Happy {white} Christmas!!

The Train Christmas song is so good. Love those guys!
Christmas Eve, we had a fun evening with some friends over and then made Courtney and Justin stay to "help" put Arden's trampoline together. Justin pretty much did it all. Aren't we so nice?!


I woke up really early to make Cinnamon rolls and then my mom and sister came over. Arden woke up late, since she was up so late Christmas eve playing. When she came downstairs, the first thing she went for were her new crocs. She insisted on wearing them all day (even with her Christmas dress).
Around lunch, we went to my dad's and Arden got a load over there!

Applying her new lipstick-
She wanted to join in on the picture taking action
When we got back home, she made a beeline to her trampoline. Seriously. We couldn't even get her coat off.


Christmas night, it started snowing and by morning, everything was covered so we went out to play. Arden kept saying "white no(snow)!!!! no mommy! ooh no!!!"
Arden LOVED it and especially loved eating it after daddy gave her a taste.
She would not wear her mittens because she couldn't shovel snow into her bucket with them and it took a long time until she couldn't handle it anymore. She finally gave in and went back inside and she opened her last present!
We had a wonderful Christmas and the snow just made it that much better.

Look Who's TWO!!

Arden turned 2 on Dec 13th and we had a little party the Saturday before. Derek's parents flew down to celebrate with us and my dad, grandmother, sister and nephew came over.

Brigham loved the balloons, but didn't enjoy getting tangled in them.


The cake could have a post of its own, but lets just say fondant was tried and failed so we went with cream cheese frosting and gum paste for the decorations. I didn't have much time and was making the cut outs Saturday morning and gum paste hardens pretty quick when left out. I wanted the butterflies wings to be sticking out and not stuck on the cake. When I put it all together, it looked great (butterflies had been sitting out for a while and were hard, but I covered the cake, and the wings fell flat) To stay hard, the gum paste needs to be out for days. Hey, I'm learning each year. At least it taste good. I used a pound cake recipe that is absolutely yummy-and dense so perfect for decorating with fondant or doing layers.

In the middle of the 'party,' Arden got sick, so we had to disappear for a little bit. Poor baby. She really enjoyed unwrapping presents though.


On her actual birthday (and her grandpa's!) we went out to eat at Lonestar and then to the mall to see santa.



Helping Grandpa open his present-

On a side note, Arden has suddenly taken to her pacifiers. She has never really been into them, but they've always been around, and for some reason, one has stayed in her crib. Actually she did like to chew on them when she was teething, but suddenly she always wants one when she goes to bed or when she's tired or first wakes up. It started around the time she got a cold that turned into a sinus infection a few weeks ago, so I'm hoping this attachment goes away soon. Maybe she's getting her 2 year molars.

Arden is such a doll (minus those glimpses I've seen of terrible twos the past couple of months) She loves to help. Yesterday, I was wrapping some gifts and she sat beside and said 'I help! I help!' and put tape all over packages.
A lot of times when I tell her I have to do something- like put my shoes on and I pick them up, she will take one away from me and hand it right back and say 'good girl!' Same thing if she sees me wash my hands, she'll grab the towel first or take it away from me so she can give it me. It makes her day.
Recently I was eating a pomegranate and she asked for some and said, "MMMM dat's GOOD mommy!" She ate a ton that night, but has refused to eat them since. When she eats something she likes, she usually says 'MMM good!' and rubs her belly.
Her favorite color is white, she loves butterflies, babies, purses and shopping carts with steering wheels. She pitches a fit when it's time to go. She loves to sing and dance and jump. When she sings, sometimes she finds a toy that resembles a microphone (where did she learn that?!) other times, she goes a capella ;)
She tests her food before eating to see if it's hot. She likes to tell me I'm a 'good girl' when I do certain things. She 'I love you' two nights ago for the first time (that I could actually understand) and it was the sweetest thing. She is very good about cleaning up her toys when I ask her. She loves to draw. She's not really into coloring. She is typically slow and careful when she draws. She says 'thank you mommy/daddy' a lot and says, 'Oh! I sorry' more than she needs to!
She still loves shoes, and has to be the one to pick them out.


I love this little munchkin so much and know that she will be a great big sister!
Happy Birthday, Arden Brielle!!

You're how old?!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my amazing, sweet, talented sister.





(I was paid to say that)

Not Just Another Anniversary

...Well maybe it was. On Friday (Dec 3rd) Derek and I 'celebrated' (let's use that term lightly) our wedding anniversary. Pretty typical morning except I had to wake Arden up about an hour early, so that I could get her down for nap early in order to make it to my doctor's appointment. Derek got home a little early and we all headed out to the doctor to find out that it's a BOY. Shock. Totally exciting because it takes the stress and pressure off of #3. Hey, maybe for #3 I'll keep it a surprise like a friend of mine is doing. Hmm....oh who am I kidding?! I don't see that happening. I'm still shocked though because I just KNEW it was a girl. I have felt the same (totally crappy) except I haven't gained nearly as much weight and my skin is horrible this time. With Arden it was crystal clear, so I guess that was my clue.
After my extremely long appointment (one hour of waiting for a five minute chat with the doctor), we didn't have much time to eat like we planned, so we ate dinner at Souper Salad. I was totally craving their cranberry dressing. It really is the best. Then we had to rush home and grab our cookies for a Cookie Exchange Party, which was a ton of fun. So that is how we spent our anniversary.

On another note, I took Arden to the doctor this morning because yesterday she woke up from her nap with discharge coming out of one eye. She woke up 2.5hrs early this morning sounding horrible and breathing heavy. She has a sinus infection and she is just so pitiful. Tonight the discharge was coming from both eyes and they are so red, it's so sad.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We had a great day yesterday with family and friends and definitely ate too much, but how can you not with such yummy food?! Last night I even went out shopping at midnight. First time ever doing any crazy hour black Friday shopping, but I only went to one store and lets just say it's fun when you go with someone. I did not go with anyone, but an old friend I've practically known since I was a baby was in line too just 2 people behind me so we chatted and it made the time go by faster. I was home by 1:30, and if I had someone to continue shopping with, I would have. Not that I needed anything, but it was a bit exciting, I must say.
Next up- Arden's Birthday and Christmas. Oh the excitement and busyness of the holidays.
Arden's wish list contains bikes and ride on toys, a microphone, babies, shoes and purses.
Derek's wish list probably contains shoes (well he needs new ones so they should be on his list), work clothes, an xbox 360 with kinect thanks to my brother in law, And his biggest wish (a new job offer!) was just fulfilled.
My list includes a new steam mop since mine died, a Kitchen Aid Mixer (apparently I will never buy this for myself), a Magic Bullet, clothes are always great, CD's, and a new house ;).

Birthday REWIND!!!!

...Back to April. Remember when I took my little sister to see Train in Knoxville and Pat told me he would give me tickets to the show in Charlotte when they would be opening for John Mayer? He said John was only giving them (Train) 10 tickets for friends/family and told me to contact him closer to the date.

Tickets went on sale a few weeks later, so I ended up buying them the minute they went on sale *just in case* he didn't have enough tickets. I wanted to make sure we had close seats. Fast forward to July. Week of the show, I got in touch with Pat about the show. We talked for 2 days (the sound guy was trying get lots of tickets for friends) and he promised me I'd have two, but was trying to get me four tickets (that darn stingy John Mayer).

We sold our really great tickets I bought ($170 worth! I tried to give them to a friend, but she wasn't interested) and picked up the really REALLY great tickets and backstage passes at will call. ( I must add this was the day before Derek's birthday, so this was his amazing birthday present- getting to meet (again) a band he loves about this much:


Train went on promptly at 7 and there weren't a lot of people there at the beginning of the set which is a bit disappointing because they are much more entertaining and just better than Mayer. For real.
Train's set was over and we waited about 20 minutes before going backstage. There were a few people around, so we waited our turn to talk with the guys since we were the last ones to come back.

Derek enjoyed pointing out that 2 guys (from radio maybe?) were in front of us but told us to go ahead (so they could talk to the guys longer I guess) so we talked for a minute then got a picture taken with them, then I was talking to Scott, the drummer and the radio guys say 'hi' to Pat and he says, 'hey what's up?' and then turns around and starts talking to me again. Take THAT suckas! It was pretty awesome. The two guys left and the band was still talking to us.

We went back to our seats and watched a little of this goofball


....just to say we did. I mean he's OK, but I sure wouldn't be paying a load to see him.



Next up was my birthday in September. Derek was going to take me to The Melting Pot (one of my favorite spots) and suggested I invite someone, actually he even told me who to invite, not that I opposed at all because Tamara** and Mike were my first choice. So with late notice they were able to come and I was thrilled. Then I was talking to Ashley and told her they could come too, but she got sneaky asking me questions like which location and then she told me that Mark's brother actually had reservations at the same location and asked what time ours were. It wasn't true. Sneaky Sneaky.
We were leaving, walking to our car (a good distance away) and I see pieces of paper all over the front. My first thought was that there sure were a lot of people putting out fliers tonight! Then we get closer and it was multiple size/shaped hearts taped all over the windows with a birthday card from my sweet sister.
Dinner that night with great friends and a great sister turned my blah day into a great night.

**Tamara had her little boy, Tristan 2 weeks ago. I am so happy for her family!!

New Yawk

I moved to New York city when I was 18. A few weeks later, I got a roommate who quickly became a close friend. She moved from France for an internship. Malika and I had so much fun together. Grocery shopping. Cooking (well she did the good cooking, according to her all I cooked was cereal morning and night. =) ) Walking. Clothes shopping. Talking. Eating out. Seeing bands. Laughing. I moved back home and Malika stayed another year before she had to go back to France, but she did fly to NC for my birthday a few months before she moved. That was the last time I saw her. Six years ago. We of course kept in touch by phone on occasion, but mostly email. Well last month she told me she was coming to NYC for two weeks in October. I was beyond thrilled, but wasn't sure if I was going to make it up there. Luckily I did (well we all ended up going) last week. I had the time of my life with her. I just love her and have so much fun with her and it felt like we were roommates again, doing the same things.

This was Arden's first flight and she did pretty good.

That child just does not like to be still for ANY amount of time. We brought Fruit snacks which were new to her for the take off and landing to help with her ears. We flew jet blue which means unlimited snacks (and they have a good variety!) which helped too because that girl can eat.
Upon arriving, we took the new(er) air train to connect to the subway and made our way to Manhattan, where we stayed on the upper west side with Derek's cousin.
Street we stayed on-

View from the terraceA bodega on the street corner. Love all the colors!


Her Apartment is in an absolutely beautiful area at 68th street and Central Park West, just a couple of blocks from Lincoln Square.




After getting in and chatting with Mary Ellen for a little bit, we headed out to get some lunch. After lunch, Derek and I took Arden to the Times Square Toys R Us. Actually I'd like to mention that we walked there =).

been There, Done that.

On the way, Arden fell asleep (she didn't have her regular nap) and I was so excited to get some of the best popcorn from Popcorn, Indiana- A store that opened in Times Square a blocked from where I worked. I used to send the boys I worked with who liked me to get it. Unfortunately it closed and I think it was a restaurant in its location. I was totally bummed. I had all my favorite places I wanted to go, and was totally craving the fresh, amazing Caramel Chocolate Drizzle popcorn, so that was a total disappointment.
I visited the place I worked and it has totally changed and the atmosphere doesn't seem nearly as fun/lively as it used to be.
I worked on music row in Times Square at Sam Ash. I was the best receptionist they ever had. Just sayin.
Anyway, I saw tons of famous musicians and once Stevie Wonder came in, and they locked the door, and he played some songs for us. Amazing.


We made our way a few blocks down to Toy R Us, and lo and behold Arden woke up. She loved looking at all the toys and carrying around as much as she could,

luckily she's usually OK with putting things back. We made our way to the Ferris Wheel (there is a ferris wheel in the 3/4 level store. Arden loved it, like all rides.

Next, we hopped on the subway (which I must say the terminals are NOT stroller friendly. It really is a pain getting around on the subway system with a stroller. Yuck.) to meet Malika downtown for dinner for dinner at one of my favorite spots.





Dojo.

You really can't ask for more. Where else can you eat healthy (Soy Burger Dinner- Soy Burger, brown rice, a salad and the best tahini Dressing- not the kind you may be thinking) for $4.95? Best soy burger you will ever eat. All their food is good and cheap, but that is my meal. I got it every time. $4.95. in NYC, and it's HEALTHY!!!!! Oh how I miss that place. I love you, Dojo.

Oh yeah, so Malika met us there and that was the first time seeing her in SIX years!!!!! We talked and laughed and watched Arden lick salt off the table.


It was getting late and way past time for Arden to get to bed- though even with a short nap, she held up great. Malika went back to her place and we took the subway back uptown.

We got Arden to bed at 10:30 (!), got ourselves to bed and a couple of hours later, she wakes up crying. I didn't want her to wake Mary Ellen (but with that loud mouth, she probably woke the neighbors too) so I quickly grabbed her and laid her down with us. She went to sleep immediately only to wake up at 5AM! She quietly laid/sat in bed for a while while I went in and out of sleeping and Derek thinks she went back to sleep. At 7:00, she was up for good (She typically sleeps 8:30P-8A).

I finally got up and got moving, and we went walking around the upper west side. I'd also like to mention it was drizzling off and on all day.
Fairway Market is one of the fancier grocery stores and I think the only location is the one on the upper west side. All produce is outside along the sidewalk.

Later, we met Derek's cousin Todd, Mary Ellen and Malika at Bryant Park for lunch.

H&M- one of my favorite stores. There is one in ATL, but it just isn't as good as the ones in NYC.




Todd had to go back to work, and I REALLY wanted to go to my old house to take a picture of it, because when I lived there, I left my camera in NC, and never got it back So I really don't have any pictures from when I lived there. hmph. Derek didn't want to go "alll the way out there" so I suggested he take Arden to the park or back to Mary Ellen's and Malika and I would go alone. Score. (and I'm an very thankful that Derek willingly took Arden for the rest of the day so I could spend it with Malika and boy did we have a blast.


In front of our old house-

We lived in Queens, at Kew Gardens, Briarwood to be exact, which was actually pretty much *dun dun dun* JAMAICA. I could get off at the Kew Gardens or Briarwood stop, but the Kew Gradens stop was a little longer walk, but a beautiful one. I lived in a BEAUTIFUL, safe area, right near a private catholic high school.







The Train ride was only 30 minutes to Midtown/Times Square, so not a bad ride AT ALL. Actually Derek lived MUCH closer to Manhattan in Astoria, which is pretty much right over the water, and that train ride was about 5 minutes longer than mine.

Anyway, so we got to our house (after a little confusion of which way to walk from the subway) and took silly pictures and headed back to Manhattan and got off at 53rd st.

We checked out the latest and hottest fashions





Visited Dylan's Candy Bar (Owned by Ralph Lauren's Daughter, Dylan) That place just smells amazing.




Then we walked over to Serendipity III. One of my other favorite restaurants.
I frequented this place with many different friends, but never Malika.


I always got the same thing




Can't Say No Sundae.
It is the most amazing peanut butter pie you will ever taste (They call it Humble Pie and sell it by the slice too)
vanilla ice cream
bananas
hot fudge
whipped cream
cherry
(the image above only funny because while we were eating, Malika started looking through the pictures on my camera, and well on a camera, it's darker and smaller. her eyes got huge and she says, "What on earth?! Ewww oh my gosh what is that?" I told her to show me, and she said, No, it will make you sick when you are eating (in her cute accent). I finally talked her into showing it to me, and it seriously looked like a basket of rats curled up together. It took me a minute, but I finally realized it was my dessert, and we laughed and laughed and cried from laughing.)

A couple of years ago, Derek bought me the book, "Sweet Serendipity: Delightful Desserts and Devilish Dish: it has recipes for their most famous dishes, and I have yet to try the 'Humble Pie'. I'd hate to ruin such an amazing thing.

Serendipity is probably most famous for their Frozen Hot Chocolate, which I have only tasted once, and it's fine, but I'm not sure what the fuss is about, because it should be about the Humble Pie!



After stuffing our faces, we had to power walk to the upper west side to meet Derek and his friends for dinner (YEAH RIGHT!) First we made a quick stop at the Diesel store, then went on our way. We started out at 53rd St and Lexington (East side) walked further east to 2nd Ave (Two blocks from the East River) and had to walk to 68th st on the WEST side to meet Derek and Arden, walked back down two blocks to Lincoln Center to meet Derek's friend Ray and his girlfriend for dinner, then walked up to 79th St and Amsterdam (Three blocks from Hudson River) to meet some other friends of Derek's. That would be 26 blocks north, but we went south 2 blocks for dinner and back up those 2 blocks so 30 blocks north/south PLUS 11 blocks back to Mary Ellen's which means Malika and I walked 41 blocks north/south and a long way and through Central Park from east to west. We Laughed, reminisced, took pictures along the way and wondered how on earth were we going to eat a single bite of dinner.

65th St Transverse cut through central park


We (they) ate at a super fancy Mexican restaurant across from Lincoln square. I did not order a meal, only nibbled on the guacamole (made table side)and chips. Malika somehow ate her entire meal. Arden pitched a fit in the super fancy restaurant and threw her food. The two minutes she was calm:

Derek and Ray

Two beautiful ladies at Lincoln square:



We said goodbye to Ray and Kathie and walked up to Blondie's Sports Bar to meet the guys.


Arden's first (and only?!) sports bar experience and she really got into it.
She took the plate of carrots/celery, dipped each stick into the blue cheese licked it off and put the sticks back on the plate.

When people would start cheering and clapping for one of the 20 TV's she would clap too.....and I FINALLY some good Buffalo wings! Boy, have I been craving some good ones. Yum. Arden even got into that action and was eating wings like a pro. It was so cute.

10:00 came and I forced Derek to leave his buds so we could get Arden to bed.

We had our sad goodbyes with Malika at the 72nd sub station and made our way few more blocks south which Arden was out and barely woke as I changed her for bed.

Day 3:
Arden woke up at 6AM, I think (I stayed in bed =) ). After a bit, we walked over to Central Park for a little sight seeing and let Arden play at the playground.

Further into the Park, this man was making bubbles, which Arden was totally amazed.


It was a beautiful morning.


After a couple of hours, we went back to Mary Ellen's and packed up. *Someone* (not me) didn't want to take the subway, so we paid a car service a ridiculous amount of money to drive us to the airport which took longer than the train.


The nice thing about flying with kids? You get to go through the family security checkpoint line which was empty both times.

After security, we grabbed lunch (amazing sandwiches) and Arden played and tried to act cool like she was hanging out alone in the middle of the airport.

We got some Ben and Jerry's and headed to our gate. Arden pooped as we got onto the plane and I made Derek change her because I had just changed her TWICE in the airport. He asked the flight attendant if he could change her really quick and she said yes, but you better hurry (I mean half the people weren't even on the plane yet). I guess that got Derek a little frazzled and he came out all sweaty carrying Arden without any pants on and told me she might have some poop on her leg. I couldn't stop laughing. Then he said the changing table was so small that her legs and bottom were hanging off the table and her head was sideways pushed into the wall. I asked him if the table folded down from the wall, and he said it didn't and that he was trying to go as fast as he could and he didn't pay attention so he's not sure what he actually put her on. Oh my. I haven't seen a changing table on a plane, but it must be longer than Arden's BACK, right? And I would assume, to save space, it would fold down from the wall and not be stationary?

Our plane ended up leaving an hour late (haha) and we got home a half hour later than planned. We got to the car at 7:30PM and Arden was out the rest of the night.

I had so so so much fun with Derek's family, his friends, and especially Malika and I'm so glad we were able to spend a day with just each other. I hope that we don't go 6 more years without seeing each other!

(After Malika moved from NYC back home to France, she moved to Ireland, UK, France again and is now back in Dublin working. (Do I have that order right, Malika?)