nyc and philly visit

i got back home yesterday from my mini-vacation/family reunion. i packed so much into a week, i don't think i'll be able to tell it all here.

i already said a few words about my grandmom's funeral and my family reunion on thursday. here are a few shots of the family from that day:


the family after the luncheon. everyone in the immediate family who attended the funeral is in this picture, with the exception of my uncle tony.


dad and his siblings


some clowning after dinner





back in nyc, on friday i spent the day getting ready for my friend, melissa's, shower. i shopped, cleaned, cooked, you name it. then that night we had a little nyu newman club reunion at caliente cab company in the west village. here of some shots of that:





saturday was the shower and i thought it went pretty well, if i do say so myself. i made some kick butt food*. we died and decorated onesies and baby t-shirts, and watched melissa open presents. it was a pretty exhausting day though. more for some of us than others:




sunday i got to hang out with my big sis for some quality time. i really enjoyed trudging around the city with her and just catching up. we also had some really good food** and drinks and got to see some of my old haunts.




then, monday and some of tuesday i got to spend quality melissa-and-waldie time, which was great too. i have to say, by that point i was pretty exhausted so i know i wasn't the most fun company in the world, but it was nice to just spend time together. and i had more great meals***! i love food, if you don't know!





you can see the whole flickr set of photos from my trip and the shower here.



*i made a fruit salad (with black berries picked and flown in especially from south carolina); kalua brie (recipe courtesy erica reid) with water crackers; prosciutto, mozzarella and citrus tapenade sandwich from here (adapted for vegetarians with portobello mushrooms); veggies and dip; and a milky way cake.

**we had sushi in the village for lunch. and then had dinner here. i had the potato cake napoleon layered with sauteed spinach, asparagus, shitake mushrooms, and truffle oil. plus 3 mimosas included! i tried to eat their apple pie and ice cream for dessert but couldn't get it all in.

***we had breakfast at home both days. lunch on monday was white bean soup and half a wrap with goat cheese, roasted red peppers (i can't remember the name of the restaurant). we made a pasta and asparagus dinner and brownie desert at home that night. tuesday we ate at blue dog in the village (they don't seem to have a website) and i got an AWESOME sandwich with their homemade veggie burg with pesto, pea shoots and some other goodness. i didn't need to eat anything else after that meal! yowsa!