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Posts Tagged ‘life in Manhattan’

Some Random Thoughts on a Friday the 13th

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , on May 13, 2011| 1 Comment »

Happy Friday the 13th

Well, here it is Friday the 13th. I am not really a superstitious person so I am really just going about my day as I would any other day. I will even walk under ladders, cross paths with a black cat and put shoes on a table. Hmm… maybe I am just tempting bad things to happen. One thing I will NEVER do is say “Macbeth” in a theatre, I am not crazy!! 😉

Anyhoo, I have a few thoughts that I wanted to share with you, my reflections on some things that happened this week. It is getting a wee bit busy, the school year is drawing to a close for the girls, the weather is nicer, vacations and camps are being planned. As for me, I need to start figuring out my own path as to how I am going to fit in, in this big city. I am getting the itch to get back to work, but the big question is what and where?? But before I delve into THAT discussion here are the things that have been part of my life this week:

  • I can be a big old badass mother bear with NYC attitude when provoked. I got into a confrontation outside of the girls school this week when two jerks decided to be nasty to the kids for just being kids. Nothing infuriates me more than people putting down children for behaving in a fun way especially when the jackasses had chosen to walk in front of the elementary school!! When mama bear ‘ain’t happy, ‘ain’t nobody happy- grrrr!!
  • On that note, I should NEVER watch daytime tv. I tuned in to “The View” yesterday to see my good friend Bobby C. perform a number from the Broadway show “Anything Goes” (which was awesome!) but unfortunately I also saw a segment about a woman who was giving her 8 year old daughter botox treatments. I was sickened and outraged. Really? How is this even allowed? Such a sad world we live in that 8 year old girls cannot just be left alone to be little kids without body image issues. Ugh. Daytime t.v. = Rage!
  • My own lovely daughter swallowed a chain necklace last night. Yes, yes she did. For the first time I thought I would be taking a trip to the local emergency department. However, there is a wonderful service at our pediatrician’s office where you can phone and leave a message with the service and the actual doctor with call you back. We did not have this in Ottawa. It is awesome. Within 15 minutes our doctor had called us back and reassured us that she would be fine and that the chain would eventually come to pass. We are now on poop watch. Fun times!!
  • The weather in NYC this week has been absolutely gorgeous. Temps in the 70’s and beautiful cloudless sunny blue skies. I have been loving it, my only complaint is allergies. Whoa. Who knew that NYC would be such an intense area for springtime allergies? The trees are everywhere and they are pouring pollen into the air. If you sit down on a park bench you can actually see the pollen attach itself to your clothes. My eyes have not been happy. Luckily, there are many different non-prescription drugs available. Although in NYC you have to show i.d. to purchase them. Who knew? Something about meth users… sad. I learn something new every day.
  • Ron gave me a t-shirt one time with the slogan “My playground is Big” it reminds me of how I felt this week. I was a bit bummed because this was the perfect weather for sitting outside in the backyard with a cup of tea and the newspaper or a good book. Only now, living in an apartment we don’t have any outdoor space of our own. So, I decided to grab a tea and head to the park. I found a bench in the sun where very few people were wandering by and enjoyed some wonderful solitude reading as the birds chirped and the occasional cab honking sounded in the background. I thought to myself “My backyard is big”. Sometimes it is tempting to hang out in your apartment but if you get up and out, there are many incredible spaces in NYC to enjoy the outdoors.
  • A lot of thoughts have been rattling around in my brain this week. Planning, stressing, planning some more, thinking or just plain over analyzing ;), the best cure for this is to get out and walk. The endless space to walk in this city really is a true treasure. Pounding the pavement is a great stress reliever.
  • But, I also have had to remind myself to slow down a bit. Chill out. Take the time to breathe, even if my nose is stuffed up! The days move fast and it is easy to get caught up in the whirlwind. It is okay to step out of it sometimes and crawl at your own pace. I have been reading more this week. It helps me to centre and pause for a moment. Even if it is just for five minutes, it is is worth it.

Well, I am just happy it’s Friday, thanks for reading my end of week ramblings =), hope you have a spectacular weekend!

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Wordless Wednesday: Walking Down Riverside Drive

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , on May 11, 2011| 6 Comments »

Over the last couple of days, the weather in NYC has been absolutely spectacular. Sunny, cloudless skies with temps in the low 70’s. My kind of perfect. I would be happy if the days of summer were all like this but I know that the heat and humidity are right around the corner. On that note, I have been trying to get out as much as possible to enjoy every moment of it. On Monday I took the Dopey dog on a massive walk- 92 blocks to be exact (Bogie was happy to stay at home and chill on the couch!). The view coming down Riverside Drive and the park was soo beautiful I took some pics to share with you. Hope you enjoy them. Have a wonderful day =)

Riverside Drive

Beautiful archway at 124th and Riverside Park

Love this massive tree in the middle of the sidewalk

Rear view of General Grant's National Memorial

Tile mosaic around the memorial

General Grant National Memorial Front View

Tree lined walkway

Riverside Church

Sun streaming over the apartment buildings

Community garden in Riverside park (Please Enjoy The Garden)

Doorway of one of the gorgeous buildings along Riverside Dr.

Building artwork

Soldiers and Sailors Monument

My handsome walking companion- Dopey 😉

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Spring Break: Day Two

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , on April 19, 2011| Leave a Comment »

So, yes it did rain today, but I did not panic 😉 Instead, we woke up and had a leisurely morning in the apartment. The girls even persuaded me to make biscuits and bacon. There was some relaxation and very little fighting. The only thing on our agenda was a movie. Perfect.

We made a quick stop at Barnes & Noble as A just HAD to have the new “Dork Diaries” book and I have a hard time saying no to books… if you she loves to read I am not going to discourage it!

Rs book choice

A trying to make a choice with some help from her crazy sister!

We then headed down to the movie theatre to see the flick “Soul Surfer”. The girls loved the movie. They were at equal times mesmerized, excited and teary. It was a great movie with an excellent message about perseverance. I am super excited that the girls are actually branching out and wanting to go to non animated films. I am not sure I could have handled “Hop” today.

We ended the day with a quick trip to Trader Joe’s where we picked up a few essentials for the week such as brownie mix, lemonade, popcorn and other bribes, um, I mean treats. In case of another rainy day emergency I am will not be caught without baking options and sustenance 😉

A checking out her new book while on line in Trader Joes

Thanks to some tips from a couple of good blogger friends, I also have a few other indoor back up plans, including Moomah and the new dinosaur exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History. It always pays to be one step ahead when the dreaded “Mom, what are we doing today???!!!” question is asked 😉 Have a fabulous evening.

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A Weekend Away With The Ladies

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , on April 11, 2011| 4 Comments »

Sometimes you just need a weekend away to renew, restore, re-energize. And this past weekend I was lucky enough to do just that with three fabulous friends on a weekend adventure to Ottawa and Montreal. This was my first visit back to Canada in 9 months. It was a bit of a culture shock to say the least. My big joke about Ottawa is that what they lack in height they make up for in width. There are beautiful, sprawling wide open spaces everywhere!! After landing in the super quiet, empty Ottawa airport the lovely Kelly took me to Starbucks at the local Chapters and then we made a quick stop at Farm Boy, one of the local grocery stores. I enjoyed simply standing in the large aisles looking at the rows and rows of merchandise and then leisurely wandering around the store with no one yelling at me to move out of the way or running me over with their buggy. It was odd to be driving around in a car without dodging and weaving through traffic and pedestrians. Back in the old ‘hood of Findlay Creek it was wonderful to catch up with old friends and simply enjoy being back. A hot tub under the stars was a truly spectacular treat. Despite the pitch dark room and the lack of noise, I had a great sleep in the guest room in the basement. A basement that I observed was bigger than most Manhattan apartments 😉

A View of Butterfly Park in the Creek (Yes, that is STILL snow on the ground!)

Streetscape in Findlay Creek- look at all the space!!

View from the car-blue sky and trees

The whirlwind 24 hour trip included a quick visit with my parents and a reunion with some colleagues and students at the high school where I used to teach. It was a bit overwhelming but it made my heart happy to re-connect with some of the people that I have been missing since our big move. On Friday after lunch, our road trip began and four wild and crazy moms headed to Montreal for a wee bit of fun without kids or husbands. We arrived at the fabulous Le Crystal Hotel and promptly started exploring the city in search of a suitable patio to sit on and enjoy a beverage. Starting the weekend off right…

Nina, Denise and Kelly

The weekend was a perfect mixture of laughter, drinks, great food, relaxation, shopping, dancing and a bit of “What happens in Montreal, stays in Montreal!”.

Our new friends from Chicago- band-aids courtesy of some table dancing gone wrong.

A bachelor party dressing up to go out

The only thing missing was sleep, although we did have a chance to lounge by the beautiful rooftop hot tub and pool.

Heavenly

It was hard to say good-bye to my good friends at the end of the weekend and I had to admit that I was a little apprehensive about going back to the Big Apple. I had really enjoyed the open spaces and slower pace. Did I really miss NYC? Would it feel like coming home? Would I be happy to be back in Manhattan?

Love!

As the plane touched down at LaGuardia, immediately the energy changed. People were up and moving. The buzz of excitement began. Tourists pulled out maps, native New Yorkers walked at an impossible pace. It was crowded and noisy. I got in the taxi line. The taxi zipped and weaved through heavy traffic. We crossed the bridge over into Manhattan just as the sun was setting behind the buildings. And that is when it really hit me. I was coming home, I live here on this crowded, crazy Island. It was better than good to be back, it was right. I WAS home. This was my new reality and I had missed it. Last night I crawled into my bed and snuggled under the covers letting the sounds of the garbage trucks, sirens and car horns lull me to sleep.

In the end the weekend was exactly what I needed. A perfect escape with cherished friends. A bit of me time. Also, a bit of time for reflection about the past, present and future. It really is always an adventure… except when it is not, because sometimes your only job is to “change the paper”- right, Kel, Nina and D??!! 😉

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Wordless Wednesday: Hints of Spring in the City

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , on April 6, 2011| 1 Comment »

The Great Lawn (Central Park)

Cherry Blossoms- Central Park

Belvedere Castle- Central Park

A nap in the sun!

Macy's Flower Show

Macy's Flower Show as seen from the wooden escalator

Daffodils popping up on Columbus Avenue

Brownstone planters

Rainy view down 6th Ave (Avenue of the Americas)

A bit of drizzle can't dim the lights of Radio City Music Hall

The flags blowing in the wind at Rockefeller Center

A little something left over from Winter 😉

There has been lots of rain falling but it is a gentle spring rain and a warm breeze. Yes my friends, I think I actually feel the first signs of warmer weather in the air!! Enjoy!

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A Fabulous Biking Adventure With Schwinn!

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , on April 4, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Last week the girls and I were invited to a playdate with Schwinn Bikes. The purpose of the event was to “showcase the latest Schwinn bikes and to get the entire family motivated for spring and summer bicycling fun!” It sounded like a fabulous idea, especially with all of the crappy winter-like weather that we have been having, so the girls and I headed downtown to check it out. A & R were especially excited because they had both outgrown their old bikes and we did not bring them with us when we moved to NYC last summer. They had not been able to ride bikes in almost a year. I figured it would be a great opportunity for all of us to check out some bikes as we were definitely in the market now that warmer weather would be arriving. Those great trails along the Hudson were calling our names…

We arrived at the Altman building and the girls eyes immediately lit up. There was a line of very cool Schwinn bikes set out before us, but best of all, just behind the bikes was an indoor track set up for taking the bicycles for a test ride. A & R could barely contain their excitement and immediately started asking to go and ride a bike.

Fabulous Schwinn bikes on display

The staff working the room were incredibly welcoming, knowledgeable and child-friendly. They immediately set the girls up with helmets and bikes and I could barely check our coats before my two little daredevils were racing around the room. It was soo much fun watching them ride bikes indoors in Manhattan!

R loving the freedom of zipping around the room!

A taking the corners like a pro!

While the girls were having a blast practising their moves, I was able to walk around and check out the amazing bikes from Schwinn. The representatives were very helpful, laid back and easy to talk too. I tried not to get too attached to any one bike because I think owning more than two bikes in a Manhattan apartment might just send my husband over the edge 😉 But is was tempting… oh, soo tempting, especially since there were soo many city-friendly and retro-cool models.

I have to say that I really enjoyed the casual and fun atmosphere of this event. The attention to detail especially in regard to the children was a nice touch. There was face painting and child approved treats like chicken fingers, mozzarella sticks and popsicles. Even the big kids (adults) got to have their fun trying out the bikes and enjoying a much needed summer time activity.

The girls with painted faces and popsicles

The biggest excitement of the evening came towards the end when Olympic Gold Medalist Summer Sanders started raffling off bikes. It was like Christmas morning as children and adults won bikes to take home. We were very fortunate to win the little girls bike that R had been trying out. And then the BIG surprise came, they announced that every child who did not win a bike would be getting one delivered to their home!! Unbelievable. I was blown away by this generous gesture. A, who was feeling a bit bummed was now beaming from ear to ear. R was beyond excited about taking her bike home and insisted on riding it to the subway. Both girls did not take their helmets off until we actually got to our apartment. It was all the girls could talk about the next day.

R and Daddy trying out her new bike in Central Park on Sunday

A BIG thank you to Schwinn for the brand new girls bikes that will be spent exploring the pathways of NYC! As for me, I am still trying to figure out if I can sneak a third bike into the apartment… shhh…

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Wordless Wednesday: Kindergarten Trip to the Theatre

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , on March 30, 2011| 4 Comments »

Yesterday I took part in the wild and crazy adventure of helping to chaperone 25 kindergarten students on the subway to Times Square and the theatre district to see the Theatre Works USA show of the beloved children’s book “Click, Clack, Moo!” (by Doreen Cronin). The energy level was high as our well behaved group of six K classes walked by horrified tourists who surely wondered how actual children lived in Manhattan 😉 (I joke, I joke- sort of) A great time was had by all. Hope you enjoy the pics!!

Goofing off on the subway

Arriving in Times Square

Bright Lights, Big City

Passing "Uncle Bobby's Theatre"- Anything Goes

We have arrived!

The set for "Click, Clack, Moo!"

Waiting to see the show...

Heading back out into the excitement of Times Square

One last bit of a "cool" thing to see before...

saying goodbye to the "drama" and heading uptown =)

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Yep, I am complaining about the weather…

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , on March 25, 2011| Leave a Comment »

I know, I know, we are all sick of winter weather but hey, it IS spring. What happened? Why am I still wearing boots, gloves and a big puffy coat? Since I just recently moved from Ottawa, Canada, I should be used to a never ending winter. The problem is, last Friday it was 70 degrees and the whole city just seemed to take a deep sigh of relief. There was a bounce in people’s step, smiles were shared and the city seemed to have a whole renewed sense of energy.

And then Monday came and the temperatures plunged. The days following were filled with sleet, hail, rain, snow and gloomy skies. Just like the temps, people’s attitudes and outlooks dropped too. There was grumbling and groaning and not just from me. Once again all we could talk about was the weather. The general consensus is that Mother Nature is cruel, very cruel. My daughter’s even started whining about the weather. R said “this is NOT the way spring is supposed to be” and A said “I thought if it came in like a lion, it was supposed to go out like a lamb”. Indeed.

I know it could always be worse. Given what is happening around the world, I should probably just suck it up. I also know that in a few months we will be complaining about how HOT we are and how there is no relief from the heat. That is just the way it goes. Canadians are NOT the only people who like to talk about the weather 😉

The thing is, is that I am getting really impatient for actual spring like weather in NYC. Everyone keeps telling me how incredible New York is in the springtime. How it is their favorite time of the year. I can’t wait. I want to experience it. Just like everyone else, I am tired of the drab winter boots, I want to break out the new spring sneakers and dare I say it, the mighty flip flop. I want patio drinks and walks through Central Park while everything is in bloom. Long walks in the sunset…=)

Alright, enough ranting for today. After all, it IS Friday and the sun IS shining (even though it is freezing out) so I will leave you with all with WARM wishes and positive vibes. May the company you keep, be all the warmth you need. xoxo

Cold weather isn't bothering them...

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No Sex on the UWS, Please.

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , on February 18, 2011| 3 Comments »

Controversial Equinox Ad at the corner of 77th/Amsterdam- right beside the playground at an UWS elementary school

Recently in our neighborhood there has been much discussion and debate about the current Equinox Fitness advertising campaign. The heated debates are sparked by the above ad and it’s placement at a street corner that is right beside one of the local public elementary schools on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Approximately 700+ kindergarten to 5th grade students (with their parents/caregivers) as well as middle school students from surrounding areas walk by the advertisement daily on their way to and from school. Much of the debate has been centred around the fact that many parents think that Equinox acted irresponsibly by advertising in an area that is clearly populated with school age children.

Manhattan is no stranger to this type of shock advertising. In fact you can see it all over the place. I first saw the Equinox ads in the Chelsea area. I thought that they were funny but that they were clearly targeting a different audience than myself. The ads did not make me want to run out and join their gym. At this point in my life I try and stay away from a gym whose ads seems to suggest a workout that involves casual sex, skimpy attire and obsession with body image. No thanks, I like to sweat, make-up free without any judgement on my abs or lack there of.

We actually walk by two Equinox ads on the way to school

I guess this is why I am a little confused by Equinox’ choice to run their ad campaign so close to the school. What demographic is their brand trying to reach out to? Yes, this intersection is a high traffic area but instead of gaining positive attention from the advertising campaign, they have received the exact opposite effect due to the fact that parents have had an immediate visceral “momma/daddy” bear reaction to a depiction of sex on the street corner. I am not sure that this is a wise decision given the fact that there are a numerous fitness establishments to chose from that are within walking distance of the school including the JCC, Pure Yoga, Reebok and NYSC.

As a recent implant to NYC, I find the whole uproar around this ad campaign quite interesting to watch. After all, we are residents of Manhattan, the mecca of advertising. We are bombarded by billboards on a daily basis and well, we all know what Times Square looks like =). I am constantly explaining the meaning of different advertisements to my daughters as we walk down the street. Shock ads are everywhere and unless you intend to live in a bubble, I suggest that you use this type of advertising as a way to open discussion. We have to walk by more than one ad on the way to school that provokes some kind of question. Instead of trying to shelter my children from the ad, I explained why I thought the ad was inappropriate and we also discussed the way marketers target certain groups of people. To be honest, they became bored pretty fast and forgot about the whole thing when we saw a display for Valentine’s cupcakes.

We decided to live in this amazing city with it’s incredible opportunities as well as it’s pitfalls, one of them being the undeniable fact that in some ways NYC kids grow up a little bit faster. Yes, I think Equinox acted irresponsibly in placing a clearly sexual ad right beside an elementary school. But as parents, it is our responsibility to address these discussion-provoking opportunities not avoid them. That being said, I am really glad that my eight year old seemed oblivious to this ad (below) that popped up in the subway not long after we moved here. Some discussions can wait 😉 Have a great day, and alway remember to try and keep a sense of humor!

Ad at a local Subway stop (advertising a movie)

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Saturday

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , on February 5, 2011| 5 Comments »

There is something wonderful about Saturday mornings. Maybe it is the simple fact that there is the absence of the frenetic pace and hustle and bustle of the weekday morning rush and panic. There really is no better feeling than waking up without an alarm clock rolling over, looking at the time and realizing you can leisurely stretch and get out of bed on your own time. And the best thing of all is that  you can stay in your jammies if you want to! This morning Ron came back from walking the dogs with H&H Bagels and Starbucks. Have I mentioned lately how much I love this man??!! We sat down at the table and read the NYTimes while the kids watched cartoons. Total Bliss.

I have really come to appreciate the weekends in New York City. It is the exact opposite of what life was like in Ottawa. Instead of rushing to get groceries, jamming in tons of activities, spending the day in the car racing from one thing to the next, we try to take it easy. The pace during the week is pretty intense. Ron works long hours, the girls have homework and other activities so we like to think of the weekends as family time. I am taking full advantage of the fact that I do not have to grocery shop on the weekend with the rest of the crowds and avoid the markets at all costs. If we run out of milk, I send Ron. Weekend shoppers are like extreme racers, get out of their way if you want to make it out alive! Since we are still new to the city we usually spend some part of the weekend exploring one of the neighborhoods or seeing a sight or museum. Or sometimes we just hang out and go to a movie.

Today we headed on down to Chelsea Piers where the girls are taking classes. Yes, we actually signed them up for classes on Saturday, mostly because we fell in love with the area and the facility. Also, we liked the fact that they could attend midday and we wouldn’t have to rush out first thing in the morning. It is pretty stress free. We take the subway down to Chelsea and then walk a few blocks to the pier. The girls attend their classes and Ron and I get to chill out and watch them in an area with lots of brightly lit seating and wi-fi. Afterwards we can go to Chelsea Market for a late lunch, wander into the village or hop on the subway to head off on a different adventure.

Ron and "A" chilling out at Chelsea Piers

"R" sticking her landing

"A" at her fun and fit class

"R" relaxing after class

After classes today we headed back uptown. Ron bravely stopped at Trader Joe’ s and Fairway for some Super Bowl munchies while I took the girls home. It is a cold, damp, gloomy day in Manhattan. There is a threat of freezing rain. It is a perfect night to cuddle up with popcorn, hot chocolate and a family movie and that is exactly what we are going to do. Tomorrow will bring church, laundry, more family time, good friends watching the game… but lurking right around the corner is the madness of Monday. I think that is why I love Saturday, it is nicely cushioned between Friday and Sunday. A true day of relaxation. Enjoy!

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