Peak Foliage in Central Park!

Two weekends ago we went to Central Park cause it was peak foliage and it was stunning! I was really impressed with the fall foliage. We have had summer all month of October and with no rain I feel that the leaves are already drying out. They are falling off now but I am so glad we were able to see autumn in New York. It never gets old and we just love coming here when peak hits. I captured a few photos on the lapse app as well as my own. So remind yourself that these scenes from fall in Central Park are a reminder to you to put it on your bucket list and come experience it for yourself. It is gorgeous! And let's not get into the halloween decorations that new Yorker put out! Absolutely perfect!

Same Stoop Six Years Later!

 

We have been "halloween stooping" since moving closer to the city and six years ago I captured Noah walking past the same stoop from six years ago. I can't believe how tall and grown he's gotten. My heart is literally breaking watching him tower me. It's so fun to capture these moments and bittersweet at the same time. Not sure how long we will do these reenactments of old photos but I'll take it as long as he allows me to!

Halloween 2024.

And just like that...October is gone and November arrived like a leer jet. Before welcoming November I'd like to talk a little about October and how trick or treating went this year. First of all, let me mention that this was my first time preparing and handing out candy in about 25 years. All my years I've been taking the kids out trick or treating and mind you I never left a bowl of candy out because in all honestly we lived in an area where we didn't get many trick or treaters and just didn't bother because we weren't going to be home anyway. However, for the first time in the year 2024 I made cute little candy baggies and decorated my tin basket outside and guess how many trick or treaters came? Four! Luckily as I was putting everything inside I saw three more trick or treaters passing my house and gave them bags of candy. I still had at least 20 plus left. Oh well, since Noah didn't go out trick or treating I gave the candy to him and that was how my halloween went. Not sure I will do it again next year as we do live in an area that is near the turnpike where we hardly get trick or treaters but nonetheless I was grateful for those seven humans who came and passed through my space to hand out candy. And although I cried a bit, it was a pretty good feeling when I handed them out. 

Fall In The Hudson Valley.

 

It's peak foliage right now in the Hudson Valley and each year we go to Sleepy Hollow to check out all the sights. We didn't do the whole "touristy" thing because we've gone so many times and it's a good thing because it was so crowded. I swear every year this area gets busier and busier with crowds. I know putting this spot on social media doesn't help. When some big influencer posts about a certain place everyone just has to go there. We've been coming here since Instagram was even a thing and now that I'm getting older it kind of bothers me that these quaint little towns are becoming so popular. Don't get me wrong I love people but not when it's super crowded! We love sleepy hollow and we will still come here but not during halloween season!

Tia Margot.

I've always wondered what my aunt was up to since she left Mcallen and when I googled my aunt's address earlier this year I knew that I had to get in touch with her. I was trying to get a hold of her to let her know about my mom and when I was on my way to see my niece I decided to go see her. See, they both live within 30 minutes of each other and I figured I'd kill two birds with one stone. Even though it took me forever to get a hold of my aunt I knew that I had to keep trying. I finally got a text back from her but it wasn't very sensible. I kept calling her to let her know that her sister (my mom) died but to no avail. She wasn't picking up or answering the texts right away. When we finally arrived I now knew why and I will explain that in a minute. 

A Hike In Bucks County.

Hiking is honestly not one of my favorite things to do but oh how I love basking in nature. Over the summer we went on a hike in Bucks County Pennsylvania and I have to admit it was beautiful. Going hiking at this age proves all too well that I am a city girl through and through but theres something about nature that lives in you. Noah loves to go on hikes and being a Boy Scout has helped him appreciate the outdoors. He loves using his compass to find his way through the woods. Not that we would get lost in a hiking trail but you never know. It's good that he learned how to use a compass and the do's and don'ts of hiking. It was a beautiful warm day and something that I needed to do to feel closer to my mom. She wasn't a hiker either but the fact that I was in one of Gods beautiful creations in the outdoors and being high up helped me to know that she is always looking out for me from above. 

Arthur Ashe Day At The U.S. Open!

Here we are in the middle of the October and although I am enjoying the cooler weather there are days when I miss summer. Particularly because of the U.S. open. It's only here for a short time. Two weeks is never enough to see our favorite players play but we did get to take Noah on Arthur Ashe day. We've been coming here for years since he was about seven and you're never to old to go. We love all the freebies they give. We had such a great time sitting in the stadium watching dude perfect and the legendary Andre Agassi. It was so much fun and a perfect sunny day for it. Last year we got rained on and the crowds were minimal. This year it was super crowded! We had such a fun time and look forward to taking Noah to see a game next year. 

Moments to Live For.

It's been over a little two months since my mom passed away and the one thing I will always remember are the happy moments I shared when we were all together. So grateful that 3/4 of my kids made it to our little gathering and that they were able to help us get through the grief. So thankful for them and for my brother and sister who held it together through this stressful time. We are all built differently when it comes to handling stress and grief and believe me, I'm not that strong and when I'm not it's God's turn. Inside I'm literally screaming but on the outside I'm keeping it sane. I made the choice to do so for the sake of myself and my family. I love the time we all spent together and these will be the moments I will remember the most. 

It's October!

And just like that...it's October. 

It's been a pretty busy first week of October hence not blogging but alas I'm here and am welcoming October with open arms. I love all the "ember" months and look forward to cooler temps, the smell of pumpkin spice, and of course Halloween. Noah is on the fence about dressing up this year and it makes me sad that those years of trick or treating are gone but hopefully he will be in the mood to dress up. I mentioned to him "it's free candy" and he still hasn't budged. I won't force him but it's on October 7th so there's still hope! 

At least he'll still let me take his picture on decorated stoops in the city! And this one on the upper east side is absolutely gorgeous! 

Remembering 9/11

Here we are on the last day of September and want to close the month with a little post in regards to 9/11. 23 years later and it's still gut wrenching to see these tribute lights. We have been going every year since moving to Jersey and every year I become more and more emotional. I blame it on getting older. I blame it on living so close to the city and how life is indeed very short-especially these days. It's bittersweet looking forward to this day as it falls on my birthday month. Paying tribute to those who lost their lives is my priority when the month begins. Sure I look forward to my special day and in doing fun things but what I love the most is remembering. Remembering 9/11 with my family. Remembering the first time I fell in love with New York city when we went for the first time in the year 2000. Remembering the first time we entered those twin towers with my then little family of four. Remembering all those who lost their lives and although it is painful for thousands of families it is also beautiful knowing that they will never be forgotten with these tribute lights. Even in death- this world can truly be beautiful if we view like that. So let us never forget and always remember this day and to continue to teach our posterity all about what happened in one of our favorite cites back on September 11, 2001. 

Apple Picking On My Birthday!

 

Apple picking has been a tradition since Noah was a toddler and so we snuck in some fall fun on my birthday this past week and went to the orchard! Noah was a good sport and with Jon working wanted to make my day fun and so we decided to go apple picking. It was the sweetest most simplest gift and I of course turned it into a mini photo shoot. I love taking pictures and capturing the moments especially with this kid. He's growing up way too fast and so far he has made the time to come with me on little dates. They say that between the ages of 14-18 life gets busy with kids and I have to say that so far it hasn't gotten that way....yet! Noah doesn't pack his schedule with a lot of extra curricular activities and I don't have in multiple sports. He just started high school so I'm hoping that he will learn to find a balance in case he gets even busier as he grows older. I'm sure he will but hopefully the lessons I've taught him about how important sleep, time, and family are that he will make those a priority. The overcast day made it a perfect day to go. I'm so grateful for these moments and hope that we will continue to go on little outings like this as long as he is living under our roof!