painful moments- because every moment was necessary on this road to learning how to become a mother.

This past month has been one of my favorites. His little personality is continuing to show itself in the most amazing ways. He loves doggies and buses, his favorite foods are hummus and blueberries, his first word was mama, and he knows, when the door opens in the evening, his daddy is home- and his while face lights up. But most of all, what continues to amaze me, is that he is just the happiest little soul. He spends most of his day outside- that is where he feels truly content- free to crawl without limits. And if he can be naked, while roaming...well...that is simply unbeatable!

I have never been more thankful for this blog, than I am now. It is a recording of our moments together- all of those moments that were supposed to be journaled, or recorded in his baby book. The baby book is a bit dusty, and that motherhood journal I kept meaning to start, well- it never really happened. But this blog- and all of your loving comments- give me a precious record of this past year.

So now, as I furiously prepare for his blow-out birthday bash, I give you a look back at Vijay's first year- not so much in events, but in these pictures that for me, capture his essence so perfectly.... Happy first birthday, bunny-boo.