NYC Faves

Fave Restaurants

Lunch/Otto



A simple PANE FRATTAU (pizza) with Tomato, Pecorina, and an Egg followed by Olive Oil Gelato with Basil Syrup, Mango Granita, Lime Curd, and Sea Salt. Out of this world!

Dinner/Daniel. Click to view the 6 course tasting menu we enjoyed for our anniversary celebration. It was an evening of outstanding food and impeccable service.

Fave transportation? The NYC Subway!



Fave place to explore? Central Park!



I always thought I wanted to be a city girl when I was a teen, but I was drawn to the park more than any other place. The top photo is the view from our room and the second is the view of our window from the park. This park is an amazing jewel.

Fave part of town? Soho!



We browsed in the many art galleries on Greene Street and discovered a new favorite artist, Nicholai Makarov, a Russian artist who paints dream-like landscapes and nudes. I'm obsessed.

Fave Self Portraits?



I was determined to get some photos of the two of us!

Fave (only) Famous Person? Wendie Malick!



She was long and lean, gorgeous without a stitch of makeup, with her hair in a pony, crossing Madison Avenue. The Big Guy missed the whole thing and wanted to turn around and follow her to get a look!

Fave unexpected fun? Festival of India!



We danced in the rain with the Hare Krishnas...okay, I danced in the rain with the Hare Krishnas while The Big Guy held the umbrella. We stumbled upon the Festival of India after lunch one day and the music was infectious!

Later in the weekend we also found ourselves in the middle of the Puerto Rican Day parade, let's just say it was not so peace-loving and happy as the Indian Festival. The crowds were huge and there were many drunk attendees.

Most Heartbreaking Museum tour? The National September 11 Museum



I cried my way through the entire display as I watched and read first-hand accounts of that terrible day. Photographs and artwork from local school children brought the victims to life for me in a very real way. I re-lived it all over again and can feel a knot in my throat even writing this paragraph. Every American needs to visit this museum and soon-to-be-completed memorial at least once in their lifetime.

So, that was our visit to NYC in a nutshell! Do you have any favorite spots I missed?

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Tutorial Tuesday!

Welcome to Tutorial Tuesday - If you are new here, this party is to showcase your weekly tutorials. What counts as a tutorial? Anything to Teach Me Stuff counts - a recipe, a kid's craft, a DIY project, how you got your baby to sleep through the night ... I'm not picky.

This week we made Coke Slushies!

Check out the Stuff I Learned last week...

Please... (this is the part at the end of the commercial when the announcer talks real fast)

* Link up using the link to your actual post (not your general blog address) using your name and a the subject of your tutorial to generate interest.

* Add my button or a clickable link back to this post so everyone can join in.

* Visit and comment with all our friends. Show them some love! Meet some new friends! Learn something new!

Ready? Teach Me Stuff!

Please... (this is the part at the end of the commercial when the announcer talks real fast)

* Link up using the link to your actual post (not your general blog address) using your name and a the subject of your tutorial to generate interest.

* Add my button or a clickable link back to this post so everyone can join in.

* Visit and comment with all our friends. Show them some love! Meet some new friends! Learn something new!

Ready? Teach Me Stuff!



<center><a href="http://www.HopeStudios.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss202/hopestudios/2-2.jpg" /></a></center><br>

Easy Sundae Party

We planned to have a sundae party for the kids to celebrate the last day of school last week. 15 kids waiting for one ice cream scooper doesn't make for a fun party!

Here is a quick and easy tip to help with your next sundae party:

1. Line a cookie sheet with plastic wrap.

2. Scoop your ice cream ahead of time and line up the scoops on the cookie sheet.

3. Wrap well and pop into the freezer overnight.

4. When it's time for the party, line up your bowls and quickly pop an ice cream ball into each.

5. Let the kids go crazy with toppings!

Stuff I Learned!

Juice Box Wallets:



Party Spoons:



Ice Cream in a Bag:



CLICK PICKS (this week's most clicked links):

#1 Beadboard Backspash

#2 Warts and Duct Tape

#3 Foam Soap Refill

Couple Getaway! Feedback Friday

The Big Guy and I are headed for NYC this weekend for an anniversary getaway (celebrating 15 years!) without the kids! We have not had even one night away from the kids since our Paris trip in 2009, so we are very excited for this special trip. Actually, I struggled to even find a photo of the two of us together for this post, so I had to look back in the Paris archives!

It isn't easy to coordinate a trip away - there are so many factors to consider - the hardest and most important is child care. But, where there is a will there is a way!

It's Feedback Friday...

How often are you able to get away as a couple?

How do you manage childcare?

Would you rather do every trip as a family?

Summer Activity Prep

I am in the process of preparing my Summer Activity Stash this week. Thursday is my boys' last day of school (Whoo, hooo!) and I hate it when I have to run out to the store to execute a project when the "I'm Bored's" hit.

I like to collect all my project ideas and shop for everything at once and keep the supplies handy in a tote to grab whenever I need them. I'll be sharing projects as I go along this summer, but if you want to gather the same supplies so you are ready I'll pass on the shopping list I've compiled so far:

Diet Coke
Mentos
Sand
Plaster of Paris (2 bags)
shells
stones
feathers
string
yarn
flour
cornstarch
glitter
balloons
old CD's
dish soap lids
super glue
sun print paper (Oriental Trading Co.)
plastic garbage bags
contact paper
squirt bottles
acrylic paint
tempera paint
straws
card stock paper
long, thin wooden dowels
disposable cups and spoons
toilet paper rolls
bottle caps
empty water and soda bottles (I usually say "pop"!)
elastic beading cord
permanent markers
glycerin
food coloring
glue
cream of tartar
shallow cardboard boxes and misc. cardboard
small wood scraps

Happy almost summer break!

Tutorial Tuesday!

Welcome to Tutorial Tuesday - If you are new here, this party is to showcase your weekly tutorials. What counts as a tutorial? Anything to Teach Me Stuff counts - a recipe, a kid's craft, a DIY project, how you got your baby to sleep through the night ... I'm not picky.

This week we made Coke Slushies!

Check out the Stuff I Learned last week...

Please... (this is the part at the end of the commercial when the announcer talks real fast)

* Link up using the link to your actual post (not your general blog address) using your name and a the subject of your tutorial to generate interest.

* Add my button or a clickable link back to this post so everyone can join in.

* Visit and comment with all our friends. Show them some love! Meet some new friends! Learn something new!

Ready? Teach Me Stuff!

Please... (this is the part at the end of the commercial when the announcer talks real fast)

* Link up using the link to your actual post (not your general blog address) using your name and a the subject of your tutorial to generate interest.

* Add my button or a clickable link back to this post so everyone can join in.

* Visit and comment with all our friends. Show them some love! Meet some new friends! Learn something new!

Ready? Teach Me Stuff!



<center><a href="http://www.HopeStudios.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss202/hopestudios/2-2.jpg" /></a></center><br>

Summer Slushy, Icee, Freezee...

Kimba was waxing nostalgic this week about her memories of Coke Icee's. Her post led me to Bake at 350 for a new kind of "recipe" for my ice cream maker!

I have to admit, I haven't used my Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker much lately, but with the warmer weather hitting Pittsburgh, it really felt like summer this week. This recipe was right up my alley for fun summer fun:

Coke Slushy

Ingredients:

Cold Coke...the end.

Directions:

Pour Coke into frozen bowl of ice cream maker and turn on...the end.



For the next 20 minutes you should stick your nose in the hole and sniff...then sneak a spoon to taste test it...then bounce up and down and beg mom to "Pullleeezzze let us eat it!"



Scoop into fun snow cone cups (I found these super cheap at either Target or Walmart last season) and lounge on the back porch with your frozen treat...



Do you want to teach me something? Come on back tomorrow to link up with Tutorial Tuesday!

Stuff I Learned!

Notebook Paper Bags for Teacher:



Ruffle Top Rainbow Cake! (**This cake also tied for 2nd most clicked link)



Comic Book Necklace:



Camping Party:



CLICK PICKS (this week's most clicked links):

#1 (by a landslide!) Sweet Summer Dress



#2 Poppin' Peepers

#3 Keep it clean in the Kitchen

Breastfeeding Baby Doll - Feedback Friday

I'm a little slow with this story but let's talk about the controversial breastfeeding baby doll Bebe Gloton, now available in the U.S for the price of $118.

You can view the ABC News story here, but in general, the child wears a halter top with little flower petals over her breasts that trigger the sucking action in the doll.

Public reaction to this doll has ranged from praise for making breastfeeding more acceptable, to accusing the manufacturers of being pedophiles and perverts. An example of this mixed reaction can be seen here in this clip of The Talk:



It's Feedback Friday...

What is your first reaction to the breastfeeding baby doll?

Does your feeling change when you see it in action?

Do you think this toy would be beneficial to children or confusing?

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Treading Water

photo

It's the final two weeks of school for my kids and I'm feeling like I'm treading water just to keep afloat. I reach this point every school year where things start to fall apart around me. My house is a mess, I've gained 5 lbs., I'm forgetting appointments and volunteer schedules, homework isn't getting done, frames are piling up in my shop.

So, I'm treading water until June 9th when the schedule loosens up and I can take the summer to reorganize before jumping in again.

Please tell me I'm not alone! Do you fall apart at this time of the year?
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