My house is quiet.

The girls are finally sleeping soundly. Marc is driving his dad (who was so wonderful to fly here all the way from Florida for Lily’s birthday party) back to the hotel. Bella is snoring on her little green bed. And I just took a deep breath for what feels like the first time today.

Lily’s birthday party and all the friends and family and food and gifts and squealing children and chocolate-icing-covered faces are swimming through my head. For all the planning and anticipation in the weeks leading up to her party, I’m astounded by how quickly the whole thing whizzed right by.

It was loud and chaotic and totally fun. I’d do it all over again tomorrow if we could.

But I sure am enjoying this silence.

This weekend’s about to get crazy. So before the birthday girl launches to another planet, I took her out for some quiet Mommy (and Sophie) time this afternoon at our favorite fro-yo spot.

She chose chocolate with marshmallows, M&M’s and chocolate chips. Because if every food was made of chocolate, she’d be totally cool with that.

That’s my girl.

I landed there by way of a baked potato grilled cheese sandwich recipe (imagine that).

And then I couldn’t stop scrolling.

And then I discovered the other gawker sites: craft and wedding and dwelling.

And boy am I in trouble now.

Local friends, if you have not yet been to PieBird, GO NOW. Like, drop what you’re doing and get thee to downtown Raleigh. The baby or the dishes or the DVR can wait.

This place is the deal.

Pictured above was my dessert at a lovely little lunch with Laura. My main course was a black bean and chile hand pie and a green salad with mandarin oranges and bleu cheese crumbles. Ah-mazing. And totally worth every single last calorie.

Next time? I’m all over the pie cracklins. And pimento cheese empanadas.

Stuffing pie into my pie-hole. Poetic.

(I had the pleasure of interviewing Sheilagh, PieBird owner and baker extraordinaire, before her restaurant became a reality. Read it here if you like.)

Lily didn’t go into this willingly. But her demands were pretty simple. A handful of M&M’s and a few jelly beans. And her beaded princess purse had to stay wedged under her arm. After about 30 seconds she started to have fun, reading her book in the sunshine while mommy snapped her photo. Not a bad gig.

Laura made the pouf underneath Lily’s head. Isn’t it beautiful? We just added it to the shop, along with a few other treasures, including these:

(clockwise from top left) handmade backyard banner // children’s tea party placemat and napkin set // pouf floor pillow // cobalt blue apothecary bottle