Meet Caitlin

Hey there, I’m Caitlin and I’m so glad you stopped by my blog!  Sippy Cup Barista is a place where moms and dads can gather for community, encouragement and inspiration.  So pull up a stool at the kitchen island (don’t mind the laundry piles) and join me while you sip a cup of whatever you’re drinking whether it’s warm coffee (let’s be honest it’s probably cold if you have kids) or a glass of something a little stronger (like maybe a fruity sangria).

Fun Facts

I’m 32-years-old, living in central New Jersey (yes, that mythical place – it does exist) with my husband, Ned (aka Edward), our toddler, Annie, and the newest addition baby boy, nicknamed Ace (officially Edward after his daddy, pop-pop, and great grandpa before him).

I’m a transplant from Colorado (my mom and brothers are still there).  Growing up, my dad was in the Air Force.  We moved around and experienced a lot of exciting cultures including that of Texas, Oklahoma, and New Jersey.  Sometimes I feel a little like we drew the military short stick compared to my nephews, who are also growing up in an Air Force family.  They have now lived in Germany, not once but twice, and I got the Midwest.  Nothing against the Midwest of course, there just aren’t as many castles for weekend road trips down I-70. For the record, I actually loved living in the Midwest. I even went to college in Kansas by choice. Pros and cons to both I guess.

My Family

I moved to New Jersey to pursue my dream of planning weddings, via a great job at a country club.  Six months later I met my now husband (a proud New Jersey native) on Match.com.  We met on a beautiful fall day at a local Starbucks and it was the best first date of my life.  After two years of dating he proposed in Venice on a gondola ride, under the bridge of love, at sunset. What a romantic, right?  We were engaged a year and had our dream wedding in the backyard at his family farm. 

While I’m still on lesson one of teaching him what to do with dirty dishes, I’m so blessed to have him by my side.  I always know I’m loved no matter what.  He’s always making me laugh, he’s supportive of all my crazy ideas and he makes me feel safe when I’m unsure or upset.  I’m one lucky lady!

Our first born, Annie, is so sweet, adorable and funny and I absolutely love being her mom.  She makes everyday fun, surprising and full of love.  She loves eating blueberries, throwing food off her high-chair, pulling the spices off the spice rack, going outside when the weather is nice, giving her mama kisses, pointing out the neighborhood cats, dancing to any song, making people smile, and hug attacks.

We welcomed our son, Ace, in summer 2021. He’s constantly eating and found his voice in order to make sure everyone in the neighborhood knows he’s hungry. He’s a little ball of fun and loves snuggling. I think it’s safe to say he’s going to be a bit of a flirt.

This Blog

My two kids are my inspiration for starting a blog as a place to share the activities we do together, the joys and the struggles of parenting, and how Ned and I make our house a home.  This blog shares my crafts, recipes, ideas, magical moments, encouragement, styles, DIY, calendars, and a few surprises here and there. 

At any given time in our house there are dozens of sippy cups and bottles laying around and orders on the counter for the next one.  Hence the name Sippy Cup Barista – I’m always preparing and serving up some delicious milk, water or juice-based beverage. 

My Other Jobs

In my day job, I’m a specialized event planner focused on medical education. It’s a bit of a tangent from the beautiful weddings that I came to New Jersey to plan.  I work with the conference faculty to plan the agenda for four annual meetings to make sure the sessions are educational and interesting.  I also manage the scholarship programs and the research poster pavilions.  It may not sound super interesting, but as far as the education goes the job has a real purpose.

For the last year and a half, life blessed me to be able to work full-time from home, while momin’ full time with Annie too.  It’s been an incredibly hard, chaotic experience. Honestly, on more than one occasion it has brought me tears of stress and frustration as I curled up in the corner by the closet. But I wouldn’t have had it any other way (unless stay at home with no job was an option – which sadly it’s not).  I truly feel blessed to have been home with my husband and Annie during the pandemic. Getting to watch her learn to crawl, see her first steps, and soak up all of those hug attacks had been so special

On the side, I still chase that dream of planning weddings and celebrations.  Beautiful, fluid event designs inspire me. I plan events that emphasize the emotions that make gathering so special by using natural, fresh, and beautiful storytelling. I try to bring that to my blog too.  If you’re interested in hosting an event in New Jersey or the surrounding areas, check out www.eastmanevents.com.

Thanks for Gathering Here

I love that New Jersey is so family-friendly and filled with vineyards, farms, rooftop restaurants, beaches, and places to entertain the kids.  I miss my Colorado family every day, but our life here in New Jersey is pretty great and I look forward to sharing that with you!