Friday, July 31, 2009

Ode to my weekend

{Photo from Naturally Nina}

During lunch today, I bought a great new pair of workout shorts that make me want to get out there, shake my buns and go for a run. I also bought the latest issue of The Economist and read and read and read. A gentleman I used to work with is the former CEO of The Economist and he got me hooked on it. I just love that magazine {and him}.

On the docket for the weekend is a slurry of fun - farmer's market, new library books, workouts, movies, SatchmoFest, White Linen Night, riverwalks with Tulip followed by baths with Tulip, church, tidying and shopping. Should be wonderful!

She punctuated dinner with lovely blue hydrangeas


Last night I watered our basil plant and then we picked enough basil leaves to make an heirloom tomato + bufalo mozzarella + basil salad and a delicious pesto sauce to put on our fresh pasta noodles. Oh, and then after that we made homemade oreo cookies. It was wonderful. I just love having dinner guests!

Thursday, July 30, 2009

On the menu


Last night's dinner party was fantastic! Great company that helps in the kitchen and makes you laugh plus amazing food - what more can you ask for on a Wednesday night?

On the menu:

Salad of Hearts of Romaine and Curls of Parmesean dressed with Lemon Oil
Fresh Homemade Pasta with Homemade Marinara Sauce
Homemade Parmesean Butter and Bread
Angel Food Cake topped with Fresh Whipped Cream and Peaches

Thanks for coming over, we had a wonderful time!

{So apparently, the plums we were stewing got left in the oven. Overnight. Ooops!}

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

The best kind of equation

Freshly laundered sheets
+
A crisply made bed
+
{a half-dose of Benadryl}
=
Delicious sleep

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Coming soon to a theater near you

The Very Hungry Puppy
The Very Thirsty Puppy
A Puppy Walks Around the House

and my personal favorite,

The Barking Puppy

Classics, each and every one of them.

Nightly showings at 1:00am, 2:00am, 3:00am, 4:00am......

Monday, July 27, 2009

A two ton hippo slept on my back

No, not really {I don't even have Tulip to blame, as she "slept" in Jessica's room last night} but how else can I explain the dreadful knots in my neck today?

Sigh. I still haven’t managed to recover from the world’s worst night of sleep, which was complete with an unhappy, wandering puppy, nightmares which resulted in real tears, a spastically chirping and braying fire alarm and being eaten alive, burrito-style, by my bedding.

I’ve felt rather creature-from-the-black-lagoon today. I did try. I went running at lunchtime, drank a few diet cokes, but…sometimes you’ve just got to know when to say uncle.

UNCLE.

I have 3 lovely evening activities planned for tonight, so the day is looking up. Now, if only I could look up….but my neck seems incapable of such a motion at the moment. Maybe tomorrow?

Thursday, July 16, 2009

And we're off!


We are off to the airport to jet off for vacation with my family at Lake Tahoe. {Little Tulip is at sleep-away puppy camp and will be safe and happy until we return.} We are celebrating my beautiful grandmother's birthday, and I cannot wait to see everyone! I am really lucky to have such a loving and kind family. We always have so much fun together and I'm sure this trip will be the same. Birthday parties, fancy luncheons with lady friends, hiking, white water rafting, barbequing....it's going to be wonderful!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMA!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just scootin' along

I think that a tangerine-colored Vespa would be the perfect mode of transportation here, especially in the summer. Breezing down St. Charles would be so much fun! Who's with me? We could admire the beautiful homes, then zip down to Cafe du Monde for beignets. Summer dreaming at it's finest!

I heart Harry Potter

So good. So funny. So sad. One of my favorite books in the series and the film really did it justice. I'll be seeing it again. Want to come?

Even more treats

Yesterday my "welcome package" arrived at the house and inside was a treasure trove of Tulane goodies! My very own Tulane shirt, the beginning of what I'm sure will become a large collection. {The collection of mine is already quite large, but those shirts were all inherited from Jessica, who after 5 years has quite the epic Tulane shirt collection.} Baseball t's are one of my favorites and you better believe this little cutie got packed for the trip to Tahoe!!
Inside the bag was this booklet, full of fun facts about Tulane. Very cute and interesting!

Monday afternoon, these treats mysteriously appeared at the house. Tulip is trying to take credit for them but I think she had some assistance from a Miss J.A.R. Sucre makes my heart go pitter-patter and this surpise was a great one! Thank you again!!!!!

Yummy yummy macaroons. The chocolate ones are the very best, I think!

Oh and this little sweetie treatie? Raspberry chocolate mousse topped with a pink macaroon? Heaven. I ate it last night when I got home from Harry Potter and it was absolutely scrumptious.
Thank you to everyone who has cheered for me and celebrated with me! I have had so much sharing this with you and thank you for helping me along the way!!!! I am so excited to start this new program and see where it leads!!!

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Lady treats


When I bought these beautiful new tins of tea this past weekend, I had no idea that I would be celebrating such wonderful news this week. My darling friend Meg also had no idea when she bought a dainty and delicate vintage hankie that she would have the perfect opportunity to celebrate my good news with me! Meg, thank you so much for standing next to me while I opened the news and thank you also for the lovely hankie! You are so thoughtful! I think a tea party is in order. All are invited! Peppermint or ginger tea?

Monday, July 13, 2009

I danced and cheered with joy!


I am shout-it-from-the-rooftops, hire-a-plane-to-write-in-the-sky, fireworks-finale HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I GOT INTO TULANE'S MBA PROGRAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Oh look

It's a new day.  Isn't it great how that happens?

Have a fantastic weekend.

2:00 A.M.

Couldn't sleep.  Didn't want to sleep.  Turned on my iPod {blasted it, the neighbors are on vacation}.  Turned off all the lights.  Had an impromptu dance party with Tulip.  

Feel like part of myself has come back.  Replacing melancholy with hope and whimsy that hasn't been here for a long time. 

Welcome back, self.  So good to see you again.  

{Ok, super tired.  Going to bed now!}

Friday, July 10, 2009

Why haven't you texted me back yet??

Happy Birthday/Father's Day/My Dad is Brilliant day!

I have no pictures of us together. What?


Friends who call you from Grand Central Station at 4:30 on a crowded Friday afternoon and make you laugh for 20 minutes are the best. THE BEST. I miss your face so much! Give that four year old gentleman of yours the biggest hug in the world and please wish on a star for me. I am so lucky I know you!

I've decided I love them again


I can't decide how I feel today. Most of the time I am fine. But then sometimes I get very sad. Sometimes very angry. Sometimes I go days without thinking about it and sometimes it's all I can think about. Last night I treated myself to a massage and freaked out the masseuse when I started to cry. Deep tissue work is painful, whether it's your neck or your heart.

Afterwards I walked to the flower shop to buy myself a little bouquet for my desk. I looked through everything and was just about settled on some yellow sunflowers when a small section of peonies caught my eye. Pink and white. Pink and white, my very favorite. Pink and white, the kind I was going to hold. Pink and white, the kind that for the last year have made me nauseous. Suddenly I wanted to buy the entire bucketful. Next to the pink and white ones I saw a few bunches of deep burgundy wine colored peonies. They were stunning and different than anything I'd ever seen before. So I bought them and carried them home. And smile when I look at them. And that is a good thing.

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Remember


{Make your own card here}

Making me happy


  • Woke up shockingly early this morning. On my own. So relaxing.
  • Sunglasses fogged up when I went outside. Still novel enough that I find it funny.
  • Got my favorite parking spot. Love when that happens. Miracle when it does!
  • Am wearing white today. Always puts me in a good mood.
  • Walked past these gorgeous pink tree blossoms on my way into the office.
  • Everything here {except the flowers, of course} is green, green, green!
  • Am having lunch with a friend.
  • Am treating myself to a massage tonight after work.
  • Am having dinner with another friend.
  • Life is good.

Morningscape

Dreamland.

For her too.

The ride home from doggie day care was quiet

Pick up was at 5:00


and then she slept for the rest of the night.

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

And DON'T SLIDE DOWN THE BANNISTER!

{Photo by my mama. Isn't it gorgeous?}

{Major bonus points to the person who can tell me what movie the title is from.}

Today Tulip is at her trial day of doggie day care. Meaning that if she is good/cute/fun/friendly she can board there during our trip to Tahoe. Meaning that if she is bad/wild/uncontrollable alternate plans will have to be made. Oh dear.

Please send all your most calming, well mannered, chew-with-your-mouth-closed thoughts in her little direction.

Many thanks!

UPDATE:  Our girl is in!  Boarding is set to commence next Thursday!!!  Good job, T, we are so proud of you!!!!  {The little dear is so tired from her day of non-stop fun t hat she collapsed with happy exhaustion the moment she hit the car and, except for a short walk inside, has been asleep since 5:15.  This day care thing is amazing.}

's wonderful!


{Photo by suebeehb}

a wonderful little mrs. got married to her mr. and some wonderful person got invited to the wedding. the wedding was just beautiful and everyone there was full of love for the new mr. and mrs.

the new mrs. said to her friend, "some wonderful person gave some wonderful baking pans to the wonderful mr. and mrs. m."

the friend said, "oh?"

the mrs. said, "mr. and mrs. were wonderfully surprised to receive such a wonderful gift."

the friend said, "some wonderful person thought a wonderful mrs. would love to use the wonderful pans to make her mr. some wonderful treats because the mrs. is so very very wonderfully martha."

the mrs. said, "how wonderful!"

the friend said, "i just adore that mr. and mrs!"

the mrs. said, "they just adore you!"

the end.

xoxo.

A little sunshine for a rainy Wednesday

It's grey.....drizzly.....Mom leaves today.......so for some cheering-up eye candy:

Feel better? Me too.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

A love letter to my Mother


My mom surprised me at work today with these pretty blue hydrangeas, two vegetable tamales and a pineapple popsicle. What is sweeter than that?

My mom leaves tomorrow. She’s been here for a month and it’s been a really good time. Lots of fun, lots of doing New Orleansy things, a few times when our lil’ 4-room shotgun home and 3 girls + puppy was just way too small, some wonderful conversations and a whole lot of love.

My mom is just wonderful. Full of joy, always up for a good time, and capable of making even a midnight run to Circle K completely magical. She is a puppy whisperer and has Tulip completely under her spell. What will she do without her Goddess to keep her in line???

I know you believe in me ten thousand percent and that knowledge means the world to me. I’m so grateful you are always there for me, even when I exhaust you, even after a fight, especially after a fight. I needed this time with you, to feel loved and daughterly again. I especially needed it on the days when I was particularly beastly. Your patience with me is steadfast, and for that I am so grateful. I know I am not always a picnic to be around, and thank you for not letting me push you away. Thank you for being strong when I need strength. Thank you for listening and talking and helping me see and learn and grow and become stronger.

I love the curly curly curlicue hair you gave me, the love of pink flowers you gave me, the midnight owl tendencies you gave me. I am so proud of the person you are, the artist you are, the kindest most loving most giving best teacher most amazing woman that you are.

I love you!

Monday, July 6, 2009

Ohhh Miss B!


This girl is un-freaking-believable.

Her voice is the voice of an angel. A very, very powerful angel.

Her dance moves? Like nothing I've ever seen before.

Utter fandemonium in the jam packed, sold out Superdome.

The show was amazing and unforgettable!

Thank you again for the tickets and coming with us, Mom!!!!

July 3 + 4


Last year on July 3 I started my day at the South Street Seaport with friends, admiring the lovely and artistic waterfalls that bedazzled the Brooklyn Bridge. My favorite four year old friend gifted me a Swedish Fish and a kiss and told me everything would be ok. I didn’t really believe him. I spent the afternoon hiding in my office, crying. I made a last-minute decision to fly home for the holiday weekend. I was crumbling, and so very certain I was going to die of heartbreak.

Last year on July 4 I woke up and within an hour my life had turned upside down. I made the hardest decision of my life, and followed it with the decision to leave New York. What a one-two punch to myself. Plans were dismantled and new, emergency, contingency plans put in place.

This year on July 3 I took my puppy to play in the Mississippi River and went to the {amazing} Beyonce concert.

This year on July 4 I baked a cake and decorated it with berries and cream and made it look like our lovely American flag. I went to the river with a friend and watched the glorious fireworks. We wandered around the French Quarter afterwards and as I walked I thought about things. Everything.

More than once I’ve cried, remembering. More than once I wanted to call and see how things are. More than once, I can’t believe a year has passed. This was a rough weekend, to say the least, but the days come and go and we get through it. And more than once, I’m so grateful for loving family and friends. I never expected that this is where I would be in July 2009. But I am happy and working hard and still doing my best to keep moving forward every day. I wish you the very best.

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Happy July!


There are so many exciting things happening this month! Beyonce, fireworks, baseball, cake-making, Harry Potter, birthdays and Tahoe! I just can't wait!