Happy Independence Day!

I hope everyone has a safe and happy Fourth of July!  I love the gigantic flag that hangs from the George Washington Bridge.

Thirty

It's not the way I had imagined spending my 30th birthday, but it definitely was a memorable one!  I arrived in Hong Kong late the night before.  I turned thirty crossing the border into China.  I arrived at the hotel so tired my eyes were burning.  I had to get up and be ready for work early the next morning, so I fell fast asleep but awoke throughout the night.

I've been to China once before, but this was my first time in over 4 years and with my current employer.  I started the day at our local office putting faces to all of the names I've been working with for last six months.  Then we headed out to see a couple of our suppliers.  I did not expect to pull up to red carpet treatment!  I wish I was prepared, so I could have taken a couple of pictures.  The owner and several employees were waiting for us lining the entrance steps and holding huge, beautiful bouquets.  What do you know birthday flowers.  :)

(This was afterwards, when it was starting to blow away).

After stopping by another supplier, I came back to the hotel.  It was early, but I was already getting tired and didn't feel like going to dinner.  I was skyping with my mom, then my husband called, and then the doorbell rang and a birthday cake was delivered.  (From the hotel - so sweet and such a nice surprise!)  It all happened all at once, so it kind of felt like a birthday party.

I went to bed, but when I woke up it was still my birthday... in the USA.  I had more phone calls and cards.  It ended up being a three day birthday with unexpected flowers and cake and love from all across the world.  :)

Cinco de Derby

Two of my very favorite days of the year are Cinco de Mayo and Derby Day and when they fall on the same day, it doesn't get much better!  Nothing compares to actually going to the Derby and standing on the track....

but this was still a ton of fun!

We started early and ran into these funny guys that were doing a pub crawl...

Ready to run for the roses!

Mint Juleps!

Cheers with a creeper in the back.  ;)

The more the merrier!

My cutie...

Then the margaritas started to flow...

Birthday girls (+1)...

Last year, my husband and I bet every single race and didn't win a single one. Even when we bet every horse in the last race, the winner was a favorite so we still lost!  All of the OTB's in NYC shut down, so this year my husband and I were degenerates and opened online betting accounts.  Not quite as fun as holding a real ticket in your hand, but it let us still enjoy the excitement.  He at least won a couple this year.

Patriot's Day

I joined my mom, aunt, and cousins in Boston for a quick weekend of fun.  I got in really late Friday night, so we stayed up into the wee hours talking, laughing, and catching up.  Saturday we spent ALL day shopping.  I'm sure my aunt and cousin would have preferred to have their teeth cleaned, but they were good sports while I found some good finds for Spring on Newberry Street.  We stopped to have a great lunch and take a load off.

They had already set up for the marathon on Monday, so we took a few pics at the finish line.

My mom was prepared with her Vibram Five Fingers.  :)

Then it was back to more shopping.  We ended the night with some early birthday drinks.

Sunday we walked to the Charles River and by Fenway Park.  

Spring in the air...

Cousins!  My cousin Kristen was comin' as I was goin'.  

The fun was just beginning for Patriot's day, but it was already time for me to catch the train back to NYC.

Easter

Easter Eve we had date night downtown.  We tried a new restaurant that I found in the same article that lead my husband to Catskill Distillery for Peace vodka a week ago.  It was called King which I thought was appropriate for the night before Easter.  The Sicilian Choke cocktail which was featured in the article actually ended up being my least favorite thing there.  We started with ramps and remesco, tots with bernaise, and fluke crudo.  Although it's not an Italian restaurant, we both ordered pasta for our entree.  I had beef ravioli with black truffle sauce and he had spaghetti with duck ragu.  Everything was wonderful!  The pasta was so fresh and some of the best I've ever had.  I would definitely return!

The next morning we got up early and went to mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral.  I feel lucky to have this as our local neighborhood church:

 Easter lilies...

And then we walked up Park Avenue on our way home so I could look at all of the tulips.  

We picked up breakfast and then took a nap.  The only thing we were missing was family!

St. Patty’s

Two weeks prior to St. Patrick’s day is Hoboken St. Patty’s day.  Even though the official parade was canceled this year, we still celebrated at the annual house party of my husband’s friend.  It’s my husband’s second favorite day of the year after Derby day.  He was awake before 7 am on a Saturday, so you know he was excited.  I finally got up and ready and we arrived by 11:30.  On the elevator up to his friend's apartment (after the host not answering the buzzer or phone calls) my husband said, oh, I think it starts at noon.  What?!  I was so embarrassed, but we still went in and cracked open a cold beverage before noon.  The night before, my best friend (aka TWN) and I spent way too long baking Irish car bomb cupcakes.  Had she not helped, I’m not sure if I ever would have gone to bed!  Everything was made from scratch.  The cupcakes had Guiness in them.  I scooped out the center and filled them with Jameson chocolate ganache, and then my TWN topped them with a Bailey’s frosting.  They got very high marks from a couple of the guests at the party, but the cake was a little off – it stuck to the paper when you tried to peel it off.  I’m still proud though.

Chopping lot o' chocolate

Making it into ganache

Coring the cupcakes

Beating lots o' butter into icing.

Ta da!

Real Irish car bombs

Real St. Patrick’s day was a mess of intoxicated, loud, crazily dressed people in the city.  I think it should be called Spring Halloween.  How different times are compared to 5 years ago when my girlfriends and I walked into an Irish pub, and at closing time I walked out with who I would later figure out to be my husband.  May not be a romantic story but I’d say we’re both so lucky to have found each other that night!  We went to bed much earlier than 5 years prior because the next morning we were off to Jupiter, Florida….