A Sad and Heavy Heart

I had planned to share all of the details from our trip to NYC, but I just don't have the heart to.  I am so sad for the people of Oklahoma, like I'm sure all of you are.  To all of them, we are praying for you and thinking of you constantly.  My you find a way to find peace in the midst of such chaos.

Trendy Wednesday: Rag and Bone's Buckley Open Toe Boot for Mother's Day

As we walked along Houston last week in NYC, I stopped in my tracks when I saw these Rag and Bone booties.  They are so not my normal style, but there was something about them that I just loved.  The color is such a great neutral that'll go with black, navy, white, or denim.  And, the open toe paired with the chunky heel allows them to work with shorts and a great dress.

I think Mark saw just how much I loved them, and he made my mother's day wish come true.  I broke them in in NYC, and I have to say they have gotten lots of compliments!

What do you think?

Did you get or give a great Mom's Day gift?

Jane's Getting Tubes Today

Jane in the waiting room

In just a few minutes, Jane will be heading back to get her tubes placed and her adenoids removed.  I know this procedure is routine, but there is something so scary about thinking about your baby being operated on.  It also makes me realize how lucky we are that Jane is a healthy girl.  I can't imagine what it must be like to have a sick child.  

If you could send up your prayers, positive thoughts, and good juju for us, we'd appreciate it!

New York State of Mind

 

Yes.  That is just how I felt the first time I saw Times Square at night!  What a magical place!

 

On Saturday, Mark, Jane, and I are headed to the big apple.  About a year and a half ago, we joined a few other families in an apartment share in the East Village.  Mark and I joke that we are not cool enough to live in the hipsteriest part of the village. 

 

The first time we arrived at the apartment was comical.  Here we were pulling up to the corner of "cool" and "happening" with a pack-n-play, stoller, five checked suitcases, and the uncoolest thing of all - a baby.  The hipsters playing checkers at the wine bar by night/coffee bar by day looked like they had never seen one of those before.  The baby, that is.  Mark and I laughed all the way up the three flights of stairs we have to climb thinking about how out of place we looked.

 

The apartment has served us well over these last 18 months.  We have visited countless times, and now that the pack-n-play and stroller live in NYC, we arrive with considerably less baggage.  It actually feels like a home away from home.  Which, for me, is exactly where I want to spend my vacation time.

 

I am a city girl by nature.  I want to be a beach lover, but the truth is I start to get anxious and bored sitting there all day.  I like plans and activities.  When we went to Paris, I literally included "spontaneous time" on our itinerary (which was in Excel if you were wondering).

 

This week ahead should be filled with fun.  We are planning to meet up with Mark's three brothers, their wives/fiance, and their babies.  We are going to spend the day in Brooklyn riding the carousel, brunching, and having cousin time.

 

We have secured a babysitter for two night on the trip.  For one, all of the brothers and wives will go to dinner at Maialino.  I can taste the freshly made pasta already!  The other night, Mark and I will have a date night.  I am sooooo excited.  We haven't made plans yet.  How's that for sponteneity! 

 

Here are some of the things on our to do list:

 

Visit Eataly 

Walk the High Line

Take Jane to the Children's Museum of the Arts

Shop at the Union Square Greenmarket

Ride Jane's Carousel in Brooklyn

Go to the Central Park Zoo

Get chocolate peanut butter cookies from Levain Bakery

Have a beer outside at The Standard's Biergarten

Sweat it out at Sixth Street Pilates 7:00 am mat class

 

There's so much to see and explore.  I could go on and on. 

 

When you go to NYC what's on your to do list?

 

Haven't been?  What's the one thing you would add to this list?

 

 



Tory Burch You've Done It Again: The Tricia Sandal

 

We are headed to NYC for a week starting this Saturday.  I could not be more excited!  We have no real plans at this point other than to spend time with our family and friends.  And, of course, Mothers' Day shopping!!

 

 

I have been going back and forth about what I'd like.  Last year, for my first Mothers' Day, Mark and Jane surprised me with the most beautiful earrings.  This year, I old Mark to scale back the gift giving. 

 

Then, I saw THESE...  The Tory Burch Tricia sandal...  Pitter patter!  I am in love with them.  Secretly, I want them in every color.  We will absolutely be making a stop at the Tory Burch store to try them on. 

 

 

Do you love then as much as me? 

What's on your Mothers' Day gift wish list?

 

Best Surprise Ever (Ok It's All Relative)

Mark is on call tonight, and he had an office meeting after work.  So, I didn't expect him to call me at work to tell me he was going to pick up Jane from school.  He said he only had a minute to spare, but he wanted to see her tonight before the meeting. It was a relief, actually, because I had a project to wrap up, and it gave me an extra minute or two to complete it.  

On my way home, Mark called, and told me he had a surprise for me when I got home.  Cue the spinning wheels...  I tried to imagine what this surprise could be.  I mean, maybe he wasn't just stopping home to see Jane.  Maybe he had something elaborate cooked up...  Could it be that the outdoor furniture we ordered finally arrived?  Or, could it be that he had met with our interior decorators and had new light fixtures installed in the kitchen?  Or maybe, mother's day had come early, and he had ordered me THIS nude bag?

As I pulled up to the house, I had butterflies in my tummy.  A surprise just for me on a random Tuesday night...  how exciting.

And as I got out of the car and walked up to the porch, I saw Mark holding Jane.  She had the cutest little grin on as she squeaked out a "Hi-ee, hi-ee!!"

And there it was.  My surprise.  

Jane came home from school with pigtails in her hair.  

And it was the best surprise I've ever received.  It's funny how life changes.  (Read my letter of apology to all of the moms I judged.)  All of my visions of material things evaporated as I held my sweet girl in my arms.  There really is no gift that could compare to her.

Jane Goes to Jazz Fest

 

What an amazing first Jazz Fest weekend!  While the weather was a bit uncooperative yesterday, Friday and Saturday could not have been more perfect.

 

Mark, Jane, and I headed to the fest Friday around noon.  We arrived at the Acura Stage and parked ourselves by our group of friends.  We were along the track between entrances five and six.  I highly recommend this location.  We were able to see the stage clearly, but we were not so close to a speaker as to give Jane permanent hearing loss.  It was also nice because there were exit bridges to the left and right of us both of which gave you access to the beer tent and the bathrooms. 

 

As I settled in with Jane, Mark went off to get us lunch.  He came back with a paneed chicken po-boy, cracklins, and boudin balls.  Yum!  You MUST try the boudin balls.  They were amazing!  After eating some yogurt and goldfish, we quickly realized Jane was sleepy.  She took a nice two hour nap in her stroller and woke up just in time to see Dr. John.  He put on a great show with his new band.  I loved that his trombonist and band leader was a woman.  I pointed her out to Jane several times so she could see that all you need is talent to succeed!

 

Her favorite show of the day was John Mayer.  Ok, so I will admit that I underestimated his talent simply because I think he's kind of a d-bag in his personal life.  If you can get past his trysts with Hollywood starlets long enough to listen to him play, you too will be impressed.  Judging by the intensity of Jane's tambourining during his set, I'd say Jane was able to look past it.

 

Here's some family photos of our day out at the fest...