Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Central Park in spring, field trip in Central Park, Life in NYC, Living in Manhattan, Pics of Central Park, Wordless Wednesday, Wordless Wednesday Pics on May 1, 2013| Leave a Comment »
Today I had the pleasure of welcoming in May on a field trip with a second grade class. We went to Central Park and learned about climate and weather from one of the amazing Park Rangers. It was the perfect way to start the day. Central Park is simply spectacular right now. Enjoy the pics. Happy Wednesday and Happy May!!
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged cleaning out closets, cleaning out drawers, closet space in NYC, Life in NYC, Living in Manhattan, spring cleaning, Wordless Wednesday, Wordless Wednesday Pics on April 24, 2013| 1 Comment »
A few weeks ago I cleaned out the girls closets, sorted clothes, donated and filled up bags for the trash. It felt really good to get them organized. Yesterday it was my turn. Living in NYC can create interesting issues with space, we are pretty lucky with closet sizes, except for mine… somehow I seem to have the smallest of all the closets. It is not an easy task to keep clean. There are really no excuses for the drawers though… oops! And, remember there is no such thing as a basement so clothes need to be ruthlessly sorted into two categories as 1) “YES, I will definitely wear this, so it stays” and 2) “No, it must go”. There is no third option of “I will keep it just in case”. So, I spent most of yesterday, (yes it took THAT long!) and went through my closet and all my drawers. At the end of the day I felt pretty darn good and had two garbage bags to donate and two garbage bags for the trash. My only hope is that I can make these new neat and tidy spaces last 😉 Happy Wednesday everyone. It is a beautiful sunny day here in NYC. I hope wherever you are, you are embracing the day! xox Enjoy the pics and feel free to have a good laugh at my mess!
BEFORE
AFTER
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged blooms in Central Park, Central Park, finding hope and happiness after a tough week, Life in NYC, Living in Manhattan, pics of Central Park in Spring on April 20, 2013| 2 Comments »
It was a tough week. A long week filled with anxiety, stress, compassion and then just the everyday crazy of April- school testing, auction readiness, PA stuff, cranky kids, crazy schedules and the rest. Capped off by a Friday night spent glued in front of the television watching and holding my breath as a massive take down unfolded. Did I mention it was a long week?
So I awoke this morning feeling a little tired, a little worn out. I took my oldest to her drama class on the East side and then decided to walk home to clear my head. It was the perfect thing to do. The streets were quiet as the city just started to come alive, my absolute favorite time of the day. New York City takes awhile to wake up on the weekend, yawning and easing into the day. I love catching her as she wipes the sleep away 😉 It is incredibly peaceful.
As I crossed into Central Park I really began to relax. The park is just starting to really bloom and the colors are magnificent. People here were already out getting a head start on the day. Enjoying the beauty. Tourists, locals, athletes, buskers, vendors, the homeless, dogs and their walkers. A medley of people doing their own thing. It was wonderful and normal and gave me hope after a week shadowed by a dark cloud. I finally felt like I could take a deep breath. Just breathe.
Enjoy the photos, have a wonderful weekend and remember to find strength and love in the smallest of moments.
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged comfort, dealing with the effects of the Boston Marathon explosion, finding strength and peace during a difficult time, Life in NYC, Living in Manhattan, love, peace, spirituality, Wordless Wednesday, Wordless Wednesday Pics on April 17, 2013| Leave a Comment »
I am still processing what happened in Boston. As a runner, a spectator, a friend, a mother, a spouse… it just hit a little too close to home. There are no words to adequately describe the feelings of shock, anger, sadness, fear, anxiety, compassion and bewilderment. As my youngest put so innocently “Why would anyone do something like this?”. That is exactly the question that we can’t answer.
I am trying to focus on the amazing stories of human strength and courage. The hundreds of people who helped, the first responders, the outpouring of support from across the country and world. The fact that although there is darkness in this world, it will always be overcome by the light. It is in this thought that I find peace and comfort.
So, along those lines, my pics for Wordless Wednesday this week are moments over the past few days that are just little bursts of joy and happiness. I hope they make you smile and brighten your day. My thoughts and prayers go out to all those in Boston and beyond. Sending hugs, strength, courage and love to you all.
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged enjoying the beautiful weather, Life in NYC, live in NYC, Living in Manhattan, spring in manhattan, Wordless Wednesday on April 10, 2013| 1 Comment »
Were just meant for hanging out, enjoying the weather and reading a book with your best friend at your feet 🙂
The weather is finally showing some signs of Spring and Manhattan is coming alive again. It is glorious. Hope you are all enjoying some nice weather wherever you are today! Happy Wednesday!!
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Air and Space Museum, American Museum of Natural History Smithsonian, Ebbit's Grill, Jimmy T's Diner, Kramerbooks, Life in NYC, Living in Manhattan, Museum of American History, pics of Washington DC, spring break adventure in Washington DC, spy museum, Washington Zoo, Wordless Wednesday, Wordless Wednesday Pics on April 3, 2013| 1 Comment »
Spring Break is officially over. Two very sleepy girls made their way back to school today and I am happily sitting in a very quiet apartment getting some work done and organizing my life. It feels good to be on a bit of a schedule again. And did I mention how quiet it is??!! =)
We had a wonderful time on our long weekend adventure in Washington DC. It is a beautiful city and I feel like we covered a lot of ground but still have so much more to see! The good news is that I know that we will be back to explore. It is an incredibly clean, family friendly, easy to walk around city that has sights to see and historic landmarks on nearly every corner. We managed to go to the Zoo, American Museum of Natural History, Museum of American History, The Air & Space Museum and the Spy Museum with a few stops to see the numerous memorials and monuments along the way. Like I said, there is still so much to explore, we will definitely be back. Here are some pics from our trip, hope you enjoy them and here’s hoping that some Spring like weather will start showing up soon. Brrr!! Stay warm my friends and Happy Wednesday!
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Life in NYC, Living in Manhattan, pics of Spring Break fun, Spring Break, Spring Break activities, Wordless Wednesday on March 27, 2013| Leave a Comment »
The girls and I have been having tons of fun on these first few days of Spring Break. Of course there have been a few arguments and “I’m boreds” here and there, but for the most part we are enjoying our time together. And, we are counting down the hours until our whole family heads to Washington DC. Here are a few pics that capture some of our Spring Break moments. Hope you are all having a wonderful week no matter what you are doing. Happy Wednesday!
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged beating boredom, Grand Central Station, Heard NY, keeping sane while the kids are home on break, Life in NYC, lifestyle, Living in Manhattan, Maritime Aquarium, Mommy Poppins, NYC Parks Dept, planning with the kids, Spa Castle Queens, Spring Break, The Croods, Things to do during Spring Break in NYC, Time Out New York Kids, Whale Exhibit at AMNH on March 25, 2013| 3 Comments »
It is that time of year again… the week and half of Spring Break. And while it is a welcome break from homework, test prep, homework, afterschool activities, homework, test prep, making lunches and the hustle and bustle (nagging) of the morning rush to get out the door it also means that it is time to entertain or at least occupy the kids. What mother or father doesn’t cringe at the whiny kid voice of “I’m bored!!”?? Seriously, it is worse than nails on a chalkboard. In my mind “I’m bored” translates to “I’m spoiled” because seriously, most kids I know including mine, do not have it too rough and have plenty of things to do around the apartment 😉
But, that being said, I really do look forward to planning some cool activities for the kids and I to do over Spring Break. I mean we live in NYC, how freakin’ bored can we be????!!! We will be spending part of the break out of the city as we head to Washington, DC. on Friday for a long weekend and we are all pretty excited. This is the first time we will be there as a family and we can’t wait to explore all of the amazing sites. It seems to be a pretty popular NYC ‘weekend away’ destination as we know at least 5 other families who are also going to DC for the weekend. Until we head out on that adventure I have planned a few fun things to do in the NYC area for the next four days. If you are racking your brain for some things to do, take a peek or feel free to share your own ideas. Also if you have any MUST DO’s for Washington, please share those as well. Most of all, Happy Spring Break, have fun and don’t forget your patience, sanity and if all else fails, reach for the wine 😉
My Spring Break Ideas:
*visit the new Whale Exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History -the AMNH never disappoints and we can spend a couple of hours there or most of the day, plus Shake Shack is right around the corner- YUM!
*we are going to spend a girls day shopping, the girls are at the age where they are actually excited to browse through the racks of clothing and they both need some new clothes for spring. We may even pretend we are tourists and head on into Times Square & mid-town to go to American Eagle 77 Kids, American Girl and other shops on 5th avenue. Mommy might need a drink at lunch 😉
*this week at Grand Central Station (that is turning 100 years old this year) there are many cool events including performances by “Heard NY” where dancers dressed like beautiful horses give two performances a day in the grand hall. Definitely not something to miss.
*we will be going to see “The Croods”. Looks like a hilariously fun family movie, one that I am actually looking forward to seeing.
*we will also be getting ready for Easter by visiting Michael’s and getting dye and decorations for eggs, that is about as crafty as I get. And of course, we will have to visit Barnes & Noble because everyone needs a new book to sit down and read when the weather is crummy- we are expecting snow today!!!!
*hopefully the weather will start warming up and we can do one of our favorite activities in the city, exploring parks and playgrounds in different neigborhoods- www.nycgovparks.org
*if we are feeling especially adventurous we can do some day trips out of Manhattan, a friend of mine just told me about the Spa Castle in Queens where children are allowed to go with their parents to enjoy the hot/cold tubs and relax. Now that definitely sounds like my kind of mom/daughter day! Maybe I can even sneak in a massage…
*another quick trip is to the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk, CT. Just jump on the train and you can walk from the station to the aquarium. Norwalk is a pretty waterfront town to explore with great shops and restaurants too!
*a couple of great resources when looking for things to do with kids in NYC are: Time Out New York Kids and Mommy Poppins, they always have up to the minute ‘what is going on in the city’, be sure to check them out for ideas, including neighborhood specific ideas.
Worst case scenario, we will just have to get out and pound the pavement… you never know what you might find on the streets of NYC! It is always an adventure… and I am sure we will be able to find one! 😉
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged a beautiful morning for a walk, going for a walk in NYC, Life in NYC, Living in Manhattan, living in NYC, Pics of NYC, Spring in NYC, Walking the dog in NYC, Wordless Wednesday, Wordless Wednesday Pics on March 13, 2013| Leave a Comment »
Lately the NYC weather has been totally unpredictable, we have had rain, snow, sleet, slush and just plain yuck. So, this morning when I awoke to beautiful sunshine and not so cold temps, I decided to take advantage of it and take Dopey out for a walk. Here are some pics of our morning walk that I snapped along the way. Hope you enjoy them! Happy Wednesday everyone, Spring is definitely in the air!!!
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged home for sale, Life in NYC, Living in Manhattan, missing friends, moving from Ottawa, Moving to NYC, nostalgia, Wordless Wednesday on March 6, 2013| 4 Comments »
Yesterday my girlfriend from Ottawa, Nina, texted me to let me know that the house that we lived in before me moved to NYC was for sale. Her exact text was “It’s a sign! Your house is up for sale. Time to move back home.” I laughed and responded that she needed to send me the link as I needed to stalk the pictures. And I immediately went online to check out our once beloved home.
When I saw the pics, I had to admit my first thought was “Holy crap, that is a lot of snow and thank God I do not have to shovel that!” my second thought was “Wow, the house is HUGE, what the hell did we do with all that space??!!”. But then as I shuffled through the rooms and looked at furniture in all the wrong places and rooms painted different colors, I couldn’t help but be a bit nostalgic. I do miss that kitchen… a BIG kitchen with tons of space but most of all I miss the incredible gatherings that we hosted in that kitchen, especially the “Late But Great”. I miss my bathtub, in the bathroom that Ron and I so carefully designed. But the thing I miss the most is the ‘Creek and all of the wonderful memories that we made there. I miss my amazing friends that are still there. Sniff. And no, we will not be putting any offers on any properties in the old ‘hood, but it does make my heart a little fuller knowing that Ottawa and this house will always feel a bit like “home”, even if we have moved on. I am feeling very lucky and thankful today to have such amazing people in my life on both sides of the border. Happy Wednesday and love to you all!! xox
It's Always An Adventure 