My New York Sweat-away

I had a work meeting in NYC last Thursday with the lovely ladies of Pascale Communications. It's an all-virtual, all-female niche public relations firm that specializes in health care, primarily ophthalmology. I do their medical writing. Once a year or so we all get together to build our team spirit (read: eat and laugh together). It was a fabulous time, although I have no pictures of the actual "work" events.

I was also able to take advantage of the trip and have a lovely girls weekend in the city, and spent some time with some of my favorite women that I don't see nearly often enough. New York was experiencing a heat wave while we were there, so it was over 100 degrees and disgustingly humid the entire trip. My sister Lindsay (who is a personal shopper for anthropologie) outfitted me with adorable fashion for my trip there, and most of my cute outfits got kicked to the curb because they required long pants or too many layers and I couldn't handle the heat. And in case you were wondering, all that heat and humidity does not create a plesant environment for my uber-sensitive sniffer. I wanted to gag every time I left the hotel. Seriously.

But above all, it was a fabulous trip. First of all, I got to see Tammy for the first time in over two years. She is the most amazing person, a wonderful friend, and always a party. She also knows all the good places to eat. Here we had scrumptous breakfasts at Norma's in Le PArker Meridien hotel.
She also convinces me to do things like "go for drinks" at midnight on a Thursday to fun roof top bars where I have to make small talk with the excess men that are trying to hit on her. I just started talking about my husband and kids and they disappeared quickly.

We went to dinner one night at The Spice Market in the meatpacking district. I highly recommend it - everything was delish.

Friday morning we made it to the MET where we checked out the Alexander McQueen exhibit with Diane Keaton. It was amazing - as was the line to get in. I became a museum member to avoid it. McQueen was a true visionary and it was fabulous to see how his suit tailor background worked its way into the details of so many of his concoctions.

Paige, always up for a party, flew out from California and my good friend Catherine, who is currently living in Pennsylvania, also made it into the city.

Catherine and I sat in Colombus circle for probably more than an hour eating Tasty-D-lite yogurt and chatting.

Sunday morning we biked around Central Park and then met my friend Carol for brunch. (I'm dumb, no picture of Carol)

One of my main goals of this trip was to visit some of the fabric stores recommended by a designer/blogger I read and find some fabric to recover the chairs in my living room. I went to Mood, of Project Runway fame, and they had the most amazing selection. But the best deals were found in these little dives where you really have to search.

I mean, would you even walk in the door if someone hadn't recommended them? But I found some great fabric!

I also spent a mere hour at ABC Home & Carpet. I love that store. I wanted these amazing pendant lights for either side of my bed, but I can't afford over $1000 for bedside reading lights...

In spite of profuse sweating the entire weekend, it was such a fabulous trip. I love New York, but more than that I realized what AMAZING girlfriends I have. And I'm so lucky that they would all organize their lives to visit with me!

Conversations with Gabe

self portrait

Gabe frequently tells me "YOU'RE NOT THE BOSSING OF ME," and it's really annoying to me, and tonight after we calmed down from the most recent challenging of authority I sat him on my lap and told him:

Me: Gabe, you know that before you were here on earth you lived in Heaven with Heavenly Father and Jesus, and when you were born They sent you to me and told me I had to protect you, and love you, and teach you to be happy and be the boss of you. Just like Nana was the boss of me when I was little.

Gabe: and Jesus sent me here to be with you and papa and Lucia?

Me: yes

Gabe: and Heavenly Father and Jesus told you to be the boss of me?

Me: yes, so I could teach you how to be happy

Gabe: and did they tell you that when I say "you're not the boss" you could yell back "YES I AM!"?

Me: um, well, kind of?




and not 5 minutes later we walk downstairs and I move a pillow on the couch only to find a large and long lock of blond hair.

Me: Gabe, what is this? Did you cut Lucia's hair?

Gabe: It was an accident!

(at this point I burst out laughing because how classic is this?? after composing myself I turned to this very bewildered boy who was obviously expecting to lose his life)

Me: Gabe, we don't cut people's hair. Ever.

Gabe: Only Aunt Allie can cut hair?

Me: Yes, only Aunt Allie because she went to school for a long time where they taught her how to cut hair, and we did not.

Gabe: no, my school only teaches me Noah's Ark.

I I I Idaho....

My mother is from a very small town in Idaho with something like 500 people living in it, approximately 350 of which she is somehow related to, or has known for so long she's not really sure if there is a blood relation or not. We visited there frequently growing up and although I never wanted to live there, it has a certain enchantment for me. The weather is gorgeous. It's so green, with beautiful flowers every where.

The first week of July we had a family reunion and a majority of my 28 first cousins, their spouses and children where there to celebrate. It was truly a fabulous week. No matter how seldom I go, I feel so loved by me 6 (5 living) uncles and their wives, and love so much to spend time and reminisce with all those cousins. Gabe had 10 male cousins between the ages of 3 and 5 to play with daily. I felt like I hardly saw him - and he is my clingy kid.

Ashley - Lucia, Olive and Gabe having strawberry soda on Aunt LaDee and Uncle Noel's porch. My aunt LaDee was a home economics teacher for many many years and let's just say that he home is functioning perfection. It was amazing to stay with her.

Ashley, Lindsay and I left the kids with my mom and drove up to Jackson Hole one day - beautiful place, we were sad we didn't have time to do more hiking or biking or something.

The famous antler arches in the center of town.

Olive, Hayley and Lucia just fooling around.

Travis playing the guitar while we all camp out on the front lawn waiting for fireworks to start.

Lindsay, Olive, Gabe, Birdie, Ashley.

Pulling the rocking horse around to ride while we wait.

The small - ha ha - flag they fly at the park across the street for the 4th. Small town America is a great place to celebrate the nations independence!

Lucia playing in Uncle Noel's backyard. The diversions are endless!

Waiting for candy during the parade.

Listening to Cara and other performers at the Forth of July festivities in the park.

Hanging out in the grass, drinking more soda. Man did those kids get their fill of soda this week!

Brigham, Alex, Jayna, --,--, Cade, Kallie, Ashley, Khloe

Colton, Gabe, Lucia, Olive

Lots o cousins hanging out on the 4th.

Lucia, Olive and Khloe (Birdie) matchy-matchy thanks to aunt Ashley.

Alex, Misty, Lucia, and Mindy at the town breakfast.

Cade, Khloe and Gabe chowing down pancakes.

Lindsay and I AFTER the town 5k fun run. I won't mention my time, because it's not something to be proud of! (I swear it was the altitude)

The veterans who performed the gun salute. The same ones that were at my Grandfather's funeral a few years back, and we were quite sure they were going to shoot us!

Gabe, totally annoyed that he had to get hosed off after playing in the mud.

All the boys creating the mud pit.

Baby Olive enjoyed the mud pit as well!

Uncle Noel taking the kids for a ride. Who wouldn't love this??

Uncle Jay organized a family cemetary tour - all the graves belonging to family members had been marked with flags.

Misty and Josh at the family reunion. We are dumb and I have no big group pictures.