Merry Christmas & Happy New Year! See you in 2014!

Isabel Christmas 2012. 

Today Christmas vacation begins! We are looking forward to spending two whole uninterrupted weeks upstate in our new home! We leave tomorrow... so today I will tie up some up loose ends such as buying my own Christmas presents...hey why not...Valentino's too busy so I told him I'd be glad to help out.

When we are upstate we will most likely just relax, entertain various friends we have coming to visit, try some outdoor activities like skiing and sledding, and maybe even tackle a home project...or maybe not. Overall,  it really will be about spending quality time together,  reflecting on the past year,  and planning for the year to come!

I wish you all a safe and happy Christmas and New Year! See you in 2014!

If you would like some entertainment over the next two weeks...here are some fun things from around the web!

• Oxford dictionary word of the year...try to guess what it is before you click! I did and was so surprised I was correct!
• I wasn't surprised to read that this is a real life phobia.
• And since 60%+ people aged 18-43 have this phobia here are some pointers on how to detox.
• We ended up going to this restaurant for my birthday dinner...I didn't realize how much went into making the steak frites I ate until I read this. Fascinating! 
• I am a big fan of the 40 watt incandescent light bulb...like a really big fan. Um...did you know that after January 1st they will become extinct? Yep, better start stockpiling now!
• Finally...we should all have the chance to live carefree...even if only for a second 

A Must See!

My friend Bruno sent me this Unicef Holiday Ad last night...quite possibly the funniest thing you will see today! Enjoy! 

One Week Until Christmas!

 I saw this cheeky doormat at this store (which I love by the way) but you can get it here too! On another note...Christmas is only a week away. I can't believe I am saying this but I almost have all of my shopping done. Hurray! How is your shopping coming? Are you a last minute shopper? Or do you prefer to get it out of the way? One recommendation I have for everyone...ONLINE!

Speak and Spell: The Original iPad?

Yesterday when I was getting my hair done, my stylist and I were discussing Christmas gifts. I mentioned I wanted to get this for Valentino and asked her if she remembered playing it as a kid. She then reminded me of the Speak and Spell. We had a good laugh watching the commercial. Kids today wouldn't even know what to make of the creepy android voice, slow speed, and limited capabilities of a Speak and Spell...Take a look and see what I mean. 

And while we are on the topic of technology, have you ever asked Suri 'who let the dogs out'? If not ...I highly recommend you do! 

Happy Birthday to Me!

"The Clock is running. Make the most of today. Time waits for no man. Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That's why it's called the present." 

-Alice Morse Earle

Today I turn 37 years old. I am now in my late thirties...gulp! I need to make some big life decisions in the next few years. I want to face 40 with a stronger sense of self and a clearer vision of my future. Alot can be accomplished in three short years...right?

But...Since today is really all that matters...and since today is my birthday... I have the following planned...

• My amazing hair colorist is making a house call to paint me blonder! (She recently moved to Tennessee and is here for this week only)! 
• My children will be either at school or with a babysitter so I can indulge in full pampering!
• My dear friend Renee will be coming at 5pm with her two kiddos for a glass of wine and some birthday conversation.
• I will then meet Valentino in the city for oysters, steak, and cake!

A Lady and Her Fur.

***(Note to reader...no red paint please)

Baby,  it's cold outside. Yesterday when I was at the grocery store this woman strolled in wearing an amazing fur! She looked so fabulous...just jeans, sneakers, and this great fur! I couldn't help but notice her on a few different occasions in the store...maybe it was the fur or maybe it was just her aura but she shopped for her food with such ease and grace. In homage to that lady and the fur...a few choice pictures below. Have a great weekend...and stay warm whether it be in a parka, toggle, or fur (if you are so lucky)!

All photos taken from various street style sites.

The Sunshine State.

My Mom has decided to spend most of her winter in Florida instead of Illinois...my Uncle Mike has chosen to move there permanently! Good choice. Can we come visit soon?

If Santa Brings Such Joy...Why All the Tears?

I love showing off my 'Creepy Santa' photo year- after -year. The look in his beady eyes is priceless and  that big smile that I have...well...not many kids look this happy on Santa's lap...as proven by the series of photos I found below.

While I may be smiling,  my hands suggest some nervous tension.

My God...how could you do this to us Mom?

Death Santa...

Just a Creep...

Bedroom Eyes...Santa.

Love this one...this is how I imagine Stella to be if I were to take her to visit Santa.

Check out that Creepy soldier in the background...Scary!

Serial Killer...Santa.

Guess the balloon didn't do much to calm her nerves...

Most photos taken from Creepy Santa Photos.

Let's Talk Christmas Trees.

Now that the girls are getting older I would like to create some unique holiday traditions. To begin with I decided this year that we would get a living tree for our Brooklyn home. Since we now have a yard upstate I thought it would be nice (and so green of me)  to get a tree that would be able to give back well past Christmas Day. We chose this cute little Blue Spruce...now we just have to keep him comfortable in our too hot/too cold apartment until December 20... when we will then be able to bring him upstate to be planted in the yard.

More on the subject of Christmas trees... did you ever consider that when you buy a Christmas tree you could also be buying any other living thing that is in the tree! This has been on my mind this year as last year my friend Renee had a tree that was infested with stink bugs...yep...mama stink bug decided to hatch her babies right in Renee's living room. When I mentioned this to the lady at the tree farm this year she said that she knew someone who had gotton a tree with a pinworms and another with preying mantises...Happy Tree Shopping!

We loaded the Blue Spruce onto the stroller and brought him home. 

Some lights (we skipped the ornaments as we didn't want to stress hime out)  a tree skirt quilted by my Mom  (thanks Mom)  and the tree trimming was complete. 

This will be the trees future home...we had a light dusting of snow Saturday morning...made my dawn wake up call  much more bearable!

Ok...so we also will be getting a real tree for our upstate house too!!! I can't resist. We were going to pick one out this weekend but Valentino convinced me to wait until Dec 20th as we will be away for the next two weeks and the tree could possibly dry out. Here Isabel is in front of the Douglas Fir I would have chosen.  

In lieu of decorating a tree this weekend I decided to teach Isabel how to make Paper Snowflakes. We  have  to make a few more before our window is complete.

A Perfect Day.

Do you ever have one of those days that just goes perfectly or as the late Lou Reed sang "A Perfect Day."? Yesterday was one of those days for me. It really was quite simple...it wasn't like anything magical happened...it was just one of those days where everything seemed to go smoothly and I was left thinking hey... I got this Mom thing down fair and square. The day started out with an early wake up call from Stella (6am), then I went for a quick run while Valentino watched the girls, picked Isabel up from school at 11am, Isabel went to the dentist 11:30am, Stella fell asleep in her stroller so Isabel and I were able to enjoy a quiet lunch together, then we picked out a Christmas tree, loaded it into the car, headed over to Fasttracks where Isabel is being tutored, Stella and I did a little Christmas shopping at this store (one of my favorites), came home and ordered sushi, babysitter came at 7:30pm, I headed out to meet Valentino at C21 for a little holiday browsing, this movie at 9:30pm, and then in bed around 1am! Yikes I was soooo tired...but had a smile on my face all day none-the-less. Let's make a toast to having a perfect day everyday!

Coloring the Past

I am loving these photos that have been repurposed from black and white to color. Seeing these historic images transformed really changes the perspective of time. When you look at the photos in black and white they seems so old timey... it's hard to imagine being in that place and time. However when you look at same photo updated it really creates a new reality and allows you to live more vicariously through the image. What do you think? Do you prefer the color or black and white?

Unemployed Lumber Worker and His Wife, circa 1939

Audrey Hepburn

Louisville, Kentucky, 1937 (Photo credit: Sanna Dullaway)

Operation: Crossroads Atomic Detonation (Photo credit: Sanna Dullaway) 

Kissing the War Goodbue, 1945 Sanna Dullaway

Albert Einstein in Long Island, 1939 (photo credit: Paul Edwards)

Thought of the Day

I couldnt't agree more! 

Where Have You Been?

Hello there! Last Tuesday we decided to load up the car and head upstate a day early! Being there for five days was great and we really made some progress. We now have a place to sit and sleep, can make a proper meal (we even managed to make an amazing Thanksgiving dinner), can connect to the internet (so you won't have to wait a week before hearing from me again)!, and even have a television (Black Friday deals were too good to pass up). We had friends up from NYC and did some more exploring of the town. Life is good!

Here are some pictures if you would like to see what we were up to...

There is a vanity in the master bath...we've played 'Mirror Mirror on the Wall'...numerous times...

Photoshoot Gone Bad!

Last week we went to the mall to take Christmas photos. I was hoping to re-create the aesthetic of my childhood Christmas photos...cheerful Christmas setting...happy smiling child. I spent time and money styling two separate "looks",  got the kids ready, made it to the mall on time, and low and behold Stella decided to have a classic meltdown right there in the photo studio. I was crushed! The perfect Christmas photo I had idealized were not to be realized. Isabel was upset because she wanted to have her photo taken. I couldn't exactly have taken her picture only...hmmm...photoshop Stella in?

My photo when I was young.

I decided to look at the bright side...kids got to play at the mall.

...and eat McDonald's pancakes (don't judge)!

oh...and Isabel got these Sketchers sneakers!

Our New Home!

What a weekend! We woke up in Brooklyn and instantly wished we were back in our new house! The weekend was so crazy and full of excitement! House closing, house exploring ( is this really our house)?, raking leaves, shopping, exploring the town, meeting with friends (who also have a home in Woodstock), meeting with caretaker, neighbors, landscaper, I could go on and on. There are so many things I want to tell you but I am not sure I could even explain the feeling that this house has already provided me. 

One thing I will share, that I found most interesting, is the difference in attitude the people in Woodstock (and upstate for that matter) have from those in NYC. Woodstock folk are much more sensitive and we quickly realized we will need to tread lightly. First example...there is not much tolerance for small children fussing in restaurants (even for two minutes)...second example don't call people more than once to get things done...they will call you back when they are good and ready! 

Overall the most important lesson I learned is that a house is only as good as the family inside! Without the kids and Valentino the house has no heart and soul...you can buy a sofa, table, bed, etc...but friends and family are the foundation of a home! 

I was so busy all weekend taking it all in that I didn't take many photos...here are the ones I did take...I will take more for sure in the coming weeks.

This is the living room...one of the only things the previous owners left were these shelves. 

First night we lit a fire and slept on the mattress in the living room...my idea of course!

Living room with a few toys strewn across the room...

They also left this kitchen table (thankfully)... coffee and Sunday Times made for a relaxing Sunday morning.

Kitchen view...I tried to include the skylight but this photo doesn't do it justice.

Adventuring...Let the New Chapter Begin!

Hello! Wow! Tonight out new home adventure begins! We will drive 2.5hrs upstate, stay with our friends in New Paltz, and by 2pm tomorrow have the keys to our house in Woodstock! How cool is that! I am sure we will feel a combination of emotions...excitement (looking forward to making memories), anxiety (what have we just done)???, relief (finally...the waiting game is over) and so on...but for now I am going to follow the advice below!

I am signing off for the rest of the week today,  as I will not have internet service for the remainder of the weekend! Have a good one!

All photos taken from Pinterest.

Welcome to the World Andrew Mark!

Isabel and Jack...January 2013.

Kelly...1981. I think Jack looks alot like her...but he is a good combination of both of them!

Today my favorite sister Kelly is having a baby! This will be her second boy! Jack was born in April of 2012 and Andrew will be born today. If all goes according to plan he should arrive around 8am! Congratulations Kelly! You and Chris make cute kids! Can't wait to meet baby Andrew!

Dinner Date With an Artist.

I particualry liked the utters and smile on the side of the face.

Last night Valentino and I took Isabel on an impromptu 'date.' Whenever I am getting ready to go out at night, Isabel is always asking why she can't come along to the 'party' so last night we decided to show her what adult dinners are all about. It worked out perfectly really. Stella was home with a babysitter and after ballet I met Valentino at his work...did a little shopping... and then we all went for dinner. When the waiter came around Isabel asked if they had any paper and crayons...we all had a little chuckle (this wasn't exactly The Crackle Barrel)... she settled for a receipt and pen. This morning Valentino was rifling through his pocket and found the drawing that she had done. I was "utterly" (hehe)  impressed with the accuracy of the cow she drew. Check it out! I couldn't have drawn a better cow (really I couldn't have)!

...more of her artwork below if you'd like to see...

Here is the art wall we have created in our kitchen...

....in the hallway...

...and in her bedroom.