Only in NYC...

Could you do this

Last night Matt, Jen, Adam and I had a true NY experience!  The Metropolitan Museum of Art has an amazing exhibition going on right now through the end of October and if you can make it over there between now and then, you definitely should!  It is this fantastically, intricate bamboo installation on the roof of the Met overlooking Central Park and it is truly breathtaking!  You can visit during regular museum hours OR like we did, you can go on a friday night when the museum stays open late (9pm) and see this amazing sight AND partake in libations!  We got there just before sunset and as you can see it was a beautiful night....wish we had our good camera with us.  

After the Met, we had a fabulous sushi dinner at Haru, but not before swinging by "The Nanny" house on 75th and 5th and snapping a quick pic! 

Me and Jen in front of the Sheffield abode :)

BBQ with Vissians

Last weekend Matt and I drove out to Long Island to a BBQ with the Vissi Fam!  For those that don't know what Vissi is (although if you know me well enough to be reading my blog, you probably know what Vissi is), it is Vissi Dance Theater the dance company that I have been dancing with for the past 5 years and I love it and I love all of the amazingly talented people that I have met within it and I really, really believe in it!  Courtney Ffrench is our Artistic Director and he's fantastic and every once in a while he (well actually Kara, his wife/fellow dancer) will plan a day of fun that always includes food, drinks and dancing!  So, last Saturday was just that!

This time the BBQ was at Courtney's sister, Raquel's house.  She and her husband live out in Westbury in a beautiful house with a gorgeous backyard with a pool!  It was so great!!  Didn't even feel like we were only 40 minutes outside of the city....oh the burbs, gotta love em' (sometimes).

Kara and Shiloh taking a dip!

These are Shiloh's classic "Courtney faces"

Shiloh and I had a mini photoshoot while hanging out on the porch...

Shiloh, me and Yukari

Me and Shiloh

Come on in Matt!

Yay! :)

Yukari!!

Wouldn't be a Vissi party without CRABS....shipped overnight from Baltimore!

Ariel and Jalila

Danni and Yukari throwing some Vissi V's on it!

The Ffrench family....isn't our little DJ the cutest!

The Happy Hendricks'

Kara and Ariel tearing up the dance floor!

Running

Today I ran for the first time in months!  I've done a couple 1-2 mile jogs here and there, but today was the first day I really felt in it to win it!  3 miles in 87 degrees with 41% humidity....I think that's comparable to about 5 miles in the low 70's with no humidity, right?  Anyway, I am back on track after a summer of not so enthusiastic exercising and let me tell you, I am excited!!!  I had a couple of epiphanies during my half hour run along the east river and I would like to share them with everyone in hopes that they inspire all because they definitely inspired me!

1. I LOVE to run....ok, well maybe I don't LOVE to run, but I do love the feeling right after I'm done when I'm all sweaty and thirsty and have weird tan lines from my running tank and CamelBak.  There's nothing like it....except after a really good rehearsal or... :)

2. I love to run in NYC!  Along the river there are so many people out there running right along with me in this crazy heat and I love the little knowing "runners nod" we give each other as we pass by one another.  It makes me feel really connected to the other people in this crazy town and it makes me feel like a true NYer!

3. I need new running shoes...like about 5 miles ago!

Maggie Lu helping me de-sweat on this hot, hot day!

I Heart NY (Adventures as an NYC Nanny!)

Today I had one of those amazing NYC adventure days that just reaffirms my love of this city.  I had my two little buddies with me and we gallivanted around ALL day! 

We headed out early this morning planning to go to the American Museum of Natural History, one of my favorite museums in the whole city.  The munchkins decided on the bus there that they wanted to swing by Central Park first to climb on some rocks and then head to the museum.  We got to 5th Avenue and 86th street and played on the Ancient Playground for a few minutes before venturing down to 79th street to enter the park.  When we walked into the park, we happened upon a crowd of people getting ready for a FREE music class.  The kids had a blast banging on drums and singing along to music from Ghana while I shook my tambourine to the beat.

 Patrick and Ali keeping the beat!

After our jam session in the park we kept making our way west toward the museum and came across a very friendly goose.  He was very curious and kept trying to eat the buckle on Patrick's shoe...so cute! We kept him company for a while and then bid our farewell as we continued on our journey.

 NYC Goose with NYC kiddos!

 What a view!

By the time we made it over to the West side it was way past lunchtime and we were all starving and on the verge of hunger-induced breakdowns, so we got our tickets at the museum and then hi-tailed back outside and across the street to the Shake Shack! Two burgers, one hot dog, an iced tea, lemonade and 2 orders of fries later, we were full-bellied and happy again and decided to top off our delicious lunch with a little dessert!  I walked the kids the 10 blocks south (I know, they're champs right!?!) down to Magnolia Bakery for their first ever, world-famous Magnolia cupcake!  I think they enjoyed them thoroughly!!

 Patrick finished his in about 2.2 seconds!

 Ali took her time and still had leftover cupcake, which P and I were very envious of at the end of the day :)

3 delectable cupcakes later, we walked back up to the museum and finally made it inside!  We headed straight for the Discovery Room to dig for dinosaur bones and learn about all kinds of cool stuff!

 Patrick piecing together the bones of a Prestosuchus

 Looking for hidden animals in the African Baobab Tree

 Patrick's Penguin Family Picture Pose in the Penguin Diorama 

After a full day of city fun, we finally got back on the bus to head back home to the UES.  All three of us were wiped!

Just when I thought I didn't want to raise kids in the city....hmmmm, might have to re-discuss this topic with the hubby!

:)

A Domestic Diva

Sunday night I took this

this

and this

plus some olive oil, garlic and onions and put them together to make this

It was quite delicious and I have to say I'm kind of proud because of the multi-step process and the fact that I am working with this

as a kitchen!   Imagine what I could do in a real kitchen!!  You can find the recipe here!  I omitted the olives (Matt doesn't like them) and the basil (I didn't have any and didn't feel like buying it) and it still turned out delectable!!!

Enjoy!

Back to Cali!

Last weekend Matt and I flew back to Cali for a huge surprise birthday party for my aunt (Nini - 50!) and my grandpa (Papa - 75!!).  Since the two of them are huge Yankees fans, the party was themed as such....YANKEE FEVER!!!  Because Nini didn't know that Matt and I, or Lisi and Mikey (another aunt and her BF from Washington) for that matter, were flying in for the party (or that there was a party at all), we had to lay low the first night we were there.  So what did we do to keep from raising any suspicion and conspicuousness?  We did what any other family of adults would do and went to Dave and Busters!!  Arcade games AND a bar...what could be better!!

Matt and Jer racing their crotch rockets

Mom, Mikey and Lisi

Intense skee-ball tournament

She not only won the 1000 ticket jackpot once....but twice!!

Having a ball (as my grandma would say!)

And with all our combined winnings, I chose a mini food chopper!

We also got to watch my mom and Eddie in a fiery tango!!

Saturday was party day!  And what better way to warm up for a big party than with a little "Just Dance" for the wii!

Dad and I in heavy competition!

After our morning workout, Mom, Lisi and I ran around like banshees to get the rest of the party stuff together while the boys decided to have a little bonding time.  Where else, but the driving range!

The party was a huge success!!  We had more than 60 people at my cousin Steven's awesome house and there was plenty of room for all!  My mom had Jer design special Yankee/Orlando t-shirts for the whole family (all 30 something of us!) and they were a hit! 

Nini was shocked!!

Papa was confused!!

The original Orlando Six!

Back in the day....

Nini and Papa....now and then!

Me and Matt :)

Jon and Steph

The Mendoza/Hendricks/Walker Fam

Me and Natters

The Birthday Boy and Girl

Now that's a family photo!!

The rest of the weekend was spent swimming, laying out and eating, eating, eating!  Another fun-filled, sun-filled trip out West!

Andrew and Angie

Lisi and Mikey

Papa...lookin good at 75

Natters!!!

Me and my "little" bro :)

Oh, and one more thing to add!  I'm so excited for my cousin Steven and his FIANCE Adrianna!!  They just got engaged 3 days ago and even though I know they probably don't read my blog, I had to share the love!  Congrats you two!!!

Til' next time my faithful followers!!  xoxo