Derby Day

What happens when your friend hosts a smashing Kentucky Derby party on a rooftop in Manhattan with all the Bulleit bourbon mint juleps you could want? You say yes and find a reason to buy a fascinator and get your party dress on. And that's exactly what we did today thanks to Dawn and her team at the Empire Hotel rooftop bar and lounge. She sent out the invite a few weeks back and though I didn't have Nacho's schedule or a babysitter, I said yes. Hell yes. We have been loving our new life in the burbs so much and the day-to-day transition has been so smooth. But having a few weekends here and there to catch up with friends is such a nice balance. And so I was happy to wrangle the details and line things up so I could attend. And the weather cooperated so our rooftop view of the city was perfect. Nacho landed in LGA that afternoon and we met at the hotel for a few hours of fun. 

Our hostess with the mostest

Julie won for her outstanding Derby hat!

Mint julep time!

Of course this was my first time betting on the horses with a small pool we devised moments before the race. I luckily pulled out #7 out of the hat which was Maximum Security--a favorite of the race. Nacho had the second favorite and I started to get a good feeling about this. The race came on and within seconds my horse was in the lead. He kept it for the full 2 minutes and by the last few seconds we were whooping and hollering. It was a crazy, muddy day in rainy Louisville but clearly the sun was shining on me. The $190 kitty was mine! And then I went to the bathroom to emerge to news that this victory was short lived. The review of the tapes showed Maximum Security had veered outside of its lane. The victory party was cancelled and we realized only too late that no one had drawn the number for the now winning horse (a 65-1 long shot). Putting the winning funds towards our bill and tip was a great win-win for all and I have to admit that was the goal anyway. All in all, our day at the races was a great change of pace for this playgroup gang and I'm hoping we'll be back at it again next May. 

Spring in the Ridge

Well, we're back from Spring Break and boy is it looking springy. Something about being in a new place for the first of each season makes my heart happy. And this morning as I noticed our dogwood tree in full bloom, I had to stop and take a pic. It's my tree! Mine! How cool is that? Things are starting to feel more permanent, more real with each passing month. And honestly, I'm so relieved this is our home now. Everything got upended in the fall and the winter was kind of a shelter in place scenario. So now with spring, I feel like we're really starting to bloom and come out and meet more folks and it's been wonderful. Even things like the kids' new activities (a new dance studio--with modern!, school play, biking around the nabe, etc) feel like they are just more engaged and happier. Having Bailey to take out and about has also been a real game changer. Everyone talks to you when you have a pup. So I've been making more acquaintances and even look forward to the dog run where we can see our little girl play and frolic. Now that she has all of her shots, it's been cool to watch her learn to navigate the social life of a dog. It's kind of like Secret Life of Pets but the Glen Ridge edition...

My tree :)

Finally sewing her elastic on

Carolina is loving her two dance classes a week--modern is her fave

Lilac hanging over the fence? Yes, please!

Bailey has found her new home: my couch 

Nothing like a Target clearance price to help me decorate--$12!

The local field in full bloom

Carolina's popcorn hack

Friday night movie night was all about Queen Bey's "Homecoming"

Saturday morning cuddles

Freeman Gardens was open and having a bake sale so we dropped off some brownies for a good cause

Perfect weekend brunch

My little girl is growing up and chilling out at night

Not one but two teeth fell out this week

Prepping Carolina's International Festival Board

Celebrating the beginning of orthodontia with froyo--spacers in place!

Don't we look ravishing?

Date night in Jersey City!

The Mountain Goats performing everything but This Year (LAST SONG OF THE NIGHT!)

We have the palatal expander in place!

Papa preparing the tortilla for the expo 

Carolina's Spanish flare goes on display

Her chulapo colored in 

Carolina's board up and ready with a translation bowl provided

Spanish tortilla and queso manchego! 

Just before prep for the International Festival started heating up, I scored some last minute tickets to see The Mountain Goats in Jersey City. The tickets themselves were cheap enough ($30) and I knew a few songs and damn it, it felt like fun would be had. And it was. But of course it wasn't that cheap. Once you add the sitter and the dinner and a couple of beers at the show, we're talking $300. But somehow it felt worth it. And Nacho was of the same mood, so that helped. We went to Talde for Asian fusion before the show and had a really nice little assortment of apps and a beef noodle dish. Then my FB post helped crowd source a local ice cream shop just down the block and we made it to the concert just as the opening singer songwriter was ending. The band came on closer to 10pm and we knew somehow they were going to take their time to get to my favorite song "This Year." And wait we did. Nacho was ready to bail just about any time but I held strong. And sure enough, they closed the sucker down with that one on their encore. Now it was time to rush home, sleep and get ready for orthodontist appointments in the morning! No rest for the wicked. The girls both did swell and Elisa's palatal expander went on in a flash without me even having to come back and hold her hand. She did SO well. I was seriously impressed. Everyone at Dr. Peluso's office though is amazing and they loved the fact that Carolina wore the competition's shirt in for her first ortho visit (a freebie from an assembly they had at her school *company promotion at tax payer's expense* cough *cough). Fast forward to the afternoon and I dropped Nacho off at the train station for work after he'd made his requisite 4 tortillas for the expo. Elisa was pretty excited to bring a little taste of Spain to contribute--even if she wouldn't eat it herself. And honestly, the whole evening was a really sweet look into the cultural heritage of the student body. There were some pretty cute and funny posters along with some really tasty treats. I didn't realize I'd be chowing on Jamaican jerk chicken stew, Ethiopian injera and lentils, guava pastries and empanadas--not to mention all the English biscuits. Yum! All in all, it was a good time and I'm only sorry Nacho didn't get to enjoy taking credit for his efforts.