I couldnt sleep on Friday night. Not a single good dose of shut eye.  My excitement for Saturday was *almost* as high as a kid on Christmas Eve.  Almost.  A 6am wakeup call and I sprung out of bed and hit the road like 7am was no big deal(read: big deal)...but there were important people to see and to meet :) Getting to and from NYC can always be dramatic (either for the positive-no traffic, sunny day, a clear NJ Turnpike....or negative- traffic jam after immediately exiting the Lincoln Tunnel or a 3 car accident just 12miles from destination.)  Both happened to me this weekend.  But I digress.  BABIES.  After a quick stop at Murray's bagels before leaving the city(cardinal rule of mine for visiting a family with children: bring food in exchange for cuddles) and finally arriving to the Conshohocken....I swept up baby Leighton without even saying hi to Abby.  It was clear I was here for snuggles with L and not girl chat ;)  She has grown so much since just one month ago and as I bounced and made smiley faces at that darling little girl, I knew that I loved this Saturday already....

My brother and sister in law's house was the next stop on Babies & Burbs Tour.  Justin opened the door holding his perfect little baby girl wearing the most soft little pink onsie.  I couldnt wash my hands fast enough to give my new niece Elise a squeeze!  We caught up over bagels and Jaina was in all her 2yr old glory, bouncing from one toy to the next.  It's amazing how much she's changed and grown this year...and in just a few short weeks, she's going to revive her role as go-to flowergirl of the Markle family for Andrew & Irina's wedding, sparkly glitter shoes and all :)  

2 hour car trip, 2 infants and a 2yr old all before noon? I needed more coffee.   

The next stop for the rest of the day/night was to Carbs' house for a replicated version of our Carbs-Kernion afternoons of college days gone by.  I think we talked for 13 hours straight yesterday and bounced from a picnic lunch (lunch = wine & cheese) at the Chaddsford Winery to Hickory Lane to dinner at A La Maison Bistro, a darling BYO on the Main Line.  (Mmm mussels & steak frites for two, please.)  And then best husband of the week award goes to Carbs' hubby Kit....for getting the chiminea fire going outback before we arrived home.  Sweatpants + Ravenswood Cab + chilly fall night + clear sky dotted with stars = lovely, simply lovely. 

Family + friends who are like family. My Philadelphia crew :)

And so it goes....another fall weekend down. Next up: sister's wedding in Chicago!  MOH speech time Sunday commences in 3.....2....1 (go.)

I'll stop with the alliteration once I regain my writer's brain and find my eloquence again.  I'm hoping this doesnt take too many months but until then, Friday Favorites is what you get.  (What I would give to have to write a Yanzek 10th grade english paper right now to discover my words again....play the game. Play the game.)  ANYways.  

Fridays are almost as good as Saturdays.  And for that, I like to celebrate things that make me smile.  I hope to continue to do this so in a few years I can laugh at myself and be all like "Really, Sarah, really?!?" and allow for some perspective around here in apt 7B.  Without furture adu...

Lululemon Run:Turbo Crop
I've been a mega fan of Lululemon for about 2yrs now.  It's pricy stuff but is the most comfortable, flattering and lasting workout gear I have ever owned.  It also washes amazingly well and while spending $86 on a pair of workout crops is ridiculous, I am washing and wearing them 2-3x week.  Money well spent, I say.  These Turbo Crop ones are my new favorite.  I haven't "ran" in them, but have worn them to bikram a few times now and they wick the moisture better than the regular Wunder Crops and hit a bit higher on the calf which is more flattering for my shape.  I love them.  Lululemon, can I be your beta-tester for new gear?  :)

Benson Ferry Old Vine Zinfandel 2008
One would think my everyday dinner/post-dinner/party wine would be from a vineyard we've visited.  There is something about indulging in a big glass of California red wine from a winery you've been to and sat on the property taking in the air of the Valley (oh my gosh I am there in my head right now.)  But this wine, the BFOVZ08 is just the most heavenly wonderful, affordable and fantastic wine I have come accross. It is $12.99/bottle which is easy on the wallet and you dont mind opening a few bottles at a time for a dinner party.  It's smooth, has soft tannins and a bit of fruit....and it is just so CALIFORNIA.  That is my only way to best describe it.  Get yourself a bottle (or case!) and let me know what you think.  (This wine was recommended to me by my Uncle Dan's bro-in-law Allen Narkiewicz. Allen, you rock.  And your wife does too! :)

This is for my New York ladies.  Those of you who even follow this thing have heard me RAVE about my love for Mario Badescu.  Recommended to me by Miss Lindsay D, this spa is my go-to facial place.  I use the term "spa" loosely.  It is a nothing special, fairly bare bones facility but their products are heavenly and their facials do the trick for only $65 a pop!  I definitely have a glow afterwards.  The husband even notices:)  Dont get caught up in the extra masks or treatments as it ends up taking time and money away from the basic VERY GOOD and cleansing/extractions/2 masks facial.  The MB product line is reasonable, too, as they are able to provide for a premier product by keeping their packeging costs to a minimum.  No fancy labels or jars here.  So you get a $50 product for $25.  Have I sold you yet? If not...does the fact that they give you like 10 free samples everytime you buy online or in store?  I hope that helps.

Homemade Greek Salad.  Lee laughs at me because I've been making and eating this salad at least 5x/week.  Crisp with a bit of tart, cheese and crunchy. I'll take it!

Recipe: 
*1 large cucumber
*Handful of tomatos
*Feta cheese
*Diced red onion


Dressing: 
*Juice of one lemon
*One large squirt of Dijon mustard
*2-3 tbspns EVOO*Sea salt, fresh ground pepper, dill to your likingPair it with southwest salmon and a chilled sauv blanc!  Salivation station. (OMG I need to stop...)

This is kindof embarassing but I have been wearing this JCrew skirt to work pretty much 3 days a week.  For the past month and a half.  And I most likely will do so all summer. The beauty of my job is that I never see the same offices in one week so it really isnt an issue of style more of function.  I love it though.  It is breezy and khaki always has a spot in the workplace even if it is painfully beige.  It makes me wish we had uniforms back in high school...wouldve made the whole situation SO much easier.