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The Appleland Market in the Big Apple!!

December 13, 2010 by Sandra Guirguis

On Friday I had the pleasure of going to the Appleland Market in New York City.  It was a very exclusive, by invitation only event.  It was held in R’s kindergarten class!! It was absolutely one of the CUTEST, most ADORABLE events I have ever attended. R’s class has been working on an Apple unit since September. You may have remembered from earlier posts that they have visited the Farmer’s Market and gone on a field trip to the Queen’s County Farm Museum. So, this was the big final event, the cumulation of all of their hard work.

The Appleland Market Staff with their matching shirts

The class created the market in their classroom.  As the parents, friends, family and other guests arrived we were welcomed by greeters at the door.  We then entered the market area where we went down the line and were able to purchase items such as various apples, home-made gift cards, bookmarks, cookbooks and apple muffins. The children diligently checked off how many items were being purchased.

The Market Line

R & M ready to sell their Apple Muffins

Hard at work!

The market was incredibly well organized and there were separate areas including an efficient check-out that only accepted quarters so that the students could do all the transactions, a cafe area as well as an area for re-stocking of items. The local grocery stores could really learn something from the professionalism of this class of five year olds!! Each child took his/her job extremely seriously and knew exactly what they were supposed to be doing. When it came time for us to leave, R barely said good-bye as she was so immersed in her duties.

The Check-Out Area

Stock Area

Getting ready to re-fill the apples

The Cafe

R came home from school on Friday over the moon with excitement. She loved the experience and I am sure it is one that she will not soon forget.  I am reminded how lucky our transition has been… such an incredible school with amazing teachers. Just another slice of life from the Big Apple 😉

Happy Appleland Market Customers!!

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The Guirguis Inn is Closed for a Week! ;)

December 12, 2010 by Sandra Guirguis

One of the best things about moving to NYC has been the visitors.  It is my absolute favourite thing to show people around Manhattan and play tour guide.  I love doing it.  But, I have to admit, today I am tired.  We just finished a wonderful visit with my sister-in-law and nephew.  While they were here I saw THREE Broadway shows, I have not seen that many shows since moving here!  We also shopped (including a crazy adventure for purses on Canal Street), dined out and visited with friends and family.  It was amazing. But, I have to admit, playing in this city can be exhausting.  So, now it is time to go back to reality for a bit.  It has been a month of visiting, galavanting, exploring, wining and dining.  I really don’t know how celebrities do it 😉

Cousins!!

Z and Line in front of the tree at Rockefeller Center

CHICAGO!

Ted, Claudia & Robert Creighton (Amos Hart) backstage at "Chicago"

So, today on this rainy, gloomy day in the city, I am enjoying some quiet time with the family. The Christmas tree is lit, the girls are watching movies, the smell of Ron’s stew is wafting from the kitchen and I am getting organized.  Checking off items on Christmas lists, adding to the the “to do” list, working on the pile of laundry and generally just enjoying not really having to leave the apartment. Don’t get me wrong, there is always room at Casa Guirgi and my heart is full of love when people come to stay, but I am looking forward to a week of being ordinary.  My “big” plans for the week include doing groceries, helping with homework, watching back episodes of shows on the PVR and baking Christmas cookies.  I figure this will last for about a week and then I will be itching to go out and share this incredible city with well… maybe YOU!!  On to the next adventure!

Mr. Blue and I!

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Wordless Wednesday: The Christmas Tree

December 8, 2010 by Sandra Guirguis

It is our first Christmas in NYC.  Our oldest daughter declared the other day that we were the only people in Manhattan who did not have our Christmas tree yet. Probably a slight exaggeration but needless to say out we went on the weekend and cut down bought our tree from the guy at the corner and brought it home. Interesting fact: The trees in Manhattan are from Quebec farms sold by good old Quebec tree planters- awesome! On Monday night, accompanied by Christmas tunes and the fake fireplace on the t.v. in the background, we decorated the tree.  This is a moment that I look forward to and cherish every year.  Hope you enjoy the photos!!

The Tree Merchant

All lined up and looking for a good home...

Ready to decorate!

Mommy's Little Helpers

Santa Daddy

R- Careful placement

A- Going for a higher branch

Some Dopey Dog Lovin'

The Star

Group Effort

The Final Product

Before bed, the first Christmas story of the season...

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‘Tis the Season: A Whirlwind Weekend of Holiday Fun!

December 6, 2010 by Sandra Guirguis

It is the crazy season that is for sure!  Crazy busy, that is.  There is always something to do in NYC, but with the holiday season in full swing there seems to be even more exciting things to see and do.  This weekend with very special guests from Ottawa along for the ride, we ventured out to enjoy the holiday festivities.

A & P Skating at Bryant Park

Our weekend started off at a skating birthday party in magical Bryant Park.  It was an absolutely beautiful morning.  Watching the girls skate around the rink made me a bit nostalgic for Ottawa.  I have to admit I was proud of the Canadian girls holding their own on the rink ;).  Bryant Park, nestled among the surrounding buildings including the Empire State Building, is gorgeous this time of year. There is the outdoor rink where you can skate for FREE, the temporary craft and gift shops lining the park as well as the amazing food stands.  I had a cinnamon and sugar crepe, which was not nearly as good as a beavertail but was still pretty yummy.  There is a beautiful decorated tree that towers over one end of the rink with the New York Grand Central Library in the background.

Krista and Sandra under the tree at Bryant Park

After some well deserved hot chocolate we headed into Times Square to meet Uncle Bobby, our very talented friend Robert Creighton who is currently playing Amos Hart in the Broadway musical “Chicago”, for lunch.  The girls begged and begged to go to the matinee but we had to tell them AGAIN that the show was not age appropriate for them, so they had to settle for walking him to the theatre.  They had been spoiled before being able to see him in both “The Lion King” and “The Little Mermaid”.

Hamming it up with Uncle Bobby

We continued on our way to explore a bit more of Times Square but eventually the overwhelming crowds coupled with tired children forced our decision to head home.  The children had a special treat that evening as our wonderful neighbours invited them over to help light the candles on their Menorah for the fourth day of Hanukkah.  It was a very special moment for our daughters who have been learning all about the Jewish traditions at school and from their friends.  It truly warmed my heart and made me realize how lucky we are to live beside such caring people.  A & R have both invited our neighbours over for Christmas as they “think that they would really like it”.  Very funny.  I love the fact that the girls are embracing all that is new with such incredible enthusiasm.  Truly a lesson to be learned from the children.

Krista and I spent the rest of the evening touring Manhattan and enjoying all of the wonderful holiday sites even stumbling across the Mitzvah Tank Parade on 5th Avenue. There is always something unique and interesting going on in this city!!

The Lit Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Centre

Sunday was indeed a spectacular day for all of us as we started off by picking out our Christmas tree and then we went and saw the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular. It really is a magical event.  The Rockettes are mesmerizing.  You would have to be Scrooge himself to leave this show and not be feel the Christmas spirit.  The girls loved it! It really is literally, a kick off to the festive season.

The girls all dressed up to go to the Christmas Spectacular

Anxiously awaiting the show at Radio City Music Hall

After the show, the BIG girls were able to unwind from the whirlwind weekend by enjoying a fabulous dinner at Buddakan (thanks Ron!).  Yep, we packed a lot into the weekend and I do have to admit as much as I am already missing our good friends (tears!). And as much as I love having visitors, I am really looking forward to putting on the Christmas music, starting up the fireplace (t.v. channel 699) and decorating the tree with the family and the dogs. There are even snow flurries falling outside the window… Spectacular!

The Tree!

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Immigrating to the Land of the Free- Field Trip to Ellis Island

December 3, 2010 by Sandra Guirguis

After two successful field trips with R’s class, I was very excited to finally be going on a field trip with A’s class.  So, on Monday morning after the extra long Thanksgiving weekend A and I headed out on a beautiful, crisp, sunny day. We walked to the school playground to meet the rest of her classmates to go on our big field trip adventure to Ellis Island.  This wasn’t a kindergarten trip, this was a third grade trip and we would be out of school for the full day.  I was armed with my lunch, sunglasses, iPhone and tylenol (just in case).  Off we ventured to the Subway where much to the dismay of the daily commuters, 24 energetic and loud students, plus chaperones boarded two cars of the train to ride it all the way to the very end of lower Manhattan- South Ferry.

The woman with the book must be able to block out anything =)

Once we all arrived in lower Manhattan we headed to the Ellis Island Ferry, but not before our little third grade goof balls took a quick class photo on the statue of immigrants.

A's third grade class acting like third graders =)

Due to the fact that the Ellis Island Ferry also stops at Liberty Island where the Statue of Liberty resides, the security is extremely strict to get on to the ferry.  I told A not to worry about it, that it was just like getting on an airplane.  To which she responded that she had never been on an airplane (except when she was 4 months old).  Oops, I really am a bad mommy!  Once we made it through security we boarded the ferry and enjoyed a beautiful ride to Ellis Island.  The views of lower Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty were incredible.

Lady Liberty

D, J & A on the ferry

Lower Manhattan

A and the Lady

Once we arrived on Ellis Island the students were treated to an extremely informative interactive tour of the building itself and all of the various steps that immigrants faced when arriving on Ellis Island with all of their hopes and dreams tied to their new life in America.  Not only did they have to struggle with surviving the pricey passage across the Ocean, most of them in tiny, cramped Steerage quarters, they were also subjected to numerous tests upon arrival.  This included passing the medical, financial and mental tests before you were able to be re-united with family.  The good news is that 90+% were eventually admitted into the United States but I can only imagine the hardship and stress that this journey would have caused.  I guess it is a small price to pay for freedom and opportunity.  The students had numerous questions throughout the day and were engaged and well behaved.

Our tour guide, explaining how groups were separated

Ellis Island Immigration Center

I think most of them left with some sense of how lucky they were to be living in this country.  They all realized that at some point they or one of their family members had been an immigrant.  A. was proud to raise her hand as a new immigrant to the United States.  I even felt a bit choked up when I thought about our journey here and how we had made a decision to move to this country just like my father’s family had so many years before.  One thing I can say, is that I am very glad that we did it in 2010 and NOT 1910!!

Overall, a wonderful day and learning opportunity for one and all.  And, I didn’t even need the tylenol although I sure did sleep well that night.  Whoa, kids are exhausting 😉

Heading Home Sweet Home

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Cellphone Postcards- Check it Out!!

December 2, 2010 by Sandra Guirguis

Alright, you all know how much I love to take photos and share them with EVERYONE!!  Case and point, the number of times that I post pictures on Facebook and the love that I have for Wordless Wednesday posting photos of random moments in NYC. Well, recently this whole blogging adventure led me in a bit of a different path. A friend of mine recommended me to a woman who just started a new company called Cellphone Postcards.  It is a new service that turns the picture you take on your cellphone or digital camera into REAL postcards that can be mailed to friends and family, worldwide. She wanted to hire an actual mommy blogger to try out the product, review it and if they liked it, help her by spreading the word to friends, family and the blogging community.  It was something new and different but I have had a great time being involved in this process.

Grandparents love getting them in the mail!!

Many of you may have already received Cellphone Postcards from me because I have been having tons of fun snapping candid shots on my iPhone and sending them off to various destinations.  I think that this is a great way to stay in touch with the people in our lives and to help them stay connected with special moments as well as random everyday happenings. I recently used Cellphone Postcards as thank you’s for A’s birthday party.  I took a hilarious photo of the girls at the party and then sent them Cellphone Postcards the next week with a quick thank you message.  They enjoyed the sentiment and the picture keepsake.  I even sent Postcards to the girls who were ecstatic because they LOVE getting ACTUAL mail delivered to them.  (The only downside was that due to the fact that we are dealing with the US Postal Service there was a bit of damage to a couple of the postcards but overall, the quality was good.) With the holidays approaching I think that these Cellphone Postcards could be used in various ways including party invites and Christmas cards.

Who doesn't like to get good news in the mail??!!

I would love for you to try out this new product and let me know what you think and if you like it, spread the word! Follow this link Cellphone Postcards and enter in the code MB#2 in the promotional box on the sign up page to receive 10 FREE postcards. (The non-promtional cost is $0.99 anywhere in the US and internationally for $1.98) It is fun and easy to do.  I look forward to receiving a postcard from you soon…hint! hint!

C'mon, send one, you know you want to!

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Wordless Wednesday: NYC- All Dressed Up!

December 1, 2010 by Sandra Guirguis

The other night Denise and I met up with my good friend Carol (NYCity Mama) who took us on a beautiful walking tour of Manhattan to see the sights all decorated for the Holiday season. Here are some of the pictures.  Enjoy!!

Macy's

Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Claus- Macy's Animated Window Display

Skating at Bryant Park (Empire State Bldg in the Background)

Kate Spade Store Bryant Park

Max Brenner Chocolate- Hot Chocolate- like drinking a chocolate bar =)

Window at Sak's

Rockefeller Center (The unlit tree infront of the building)

Sak's

Sak's

Cartier

St. Regis Hotel

Bendel's

Bendel's

Tiffany's

All I want for Christmas... (Tiffany Window)

The Plaza

The Lobby of the Plaza

The Beauty of the Stars at Lincoln Center

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A Weekend of Thanks

November 30, 2010 by Sandra Guirguis

It is already Tuesday and I am just finding the time and the peace and quiet to sit down and reflect upon our first American Thanksgiving in New York City.  Many of my friends here in the city asked us if we would be celebrating US Thanksgiving since we had already celebrated Canadian Thanksgiving in October.  My response to them was of course, we wanted to start our new family traditions and also, with all of the hype and anticipation surrounding Thanksgiving how could we not? Thanksgiving here in the United States is a BIG deal.  It is a bigger holiday celebration than Christmas.  As soon as Halloween is over the plans for Thanksgiving begin.  Travel arrangements are made, get togethers are organized and menus are planned with meticulous detail.  At this time Manhattan is turned into a magical holiday place.  Store fronts are transformed, trees are covered in lights and lamp posts are decorated.  The whole city becomes a frenzy of holiday cheer and excitement.

Radio City Music Hall

We were very fortunate to have friends and family with us to help celebrate Thanksgiving.  We kicked off the extra long weekend on Wednesday night by heading on over a couple of blocks to Central Park West and 81st to see the inflation of the balloons for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.  There are only certain streets in Manhattan that are wide enough to inflate the balloons for the parade and that is why they use the streets on the Upper West Side.  This is also where the parade starts and then it continues on into midtown towards Macy’s.  The balloon inflation used to be a neighbourhood secret, but word has gotten out and it is now a favourite thing for many New Yorkers  and tourists alike and the crowds are huge.  The best part of this adventure for us is the fact that it is only a couple of blocks from the apartment and we went for a half an hour and then returned home without having to jump on a crowded subway!!

The Smurfs are back!!

On Thanksgiving morning the kids woke up super excited to get going to the parade.  We turned on the t.v. at 7:30 am and saw that people with front row views at the barricades had arrived at 4:30 am!!  Our troops were not quite so dedicated and we left the apartment 10 minutes before the parade started.  We had no idea what to expect.  The crowds heading toward Central Park were huge but everyone was in a festive mood and the excitement and energy of the children was infectious.  Luckily, a wonderfully kind woman allowed our group to watch the parade from her brownstone stoop and we had an excellent view to see the spectacular floats, balloons and of course the guest of honour himself, Santa Claus!!

The crowds looking towards the parade route on Central Park West

Spiderman!!

The Gang on the Stoop

After an incredible time at the parade, the whole gang headed home to our warm and cozy apartment and did what all good Americans do on Thanksgiving- watched football, played games, snuggled on the couch, drank good wine/beer and enjoyed an incredibly delicious feast! A HUGE thank you to Ron, who, once again made an amazing turkey dinner 🙂  All of us were reminded throughout the day that it is the non material things that we are truly thankful for, our friends and loving families.  Well, and maybe one material thing- expandable pants 😉

The BEST thing about American Thanksgiving is that it lasts FOUR days!!  Boy, do they know how to do it right.  I woke up the day after Thanksgiving reflecting on what a great day it was and then I remembered that it was only FRIDAY.  We still had an entire long weekend to be with the family and that really is what holidays are all about, spending time with those people that you love, even if it means having an extra drink sometimes ;).  The gift of time is wonderful.

As we move onto the insanity of Christmas, I do so with a full heart, surrounded by the warmth of the people around me and for that I am grateful.  Thank you.

However, enough with the warm and fuzzies, it IS December tomorrow and I have not started my shopping.  I guess I had better jump into the crowds and get to it! OR, I could go online…

The crowd at Macy's on Saturday... pass me another drink!!

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Wordless Wednesday: It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas…

November 24, 2010 by Sandra Guirguis

On the weekend the family and I wandered through the Upper East Side into Midtown and stopped at various stores along the way.  With Thanksgiving only days away at that point, many of the decorations were up and the beauty of Manhattan decorated for the holidays was starting to come alive.  Here are a few photos from our adventure, enjoy!!

Dylan's Candy Shop

They Yummy Looking Tree at Dylan's

Bloomingdale's

The Holiday Bear at Bloomie's

Ralph Lauren

The Star on 5th Avenue

Tiffany's

It's Snowing!!

Cartier

Rockefeller Center

THE tree in the process of being decorated at Rockefeller Center

The Swarovski Star that will placed on top of the tree

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One Year Ago…

November 22, 2010 by Sandra Guirguis

Home??!!

 

This weekend I became a little reflective as I was wandering around the streets of NYC with the family.  It was exactly one year ago this past weekend that I arrived in NYC with the task of looking at apartments in the Upper West Side for a possible life changing move to Manhattan.  I remember the trip vividly.  As I took the cab ride from La Guardia Airport in Queens and we crossed over the bridge into Manhattan I was no longer looking at the city as a tourist but with the wide open eyes of a new resident.  It was a beautiful fall day and the city was showing off in the sunlight but I had an uneasy feeling as the question “Could I move my children here?” hung over my head.

I scrutinized everything.  The garbage on the streets, the concrete playgrounds, the people rushing down the blocks, the noise level, the greyness of the buildings, the bright flashing lights, the crowds, the materialism, the over all American-ness of it all.  I sat down on the steps of the Met and the tears slid into my Starbucks cup as I wondered if Ron and I were making the right decision.  And then, something amazing happened and I saw beyond the superficial and remembered why I LOVED NYC and I began to see the possibilities.

I saw the beauty of the sun as it peeked out behind the incredible architecture of the vast array of buildings, I saw the endless culture in the world of the Arts, I saw families and children playing, I saw Central Park and nature, I saw a proud city of friendly, busy people with an energy all its own.  I felt the excitement and that excitement became mine.  I wanted this for my family.  We were ready, I was ready.  And so I began the search for a new home in a new neighbourhood.

I saw over 20 apartments that weekend.  Brownstones, modern buildings, pre-war, door man buildings, walk-ups, rooms with a view, rooms with no view.  It became overwhelming.  And don’t even get me started on the prices.  WOW.  It is not even comparable to anything in Ottawa.  It is a totally different mind set.  I had to get my head in a different space entirely to even start the search.  I pounded the pavement and learned the neighbourhood.  I stood staring at the schools, envisioning my girls inside them.  I embraced the culture, I squeezed every little experience I could into that one weekend.  The decision had to made.  Ron was waiting back in Ottawa, listening to my rambling, barely coherent, expensive cellphone calls about this apartment versus that one and local stores and restaurants. Patient and amused, as always.

Apartment shopping at its finest!

On the plane ride home I remember feeling exhausted and still a bit anxious but I was also impatient.  I was ready, I was sure and I wanted this move to happen.  Ron and I began the discussions in ernest, the countless hours debating the pros and cons, the waiting, the back and forth between his company.  The stress.  The secrecy and then finally the time to tell our family and friends.  At that moment it became real and there was no turning back.  After that everything really is a blur- selling the house, resigning from teaching, enrolling the girls in school, packing, saying good-bye…

And now we are here.  As we walked along the streets of Manhattan on Saturday, I couldn’t believe that a year had passed. When I looked at the girls expertly weaving their way through the crowds and Ron chasing behind them, I felt a few tears sliding down my cheeks.  They were happy tears, amongst all of the craziness, I felt content and at home.  Yes there are challenging days but hey, there are challenging days everywhere.  Who knows what life is going to throw at you?  Every day brings a new adventure and for that I am truly grateful.  Oh, and I am also grateful that the apartment I fell in love with was still available in February 😉

Ron & R goofing around on Saturday night!

 

 

 

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