Homeward Bound!

It is official- I am moving home for 2 months! Praise the Lord I found a sublet for May & June and am in the middle of packing my things to head to the South to take care of my Mama! I've been tossing and turning the past couple of weeks as doors seem to be closing in NYC and I have felt the need to be close to my family during this time.

I'm not really sure what the next two months will look like. I'll definitely be searching/applying to jobs in both NC & NYC in hopes to have a bit more direction in where to go next. But for now I have two more days in New York City before I become a country girl!

Beauty

Brooklyn Botanical Gardens

Yesterday a bunch of us made the trek to the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens in Park Slope. We were hoping to see the cherry blossoms, but they have yet to bloom. We still had fun!
















The girls!















Tulips!















So we get everyone together (which is no easy feat) and I ask this man to take the picture. He had the camera strap right in front of the lens the whole time and we were all telling him but he didn't listen. This is one of the better shots... but I like it anyways, esp. Jules, Pam & JRider.

Oh Henry!

Happy Birthday to sweet baby Henry who is ONE year old today! Hope you had some great cake (or fruit) and enjoyed the day to your heart's delight! You are loved, little one!

Breast Cancer Symposium

Today I went to a breast cancer symposium at the 92nd St. Y. It was one of my first steps in moving away from my "denial period". I sat next to a woman who went through bc last year and asked me what kind of chemo my Mom is doing and if she's had 'x,y & z' tests. I felt like an idiot that I didn't know, but now I feel ready to fully tackle this and do my research & due diligence, if you will.

I was most impressed w/ the seminars as we had Dr. Paul Gross, Dr. Larry Norton and Dr. Eric Winer discuss the current research and advancements in breast cancer. That was followed by two seminars on contemporary risk factors and navigating breast cancer naturally. The final session was a discussion panel of well known NYC women who have survived breast cancer; the moderator was Hoda Kotb, and she did an amazing job. I was so moved by their honest answers and how vulnerable they were.

I left feeling a little exhausted after 5 hours of bc information. Afterwards, I got my favorite salad at Fetch and headed to the East River to go over the handouts. I have a favorite spot under a beautiful, almost full willow tree- that is where I first went on the day Mom was diagnosed w/ bc.

Mom- I love you so much! You're going to do great!

Cupa Cupa Cupa

I'm so very sad that I missed girls weekend in Blacksburg, VA w/ Gin, Al & Malar. But I'm SUPER sad I missed the making of Cupa Cupa Cupa- a recipe from our favorite Southern movie, Steel Magnolias. They made this special dessert this past weekend but I'm hoping we will make it the next time we're all together.

Pink Ribbon

I was online looking at a few websites that sell products related to breast cancer. I found some cute things as my sweet Mama starts chemo tomorrow... and of course Mother's Day is in a few weeks. There are really thousands of charms, necklaces and basically anything you would want w/ the pink ribbon on it. Here are a few of my fav's that I found.

Cute

Yeah!

Bake it up!

Have your cake and eat it!

After going through old pictures, I decided to post some of my favorite cakes from the past few years.

My 22nd birthday w/ the boys. I made my cake Southern style: Red Velvet! How cute is Nicholas' face?!

Alec's 1st birthday- Sesame Street cake!

Nicolas' 3rd birthday! He helped me make this Car cake.

Nicolas also had a bday party at preschool. Tamara & I were up until the wee hours of the morning making these train cake favors for all the kids.

Alec's 2nd birthday cake masterpiece. Allison was in town for the big bash and we spent half a day baking and decorating. One of our finest, don't you think, Al? ;)

Sunflower bday cake

MJJ's bday pumpkin

Al made this amazing cake for my last birthday. It is the best strawberry cake I have ever had. My favorite part is how we had to get "ready for cake". :D

Q: What has a head made of copper?

(Ok, not literally...)

A: A COPPERHEAD!!!

There is no way you're getting a googled picture of a copperhead posted on this blog but I'm pretty sure we all know what I'm talking about.

My Mom told me she saw a copperhead near the creek on our property at home, omg. I about flipped out. Perhaps it's because I've become a city girl and can literally count on one hand the bugs/spiders we've had in this apartment. We have rats in the subway and sometimes you'll see a dead cockroach on the sidewalk. Other than that it's just dogs and cats. I'm not sure I can handle snakes.

So I don't think I'll be doing any exploring this summer in our backyard. Nor will I keep any doors open just to avoid this problem. And Lucy I might be sleeping with you in your bed from now on. :)

I can't get enough of Spring!

Spring is not something you want to miss in NYC, especially after the Winter we've had.

Rockefeller














Yesterday Maggie, Victoria, LeeAnne & I rented bikes and rode along the Hudson from Midtown to Battery Park. I think everyone in NYC was happy yesterday- it was the first sunny & warm day we've had in a while.

Spring Flashback

Even though it seems like just another picture, this is by far my most favorite Spring picture of the boys. It fully captures their personalities and takes me back to those fun Spring days on Long Island.

Meat Sauce Monday

I love my New York friends. I feel like this Winter I've been in hibernation w/ everything that's happened. But how wonderful to go to the Hostess with the mostest's apartment, Em's, and have the infamous MSM. I realized tonight that it is crucial to have friends, to see friends, to talk, visit, laugh and share what's REALLY going on.

My roomie and I came late (of course! I'm always late... need to work on that) and once we arrived my dear friend Alexandria came up to me, gave me a big hug and looked me in the eyes and said w/ authority, "It's going to be ok." "Really?" I said. "Yes. It's going to be ok." Thanks, Zana. I needed that. Sometimes you just need to have someone tell you life is going to work out and that it will be ok. :)

Carrie/Kerry

Perhaps it's a Northeast thing. Today I had to sign something for the Mailman, who I see every day. I, of course, signed: Carrie. He looked at it and was like, "Oh! It's spelled CARRIE. I've been saying it wrong." Huh?! I was in the middle of 15 things at the time, but I wish I had the time to have him elaborate.

I get that every so often here. Hi, I'm Carrie. Hi Carrie, nice to meet you. How do spell it? C.A.R.R.I.E. Ohhhh, you mean Carrie. And then they'll correct me on how to say my own name!! I'm guessing that in the North Carrie is pronounced with a long 'a' (like how my boys used to call me Caaawie) and Kerry is perhaps how I say it, emphasizing the 'e'.

Does anyone else run into this problem?

Choose Joy

Happy Three

Happy three months to go, Al & B!! Can't wait!

(this is one of my favortie pictures of them- last May at ASU's graduation!)

Shake Shack for Steph

Our '08 girls got together last week to bid farewell to Stephanie as she's headed to sing on the Carnival cruise line for 7 months. We will miss you!

Few thoughts...

Tonight I left work and went to a Passover Seder with the '08 girls and guys. My friends Alex and Laura hosted it and we had the full spread. It was such a special time especially in preparation for Easter on Sunday. As I left Alex's apartment, which happens to be right in the middle of Times Square, I couldn't help but think how numb I have become to the lights, billboards, etc. I tried to recall my first time seeing it and how exciting it was. Now, I try to avoid it. Funny how things change.


Speaking of change... I've started the apartment search. Yep. It's true. I will be saying gbye to my lovely Park Ave apt. I think most of all I'll miss the huge kitchen- with space for my Madeleine pan, turkey roaster, crockpot and other such non-traditional NYC kitchen space permitting items. I'll miss our long hallway and my walk in closet and our terrace. I'll miss our doormen (safety factor) and location. I won't, however, miss the rent payments. It makes financial sense to move during these times. Plus, I have my heart set on somewhere else. Park Slope! We'll see. One Park to the next!


In other news, I joined Twitter today. Not sure if it's something I'll stick with or if I'll have the time to tell the Twitter world every move I make. Although, it might be easier if I had a blackberry or iPhone. Which leads me to my next point.


My cell phone is outdated. So very outdated. I think I'm the only person left who is holding on to a phone of 3.5 years. I love it, it was my first post college phone and it has sweet pictures of the baby boys that have been my wallpaper for 3.5 years and I cannot part with it!! The battery is about to die and it is ancient. Perhaps this Summer I'll upgrade. Hmm..

Ok, time for bed. Goodnight!

Engaged: Miriam & Chris!

My old roomie & dear friend just got engaged this past weekend! He popped the big question (with a really big ring!) in the courtyard at Tavern on the Green and Mir said YES. Congrats, Mirabelle & Chris!

Al's Bridal Shower Weekend

I think sometimes in life I get so overwhelmed with catching up that I fail at doing it 100%. It's not that I don't want to tell you about how this past weekend was SO MUCH FUN, it's just I don't know where to start and life has moved a million miles a minute lately. But you know you had a great weekend when you all part ways and call each other on the drive/flight home with deep saddness that the weekend is over. Or perhaps it's just the Sunday evening blues. At any rate, I think I talked to my whole fam and friends twice last night (I also had a 4 hour layover and surprisingly, enough battery to talk).

I'll leave you with these pictures as evidence of such a fun and special weekend. You should check out my Facebook album to see more. If we're not Fbook friends, befriend me.

Fighter

As Christina Aguilera puts it, "I am a fighter. I ain't going to stop. There is no turning back..."

I've touched on it before, but today we found out what my Mom is really up against in her long road to fight breast cancer. It became so very real today as the doctor told my parents she'll have 6 months of chemo, a lumpectomy and then 6 weeks of radiation all to finish (we hope) before the ball drops on 2010. It's been an emotional night as this is now becoming a reality for us. I was really hoping for a quick fix. No pain. Get it. Done. Over with. Why can't the dr go in, get it and call it a day?

We also found out more about her cancer - it is very progressive. After the biopsy, they found that it's multiplying at 91%. Thank you, Lord, we found this early. There are so many ways God has provided for our family and "prepared" us for this new chapter in our life. He is good.

For two weeks, I have been slowly processing this, internalizing it, sorting through and dealing with it, for the most part, on my own. But I now realize the mountain my Mom has to climb and that she'll need support, cheerleaders and people to encourage her. I have to be that for her and I will need, to a much lesser extent, that as well. This is so new to me... to all of us. Damn cancer. I hate it. But how awesome is my MOM?!??!!!! She's going to rock it and beat this! I'm so proud of you, Mama!!!

'"Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don't be afraid. I will provide for you..." -Genesis 50: 19-21

"The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms." - Deut. 33:27