Newbie to Newbie: A Belgian Beer Guide

I was fortunate to come of age in the company of two proper Belgians (my now husband and the best man at our wedding), so when I first learned to drink beer, I benefitted from their expertise. What this developed for me was not necessarily the most refined beer palette—I still consider myself quite amateur—but rather a solid sense of the varieties of beer I like and what is not worth ordering for myself, no matter how trendy. But since we recently traveled to the motherland, I took the opportunity to try as many different beers as social responsibility for a person of my stature would allow. Here, I offer my completely amateur opinions of the experience...

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Holy Ground

It's a quiet Saturday on the coast of Southern California, and a sunny beach day is our gift to the visiting inlaws. The kids dance with delight in the shallowest fingers of the waves, their shovels and buckets abandoned before me. I am charged with guarding the blanket, which is my own delight. My black yoga pants draw in the sun and its warmth prickles my skin, the ocean breeze a balancing cool on my face. Familiar sounds. Familiar smells. I gaze out to infinity.

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The Sad State of Storrs Books

I am glad that I asked for books instead of cards at my first baby shower. I didn't know how much of a reader Eloïse would be, but it has certainly worked in our favor to be well stocked. And still, two children over the course of four years have put a substantial wear and tear on our collection...

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Storrs Family Camping Hacks: Tips for Ladies, Babies, and Toddlers

We got back last week from camping* with the family, which was our most successful trip ever. There was family napping, good food, lots of relaxing in nature, and even a little bit of pinterest-inspired nature crafting. It was so good that even a double-vomit situation on the drive home couldn't derail it. Now that we've been camping with the kids in a variety of different settings, I think we've finally found a good groove. With that in mind, here is my working list of Storrs Family Camping Hacks...

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Miscarriage

I was halfway through my first pregnancy when my OB's archaic sound device couldn't find a heartbeat. She seemed non-plussed and suggested a follow up with the ultrasound tech. I had already seen and heard my baby at previous appointments, already announced to overjoyed friends and family that we were expecting our first child in June. At nearly 20 weeks, I found the her referral odd, but I didn't know enough to be worried....

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Two by Two

On Monday, I took Eloïse and Anderson to their two-year and two-month check ups, respectively. Probably not the best way to spend her birthday, getting shots, but Eloïse was a trooper. Now that we are a couple of months in to being parents of two, I feel like I am getting a real sense of Anderson's personality and the dynamic between the kids...

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