Today

Ben and I had a fun day starting in the Rittenhouse neighborhood and ending up back at our loft, packing. This morning our church met up with it's 4 other sister churches for a combined service. It took place at the beautiful First Baptist Church in Rittenhouse. We then headed to the famous La Colombe to get the best coffee around and brought that with us to lunch at the Di Bruno Bros deli/cafe. No trip to Rittenhouse is complete without a stop in at a few of the fun stores on Walnut Street. The new Free People store opened this week so we had to check it out.

We have spent the rest of the day packing up for our move, on Tuesday, taking only a short break to bring Berlin to the dog park. Tonight we are doing some more packing before our Sunday night Downton Abbey watching on PBS. It was a fun day here in Philly...hope you had an enjoyable Sunday!

(My blogging, facebooking and tweeting pics tend to overlap so I'm sorry if you happen to see the same pics more then once:)


First Baptist Church Rittenhouse.


La Colombe coffee.


Buying cheese at Di Bruno after a delicious lunch in their cafe.


Love the decor at the new Free People store.


Muddy afternoon at the dog park.


Di Bruno cheese and prosecco for the Downton Abbey viewing.

Ciao! Italian Market

After living in Philadelphia for over 5 years we finally made it down to the Italian Market's part of the city. Our friends, Ashley and Drew, live in this neighborhood and wanted to show us around. We spent the afternoon walking the markets and buying all of the ingredients to make a delicious meal back at their home. It was a fun day in a new part of the city. Thanks for hosting Skinners!


Walking to the market.


Headed in the buy bacon.


The guys in their hipster glasses.


Drew and Ben tasting cheese at Claudio's.


The girls relaxing while the guys make dinner:)


Our favorite cheeses from Claudio's.


All of us and the delicious Italian meal!

Snow Day

Saturday morning we woke up to a beautiful coating of snow here in Philly, our first real snow fall. Berlin didn't seem to remember what snow was and was really unsure about even walking in it. Hope you are having a wonderful new year!

The Brandenburg ' Best of ' List 2011

This year we're teaming up to give you the ultimate ' best of ' list. For
past years see 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006.

Fiction:
Ben: Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin
Toni: The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Nonfiction:
B: The Anointed: Evangelical Truth in a Secular Age by Randall
Stephens and Karl Giberson
T: Design*Sponge at Home by Grace Bonney

Time Waster:
B: Grantland
T: Pinterest

Favorite Blog:
B: Religion and Other Curiosities by sociologist Peter Berger
T: There is absolutely no way I could pick just one: (Design*Sponge, Rockstar Diaries, Atlantic Pacific, to name a few)

Film:
B: The Tree of Life by Terrence Malick
T: The Descendants by Alexander Payne

Restaurant:
B: Kraftwork
T: Terrain at Styers Cafe

Television Drama:
B: Breaking Bad by Vince Gilligan
T: Friday Night Lights by Peter Berg

Album:
B: Middle Brother by Partisan Records
T: Middle Brother by Partisan Records

Song:
B: The Decemberists, "This Is Why We Fight”
T: Benjamin Francis Leftwich "Atlas Hands"

Newsmaker:
B: Rob Bell
T: Kate Middleton (obviously!)

Brand:
B: Warby Parker
T: Hunter

Best of the Best:
B: The Tree of Life
T: Kate Middelton

Christmas in Minnesota

The whole family together in Rice Park.


With my niece Ellie in the Missoni hat and mittens we got her.


In our new tent!


Legos with Uncle Ben.


A get together with old neighborhood friends.


A visit with grandma.


Coffee on the Mississippi.


New Years Eve in Cambridge at the Pearson's.

NYC at Christmas

NYC public library, skating rink and tree.


Charis and I at THE tree...at Rockefeller Plaza.


The famous Saks Fifth Ave.


The Chrysler building at night.


Some enormous holiday decor.

Homegroup Christmas Party

Lots of delicious food.


Charis and all the white elephant gifts.


Ben and his white elephant gift...a door with a bunch of CDs.


Chillin'


Berlin guarding the coats.