Be Grateful!

'Many Thanks' card from Greenwich Letterpress

With Thanksgiving soon approaching let's discuss well... giving thanks.  Did you know that it is scientifically proven that one of the greatest contributing factors to our overall happiness lies in being grateful! Yep...not money, success, or fame...but gratitude!

 So without further ado...Here's what I am thankful for today!

-Chance to enjoy an unseasonably warm spring-like day yesterday (it was in the mid-60's)!

-My new babysitter who is almost always available at last minute's notice

-The color red...I must be in the holiday spirit already because I have been purchasing everything in red 

-The free turkey we received for purchasing $150 of groceries! 

and finally...

-Patience... to know that good things will come to those who wait (this one is hard for me)!

And it goes without saying...but these two too!

Boxcycles

How cool are these bikes? One of the moms at ballet uses one to shuffle her twins around. I see it parked outside of ballet each week recently asked her about it. She said she uses it rain or shine (and snow) brave woman! I was surprised to hear that she parks it outside her apartment with a super- mega heavy- duty lock! After I saw the super- mega heavy- duty price tag (read $2800) I thought that was even braver than using the bike!

Santa if your reading...I've been a really good girl this year!

Have a Great Weekend!

"Enjoy the Ride," a motivational print from Kate Moore Creative. ($20, see also: website)

The hard drive crashed on my 27" IMac on Tuesday and I have been having a hard time getting reacquainted with my 13" laptop. It's funny how quickly we become acclimated to newer, bigger, and faster...I remember after Isabel was born Valentino surprised me with an Apple Iphone (an upgrade from my then flip top Razor...I still get nostalgic for this song). I remember telling him that I didn't need a smartphone and that I was perfectly happy with the flip phone. Well soon after I was singing the praises of a touch screen and didn't look back. Same story with the computers. One day he came home with the 27" computer that was no longer being used at his office and I protested...'What an eye sore', 'Where are we going to put that thing?' No sooner than he set it up...I was cursing the days of staring at my stamp sized laptop. So today at 10am I will wheel my stroller over to Mikey's Hookup (these guys are the best)  and get my baby...new hard drive and all. 

Hope you have a great weekend. Valentino is working on a big project for Tuesday and will not be home all weekend. I have a babysitter tomorrow all day (uh...awesome) so I can run errands in the city! We will have the keys to our house next Friday and I am going to go shopping for bedding. We purchased the beds last weekend (taking two children to the mattress store proved interesting to say the least) so we at least have a place to sleep. Some towels, a few dishes, and we are good to go. Let the fun begin! 

'I Forgot My Phone'

While I want to believe everyone but me is guilty of this behavior I shamefully cannot say this is the case. I cringed when watching this and especially disliked the part where the child was on a cellphone  and where cellphones were in used in bed (so guilty of that)! What can I do but be more mindful of my cellphone use and make a pact with myself to take it down a notch. How about you? Are you guilty of cellphone abuse? I can't help but believe our social landscape is changing much as past generations social interactions changed when the telephone, car, and television became mainstream? No?

Jane's Carousel

This past Sunday we celebrated Tala's 5th birthday at Jane's Carousel in Dumbo, Brooklyn. Never ones to skimp on the details, Stephanie and Nisian have raised the bar in throwing childrens birthday parties! Take a look and see what I mean...

On our way to Jane's Carousel... I love how the vintage Carousel is enclosed in a modern glass cube. In the summer the doors completely open to the outdoors. Take a look at this crazy picture of the Carousel after Superstorm Sandy here. 

The Carousel wasn't closed to the public for the party, but we had a quaint corner in the back designated to the party and guests. 

Colorful ribbons decorate the party favors.

Fun party hats...Stephanie joked that as a Photo Editor she always visualizes things as if she were working on a photoshoot (even in her daily life)!

Cotton Candy Station...for kids..and adults too!

Cupcakes from  Georgetown Cupcake. Honestly,  the best frosting I've ever tasted... not too sweet but just sweet enough. 

They were so good they deserve two photos.

Best thing about the birthday party? Unlimited carousel rides! Say what?

Both of my girls in one shot. Stella's favorite thing to drag around lately...her toothbrush. 

View from inside the Carousel...oh...just the Brooklyn Bridge and Freedom Tower. 

Tala blowing out the candles...with a little help from some friends.

Thumbs up to a fantastic party!

Happy Veteran's Day to My Dad the Vietnam Vet!

My dad is the badass in the back far right. 

How cool is this! Yesterday my Dad sent me a photo he recently found of himself and his 'company' while stationed in Vietnam. Yes, that's right Vietnam!!! My Dad the Vietnam Veteran! He writes about the photo below:

'I was surfing the internet this morning looking up military stuff and decided to look up Firebases in Vietnam.  Firebase (LZ) Russell was one of the firebases we were on.   Each company would only spend a couple of weeks or so on a firebase running daily patrols out into the jungle.   Then they'd chopper the company (or walk) to some other desitination in the middle of the jungle to patrol.  Being on a firebase was considered 'good' duty.  The choppers could resupply the hill at will and they were relatively well protected because of the battery of 105's on the other firebases supporting you.  Out in the middle of the jungle, not so nice and much more dangerous.   Guys are smiling in most of these pictures just because they are on a firebase.

However Firebases Russell and Neville were both overrun on February 25, 1969.  (I arrived and joined the company mid April 1969)  I found a LZ Russell Assocation and it told the story of the battle plus it has dozens and dozens of pictures.   I started looking through all the pictures that were listed and found our two corpsman and others I knew.  Then, would you believe it, I found a picture that I was in.    How cool is that!

So if you go to     www.lzrussell.org/pictures     click on lz russell and it will show the pictures.   My picture is in the right hand column, 15 pictues down is my squad.  Charley Squad, 2nd plt, golf  2/4.   I'm at the right rear identified as unknown.   This was probably taken in April of 1969.   At first I didn't recognize myself.   But then I looked closer and you can see my   USMC tattoo  on my right arm.   If you go three pictures down (18) and one row to the left, you'll see our two platoon corpsman.  Know as 'goose' and 'weasel'.   The guy who took the group picture I'm in is 'goose', ie, Roger Hedges.'

So there you go! Happy Veteran's Day Dad! You were and always will remain a Hero in my eyes! 

I love you,

Jenny

It's Closing Time!

Buying a house has been a true test of my patience. For the most part I have left myself out of all of the tedious details...paperwork, tax documents, bank statements, blood samples...and then more paperwork. I have been asking the important questions like when will be get the keys? We are so close to the finish line now and a closing date is imminent. I can't wait! I even think we will be able to celebrate Thanksgiving there! Until then we will have to enjoy another weekend here in Brooklyn. I don't mind though...did I mention I love NYC? I know I am beginning to sound like a broken record with all of my NYC idolizing. This weekend we will lay low...Sunday we have a birthday party to go to...and maybe I will see this movie. Have a great weekend!

The dramatic entrance to our future home... (one of my favorite things about the house is the entrance).

The living room where we will soon light a fire... The house has so many skylights too (another of my favorite features)!