Zesty Zucchini

Well, I solved a mystery this evening.  My son, Matthew, who loves anything related to fruit but dismisses most vegetables (on a good day, he will concede and eat fresh green beans...never frozen) willingly ate these zucchini pizza bites.  Perhaps it was the marina sauce or the melted cheese or the convenient size.  Whatever the reason, he tried one (as I held my breath), seemed to enjoy it, and (gasp) he asked for seconds!  This was a true culinary feat in my eyes.  That is, until further delving revealed that zucchini is indeed a fruit.  So, I am back to square one determined to expand his palette to include vegetables.  Perhaps a potato pizza might do the trick....I'll keep you posted.  In the meantime, these will definitely be a part of the appetizer rotation in our household.  Next time, I plan on trying this recipe with eggplant...even if it's considered a fruit.  

Something Old, Something New

Tee Shirt: J.Crew/ Boyfriend Jeans: Gap/ Scarf: Target (similar here)/ Flats: Ivanka Trump (similar here)/ Tote: Just Campagne (similar here)/ Sunglasses: similar here)

When I was working as an assistant buyer for Calypso, there were definitely a few noteworthy perks.  Sometimes, I was lucky enough to be able to keep some of the many samples that came our way.  (I still own a ribbed orange cashmere scarf that I treasure to this day.)  I also was fortunate to take home the sample sizes the design department created. (One memorable piece was a brown suede ruffled coat that I wore everywhere in 2002...not incredibly practical for bitter New York winters but I relished the idea that no one else owned one.)  But, the best part of working at Calypso was the access I had to their yearly sample sale.  At the end of the day, the items that did not sell were sold to us employees at a deep discount.  My two prized possessions are a pair of Sigerson Morrison flats and this tote by Just Campagne.  I have been the proud owner of this bag for twelve years now and I still use it quite regularly.  The classic shape, neutral color and impeccable quality have stood the test of time.  Paired with my latest accessory purchase, this fringed summer scarf from Target, I suppose this ensemble epitomizes the term high-low.  I love the fact that this outfit can segue from a morning stroll on the boardwalk with my daughter to coffee with a friend.  C'est parfait.

Daily Delights

 The best fries on Long Island...hands down.  They taste even better with a chocolate milkshake.  

Let's see.  My two year old locked himself in the bathroom yesterday afternoon, my babysitter quit, I couldn't locate my debit card all day and I was savagely attacked by mosquitoes at my son's umpteenth baseball game this week.  But, I am going to choose to focus on the positive.  So, as I sip my Sauvignon Blanc (I highly recommend Two Oceans) here's a list of the little things that have brought me joy lately.  Oh, and I just realized it's only Thursday.  Exhaling...

The good 'ole days...

My amazingly talented daughter took this photo down at the beach.

Love this Karen Millen dress I wore to a wedding a few weeks ago.  Why can't I wear this to the park?

Spotted this little cutie on the side of the road.  Surprised he let me take his picture.

I'm a total sucker for Entenmann's donuts.  Perhaps eating them while on the treadmill reduces the guilt?

Cherry Vanilla Cupcakes

Cherries have a lot going for them.  They are healthy, delicious and pretty to look at. Typically, they are considered to be a summertime snack, something to be nibbled on (although if you have this cherry pitter, you can pop them in your mouth like grapes) in between meals.  But, I wanted to find a way to infuse cherries into our meals with a new twist.  Enter cherry vanilla cupcakes.  It's been ages since I whipped up a batch of these vanilla cupcakes with this buttercream frosting.  So, I decided to surprise the kids this evening with these lovely pink concoctions.  The result: five consecutive minutes of silence.  I'm already wondering what I can come up with tomorrow night. Any suggestions?

Wonderful World

Top: Converse for Target (similar here)/ Shorts: J.Crew/ Wedges: Anne Klein (similar here)/ Sunglasses: (similar here)/ Bag: Kate Spade (similar here)

I was feeling rather adventurous last Friday and so I decided to venture out to parts unknown...this time to famed Flushing Meadows Park.  I'm quite embarrassed to admit that despite the fact that I used to live a mere ten minutes away from this iconic park, I never once stepped foot onto its' grounds.  Home to the National Tennis Center, Citi Field, the New York Hall of Science and the Queens Museum of Art (just to name a few) it is the fourth largest park in New York City.  Of course what it is widely known for is playing host to the 1939/1940 World's Fair as well as in 1964/1965 (which is why the Unisphere was created, as the theme symbol).  I was initially taken aback by its' sheer size and the dramatic fountains and reflecting pool surrounding it.  Naturally, my children delighted in the fact that the wind continuously sprayed them with water...an enormous sprinkler with an ice cream truck strategically parked off to the side.  What more could you ask for?

I Heart NY

I grew up right outside New York City.  My father was born and raised in Washington Heights and when I was a young girl, he took me into Manhattan quite frequently and we would walk and talk for hours.  We had our usual stomping grounds...Rockefeller Center, FAO Schwarz, Trump Tower and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  But the places I most remember were those off the beaten path.  He would take me to The Roosevelt Hotel to use the ladies room or his favorite diner on sixty-second street for a milk shake and we would always visit his office which seemed so enormous to me with its' vast views of the East River.  I think this is where my love affair with New York began.  It really wasn't about skyscrapers and bustling crowds and fancy department stores.  It represented the precious times I spent with my father holding his hand navigating through the streets of a city he loved and knew so well.  I went on to attend high school on the Upper East Side, go to Parsons down in the West Village, work downtown and in midtown and live in Forest Hills, Queens when we were first married.  I have never tired of the endless energy, diversity, beauty, strength and character New York City possesses.  Now, as a mother, I enjoy my special one on one time with my daughter.  I have my own stories to tell, my own places to show her, and my own hopes and dreams for her that she reaches her greatest expectations in the city that never sleeps.

This past weekend, we went to a block party in Belle Harbor, Queens.  The views from the street were incredible.  These are the photos I took as the sun was setting against the Manhattan skyline.

Striped and Smart

Dress: Splendid (similar here)/ Sandals: Jack Rogers/ Bag: J.Crew/ Sunglasses: Michael Kors (similar here)

I'm not big on busy patterns or florals but I do like my stripes.  Perhaps it's getting a bit redundant.  I have striped tees, tanks, sweaters, scarves, socks and beach bags.  Is there such a thing as Stripes Anonymous?  Maybe I ought to look into that...In the meantime, I'm going to pair them with crisp white shorts, denim cut-offs and skinny ankle jeans.  And, I most definitely will be keeping this easy, breezy summer dress in the rotation.  I love the color combination of pink and gray.  Plus, it is made of the softest, most breathable cotton.  This past weekend, I coupled it with my favorite sandals to spend the morning window shopping with my daughter and the afternoon chasing after my boys at the zoo.