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Well, we have some pretty big news today. It’s been brewing for a while, but there were so many moving parts that I thought I would wait until we were 10000% sure before I laid it all out on the table: After a lot of consideration, some tears (mine) and a mountain-load of logistics, Kyle and I have decided to move our family permanently to Connecticut! The California Martinos have migrated!
If you follow this blog (or my Instagram) you know that we’ve been in the Westchester area for the past four months– also known as the-majority-of-my-pregnancy with Baby Boy Martino! We did this to be closer to Kyle’s work as he finished out the soccer season. He works as a Soccer Analyst for NBC Sports and covers the English Premier League in a weekly studio show. This show shoots in Stamford, Connecticut. As most of you know, my husband has been traveling to do this job four days a week for the past five years.
Yes. You heard that right. Anybody with small children can probably relate to how hard that has been on me holding down the fort alone in L.A., on Kyle to be getting on two planes a week, and on Marlowe to only have her parents in the same house together for a a handful of days each month. It was terrible for everyone! In my “other life” (ok, a year ago) I was acting full-time and so I had to be based in Los Angeles to be close to all of my jobs, meetings, etc. But this blog has set us free! I can Blog from anywhere, and so as this business has solidified so has our interest in exploring a way of life that would be easier on our family. Then enter Baby Number Two (and pregnancy Number Three) and we looked at each other and knew we had to take the idea of relocation more seriously. We really felt like we wanted to be enjoying these years together, not constantly playing catch up, filling each other in, and powering through it as we had been doing for so long. Also, the idea of being along four days a week with a Toddler and a Newborn: HELL NO. Do you think I’m crazy?!
It’s been so amazing the past four months to be together so much more as a family. Kyle and I have both noticed such a change in Marlowe and her relationship with Kyle has really grown leaps and bounds. This was especially important to me, as somebody who grew up without my Dad consistently in my life– it was such a priority to have Marlowe build a close bond with hers. I also really missed my Husband! I wanted to be able to attend dinner parties with him, and grocery shop with him, and turn over in bed to feel his sleepy body warming up the bed sheets. We got married for a reason! (I’m pretty sure) So as our “bit of time” on the East Coast progressed, we started looking at homes and having long logistical conversations– and low and behold one day we found our Dream House!!
I know almost nothing about Connecticut (tips and info welcome!) but I do know that we have bought an incredible house that I am so excited to raise our family in and embark on this next phase of our journey together! We just started renovations, and we will be moving in to our NEW HOME (eeeek!) in August. I am beyond excited to take you along with me as I show you all of the changes I’m making, how I’m decorating the house, and tons of fun, crafty, and inexpensive ideas for creating that Wow-Factor. Get ready for some super fun Happily Eva After Interiors content! Plus who doesn’t love entertaining in a brand-spanking-new space?! Party at our crib!
Of course this move and decision hasn’t been without its drawbacks and bumps in the road. Switching care providers for my pregnancy was really challenging and pretty emotional. After my miscarriage I got really attached to the providers I had in LA, and so it’s been tough letting go of the image I had in my mind of my Baby’s birth and opening my heart to it being a different way. Trusting new people can be a challenge after a loss, but I’m happy to say that I found an INCREDIBLE team here on the East Coast, and I am planning another Home Birth! (More on that later this month). It’s been so overwhelming to leave my closest friends in Los Angeles as well. As you would imagine, being without my husband a majority of the time, I really had to build such a strong little community with my Girls– and I miss them terribly. They are such a fantastic, strong, funny, and kind group of women and it still makes me sad that they aren’t just a short car ride away. I’m going to make a point of visiting often after this baby comes! There are tons of other little bumps when you move across the country with a family, of course, but I won’t dwell on them here because really what’s the point. This post is about moving forward and being joyful about the things that are positive about this big change!
And with that in mind, I’ll get to the HEA Housekeeping and a couple of Announcements:
First of all, I am launching a complete Happily Eva After site redesign and revamp in a few short weeks!! SURPRISE!! I know I’ve been teasing it for a while, but it’s just around the corner now and I’m cartwheel-level excited for you guys to see this. It’s gonna be major!
The second announcement is that with all of this going on I am currently a little overwhelmed. Ha! I mean, a cross-country move, a Toddler, a Pregnancy, a Business, and a house renovation and complete redesign…. Overwhelmed, who? Me? YES. I want to keep bringing you the best content ever (duh) and so I’ve decided to cut my “new content” days down from Five times a week to Three times a week. The schedule will now be as follows: New content on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, and once the new site launches I will send out a fun Newsletter on Fridays! Any extra content (I’m Type A, so sometimes this happens) will post on the normally dark days. I’m really excited about the Newsletter as it will have recaps, exclusive content, fashion finds, links to articles I’m loving that week, as well as totally exclusive information and announcements that only my Newsletter Subscribers will get. For example, I may or may not be planning to announce Baby Boy Martino’s birth and name to my Newsletter subscribers before anybody else hears about it! I love a Secret Club!! Don’t forget to sign up as soon as the new site launches. There will be prompts galore, so you won’t miss the chance.
Well that pretty much sums it up!! I’m so excited to take you on this journey with me as my family and I navigate a new environment and way of life! Thank you as always for being such a supportive, engaging, interesting and hilarious readership– you really do inspire and motivate me every day.
To the Connecticut Martinos!!!
xoxo
EAM
What great news! I’m loving having you back on the East Coast! Congrats on making that tough decision, embarking on so many changes at one time…Eva you are AMAZING….remember to take care of yourself. Thanks for sharing your great adventures with us. Love to You, Kyle (BTW-looks great on the Spartan show…any chance he’ll be in Richmond soon for the Kickers game on 7/16) Lowie and Baby Boy Martino. Love, Sue
I hope you are moving to Westport!
Congratulations! So exciting! Can’t wait to see your decorating tips. I’m always looking for new ideas to update/spruce up this house of mine. We live in the country and we like things simple. Any tips you have to making our house homey will be welcome. We’ve only been in it for 2 years, but have focused our energies on the property (20 acres) during that time. Now we are ready to put our attention onto the inside of our home. We are laying new flooring in the kitchen/dining/hall this August and I can’t wait!!! Cross fingers we update the kitchen next. I’m thinking white cabints (the walls are light blue) will compliment our new light maple flooring 🙂
Have fun!
Love reading your blog, congratulations on finding a new home! I just bought and moved into my first house (holy adulthood) and am looking forward to some of your decor tips! Mazel again on all of the exciting news!!
Great news!! Congratulations!! Let us know if you will be hitting any Red Bull soccer games. The girls should meet! They would have a blast.
Proud of you! Been a Kyle fan for years (my husband dragged me into soccer, lol) but I ADORE your entire family. I follow all of your social media and think you are both hilarious and HONEST- two qualities I love in a blogger! Been following since day 1 of HAE and so proud you guys are making this move! You have seemed happier since you moved to CT. Congrats to the entire family! Excited for baby boy Martino to arrive! Excited to see the new house. Excited all around! ?
Connecticut has been my home since I was born and I just purchased my first home here. I think it is a wonderful and beautiful state to raise your family! Welcome to CT!!!
Connecticut is amazing!! Mystic and surrounding area has sooooo many things for kids. We just had an amazing quick little vacay there. New England is rich in history, it is palpable. Congrats!!
Hi Eva! Congratulations on the big move, so exciting!!! Sounds like the perfect decision for your family. Good luck with all of it and I look forward to reading about updates along the way 🙂 🙂
As a lifelong Nutmegger, I say “Welcome Martino Family”. Not sure, where you are moving to but no matter. Every nook and cranny across our beautiful state is full of history, ingenuity, unique finds and loads of friendly people happy to help….so ask away!
Hey Eva!
Just moved away FROM Connecticut & miss it terribly! Such a special place that you and your family are going to love. All the best to the CT Martinos!
I never, ever comment… But just love your blog and look forward to reading it!! There’s no better place than New England (Massachusetts girl :)… Congrats on the move!
PS: watched bull Durham the other day, so there’s that…..fan of your Mom’s too?
My mom was born and raised in CT! In East Hartford which is where I spent the majority of my holidays and summers as a kid! I love love love it.
Is Marlowe into dinosaurs? ( http://www.dinosaurstatepark.org/ ) That place has been around since I was a little kid and they have actual fossils in addition to skeletons of dinosaurs and stuff. It’s one of the best memories I have from growing up! My papa used to take me and my brother and my cousins.
As a native New Yorker living in Florida, I am thrilled you are back on the east coast. I lived on the west coast for 5 years, and while I enjoyed my time there, there’s nothing like the east coast!
I know it doesn’t matter being that we don’t know one another, but it makes me happy anyway!
Thank you for sharing your life with us. As a stay-at-home mother with a toddler and three miscarriages, I’m walking this journey along with you and I don’t feel alone.
Can’t wait to see what’s in store for your beautiful family!
You are going to LOVE Connecticut. I hope you are in the Greenwich area. We have an amazing women’s blogging group here that you will love. I am so excited for you and your family!!!! Welcome!!!! XO
Congratulations on your big move. The East Coast welcomes you!!
That is so exciting for you all! It will be wonderful and you are so right it is so great to have the time together as a family because that is what is important in life TIME! Congratulations and best wishes to this big but fun change. I love decorating a new house. ?
Congratulations on such a supportive and positive decision for you and your family. I really appreciate the consciousness you bring to making decisions for you and your adorable fam! Good luck on the move. My husband and I don’t have any kids (yet), but have done two cross state moves (not as big as cross country) and they can be very stressful and so much work. So best of luck to you. My recommendations are to de-clutter. Let go of things you really don’t need and decide what things are easier to just re-buy or upgrade in your new home. Also, find time to breathe and do short little meditations to keep yourself and your family grounded. Permanent moves are emotional and ca kick up a lot so be gentle with yoursel. All my love and thank you for sharing your life, your fun ideas and your light with us!
So so happy for you guys! Congrats love. Can’t wait to hear and see more. Xoxo, Ashley
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“HELL NO” ?????
Rigghhhtttt??
Congrats!!! Soooo excited for your cute little family.. I hear CT is a wonderful place to raise children.
Been with your blog from before it was created and looking forward to your new ideas. I looooove home decor so that’s super exciting to see for me in your new adventure.
Happy juju for you and many blessings ?????
Big news Martino’s!
I’m so happy that you will all be together and I can’t wait to see what the new Happily Eva After looks like. Best of luck with your move and from one type A girl to another try to take it easy (ha ha, easier said than done I know).
XO
Cat
Congratulations! What a big step and fabulous new adventure for your growing family!
Congrats.
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Hi Eva,
GREAT news, about the move to Con+nect+ti+cut (I had to break it down, again, roots to words ->dictionary->fun!, the American Heritage Dictionary is a neat resource!).
That is a very wise choice Eva, family comes first, being together with your family, so important not just for you, but foundationally, for Marlowe. My older brother was not able to be around my dad, he is a very good man, but it does scar, to what degree depends on many factors. So I am VERY happy for the Amurri+Martino ships crew!
I don’t know what kinds of comedies, Kyle the special man in your life likes, but I am revisiting Gilligans Island. Such a well written show (by the creator of the Brady Bunch no less!), with every type of person except for athletes, attorneys, bankers. There is a professor there, he doesn’t seem to know much, or maybe he worked in stage plays! Ha! Just kidding.
Anyway, I am looking forward to revisiting Gill+i+gan listening to others common sense, with application of his own, a real everyday common man.
With your families good taste with characters with scripts, Gilligan may add further laughs, once you are all settled in in Connecticut.
With appreciation,
Greg Fillmore
After you all were still in the East after a month I thought you’d be moving. I lived in Maine for 7 years and loved it, all that beautiful snow. You should definitely try to get up to Acadia National Park. And Bar Harbor. I’m really happy for you and your family, especially after the last year. And the horrible luck with nannies.
Welcome to CT. You will love it here. Hope it is Westport
Welcome home! Hope to see you and all the Martinos around — and on The Hill.
Congrats! Can’t wait to follow along via the newsletter as well! 🙂 Can’t wait to see reno’s before/ after shots would be awesome! Best to you and your family!
Best wishes on your new move and blog updates. I am very excited to see all the new things that you will be adding. How wonderful is it that your family will be spending so much more time together, and with a new baby soon. I think you will be happy in Connecticut, I have family there, my mom grew up there with her siblings and my grandfather also worked in Stamford at one time. I live in Massachusetts and am glad that you are so happy in New England. I hope things go as smoothly as possible.
So excited you will be able to spend more time with your hubby and that your blog has become so successful! I’m looking forward to all that is to come 🙂
Congrats Eva and family! I’ve been following you since last year and love everything you post. Your snaps are so entertaining and creative. Keep the decorating suggestions coming because I’m always looking for suggestions. My first baby will be 6 months in a couple weeks and I can’t wait to hear about Baby Boy Martino 🙂
– Rachel
Congratulations on all the wonderful and exciting new adventures coming up for your family! A busy time,yes, but you got this!
Congratulations!! I am so excited to follow your decorating tips! I have been following you since I discovered you on Instagram when I was pregnant with my son and Marlowe was a bitty baby. I love that I can relate to many of the challenges and joys you share with us!
Mazel tov on the impending move! Mixed emotions for you, as you’ve stated, but welcome to Connecticut from another new resident! Seems like a cool place so far. Would love to hear about your OB-Gyn discoveries since I need to find one here too (no idea if you’ll be near me at all or not). Ok, so having lived in CT for all of one month and having spent most of that month finishing up stuff for our wedding, my usefulness is limited (unless you and Kyle decide to renew your vows, then give me a holler) but here goes nothing. It’s mostly food based advice because I have priorities. 1. Cupcakes: Sugar Bakery in East Haven. They’re delish and if you need them for an event they are just wonderful. The woman who runs the joint is lovely. 2. Indian Food: Curry Leaves in Milford. Chicken Tikka Masala. Yum. 3. Mac n Cheese- Mac N Out in Milford and Bridgeport. Grandma’s Mac, yes please. 4. Photography. I figure you have this figured out already, but I am loving the guy who shot our wedding, Tony Spinelli. Mad skills. 5. Back to food: If you ever end up in Middletown (sort of far from where Kyle works so I presume not near where you’ll be), El Pulpo Tapas bar is SO GOOD. 6. Avoid the DMV like the plague. Bring a book, multiple snacks, and some meditation apps or something.
Also yes please to all things home decor. Trying to figure out what to do with this new place and right now my decor consists of moving boxes… whoops. Should probably unpack. Can’t wait to see the new site! Good luck with baby stuff and moving stuff and revamping stuff! Welcome to the neighborhood!
Congratulations on the big move! I love seeing your current house on Snapchat, I’ll miss it, but can’t wait to see the new one!
Good luck to you and your beautiful little family! It’s gonna be wonderful. Especially as you found your dreamhouse. I’ll look forward to this exciting journey and big thanks for shareing it with us.
Wow that’s wonderful news. Moving surely is a huge thing, especially with kids, but trust me, once it’s done, you will all be satisfied. It’s good that the whole family will be together and spend quality time without stressing over flights, airports or money. Sending hugs and good vibes to all of you.
xo
Best of luck on the new endeavors! I can totally relate to having to pick up and move with little kids. It can be a hard to transition and to leave all he things and people you love. Stay strong, you’re amazing and I’m sure it’s the best move for the kids. I hope you meet some wonderful new friends in your new neighborhood!
Good Luck Eva! I’m a teenager in MA who has grown up (and is still growing up) in New England. I truly can’t imagine living anywhere else, even leaving this area for college would be difficult. Most towns are really well spaced between city and country so you could go apple picking and hay-riding in the morning, and catch an off broadway production in a city by the afternoon. Also, despite our reputation for Nor’easters, New England is one of the best examples of a 4 season climate, (especially autumn, our foliage is outstanding). I owe everything to New England’s public education system, and have had a wonderful experience thus far. I really hope you enjoy it here, just make sure to get snow tires and good boots (L. L. Bean is reliable and based in Maine).
P.S. I would travel from central Mass if you were ever in a bind and needed a sitter : )
Best of Luck,
Julie
I don’t know how I missed this post, but Welcome to Connecticut and a big congratulations on your new home!!! I was born and raised in Fairfield and I can personally vouch for the area! 🙂 I am so happy for you guys and how incredible this permanent change will be for your day to day! Side note – fall in Connecticut is unlike anything you’ve ever seen and there are an unbelievable amount of activities to do around the Easton/Fairfield area during that time of year. Marlowe and Baby Boy Martino are going to be in heaven! I babysit kids in Fairfield and Southport and there is never a shortage of fun things to do. I could go on and on about CT, but I could not be happier for you and your family, and to see your decorating ideas for the new place! xo – Molly
thanks so much, Molly! We’re very excited 🙂
EAM
Welcome to CT Eva!
I m in Wilton and a “lifer.” Grown, married daughter and love it here. I hope you do too! If you are lonely, email me :).
I was born and raised in southern Connecticut – I love it so much here. Amazing place to raise a family, close to the city but far enough away…. 🙂
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Hi guys, This is a great website. I was wondering how you Eva and Kylecame to live in Connecticut. I’m glad you did. The house is beautiful and, glad you all live close!
Hi guys, This is a great website. I was wondering how you Eva and Kylecame to live in Connecticut. I’m glad you did. The house is beautiful and, glad you all live close and I wish you all the best always!