Welcome to New York

1.22.2016

I need a vacation from my vacation. I love traveling, squeezing every possible second out of a trip that I can, but geez. Can someone please get this girl a pillow and a nice comfortable mattress? Wake me up in a few days when I’m well rested. Only then will I be beneficial to any of you. Yeah I’m talking to you! All four of you.

Martin Luther King pulled through again this year (I bet his dream never included a federal holiday named after him), and we took full advantage. With a sister (in-law) in Brooklyn, a three day weekend, and money burning a hole in our pockets, we went right to the trusty old web and booked ourselves flights and a hotel. We could do this on the cheap, right?

Well…we forgot that we are go-getters. We aren’t just going to sit around in the hotel! We are going to explore. We are explorers. Just call me Columbus.

Our cross-country red-eye landed before 7am on Saturday morning. With seats right next to the bathrooms, we spent more time listening to people’s conversations (and smells!), than sleeping. So what we anticipated being a full day on Saturday was a little deterred. We took the subway into Times Square, where we walked to our hotel. Booking the hotel online, and let’s face it, trying to find the best deal possible, I wasn’t sure what to expect. We arrived at The Row NYC (booked on Hotels.com) around 8:30am. Everyone knows even an “early” check-in usually isn’t until 1:00pm, so we were keeping our fingers crossed. The front desk experience could not have gone any better. Our host let us check in at 8:30am, at no extra cost. Oh boy did we need it. I think we got to our room and were both sleeping less than two minutes later.

When we woke, I knew exactly where we were going. I’ve been waiting my entire adult life (okay…maybe just a year or two) to try the cheeseburgers at Shake Shack. Seriously. Who hasn’t heard of the hype going around about good ol’ Shake Shack. This was the top of my NYC travel list. I was doing it immediately. Lucky for me (fate?), there was a Shake Shack directly across from our hotel. I mean, come on. The Gods were shining down on me that day. I won’t go into complete detail here about my experience, but if you’re interested (and I know you are), read my Yelp! review.

After Shake Shack we did what ever other typical NYC tourist does. We explored. We went up into Central Park, attempting to make it to the Belvedere Castle…quickly giving that up. Actually, not so quickly. We walked. And we walked. And then we walked some more. And we still weren’t even halfway there. We gave up. After all, there is so much to see in the city, we weren’t giving it all up for a measly castle. I mean, you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all. Even though I’ve never even seen one.

We spent the rest of the day walking around, taking random photos (hence Zoolander below), and eating. Seriously. I have never been more excited to get back to the gym in my life. Between the daily pizza slices (his goal was 7 for the entire trip), the cheeseburgers, and the booze? Ugh. It was rough.

We walked by Radio City Music Hall, went into St. Patrick’s Cathedral, saw the ice skating rink at Rockefeller Center, and did a little shopping at the NHL store near Times Square. He would have spent our life savings if I hadn’t dragged him out of there. Seriously? A $3000 bubble hockey game? No. Absolutely not. I had already gotten him away from the $300 pair of shoes, the bubble game was not beating me.

While the top of my travel list may have been Shake Shack, for my husband it was most definitely seeing an Islanders hockey game. On Sunday, his wish came true when we went to Barclay’s in Brooklyn to see them play the Canucks. While it wasn’t the ending he was hoping for, it was a really fun experience. Anytime I find a full bar at an arena is A-Okay with me. I wish the San Jose Sharks would get on board here. Is it too much to ask for? Just a little vodka would suffice.

Rae of Sparkles Statue of Liberty — Statue of Liberty (wayyyyy out there)

On Monday we had tickets to the 9/11 Memorial Museum. Wow. It was heartbreaking but magnificent at the same time. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such an amazing display at any museum I’ve been to. I think all Americans should visit, it’s definitely a must-see. If you don’t walk out of there feeling happy to be an American, I don’t know what else will do it for you. I have never felt more honored to call myself an American.

We had originally decided to take a ferry out to Lady Liberty afterwards…but that was quickly nixed due to the 9 degree weather and something like 50mph winds. I mean seriously. I thought a tornado was taking me away. Nevertheless, I still dragged my husband (he’s such a good sport) to the shoreline to take a few photos (and nearly died of hypothermia). Before you say it…Yes. I know I was underdressed. Do you think I have a winter coat? I live in California for Heaven’s sake.

Some of the other highlights of our trip: It snowed!! And not any of that “five feet of snow” crap. I’m talking the perfect light snow. A gentle sprinkle, covering all the surfaces, making everything beautiful. We had a few snowball “fights.” My husband lost. Look, I’m from Wisconsin. I can’t let him beat me at a snowball fight.

Our sister mapped out some of the coolest bars/taverns that we had to see, and we spent Monday afternoon checking them all out. We stopped in at Fraunces Tavern for a drink, George Washington’s famed hangout. We walked through Greenwich Village and popped into a few bars along the way. I mean, come on. It wasn’t just cold outside. It was zero degrees. We needed to keep ourselves warm. The drinking was simply a survival mechanism.

And the best for last. I have a friend from high school that also lives in Brooklyn. We have seen each other only once in ten years, but it’s just one of those friendships. We picked up exactly where we left off, and it felt like nothing had changed. Even though everything had changed. And one of the best changes? Her babies. This photo was captured while I was getting to know her son for the first time. I think it caught the best moment of the trip.

DIY

Break Out The Bubbly! I’m Turning Two!

1.14.2016

It’s never official unless it’s Facebook official, but in this case, it was not official until it was WordPress official. I’ve finally turned two. While this may come as a surprise to a few of you, I do tend to act my age. I throw temper tantrums if I don’t get my way and I love to play with art supplies and construction paper. I can’t use a real knife or I’ll cut myself and I still trip over my own feet. I love to take naps and I sleep with a teddy bear. Okay the teddy bear part is a lie. It’s a blankie.

Not only have I been blogging for two years now, I’ve also made a lot of good friends in the blogosphere. So today I’m breaking out the champagne to celebrate with you all! Then I’ll make myself a little dinner salad, have a glass of water, and go to bed before the little hand on the clock hits the double digits. Because in real life, I go to bed at just about the time a two year old would. At least, what time I would think a two year old goes to bed. I have no experience in that department, who am I to guess.

I’ve made glittery bottles before, check out the old (washed up) way here. The new way (the better way) is much more fun. I bought large glitter at Wal-Mart instead of the flaky tiny specks. I used Modge Podge to cover some areas, then poured the glitter over it. When you’ve covered the whole bottle, use the Modge Podge to cover it again. This way the glitter stays on the bottle, not on your hands. Unless you’re like me, in which case, I don’t mind the glitter all over my hands. Makes me sparkle even more.

If you’re one of my loyal fans (there are at least two of you), then I want to tell you I hope to be back in the swing of things again soon. I’ve been missing in action for a while, but I plan on getting right back into the nitty gritty next week. In the meantime, I’ll be in NYC eating cheeseburgers, cheesecake, and pizza. Hope you are having a wonderful new year thus far!

Holidays!

Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Him

12.16.2015

I’d tell you that I cannot believe Christmas is in nine days, but that would be a lie. I have been waiting and preparing for this holiday since last year on December 26th. It’s my most favorite day of the year. What, with food, family, presents, drinks? And not necessarily in that order. I will take it all. I’ll eat all of your food, drink all of your cocktails, and open all of your presents. Or just the ones that you bought for me. You did buy me presents right?

This year we will be spending Christmas break in Hollywood, Florida. A little contrast to last year in Mexico, but as long as it has 80+ degree weather, blue skies, sunshine, and picturesque beaches – it is right up my alley. Since we’ll be celebrating Christmas there, I ordered and shipped all packages to my parents house there. Well, sort of. My stepdad may have given me the wrong address, causing ALL packages to be sent to their next door neighbor. I am hoping and praying they all make it. I mean, I’m sure their neighbors want to keep the Jelly of the Month Club subscription. We’ll have to make sure they turn that over.

In the meantime, we’re just waiting. Waiting and celebrating St. Nick day. It’s a little-known holiday that I grew up celebrating in Wisconsin, and I’ve continued the tradition with my husband. On the night of December 5th, St. Nick comes to your house and fills your stockings. When I was a child, I’d wake up to markers, crayons, coloring books, candy, etc. As adults, it’s a little different.

On December 6th, Brendan woke up to a stocking filled with all kinds of treats. Lottery tickets, alcohol, beer coozies, and all his favorite snacks. On the other hand, I woke up to an empty stocking. I think St. Nick only had room in his sack for one of us.

Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Him

Mini bottles of his favorite alcohol

Boxes of his favorite candy

Funky socks

Beer Coozies

Keychains

Lottery Tickets

Granola Bars/Protein Bars

Gatorade Energy Chews / Energy Bars or Drinks

Nuts

Now that St. Nick has come and gone (and forgotten me), it’s on to Santa Claus. He’d never let a girl down. I’m hoping he doesn’t forget me this year (mom – pay real close attention here). I asked him for a private villa in Bora Bora next summer. I’ve been a real good girl.

DIY, Holidays!

Dollar Store Snowflake Door Hanger

12.09.2015

I must apologize. I have been neglecting you. With all of this Reuben nonsense going on, I don’t have a lot of extra spare time. He’s got me running around, setting up sets, moving mountains, and pouring drinks. He’s been partying nonstop since his arrival, and he only has a week and a half left. I’m sure his antics will only get crazier with each passing day, since he’ll have to get some of this energy out before he goes back to the North Pole and has to answer to a certain white-haired, slightly overweight, old guy in a red suit.

In the meantime, I’ve been stopping at the Dollar Tree every week trying to get props for Reuben. Every time I walk through the holiday aisles, I see these pretty snowflakes. Anything covered in sparkling glitter calls out to me. Doesn’t matter if its a spatula or a garden hose. If it’s covered in glitter, I must own it. So of course I couldn’t buy just one pack of these snowflakes.

Ten packages later, I arrived home with my loot. I arranged the snowflakes into a pattern I liked and smothered them in hot glue. My glue gun is now covered in glitter too. Looks like it was a win/win for me. Now I’m off…Reuben is calling.