A Sunday in the park with Kern

I love it when Kerny comes to town! She was here last month for her Spring break and we rallied like only her and I know how. Boy, did we rally! And what I mean by that is, she slept in everyday while I worked, we TJ Maxx'ed it like a boss, and walked around and enjoyed the perfect weather that is Springtime in NYC.

Even without seeing any shows, doing any museums/exhibits, or really spending any big amounts of monies, Kerny got to knock a few things off of her NY bucket list. 

For instance, instead of taking the bus to the Maxx per usual, we walked through the park and she finally caught the view from the Jackie O Reservoir. How she hadn't done this before is beyond me. It's the part of Central Park closest to my apartment. We went right around sunset and I snapped these great shots of her balancing along the edge of the water.

Saturday is our typical flea market day.
Typically, at our favorite flea market, we do NOT see a woman walking her pet turtles in a stroller, but on this particular Saturday, we did. And it was our treat.

The jewelry flea market on the UES is our treasure haven. Also, our version of heaven.
Here's the Kern in her element. Or as my friend Andrew put it, "A Kern in her natural habitat."

We stopped by Kent's basketball game for a hot second; just long enough for him to hit on both me and my mother, in true KBIII form, and then went on our way to Kerny's most longed adventure.
The Brooklyn Bridge.

Later on, after some GOOGLE MAGIC, we (Connor and Kerny) discovered that the locks we'd seen hung along the bridge, symbolize everlasting love. It's an italian tradition of sweethearts locking up their hearts and throwing away the key (into the river). Google it. Kerny melted over it. Especially since she'd had me take this picture of her favorite one on our walk.

Once in Bk, we trekked over to the Brooklyn Flea because neither of us had ever been, but we'd both heard really good things. Of course, we loved it immediately, but by this time we were starving so... naturally we splint a 'traveling brick oven' pizza from a cart and sat on the stairs of the Bk Flea to people watch and make new friends, furry and otherwise.

We topped off our Bk experience with some grilled corn.
This was Kerny's first parm/chilli grilled corn and... drum roll please... she LOVED it!

We grabbed our favorite cupcakes on the way home and luckily were greeted by these sweaty softball fools who wanted to do nothing more than watch Aladdin, paint fingernails, and google 'love locks.'

Kent and Connor, ladies and gentlemen.

Kent. And Connor.

Because Kerny nearly has a nervous breakdown on her parting day here, each visit, we kept it low key come Sunday.
A little Sunday afternoon in the park never hurt anybody.

Not them. 

Not him.

Not us.

My new favorite Spring outfit is my polk-a-dot dress and striped sneakers.

And my even more favorite is this same look with my tan wedges... Which I wore later that same day to Hilary's bridal shower and got a GAzillion compliments by a few swanky midtown momma's. If only they knew the dress was $16 from the Maxx, my jacket was from Goodwill, and my heels were $20 at Strawberry... their dog's leashes were more expensive than my whole outfit top to bottom. Fact.

My blog post > Kerny's blog post on this weekend....

She writes everything on a sketch pad she carries in her purse.
Seriously?

Love her to pieces!

Hopefully she's not disappointed when she pays an arm and a leg to come visit me and I make her listen to me sing broadway show tunes til 3AM each night.
Also, let the record show that my favorite moment form the weekend was on Thursday night around 3:40AM when after talking & laughing in bed for a few hours, Kerny drifted off to sleep and immediately awoke herself from sleep-crying and thoroughly freaked me out. Then we couldn't stop laughing and laughed about it the rest of the weekend. You had to be there. Or not.
I live for these visits. I couldn't stop looking at our pictures for a week afterwards... until I left for the wedding of the year in Utah and made brand new awesome memories that I couldn't stop instantly reminiscing over and am still doing so.
Can you guess what my next post will be about?

Love,
~Kare*

Easter/Passover Supper

Since living in New York, I have not had a proper Easter. Sometimes my mom visits (her spring break usually falls around the holiday), but even when we're together, we never really celebrate the way we always had growing up - church, easter bunny paw-prints on our face, baskets on the table, Easter egg hunts, Sunday dinner...

this year, I was in the city sans Momma Kern and didn't go to church or participate in an Easter egg hunt, but it still felt more like Easter than any other year since 2007.
I spent the day with these beautiful people and we had the yummiest Sunday dinner (thanks to the boys) and laughed until our cheeks hurt.

We hadn't had quality time over at Kent and Connor's since last April and it felt so good to finally all be together again. The boys were the most excellent hosts! Kent made a delicious beef tenderloin wrapped in bacon (thank goodness for that) and Connor made his grandma's home made rolls. We brought dessert, but they did all the dirty work including all the sides, the dishes and even serving us.

My dates.

They were celebrating Passover rather than Easter.

Connor dressed appropriately.

He's like an Easter dream, that one.

Kent worked his magic. Look at that. Delish. Truly.

Yelzy provided the entertainment with one of her many talents.

Apparently she could do this for hours. 3 hours to be exact.

There was story time.
We love Connor's stories.

I'm obviously interrupting him here.

Shocking.

And then we lounged.

And laughed some more.

(very awkward laughs apparently)

And loved. Intensely.

And then we cuddled and Yelz and Connor picked the grey hairs out of my head.
Wait? What? Did things just get weird?
Maybe. No one can really say.
But it might be true.

I'm grateful for a lot of things in my life, but my friends and family would be number one on that list.
Grateful for all of our different beliefs and all that took place for us to be together. Here. Now.

Love,
~Kare*

(P.S. Kern's here this weekend. Let the good times roll!)

Friends forever.

Most Wednesdays, I have off. 

Luckily, I had off last Wednesday when Portia and James came to the city on vacay.

There's nothing I love more than my people. They are my home and my family. 

So I LOVE having them here in the city, even if only for the day. 

We spent our day together eating Artichoke pizza, walking Central Park, and laughing. 

Laughing HARD. 

My throat was sore for two days after, but it was more than worth it. 

The last time I'd seen Portia was the first Christmas I lived here in New York when we were both home for the holidays. The last time I had seen James Jones (it has always seemed appropriate, since 6th grade, to use his full name - usually I even thrown in there, "the Third") was after our freshman year of college at a dinner gathering. 

Now comes a SPEW of pictures from our one short day in the empire city together.

Porsh and JJ3 were staying in Queens so naturally we met up at Grand Central Station.

And walked past the Empire State Building (in the distance) on our way to lunch.

Then spent 4 glorious hours in Central Park. 

You're looking at Meadowbrook High School Royalty here.

Prom Queen and Homecoming Queen 2003

still in love, almost 10yrs later. 

Friends for forever. Past and future tense.

I can't help but sing, "Tiny Bubbles" in my head every time I see those last two pictures.

Me and my Portalini.

Love these two more than they know!
I say for our 30th birthdays we reenact P's 16th birthday party and rent a limo.
I'll even bust out the ever so attractive overalls and collared polo shirt I was wearing that day.
Perfect!
Sounds like a dream!
Love,
~Kare*

My Russian Red Weekend

So a few weekends ago, Dad had me come home for a quick visit and to lay down the back-up vocals for his song, "The Curtain." I was TERRIFIED, and terrible, but I had a blast! 

Only it took me a day or two to realize it. Since my mom is typically the queen of creativity, it's been fun to finally see my Dad explore his creative side with this new outlet. Don't get me wrong, being musical isn't a "new" thing for him, but producing a song from top to bottom (with the help of Bryce and Trey) is certainly a new venture.

Major headphone hair. Major.

Mom, Seon, and Me-Maw picked me up in DC (where I took the bus) and we little piggies girl-talked all the way home. And since Dad was still in Vegas with his buddies, mom and I had a few sleepover/girls nights before he joined us back at home. We got mani/pedis, baked, shared a bed with a cute puppy, and got caught up on Downton Abbey.

My Russian red weekend brought to you by Essie's 'Russian Roulette'.

Also, we celebrated Nanny's birthday...

and enjoyed the sunny VA weather.

The perfect quick trip home. These trips aren't happening enough.

Love,

~Legs*

Hush Hush

Two surprise birthday parties in one week!
If you didn't already know, and you're taking tabs, surprise birthday parties are possibly in the top 5 on my list of favorite things!

Two thursdays ago, friends gathered, in the springlike weather, on Ryan's rooftop to celebrate the birthday of our friend Justin in a party called, 'Hush Hush Happy Heaps Day.'
It was a surprise and naturally he was greeted, lights out, with a full on starting line up basketball huddle-run-thingy with spankings and all. I believe those are the technical terms, no?
Anyway, we had cake and ice cream and enjoyed the christmas lights on the rooftop... It's a sign that summer's almost here!!!

This past Thursday, Yelz and I headed to Brooklyn for Traci's surprise birthday party. And although I came this close to ruining the surprise, I call this one a major success for two reasons.
1: Traci's never had a surprise birthday party and was truly TRULY unsuspecting.
2: Yelz has never BEEN to a surprise party. WHAT?! Right?! Who's never been to a surprise party? Yelz, that's who.

I cant believe what a turn out Tre's party had. 

False. 

I can believe it, she's the kindest, cutest, thing and obviously popular for a reason. 

Here's to birthdays and surprises. Two of my most favorite things.
Love,

 ~Legs*

3 to a bed

A few weekends ago Minners had a continuing education course at Columbia University here in the city (us medical folk have to keep up with the latest and greatest in healthcare) so naturally, we made a girls night out of it.

We started with dinner just a block from my place at the cutest new wine bar, ABV.

Then the girl talk continued on my couch until we all brushed and flossed together like the tooth nerds that we are.

And finally we chatted til the wee hours of the night and slept 3 to a bed. 

Like little rolly-polly-hygienists.

There were 3 in the bed and the little one said "Roll over! Roll over!" So they all rolled over and one fell out, there were 2 in the bed and the little one said... Two's good!

Love them!

Love,

~Legs

Spring sprung early this year.

It was so surprisingly beautiful in NYC this March! So much so, that I've been eating my lunch in the park (Central Park) almost daily and couldn't help but walk home from work the other day (40+blocks) to snap a few pictures of the blossoms with my trustee iPhone. I know we didn't really have a typical, harsh, New York winter, but that doesn't doesn't mean I'm any less excited for summer! New York summers are the bessssst! Even when it's a sweltering hell-dred degrees with 1000% humidity. 

My view from my lunch bench.

I also had the misfortune of viewing a driver dip his own water bottle down into the horses trough and drink it up. 

Twice.

And that about wrapped up lunch for me.

Disgusting.

5th Ave.

95th St.

Bring on the beach please. Thanks. ~Management.

In case you didn't know, I own this city. Just ask Kern.

Love,

~Kare*