A random pinot from Bottlerocket and we were set. Jessica was our instructor...and abstract painter from Boston. Like, a legit painter. Poor gal had to lead us Markles and the random solo gal Gail through the "Growing Together" art lesson. Paint by number except without the numbers and a Jessica demonstrating each part. And we had....SO MUCH FUN. Paint a little grape. Sip of wine. Rinse the brush. Dip in paint. Paint the stem. Sip of wine. Side eye peek at Lee while he's not looking, return to my painting. I'm not stealing ideas. We are painting the SAME thing. Such a fun hour of life. We poked fun at each other for the size of the grapes. We decided not to sign the canvases and have our apartment guest friends guess whose is whose. We joked on the walk home that we never even knew there was an art lesson studio just 2 blocks from home. This is what constitutes a perfectly random NYC night. Next time: advanced level paint class.
2 months ago, Sarah Kr and I thought it would be a grand idea to just...you know...take a random byob paint class. Pinot + Painting? This sounds right up my ally! What we didnt account for was a cold/flu/awfulness attacking SKr's bod and rendering her a sickie blonde for the night. In swoops the husband. Suprisingly, Lee is really feeling up for this class and if anything, slight annoyed that we didn't ask him to join us in the first place;)
A random pinot from Bottlerocket and we were set. Jessica was our instructor...and abstract painter from Boston. Like, a legit painter. Poor gal had to lead us Markles and the random solo gal Gail through the "Growing Together" art lesson. Paint by number except without the numbers and a Jessica demonstrating each part. And we had....SO MUCH FUN. Paint a little grape. Sip of wine. Rinse the brush. Dip in paint. Paint the stem. Sip of wine. Side eye peek at Lee while he's not looking, return to my painting. I'm not stealing ideas. We are painting the SAME thing. Such a fun hour of life. We poked fun at each other for the size of the grapes. We decided not to sign the canvases and have our apartment guest friends guess whose is whose. We joked on the walk home that we never even knew there was an art lesson studio just 2 blocks from home. This is what constitutes a perfectly random NYC night. Next time: advanced level paint class.
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I love a good foodie quirk at a restaurant. Whether it be a bite size complimentary dollop of gelato between courses or a warmed hand towel to end the meal experience, the catch-you-off guard effect and small courtesies aimed at the diner's happiness always are so unexpected and very much appreciated. A few I've made note of recently:
*Barclay Prime (Philly). Before your steak is presented to you, the waiter rounds the table with a sliverware felted tray. Would you like the Wustof or Chroma? Furitechnics or Laguiole? I felt really special. *Tipsy Parson: Bite size spicy cornbread with honey butter brought out before the meal. I love a basic breadbasket like most, but how smart are they to list the cornbread on the menu as an official "side" and then bring out compliments of the chef before dining? *Ditch Plains: Lobster rolls and crab dip are one thing. A jar full (think: 12-15 pieces) of salt water taffy brought with the check is another. Totally satisfies the "I just want a bite of something sweet" to finish the meal. *The Smith: Perhaps my favorite simple gesture of any decently priced go-to restaurant....sparkling water served w your meal in green glass bottles. So often we dont go for the Pelligrino simply for the tripled price tag. Eating out and the whole dining experience in NYC is one of the most social elements of our week. And...like many things in life, small gestuers go a very long way into making it a memorable one. Cheers! *bikram, check. *white strips, check. *antioxidant mask, check. *cooling eye mask, check. *this was so necessary after work today. *um, this picture makes me look DEAD not relaxed. HAHA! *tis monday. *and after this next weekend... *we are packed to the brim til nov 12. *to weddings! *to parties! *to baby visits galore! *the norm. *what a great norm :) *i wonder what our normal will be like in 5, 10, 15 years? *"the point is to live everything. live the questions now. perhaps without even knowing it, you'll live your way to the answer" -rilke *no answer necessary, just life as it comes is answer enough for me. A mother of three sons, only daughter to her father...sister to four brothers and a wife to one great man. She always says the title of her autobiography will be: "My Life with 9 Men." haha! And that...that humor, that love, that compassion....that is my wonderful mother-in-law. Marlene, what an honor it was to take this weekend and celebrate all that you are to your family. You give of your time, energy and heart to all of us in so many ways and being able to pamper and gift and toast to you was such a treat. Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, "men are what their mothers made them." My biggest cheers and thank you to Marlene this special birthday year... is for raising the man that I call my husband. She instilled within him a strong value set, loving demeanor, and abundant family loyalty. She also passed along her infectious laugh :) And it goes without saying, that her greatest accomplishments are her family and a life rich in love, friendship, and faith. One day, when Lee and I start a family, I can only hope to be even half the mother that she is to her three boys. Soooo....we did what we thought any real over-the-top celebration would entail;) *a Four Seasons massage! *mani-pedis with the girls! *an iPad, luggage, wallet and more! *a limo to and from...(!) *a full on steak and wine and dessert feast at Barclay Prime! Happy birthday, Marlene! We love you so much. "Tomorrow New York is going to be here. And we're going to rebuild, and we're going to be stronger than we were before... I want the people of New York to be an example to the rest of the country, and the rest of the world, that terrorism can't stop us." -Rudy Giuliani There is something ever so binding about New Yorkers and 9/11. While I was just 2 weeks into my freshman year at Penn State when our country was attacked, living here after college and revolving my life in the post-Sept 11th New York....one cannot help but be affected by its transformative effect on the city. On my drive to work each morning, I pass Ground Zero. I've seen the masses of construction workers multiply over the past few months as the 10yr anniversary quickly approached. I noticed the choice of trees chosen to dot the memorial site. 400 beautiful oak trees. An American flag was just hung on the Freedom Tower in the past 24hrs. From our roofdeck, you would've had a perfect view of the twin towers facing south. And as the anniversary approaches, I begin to hear the staff and doctors of the Bay Ridge area reminisce about the sunny late summer day, about who they knew, about friend's husband or wife or someone in their inner circle directly impacted by the events. Emotional as they come, my heart strings are tugged upon as these stories are recounted. I wasn't here for 9/11, but the memory of the event in the place I call home is constantly around me. And in choosing to move and live here after the biggest attack on US soil is a fearless trait I am proud to have...and a powerful characteristic that fastens New Yorkers together. On Sunday, and every day....we remember. MODG recommended, Mrs. M (that's me!) approved.. This is saying a lot as I have been oh so blessed with wide hips and a bootie to rival Kim K's. I don't wear jeans often, but that is going to change. And this little ditty of a wardrobe staple deserves an entire post dedicated to their perfection. Organic cotten softness x 100. Ideal color wash. These will be the jeans I'll never be able to find again in 7yrs when replacement is necessary. They feel loved and worn in just off the rack. I give you, the 7 For All Mankind Bootcut Vintage California. You're welcome.
I couldnt help but share this letter my Mom wrote in her company's email update. What a wonderful reflection on routine and normalcy. At times, I catch my mind aligning routine with bordom even though the benefits are so grounding to me. And perhaps that thought is simply the natural prorgession as routine gains a higher degree of importance in my life. After a whirlwind wknd away, I find these words below to be so very true.
Happy reading... ************************************************************************************************************************************************** Dear Friends of Cards by Anne, Someone once asked the Dalai Lama, “If you had only one word to describe the secret of happiness and of living a fulfilling life, what word would that be?” Without hesitating the Dalai Lama replied, “Routines.” Routines help us organize our time and be more focused so that we can maximize our opportunities. They can simplify our lives by providing a framework that gives stability without having to make a multitude of decisions every time we awake. The regularity that comes with the start of autumn is quite comforting to me. Perhaps that is because I loved school, and being the wife of a teacher, we are beginning a new school year and another round of learning. Summer is the season for the imagination, but fall can be the season for putting those inspirations into action. Is there a routine that you've abandoned that you'd like to recover? I find my practice of sitting and centering becomes less daily during the summer months, and I long for that regular appointment with silence. It could be as simple as preparing a cup of tea and sipping it for a few quiet moments before launching into an activity. I don't think the Dalai Lama meant that we should take cover behind our routines and not allow life to "stretch us." But if we jump from novelty to novelty, our souls fail to simmer in the lessons of the ordinary. Perhaps each of us can identify and begin a practice or two that refreshes and energizes our spirits, deepening our connections with one another. That is my wish for you today. Gratefully, Anne Need...to...slow...down. Everything is on super overdrive as I enter this September and the weekend proved just that. To Chicago I went for Friday-Saturday-Sunday! Mission: find sister a wedding dress was a total success. Dress #2 of the day won out in a landslide of votes (smiles, tears, hugs, "oh this is IT"s). But not before an early morning Forrest Yoga class at the EBClub in River North, just around the corner from the sis' apartment. No trip is complete without a Kernion fam yoga sesh. (eye roll, I know) A midday rain grouded us in Old Town for tea and chit chat. Wedding updates. Life updates. CardsbyAnne updates. Loud laughter. The ususal. Rain continues? Mani-pedis! A wonderful "meet the parents" dinner with a variety of family members at a darling trattoria, Topo Gigio. I'm a tough pasta critic, but apparently Chicago knows a thing or two about Italain food above and beyond Deep Dish Pizza. The great Wexford diaspora has left many Pittsburgh friends all across the country, with our favorite sky-high-heel loving Jenny calling Chicago her new home. A friend who's blonde pig-tails matched my own when we met at age 7. The one who exudes happiness, spunk and fierce ambition. The stars aligned (4 of us hometown friends were in the Windy City for a variety of Labor Day funness) and in some way, it felt like we were all a little cheering section for Jenny, rallying her on as she beins this amazing new chapter of life in business school. Beers cheersed. The Chicago way. And then, with what was the greatest discovery of the weekend, my flight back to NYC was 40min later that I had thought. WOOHOO! Brunch + Millenium Park outdoor cafe + some "tall ones." College story swapping. Mascara running down my face hilarity. Home sweet NYC and an evening in with Lee :) And today...my top 5 favorite day of the year: Labor Day & the US Open. Best friends and the men. Polos and dresses. Lilly & Ralph Lauren. Serena Williams(!). AMAZING seats (!!). Jerry Ferrara waving to me & Sar, post-Entrourage music and our wicked loud and woo-girl cheers directed his way(!!!). Life is good. *this is me and my favorite workout instructor, Amanda. she kicks my butt into shape every tuesday and i while i've thanked her personally, i want to thank her publically because she rocks my equinox socks off. so thank you, Amanda for teaching me the valuable lesson of interval training/pushing oneself to "failure." you've taught me how to take my mind out of the equation and just do things. the rewards are endless. amanda>jillian michaels. *my DIY invitations for my sister's bachelorette party went out today (!!!). get ready, elizabeth ;) *card making totally runs in the family. *i hate iced coffee. i'm a hot coffee drinker year round. on the mornings that i buy coffee from cafe champignon i get the oddest stare from the barista when i ask for a large, french vanilla, skim milk, EXTRA HOT coffee. *i can feel you Fall. you are jusssst around the corner. *you're going to be a busy one that's for sure. *Fall=boots, sunday walks in the park, outside brunch at morandi in the crisp breeze, FOOTBALL, leaves, cozy nights in, weddings, apple crisp, and the sweet anticipation for the holidays. *i think you are my favorite season. *the pixie pants fit perfectly. omg perfectly. *in normal news, just a late afternoon at home catching up on things, suffering through some wicked allergy sinus thingy, and you know....watching MK&A Olsen smoke on their fire escape from my living room window. *welcome, September.
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AuthorSarah: one part of a family of THREE with my husband Lee and sweet girl Morgan, simply wanting to chronicle the path I'm on and the path that will come to be. For now it's NYC urban mamaville where everyday is a new adventure! (Actually, just getting to the post office is an adventure.) Ask Me Anything!Blogettes I LoveJoey & The Owl
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August 2015
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