The Big Apple (family style)

A friend recently asked me to share a list of my favorite New York City spots (as a mom who goes there pretty often, but still just another out-of-state visitor). She wants to take her daughter for the first time and she is looking for a happy medium between The Whitney and FAO Schwartz. Here's my out of the ordinary NYC tourist guide. I'd love to know your go-to's also!

1. If you're not interested in standing in line at the Shake Shack, but need a good (casual) burger, try Schnippers. There are three locations and if you're worn out and need some energy, your whole gang will appreciate the atmosphere and the food.

8th Avenue and 41st Street
212-921-2400

2. New York is expensive! When I want to buy my kiddos something cute to wear, but can't afford to shop at my most favorite stores, I go here. They know me by name (if 'the girl from Georgia' is considered a name). You'll find everything from babyGAP to PRADA. I've scored so many pieces from Bonpoint, Rickshaw, Papo, Eberjay, etc...love this place. While you're shopping, send your hubby and kids out to play in the fountain in Washington Square Park...unless it's freezing, of course!

39 1/2 Washington Sq. S.NY, NY 10012212.228.9333 (West 4th between 6th Ave and Macdougal)

3. For a true local feel, head to the Upper West side and enjoy a laid back but delicious dinner at The Mermaid Inn. It's a tiny little gem with wonderful seafood. Plus it's fun to get away from the hustle and bustle and pretend you're a regular.

568 Amsterdam Avenue
(between 87th 88th)
212-799-7400

4. This is a precious boutique where I could spend hours. A friend of mine introduced me to this store when I had my daughter, and now I have to stop by every time I'm in the city. Dominique owns Les Petits Chapelais and her story is so charming. Do yourself a favor and pay her a visit! You might even see a celebrity mama while you're there.

142 Sullivan St, New York, NY 10012
(212) 625-1023

photo credit: Dominique, Les Petits Chapelais 

5. Is rain in the forecast for your visit? Instead of dragging the kids to a fancy museum, take the whole family here for hands-on, educational fun. This is different, but when else will your kid be able to take part in a symphony at Lincoln Center?! So cool.

Concerts are at Merkin Concert Hall, 129 W. 67th Street
(212) 875-5656.

6. If you want to shop for toys, but have anxiety over the mass chaos (and unending wonder, I should add) of FAO Schwartz, try Boomerang! 

TriBeCa - 119 West Broadway

New York, NY 10013
212-226-7650

7. How about a (free) story break at Bank Street Books? If you're lucky, you could even be read to by the one and only,  Julie Andrews! 

Corner of West 112th Street and Broadway
212-678-1654

8. The Highline always has something fun going on...click here to check their calendar. 

9. The MoMa is always on the top of my list. There's always inspiration around the corner for young and old! Obviously this is number nine, but this is in no particular order...

11 West Fifty-third Street, between Fifth and Sixth avenues.

10. Last but not least, Eloise at the Plaza is fun for all little girls...very cute!

212.546.5460
eloise@theplazany.com. 
Charge it please, thank you very much. 

Photo Credit: http://www.theplazany.com

There are many more! Maybe we'll revisit this soon...

'Mister Red's' 82nd Celebration

So my grandfather goes by "Mr. Red" (he was a red head). The name stuck, and in some weird little way, I feel he's like his own brand or something. He drives red vehicles, he has an assortment of "Red" paraphernalia and he decided in his 70's to help turn a smallish college (whose team color is fire engine red) into a bigger college when it came to enrollment and athletics...apparently he's owning that. To me, he's just my grandad, but when I stop to think about it, he's like Ron Burgundy...kind of a big deal.

Mr. Red talks a big game, but when you make a fuss over him, he gets pretty humble...you can see in this pic. I like that.

Anyway! He's done a lot for me and I thought it'd be nice to say thank you in a way he'd appreciate it. We invited 60 of his closest friends (Sounds funny, right? I really do think he has 60 good friends. That's something! Most of us could probably count our really close friends on one hand!) I love the idea of seating a "passel" of friends at one long table and this was my chance to test it out...It was great!

There were a lot of random "toys" in the garage...some functional, others not. Thank goodness, the cannon is just for looks. Mary Cannon was named after my great-grandmother, Addie Mae Cannon (Mr. Red's mother)...and MC thinks this was purchased just for her.

We got everything set up two hours before the party and the bottom fell out. We made the best of it- cleared most of the table and played in the rain. Shortly after the downpour, the sun came out and we set everything up again! I couldn't have done all this without the help of my grandfather's super organized and thoughtful wife, Donna and Mac and all of my great-aunts/uncles and my sweet parents...oh, and the birthday boy! 

 sugar magnolia, blossoms (dyin' after the rain)!

Getting the ole' juke box cranked up 

Ford found "luv" by the firepit

I really love that the Mayor and the bank president snuck in a golf cart full of fireworks. You know you're in a small town when...

Our kids stayed up WAY too late, and we ate ice cream and took crazy pictures. It was a good time. 

Happy birthday, Papa!

Bing in the Classroom

Happy Father's Day!! We're enjoying a little daddy-bration, (aka giving the World Cup our full and undivided attention), so I'm writing this as we listen to the swiss national anthem. I LOVE watching the kiddos walk out with each team...how amazing is that experience for those boys and girls?!

Speaking of kiddos, MC is on the verge of Kindergarten and we're starting to think a little more about our school options. We're so fortunate in Columbus to have a GOOD selection of private and public schools...I don't take that for granted! In my research and in convos with folks from other parts of the country, I found out about Bing in the Classroom After researching this initiative, I knew I wanted to create a round-table discussion with all of you to try and generate some interest for our local schools!


 

The internet is awesome in that it connects, educates, and inspires, but we all know there are potential dangers as well...especially for minors. My kids aren't allowed to use the computer at home without our supervision and the thought of them having free reign to surf the web at five years old gives me a little anxiety. Bing in the classroom provides ad-free, safe searches for schools and if you join Sign up for Bing Rewards! you can donate earned points to donate Earn a Surface tablet for your school with Bing Rewards! to schools! Bing in the Classroom provides digital literacy lesson plans for teachers, to help encourage kids to learn without distracting ads. As a parent, I find a lot of comfort in knowing that my babies could be protected from inappropriate content while I'm not with them. 

make sure to Show support for #adfreesearch! and Sign up for Bing Rewards!"

I'm required to disclose a sponsored partnership between our site and Bing. I have been compensated in exchange for this post in the form of payment, product or experiences.

Happy Dances all around

Hi guys!

Hope y'all have had a fabulous week! We did (and now we're ready to kick our feet up for a few hours)! I can't wait to fill you in on my grandfather's 82nd birthday party- it was something! But first, I'm so thrilled and super flattered to be over on David Venable's blog today.

It's so cool that this opportunity came along; For a long time (and maybe still) I really believed my grandmother only had one channel...you guessed it. Most of the gifts 'Nannah' has given me in the last 30 years, have been ordered over the phone...from make-up to blankets to Christmas dinner...all QVC products. Then I married Mac and he started working with QVC. I almost passed out when that happened. Now this!  We love the people up there and as Nannah would say, I'm tickled pink to share
one of my favorite treats with the Q-munity! :)

If you have a sec, check out this yummy treat my family (minus Mac, because he's not a fruit fan...weirdo!) enjoys when it's warm outside. It's delish! Thanks again to our friends in West Chester
for reaching out and letting me join you today!

this is an oldie, but goodie. the picture of summertime!

Here's a sneak peek of the shindig we threw last night! This was after our unexpected guest showed up and tried to ruin the night. (Downpour, you can soak my magnolia runner, but you can't rain on our parade!) 

Size (doesn't always) Matters.

The Batman party was a success. Ford got what he wanted. I didn't sweat the details. The rain held off...all was good. Here are a few pics. (I did go over my $40 budget...but not by too much.) Everything came from Publix and Toys R Us...and my junk drawer. So maybe we didn't wrap any gifts...we used them as decorations. Ford was cool with it, so I was cool with it. Here are a few pictures from our fun little super hero dessert party. Can't believe Ford-baby is three...and that he will NOT let me call him Ford-baby anymore. (boo. hoo.)

So it's funny...every now and then (okay, everyday...because I'm exhausted and I choose my battles), I let loose and chill out when it comes to my little man. In the deep South, we dress our little guys like little lord fauntleroy and that makes us oh so happy. That's not necessarily true for every single person that lives in this part of the country; but for many people, dressing little boys in sweet rompers with wide collars and embroidered initials is totally normal and completely precious. I do love it. But, let's face it. My kid just wants to wear his camo boots, shorts and the same tee-shirt every single day. Even though I feel like I've wasted a whole lot of money on "good" clothes for Ford, I don't really care at the end of the day. In my opinion, he'd be cute in a glad bag. Well, Ford-man couldn't have been any happier with his boys-only party. He had four little dudes over, there were balls and bikes and bats and superheros...and he got to dress like a professional skateboarder. I mean, what else is there?! 

Sometimes less is more...

Holy Smokes, Batman...

SO...When Mary Cannon turned three, SOMEBODY (maybe me, but probably not, but yeah...) threw more of a bat mitzvah than a simple party. MC came up with the theme (Princess-Rockstar), and I, along with a few special helpers, executed the plan. Mac (and possibly other family members...and maybe a few friends' husbands) haven't let me forget that I lost my mind for a few days. But come on, it was a great party. Even if there were only two of us bustin' a move to D.J. Perfect's playlist (Disc. Jockey.).

Ford turns three on Monday and it just hit me why Mac's been a little "off" today. He's totally freaking out inside that I've hired an elite Bavarian unicyclist to come perform for everyone. Wow. It's all making sense now...the man-power 'tude...the not wanting me to leave the house...flipping his sweet little lid when I asked if we had black jumbo trash bags...

Earlier today, I finally convinced Mac to let me go (!) to the store. I mean, the kid has to have a birthday. He doesn't ask for much. He plays 'my little pony' with his big sister and never complains. All he requested was Batman and the dudes in his pre-school class. Mac gave me $40 cash and said "shop away." So generous. Thank you...? 

Didn't Rachael Ray have a show call $4o a Day? That was her meal budget. Game on...$40, a handful of kids, < 24 hours until the guests arrive...I'll let you know how it goes.

Welcome to Reality 101, please take a seat.

Tonight was some kind of awesome. MC couldn't finish supper, because she "just couldn't eat with all the silliness in the room." Said child spent the rest of the evening limping around like an old lady because she thought she might have stumped her pinky toe on an ant. Ford made a poop trail from the living room to the powder room, for whatever reason...I tried to think happy thoughts while gagging, while cleaning the floor, while yelling at everyone to freeze or else...

Meanwhile, Beelie-boo thought it the perfect time to try to crawl, cut a tooth on Ford's shoe, and recite the pledge of allegiance in Spanish, while old dog barked at a lizard as if it were a masked intruder. 

The dishes are overflowing and the smell coming from my front loader washing machine might be worse than the smell coming from the sippy cup I just found in the back seat of my newish ride. I'm a little hesitant to look in the mirror for fear there may be a large "L" or spit-up on my forehead. 

That's what happened after 5:00 p.m.

We're also working on teaching Ford that he can't play tackle with his baby sister. Bless his heart...bless her heart. Bless everyone's heart! Eye-twitch...

breakfast+lunch=_____

Have you ever had a serious hankerin' for something? (In some parts of the country, you may get a hankering...down here, we get the hankerin'.) I have a perma-hankerin' for brunch...specifically GRITS. If you live outside the South, DON'T HANG UP!

There's nothing to fear about the most southern word in the food dictionary. When done correctly (butter, salt, cheese, butter, some other stuff...BUTTER), you'll enjoy grits! In fact, you might grow fond of this cheap fix for those we-have-no-food-in-the-pantry nights.

A few weeks ago, I ran across this pretty picture on pinterest and tracked down the girl behind the whisk. Her blog is the perfect mix of beautiful images and normal life (her fam is super cute).

I contacted Lauren and asked her to answer a few questions for you (well for me, really...because I was curious...but I'm totally going to let you in on the scoop). The next time you head to 'Hotlanta,' check out Lauren's favorite spots! In the meantime, do yourself a favor and try her pimento-cheese-grits.

Q. Your favorite Atlanta brunch spot...GO!

A. West Egg in Midtown is one that my husband and I run to any chance we get. They have fluffy, mile-high biscuits and a fun twist on grits that have roasted garlic in them! The coffee is also amazing. 

Q. Best spot to buy fresh herbs, veggies, local ingredients (grits, maybe?) this summer (in ATL) 

A. My favorite place for local produce has become the Green Market that Piedmont Park hosts every Saturday. It can be crowded but I think it's worth it for the selection and the experience. My favorite grits are from Logan Turnpike Mill, an awesome local company. I can usually find a bag of their Old-Fashioned Speckled White Grits at DeKalb Farmers Market or nearby shops like Alon's Bakery.

Q. Any secrets to good food photography…when you’re out and only have an iPhone?

A. It's ALL about the light! Especially with camera phones, it's going to be really hard to make a nice photo without a lot of light. If I'm at a restaurant I usually ask to sit by a window or outside so that I can get pretty pictures! 

Q. What’s your fave thing to serve with pimento cheese grits?! 

A. I love the combination of cheesy grits with a perfectly poached egg. A biscuit on the side certainly doesn't hurt!

Thanks for sharing, Lauren! Happy brunching, everybody!

Smokin' on the River

It's a wrap! The first River City Smoke-off was a success! (Whew!) I'm so thankful for the many folks who willingly shared their time, talent, and advice to make this fun event happen. A few weeks ago, I challenged Jamie Keating and John McLemore to a 'smoke-off' to benefit the Trinity Center for Women. They agreed, but I'm not a professional event planner, so I wasn't sure how things would turn out. The vision was there, but whether or not this vision would be a hit or a miss was yet to be determined. Apparently, the vision was there a long time ago! My mom sent me this drawing from some "top-secret idea box" I had in the third grade. She found it in her attic and brought it to me this weekend. Nuts...check it...I'm not convinced that I drew this in the 3rd grade...looks more like the talents of a 5th grader, but who knows.

The weatherman predicted 60% chance of rain and scattered thunderstorms, but fortunately my housewife rain dance did the trick...it was hot and sunny and just right! I'm also thankful for the Lava Lamps who kept the groove going...and the people coming! I was incredibly impressed by the drummer's ability to walk on platform shoes with acrylic fish bowl heels...fake goldfish included. That's talent.

Photo Credit: Sara Montgomery

I rev'd up my Masterbuilt electric smoker around 10:00 a.m. Friday and the competition showed up in style around noon. John pulled up in his red truck with a coordinating red-shirted entourage. They all came walking over in slow-mo, trash talking the whole way over. At least that's how I remember it... Then Jamie rolled up, all Rico Suave in his black car, and matching black outfit, black sunglasses, and sous chefs...not intimidating at all. Captain Hook (little man let me borrow him for good luck) and I were ready for a showdown.

Photo Credit: Melissa Keating (and her camera/phone)

We had a lot of fun with this event...So much fun that we plan to do it again next year! Only next time, it will be bigger and better! If you have ideas of what you'd like to see in future smoke-off's, please contact Uptown Columbus or leave a comment at the end of this post! We'd love to hear from you!! 

John McLemore with two of our judges, Mimi Woodson (City Council) and Mike Gaymon (Chamber of Commerce)

My "team"

setting up

Jamie Keating, John McLemore, Me, Chuck Leonard, Mimi Woodson, Mike Gaymon 
 Judge's tasting before the crowd showed up. Jamie won the Judges' Award and John took home people's choice by raising the most money.  The Trinity Center for Women was the real winner!! 

Thank you so much to the following folks who made this possible: 

Elizabeth Hurst, Uptown Columbus

Richard Bishop, Uptown Columbus

John and Tonya McLemore & family, Masterbuilt

Jamie and Melissa Keating & family, EPIC Restaurant

St. Francis Hospital, Foundation

Mike Jones

Sara Montgomery

Amber Mordic

Jim Morpeth

Bill Rich

Sloan Flournoy

Pierce Miller

Matt Lane

Brian Hite

Mike Gaymon

Mimi Woodson

Chuck Leonard

our parents for entertaining my children most of the day! ;)