I'm hardly into sports BUT...

This weekend Tom and a couple friends and I went to see Moneyball and it totally lived up to the hype for us. I don't know much about baseball except that I love sitting in the bleachers eating junk food, singing along to the megatron, and yelling random things about getting on bases, hitting home runs, foul balls, or strikes.

Being from Northern California I was proud to already be familiar with the Oakland A's team at least, even though the San Francisco Giants are where my loyalties, when I have them, lie (aside from the Yankees, of course). I was sucked right in to the under dog story and fascinated about how much I didn't know about the "behind the scenes" part of baseball. Turns out the A's played a defining role in changing the game. It made me laugh and sympathize and see that there's politics and monetary influence in everything, even games.


It probably also helped that I'm reading this fascinating biography. Focused around another sport of which I know nothing about, but have thoroughly enjoyed reading up on as well as learning about Agassi's life and perspective. It's fascinating!

If you haven't seen Moneyball, I highly recommend it for a date night or family night out (with older kids).



P.S. Did you hear that Paranormal 3 is coming??!! I can't wait. The first two were great, the second one was actually better I thought. I watched the new trailer in broad daylight on my laptop and still had to cover my eyes. Eek!

A borrowed piece of solace

My adorable and sweet friend Rachel recently posted this photo during one of her routine walks through Central Park. It was taken from her iPhone without any filters or adjustments. 

Just a straight shot of beauty.

I was immediately smitten. 

So much so that I made it my phone's screen saver.

I've been having a bit of a hard time lately and my emotional cup is filled to the brim with thoughts and feelings and worries and wonders.

Yet every time I turn my phone on I immediately feel a soothing sense of calm come over me, just for a split second, as I gaze at this sunrise over the City that holds my heart. Even if it's an uneasy heart, I can always count on New York for a good-ol-fashioned "chin up kid, you got me!"

Then I unlock my phone and get back to my busy business, but I love having this little slice of serenity to enjoy. 

Thanks Rachel, for snapping this shot and giving me many subliminal breaks from my troubles and cares throughout the day. 

Turning 27: Sparkles and Masks Included

A couple Wednesdays ago I turned twenty seven. Eeps! According to this I am now in my late twenties, but here it says your mid-twenties lasts much longer. So I guess depending on the day and how aged I feel I get to choose. 

I received so many happy wishes, cards, notes, and calls. It was really nice--thank you! 

I celebrated a day early at work, and my boss gave me the most glittery shoes you've ever seen (Gizelle Glitter Platforms) in addition to a beautiful fall sequin cardigan that I've been wearing almost daily. My little weekday munchkin sang a beautifuly toddler voiced Happy Birthday and we shared some delicious purple cake. In addition to being real fun and snazzy, the shoes are actually quite comfy, though I have yet to figure out when / where / with what to wear them... They remind of what Dorothy would've worn had she landed on top of a witch in NYC instead of in Munchkinland. There's no place like New York! 

The day of my birthday was calm and quiet. I didn't have to work so I was able to sleep in, make lunch plans with a long time high school friend in town from Montreal, and then (highlight of my day!!) go see "my boys" Jasper and Hayden after their first day back to school. I hadn't seen them in about a month and a half and I was missing them TERRIBLY, so my gift to myself was a two hour visit and wrestle sesh. I loved every moment. I swear they grow even faster when I'm not around every day. Jasper is now 7 1/2 and in 2nd grade and Hayden just started pre-K (he's 4 1/2). At their school they don't have grades, so technically they're in the VIIs and IVs groups and both of them go from 9am-3pm (hence my departure--school stole my job!). 

I scored some awesome first-day-of-school drawings from Jasper (remember when the hardest thing you did on the first day of school was draw? Ah, the good ol days) and almost beat Hayden in a Pokemon fight, except my guy's arm fell off and I got destroyed. Hate it when that happens!

After my drop-in play date I met up with Tom and he took me to a unique and audience-interactive show called "Sleep No More" at the McKittrick Hotel. I had been wanting to go for a long time and was so eager to see for myself what all the hype and intrigue was about. It was definitely unlike anything I've ever seen or experienced show wise. It was fascinating, exhausting, confusing, entertaining, remarkable, and powerful. The set was breathtaking. Six floors of rooms upon rooms of detailed design and awesomeness. I can't even describe it. The entire audience wears masks, and there is no talking allowed. Comfy shoes are a must too as there are lots of stairs and you're on your feet the whole time (but you can leave or go sit at the bar on the 2nd floor anytime you want). The actors interact with each other, and sometimes audience members (they even take select ones into hidden places and rooms!), but you only see what's going on if you can catch them / follow them as they rush up and down and in and out of the numerous rooms and floors of the hotel. It's kind of like a Haunted House for adults. You're fairly confused and freaked out but you can't pull yourself away because you have to know what's going on! 

For the first hour and half or so I was just smitten by exploring every room, which is also interactive and allows you to open things, read things, knock on things, and discover the world that has been created for the audience. Then Tom and I decided to follow (meaning run and chase) the actors and try to figure out what the show and storyline was. Following them lead to some pretty crazy scenes, and also even further confusion, though still really cool. We still have no clue what was going on, though we do know it was in some way connected to Macbeth.... we were able to piece some things together and we still thought it was AMAZING both to experience as a show and to see from an artistic perspective. It was like a gallery and a show in one. I know I'm not doing a very good job of explaining, but it's not something you can explains, you just have to go! It's running through the end of September I think, so if you're in NY try to find a show that's not sold out, and GO!

After that we ate at a yummy nearby restaurant called The Red Cat, which I would also highly recommend. The tempura green beans especially! 

It was a good birthday and I hope the next year follows suit! 

YUM: Picnic in the Park

Happy Monday! 

Did you have a good weekend? I'd love to hear.

Tom took me on a surprise picnic in Central Park! 

He ordered a basket of Italian goodness from this popular and oh-so-yum Upper West Side Italian eatery. Along the way I spotted my biggest and most often bought weakness and we picked up some of that as well. Melting factor meant dessert before (and with) lunch. Score! 

We found a semi-private plot of grass just inside the famous W. 72nd Street entrance to Central Park . We noshed on pesto pasta, cheese, olives, prosciutto, artichoke hearts, panni's, apples and water. Even the table cloth (which we sat on) was included. It was perfect. I wish I had taken photos of the food, but we ate it all up before I even thought about it. It was SO GOOD! 

We did remember to take a few post-picnic shots as we lounged and digested.

Tom's eyes were super sun sensitive initially.

So we decided to get super snuggly and smoosh right up next to each other. 

Which was better on all accounts. ;) 

After lunch we met up with our friends Kate & Alex for an afternoon movie date. We saw this, after which I immediately sanitized my hands and have been washing them more than ever before! I was definitely a little freaked...and I'm hardly a germ-o-phobe.

I love Fall. It's my favorite season, though far too short. September is my all time favorite month (even though my fave holiday falls in October, I'm a full blown September-lover) and I can't think of a better way to spend a crisp and cool Saturday afternoon than a picnic in Central Park with a hot date and some scrumptious eats! 

There is Love to be Had

{seen on Bippity}

I might need to read and / or chant this to myself on a daily basis and remember just how much LOVE there is to be had...and that I have it! Because sometimes I like to get caught up in the worry, the complaint, and the imperfections of love too. And that's just lame. I'm a very lucky girl, and my guy is perfect for me.