The Bridal Path & Cherry Blooms In Central Park!

Ahhhh! Here we are on the last day of April and since the rain we've had for the past three days have caused the blooms to fall off the trees wanted to document my day in the city from last Friday while the blossoms were still in bloom! 

The cherry blossoms in the bridal path near the Jackie Onassis reservoir have become my favorite! I can't believe this is my first time actually coming here when they are in full bloom! I am so glad I took a day to come to the city by myself to take in all their beauty! And the people! So many people on the grass having picnics, taking a nap. mommas playing with their kids, or just resting from a bike ride. Oh how I love this city! This is something I would do on my lunch break if I worked here and every week on a warm spring/summer day if I lived here. So beautiful and serene. Those blooms with the San Remo apartment building in the background is epic! I sure do love this city. Even the sounds of the city are soothing when you're just chilling on the lawn. Wouldn't bother me one bit! 

A Boy Under The Kwanza Cherry Tree.

Ahhhh! The end of the Kwanza cherry blooms is near but luckily I captured this tree in full bloom last weekend. I just love spring here in the east and can't get enough of these beauties. I love all the flowers that bloom in the spring and these are my favorite! This tree is quite a few blocks from my hood and I have captured the kids under the tree in the past. Noah was my "model" this year and he really appreciates nature and the fact that it was earth day was perfect to capture these moments of "a boy sitting under the Kwanza tree."

Blossoms in D.C.!

 

Blossoms in D.C. this year sure did bloom quick and we caught the tail end of them earlier this month. I'm sure they are all gone by now but oh how beautiful spring looks in D.C. with all the cherry blossoms in bloom. I captured a few photos and did the best I can in capturing all it's beauty. It was the weekend so there were way too many people in some of my photos but that doesn't really bother me none. It was a gorgeous sunny day and everyone deserves to take pictures while photobombing others! LOL! 

Pez Factory & Cave Comics!

On the fourth day of spring break Noah and I took a little day trip to Connecticut where we ate tuna melts and burgers, had a black and white milkshake, went to the Pez visitors center and ended the day buying a gazillion dollars worth of Spawn comic books at Cave Comics. Okay, not a gazillion dollars but to me, 75 bucks is a lot to spend on a few comic books. Hey, I'd rather have Noah read instead than play games on his phone all the time so I wasn't too freaked out by the end of the day. It was a great day and in all honestly didn't want to leave New England. What is it with New York and New England that I never want to go back to Jersey??? Well, we sure do love galavanting in these neck of the woods and going to the Pez factory for the umpteenth time never gets old. Now...for some photos of food, ice cream and various photos taken at Pez and the comic bookstore! 

The Staten Island Zoo!

Spring break has come and gone and now it's back to reality with school in session but I couldn't let the week pass by without documenting a few of our simple outings this year. Our spring break was chill and simple and for two glorious days it was 87 degrees!! Chelsea spent her break with family attending college open houses with family in Utah while Noah and I spent it in Jersey together! Our days were pretty perfect and aside from watching Mario at the movies and going to a birthday party we managed to have a few days to ourselves and have some outdoor fun while adding in a tiny bit of traveling! It was a wonderful week and wish it never ended! 

One of our favorite outings was finally going to the Staten Island zoo. This zoo is quaint and kind of reminded me of the popcorn zoo in south jersey. It's only 37 miles from our house so it's not very far! The price was right and super cheap! It was our first time here and we brought along our little buddy Trent. He had so much fun at the popcorn zoo last summer that we had to bring him with us here. He and Noah get along so well and Noah was big bro to him on this day. It was also nostalgic for me having a little boy to venture along with again! Noah is growing up too fast and so having Trent with us added more joy. We rode the carousel, petted a horse and the kids even got inside a simulator where the wind blows like 100 miles an hour! It was crazy and so nice seeing the kids having a fun time. I sure do miss our zoo days and this day reminded me to go to zoos more. You're never too old to go to the zoo! Also, going in the springtime was even better cause of all the cherry blooms! 

Meet And Greet With Susanna Hoffs From The Bangles!

 

On April 4th I had the opportunity to meet first time author and co-founder of the Bangles Susanna Hoffs! I was nervous knowing I was about to meet the woman whose music helped me keep going in my teens. As I walked toward her table I kept my cool and wasn't nervous anymore. The minute she began talking I instantly became calm! She's 60 something but doesn't look a day over 40! I relived the 80's by chatting and laughing with her. She is definitely someone I would hang out with!  She is kind and super sweet! I started reading her book and wow! She really went through a lot growing up when she started the band. I have so much respect for her and she has come a long way by writing her first novel. She is a woman after my own heart. She is an inspiration and I hope to someday write my story. I still have a long ways to go but time will tell! So happy for Susanna on her book titled This Bird Has Flown, and hope that you'll have a chance to read her story. So buy her book today!

Spring On Stockton St. in Jersey!

This is my old hood where we used to live on Historic Stockton street. I literally lived in that White House where the white blossom tree is at. We still live within walking distance from here and I absolutely love walking down this street, especially when spring arrives. This tree and the magnolia tree are my favorite. I captured them before it becomes petalpalooza! There are some petals already on the ground and because spring is such a short season these petals will probably all be on the ground by the end of this week! So I'm salvaging every moment of spring here in my neck of the woods. I feel that the older I get I appreciate the change of seasons. Cause with each season changing so do we. We choose to be how we want to be. I choose to be kind and bright like these trees and when the petals start to fall I don't allow it to bring me down. It only means that something better is coming. And summer will be here before we know it! Spring...whether you're in New England, NYC, D.C. or Philly is absolutely stunning!

Pictures From Home On Broadway in Studio 54!

Ok-my 70's dream came true. Or should I say 80's dream. I was born in the 70's and grew up listening to my mom's Saturday night fever movie soundtrack on 8 track and then on vinyl. She taught me "the hustle" and I remember always listening to disco music on the radio while growing up. I also remember reading stories in the Enquirer about all the celebrities who went to Studio 54 that included one of my favorite actresses Farrah Faucett. Actually my mom's favorite actress. I admired Brook Shields going to a famous dance club at a young age. Well, here I am in my 50's and finally made it inside Studio 54....to see a broadway play called Pictures From Home. And it was the best!! 

Macy's Flower Show in NYC!

The flower show at Macy's this year was simple and colorful. It gave happy vibes! I blame it on the colorful rainbow, white clouds and the blue sky they displayed. I loved the smell of the flowers as we walked through and everything was decorated beautifully. I have seen better flower shows in the past years pre-covid but this one was still tasteful. I love coming every year just to see the display in person because pictures online don't do it justice. Noah came with me and he enjoyed it as well. He still likes me to take his picture as well as taking pictures with me and I hope that doesn't stop anytime soon! I only captured a few shots as I was too busy smelling the flowers and walking around being in the moment! Thanks to this lady for taking our photo amidst a busy crowd! The flower show is usually on display for two weeks and starts on the last week of march and ends on the first week of April. 

Easter Sunday!

Be prepared for a big photo dump like this one because besides Christmas- the easter season is my favorite holiday. I feel that the older I get along with my kids these holidays that are meant to not only remember "the reason (Jesus Christ) for the season" they are also for us to remember to have fun! Our kids are getting older but these two who are left to raise in the home will never grow up. Apples and trees...I mean, they do take after Jon and I and I know there will come a time when they'll seriously grow up, but I feel as if they will be a kid at heart even when they are in there 20's and 30's. Aside from Easter egg hunts, cascarones (confetti eggs) is a tradition that I grew up with and have kept it within my family since my kids were toddlers. I absolutely love making these but to be honest as I've gotten older I have started ordering them on eBay! Making them for the past 20 plus years have been a huge labor of love but it's time for me to just order them instead of making them! LOL!

Spring Scenes from Good Friday in Philadelphia!

The beginning of April was too good to be true. I thought it was April Fool's because the temps were in the 80's and it felt so good to have warmer temperatures. But it was real. Spring in Jersey has come and I hope it is here to stay. That is of course until Good Friday came. Temps were not as warm but they were in the 40's and it was still a beautiful day! I went to the temple and focused on the goodness that it brings when I attend. Afterward I went for a walk in the city. Logan square right now is filled with tulips and it is gorgeous! I am so lucky to live close to three great cities where it is beautified in the spring. I captured a few photos and the flowers took my breath away. I love fall in NYC, the blossoms in D.C. but man, Spring in Philly is pretty too!