Tenth Avenue Tacos

Some of the best, most authentic tacos (I should know because I'm from California, right?) can be found in a back window inside a tiny Mexican grocery store on 10th Ave (between 47th & 48th Sts) in Hell's Kitchen. I don't think I would have ever found it if one of my neighbors hadn't told me about it when I live around the corner for two years. If you can find it, give it a try. It is, literally, a hole in the wall. Super cheap ($2/taco), super delicious (most people love the pork, but my fav is the chicken). Tehuitzingo Deli & Grocery.

Greenmarket

I've said this before and I'm sure I'll say it again, but I LOVE the Union Square Greenmarket. Summer is coming with all its delicious, wonderful produce!

Monumental

This may not seem like much to you, but her hair is clean...washed...and she's still happily playing in the bath. It may not happen again this year, but today it did. Bath time is a constant battle often remedied with a "sponge bath". But if I am able to persuade her to get into the water she quickly remembers baths can be quite fun.

Washing the hair is another story, probably our biggest challenge at the time; one that I don't understand. (Willfulness and tantrums I at least understand, usually.) Terrifying screams, heartbreaking cries, and frantically clawing her way out of the tub are always the consequence as I begin to clean her locks. Concerned for her physical and psychological well being I am learning to let go. Which means she will sometimes go months without a hair wash.

Today was good. Calm and gentle. Only a few complaints.

She stayed in the tub a good half hour after the cleaning was complete...an all-time record! I guess today was productive; very productive now that I think about it.

Thrown Together

Today I was going to be productive. Get stuff done. Check off my to-do list. I felt the nesting instinct pumping in my blood.

Isabella decided no nap today. I prayed for patience. I was very blessed with patience which meant productivity was nonexistent. It wasn't until she was fast asleep at 8pm that I realized I had not eaten since lunchtime. All of a sudden I felt famished and lightheaded. The fridge was surprisingly empty, the cereal boxes weren't even appealing. I was so hungry I felt sick.

Fortunately patience was still attending me. I whipped up a quick batch of pesto, sliced a tomato, and remembered I had fresh bread. I'm feeling much better.


"Spirituality is nurtured in our actions of patience, kindness, and forgiveness toward each other and in our applying gospel principles in the family circle." Spencer W. Kimball

Bubbles & Blossoms

Last Friday was so incredibly beautiful! We spent the morning blowing bubbles and hanging out with good friends in the Sheep Meadow in Central Park.

Baking Bread

I've been trying out a new (to me) bread recipe. Brian got a dutch oven just for this loaf of bread. It's super easy, but takes some planning ahead (the dough sits for 12-18 hours!).

The texture is the most amazing I've ever made and I'm still working on the salt levels to perfect the flavor. You can find the recipe here.

Painting

It's been a while since I brought out the paints. And it was fun to see how Isabella has become more deliberate and thought out in her painting technique.

View From A Park Bench

I gave my aching hips a break while walking home and enjoyed the sunshine in this lovely spot: The Pond in Central Park (CPW & W 103rd St). Click here and here to see photos of this area during the winter and click here and here for fall photos. Yes, I love The Pond, during all seasons.

What we've been up to...

Listening to tunes at Borders

Testing out "baby bruh-der's" new cradle

Experimenting with cotton candy machines
(for an upcoming "science of candy" party)

Visiting Pier 84 in Midtown. One of our favorite spots.

Trying on shoes and bags at thrift stores.

Eating at the Shake Shack way too frequently.

And, just being goofy...that's what we do best!

Beautiful Green

These are some lovely photos I came across on the web (not sure where), but I think I'm so drawn to them because of the of green. I always love green trees and they are probably one of my favorite things on this earth. Right now I really want spring to come. I do love summer so. I know it is hot and humid, but summer is when all things are bright, vibrant, alive. I am ready!

Easter Sunday

We had a very busy weekend with fun visits from family and friends. I didn't get any photos, we were just too busy having fun! It ended up being a very chilly Easter weekend. I dressed Isabella in the little dress I made her last year (and I'm still so proud I actually finished that project) and it still fits her. And she's sporting an adorable spring jacket that her Aunt Heather gave her. A perfect Easter outfit. And to keep herself warm in the chilly winds she decided to run all the way home from church (just under a mile).

This is what I call our "urban growth chart".

Spring is Springing (as in: not quite "sprung" yet)

Sunday was a gorgeous day! After being cooped up in the house and ER for two days I had to get out! We spent most of the afternoon in Central Park, of course. Along with the rest of New York City. We wandered, chatted, munched on fish crackers and dried fruit, then headed home well after dark. It was fabulous. I love wandering New York City holding Brian's hand. I anxiously await more such days and hope they are just around the corner.

ER *take two*

Last Thursday night Isabella had a fever. We canceled all fun plans for Friday and took a sick day (also because neither of us slept Thursday night). On Saturday evening she began breathing funny. Short, quick breaths. Kind of like lots of tiny hiccups every time she tried to breathe. She was in good spirits but complained a bit about chest pain. I was worried. Mostly because they never found and recovered the cashew from her lungs three weeks ago. The pediatrician thought it would be best to take her to the emergency room for some chest x-rays.

My little one freaked out when I told her we needed to go to the doctor again. I cried and cried as I held her tight, but did my best to stay upbeat and positive. All for her. Luckily Brian was there--my pillar.

Once we got to the ER and began the process she did a great job. They got a good dose of Motrin in her and soon she was feeling and breathing much better. All they found was a slight inflammation in her left lung, possibly the beginning of pneumonia or other infection (which may, or may not, have been caused by said cashew). We were out of there before midnight in search of Isabella's prize for having to put up with such an ordeal...ICE CREAM!

This is our first experience with that pink, syrupy amoxicillin that we all had as kids. It is now a part of her diet twice a day for 10 days, and it's becoming less of a fight with each dose.

My sweet, silly Isabella is a strong, brave little girl!


I am forever grateful for my iPhone. It's amazing what a little Curious George can do for the sick, trapped toddler.

Into the Past

I was attempting to organize my photos a bit and came across some of these. Wowza! Time flies. Isabella as a baby--two years ago--seems like forever in my memory. But last year, walking through the puddles near the Harlem Meer, that just seems like last week.

April 2007

April 2008

April 2008

April 2009

Last Weekend

With Brian's brother, Spencer, visiting last weekend we set out on our own mini version of the "Kindle-less Walking Tour" and enjoyed some of the more off-the-beaten-path bookstores in the city. It was fabulous and I highly recommend it!

We started in the West Village and happened to walk by a new shop (just opened in October) one of my good friends had told me about. I had to stop in for a quick look and luckily the menfolk obliged. For all moms and moms to be you should check it out! Clementine: Extraordinary Consignment, Maternity to 4T. For pregnant stroller pushers, there is a short stairway down to the shop.

Other stops along the way!

Housing Works Bookstore Cafe.
I bought 4 good children's, hardcover books for under $20. Score!

Restaurant supply stores abound on Bowery.
I love browsing through all the kitchen tools.

Lunch at Frank. Good Italian food.
And that's saying a lot since we usually don't like to eat out for Italian.

One of the many clothing "galleries" in SoHo.

Bubble Tea (okay, juice) on St. Mark's Pl.

St. Marks Bookshop

We also stopped by McNally Jackson Books in Nolita, which is a very open, bright bookshop.