Family
04.17.23

Our First Time Traveling to Europe with a 1 Year Old

 

Our first international trip with Brooks went surprisingly smooth so I wanted to share some thoughts and items we brought that made things easier! When planning our trip to Copenhagen we knew we would need to try and keep Brooks entertained and happy on the 8-hour flight and then adjust to a new time zone. We hoped that he would sleep for most of the overnight flight, but knew we would have our hands full on the flight back to NYC during the day. Outside of the flights, we also knew we would need to bring a few of his favorite items (and snacks) for a week in a different country, especially as he enters this particular toddler phase (he’ll be 16 months in a couple of days *tears*). 

 

 

When booking our flights, we decided to book 3 economy seats in the middle of the plane (it was a 2-3-2 seat layout) and then booked 3 Delta Comfort seats on the way back (still in that middle row) that way Brooks would have his own seat even though we knew he’d want to sit in our lap for part of it. The ride over there was overnight and the ride back was during the day (7 hours and 50 minutes). I’d say the overnight one was slightly easier due to him sleeping a couple hours longer but neither were terrible. The best part about the ride back was that we were right in front of the middle bathroom so instead of seats behind us, it was just a wall. It gave us more privacy and was really nice to have. We also lucked out with nobody in the seat in front of him on the way back! 

One of the most important things we do to up our chances of a happy traveling baby (even when we’re just home and walking around NYC) is make sure that we always have food with us, or a plan for quick food. We usually try to buy a fruit cup or bananas at the airport just to have it ready to go but he also loves these applesauce pouches and they are easy to bring a few in the diaper bag. The same goes for these Cerebelly pouches and smart bars. While sightseeing we found ourselves stopping in at Joe & the Juice for their chicken pesto club sandwich (we would deconstruct it and loved the chicken and tomatoes) if he needed something quick outside of our normal eating hours. 

A few favorite items we traveled with are listed below! If you don’t travel often or live in a small space, I’d look into a renting company such as Loop! But we use these items very, very often so they’ve been so nice to have and don’t take up too much extra space. Also, my discount code for Coterie still works for new customers 20% off! It’s just SHELBY. Now for the travel items that made our life easier…

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Travel
04.15.23

Everywhere We Went in Copenhagen

What I’m Wearing

My sister moved to Copenhagen last summer for her job and, since then, it’s been on my list of European cities to visit. We decided to split up our stay by spending half the time at her home (in a town 15 minutes outside of Copenhagen) and the other half in the city at Hotel Sanders. I’m so glad we got to experience her everyday routine and ride the train into the city but also experience staying central to the city which was when we really started learning our way around more. My first impressions of Denmark were: feeling extremely safe, very kid (and parent) friendly, beautiful clean streets and stunning architecture, a lot to do and see (and SHOP and eat), especially for kids. The food was incredible and I can definitely see us revisiting during warmer months! Summer would be the perfect time to visit, in my opinion. When we were there (April 6th-April 11th), it was in the 40’s and 50’s for the high. I had brought my winter coat so it was still very enjoyable but definitely pack for cooler weather since you’ll be spending most of your time outdoors.

What I’m Wearing

 

EAT

 

Coffee Shops and Bakeries

 

Coffee Collective

There were several locations of Coffee Collective but my favorite had to have been located in this old 19th century phonebooth. I became a Cortado girl on this trip and I also loved how most cafes served a “bun with cheese and butter”… something so simple but so filling and fresh tasting. I was hooked and went every single day. 

 

Juno the Bakery

Juno, an award winning bakery especially known for their Cardamom Bun, is very well known to locals but was a somewhat longish walk away from where we stayed. We actually tried this bakery while we stayed with my sister just outside of Copenhagen and her husband picked it up and brought it back to their place before we woke up. He literally bought one of everything and it was phenomenal. I’d definitely recommend going and exploring the area it’s in too while you’re there! 

 

Farumhus

This bakery was located very close to our hotel so during our hotel portion of our trip, we frequented it! Great location and great coffee. It’s pretty close to Nyhavn too if you’re wanting some coffee while walking around that area. 

 

Conditori La Glace

If you’re wanting some of the best fluffiest cake of your life, this is your place and it’s Denmark’s oldest patisserie. Not only is it so beautiful inside but I was told that it’s the Queen’s favorite bakery. You must stop by here, even if you don’t like cake… it just felt very iconic and my mouth is watering thinking about it and knowing it’s 3,800 miles away. It was also in a very convenient location if you’re out shopping!

 

Lunch Spots

 

Torvehallerne Market

Our lunches were all very casual and spontaneous for the most part and this market/food hall was very casual (and very busy on a Saturday). If you’re hungry but not quite sure what you want to eat, this food hall had over 80 shops to choose from and everything I had was delicious. I’m a little sad we didn’t go back here a second time. It was SO fun getting to taste a variety of local businesses’ foods in one place though and I’d highly suggest adding this one to your map for an easy lunch spot. 

 

Popl

 We met some friends here for burgers one day and I don’t want to get your hopes up but I thought this was the best burger of my entire life. The staff were also incredibly friendly to Brooks (everyone in this city was, really). If you’re in the mood for a really good burger, I’d add it to your list. It’s run by the same chefs who also run Noma, which was voted the World’s Best Restaurant multiple times. We also tried the more casual famous burger chain over there, Gasoline Grill, which was also pretty good. I preferred Popl though! 

 

Huks Fluks

We popped into this place spontaneously on Easter when we were starving and I felt that it should be added to the list mainly for it’s location. It was located in what felt like a colorful courtyard of several other restaurants and seemed to be a good spot close to most of the shopping and sightseeing.

 

Dinner

 

Vækst

We had a dinner reservation here on our first night and aside from the beautiful greenhouse-inspired interiors, the food was immaculate. Most of their menu is based on fresh Nordic vegetables and herbs but they also had meat dishes, all inside of a literal greenhouse. They also serve lunch too if you’re looking for something a bit more elevated than what I listed above!

 

Bæst

If you love charcuterie and pizza, put this in your map right now! Another award winning restaurant, Bæst has housemade charcuterie and cheese and makes the best pizza using organic and sustainable ingredients.

 

Veve

If you’re feeling adventurous and up for a splurge-worthy dinner, you’ll want to make a reservation for this vegetarian restaurant. I’ve never dined at a more unique restaurant before and each course was not only a work of art, but SO tasty. I’m pretty sure Brooks was the first kid to ever dine here (wouldn’t really recommend for kids/babies but we managed). Your dining experience basically starts out in a lounge at a coffee table and you have 6-7ish courses of appetizers brought out and explained to you. After about 45 minutes, we were then taken to our dining table where we were brought 6-7 more courses for dinner. It was just the most fun dinner I’ve ever had. A major splurge but I’d say it was worth it, especially since most of our other meals were very casual. 

 

Frk. Barners Kælder

We actually did not eat here but I wanted to after our friends told us about it! It has very traditional Danish dishes so, if you’re in the mood for that, I’d add it to your list!

 

SHOP

Children Stores

 

Skovalfen

This toy store was adorable and had every felt and wooden shaped toy imaginable. I stopped in here to make a last minute Easter basket for Brooks and bought so many felt fruit toys and other unique items that he loved.

 

Red Barnet Genbrug

Right across the street from Skovalfen, is this secondhand clothing store for kids. I didn’t end up buying anything here but I could have spent an hour just sifting through all of the clothing. 

 

Miniministeriet

This store was also right beside the first toy store mentioned and definitely worth stopping into! A perfect mix of clothing, toys, and gifts.

 

Sostrene Grene

This was one of the most unique stores I’ve ever shopped at and I definitely could have spent over an hour just inside of this one store. It wasn’t a children’s store but had enough items for children to be included in this list. It also had home decor, kitchen gadgets, crafty supplies, and so much more. 

 

Other Shops Worth Visiting

 

Det Gamle Aplotek

If you’re looking for any sort of Copenhagen souvenir, I LOVED this shop. This is where I bought the ceramic houses I shared on my Instagram stories. 

 

Sostrene Grene

I mentioned this one above but I’d also add it in the home-craft-life category of shopping. If you’ve never been to one of these, it’s definitely worth stopping by! The most fun store I’ve ever been in. 

Royal Copenhagen Flagship Store


Antiques and Flea Markets

 

I had a huge list of shops to visit in this category but was sad to find them all closed since it was Easter weekend. They take their long Easter holiday weekend very seriously and close up nearly every shop for 4 days straight just FYI. I’d suggest searching ‘Antik’ or ‘Loppemarked’ in your map app to find what is nearest to you but a few that I had saved on my personal map guide are listed below:

Weekend Flea Markets

Remisen Loppemarked

Loppetorv pa Frederiksberg

Loppemarked Norrebro 

Antique Shops

Strædets Antik

Bøgebjerg Antik

GB Antiques

Antiques Maritime

There were countless others that I passed by though… they’re everywhere! 

 

SEE & PLAY 

 

Tivoli Gardens

The second oldest amusement park in the world is definitely worth visiting. It’s part gardens, part amusement park so even if you’re not a huge fan of rides, you’ll find so much beauty here! And the FOOD. Every corner of this park was so beautiful and I can definitely see why Walt Disney was inspired by this.

 

What I’m Wearing

Rosenborg Castle Gardens

If I lived here, I’d stop here daily. Surrounding the Rosenborg Castle (which is a dream), are multiple gardens inside of a big park. We came here to let Brooks run around in the grass and we all just kept thinking “we need to come back here in the summer or fall”. 

 

The Round Tower

This was a quick stop we made after dinner one night and I’d say it was worth it. We were only there for probably 30 minutes but it was really nice getting a good view of the whole city.

 

Magstræde

Just a quaint colorful quiet historic cobblestone street close to a bunch of restaurants by the water! 

What I’m Wearing

 

Nyhavn

This is what you probably envision Copenhagen looking like with all of the colorful houses lined up on the water. A pretty touristy area but 100% a must see. Highly recommend stopping by first thing in the morning before the crowds, especially on a rainy day!

Traffic Park

This was definitely a little bit out from the center of the city but a really fun place for kids to ride bikes! It’s essentially a mini traffic park that has tiny streets, pedestrian walkways, mini stoplights, and kids can learn about traffic signs, lights, etc. on their bikes! Kids can rent bikes here too. This video does a better job at describing it and is what led me to find it!

 

STAY

 

Hotel Sanders 

This is where we stayed for the last portion of our trip and it was a 10/10 experience. It’s a small, boutique hotel and they’ve clearly put attention into every little detail imaginable. It’s cozy but elevated and feels like a home away from home! However, I did want to list a couple of other options in case this one is booked for when you’re visiting. I’ve also heard incredible things about Villa Copenhagen and Hotel d’Angleterre! 

What I’m Wearing

 

I think that wraps up my recommendations for visiting Copenhagen. It’s SUCH a special city and I really miss it as I’m writing this. If you’re wanting to take your baby or children to Europe but not sure of where to start, this city was a great first trip! I will never get over how friendly everyone was and the trust the country has with eachother was unlike anything I’d ever seen… it wasn’t uncommon to leave your baby napping outside of a cafe which I had heard about but was wild to see in person! And if you don’t have kids, it’s still a beautiful city and incredible food and architecture to soak in! 

 

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NYC Apartment
03.29.23

Spring Home Updates

Although it doesn’t quite feel like spring in New York just yet, I’ve been experimenting with ways to make it feel more vibrant and warm indoors. I recently added floral fabric to our headboard and a tiny shelf for herbs in the kitchen window. Sharing all the details in the latest youtube video.

Happy Spring!

xo, Shelby

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DIY Projects
02.16.23

Faux Fireplace Project | Renter Friendly

Talking all things faux fireplaces in today’s video! We have a couple of faux fireplaces in our apartment and we have tried to make them a seamless part of our apartment but also provide a seasonal statement. The fireplace surround in our bedroom was a really lucky Facebook Marketplace find – using the search term “fireplace surround”. The other fireplace in our living room is one we bought a few years ago online and had in our previous apartment as well. We have been trying to find a way to make this mantle look a little more real and have a little more character.

We decided to add a faux brick interior with a stone-like hearth around the brick inside the mantle. It was fairly easy and the materials we used are linked below. We wanted the fireplace panels to have a stone-like facade around the faux brick interior/faux insert. To get this look we used ¼ inch MDF board, a couple of pieces of trim and roman clay. The faux brick was peel and stick so after applying that we began to work on the outer panel area. We cut the MDF board into 3 pieces – 2 vertical for the sides and 1 horizontal piece that went over the top middle. Wood filler is a great option for covering the seams.

After a quick priming, we applied roman clay for a natural-looking stone-like finish. If you haven’t used roman clay before, you typically apply it with a sculpting knife or putty knife and repeatedly scrape over the entire area. The finishing touches were a couple of pieces of very thin trim around the opening.

See more on Instagram and TikTok @prettyinthepines

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Family
10.18.22

A Weekend in Woodstock, Vermont

woodstock inn travel guide vermont october

TJ, Brooks, and I got to do something that has been on my fall bucket list for the longest time… travel to Woodstock, VT, in (almost) peak foliage week and stay at the Woodstock Inn! If you are like me and love quaint towns, colorful mountains, local history, and great people, Woodstock is a must visit. I have wanted to visit multiple towns in Vermont (and New Hampshire) for years now it did not disappoint! It was such a cozy weekend away and it definitely won’t be our last time staying at the Woodstock Inn (it’s pet-friendly too!). It was also a nice retreat from NYC (only about 4.5 hours away) and the drive was very scenic. Here is a rundown of what we did while we were there.

Where We Stayed

The Woodstock Inn has been calling my name for a long time and it was so nice to be able to stay there. The Inn is one of the most popular destinations in Woodstock (they also have a bunch of other bed and breakfasts and Airbnbs to choose from) and usually fills up a year in advance during these peak fall weeks. The Inn is set right in the middle of downtown Woodstock and is a quick 5 or less minute walk to a lot of shops, restaurants, and scenic views. Their busiest time is the first two weeks of October since that is when the foliage is at it’s peak. We were so lucky to get a somewhat last minute reservation – TJ called them and asked if they had anything available for the first week of October and they just had a cancellation so we hopped on it. They offer a bunch of different packages (breakfast included, spa package, golf package, romance package, etc.) to choose from when booking a room, but we were a little late securing one for our trip. That didn’t stop us from going to the spa though!

The Spa

The spa was one of the best we’ve experienced. TJ and I took turns getting a massage (one of us looked after Brooks while the other was away). We were able to line up our spa appointments during Brooks’ naps so we were able to get some work done too. The spa is on-site at the hotel and was super easy to get to from the room. It was also like stepping into an oasis of Scandinavian design features (which was much different than the hotel decor). It was super minimalist and was bathed in neutral colors that relaxed the mind. They also had these delicious little granola bars in the waiting area that I’m about to recreate. One great thing about the spa is that if you spend more than $125 on a treatment with them you got to spend up to two hours taking advantage of the other amenities like the hot tub, sauna, steam room, and outdoor pool area. It was the most peaceful place and I can’t wait to go again. They even have a foot/scalp/hand treatment – all my faves. 

The Restaurants

The Inn boasted two different restaurants to choose from when looking for a dining option. The Red Rooster (a little more upscale) and Richardson’s Tavern (more casual). We were able to get a spot at each of the restaurants on different nights. I would highly recommend a reservation if you are planning to stay there and eat on the property, especially Mondays. A lot of restaurants and shops are actually closed on Mondays (and some Tuesdays) so one best practice would be to book a reservation at the same time you are booking your room reservation just to make sure you have a spot. A lot of the ingredients for each restaurant are provided by local farms and even an on-property garden (Kelly Way Gardens). Everything tasted fresh and delicious. Some of our favorites were the New England Clam Chowder, the Billings Cheese Fondue plate, the Vermont Cheese tasting, Pan Seared Salmon, Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup and the Woodstock Cookie plate for dessert. 

The Property 

The entire property of the Woodstock Inn was immaculately maintained and created a sense that you were in a fall wonderland. There were no less than 100 pumpkins of all sizes scattered around the grounds, mums of every color were planted out front and in the back lawn, and Adirondack chairs lined the grass. There was also a stone firepit that was set off from the back of the Inn that provided an incredibly scenic backdrop at night as the embers crackled. Speaking of fires, one of my favorite parts of the Inn was in the middle of the lobby – a huge fireplace that had 2-3 couches, large chairs, and an ottoman for all guests to enjoy. This was probably the warmest and most welcoming inn I’ve stayed at. Each area of the inside of the Inn was meticulously and thoughtfully arranged – a game room off the lobby that had a chess set, backgammon, and leatherbound books (and kid’s books). Sitting areas were plentiful and had large vintage chairs and loungers that you could sit in for hours. This provided a very welcome refuge when Brooks became a little unruly while sitting through some of the dinners! The interior inspo was endless. 

The Town 

What We Did

Traveling to Woodstock in the fall provides a long list of things to do for everyone. There are a bunch of shops to explore, local food stops galore, scenic hikes, and educational stops. We tried to do a little bit of everything while we were there. We spent the first day walking around the downtown area and exploring some of what the shops had to offer. Since it was a Monday, a few were closed, but many were open. We stopped in the Yankee Bookshop to look for local history books, guides, and other gifts. The main general store in town was FH Gillinghams and had anything that you could need. We found a cool coffee mug there (we are collecting coffee mugs from our travels as keepsakes), but also some essentials and apparel. Right next to FH Gillinghams was a cute little shop that I popped in and got a few little keepsakes (a wooden covered-bridge Christmas ornament for Brooks and a candle). It was called Clover Gift Shop. They also had very cozy blankets, scarves, and pillows. One cool thing that TJ was really into was the Sea Shepherd office right in downtown because he was a big fan of watching Whale Wars a few years ago. Two other shops that we stopped in before heading back to the Inn that day were RT Home and Red Wagon Toy Company. We got Brooks a bunch of fun things from Red Wagon including his oversized Vermont hoodie that he probably won’t be able to wear for a couple of years. 

The Food

Outside of the Woodstock Inn, there are so many cute places to grab a bite. We weren’t able to hit many while we were there because we were a little hampered by Brooks’ nap schedule, but we did love a few places. Village Butcher Shop was the place to be if you wanted a sandwich or fresh deli-type food. We loved the orzo and chicken salad. Some places we wish we went to and heard a lot of good things about were Woodstock Scoops, Mon Vert, and Worthy Kitchen (closed Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday). Mon Vert was packed though every chance we tried to stop in… probably worth the wait though!

Farm Day 

On our second day in Woodstock we decided to call it “Farm Day”. We went to 3 very recommended farms and also stopped in a few places around the farms for snacks and shopping. The first farm we stopped at was Billings Farm right outside of downtown Woodstock. It was about a half mile from the Inn so definitely a walkable distance. Also, if you are staying at the resort you get into the farm free of charge. There were mini-tours about the farm and the Jersey cows that they have there and they also had a Creamery and Cafe for a bite to eat. The views were beautiful and the tops of the mountains trickled down orange and yellow. Next, we headed to Sugarbush Farm which was about a 15-minute drive from downtown. Most of it was on a well-maintained gravel road that had some of the best views we experienced while in Woodstock. We didn’t stay too long at Sugarbush, but they do have cheese and syrup flight tastings and some animals on the property. Although I don’t have much to say about this one, I’d still recommend driving there simply for the scenic drive and mountain views! One last farm we stopped by before heading back to the Inn was Sleepy Hollow Farm, which was actually a private residence, but very highly photographed and I had to see for myself the hype. One farm we didn’t have a chance to get to but is one of the most photographed farms in the state is Jenne Road Farm. We will definitely be making a stop there when we go back. 

On the way back from visiting the farms we stopped at two other places on the list – Silver Lake State Park and Farmhouse Pottery. Silver Lake is a scenic lake about 15 minutes from downtown and is surrounded by fall foliage in reds, oranges, and yellows. It was closed for the season, but you could still drive in and park to walk around instead of being able to drive into the campgrounds. Farmhouse Pottery is a small store and pottery studio (with a huge social media following) about 5 minutes away from downtown and is a dream! They have so many handcrafted and unique items for sale. They even have an open studio where you can watch some of the master crafters at work, ask questions, and even take a class.

 

Other Fun Things 

Part of the allure and fun of Woodstock is just how beautiful everything is, the history, and the slowdown in pace of everyday life (especially for us coming from New York). We tried to take as much time as possible to slow down and enjoy the sights. Like the Covered Bridge heading out of downtown, the river that runs right along the town, and the people that are always there to lend a helping hand or a smile. The town was very family and pet-friendly. I hope everyone gets to experience the blissful nature and idyllic surroundings that Woodstock gives its residents and visitors. 

 I would love to hear your favorites from your visits to Woodstock in the comments! We will absolutely be visiting this winter. 

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