Homes & Homies

Well, this weekend was the Junior League’s big Spring House Tour that I posted about HERE. It was fantastic and everything, for the most part, went off with out a hitch and we heard tons of GREAT feedback. It feels so good to put a lot of work into something and see the finished product turn out to be just as wonderful as you had hoped. Personally I was running around a good bit and working the event, but what I did get to enjoy was …

Our Friday night kick off party at the oh-so-cozy and gorgeous Shabby Chic by Rachel Ashwell store in SoHo …

A yummy Champagne Stop at Safavieh on Broadway …

Our fun cocktail party at Lillian August in Flat Iron …

And I also enjoyed touring/working a few of the homes as well! Including one that has a car elevator so the owners can drive into the elevator where it takes the cars to the appropriate floor/apartment, so the residents can then park the car just feet away from their apartment … It was ah-mazing. Oh, and there was a chandelier in their personal garage. Pipe dreams people … Pipe dreams.

As we wrapped up the Tour, I then headed to Dos Camino’s with 2 if of my best homies, Slingin & PT, to toast Slingin into her 29th year with some yummy margaritas! The perfect ending to an extremely busy and extremely awesome day!

On Sunday we had a wonderful, although much too short visit from 2 of mine and Matt’s very favorite people in the world. Big Mitz and Big A were in town for a perfect NYC Spring day and even more appropriately, in town for Mother’s Day! The Mitz’s have a sweet baby boy Jackson who will be turning 2 this June, right before his brand new Baby Brother will be arriving in August! Therefore, we celebrated the day by making the most of the sunshine and soaking in our time together starting with some morning pick-me-ups at The Boathouse in Central Park …

Followed by a yummy lunch at Schiller’s in the Lower East Side …

Ending with some shopping and bebopping around SoHo where me and Big A got in our catch up session. There is never a moment of silence when we’re together and I miss her SO SO much. Having them in town was just the best … A great Sunday to be with best friends and an even better day to be with an awesome Mama.

Yet another fun-filled weekend that went by in a flash. Oh! And a blog shout out to my #1 Momma … To the coolest Mom & best Grammy! To heck with Mother’s Day … You deserve a Happy Mother’s MONTH! xo

home.

I’ve been to Nashville, TN so many times that it’s impossible for me to tell you how many or why or when. But for whatever reason, this weekend was different. This weekend Nashville wasn’t just a quick stop and a good time, this weekend Nashville truly was were my heart was.

I arrived late on Friday night to be picked up by one of my favorite people in the world. Since we became inseparable in college, we’ve called our time together “The Confessional” because with each other, there are no filters, lies, or boundaries. Kirkland is the Thelma to my Louise and if I was to tell her I accidentally murdered a young cowboy, she would tell me that she knows this great little spot in Mexico that serves delicious Margaritas… and off we would go. With out any thought or judgement, for neither of those are allowed in The Confessional.

The Confessional at Urban Grub

We then headed straight to the honky-tonks downtown to meet 2 more members of the “Starting 5″ at Paradise Park where I would consider to be the foundation of my 20′s. There may be a few years in between my visits, but when I walk in, it’s as if I never left. It still smells like a pack of Marlboro Reds, the same band is still playing all of my favorite songs, and my friends are still dissatisfied with dancing anywhere but the front of the stage. Upon me and Kirk pushing our way to the front and latching on to our friends, things then took place in slow motion. They turned around. They saw me. They screamed bloody murder. They hugged me until I was actually feeling a tad bit of pain. And then they hugged me even harder. I was literally laughing so hard and I was so happy that I wasn’t breathing, but I was thinking, if this is the way I go … I will literally die the happiest person alive.

This happens every time we are reunited. It was a wonderful wonderful night.

The next day I awoke to the sweetest sound in the world, that of my little Baby A talking about who knows what. She is such a talker and that little voice is just too much for me to handle. I literally melt just about every time she opens her mouth, which is nearly 23 times per second.

We enjoyed a morning dose of Disney’s Alice in Wonderland where Ansley likes to interact and say “Oh no!!!” and put her hands to her cheeks when the caterpillar disappears. She also likes to say, “What happened??” while shrugging her shoulders when Alice cries … Watching Alice in Wonderland with Ansley is the only way to go, really taking you to the core of what Alice is going through. Ansley totally gets it.

We then headed out to Edley’s BBQ for a delicious lunch and a sweet tea fix for me…

The whole point of our Nashville visit was to see my sweet friend Merl get hitched to the man of her dreams and one of our guy friends from college so it was a true reunion on both sides. The wedding. was. awesome. Firstly, everything was gorgeous and breathtaking and perfect at The Loveless Barn.

Secondly, I was yet again reunited with another group of friends from college who yet again are some of the funniest people I know. This Clown Show has been touring for years and years and  things never seem to change when we’re back on the same dance floor together. We may live in different cities, have grown up jobs, or have kids … but we will forever sing Brick House like our life depends on it and leave it all out there on the dance floor. “You’re welcome.”

Robert’s Western World

The next morning I was awakened again to Baby A cracking jokes & holding court and spent the entire day staring at her, trying to take in our last few hours together. Ya know, she does things like this …

At one point during the weekend she took off in a mad dash toward her bedroom. I was literally about 2.5 seconds behind her and when I stepped inside she was no where to be found. I endured about 2.5 seconds of sheer panic until I heard her breathing/snorting from behind the door … I tip-toed up, and jumped behind the door and she laughed SO HARD that we continued this charade for 30 more minutes. I would do it for a lifetime.

We also enjoyed Cinco de Mayo at yummy Taco Mamacita where Baby A looked at her taco, and went straight up face first into it, taking a nice bite and really enjoying herself. I wondered how unacceptable it would be for me to do the same thing … It looked so fun and honestly, why do we eat tacos with our hands anyway?

We hung out with some of my girlfriends who were also at Mamacita’s in which I said, “Anlsey these are Sue Sue’s friends!” In which she replied, “Ansley’s friends!” I thought, duh … of course they’re your friends too. What on earth was I thinking? She quickly forgave me for the mishap and decided the only way to make things better was to have a group photo together to solidify things … The girls happily obliged.

Finally, as Matt & I were walking around the airport feeling a little blue from our goodbyes, I promptly bought one of the Nashville Starbucks coffee mugs like a true tourist because now more than ever, thinking of Nashville makes me all warm and cozy inside. And then I read this blog, and immediately bought this t-shirt :

Because though New York is where I live and I love it here more and more with each passing day, my heart is in Tennessee … and honestly, I’m not sure that I ever see that changing.

Oh, Hello NY Times

As I’ve posted about before, I’m a member of the New York Junior League, which I love. If you are a new female “New Yorker” and we talk for more than 5 minutes, I will 100% tell you that you should join the League. The events and volunteer work are great, the parties are super fun, and I really enjoy the ladies on my committee and the girlfriends I’ve made, all thanks to the League. I mean who wouldn’t like a weekly excuse to drink wine with a bunch of fun girls? Exactly.

The committee I serve on is the House Tour Committee which is a fundraising committee that works on our Tour of Homes through out NYC that we host in the Fall and the Spring. We’ve had homes owned by famous designers, famous photographers, famous Manhattanites … Simply put, these aren’t homes that you want to miss seeing in person. Though many you can find PUBLISHED in books … Yes, these are those kinds of homes. In Manhattan.

The Spring House Tour is just around the corner taking place on May 11 and today the ole’ NY Times gave us a shout out! Now that’s nothing to shake a stick at in my opinion … Check out our little blurb here. 

In addition to the amazing homes, the Tour is also filled with cocktail parties, champagne stops, lunches, and more. If you’re interested in purchasing a ticket, I would suggest you do it soon! You can purchase VIP or general tickets HERE and more information is listed below in our invitation. Hope to see you there!

 

Coach Towns

18 years ago today, my Dad headed on up to Heaven. It’s a weird day because it’s sad for me to think about, but also a day that I don’t mind celebrating in a happy way as well. For any of you who have seen someone suffer from Cancer, the moment when they are no longer suffering is relieving for them AND for you, even when it’s followed by grief. And even when you’re only 11, which I was when he passed. At the time I totally understood what was going on, and in the end, I was aware that he was dying, even though that was a bigger concept than I could really grasp. Luckily, being deeply rooted in a religious family, I knew that him going to Heaven meant he would meet God, be reunited with his Dad, my Papaw, and be back to the Dad that I think of when I remember him, not the one that Cancer lived in. And though he’s always with me and I do think of him most days, today I think about him more than others, so let’s share a story shall we?

If you knew Robert Towns, you loved him or looked up to him or wanted to be around him. He was popular for many reasons, one being he was extremely outgoing and FUN, two he was one helluva story teller, and three he coached just about every sport possible in my home town. Literally, basketball, golf, and tennis where he won some sort of title in each category. He was “Coach” or “Coach Towns.” As with all people that coach for a significant amount of time, that title never goes away.

In the Fall of my fifth grade year, a boy who we shall call KM ran up to me on the playground, in front of all of my grade and pinched me on the boob. Well, the area in which my boob was to arrive in about 5 more years … Everyone gasped, laughed, and I. Was. Mortified. I cried, ran inside, and immediately called my Dad to come pick me up from school. He was still pretty sick and weak at this time, but asked me if everything was OK, what happened, what was going on … and I was just crying and told him to GET HERE NOW.

He came, and I got in the car and explained the horror that had taken place on the playground. He literally stopped the car, which is probably why this one stuck with me so well, he looked at me and said, “Susan, NO. I can not believe I just took you out of school for this. Is this the kind of person you want to be? Are you going to run away every time something happens to you or you get embarrassed? You should’ve pushed him right back! This is not the girl you’re going to be.” He said a few more things all summing up to the fact that I am not a crying sissy and that I can fight my own battles.

I was shocked and pissed off. DID HE NOT HEAR ME? KM PINCHED MY CHEST SKIN IN FRONT OF THE WHOLE FIFTH GRADE. Life as I knew it was OVER.

I listened, and then I felt a little ridiculous, and then I pouted the whole way home.

Fast forward to Christmas time, I had a BIG SURPRISE planned for my 5th grade class. I was bringing COACH TOWNS to school. He was our PE Coach, and when I say all the kids adored him, they did. This was during a time of false hope as Dad had completed a successful round of surgery to remove the Cancer and we were on the up tick. Unfortunately, soon after we would find out that all of the Cancer actually wasn’t removed, and we had come to the point that there was nothing else to do but try more chemo, radiation, and pray. I don’t look back at this time of false hope with anything but thankfulness, because before he was taken from us for good, we had a last stint of things being a little bit back to normal. That was a really great Christmas.

So we walk into school, like we had every morning before he was sick, holding hands, he gave me a little lift over the steps, and I was SO EXCITED. He was wearing dapper red plaid pants, and a blue sweater, ready for his big entrance. We walked into the fifth grade wing and Everyone. Freaked. They all shrieked, “COACH TOWNS!!!!!!” Ran up to him, gave him big hugs, asked him questions, asked him when he would return, told him stories, the boys told him about their latest sports achievements, etc. etc. etc. It was just the best and I was the happiest little girl ever because I adored him the most and I loved seeing how loved he was.

He stayed until the end of the day, made some rounds to see a few other people, and then we were off and on our way home to begin Christmas Break. As we were leaving through the front door, KM came screeching out. And please note at this point I had long forgiven KM … I was even thinking about adding him to my Field Day team. That dude was fast.

He came running up and screamed, “COACH TOWNS!!!” Dad turned around and said, “Hey KM!” and kept walking. And then he turned back around and said, “Hey KM … If you ever touch Susan again, I’m gonna take those 2 hands, and break ‘em.” KM’s jaw dropped to the floor as did mine. Dad coolly pivot turned and strode toward the car. I literally jumped up and down, ran to the car, jumped in and CHEESED the biggest smile ever and screamed, “DAD!!!!” He looked at me, smiled and said, “And I will break ‘em, Susan.” And I replied, “Oh I KNOW DADDY!!!”

And that was the year that I learned I didn’t want him or anyone else to take up for me for any reason, but if I needed him to, he would break an MFer in half. And I think that’s probably still the case … except these days it would be from some sort of spiritual power. So all you peops may want to recognize.

Special Day, Special Dad.

Throwback Thursday : Key West

Well, my friends, come tomorrow morning I will be boarding a plane out of this crazy place and heading to it’s polar opposite, Key West! The place where anything goes, life passes by in slow motion, and the term laid back doesn’t even do it justice. A much needed change of pace for me  and a much needed reunion with some of my favorite friends from college to whom this post is dedicated.

Us gals are no strangers to Margaritaville … We spent multiple college Spring Breaks in this magical land, always resulting in a week of the best memories that we barely remembered. I’m expecting this weekend to be no different, except this time it involves a white veil and some lingerie! We are celebrating one of our dear friends who is getting hitched in a few weeks! When she announced her Bachelorette Party was to be in our beloved Key West, I thought a few things : 1. There’s no way in hell I’m missing this. 2. Hello College. and 3. I’m going to drink so many pirate punches, I may go temporarily blind. I’ll keep you posted on #3.

So here we go ladies! A few pictures to take us back to the glory days when our only care in the world was where we would find our next drink … which was always at Captain Tony’s.

Me & the Bride-to-Be!

SEE. YOU. TOMORROW!!!!

Hi, Simply Hi!

Another eventful weekend this past weekend! Since Thursday is the new Friday, let’s start with the play, The Nance.

Broadway is loaded with celebs right now, and my list of plays & musicals to see is ever long. However, last week me and my homies treated ourselves to seeing a little piece of Broadway Royalty also known as Nathan Lane.

I’ve always wanted to see him on stage and he of course didn’t disappoint. Portraying a homosexual in the 1930′s, when that kind of lifestyle was extremely unwelcome, the content dives pretty deep, however keeps things light around the edges with hilarious one-liners, fun costumes, and entertaining actors that kept a smile on my face nearly the entire time. A great choice for us gals and our girls night out. Hi, simply hi!

On Friday I came home from work to one of my favorite couples in the world, Cruz & Matt, and a bouquet of fresh flowers thanks to my awesome friend. This was the most fitting beginning to our big weekend outdoors, as FINALLY the sun is shining in New York. The wind may still howl, and the cold may still bite, but if the sun is in the sky, by golly we’re going to maximize our time outdoors, and that’s exactly what we did.

After some tasty brews at NY Beer Company and a yummy Italian dinner at Gallo Nero (highly recommend both of these spots!) on Friday night we woke the next morning to conquer the world.

First things first, if we’re going to walk the island of Manhattan and then some, we needed to set a good foundation. Which I did with Ricotta Pancakes and a mimosa from The Park in Chelsea.

After that nutritious move, we ventured down town to walk the Brooklyn Bridge and take no less than 800 pictures. We had to get somewhat strategic with our picture taking however, because if you are looking to go to the Brooklyn Bridge to jump off of it … no need my friends. If you are in the bike lane, the bikers will simply throw you off. This life & death game lasted for the entire trip across and in my opinion, is the only way to walk the Brooklyn Bridge. All kidding aside, it was a great day to be walking the Bridge and confirmed that the city is coming alive with this warmer weather … people galore, which is so encouraging. Hurry Spring, hurry!

After bebopping around Brooklyn, we landed ourselves at the Williamsburg Smorgasburg where we grabbed a snack to last us the ride home to Manhattan just in time to watch some Final Four action at Bleeker Heights. (BTW … I WON MY OFFICE BRACKET. BOOYEAAAAAA.)

Exhausted in a good kinda way from being outdoors and on foot, we decided the perfect ending to the day would be a mixture of some delicious whiskey drinks from Rye and several delicious pizzas from Otto. And then we walked into our apartment, and collapsed. And it felt awesome.

Unfortunately the next morning Cruz & Matt were on their way and we all bid adieu and were already planning the things we would do on our CRUZ + Matt Take NYC 3.0 trip. They really are just the most bestest.

Matt & I enjoyed a lovely Sunday with some Hillsong Church action tied into a Bleeker Heights repeat with J&J and followed by the most delicious Sushi joint that J introduced us to … And I’m not even going there on here, because it deserves a post all by itself. Furreal.

Another great weekend with friends followed by some warm temps this week. Yesterday I wore a skirt with no tights! Whaaaa???? Yep … amazing. And apparently there’s going to be an ice storm this weekend. The weather this time of year can sort of be an a-hole, huh?

Anyway, that’s it from me … Bye, simply bye!

I Pity the Fool

Well Happy April Fools! It’s been a while since I’ve made an appearance on the ole’ Blog. Therefore, I figured why not let today be the day that I jump back in the saddle. However, if you’re not interested in seeing me recap the last 2-3 months of my life, you may want to revisit this blog at another time. My compartmentalized self really just won’t allow this blog to jump from place to place as I like things to stay pretty chronological … Therefore, I’m about to play a little game of catch up. We’re going to break this down into Trips, Visitors & NYC Awesomeness … And I pity the fool who decides to read all of this nonsense.

Trips :

COSTA RICA …

Matt & I started the New Year in Costa Rica with Huntman & Ru and some of their friends and family and had the best little time ever… I would go on a limb and say that Matt & I may be spending every New Year’s Eve in a tropical location for the rest of our lives. Maybe not, but I really like saying that. In Costa Rica we partook in the following :

- Surfing : For those of you that know me really well, you are 100% aware of my lack of swimming skills. Therefore, the mere fact that I’m still alive to tell you that I did a little surfing in Costa Rica is a straight up miracle from God. Granted, I stayed in the safe zone and rode the waves IN vs. riding them sideways like all the fancy people (including Matt who did awesome!). But, it really was so super fun and I have to admit I was proud of myself. I also liked to ask Matt no less than half a dozen times (per day) how proud HE was of me, as he knows my fear of water all to well. Each time he told me, “You did great babe!” and I would reply, “I know!!!! Yay!!!” Oh the goodness of marriage.

- Yoga-ing : IN A TREEHOUSE. The location of the house we rented was perfectly located in the Rain Forest and we could walk pretty much any place we needed to go. (However we also had a gator to transport our boards and things, and also just to rip-roar that baby through the dirt roads which was just the best.) Anyway, we could walk to a yoga institute which held their classes in treehouses. TREEHOUSES. Talk about a place to relax. It was ridiculous and I never wanted to leave.

- Maxing & Relaxing : Which included massages, pool time, sleeping in, shooting stars, and straight up boozin’. By far one of my most favorite trips that Matt & I have done together and it really just set the perfect tone for 2013 … Grateful to start another awesome year together and with my new-found obsession with Ru and Huntman.

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MIAMI …

The S5 took our annual trip and this year we headed south to Miami! A first time for all of us and to say it was one for the books is such a severe understatement, I’m really having a hard time finding the words. We fell in love SO HARD with Miami and with each other all over again as we tend to do every time we’re reunited. This trip could be a post all in itself, but I will have to hit on one of our major highlights of the trip (in addition to perfect beach weather, awesome lunches on Ocean Drive, limo service for our nightlife shenanigans and an amazing rooftop dinner looking out onto Miami …)

Our last night we decided to make dinner a big to-do and headed to Fontainebleau to have some eats at Scarpetta and see where the night was to take us. Well … upon running into Halle Berry in the restroom, I was thinking that there was quite a buzz around the hotel. Next thing we know, people with ear pieces are walking with a brisk pace around the restaurant. The manager of the restaurant comes to our table, which had front row seats to everything and everyone entering the restaurant, and asked if this was our first time at the restaurant. Upon us confirming that it in fact was, he assured us that we had picked quite the night to stop by. Long story short, Bradley Cooper, Leonardo DiCaprio, Mel Gibson, Gerard Butler & Halle Berry all passed by us and sat directly to our right. Needless to say, we then ordered dessert and another round of drinks. We had found exactly where the night was taking us and that was into clear eye view of the most gorgeous people in America (minus Mel … sorry Mel). We stayed at the Restaurant until around 1:30 AM, in which we then left and screamed the entire way home. It. Was. Awesome. and I can’t wait to go back next year.

Us in our front row seats at Scarpetta

ps … Our fifth, Betha, was missing because she was taking care of the sweetest & happiest baby boy in the world … #WorthIt

Yes, he’s always this happy. It’s amazing.

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VERMONT … After our amazing girls trip, Matt & I headed to Vermont for Valentine’s Day! After falling in love with VT last fall, it was so great to be back. Manchester is just the best… I love everything it has to offer, but my favorite is the breakfast from Up From Breakfast. Keeping syrup warm by putting it in coffee pitchers is simply genius and I was ready to pour it on my breakfast, in my purse, in my shoes, and down my face. Syrup simply tastes better in Vermont.

Visitors :

Roooooooooooooooomie …

Room No. 247 For Life.

My college roommate, Sarj, & her boyfriend, Splashy, paid us a visit in late February and it was just the best. Being reunited with Rooooooooooooooooooomie (the extended version of the classic nickname “Roomie” comes from a night when I came home after drinking LOTS of wholesome things like glasses of water and shots of milk, and sang Sarj to sleep by repeating Roooooooooooooooomie over and over again. Sarj still calls me to this day when she can’t sleep as she remembers it being one of the sweetest sounds that has ever put her to sleep. This is ALL very factual.) is one of my favorite things on this earth and our weekend was filled to the brim with laughter and non stop entertainment. From Employees Only to Jane Hotel to a 5 AM pizza run, I would call it a complete success. Some things really just never change and I hope they never do. #KeepLimesOnHandForSplashy

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#1 Little

THEN, my ADPi Little Sis/ATL Roomie was in town and in true Lil & Big fashion, we got together and everyone else in the room disappeared. Little makes everything just a bit happier when she’s around and it was so great getting to see her and her hub, who I love almost as much as her. We had a blast throwing back some drinks and reminiscing on the days when we were Ry’s dance moms in preparation for their first wedding dance … Needless to say he nailed it. 5-6-7-8 RY!!!!!

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Birdy & Champ

It’s been a long standing tradition that Birdy & I love to get into trouble together on St. Patrick’s Day … It’s ended in a multitude of ways, but none the less it has always ended with an amazing memory, and this year was no different. The six of us had a great time jumping around the city and making the most of the weekend from Ramen at Ipudo to drinks at Milk & Honey to a yummy dinner at Commerce to St. Pat’s beers at McSorley’s to ending the weekend at SingSing Karaoke with some of our favorite NYC friends. Like I said, we don’t mess around on St. Patty’s Day and nor should you. Until next time, Birdy. The road goes on forever.

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Cousin

Cuz, who I claim as Brother #2, brought his beautiful gal to NYC so we could all celebrate our buddy J, who was not only celebrating 29 great years of living, but also celebrating his acceptance into Wharton! In typical Cuz fashion, he brings nothing but a good time with him everywhere he goes and our weekend with him was no different. Cuz is everyone’s very favorite friend to be around, and we find it ever-so fitting to call him Cousin and I am even happier to call him “my other brother.”

NYC Awesomeness : 

While escorting my bestie NCBG to the Martha Stewart Bridal Show, I had the pleasure of meeting Martha’s right hand wedding woman, Darcy! She was DELIGHTFUL and upon me telling her that my Mom was also a huge fan of her’s she said, “Oh! Should we get a picture for her?” It was just so sweet and charming and I’m a Darcy fan for life.

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Thanks to JH123 and a certain Mr. Click, Matt & I had the luck of attending the Jason Aldean concert and then MEETING HIM AFTERWARD! It was amazing and I love him and his wife in GREAT amounts. They are seriously the nicest people and I look forward to our future family vacations together.

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Meg & I saw Mary Poppins and IT WAS AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!! The chimney sweeper scene … Get outta town. One of the coolest things on stage. EVER.

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Slingin & I saw Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and HOTT it was! ScarJo is a little sexpot and that raspy voice with a Southern twang … Lordy lordy, she knocked it out of the park. Loved it.

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I also saw Nice Work If You Can Get It with my girls and it was SO CUTE … Matthew Broderick is such a wonderful performer. And please be reassured, Ferris still has those dance moves and charm in his older self … Such a great night.

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JH123 & I have been keeping up with our normal shenanigans which never disappoint, nor can I tell you much about them ………….. Hehe

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Lastly, this past weekend we had the best time celebrating J at The Darby, which is so cool, I’m not saying anything else about it. Because you really just need to go. And if you don’t, shame on you.

And we had the pleasure of having Easter lunch at Don Peppe’s in Queens, which is the best Italian in the country. Hell, probably the world. Get the Baked Clams, and don’t sass the people there. I think they could 100% have you “offed” and not have to worry about any consequences from it. Don’t say I didn’t worn you. Get the Baked Clams and tell Tony I said hi. Oh, and get the Baked Clams.

PHEW! Well that’s it for me, folks. Goodness I’m exhausted after all of that! What an awesome Winter … Cheers to a wonderful Easter weekend and hopes that Spring weather is just around the corner! Get the Baked Clams.

The Food : Peels

Location : Bowery & 2nd

www. : http://peelsnyc.com

Type : American

Take Away : Sit up stairs! The food is amazing, but we sat in the bottom entry area and there isn’t much room, so it gets a bit uncomfortable. Having a regular seat is worth the wait.

Get the : BISCUITS!!!!!!!!!!!! Brunch is the biz.

I went with : The hub for brunch!

Decemblur

December was such a blur, there is no freakin’ way I’ll ever catch up on it. This is unfortunate due to all of the awesomeness that took place, but the thought of writing about everything is simply overwhelming. So, yet again, the pictures will have to tell the tale with short snip-its of explanations.

Christmas Fundraiser event at the Hard Rock Cafe & Me + The Rockettes … Oh ya know, I’ve only wanted to be in that kick line my entire life. Awesome.

A kick-ass party at The Standard with my homie JH123 + my other homie Jamie Fox.

Stage left at 121212 … Also known as one of the absolute coolest nights I’ve ever experienced. Ever. There are seriously no words.

Me&Jules, Adam Sandler, Eric Clapton, & The Ed Vedder performing with Pink Floyd

Alicia Keys, The Who, Me & Jules, and Drunk Uncle

Jimmy Fallon, Sir Paul + Nirvana, Mick Jagger, & Pink Floyd

You can also see little videos I took through out 121212 on my YouTube channel if you so choose … I mean I was literally feet away from these people and I will forever be changed because of it. Please excuse the uncontrollable screaming, bad singing, and laughing in the videos … Click HERE for my YouTube channel. 

Matt turned the BIG 3-0! After working to bring his friends in town as a surprise for months, I had to spill the beans when Matt started talking about a work related trip to Mexico around the same time. YIKES! Luckily, the timing worked out, and we had a blast hosting his buds and partying away Matt’s 20′s.

After I treated myself to a date with NYC for some last minute Christmas Shopping and touristy-filled sightseeing …

We flew South for the holidays where all I did was obsess over this :

Baby A

As you can see, trying to describe the happiness that all of these separate events brought me is nearly impossible. Just looking at these pictures is making me feel all warm and cozy … I’m so thankful for awesome friends, fun times, and an amazing month to end a fantastic year.

The Food : Extra Virgin

Location : Perry St & West 4th

www. : http://www.extravirginrestaurant.com

Type : A little bit of everything

Take away : SO freakin’ cute … awesome vibe.

Get the : BRUNCH MENU

I went with : The hub on our nice little Saturday.