KATIE KENNEDY - Page 13 of 249 -

My Favorite CT Coffee Shops

June 5, 2024

My Favorite CT Coffee Shops
📍 New Canaan, CT

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Coffee, Coffee Shops, Cafe, New England, Connecticut, New Canaan

I’ve been working from home since 2020, and my coffee routine is almost entirely at home. While it’s a great way to save money, I love treating myself with some caffeine to-go. In short, coffee shops are for the weekend! This past year, we’ve used our Saturday and Sunday mornings for early wake-up calls and visiting new-to-us coffee shops. In my mind, there are six that stand out as my favorite. Keep in mind, this post will focus on my picks in Fairfield County, but know there’s a whole state of charming small towns to explore!

Coffee, Coffee Shops, Cafe, New England, Connecticut, Rowayton

Arden’s

Oh, Arden’s, how much I love you! This was the first coffee shop we visited while daydreaming about moving to Connecticut. Did it fully influence my decision? I’m not entirely sure, but you can say it holds a special place in my heart. This seaside-inspired café has all the charm you could expect from a picturesque New England town. Their dirty chai latte is probably my favorite in the area, but they also stand out for their breakfast tacos and olive oil cake. Now that they just received their liquor license, I can’t wait to visit for some after-work drink cocktails.

CFCF Coffee

Because of the great shopping and perfectly manicured Main Street, Greenwich has become one of our favorite towns to relax in on a weekend morning. CFCF Coffee may be exclusive to Greenwich, but it’s taken a page from the European cafes. Founded in 2012, they’ve offered a long menu of bites. I particularly love their scone and lattes. Grab a coffee-to-go as you wander the designer boutiques for a perfectly caffeinated treat.

Coffee, Coffee Shops, Cafe, New England, Connecticut, Greenwich, Maman

GG & Joe

Since it’s just a stone’s throw away from us, we find ourselves in Westport on most weekends. With so many incredible shops and restaurants, it’s no wonder this New England town is highly coveted. GG & Joe is where you’ll find the locals: moms gabbing away about after-school activities, high schoolers doing homework, and everything in between. It makes for great people-watching! For a caffeinated summertime treat, I recommend the Energizer smoothie.

Maman

Being one of my go-to coffee shops in NYC, I was over the moon to find a location close to my little slice of Connecticut. What can I say about Maman that hasn’t already been said? Named after the French word for mother, the menu offers up all of the Parisian treats with a twist, like croissants and tartines. Have a seasonal pastry, but feel free to stay a while. It’s the perfect spot to meet your bestie for brunch.

Mercantile at GrayBarns

For a surreal country getaway without actually driving to the country, look no further than the Mercantile at GrayBarns. This Norwalk gem is tucked away in the rolling hills of the Silvermine district and has become a fast favorite. Located in a renovated 1860s farmhouse, the Mercantile is the kind of place you’ll want to spend all morning. Order one of their delicious quiches, made fresh daily, and sit on their garden patio for a spell. Later in the afternoon, they also offer a wine hour, so grab your closest friends for a curated girls’ night out.

Rowayton Market

No weekend is complete without a trip to Rowayton Market. Truly! David and I have made it part of our grocery shopping routine. After going to Whole Foods, we always swing into Rowayton to pick up ground coffee, one of their incredible deli sandwiches, for lunch and breakfast. On either Saturday or Sunday morning, you’re almost guaranteed to find us sitting on the back patio overlooking the 5 Mile River. The fact that little Brennan is now part of that routine is all the sweeter. While it serves up a seasonal menu of lattes and teas, along with a solid BEC sandwich, Rowayton Market is also one of Connecticut’s oldest continuously run markets.

Cheers to so many great coffee shops! Is there any place that I missed? I will take any excuse to crawl out of bed, bright and early, on the weekend to have a cafe all to myself. I am already researching where else to visit and brainstorming a blog post for my favorite NYC coffee shops. What can I say? I’ll never turn down an extra dose of caffeine.

Love from Connecticut,
Katie

Thanks for stopping by! To keep up with all things about my travels and style, be sure to visit throughout the week! Be sure to check out my exclusive adventures in NYC and New England.

What I Read in May

June 3, 2024

What I Read in May
📍 Greenwich, CT

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Books, Historical Fiction, Book Club, Reading List, Novel

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I made a goal of reading 24 books in 2024 (AKA 2 books per month). Although having a reading goal has become an annual tradition, I always lose major steam in the summertime. I can’t believe it, but I’ve already reached my goal. Even though Baby Brennan has been keeping me extra busy, I’ve found some reading time while I pump several times a day. Let’s see if I can push myself to get to 50 this year. To help you reach your own reading goals this year, here’s what I read in May.

The Swans of Fifth Avenue

My interest in Truman Capote is still piqued thanks to the latest season of Feud. The Swans of Fifth Avenue is a novelized version of the blowout that happened between him and the socialites of 1960s Manhattan. Like in real life, the story focuses on Babe Paley, who was known to be Truman’s favorite, his closest confidante, yet she is also the one he betrayed the most. We’ll never truly understand what compelled Truman to air the darkest secrets of the women who considered him to be a friend. Still, Melanie Benjamin’s retelling may be our safest bet.

Fake

My eyes were opened to the world of art replicas by reading Fake. In short, museums and high art collectors may commission high-end replicas in order to help ensure their investment. Some may want to have something to display while the art is being cleaned, while others use the replica long-term while the original is kept safe in storage. Emma is such a painter, and she’s one of the best. Once she becomes a freelancer, she quickly sees the thin line between legal replicas and illegal forgeries.

My Year of Rest of Relaxation

Because of my new, exhausting status as ‘mom”, My Year of Rest and Relaxation hit a little close to home. Through a combination of endless prescriptions, the world’s worst psychiatrists, and sheer willpower, our narrator aspires to take a full year away from society. Literally, all she wants to do is sleep. Not for medical reasons or anything; she just wants to. While it sounds like the storyline would be a drag, it’s a wild ride with a wicked sense of humor. I’m now officially intrigued by the author’s writing style and want to read more about what Ottessa Moshfegh has to offer.

Stone Cold Fox

Stone Cold Fox was the kind of book I just couldn’t put down. Bea is a con artist who is striving to marry her way into one of the wealthiest families in NYC. She’s manipulative, cunning, and incredibly vein. How is it possible that I was still rooting for her? That’s because her arch nemesis, Gale, her fiancé’s best friend, is even worse. Gale comes from the same world of old money and has no problem openly reminding Bea that she doesn’t belong. That she’s not good enough. This level of classism is not a good look on anyone but is a friendly reminder that hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. If you liked The Guest or Pineapple Street, you’ll definitely love this book!

Parachute Women

Each month, I try to keep a well-balanced reading diet by alternating between fiction and non-fiction. Since adjusting to motherhood, I’ve wanted books that were more about escapism than new information. Parachute Women was my lone biography this month, and it was such a great choice! You know it will be good when the librarian says, “I’m going to read this when you check it back in.” While we all know The Rolling Stones, unless you have no musical taste, the incredible stories of the women who supported them are almost always overshadowed. This book is a deep dive into music history while reading with the ease and intrigue of a novel.

The Paris Novel

Don’t you love it when you find a book that really speaks to your soul? That’s what The Paris Novel is for me. Stella has always felt like she’s been living in her mother’s shadow. Because of a traumatic event when she was a child, she absorbed herself in a world of order, schedules, and predictability. When her mother passes away, she receives a small inheritance, a one-way ticket to Paris, and a rare opportunity to find herself. With an incredible cast of characters, Ruth Reichl helps you dive into Paris’s moveable feast. This novel is an extra dose of inspiration to revisit this culinary haven.

Although we’re barely into June, I just finished Bright Young Women. It could possibly be one of favorite books of the year and I can’t wait to tell you all about it in next month’s round up. Summer is always my busiest season, but I’m so excited to keep making progress to 50 books. I’ve already read more books this year than I did in 2023, but I’m ready to keep going! Keep me on track and I’ll share all the great books in next month’s review. Until then, happy reading!

Love from Connecticut
Katie

Thanks for stopping by! To keep up with all things about my travels and style, be sure to visit throughout the week! Be sure to check out my exclusive adventures in NYC and New England.

In Our Hospital Bag

May 31, 2024

In Our Hospital Bag
📍 Darien, CT

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Hospital, Mom-to-be, new mom, baby, maternity, LL Bean

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Now that Brennan has been with us for over a month, I’ve finally been able to sit down and reflect back on my delivery. What went well, what I wish I could have changed, and what were some things beyond my control? One thing you can almost always control is what you bring along in your hospital bag. Since we only had a 48-hour notice that our sweet girl would arrive three weeks early, I didn’t feel nearly as prepped as I would have liked to. Still, I found that I didn’t need all that much from what I packed. If you’re feeling overwhelmed with everything you’ve heard about packing your hospital bag, have no fear. Here’s what we brought in our (minimalistic) hospital bag.

Hospital, Mom-to-be, new mom, baby, maternity, Hill House Home

Hospital, Mom-to-be, new mom, baby, maternity, Lake Pajamas

My Going Home Outfit

I didn’t exactly have big plans for a going home outfit, as mid-April can be so unpredictable. My Hill House Home dress turned out to be the best pick to have on hand. Nursing-friendly and incredibly comfortable, it was also the perfect outfit for the photographer who stopped by to document our first day as a family.

Lounging Pajamas

Although I sat in the hospital gown the majority of the time, I am so happy I brought along a set of LAKE pajamas. You already know about my deep love for the brand, but the Kimono Pajama Set was another win during our hospital stay. My only suggestion would be to opt for a dark color to combat any unnecessary staining that may occur.

Slide On Sandals

Although not the worst I’ve ever seen, my feet were really swollen just before delivery and after being discharged. What a blessing to have packed such forgiving sandals, like my trusty Birkenstocks. I was able to slip them on so I could shuffle around the hospital room. I mean, if we’re being honest, they’ve long been my go-to sandals to run errands and pop around the neighborhood.

Memory Foam Pillow

While the hospital provides the mom-to-be with an ample number of pillows, I was so happy to have brought my own Casper Memory Foam Pillow from home. For one, it was way more comfortable than the hospital issue, and it also just smelled like home. When I was experiencing peak pain, I would bury the side of my face into my pillow and feel just a little better. Don’t forget to pack an additional memory foam pillow for the dad-to-be or whoever is in your hospital suite with you.

Digital Camera

You know me, I’m such a shutterbug! While no pictures were taken before and during delivery, we had our Sony a600 Camera on hand for candid shots after Brennan was here with us. Since our hospital had a photographer on staff, we didn’t take as many pictures as usual. Don’t feel like this is a must-have item when your phone is so handy and probably takes excellent photos, too!

Shower Care Set

One of the things that I wanted to prep for was the first post-delivery shower. Nothing is more therapeutic, in my eyes, than a steaming hot shower. To celebrate the minor victory of getting out of the hospital bed and finding a moment of self-care, I decided to splurge on a set of my favorite products from Malin + Goetz. It definitely made a world of difference and was so much better than what the hospital provided.

Detangling Brush

Something I did not anticipate was the full-on rat’s nest I would gain from delivery. My hair gets incredibly tangled on even the best day. Couple that with sitting in a hospital bed for the better part of two days, and it was knot central. I’m so thankful to have packed my detangling Wet/Dry Brush. It took several attempts, but I could finally work out the tangles before things got too out of control.

Cordless Pump

This wasn’t an item I brought with me, but I wished that I had! My body wasn’t quite ready to feed the little one, and it was the one moment when I got emotional. It was disheartening to think I wasn’t making the one thing Brennan truly needed. I had already purchased my Spectra Breast Pump, but we left it at home because I would be breastfeeding. If I could pack all over again, I would have had the pump handy to help jumpstart the process.

Nursing Bra

It’s crucial to have not just a nursing bra but a bra that will always help make pumping a hands-free activity. The HATCH Essential Bra is a bit of a splurge compared to other brands, but it’s incredibly comfortable. It’s a great choice to wear all day when you’re in between pumping.

Hospital, Mom-to-be, new mom, baby, maternity, Jacadi

Baby’s Going Home Outfit

I wanted to get our little Jacadi Onesie monogrammed to celebrate the big day, but it looks so great on its own. Being a self-described francophile, I want to sprinkle little Parisian elements into every moment of little Brennan’s early life. What better excuse than shopping for this French company? Knowing that there is a boutique close to me in Greenwich is going to be very dangerous for my little bank account.

Installed Car Seat

If there is ONE thing you need on your big day, this is (legally) it! We had just received our UPPAbaby Mesa Max from a store in Greenwich, and they were so wonderful to install it for us. Not only that, but they also spent a lot of time making sure we understood how to safely secure our little one. Let me tell you, David is such a pro now; he can probably strap up Brennan in his sleep.

Large Tote Bag

We purchased a Large LL Bean Tote to use as our diaper bag for Brennan. Embroidered with her name, I love the classic look and very affordable price tag. Long story short, this bag is honestly just too big to use as a daily pick, but it’s going to be great to have when traveling with our little one. Instead, I’ve ordered the Medium Bean Tote with Regular Straps, which should be a better fit for our busy lifestyle.

There’s so much that could be added to this list, but like I said, timing was not on our side! In this surreal experience, I learned to trust the process and take comfort in the fact that the hospital will have a good portion of what you need for the baby. And don’t forget to bring it ALL home with you after you’re discharged.

Love from Connecticut,
Katie

Thanks for stopping by! To keep up with all things about my travels and style, be sure to visit throughout the week! Be sure to check out my exclusive adventures in NYC and New England.