Now I Know Why They Call It The City That Never Sleeps.

It's been a week since I have been home from my big weekend in the big apple, and I'm not lying when I tell you that it has taken me this long to recover from my trip. In short, I had an amazing time. There was a moment on Sunday night or early Monday morning, depending on how you look at it, when I turned to my friends (some old and some new) and said, "this is one of the best nights of my life." Looking back, it truly was. I left feeling like New York was a city that I should have lived in a decade ago. A time when staying out until 3 am was the norm, and there would be no screaming children the next day to care for. When I got home, I realized that back then there was no way I would have appreciated it the way that I do now, and honestly my broke grad school self never would have been able to see the city like I saw it last week. Expensive? Yes. Freaking fantastic? Absolutely! Was it worth it? Do you even have to ask..... hell yes!!!!

Here is my New York by the numbers breakdown:

• Years since I have been to NYC- 8
• Times visited prior to this trip- 2
• Total hours spent in New York- 46
• Total hours spent sleeping in New York- 6
• Neighborhoods visited- 6 (my favorite was the Meatpacking District, followed closely by the West Village.)
• Restaurants patronized 3 (Cafe Cluny, Pasits, and Alta)
• Bars toured- 7 (The Standard hotel became our home away from home.)
• Beers consumed- 12
• Bloody Marys- 2
• Margaritas- 4
• Hangovers- 2 (yes, that's one for every day)
• Cupcakes consumed - 2 (like every other tourist I waited in line at Magnolia for a taste of the good stuff.)
• Pizzas bought at 4 am- 1
• Dresses bought- 3 (more on this later.)
• New friends made- 2
• Miles walked- 100 (okay, probably not 100, but it felt like 100!)
• Landmarks seen- 0 (I know, I know, bad tourist.)
• Days needed to recover- 6 (and you know I'm not joking about this one.)

As you can see it was a short but fun packed trip. At the time I thought that sleeping three hours a night was not the best idea, but how else could we fit everything in. Now I truly know why they call it the city that never sleeps! After last weekend, I cannot for the life of me understand why it has taken me so long to visit. Given that it is a four hour bus or train trip, I can assure you that this mum will be making a lot more trips to the big apple.... that is after I can catch up on all those missed zzzzzzzs.

I have much more to share with you from the trip, including my review of SATC 2, which will I will be posting all this week.

* The photo above was taken from the bathroom at The Standard, yes even the city's bathrooms are to die for!

About Last Night.

My Little Man has recently discovered the concept of time. Before this development time only meant what we were doing at that EXACT moment, and if it wasn't something he liked he would basically lose his mind (okay, his shit too) until I assured him that "later" we would be doing something that he actually did like. For the past few weeks, however, he has begun to ask questions like, "where I going," and "where I go first?" This has morphed into, "I go swimming later," or "later you get me from school." This understanding of time has allowed for a little more explanation from my end, and a lot less temper tantrums from his (thank you sweet baby Jesus.) All was going swimmingly until he somehow got hooked on the concept of "last night." Basically, in his little mind, there now are two (and only two) times; right now and last night.

"Last night" as in:

"Mommy, I go Costa Rica last night." (yes, except this is happening 2 weeks from today.)

or

"Mommy, I paint chalkboard wall last night." (we did this, but few weeks ago.)

or

"Mommy, you go bye bye last night." (yeah mommy went bye bye, except that was last weekend.)

or

"Mommy, you told me "no, no, no" last night." (okay, he's got me there but given that this is pretty much a certainty I'm convinced that he is not recalling a true memory from the night before.)

All of this "last night" stuff was pretty cute, and I never really gave any thought to it. I knew what he was talking about, so I figured what's the harm? That was until I got the this phone call Tuesday afternoon:

"Hello, Mrs. YM, this is Miss X from X nursery school. I was just calling to remind you that we have a 48 hour sick policy, meaning that children are not supposed to be brought to school until 48 hours after any illness."

Um, okay? I thought to myself, wondering that the hell this woman was talking about. The last time my little man was sick was late April.

"Well you see, she continued, the LM was just telling the class that last night he was puking all over his crib, and I understand that he looks fine today, but you know he could still be contagious."

Last night? I began to rack my brain. He wasn't puking last night. What is she talking about? Then a bell went off, "OH you mean "last night, last night." "Yeah, that was a month ago pay no attention."

She completely understood and apologized for the call. I appreciated their effort to keep germs out of the school, and the little man went on with his day not knowing the confusion that he had caused. No harm, no foul.

So in the end "last night" got us into a little bit of trouble, but it taught me one very big lesson; anything and EVERYTHING I've ever done (or said) in front of the Little Man will absolutely come back to bite me in the ass, and whatever it is, it happened LAST NIGHT.

Bend It Like Beckham?

He's got the hair. (yep, this one was Mom's idea of a "Summer" cut.)

He's got the rock hard abs. (seriously, I could stare at that man's abs all day, becks of course!)

He communicates well with his coach. 

He's got the skills on the field...

And the focus.

Ahhhh but can he bend it like Beckham?

The answer would unequivocally be no, but that doesn't mean that he doesn't look damn cute trying!

A Good Shellacking?

I'm back from New York (much more to come on this soon) and almost too tired to type. I figured this would be as good of a time as any to update you all on the success of the gel nails. In short, I love them. From now on, if I am ever going to get a mani or pedi, it is going to be this one. That being said they didn't last quite as long as I had dreamed anticipated. More so it was the fingers that didn't last as long which is why I am now on my second gel polish. I'm not sure if it was because my nails were so short, or if it was just more noticeable because of the lighter color, but my fingers lasted about 12-14 days. Already I am a week into this new polish and it is holding up much better than the first time around.

 The toes, oh the toes, the toes are a completely different story. 3 weeks in and even after one crazy weekend I can easily get another week or so out of these babies. I can't believe it but after all the heel and sandal wearing there is only one little nick out of the big toe (too bad the rest of my feet didn't fare that well!) 

After doing the math, and including the tip, the cost turns out to be exactly the same. The benefit of the gel/ shellac is that you get to miss out on the time suck time suck and the nails really do look better through the duration. The downside is that that you can't fix the nicks at home.

I think this is going to be one of those things that comes down to personal preference. I'm definitely in the yes column, but am still eager to hear how it lasts on other people.

I wonder what they will come up with next!?

Cue Jay-Z and Alicia.

Editors note: Playing this song while reading this post is the only way to truly to get a glimpse at the enthusiasm that is bubbling inside of me. 



Yes, It's finally time for my NYC Sex and the City Weekend!!!!

Tomorrow at 7 am I will be embarking on my child free/ husband free 56 hour Carrie Bradshaw dream weekend. Here is what my dream looks like.

• Tomorrow I (or "Carrie" as I would hereinafter like to be referred to for the rest of the weekend) will be taking the train (for the first time) and on my agenda is reading The Carrie Diaries, a new US Weekly, and 2 months worth of Vogue. 
• Having drinks on the rooftop of the new Standard hotel. (apparently it is open to us "normal" people from 4:30p-8:30p.)
• Seeing SATC 2!!! (at 6p tomorrow). Oh, Aiden I heart you.
• Checking out a recommended art installation between Washington and Greenwich St.
• Lunch at Pastis and Cafe Cluny. (highly recommended by my bestie)
• Tapas in the West Village.
• Staying with my SIL on Bleecker Street (I think that's where Ms. Bradshaw lived.)
• Checking out Chelsea flea markets. 
• Checking out all of the service men in uniform. (It is Fleet Week you know!)
• Window (and otherwise) shopping in Nolita.
• Keeping my eyes out for stalking any and all celebrities. 
• Vintage shopping on the lower east side. 
• Reading the Sunday New York Times on Sunday, in New York (this may be what I'm most excited about.)
• Sleeping in past 7am. (ditto on the above)
• And finally, eating and drinking, and eating and drinking, and eating, and drinking, and eating....

I am so excited I think my head is about to pop!

Is there anything that I am missing???? If any of you NYC locals have any tips, please, please, please send them my way!!!

On a side note my SIL has made me promise not to sing the above song at the top of my lungs everywhere we go. Apparently it may give away my tourist status. I assured her that my cover will likely be blown by the GIANT camera that I will be carrying at all times. I may be outed as a non-local but I promise to have some great pics from the trip to share with you all when I get back.

I hope you all have a great long weekend and that you ladies are able to get in some Sex and the City time with your girls!

Cue Jaz-Z and Alicia...... "In New York......"

Executive Decision Time.

This past week the Husband and I have been driving ourselves crazy trying to figure out when we will be able to schedule our next IVF cycle. Crazy as in we are about to kill each other, kind of crazy. We thought we would be able to do it in July but now that my cycle is back on track the dates are not going to work out. To do the IVF, we (I) have to be here for at least 25 days in a row, and my hubby has to be here on retrieval day. Since all of this is flexible we basically have to make sure we are available every day for at least 30 days, starting on a day which there is no way of knowing when it will begin. Between trips we have planned for pleasure, and trips my husband has for work, there is just no way this is going to happen this Summer. When you add on the fact that I have to account for at least 2-4 weeks of painful bed rest, I finally came to an executive decision (I am the CEO of this house, therefore that makes me an executive.) The decision?

I GIVE UP! (shouted while throwing arms in the air.)

No, I haven't yet given up on baby number 2 (like that would happen,) but I have given up on any possibility of IVF over the Summer. We would have to kill ourselves to make it work, and the stress and the uncertainty is not something I am looking to sign up for. I am basically washing my hands with the whole thing until September (at the earliest.) We will still "try" on our own each month, but there will be no ultrasounds, no needles, no talk of transfers or retrievals, or embryos until the Fall. I hate the idea of waiting any longer, but more so I hate the idea of freaking out all Summer and trying to get in an IVF cycle that may or may not happen.

So that's it. That's my final answer. My little man and I are going to have another great Summer on our own and will be enjoying a few family trips together. There will be no tears, no disappointing tests, and best of all no pain for an entire season. My kids may be 4 years apart, but such is life. I finally am giving in to the unknown and giving up.

For now anyway...

Wardrobe Essentials 3: The Trends.

I think I've said it before, and I will say it again, I have never considered myself to be "trendy." Sure, I follow trends, but time and time again I find myself buying pieces that I will love this season and the next (and the next and the next, etc.) I would hate to purchase something only to find out a few months later that it has gone out of style or worse that I look too young in what I am wearing. I always feel that as a mom, and as someone now in my thirties, that it has become more and more important to dress my age. That being said there are a few "trends" that I am loving right now. I have tried to wear each in a way that is both age, and mom appropriate. 

1) Embellishment.

Oh how I love me some embellishment. Seriously, if it wasn't against the law I am pretty sure that I would have bedazzled my kid by now (you think I'm joking don't you?) While I love to look at embellishment, I'm not always sure I like to wear so much flash. This bolero adds just the right amount of sparkle, without being too over the top. Bolero vintage by Zara.

 

2) A Skinny Vest.

This is one trend that I fell in love with a year or so ago but I always thought that this look was definitely for women in their twenties. I don't know why but I just figured that this was one thing that I was too old for. That was of course before Gwyneth came along. Back when GOOP was good (remember that?) she featured this vest in one of her newsletters. I loved the look on her, and basically stalked this vest online until I found at a more reasonable price point. I usually wear it with boyfriend or skinny jeans and a white tank. Vest by Mason.

3) Crochet.

Crochet is a super hot trend right now, and I for one am LOVING it. I am almost on the verge of learning how to do it just so I can fashion some seriously hot Summer garments for myself. Until then this sweater will have to do the trick. Sweater Bird by Juicy. (if you haven't checked out this line it has some pretty amazing stuff, and no there are no logos on the butt (thank god!))

4) Liquid Leggings and 
5) Over The Knee (OTK) Boots.
This is another trend normally reserved for the young, but I just couldn't resist. I typically pair both with black and try to stay as classic or understated on top as I can. As you can see I think it makes for a pretty fierce and age appropriate(ish) look. Boots by Joie, and Leggings 10 dollars from unknown online retailer.

6) Leather.

Do you all remember that girl from Project Runway that made everything out of leather, pronounced (LeTH-AAAA)? I still can't say the word without thinking of her! Pronunciation aside I am a huge fan of the leather jacket. This almost made my list of essentials, but was narrowly beat out by the boyfriend blazer. I love the way a leather jacket can add so much dimension and texture to an outfit. Plus it just makes me feel like one bad ass bitch. This quilted version adds a little more softness to the trend and can be worn with almost anything pretty much all year long. I love pairing mine with florals to "girly" up the look. Jacket by Tory Burch. 

7) Army Jacket. 

This season it seems like the army jacket is everywhere, and I for one couldn't be happier about this trend. It's comfy, it's cool, and it adds a little "something" to almost any outfit. I typically wear mine with a super casual look, like the one below, but I have been know to also throw it over a spring dress. This is one trend that I hope becomes a classic. Jacket by Calypso. 

So there you have it, the clothes, the shoes, and the trends. I hope you guys got a kick out of going through my wardrobe with me because I had a blast putting this together. I must admit that I was pretty exhausted from all of the wardrobe changes. All that dressing and re-dressing kind of made me feel sorry for Giselle, thinking she must go through this on a weekly basis..... NOT! 

Tomorrow I'll be back to posting as usual, until then...

Wardrobe Essentials 2: Shoes, Shoes, Shoes!

Ahhhhhh shoes. Really, what girl doesn't love a new pair of shoes? I for one do, but sticking with my motto of quality over quantity I probably only purchase one or two new pairs of shoes a year. Leaving out the sneakers, and flip flops below is my entire shoe collection. And yes, I consider all of them to be essential!

1) A Dress Heel.

This is the one area where I did some double dipping, but I simply could not resist the deal I got on my second pair. I love that these shoes are timeless and go with virtually everything. Both are by Christian Louboutin (aka the master.)

2) Over The Knee Boot. 
I fell in love with this boot last year and I can definitely say that I have gotten my money's worth out of these babies. I wear them with everything, from chunky sweaters and jeans, to tights and dresses. I am so happy I went with the suade rather than basic leather, it really adds a great texture to any outfit.Boots by Joie.

3) A Summer Wedge.

I am a huge wedge fan. Huge. I love these gladiator style suede wedges more than anything else in my shoe wardrobe. I wear them with jeans, dresses, shorts, you name it. This "perfect" wedge is made by Cynthia Vincent.

4) Patent Leather Heel.
I think this is a "must have" for any shoe wardrobe. I bought these 4 years ago and I have probably worn them over 100 times. I love them with tights in the Winter and bare legs in the Summer. When I helped my girlfriend re-do her wardrobe I insisted that this be the first thing that she bought. The patent protects the heel and keeps it from scuffing, and the platform gives some great height without sacrificing comfort. These are by Marc Jacobs, but if I was in the market for another version it would absolutely be these by Brian Atwood. 

5) A Great Flat.

This is another "essential" for my shoe wardrobe. I prefer my flat to have a pop of color. I chose the patent red in case I ever get stuck in the rain. Almost as comfortable as my sneakers I "live" in these shoes. Flats by Tory Burch. 

6) Motorcycle Boot.
This is my newest addition to my closet and right now it is my absolute favorite. If there is any reason to hope for cooler weather, than this is it. I was on the fence about what style/color to get, but after seeing them here I couldn't be happier with the 3 buckle in dark brown. Now if I could just find a man with a bike! Boots by Fiorentini + Baker.

7) Gladiator Sandal.

For me summer equals a great gladiator sandal. They are a great mix of style and comfort and are pared perfectly with a great summer dress. I do a lot of walking in these babies so I definitely don't "invest" in these. Last season I was loving the snakeskin gladiator by Sam Edelman and this year it's the tan leather by Aldo. 

8) Fringe.

Perhaps it's the boho mama in me, but I love (! )some fringe on a shoe. I wear it two ways. The top is a minnetonka moccasin, and the bottom is a sandal by Cynthia Vincent. 

9) The Jeweled Sandal.

What Summer dress would be complete without a jeweled sandal. I fell in love with the turquoise on this sandal and wear it with white all season long. By Mystique.

10) A Sexy Summer Heel.

As much as I would like to, I can't wear my Louboutins everywhere, and sometimes I am in need of a more causal heel to wear with dresses or skinny jeans during the warmer months. These neutral heels by Michael Kors fit the bill perfectly. 

11) A Riding Boot.

Do you know what I love most about a riding boot? I love that the more you beat them up, the better they look. You definitely can't say that about too many things! These boots by Coach have definitely taken a licking and year after year they keep on ticking. 

12) The Wellie.

By Hunter, need I say more?

  

13) A Snow Boot.

A must have for this New England mum. Makes running around the city much warmer, and MUCH safer. This one adds some flair with the fur. Just because you are freezing doesn't mean you can't be fashionable! Snow boot by Sorel. 

So there you have it, my entire shoe wardrobe. It took me a few years to build this collection and a few years from now it will probably look almost exactly the same. I think that's the beauty of building a great working wardrobe, whether it's clothes or shoes, a classic never goes out of style!

That being said, there are a few trends I'm loving right now... these will be featured in tomorrow's post. 

I hope you al are enjoying a peek inside my closet, special thanks go out to my SIL foot model for lending her piggies in some of the pictures.