Sweet Berry Wine

Last night Joe and I got invited to sit in on a class in Kevin Zraly’s Windows on the World Cooking School. The school itself is an 8 week course for $1000, but we became friendly with the girl who does the PR and arranged for us to be a free guest for a week. We picked the class based on dates not knowing that we chose the best night for us; Red Wines of California. Despite being from the region and visiting countless CA tasting rooms, I learned so much about why I like the wines that I do.
And apart from learning a subject as valuable as wine, it was a lot of fun!!

Random Awkward Guy in the Back

This isn’t an invitation to pop into the back of my future posed pictures, but the ‘random awkward guy in the back’ pictures are some of my favorites.

Carmen Miranda and Crocodile Dundee

Once again, I have a hard time half-assing Halloween. Its only fitting that I should date a guy with the same love for a holiday wrapped around dressing up and candy.

Jello

In “only in New York” form, last night I went to a happy hour that Joe won in midtown and followed it with going to a gay bar to watch Donna and Christina Jello wrestle each other.
Hilarious.

Breath Right

Joe and I went to my first NFL game on Sunday. For a girl who hates to watch any kind of sport on TV, it turns out that I love going to live games, which I now know includes The Giants (especially since they pass out Breath Right Strips and the cold air was “nothing compared to how the rest of the season is going to be like”).

No Spring Chicken

I turned 30 yesterday to finally end the birthday month.

The first birthday toast of sweet berry wine started 3 weeks ago in Napa/San Francisco with my parents, little sister, my best friend, her hubby, my favorite married couple, and my boyfriend.



Then came the night of close friends, tacos, tequila, champagne (in a can) and compliments of Donna and Suzanne, one too many shots.















As if that weren't enough, I started the actual birthday day with Donna, lobster and black truffle mac n cheese then ended it with Joe, caviar deviled eggs, yellowfin tuna and wild boar lasagna.


If my birthday month is any indication, my 30’s are going to be chock-full of many cocktails, great wine, great food and great company.

Party at the Plaza Hotel

Its legal according to Martha.

(and that girl knows how to throw a party!!)

Awksome

My friend Rob made up a word last week; awksome.


Awksome: -adjective

1. Awkward for you while being awesome for me.

Robs example: “Watching Joe meet your dad for the first time is going to be awksome.”




(pictured is our modern Shakespeare, Rob)

I'm Back (a bit, anyways)

My reasoning for stopping my blog was a mixture of wanting to be an author someday and not wanting to blow my wad on this stupid blog, having my camera stolen, and simply not giving a shit. But for those of you who have been annoyed by logging onto this site and seeing this dumb last post about the Girl Scout cookies over and over; you’re welcome.

Most notable since my last post, I am an aunt to this little girl,



I’ve been dating this wonderful guy,
and I’m the new owner of this thing (the camera, not the mountain range).





No promises for an updated blog at all times, but if something worth writing about comes my way, I’ll try to do better at posting stuff.

Its Cookie Time

Nothing good can come from this.

Fat Birthday

In honor of Oliver’s 6th birthday, here is his most compromising picture.


And this is the fat ass giving me a death stare after getting a bath.








(and happy 1st birthday to my niece, Madeline!!)

Running with Cherry Blossoms

The last 2 evenings I took advantage of the unseasonably warm and went for a Central Park run. The Reservoir is covered with cherry blossoms in full bloom, making it delightful to run on a track peppered with pink confetti.

Viva La Mexico

I just came back from a week in Puerta Vallarta, Mexico for my favorite married couple, Rob and Marisol’s wedding.
Adding to why they are my favorite couple, they had a “white trash” themed party a few nights before the wedding. Here are a few of me “in character”/bringing shame to my family.






The very classy bride and groom.





We did have moments of rock climbing, snorkeling, boat riding, volleyball and being classic tourists in town, but for the most part the rest of the week was spent on the beach consuming guacamole and endless cocktails.



And of course, the wedding.

Modern Dance

Last night I went to a Danspace Project performance to see Doug's boyfriend dance. I'm not a fan of ballet, let alone modern dance. It was only the second time that I've been to a modern dance performance and its the first time that I actually stayed to the end. Not being a critic or even someone who appreciates modern dance, the only word I can think of to describe it is entertaining.

When my niece, Grace practices modern dance however, mesmerizing seems the more appropriate description.


(I don't know what I like more about this video; my sister holding back the laughter or baby Madeline popping in the shot)

Gig ‘Em… whatever that means

This morning I gave up my seat on the subway for a very pregnant woman. I'm not writing this to sound like a good samaritan. I'm writing this because more than half of those seated around me were men and for the first time that I can recall, I miss the men in College Station, Texas.
Granted, they also say "ma’am" to 19 year old girls, they have no problem yelling at you should you accidentally walk on the grass, and their idea of a good time is chasing their dip with a pitcher of beer at the Dixie Chicken. Regardless, I spent 4 years riding Texas A&M shuttles and I think that its safe to say that I never stood while a man sat. Here in New York chivalry is dead; at least in public transport.

Smell

I don't have a picture to accompany this entry, which is actually quite appropriate.
Last night I went to a lecture by the New York Times perfume critic, Chandler Burr. The nerd side of me came out as it was an enlightening evening where I learned first hand the reason that Tide cost more than any other detergent (the patented added scent), why the process of creating perfumes is not too far off from prescription drugs, and why synthetics are more valuable than natural materials in perfume.
Most shockingly, we learned some of the "old school" processes of how a particular molecule was literally extracted from a tortured cat's rectum. I also learned that my nose smells Chanel No. 5 as "my Grandma; so either Chanel No. 5 or Oscar de la Renta", the additive to all detergents as "a clean floor" and the fragrance Cool Water as "a good looking man".
The evening inspired me to branch off from the only scent I've worn for over 6 years and to see (or smell rather) that there is an artist in a perfumer. It also made me feel normal surrounded by a room of people who also have way too much fun in Sephora or the Duty Free.

Erin Go Bragh

This is going to have to cut it since I have a hole in my wardrobe in the green department. If it weren’t for Heidi’s cookie delivery, I would have really been screwed.

Weekend Recap

Saturday began with endless mimosas (and a blue shot) at Bondi Road with Suzanne, Deena and the other Erin.

And it ended with 8 hours of drinking at Black Mountain wine bar in Brooklyn with Jamie, Maria, John and Gonzalo.

In turn, Sunday was spent on my couch with this fat guy.

The Armory

After dim sum, Doug, Deena and I went to The Armory Show on Pier 94 where we saw a lot of fantastic art.

And a lot of very strange art.

Berkleysitting

Sandwiched between brunches, dinners and finally running outdoors; I was a dog sitter for Donna and Kat’s puppy, Berkley. It was surprisingly enjoyable walking Berkley around the Lower East Side, going at a slow pace, looking in store windows and having an opportunity to talk to cute dog-owning boys.