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Showing posts from April, 2013

New York City Adventures!

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Brick Oven Pizza - The Way it Should Be! We had a glorious weekend in New York City. The weather was beautiful and sunny. As Alice mused: "This is the world of Spring, we live in the world of Winter." So true. We arrived on Friday morning and after naps, the girls and I headed to SoHo to visit my BFF Sonja -- we ate at a cute cupcake place on Prince Street and caught up. Then it was off to find shoes for Leah, who left her sneakers at school and needed a sturdy pair of walking shoes to keep up with me. Along the way, we had adventures as we always do when visiting a city (boys bathroom!). We found a cute kids store near University Place and then found a brick oven pizza joint. Yum! The next day, we explored Central Park in the morning and then met up with cousins Hannah and Hayley, Aunt Jen, Grandma and Grandpa! Grandma got the girls tickets to see Pinkalicious, the Musical! So much fun! The cousins, of course, were very, very excited to see each other. Squealing and

And Then There Was Shoes...

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I knew I'd have no trouble finding the shoes -- and I didn't. Thirty minutes at Lord & Taylor with Leah, and we walked away with these patent leather cuties.  After seeing the dress on , my Mom was insistent that I wear heals. But my concern about being able to walk a lot (Versailles is huge, you guys!) was not to be ignored. And I understand, heals make my short legs look looooonger. So I compromised on a wedge heal, patent leather adding some flash. And by returning the jeweled flats and the weekend's sale, I came out ahead. Go me! Why did I choose black when the dress is vibrant prink? Because A) they didn't have fuchsia and B) they'll match the other dress I'm bringing for the other dinner party later in the week. (I can't remember the venues -- I'm sure it's beautiful, though a lot less royal.)  So with less than two weeks to go, I've made all the purchases needed and I'm ready to start packing. Ah Paris.  

Bingo! Dress Found!

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Hello Gorgeous! The Versailles dress has been occupying too much space in my thoughts. It just HAS to be perfect! So, after trying on about 20 dresses, I'm happy to report I found a winner! Silly me, I forgot there was a Last Call Neiman Marcus near my house -- normally, it's really picked through, but you just never know what you'll find. And lo and behold there it was ... in all its fuchsia glory! Purple Flats - Pass Okay, not to get all Vogue-Magazine about it, and I hadn't noticed until I tried it on, but the dress is a Badgley Mischka Collection. (WHAT?!) Yeah, you might be familiar with the label if you're a CELEBRITY! And because I glory in a good sale (I am my mother's daughter) I'll tell you the dress was originally $500, and I got it for just under $100. Welcome to Crazytown. I was so excited that it's strapless, too. I have always just-a-little regretted not wearing strapless at my wedding. (I have a fear of flashing my tatas

Time to Think Garden!

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Last weekend, I took some time to plan my veggie and herb garden in my raised beds. It was really exciting because I decided to branch out into veggies I've never grown – cucumber, broccoli and onions!  I got a catalog from http://www.kitchengardenseeds.com/ which was beautiful and offered fun descriptions about the seeds and their tasty yields. I spent about $50 on a ton of seeds – a pretty good investment given our weekly grocery bill. Here are my 2013 garden goals: I'm going to try to grow most of my veggies from seeds (instead of buying in pots)   – I’ll see the most bang for my buck (I can get hundreds of seeds for $3!) and I can find more heirloom varieties, which taste better.   Harvest and use more of the herbs I grow -- I love herbs, but it's the last thing I think about when cooking. I found a tea garden book with instructions on drying and mixings for tea. Calling the chamomile! Hello Peppermint (in its own pot, of course)! In a fiction book I read, the a

Speed Demon

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At a birthday part for a friend, Alice had the need for speed! Alice the Speed Demon!  Relate posts: More more and more Alice

Rain Rain Rain

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It's been raining nonstop for the last week. It's Saturday morning ... game day ... and our first soccer game of the season has been cancelled due to field conditions. What a major bummer, though. On the good side, it's a good day to prepare the raised beds for this year's veggies! My onions can be sown any day now. And the seeds on my windowsill garden are almost ready for the big world! Window Sill Garden!

My Birthday -- A Feel-Good Day

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If you know me at all, you know I'm not shy about my birthday. I never understood the point of not telling everyone, going all modest, and dropping it into conversation a week later: "oh, it was my birthday last Friday." Silly. It's your ONE birthday! It's like having your own national holiday. Come on! A Toast to Me And it was a great day with lots of family hugs and lots of phone calls and messages. And with Leah's birthday so close to mine, I intend to continue celebrating until the end of the month. Because I'm looking at only a few more weeks of full-time work (more on that later), I decided to work all day. It was a pretty easy day (except for some morning chaos), so no big deal. When I got home, I got all dressed up for an awards banquet for David. He won an award for another project he was on (what a guy!). At first I was down on the idea of spending my birthday with his work colleagues but it turned out great! The company president announ

Happy Birthday Leah!

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My dearest, sweetest, first-est baby turns 7-years-old today! Where did the time go? Will Someone Please Tell Me Where this Little Baby Went?!  Lots planned for our big girl this year!

Two Signs of Spring

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There's no better hareld of Spring than these two signs. And the sunshine was out today, too! The Bulbs Are Peeking Out Airing Out My New PUGG Goals (Christmas Gifts)

This Week's Perfect

Is there anything better than kids lined-up on a green soccer field, balls at their feet, waiting for direction? That is my happy place. In my normal life, I'm a little introverted. A little agoraphobic. Would prefer to be hiding or daydreaming. But, put me on that field and call me coach -- and I'm a different person. It's going to be a great season.

'Eiffel's Tower' Audiobook Review

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Audiobook: Eiffel's Tower: And the World's Fair Where Buffalo Bill Beguiled Paris, the Artists Quarreled, and Thomas Edison Became a Count by Jill Jonnes Read by: Paul Hecht Genre: Historical Nonfiction With an upcoming trip to Paris, I was very excited to see this book at the library. Since my last (and first) trip to Paris, I've been collecting little Eiffel Towers trinkets, so learning more about its origins was enticing. And what a great story! Even though it's a historical account of the 1889 Paris World's Fair and all its principal players, it's written more like a great work fiction. The ambitious vision of Gustave Eiffel and this enormous undertaking -- to build an iron structure at such a miraculous height -- is inspiring. And he was a pretty decent guy, too. Then you have the story of Buffalo Bill Cody and his troupe of cowboys, Indians, horses, buffalo setting up camp on the outskirts of Paris and dazzling European audiences -- especially st

The Beer Fridge

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Beer Fridge! According to Dave, the best thing we bought for the new house. It sits in the basement and used to keep beer cold. Before, we'd have to clean out the fridge in the kitchen to make way for beer. Not anymore, my friends. Clearly it's well used. Oh, and there's pizza and frozen chicken-stock in the freezer, in case you were wondering.