In Like a Lion...

Hahaha - Just found this post that I drafted on March 7th - like I said before, both conferences were great, but this was a pretty horrible almost disaster that happened the day of - also, thought the title was fitting:

After weeks and weeks of stressing and no sleep because of some work related conference preparations I wake up this morning to a phone call telling me that the conference has been cancelled due to snow. It has not even started snowing, and I have lost PRECIOUS sleep over this - so it was a less than stellar way to start the day. All those anxiety attacks while organizing were for naught. And guuuuuys - everything was ready to go. EVERYTHING. The early bird does not get the worm. The early bird gets the "Be Back in 5 Mins" sign with a little drawing of a worm giving her the finger....that would actually be an awesome print/painting to make....dibs/copyrighting that right now, so don't event try to take it! (a little dramatic, but guuuuys this is how I was feeling)

Anyway..instead tonight I am going to see if I can get into a pre-screening of Oz, and drink lots of wine. Which I guess is a pretty awesome way to spend the night, so I'll take it! (I got to work and was told that the conference was actually still on and I had to travel back to my apt to pick up my bag! But we all breathed a sigh of relief because we had been so prepared and really wanted this thing to happen! And I still got a fun dinner with wine, so win-win.)

Finished Heart of the Matter by Emily Giffin. Gotta tell you, it was not my favorite. I liked that it tied back with the previous books, but the story line was terrible. SPOILER ALERT: Basically it's about these two women indirectly connected to a tragedy where one woman's husband is the doctor for the other woman's son. Blah, blah, blah, the husband ends up cheating on his wife with the other woman, etc, etc. So stupid. It was a quick read, but I was just annoyed the whole time. I wouldn't recommend it.

Good news: I'm very lucky and I got my hands on an advanced reading copy of Five Summers by Una LaMarche, bloggess extraordinaire at Sassy Curmudgeon, and I'm loving it so far!!! You guys should definitely pre-order a copy here, here, or here. Expect a review once I finish it :) (This book was a great read! Fun, fresh, and light. I highly recommend it. A YA story about life-long friendships and growing up. Loved it!)

Out Like a Lamb

1. March was insane at work. I had two HUGE conferences that I had to majorly prep and travel for. I was constantly running around like a chicken with her head cut off. But, they are over now and I got major kudos for being good at my job and anticipating all the needs and it was pretty awesome.

2. Went to see my parents out on Long Island this past weekend. Spent much needed time with all my siblings and my gorgeous, funny, bright, chunky nephews and niece.

3. After college, dating is this weird vortex. You go through your desperately lonely phase, your everyone-wants-to-set-me-up-with-someone phase, your online dating phase, your f* it phase, and then your my-life-is-awesome-I-will-find-someone-when-I'm-good-and-ready phase. Sometimes those phases happen at the same time. Sometimes you're stuck in one for too long. Sometimes you feel like you didn't have enough time in another.Well after years of sporadic dating here and there, I never thought I would get to the fun mid-20s phase that everyone alludes to where dating is actually just dating. No one is thinking marriage, no one is thinking commitment, you're just allowed to have fun and meet new people and see where the wind takes you. It goes against my controlling nature to let go but I honestly can't complain right now. Oh, and in case you were wondering - that guy that I thought was into me, but wasn't sure about? Well...a lady never kisses and tells.

4. I can smell spring in the air. The days are getting longer, dinners with friends are going later, and everyone is coming out of the woodwork. Summer is right around the corner. Sunshine, the beach, cold drinks, long nights, and major gym time to tone up for those teeny bikinis ;)

5. My sister and I impulse shopped at Target on Sunday. A really cute spring-into-summer black and tan dress. We needed these in our respective closets because as I mentioned before summer is coming! And this is going to look so cute with bangles, a pair of funky flat sandals, and a tan! But the thrifty fashionista that I am knew that I didn't have to wait for that 70 degree weather we are all craving to break out the new goods. So this morning, I threw on tights, my tall black boots and a black cardigan and I was good to go!

I love a dress that can be worn through every season!
Dress: Target, Tights: Modcloth, Boots: Macy's (not in stock)

Do you guys have any outfits that transition well between seasons? Any fun dating stories?

xoxo

mc

Babies

Oh, hi! Fancy meeting you here since I am drowning in a crazy work-week and literal pouring rain this morning. Didn't want you to think I forgot about you :)

So, what have I been up to? I finally finished The Post Birthday World by Lionel Shriver...remember when I told you that I would tell you if you should read it or not based on how bad the ending was? Well.....you should still read it. The ending wasn't what I expected or wanted, but I have to tell you - I still liked the book. Now that I'm done with that, I thought I should read something a little fluffier, so I picked up Heart of the Matter by Emily Giffin. I know, I know, way overdue since this book came out a billion years ago, but whatever! Don't judge me.

Ramble, ramble, ramble. This weekend I went out to Long Island to see my parents and hang out with my gaggle of nephews and niece. Talk about jump-starting my biological clock. I'm living my life here in Queens, loving every bit of it, thanking God everyday that I don't have "major" responsibilities like kids or a husband and BAM! Insert the cutest kids ever and I'm like ooooohh but wouldn't it be sooo nice to be woken up by these adorable faces every day??? I'm sure I wouldn't be saying that after like a month of being responsible for four little ones lives, but I had the best weekend with them. Did spelling homework, ran around like a crazy person, aka ninja, fed, burped, hugged, cuddled, philosophized, and enjoyed every second of the day with my smart, funny, adorable nephews and niece.

I mean, look at this face!

I even felt a little sad on the train ride back home to NYC. But then I remember that I had the Oscars and tacos to look forward to and the sting wore off. And this happened:

I know, I owe you guys a delicious post about Alfajores, but give me a break! I was a single mother this weekend, and I only had help from my mom, my nanny, my dad, and one of my sisters. Geez!

xoxo
mc

My Secret Valentine

You've heard of Secret Santa, Yankee Swap, White Elephant, or even SFFCWGYG*? Well, last week for Valentine's Day we had Secret Valentines at work. Like a put-your-name-in-a-hat-and-pick-a-random-co-worker-to-secretly-give-V-day-treats-to Secret Valentine.

*No? Well this was a wonderful little Christmas tradition from my very Christian high-school's choir days: "Secret Friend From Choir Who's Giving You Gift" or what I liked to call a "Secret Jesus".

If you know me, you know I don't half-ass anything that involves secret gifts and crafting, soooo, starting on Monday, I gave my Valentine something every day leading up to Feb. 14. The budget was $5, which is nothing, so I went over it by like $3, but come on - I wouldn't be a good secret admirer if I just left one dinky box o' chocolates on her desk on Valentine's Day, right? There has to be some build up!

Monday: I made an origami heart box, and filled it with some Peruvian chocolates I had at home. Cost: $0

Making this, secretly, at work was really hard. To replicate check out the 2-part video here and here. 

Tuesday: I bought Dove chocolates in a heart shaped tin from CVS. Cost: $3.99

Wednesday: I popped out to H&M and bought a cute little multi-colored leopard print toiletry bag. Cost: $3.95

Friday:  Homemade Alfajores - Peruvian cookies filled with dulce de leche. Cost: $4, I had most/all ingredients at home, and didn't count this towards the budget because I made enough to share with everyone in the office.

Take-out Tupperware + red acrylic paint =  Cute packaging :)

I'll be sharing how I made the Alfajores - so look out for that post!

Did you have a secret admirer? Do anything special for Valentine's Day?
xoxo
mc

College Reunion

Had a mini reunion this weekend with my bffs from college. I've known these girls since freshman year at BC. Can you believe that it has been almost 5 years since we graduated? And almost 10 years since we first met? Now...normally I would mope around thinking about how old we've gotten, buuuut I didn't have time to mope because we were too busy eating, drinking, and having the greatest weekend :)

All photos courtesy of @esparzan - thank God she loves documenting everything!

My friend arrived from California at like 7am on Saturday, and after taking a little morning disco nap, our first stop was Queens Comfort. This place "serves superior American comfort food in a relaxed and fun environment." The chefs cook everything fresh, and the menu changes every day, season, holiday - it's really based on whatever the chefs feel like making. And everything is sinfully delicious. With a mixture of private and communal tables, this place makes you feel right at home with old-school movies playing on a large screen in the back of the room and the fact that you can BYOB your favorite $10 wine with no cork fee.

Homemade hot chocolate that we may or may not have also gotten to-go on Sunday because we had dreams of the steamy chocolate, melty marshmallows, and creamy whipped cream

 We also saw Safe Haven (terrible), went to a lounge-y bar called The Park and stayed out way too late.

Hangover cure: NY bagels

We finished off N's last night at Kuma Inn. This place is literally a hole in the wall. The first time I went there I couldn't find it. There is no sign, and you have to walk up a scary staircase. But once you walk in, the smell of the food hits you and you are in heaven.  A little expensive, the service is a little rushed, and every time I have gone there I have had a time limit on how long I can stay - but it is so worth it because the food is SO freaking good.

Clockwise from top left: tuna tartare, grilled baby octopus, Chinese sausage and sticky rice, and pillowy pork buns. Don't have a pic, but they also have a pannacotta that will change your life.

2005 & 2013 - you should have seen how many shots it took to get this. But it was worth it.

What did you do for the 3-day weekend?
xoxo
mcc