Candace and Erica- June 2018

Farewell girls' night with my homies Candace and Erica. I'm going to miss you ladies! The sangrias were our fault. The tequila shots the manager bought us and almost killed us were not our fault, okay? Shout out to Erica's husband (also named Kevin) who drove us there and home!

Erica, Candace, and Ericka- a.k.a "The Erica Sandwich"

Pressed sandwich selfie.

Virginia Girls Night 2018

Not our best work in the selfie department, but a wonderful weekend night out with ladies I love. Thanks to the men for staying in with the kids. (Not pictured, Kevin out the night before with Cory, Roger, and Brian.)

Ericka, Megan, Janice, Meghan

Jaime Visits- August 2017

Jaime visited on her way to Massachusetts and back. We took the kids to the beach, ate sushi for dinner twice, and visited Mattituck for a wine bar and delicious dinner on Love Lane. We even got Italian Ice, which I'm clearly obsessed with this summer.

Miranda showing her art on August 12

 

Jaime swimming with James

Me, playing in the water with Miranda

Drying off

Roanoke Vineyard's Wine Bar in Mattituck

Love Lane Kitchen in Mattituck

Mom's Night Out- August 2017

My local mom friends and I went out! Without kids! So fun!

Elisa, Candace, Erica S, Carrie, Erica T, and me

Candace and the Ericas waiting for an Uber...

Mother's Day 2015

I had a super fun Mother's Day. My mom came over Saturday and babysat while Kevin and I went to meet Lionor, and I could tell she and Miranda had really bonded when I came back. Miranda decided that her favorite book is Dinosaur versus the Library (thanks Michele!) because she likes all the roaring and voices we do when we read it, so she carried it over to my mother approximately 500 times so that she would read it to her. Even though the rest of us offered to read it to her (even James who knows it by heart) Miranda kept insisting my mom read it. Poor Nana. Haha.

Outside Swing the Teapot

Sunday, mom and I went to breakfast at the same place we went last year, Swing the Teapot, and it was still good. It's a tea place too, but mom doesn't like tea so I drank an entire teapot of chocolate-mint tea by myself. That might have been an error in judgment because I didn't sleep that night for like 2 hours, but it was so yummy.

Looking pretty as usual.

Action shot!


With Miranda and James and dandelion

James made me a pretty cool card at school too with his hand print as the flower petals. Miranda can't do much beyond say mama and give me kisses but the kisses are super awesome. Kevin made me the comfort food dinner I wanted and watched Mean Girls with me at night. So pretty much a perfect Mother's Day.

The Clous on Mother's Day

• Last Mother's Day 2014
• Mother's Day at home 2013
• First Mother's Day as a mom in New Jersey 2011

Out with Rachel- January 2015

Finally went out with Rachel! Originally Christina, Rachel, and I had all planned to go out together, but getting three schedules to work together was too hard. Rachel and I picked Mandoo Bar in Koreatown because it was relatively easy from both our locations. Unfortunately we picked possibly the coldest windiest night ever.

Also, we failed to take pictures but here's some of the yummy food we ate: seafood pancakes, Mandoo sampler (pork, shrimp, and veggie dumplings), and beef Bibimbap. Yum!

The seafood pancake was the best.

 

The green veggie dumplings were the best of the dumplings.

We were going to get drinks at American Whiskey afterwards, but it was too cold so we gave up when we saw Harringtons. The Yelp reviews are pretty rough, but the bar was fine for our one drink each.

As Rachel and I toasted, "Here's to husbands who are sick of us, and encourage us to go out together!" Haha. Just kidding. Who could ever get sick of us?

Out with Christina- December 2014

Oh look I left the house! This is hard because of Miranda


Christina and I tearing it up in Brooklyn

• Last time I went out for real- Jackie's Birthday- November 2014
• Last Girls' Night- Atlanta! October 2014
• Last time I saw Christina- August 2014
• Last time I was in Brooklyn- June 2014

Atlanta with Chrissy and Allison 2014

We went to Atlanta! Chrissy has been nursing Owen back to health since April 2013, so she was overdue for some relaxation and girl bonding time. Coordinating was a little tricky but Allison, Chrissy, and I could all get a direct flight to Atlanta, so off we went!

Allison, me, and Chrissy- together!

We decided to stay in the Buckhead area close to our hotel to make the best use of our 36 hours together. Allison and Chrissy arrived before I did on Friday so they had dinner at Cook Hall and drink on the patio, and when I got in we had drinks in the W's lobby, affectionately called "The Living Room." We were off to a good start. 

First order of business the next morning was sleeping in late. This was super exciting for me, and I suspect for Chrissy too since she also has two kids. Allison was an angel and kept quiet for as long as she could handle and then ran out to get us coffee and breakfast goodies. Also, we had to Facetime with all our husbands and kids before we got going, which was actually pretty fun as we crossed over into each other's conversations and Allison and I got to see Owen, Hailey, Jason, and Dan, and vice versa with all our families.

So we missed brunch where we were going to go, it was late and the place was overrun with football fans. But we did a little walking tour of Buckhead and a local Uber cab driver recommended a place to us. It turned out to be one of the best tapas place in Atlanta, Eclipse di Luna, and the music was all Cuban salsa. We were beyond pleased.

Allison and Chrissy with a Palm Tree hat at Eclipse di Luna

Somehow we ended up at the mall which was not the original plan, but it kept us out of the rain. Allison and Chrissy had big frozen yogurts and I saw my first ever cupcake ATM. I almost took a picture of it, but it's one of those things... it looked like a pink ATM, the picture wouldn't do justice to the genius of the idea.

It was time for more lazing about. We went to check out the hotel pool, but the people there were all quiet and intense, and we're loud and relaxed so we passed. We sort of nap-rested, which was necessary after sleeping in(!) and then got ready for dinner.

Buckhead Diner- Actually an upscale restaurant

We had dinner at the Buckhead Diner which does look a diner from the outside- and how appropropriate to our Jersey roots!- but is actually an upscale restaurant on the inside. Apparently, celebrities are seen there all the time, but we didn't see any. So we pretended with the celebrity photo wall. And we had lots of delicious food and drinks.

Chrissy, Billy Crystal, and me

We walked to and from dinner, so I'm sure we burned off all the calories from dinner and our after party. Right? We went to Whiskey Blue which ended up being kind of clubby bar with nice views of Atlanta on its porch. We even made some friends. Then it was back to Cook Hall so we could sit on the patio and have loud inappropriate conversations by ourselves. Definitely some quality bonding! Time to plan our 2015 getaway!

Porch at Whiskey Blue Bar- tried and failed to get Atlanta's skyline in the picture

Happy birthday, Chrissy!

• Last visit with Chrissy, August 2014
• Last visit with Allison, June 2014
• Last visit to Atlanta, May 2012 family roadtrip!

Girls' Weekend in DC 2014

You guys, I am so pregnant and tired (8 months today!) that I can't write a proper post, but I had a lovely time with some of my college friends at Girls' Weekend Saturday and Sunday. (I only wish I had time to see all the new and not-so-new babies in the DC metro area- next time!

Laurie, Christina, Ash, Megan, Janice, me

Christina and I took Amtrak to DC which was quite the adventure for me in itself since last time I took the train was in 2004 (DC to Boston for the Democratic Convention). The train is over-priced but a much better way for a pregnant lady to travel than the bus (and probably better than flying too).  Christina and I had a lot of extra time to hang out, and used it mainly to repeat stories and snack. Haha.

 

Clockwise from top: on train, me inside Union Station, Christina outside it 

Ash and Janice picked us up and our first stop was lunch in Shirlington with Megan. We went to T.H.A.I. I think I've been there before and it's yummy as always.

.

Megan and Christina at T.H.A.I.

Ash, me, and Janice at T.H.A.I

We had a lot of time to kill before dinner and it was unseasonable warm out so we grabbed some flip flops and got pedicures. Usually I go most of the cold part of the winter without one and it's not pretty. Especially since I can't even reach my feet right now!

This picture reminds me of a scene in Sex in the City, but we're nothing like the characters

Finally it was time for dinner. Laurie made reservations for us at Le Diplomate, and I really enjoyed it. Everything was delicious, and there was a somewhat casual atmosphere that made it really comfortable to be there. We all tried everyone else's food so I can say confidently that everything is good.

At dinner on Saturday

Outside Le Diplomate on Q Street

Laurie hosted us for brunch on Sunday, which was not only super nice but also super tasty. We had delicious quiche,waffles, and lots of fruit and fixings. We also had some of the more meaningful and also the weirdest conversation at brunch.  Long live Girls' Weekend!

Laurie making waffles

Digging in!

• Girls' Weekend in Warwick, NY 2012
• Pseudo-Girls'-Weekend for my birthday in Long Island 2013

Ash Visits and Girls Night- Nov. 2013

Ash visited all weekend much to James's delight. He seems to remember who she is and fawns all over her. I spent the better part of Saturday afternoon watching James successfully boss Ash around, making her sit on the floor with him, do puzzles, feed him snacks, and generally entertain him. I told her she didn't have to do what he said-- but he's hard to resist and she seemed to enjoy it a bit.

Evidence of the love affair between James and Ash

We got some quiet time during James's naptime which we spent binge watching a show we started watching together in 2008! We continued through Sunday. We might have a little problem.

Then Saturday evening Christina and Sarah joined us for a night of sushi, apple pie and ice cream, and trash-talking the Miss Universe contestants. It was a lot of fun.

How cute are we all snuggled? Ash, me, Sarah, Christina

Maybe trash-talking the beauty contestants sounds a little harsh, and not the sort of values I should hope to instill in my future daughter. But I submit here evidence in my favor:

Miss USA's idea of our national costume. What?

Did you even try Canada? Or did you just recycle your Halloween costume?

What is this supposed to tell us about Belgium exactly?

I think Miss Universe is officially my favorite pageant.

Fall for Dance with Sarah 2013

Last week, Sarah invited me to come to a night of Fall for Dance, a dance series at New York City Center. She reminded me that all the great performance art is one of the best parts of living in New York. So true! We had lots and lots of ramen at Menkui Tei, and then head over in time to take lots of failed selfies with the beautiful theater as our background.

Sarah and me at New York City Center

We saw Dorrance Dance's "SOUNDspace," which was a super fun tap dance performance. We also saw Doug Elkin's Choreography's “Mo(or)town/Redux,” The Royal Ballet's "Untitled New Work," and Martha Graham Dance Company's “Rite of Spring.” I thought the "Rite of Spring" was painfully over the top, but I enjoyed all the other performances, and I definitely enjoyed my night out with Sarah. I think that was a better date than Kevin and I have been on in a long time. Ha!

 

Dorrance Dance: Tap dancing! (nytimes photo- shh)

Doug Elkins Choreography

Rachel's Birthday 2013

For Rachel's birthday we went to Pio Pio in Hell's Kitchen, a Peruvian place with a dish called the matador that we love. They bring you an entire chicken (or two?) salad, tostones, rice and beans, and this fries and sausage dish I don't really understand. We also order maduros and this potato cheese thing. And of course, sangria.

Rachel and Christina

Yummy! (I don't usualy take pictures of food- but this is ridiculous.)

The last time Rachel, Christina, and I went to Pio Pio was at the Upper West Side location in January of 2010. We still remember that night because when Rachel passed on the sangria, we instantly knew she was pregnant (with Eleanor)! Unfortunately, back then I didn't photograph and blog every single thing I did (lame). However, I also got lost that evening, leading Kevin to write this post about him being responsible for my whereabouts. (Also here's pregnant Rachel at my birthday two months later.)

Me and Jaime at Pio Pio

Afterwards we went to sing karaoke in private booth at Karaoke Duet 35. I've never been in a private karaoke booth before. It's a lot more fun because you don't have to embarrass yourself in front of strangers, wait for your turn to sing, and you can be as loud as you want. We had a really fun night out.

Jaime is probably singing Barry Manilow

Yay- group shot!

Super Fly with Sarah 2013

Last Friday, Sarah and I went to the Museum of the Moving Image to see Super Fly. They were celebrating the 40th anniversary of the movie. Neither Sarah nor I had ever seen it before, but we both loved the movie and the music. It was really strange and oddly-paced though. In honor of the inexplicable slideshow in the middle of the movie, here are a bunch of photos of me and Sarah on the blue runway at the museum.

Underwater! 

 

Selfie-fail

 

This one really brings out Sarah's eyes

 

Freaky

What happened when we tried to correct for our height-difference

Afterwards, Lukas met us for drinks and snacks. This made Kevin pretty jealous since that meant I'd seen more of Lukas lately than he had. No worries, we'll be back to Queens soon enough.