Summer has officially arrived in NYC. I am pretty sure we jumped straight from cold to HOT! However, late afternoon and early evenings are “perfect”. I have been spending most of whatever spare time I can scrounge up on my roofdeck. It is the most pleasant, beautiful and enjoyable place to be amongst the backdrop of an urban landscape. The views are stunning, the Empire State building and midtown to the North, the Hudson to the West, the Brooklyn Bridge to the East and the unique rooftops of 5 story buildings below! It is my escape. I spend most nights and some mornings up here. I do my quiet time here. I celebrate with friends up here. I share late night glasses of wine with my fiance here. And last but not least I try to get a little sunshine up here! Yesterday, God blessed me with the most amazing sky with the sun setting off to the West…

Though I wish I could spend every waking moment on my roof top. My glories escape, I still have real life tasks to tend to. Life calls…but let’s talk about the “high points” of the otherwise daily grind.

1. I ventured to the flower market last week to pick up a few orchids for our office. While I was waiting for them to pot them up in our glass containers, I browsed through the area.

Then as I was leaving I got this text from my Mom. And I “flipped”!!!!!! I found this fabric at at the D&D last September during Fall Market. I met the director of this company, who is from Sweden. I chatted with him about their new collection. All the while I was falling in love with this fabric. Weird I know, but textiles really get to my heart. You know, the weak at the knees feeling?? Well when my sister-in-law and brother found out they were having a baby, and were ready to decorate the nursery! I thought what  a better choice than this fabric. It will transition through time. Not to be outgrown at age 2. Worth the investment. We did the panels in the room out of it, as well as these throw pillows. It is so sophisticated, but simply sweet with the soft, subtle watercolour texture! And just is case you are wondering. The crib is stellar, but it is off to the right. More pictures soon. This queen bed anchors the opposite side of the room. It was a surprise find from the Ralph Lauren Home sample sale in February. This was a lucky find on the last day, and last hour of the sale! And now with the nursery pretty much done, we are counting down the day for the new addition to our family!

(excuse the fact the bedding is missing, but it is en route as we speak!)

Change of subject, but must let me one of my visitors for this weekend (my sister) know that I went to Trader Joe’s and stocked up on organic pink lady apples just for you. You little apple-o-holic! Although I am not one to talk. I might of already eaten some from the pile?

And by request, sister, I will head to Duane Reade to get you “Aussie catch the wave” mousse + leave-in conditioner.

Maybe Aussie should consider a 3oz version, in addition to their 6.8oz option to make the airline, you and me ALL happy!

Off to conquer the tasks ahead for today before wedding dress shopping tomorrow and Friday. WooHoo!

xoxo

This time last week I had just arrived in the a place I hold near and dear to my heart, the ancient city of ROMA! I wish I could snap my fingers and appear back on the cobblestone streets right now. The trip was full of great friends, fabulous food (lots of pasta), red wine, ancient history, relaxation, cappuccinos and for me… A SURPRISE ENGAGEMENT!

This past week was the best week, and a small taste of the worst, in my life. The best part was my precious, amazing and awesome Mom was here with me all week. I had her all to myself. We stayed up late just talking, enjoyed our morning coffee together, she rode the subway with me to work, fabric shopped for some projects, got our make-up done at Bergdorf’s, worked out together, lunched at the yummy Saks cafe, played with the new Apple ipads, walked, and enjoyed special time together. The worst part of the week started on Thursday when I came down with the icky, crummy, darn flu for the first time in my whole entire life. My temperature was a steady 102 for two solid days. The biggest blessing was having my sweet Mom here to take care of me. She “google” to find me a doctor in Tribeca, since I’ve yet to need  a primary care physician since I’ve lived here. She drug me to the doctor. She got my prescription filled, and she kept me well hydrated. She watched lots and lots of movies, and TV with me. This is the first time I’ve ever sent her home from a NYC visit well rested, and I mean well rested. For me, there is nothing like getting to be with my Mom. I thank my her for ALL the love she has showered me with over the years. I will never ever out grow the need for my “Mommy’s love”. When ever I start thinking about “growing up” I get kind of teary eyed. My sister and I sometimes joke about wanting to go to the fictional world of Never Never Land with Peter Pan and Tinker Bell. The memories of my “younger years” are so dear to my heart, and sometimes I just want to stop growing up. A few months ago, I was telling my Mom how hard I find it sometimes to want to “grow up”. She said, you know it can be just as hard as parents to let your kids go, as it is on you to “fly”…Moms would have it no other way than to just keep there little chicks all safe and sound in their nest all the days long, but that would not be healthy for any of us. I laughed and agreed, because all I could think of was the movie Failure to Launch. None of us really want to be 35, and still living at home. And then I remembered a musical book Mom gave me years and years ago, on a random Saturday morning, it was the song, I Hope You Dance. I thought about lyrics of that song, and remembered that was Mom’s prayer for her daughters lives…She gives us strength. She is the friend you can always confide in. She is a steady rock, and for that I feel so very blessed. And now I am getting teary eyed, so I shall digress…

What are your memories and favorite traits of your Moms? What does a Mom mean to you? Or if you are a Mom, how has that blessed you in return? For me, my Mom has inspired me to be selfless, loving and a simply always shine for Jesus!