Road Trip Recap - Easter 2008 in Weirton, WV

Marc and I decided to brave the roads of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and West Virgina - we drove to visit the family for Easter holiday this year instead of flying, a first for this part of the Magnone family. Marc doesn't do well with being patient and enjoying things like long drives, scenery, etc although he had mentioned a couple of times how beautiful driving up here in the NorthEast can be. He was right! Although there were no leaves on the trees and everything was a bit barren, it was still neat to see all the tiny little towns nestled into the sides of mountains and hills. We enjoyed the drive and so did the puppies - they made themselves comfortable as they do wherever we take them! Most of the time they were in our laps but for awhile we got them to play in the back seat - these dogs had it made, full run of the car. They are so spoiled!

This was our first trip back to WV since last year around the same time so we got to do lots of family visiting and it was PERFECT... One thing you learn when you move far away is to really appreciate the time spent with your family and friends and this trip was no exception to that rule. Mom and Dad Magnone and Leslie and Bill all came in as well. We ate so much food that any of the weight I'd lost since being in NYC I'm certain has come back due to the pizza, sandwiches, chocolate, homemade wine, desserts, fried zucchini, potato salad, Hoho Cake, etc...the list goes on and on. Prior to meeting Marc, I thought my family ate really well - now I know that Italians bring a whole new caliber of cuisine to the table, not that my family food isn't just as great, it's just different and normally there isn't as much - haha. Regardless, no matter which side of the family we are with, Marc and I eat very well, too well actually, you can tell by the 'tight-around-the-waistband-but-I-think-I'll-have-another-anyway' look we both have going on right now. =)

And, for the biggest news of the Easter holiday - contrary to what you might think, there are 7 people in that picture, not six! I AM GOING TO BE AN AUNT!!! Leslie and Bill are pregnant with the first (of I'm sure many...) grandchild and also my first niece/nephew and I CAN'T WAIT! I'm so happy for them both and am really excited about being the favorite aunt - after all, I already am to Isabelle and Eliza, right? Kidding - I'm just kidding Cara. =) Congratulations to Bill and Les - we are all excited and looking forward to the months ahead.

OK, that's all for now - here are some great pictures from the weekend. Enjoy them all - WV Family - we had so much fun seeing you all and never get to visit as much as we want to. Please come see us in NYC anytime - we would love to have you!

Curious Dexter

Sleepy Doggies

Dexter helped Marc drive lots of the way

Aunt Leslie brought fun stuff for the pups including Doggie Cupcakes that they gobbled up really quickly and Easter outfits - thank goodness, I'd forgotten to get them any! =) They like them so much, they danced...fought...danced to celebrate!

Grandpa hanging with the pups

By the way, contrary to what it looks like, I DID wear other clothes besides my A&M sweatshirt all weekend, I promise! Also, please disregard my goofy faces in these last couple of pictures - I was tearing up because it was time to go. Goodbyes always get me!

Macy's Flower Show 2008

My new job is located smack-dab in midtown Manhattan, directly across from the largest Macy's department store EVER. It is 9 stories tall (at least that's how many I've been to so far - not sure if there are more) and stretches over two long avenues - to say in short, it's HUGE. Every year Macy's turns into a garden of beautiful trees, plants and flowers (11 gardens and 30,000 different varieties of trees, flowers and plans, to be exact) to kick off Spring... For those of you in New York, you know Spring hasn't made it here yet but that didn't stop Macy's Flower Show - it is up and in full bloom - and directly across the street from me all-day-long as I mentioned. This makes lunch time fantastic - not only can I go shop at one of the largest department stores in the world, I also get to see these spectacular displays and smell the sweet scents this Macy's Garden brings! Although my work location isn't exceptionally kind to my bank account, it's ok because while I might be broke, I still get to shop at the most amazing department store with the most beautiful displays in the best city in the world. Now, I just don't think I can get any luckier than that! Here's some pictures of the Flower Show - hope you enjoy!

(My favorite - by far - SO BEAUTIFUL...)

Happy Birthday SJP

So, my grandmother gave me a Left-Hander's Calendar for Christmas - pretty cool, I think. I get to learn interesting facts about all kinds of people who I would never have thought to associate as left-handers, much less have felt like I had anything in common with. It's something I look forward to every day - tearing off yesterday's fun fact and learning today's! So, what should be staring up at me this morning but a list of birthdays and who should appear but- SARAH JESSICA PARKER! So, as a die-hard fan of SJP and SATC, I thought it was definitely appropriate for me to give a Blog Birthday Wish.

Happy Birthday to my favorite on-air girl, fashion icon and all around cool chick... Ms. Sarah Jessica Parker celebrates her big day today, March 25th! SJP is someone I love to read about and hear good things happening to because I think she's awesome - her influencial style and grace and mishaps and misfortune as Carrie on SATC have made her someone that every woman out there can relate to in some way or another, no matter what age! And aside from Carrie, she's taken her career in so many other directions with her new clothes line, perfume smells, etc. Not to mention being a full time Mom and Wife - I really admire SJP and appreciate all the inspirational and liberating light she sheds on being a successful career woman and family lady, all at the same time. Happy Birthday SJP!

Have YOU been eating your Wheaties?

Think you are a marketing buff? Check out this website and take a test to see how marketing and brand saavvy you really are... Post your scores for fun - I got 17 of 20 and am ashamed of the ones I missed! Should have known...The website did say I must have been "eating my Wheaties" to get the ones right that I did...

Here's the link - have fun!

http://www.cramersweeney.com/smartmarketing.html

Thanks to Jen for sharing!

NCAA Play: From a Woman's Perspective

Alright ladies, my friend Jessica sent this over to me earlier today and I couldn't help but share it. Being a two-time bracket tournament champion myself (whilst beating all the big bad sports guys including my husband and all his Clear Channel crew - HA) I truly value the genious of the woman who wrote this article and her particularly keen picking gameplan.

It doesn't matter if you are a die-hard basketball fan or you have never even seen a basketball in your life, this is hilarious no matter what... Read this - trust me - it's worth your time because of the laughs that come along with it.

You Go Girl!

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/080318

Gossip About Gossip Girl

For those who watch the newest WB hit series, Gossip Girl, this tidbit is for you. For awhile now it has been the rumor around our building that a couple of the actors from the cast of G.G. lived very close to us. Rumors of Carrie Underwood (who was dating one these cast members) walking through our lobby and other G.G. guys being spotted on the Chelsea sidewalk outside our front doors. Not only that, we learned through a secure source that from my apartment, we can see directly into an apartment across the way that is 'alledgedly' the home of a couple of the G.G. stars. Of course, rumors such as this cause excitement and intrigue but I'd never really seen any of them so I wasn't sure I bought into the gossip.

SOOOO - last night Marc and I decided to head down to the gym pretty late for a light workout. Our gym is small with decent equipment and is NEVER crowded - I think the most people we've ever seen in there was three or maybe five at a really busy time of day. But, lo-and-behold last night, as we walked through the door...on a blue mat in the corner, there sat Ed Westwick, sweating and crunching through his ab workout! I've posted a picture of Mr. Westwick for those who don't know him....

Anyway, that's my celebrity-spotting-pretty-cool-story of the week - thanks for letting me share!

Hotel Magnone - OPEN for Visitors

This past week was super busy around here as we had multiple visitors in town - for those who read the blog, you may remember me mentioning my brother, Christopher being here from Tuesday through Sunday. What you don't remember -because I forgot to mention, as I was candidly reminded, is that our friend AMANDA was coming to town over the weekend as well, to visit her best friend, Stephani. For those who don't know AMANDA - Meet AMANDA! =)

Now that we've cleared up my online blunder, I also wanted to mention that Marc's Dad stopped by on Sunday as well, heading home from Germany, so we got to spend a couple of hours with him after Christopher headed out. It was a VERY busy weekend but it was also FANTASTIC - we love having our friends and family in town and this past week was no exception!

Christopher has officially been bitten by the Red Apple bug - he didn't want to leave on Sunday and I didn't want him to. While we all know New York City and MY company are both amazing pastimes, his gloomy face while crawling into the yellow cab could possibly have had something to do with the 5 page paper due by 11:45 am on Monday that had not been started as of 1:00 pm Sunday, Eastern Standard time. =) I did hear from him today and he managed to tackle the paper about 20 minutes before it was due - good job baby bro!

We really did have a lot of fun and I actually got to do some sight-seeing that I hadn't been able to yet. Enjoy the pictures - thanks to all of our visitors this week, we wish you would have stayed longer...or maybe you could just move here... I mean, just a thought... =)

Our lazy cab ride to the train station, heading to Times Square

Christopher's first ride on the C train, heading to Times Square after our lazy cab ride. He became an expert with the train system, probably could teach his sister a few things, as always.

Brother and Sister - aren't we cute!?

Times Square

Toys R Us Farris Wheel in Times Square - it's three stories tall

INSIDE the store! I can't wait to ride it!

Times Square

Chris at the M&M Store...every color, size and type of M&M

your chocolate-loving heart desires....

This is Juniors, located in Times Square - one of the best dessert locations I've ever been to. Dad saw a Bobby Flay Throwdown on the Food Network here at Juniors - they make over 7,000 cheesecakes a week! Below is the huge, fantastic Red Velvet Cheesecake we shared - YUMMY!

Here's Cristopher - doesn't this look like an ad for Junior's? Just needs to lose the Adidas hat and the branding would be perfect!

That's Christopher in front of Madison Square Garden and the WaMu Theater- didn't realize how bright that board was until I couldn't see him anymore in the picture!

So for anyone who has ever thought - hmmm, going to the Empire State Building sounds kinda boring...we'll save that 'til last to do while sight-seeing - WRONG! I too felt the same dread and non-desire to go BUT I have to say that after Christopher and I went on Wednesday night, it might be my favorite tourist attraction in Manhattan! I know that's a strong statement, but you just have no idea how beautiful this view is - it is incredible, these pictures do not do it justice - at all... If you are coming to NYC anytime soon, make this a priority - just be sure and go at night - the view is breath-taking...

Here's Uncle Chris, bonding with his niece and nephew - they knew who he was as soon as they saw him, they went crazy! They made themselves confortable, as always - how cute is Maddie sound asleep in Chris' hand?

Brother met me after work on Thursday and we walked from 34th Street

up to 52nd, right into Central Park...

Above is a shot of the newly renovated Crown Royal Plaza - it's been shutdown for two years to make all these renovations - it was gorgeous before, I can't imagine how amazing it must be now!

We wanted to go ice skating but didn't have enough time so this picture in front of the rink would have to do - we didn't want to be late to our reservations at Serendipity!

On Friday night we went to see A Chorus Line - it was ok but definitely there are better shows out on Broadway right now... We owe you a good show Brother! Not surprisingly, after the show, we met up with Amanda and Stephani for more cheesecake - at Junior's.

Told you it was good!

On Saturday we headed over to Little Italy and after the tastiest pizza ever at Lombardi's, America's oldest pizzeria, we headed over to Ferrara Rochet's - let me tell you something, I thought we'd already found all the best dessert places in NYC but clearly, after the pics you'll see below, we were wrong! Check out this place - sweets, cannolis, gelato, bavarian cream, fudge...my oh my oh my!

The picture above is for little Miss Isabelle - she's so sweet, they named a sweet after her! =)

We had an awesome time this weekend - can't wait for the next trip! Love you Brother!