I'm no expert....

SO I'm no expert...but I think Spring is officially here!  It's supposed to be 80 degrees the next three days, craziness.  DH and I went and ran some errands yesterday and I could not get over all the gorgeous trees and flowers starting to bloom.  Then I couldn't help notice how the daffodils seemed to be winning in the "I'm going to bloom first" competition.  I don't think there is a flower competition...but I just noticed.  So I'm just going to call it...Spring is officially here!  Now, because I live in the midwest and it could be 80 degrees one day then snow the next, I wouldn't be surprised if mother nature decided to prove me wrong.  But for now I will just enjoy the spring colors, and of course share them with you! :)

DH went to the grocery store and brought home this little beauty....do you have your easter lily yet?  They smell AH mazing...

This lovely field of daffodils popped up right across the street from our neighborhood...they look so happy...

"I win! ...I win!"....

Daffodils always remind me of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory - just skip to 3:35...hehe...

Hope you are all have a fabulous SPRING day! :)

                                                                           

I Heart Faces - "Dramatic B&W"

 

This week's photo contest theme over at I Heart Faces  is "Dramatic Black and White".  I love me some dramatic black and white, so I chose this photo of Sara.  I would best describe it as a "modern day" Alice in Wonderland.  Very dark...very dramatic...but soft and light.  Make sure to check out their website and everyone's fabulous photographs! 

Have a fabulous day!

     

New Website....and ducks...OH MY!

Hello everyone!  Hope you are all having a great weekend!  I have been working like mad on my website this weekend.  I was hoping you all could take a look and give me some feedback???  I love constructive feedback, so any feedback, suggestions, ideas would be OH so helpful!  Thank you!

CHECK OUT MY NEW WEBSITE!

OH and on a side note....Yesterday my Gracie (dog) was barking at something in our backyard.  At first I was not too alarmed because this is an hourly event, but when DH went outside he realized Gracie was barking at a duck.  Random....a duck in our backyard.  THEN he walked towards the side of our house and got a face full of feathers.  After the initial shock of feathers in the face, this is what he found!

That's right boys and girls, we have a mallard duck's nest in our backyard.  We don't even live by a lake or any kind of water for that matter.  After going over the options, we decided to leave the nest.  I love all animals, and the mom is working so hard, the last thing I could ever do is take her babies away.  So for the next 28 days, Gracie will be let out on a leash as we await the birth of 11 little duckies....SO cute!  Gracie will just have to learn how to share. :)

Have a fabulous day!

Spring Break- NYC- Part 2

SO picking up from where I left off...Central Park Bound!  After figuring out how to work the subway ticket machine and figuring out that we had to take the Q train on the yellow line uptown, we were on our way.  Honestly, I think Tim and I could be on the show The Amazing Race.  When it comes to finding our way around a strange unfamiliar place, reading maps, and asking strangers where the heck we are and where to go....we excel!  Here are more pics from NYC!  Enjoy!

Walking towards Central Park, I spotted my first outdoor mini market...there's just something about fresh fruit and fresh flowers that grab my attention....

Central Park was lined with horse draw carriages and very persistent men with french accents asking "Yew see central park, ride on my bike...I show you..."

I just wanted to pet the pretty horses.....  :)

We entered the park at "Artists' Gate" in which the sidewalks are lined with aspiring artists, sketches, and paintings.....lots of people asking to sketch us...

I really loved this artist....she had beautiful watercolors....

These happy little guys had their personal portraits sketched.....SO cute...look at the floppy tongue! hehe...

I fell in love with these lamp posts..so detailed and romantic gothic....I want to line my driveway with them...and put them in my backyard....  :)

Yup

Directly across from Central Park is the The Fricke Collection.  Basically a very rich man built a huge house, filled it with priceless works of art, and then turned his home (castle) into an art museum when he died....

Of course pictures are not allowed.....inside....

AND of course I managed to get in trouble while in the "museum"....I kind of stepped off of the carpet onto the hardwood floor (did not know), touched the 80 year old lace curtains (did not know), and looked outside (did not know) at his awesome view of Central Park....note: I did not know I wasn't allowed to do this....there were no large neon lit flashing signs stating "DO NOT TOUCH"....whatev...DH just grinned as I apologized 1,000 times to the nice but very stern museum worker guy....

So many beautiful details....he really put a lot of work into his home...

"Goooooooorgeoussss!"

We then ventured across 5th avenue back into Central Park...school had just let out and the park was filled with small children and their nannies buying ice cream and playing in fenced off cement playgrounds...

I love cobble stone sidewalks...even though I always trip.....

Lovely....Central Park and the Upper East/West side def. had a different feel than midtown and downtown....lots of sunshine, less crowded, lots of people walking their dogs while talking on their cell phones...more peaceful....

Gorgeous Ivy....

We just lounged on a park bench....which had great views...

I'm pretty sure this is the ice rink....no ice at the moment...but it reminded me of one of my favorite movies Serendipity.  The link is in spanish....but it's the best part! :)

I wonder who lives there?  Barbara Walters?...Maybe...

Lots of bumpy trees...

I think this is a Bradford Pear tree...any tree experts out there? 

Well I hope you enjoyed Central Park as much as we did... :) 

Stay Tuned for the NYC "Grand Finale"....you know you are excited....hehe...
I would also like to wish my friend Nicole a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!  I hope you have a fabulous day friend! :)

Have a fabulous day!

Spring Break 2010- NYC- Part 1

NYC was just as I remembered it...loud, packed full of people, lots of different odors, and full of energy.  It's amazing how one island can hold 8 million people, craziness.  DH and I burned lots of calories walking around...and thank goodness because the food is AH mazing and cheesecake and carrot cake were part of my NYC diet.  Even though I came back from NYC with a cold, which has now turned into Bronchitis...it was really nice to revisit the city and explore new neighborhoods.  Because I took SO many photos, I will break them down into multiple posts.  Here are a few to get you started.  Enjoy!

I love reading city guides, they really help you plan out the day and are full of useful and FREE info...

We stayed across the river in Newark, NJ.  We figured public transportation would be the way to go...it is NYC...

We decided to take the train...

Tim really was excited...I promise....

I was in love with the gorgeous ceramic tiles in the subway....the colors are gorgeous and the fact that some of these numbers/works of art date back to 1904 is very cool in my book.

Lots of entertainment in the Subway...especially at Penn Station...

According to our map...we started our adventure in the "Fashion" District...

NYC is a great work out.....especially when you are trying to take pictures and not get run over by people....or taxis....

I am a HUGE fan of Project Runway...so of course I got all excited when I spotted Parsons.  I started quoting Tim Gunn right away..."Make it work!"..."Make it work people!"

DH does a great impression of Heidi Klum..."youwww ouwwwwt"...

Gorgeous architecture..

Loved the windows on this building...

Note to self:  When you wear a camera around your neck, people will know you are a tourist and bug the crap out of you....check!

We took a break and ate lunch at the famous Carnegie Deli

The walls of the Deli are covered in celebrity photos and autographs...

They give each table their very own bowl of pickles...I have a slight addiction to pickles....so I was very excited...

Ok besides my dorky husband stealing my pickles....do you see the guy behind him on the right?  Doesn't he kind of look like Josh Hartnett ????  It very well could have been..I was just too busy fighting Tim over pickles.... I didn't notice him until now...

Hot Pastrami....yummo!  Big thanks to my friend Dana for warning us about the large portions....and the great tip about splitting everything.  I shared with DH... :)

Had to try the famous cheesecake...it was delish!  Oh and they seat (cram) you at tables with other people (strangers)....I have a huge "wing span" when I eat...the very nice German guy next to me was very understanding about me elbowing him....multiple times....  :) 

We eventually rolled ourselves out the door and ventured uptown to Central Park.

Stay Tuned!