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Posts Tagged ‘life in Manhattan’

Today I am dedicating my Wordless Wednesday post to my high school friend Colleen and her two daughters. All three are BIG foodies and are especially fond of dessert. Also, Colleen has been tempting me to buy cake all week with little nudges on twitter and Facebook. So, Colleen (and A & P), here are a few pics from our most recent trip to Carlos BakeryΒ in Hoboken, home of Buddy Valastro, the Cake Boss. We ventured to Carlos Bakery last week during winter break and sampled a few of the goodies. Too bad the Lobster Tails would not survive the trip to Saskatchewan πŸ˜‰ Enjoy the pics, better viewed with a cup of cappuccino. Buon Appetito!

Waiting to go in!

Cakes...

Cakes...

Cakes...

Cakes...

And more cakes!!!

Or a cupcake?

Pastries?

The Valastro Familia

Happy Customers =)

The Manhattan Skyline from Hoboken

Beautiful day for a visit.

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So, those of you who know me, know that I am not a big fan of Valentine’s Day. I find it to be over marketed, anxiety and depression inducing and all the rest of the blah, blah, badness. This might be a side effect of working with teenagers for too long and having to endure heart’s day in high school over and over and over again!!! But I digress, lets get back to yesterday. Yesterday was not a stellar day. It started with at bang at 12:30 am when our oldest woke up throwing up, hitting every target in the apartment BUT the toilet. This continued on the hour, every hour until 5:30 am. Add a little blood to the vomit and you know, up goes the stress and worry level. So, after no sleep, Ron stayed home with A, while I took R to school attended a meeting and then came back to trade off, take A to the doctor while Ron went to work. Thankfully A was fine, a viral infection that will be cured by rest and lots of Phineas & Ferb πŸ˜‰

I spent the afternoon doing laundry and trying to disinfect the apartment. Was just about done was looking forward to sitting down for a minute. No such luck. As I was emptying the last two mugs from the dishwasher, they slipped and while trying to grab hold of them, they clanged together, broke and I sliced open my hand. Ah yes, bright red, the color of Valentine’s Day πŸ˜‰ Thankfully, my rockstar friend (and former nurse) Claire came over and assured me I didn’t need stitches. She performed first aid. Afterwards I was showing Claire something in my bedroom and it was at that time that I finally realized that the yucky smell in the apartment that I had been trying to find all day was dog puke on my bed. Sigh. Really???!!! More clean up and more laundry.

There was a bit of peace by the evening where after a romantic family dinner of soup and grilled cheese we all crashed on the couch and read before bedtime. Bedtime never looked so good, no double entendre at all, trust me. My man and his cold, both of us exhausted, our two sleeping beauties in the room beside us, two dogs snoring called it a night, happily curled up under the covers.

That was the romance in my day. I will take comfort in the fact that I don’t need a specific day to remind me how lucky I am to be surrounded by such an amazing circle of love that includes family and friends. I heart you each and every day. Hope your V-Day was a little better than mine πŸ˜‰ Today, I am enjoying some mommy snuggles on the couch and keeping my fingers crossed for a fairly uneventful chain of events. And cupid, you can kiss my…

My Valentine care package from the beyond awesome Claire =)

Nothing says romantic dinner like soup and sandwiches!

I did find time to drown my sorrows in some delicious Teuscher chocolates. Oh Ron, you know me so well.

Love is all you need xox

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On Saturday we decided to explore a new neighborhood. We hopped on the subway to Times Square and then transferred to the shuttle over to Grand Central Station. From there we walked East toward the UN. We then made our way back uptown with an early dinner stop at Dos Caminos and of course a little treat from Dylan’s Candy Shop. It was a great day of exploring. Here are my pics of the beautiful tall architectural wonders from Grand Central Station to the United Nations. Hope you enjoy =) Β Have a fabulous Wednesday!

Grand Central Station with the Chrysler Building peeking over

Front door to Cipriani Restaurant

Love this doorway (Cipriani)

The mighty Chrysler

Looking up, way up!

Tudor City

The playground at Tudor City nestled between the buildings

Street View, looking back at the Chrysler Building

Looking up at the UN

Building Artwork across from UN

A Beauty in the Sun

A Commanding Presence

United Nations Building

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Oh ya, we are strong and we are doing it! I feel very fortunate to have found an amazing group of women who have formed a running group. Together we motivate each other to, put simply, get our asses out and get moving. No matter the day there are at least four other women to run with and sometimes as many as ten. It is awesome, amazing and inspiring. We are very fortunate to have Central Park as our training ground. The park and all of its own little and big challenges (Harlem hill I am looking at you!!) is a motivator itself. We are building miles and friendships together. LOVE IT! Here are some pics from our run this morning. Hope your day is spectacular, S πŸ˜‰

Well, GOOD morning!

Uptown girls πŸ˜‰

This path and the view never get old.

A little stretch.

Still smiling at the end πŸ˜‰

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Over the holidays Ron decided to take a chance and see if we could get lunch reservations at Red Rooster in Harlem. We lucked out and the whole family soon found ourselves treated to one of the best meals we have enjoyed in a long time. As you walk into Red Rooster you are immediately welcomed by the warm and hospitable staff and your other senses are delighted by the incredible smells and the homey yet modern atmosphere. The Β leisurely lunch was definitely a highlight for both my visiting father, myself, Ron and the kids. I highly recommend a visit! I know that we will be back to sample the brunch menu soon!! Hope you enjoy the pics, they just might ruin your plans for the New Year’s diet πŸ˜‰

Red Rooster Harlem

More Signage

The Bar

The Wall Separating the Bar and The Restaurant Area

The Incredible Chefs At Work

Restaurant Interior

Artwork

Cinful

Mac & Greens- Wowza!!!!

Red Rooster Burger with Truffle Fries- So Delicious!!

Jerk Bacon & Egg- Some Kind of Yummy!!

Lamb & Potato Hash- So Creative and So Amazingly Good!

Fried Chicken Caesar-Tasty!!

Choclately Goodness!

Sweet Potato Doughnuts- Perfect end to an incredible dining experience!!

Burning off some energy at the park after lunch πŸ˜‰

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Well, December is here and the insanity of the silly season has arrived. I sit here writing this after just returning from a trip to Target (the suburban woman in me LOVES Target) where I went a little hog wild with the buying… Do we really need Phineas and Ferb bandaids, holiday soap and tree shaped chocolate peanut butter treats??!! You’re right, we do need the chocolate peanut butter treats πŸ˜‰ And truly it wasn’t really my fault, I went with my good friend Rachel who has a CAR. I wasn’t restricted by how much I had to carry on my own or schlep from the subway, bus or taxi. It was awesome, we loaded dozens of bags into the trunk, from the cart and when I got home the doorman helped me with them into the elevator. Sweet! I know, I know, my Ottawa friends are not truly grasping the true beauty of the trunk πŸ˜‰

But I digress, what I really wanted to say in this post is that Manhattan during the holidays is truly a magical place. It is hard to be stressed, grumpy or down when there are so many twinkling, shiny lights surrounding you. WAIT… isn’t it the same the rest of the year too? Well, yes, but there is also a festive spirit in the air and the hustle and bustle seems somewhat nicer or maybe I am just projecting… There are decorations in the store front windows, apartment buildings have put up Christmas trees, wreaths and Menorahs. If you can get past the commercialism of the huge “SALE” signs the spirit of joy, happiness, peace and goodwill towards others is there.

The Beautiful Tree At Bryant Park

Ron is traveling like crazy this month so we took the time this weekend to put up our own decorations, pick out a tree from our local guy on the corner (he has been at that spot for 30 years!!) and trim the tree. I love how the apartment looks, so cozy and inviting. I can’t help but get wrapped up in the imagination and excitement of our children. I too am counting down the days although I am missing out on the chocolate from the advent calendar. What I love most about this time of year is the way everyone seems to just take a couple of extra moments to remember what they are truly thankful for and to spend time with family and friends. I say, bring it on!

Two Goofballs Trimming A Tree!

Before

Putting On The Star

Our Cozy Sanctuary

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So, I really did try and post these pics yesterday but I only had a limited amount of time and of course my computer decided to be pokey AND I was trying to go to bed before midnight, so here they are today on Thursday. Kind of fitting really, this being the 1st of December. Getting a real tree for Christmas in Manhattan is a wee bit different than the burbs. You can leave the city and go and cut one down but if you don’t have ready access to a car, no worries, there are trees on many a corner. There are many beautiful options and best of all I get to feel nostalgic for Canada as most of the trees are from the mighty province of Quebec! We will be tree hunting and decorating this weekend and I can’t wait! There really is nothing better than the smell of a real tree in a cosy apartment. And of course there is some adventure and a bit of hunting type behaviour as you try and pick out the perfect tree, hoist it on your (Ron’s) back, carry it through the maze of people on the sidewalk and then try and it fit it in the elevator only to realize that it really did look smaller on the sidewalk πŸ˜‰ Β Happy decorating my friends and Hello December!!

Ready for the perfect home

Lean on me

Feeling Festive

Group Huddle

Leaning to the right...

A little beauty!

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It is hard to believe that October will soon be drawing to an end. The back to school and fall season is turning into a blur. We have had numerous activities, fun adventures, visiting friends and of course the day to day insanity of work, school and life in general. Β Oh, and living in Manhattan does not help, there is a constant pull to just keep moving at the frenetic pace of the city.Β Sometimes I have to remind myself to just pause and take a deep breath. Wooosaaa! This past weekend we had vowed to catch up on a little bit of family time and also to try and find some time to chillax and I think we managed to find a nice balance.

On Friday R and I dropped off A at her band rehearsal and instead of jumping back on the crowded rush hour train we decided that we were going to walk home. It is at times like these when I realize that my little munchkins are becoming true New Yorker’s. She walked 50 blocks and didn’t complain, even once. Although, she did insist that we stop at the Disney store as our walk took us through Times Square πŸ˜‰ Every time I am able to really walk the city I find myself falling in love with New York all over again. Pounding the pavement and seeing all the sights at street level is where you really feel connected to the energy, people and places of NYC.

R doing "tree" pose in Times Square

Saturday started off with our usual “bagel in pajamas” breakfast followed by an afternoon at Chelsea Piers where the girls take classes. Both Ron and I were able to fit in a morning run in perfect sunny and cool weather. The girls had a blast at their classes, especially A who had the opportunity to skate this week. She did her Canadian roots proud as she glided (fairly gracefully) across the rink.

Skating at Chelsea Piers under the Canadian and American Flag!

Rink Rat πŸ˜‰

On Saturday night we had a wonderful time re-uniting with cherished friends from the ‘Creek who were visiting NYC. We had many drinks, tons of laughs and one hell of a good time. We started off with drinks at the Whiskey Park Bar and then made our way to Tolani Wine Bar where we shared incredible food and perhaps a bit more wine πŸ˜‰ It was a great evening and I loved seeing some much loved peeps from Ottawa!!

Nina, Me & Jane =)

Andre, Dennis and Ron... don't ask!!

So, even though we may have been moving a wee bit slow on Sunday morning, after some strong caffeine, all was good. Ron headed off to the Jets game so the girls and I decided to take advantage of the beautiful weather and headed to Central Park. We paused and relaxed in Sheep’s Meadow, strolled through the Central Park Zoo and tried out various East Side playgrounds. The weather was spectacular and we had a great day. Sunday evening was time for snuggles and reading. Absolutely perfect.

A perfect day for handstands in the park!

Sea Lion

Sisters πŸ˜‰

Beauty at the Zoo

Fall in Central Park

The Boathouse

It was truly both a restful and fun weekend. Working on that whole life balance thing is well, a work in progress. Every once in awhile you just have to stop and take a stroll… Have a great day my friends!!

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A & R all dressed up waiting to see "Anything Goes" on Broadway

This past weekend was a mommy and her girls weekend. Ron was back in Ottawa celebrating a good friend’s 40th so the girls and I decided that we would have a fun few days hanging out together without any boys (Bogie and Dopey don’t count). On Friday while the oldest was at her after school activity the youngest and I fuelled up on cupcakes and went gift shopping for a baby shower that three of us would be attending later on in the weekend. R and I had lots of fun exploring the latest trends, gadgets and fashions for society’s tiniest. To be honest, I can’t believe all of the cool things that they have now. The beautiful strollers were on display similar to cars in a dealer’s showroom. Pretty impressive and pretty pricey. Β My wallet is very glad those days are behind me πŸ˜‰ Β R and I had tons of fun picking out the perfect present for our soon to be little friend.

On Saturday we woke up and as per our weekend tradition, ate bagels while the girls watched cartoons and I read the paper. Now, I have to admit, I am pretty spoiled and much prefer when Ron is home and is the one who takes the dogs out on the weekend and picks up the bagels on the way home. But, the girls insisted on bagels, so, we had bagels =) The rest of the day was spent at Chelsea Piers where the girls did their sporty activities while I sat on my butt and read my book. Ahhh… peace. That evening we did one of our favorite things- we ordered in dinner, snuggled on the couch and watched a movie. Our girlie movie choice was the Disney flick “Prom”. It was a perfectly fluffy movie with a mild love story and a lot of hype about getting ready for a pretty tame prom. All in all a fine choice. I love that R asked “What is so special about Prom anyway”? Not really sure she got the point of the movie. Actually not really sure what the point of the movie was… πŸ˜‰

Yesterday, Sunday, was a very special day for the girls. We went and saw”Uncle Bobby” Robert Creighton in the Broadway show “Anything Goes”.Β Β He is currently playing the role of “Moonface” Martin and we wanted to make sure that we saw him in this incredible part. The girls were beyond excited as they bounded off the subway and we made our way to the theatre. I was extremely proud of both of them as they behaved perfectly, swept away by the magic of the show. They loved seeing Uncle Bobby and laughed each time he came on stage. R loved all the little bits of funny going on while A stated afterwards that “you have to watch the actors if you want to be an actor”- uh oh, I think that girl really is destined for the stage. After the show we were able to go backstage where the girls toured the wig room, checked out the dressing rooms and were able to see all of the cool props and costumes. Such a wonderful afternoon.

The girls and Uncle Bobby on the steps of the SS American

And I was there too πŸ˜‰

After the show we headed on over to the baby shower for the soon to be little RJ. It was a fairly grown up affair and everyone was tired (well, Mommy was!!) so we didn’t stay too long. But the girls had a lot of fun making unique onesies and practicing their manners by wandering around and mingling through the people. Best of all, they were able to bring home cookies and blue foil kisses that said “it’s a boy!”.

The girls making onesies for baby RJ

So, together the girls and I had a wonderful weekend. And, as I tucked them in last night, telling them how proud of them I was and how much fun we had together, they agreed that it was a great time. We exchanged kisses and I love yous and just as I was about to close the door I heard this: Β “When is daddy coming home?” and from the other one “I miss daddy!”. I shut the door and couldn’t help but smile. I missed their daddy too, especially in the morning when the dogs need to go out!!! πŸ˜‰

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Okay, who else out there is having a hard time believing that it is already October?? Well, it is getting hard to forget in Manhattan where all of the little pop up Hallowe’en stores are opening up around the city. The weather has that fall crispness in the air, sweater season is here and so is the pumpkin spice latte. I say embrace the ghouls and goblins and I don’t just mean the normal craziness on the streets of NYC πŸ˜‰ What are you going to be for Hallowe’en this year? Perhaps I will let my hair go wild…

Enter if you dare...

They even stalk you!

Hope everyone has a spectacular day and that you don’t find yourself walking by the dog toy (like I did), saying out loud “I hear ya sister!”:

Sometimes you just have one of those days =)

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