Rock Shic

#890 Easter vibes 2019

Hello hello!! It’s been one heck of a week so far... and would you believe Easter is just around the corner! 🐥🐥🐣🐣

In honor of the big day... (and I did very little mind you), I thought I would share some delectable photos from my favorite chocolate spot.  Yum yum yum! 

#898 Spring is finally here!!! 🌸🌸🌸 A trip to the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens

After a long, tedious, and seemingly endless Winter — on this lovely mid-April weekend, we finally see Spring emerge in full force again! My goodness, such a relief! I was starting to lose hope there!! 

To that end, we headed out for a “quick jaunt” to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden (we haven’t been back since 2014!!! See here, sure brings back memories — not to mention that time when I caught the gorgeous blossoms on the Potomac in DC when I was there for business).  It was truly the first nice day we’ve had in a long long tome... and we really lucked out with all the gorgeous cherry blossoms surrounding us.  The timing isn’t always so ideal with these things (I recall seeing more back in 2014), but then again every year is different as is every season!! If anything it made me truly appreciate how far we’ve come with Rockshic as a blog and even more so, now mamma has evolved over time with my growing family, changing career, and ever shifting strategies and priorities in life.  We have to count all of our blessings, even when we don’t quite realize it at the time.  If anything this mini excursion (with munchkin’s buddy in tow no less) made me truly appreciate how lucky we are!! 🌸🌸🌸 

#897 Miami days with hunny 💖💖— One Hotel

All this talk about sunshine have me thinking about that little detour that hubs and I took to Miami from Naples circa (gasp) 2017)!! I still remember, as Rockshicbaby2 was all but four months at that stage and I was still vigorously pumping away.  Nevertheless, a good girlfriend from New York was celebrating her birthday in Miami and we haven’t seen them in ages... so hubs and I left the two kiddos with the grandparents and did a day-trip to Miami.  The result — so worth it!!! 

 

It was just nice to put aside the baby stuff and embrace unfettered adulthood for a chance.  I had just gotten a new dress from a local boutique at The Vanderbilt Pavillion, and we were both ready to embrace a lazy, boozy brunch at the One Hotel roofdeck.  My first trip to the One Hotel was back in early 2016 for my little eating trip, and it was as lovely as I remembered.  All the whites! The fauna!! Greens and lightness everywhere (I have a weaknesss for succulents what can I say).  

#896 A fun-filled weekend in the sun 🌈🌈🌈 Florida style

It’s always so hard bidding adieu to the weekend, as we prep ourselves for the start of yet another work week (snore...).

However in this case I can honestly say that we truly made the most of our weekend — as we jetted away to Naples, Florida yet again for the weekend.  (My big guy is becoming quite the traveler! We estimated that he’s likely been on 50 planes by now at his young age of five!).  Suffice to say, we did as much as we can do — btw the beach, pool, outdoor cycling, brunching, shopping, bouncy castles, playdates, date nights, whew!!! The list goes on and I can hardly believe that this was all over the course of justness one weekend — a gratifying thought indeed! ☀️

This is such a fun age combo for my boys... now that my oldest is five and the younger one is two.  They are fast becoming best buddies and they’re simply adorable to watch.  A part of me wishes that they could stay like this forever! Just blissfully holding hands and walking around — loving everything about the world and giggling to themselves with so much joy and innocence.

 

#895 Papaya Playa Project — Magical Tulum ✨

All this chatter about beaches and decadence have me nostalgic for Tulum!!! We were there back in early November for a wedding (seems like a life time ago now).  How is that possible? The wedding took place at beautiful and truly unique Papaya Playa Project and we had an absolutely amazing time.  Munchkin did too!!! As is clearly evidenced by these photos.  

To know Tulum is to become utterly and completely immersed in its magic, and this little sleepy hamlet really does draw you in like no other.  I would say of all the places in Mexico — Tulum is by far and away my favorite!!!

#894 Brunching at the Delano in Miami🌹🌻☀️

 

Hello hello! 

 

We are on an airplane yet again, where Mamma does her best thinking and writing.  This time, we’re heading off to sunny Florida yet again.  

 

A trip to Florida isn’t complete without an excursion to Miami (or one could argue straight to Miami) — this is why during our last trip in March, we did a day trip to Miami (which is just an hour and half away from sunny Naples!) to see some friends, catch some rays, and get a change in scenery.  We also had a lovely brunch at the Delano just my mini-me and I. It was at their restaurant Leynia which was yum yum yum and does a FAB Sunday brunch.  Don’t believe me? See for yourself!!! Little man was a big fan of the oysters and sushi, and I personally loved the outdoor grill they installed 🔥🔥🔥 

 

One word that sums it just about all up is... #decadent — which is oh so fitting for Miami isn’t it? 😎 

 

 

#893 Juggling it all — mixing the negative with the positive

Happy Tuesday!!! 

 

I can hardly believe that it’s almost the end of March, where has the time gone you ask? Seriously! I started this year thinking that we had bundles of time to spare (even time to recap last January and February!! Seems like a lifetime ago...), and now fast forward to the end of 1Q19 and I feel like I barely have time to breathe, let alone write! 

 

Part of this is obviously due to the good old “Life with Littles.”  If you follow me on Instagram you can likely get a more up-to-date glimpse of what we’ve been up to.  Though in full disclosure, Mamma has been a bit sick recently with food poisoning, so I couldn’t even post very much, even on Instagram! Sigh. 

 

On top of that, hubs has been away so I’ve had to juggle and be single parent, which is NO JOKE.  It’s an entirely different feeling when you realize that the buck stops entirely with just YOU.  Truly no picnic I tell ya.

 

That said, munchkin and I did have some enjoyable highlights over the weekend, which included going to see an African performance with Congolese music at Symphony Space (see last post on Gustafer Yellowgold), followed by brunch with friends we haven’t seen in ages, then an excursion to the Museum of Natural History (including the "Unseen Ocean" exhibit and planetarium show!) followed by a trip to the New York Historical Society next door (see last museum post here) and all that they had to offer.   

 

Needless to say.... it’s all a juggling act (and I promise I have an end game to this somewhere!).  We ended the weekend with a trip to see “Wonder Park” at the Lowes Kips Bay.  It was a lovely little film... if not slightly dark, but looking back, I couldn’t help but wonder how much juggling all of this took! This is particularly salient to me given that lately I’ve had to juggle life as a “single mum” effectively since hubs is out of town.  Not only do we juggle our own careers, our household and our social calendars... but we also must juggle our children, our finances, our time — and everything that comes in btw! In some areas, we’re lucky that we get an extra added boost with credit help such as the likes of Yes Catalogues — your guide to Bad Credit and No Credit Check Catalogues, with all the resources it has to offer... and in other areas — well, we really only have ourselves to rely upon don’t we! 

Such is life and these are the hurdles that we must all face.  Right now, I’m feeling rather positive about all of the challenges I am facing — could it be the end of March reflection #mood?

I'm not so sure what the ultimate answer is... but I’ll take the positive over negative any day!! 

#892 Noreetuh – an excursion for Uni lovers

 

Today is the last day of February and I can hardly believe it!  There’s certainly been a lot of living packed in the past month – and to think, February is a short month too!!

So where to begin? On Tuesday I caught up with an old friend (you might remember her from one of my previous look books here!!).  It’s been a long time coming as we’ve all been so busy with our respective lives… that said – she threw out so many fabulous dining suggestions (made me realize how terribly behind I am on my dining game).  We ended up going with Noreetuh – a quaint little restaurant in the East Village that specializes in “Hawaiian flavored fusion.”  This gorgeous eatery is apparently spearheaded by a trio of Per Se veterans who really know their wines!! 

It was an indulgent night for the books – as we had uni by the buckets (in theory, we could have applied our love for uni across three different dishes but we stopped ourselves at just two). 

What did you have you ask?  Well… for starters we shared the “tray of Maine sea urchin” with an assortment of salts and King’s Hawaiian bread (the price tag was hefty but come on – YOLO!!).  We then tried the “bone marrow bread pudding” (which is like no other you’ve ever had!!). Again – Maine sea urchin plus black truffles!!! Yum yum yum… and the presentation is simply exquisite.  This dovetailed into the “mentaiko spaghetti” which is made with smoked cod, aonori, chili (AND UNI!!!).  We refrained from more uni in this case because you know… #restraint.  Though we did treat ourselves to a bit more rose.  This was all topped off with the bruleed Hawaiian pineapple, made with ‘alaea salt and lime zest which was both gorgeous and deliciously refreshing.  Also – can I just say that my lychee bombsheel cocktail that we started off with was to die-for! 

As always, the highlight of the evening was clearly the company, we had so much fun catching up we were shocked to see that more than THREE hours had gone by!!! Eeks.  What can I say, you can’t beat delicious company AND uni… it’s simply not possible.  

#891 Paper airplanes ✈️ in celebration of Black History Month

Black Citizenship in the Age of Jim Crow

 

New York Historical Society – 170 Central Park West (77th street), NYC

 

Happy Tuesday! I hope you all had a wonderful long weekend (for those who had President’s day off... sadly hubs was not so lucky). 

 

We’ve been busy exploring and gallivanting about town, as per usual — and we made not one but two trips to the New York Historical Society.  This is a great spot for kids if you haven’t been!! For starters, we made these paper airplanes in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. — celebrating #blackhistorymonth.  🌟 Some of the quotes are quite intense but nevertheless it’s never too early for these little kiddos to learn!!! 

 

You can join the New York Historical Museum for more family programs, talks, and exhibits including “Black citizenship in the age of Jim Crow” {now through March 3} — the latter examines the role African Americans played in the advocacy of their rights during the 50 years following the Civil War! 

 

 

 

#890 Lunar New Year concert at the New York Philharmonic 🧧🎻

New York Philharmonic

 

New York Philharmonic Lunar New Year Concert

 

David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center – 10 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023

Well hello hello!!! Happy Friday! We are looking forward to a nice long (and hopefully sunny) weekend in Florida.  Having said that, Mamma is sharing some of her favorite moments with my munchkin at the New York Philharmonic Lunar New Year Concert this Wednesday at the David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center (what a great mid-week great!!!!).   There was Mozart, Stravinsky, and the world premier of Tan Dun’s “Fire Ritual — A Musical Ritual for Victims of War.”  It was all quite surreal really, and I must say that I was so impressed with the fabulous conductor Kahchun Wong — so talented!! 

Also of equal talent:

1) Bomsori Kim — violin 🎻 

2) So Young Park — Soprano (her rendition of  “Queen of the Night” from Mozart’s Magic Flute was absolutely divine!!!”) 

Oh, and did I mention that we topped it all off with dim sum from Shun Lee? (Conveniently located just across the road!!! Love). 💗🥟 #prosperitydumplings 

 

Related: 

Bye bye to the old -- Hello to the new -- Happy Chinese New Year!

Reflections continued -- February 2018 -- Foundations for a Great Year