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Winter's TV Debut

When winter got the chance to play an extra on a cable television show, we jumped at the chance and flew to LA for filming. You never know if you'll ever get the opportunity to do this (no matter how old you are) so we went into this with an open mind and tried to have fun and keep it playful for her.  Her role was to be a fussy baby and at this age, she had NO problems playing the part (who is this strange lady holding me? Mommy?!?! Insert meltdown here). It stressed me out more that she was ruining the shot but everybody on set was so nice an accommodating that all just made the best of the situation and got the take down. I can't wait to see if she makes the final edit! Here's some pics we were able to take behind the scenes in the midst of the craziness:
Winter in costume about to shoot her scene

She got her own trailer!

Living it up with daddy
She's all smiles now... lol

Showered with Love Baby Shower

With Baby Dockery's arrival just a little over a month away, my dear friends Marfa, Nicole, and I (as well as Mr P) took to planning a fun co-ed baby shower cocktail party. After scouring dozens of themes on pinterest I liked the literal theme of a shower - like clouds, rain, etc but wanted to put a glam-fab twist to it. So I opted for a grown up palette of gold, black, and white, and pink accents (nod to the Baby Dockery's gender). We had the whole thing catered by Sal Lamboglia, a chef who has worked the launches of fabulous NYC restaurants like the Dutch, Locanda Verde, and now Lafayette. The food was amazing, the decor exactly what I wanted, and the vibe was fun and giddy as always. Here are some snaps from the night:
Left: my entrance :) Dress from Asos. Right: My dad, Karl, and my good friend and cohost aka (college) "roomie" Kiana

Amazing cloud centerpiece by Nicole at NYCFlowerProject
Black and Gold! I spray painted baby bottles and pacifiers gold. In keeping with the theme, I designed these water bottle labels incorporating our logo (yes Mr. P and I have a logo). I couldn't decide on 1 shower design for the front so I had fun and used all 4!

Throughout the room were a few baby items scattered on tables and on window sills. Nicole made these mini cloud arrangements for various tables. People loved the kid rainboots with hydrangeas. Also scattered about were baby photos of me and P.
 One of the highlights was the slideshow we had looping on the tv showing even more embarrassing kid/baby photos of us as well as couple shots and our maternity shoot.
The Chili Bar was a hit!  
Though we had passed food, I wanted guests to be able to nibble and eat all night long without searching out a server. So this buffet table was a perfect complement to have. I almost didn't get these letter balloons (I had no idea so pricey!) but I'm really glad I did. It made for a good photo backdrop for guests.

Left: Newly engaged family Nicole, Mike, and Mike Jr. Right: my "big sis" Marfa, and our fashionista, Shelley from our Spring & 6th blog days
When I saw all the crazy baby shower games you can play I instantly thought "Heck, no" lol. BUT! there was one game that I thought would be crazy fun for all my lush alcoholic friends: the baby bottle drinking race game.  I wish I had it on video because we were all crying from laughing so hard at the cheers and jeers during the male and female races.
 Why am I not surprised Kiana won this contest? And for the men - it was a close one between Floyd and Antony
And when the party was over...some sweet parting gifts for all our guests. Cotton Candy and mini Prosecco bottles.
Labels and bottle tags by you know who :)
Photography: Cody Swanson and my dad Karl Kindred
Centerpiece and florals: Nicole Laurenceau, NYCFlowerProject
Catering: Chef Sal Lamboglia
Graphic Design and Art direction: moi! 

and special thanks to Marfa Ertilus and Floyd Boyce for not letting me worry about anything or moving stuff during and after the party. Kiana and Lisa for running the games. My makeup by Sariah. Our parents and family for traveling from Florida and Texas and Georgia to attend the celebration and of course all our friends for coming! We had a blast!

OH! and we didn't use paper invitations - we kept it green and used an online rsvp site, splashthat.com.  Here's the digital invite that went out as well as part of the thank you email — I think it pretty much set the tone of how we wanted the night to go. Fun fun fun...



Taking stock in october...

It's almost time! Less than 50 days til the big day!

Making : decor items for shower next week. I couldn't help it - I need something to do!
Cooking : comfort food like a yummy chili that will last me 3 days.
Drinking : Decaf iced coffee in the morning and cold cold cold ice water
Reading: about labor and delivery (um.. doesn't sound fun).
Wanting: our dining room table to arrive ... its taking forever.
Looking: like I swallowed a basketball a watermelon. lol.
Playing: a lot of throwbacks (90s R&B and pop)
Wasting: free time on pinterest (soo much cute stuff!)
Sewing: nothing.
Wishing: it was easier to find a position to sleep in. STILL
Enjoying: weekends with no plans (this is what it is like to relax?)
Waiting: for her! but patiently :) 
Liking: the constant dance rehearsals and kickboxing classes in my tummy.
Wondering: how life is gonna change
Loving: still - his daily conversations to her via talking to my tummy.
Hoping: (more like praying) this pregnancy continues to progress smoothly
Marveling: at my ever growing tummy size
Needing: more days off! kind of love chilling at home these days
Smelling: like fall...apple cinnamon candles and fresh flowers I bought
Wearing: leggings and trying to still work in my pre-preggo clothes (somehow)
Following: lots of mom-ish blogs
Noticing: the leaves change
Knowing: I have less than 50 days
Thinking: of all the things that need to be done
Feeling: fine
Bookmarking: recipes and articles for fall/winter
Opening: lots of UPS and fedex boxes!
Giggling: at my awkward self trying to bend down to pick things up off the ground, get out of bed, or off our couch. it's truly comical.

Taking Stock...


A peek from my maternity shoot with Armando

Saw this post idea on this blog

Making : Paintings...received a cool commission so have to get 2 out the door this week!
Cooking : more like baking - been using the oven a lot for chicken, grilled cheese sandwiches, and apple desserts.
Drinking : Decaf iced coffee in the morning and cold cold cold ice water
Reading: the internet - soo much to read and research for this little one who's coming
Wanting: our dining room table to arrive. i'm excited.
Looking: like I swallowed a basketball lol.
Playing: a lot of Lorde and any other newish artist that has that vibe.
Wasting: some of my meals. My eyes are hungrier than my stomach sometimes.
Sewing: nothing!
Wishing: it was easier to find a position to sleep in.
Enjoying: the fall weather in NYC - looooove it.
Waiting: for her! but patiently :) 
Liking: all the baby gap royal line...the crown sleeper!
Wondering: what she's going to be like
Loving: his daily conversations to her via talking to my tummy.
Hoping: (more like praying) this pregnancy continues to progress smoothly
Marveling: at my tummy moving at the randomest times
Needing: more days off! kind of love chilling at home these days
Smelling: like fall...apple cinnamon candles and fresh flowers I bought
Wearing: leggings. leggings. leggings.
Following: my heart
Noticing: other people's baby related brands on the street (like strollers!)
Knowing: there's so much to look forward to
Thinking: about how life is gonna change
Feeling: optimistic and nervous 
Bookmarking: (more like pinning!) every thing that is cute (clothes, blogs, party ideas, etc)
Opening: boxes
Giggling: at my dance moves in this new body ...sometimes.

Make yourself ship-shape-sharp! (NTC- Day 27)

So we woke up to this:


about 10" of snow fell overnight shutting down the city today... sort of. S&S still has to go work (boo!). I think hibernation mode was in full force last night because Sariah overslept :) Nevertheless we still made it to the gym to fit in a 45 min full-body workout.

Instead of core synergistics we pulled out another Nike Training club workout. This one was under the "get Strong" category and was intermediate level called "worth the Weight" It was a goooood one. It was a bit like circuit training in that each exercise was about 30 sec - 1 min long with only a few recovery rests (like 3) during the entire workout. It was nice that it finished with about 5 min to stretch as well. Anyhow we really like these NTC workouts and highly recommend a download of this free app. Plus those models are DEISEL. we are in awe. Here's a little inspiration for all you ladies (and men) out there

Hood Luv: Trinity

Technically this is BPC but i'm lumping it into my hood anyway cuz it's so close

I get a few questioning looks when I tell people I live downtown in the financial district. I see it in their faces: WHY??? And I just nod my head and repeat how much I love it down here and let them go ahead thinking i'm crazy. But Mr. P and I have been going on two years it's crazy to see how much this area has grown even in the short time that we've been here. nevermind the fact that we watched a building go up from scratch (W hotel) a whole highway and pedestrian pathway redeveloped into fields and bball courts (St. Thomas park?) and our own block slowly revamping into a "neighborhood" complete with outdoor restaurant, nail salon (albeit expensive as heck), and dunkin donuts (hot chocolate!). i love my nutella banana crepes on stone street (crepes du nord) or skip over to tribeca for dinner (recent crave: La industria argentina), movie theater is a 10 minute walk away (add ice skating rink to that during winter time), ed's lobster shack & outdoor movies during tribeca film festival and outdoor shows and events at the world financial center (add shake shack to that list in the near future!), laying on the lawn in battery park post swimming workouts, reading magazines, and now we'll be getting a lounge hotspot when the W downtown opens in a few months. But whatever, it's fine ... think what you want to think - i secretly want you too so i can enjoy my parks and water views and my somewhat affordable rent without it getting overcrowded and turning into an IT neighborhood. hmpff.. by the way I was told my area was called Trinity back in the day and i'm totally digging that name. the area between the financial district (i consider broadway the border) and battery park (west side highway the border) and south of the WTC site...right by Trinity Church- close to every train. yes every train...


Anyhow: cool to know we're getting a farmers market at the WFC thursdays so i'll be sure to check on it during my morning run

Bed-Stuy, World Financial Center Get Farmers’ Markets


Location: South End Ave at Liberty Street, inside cul-de-sac.
Schedule: Thursdays 8AM-5PM, July 1 - December 23. 2010 Scheduled changes: 9/9 closed for memorial, 11/25 closed for holiday.

Farmers

Migliorelli Farm - Vegetables and orchard fruit from Dutchess County, New York
Meredith's Bakery - Baked goods from Ulster County, New York
Red Jacket Orchard - Apples, plums, cherries, apricots, peaches, berries from Ontario County, New York
Binder Farm - Plants and flowers from Suffolk County, New York
Beth’s Family Farm - Jams, preserves, chutneys & pickled vegetables from Columbia County, New York.
NY Wine & Grape Association - NY State wine
Holton Farms - Organic vegetables, maple syrup, honey, eggs, beef, turkey, pork, chicken and lamb from Vermont
MK Orchids - Orchids and hydrangeas from Orange County, New York
Valley Shepherd - Sheep, cow and goat's milk cheese, pasta, butter, yogurt and gelato from Hunterdon County, New Jersey
Lavender by the Bay - Lavender plants, cut & sachets, honey from Suffolk County, New York

Hello, summer...

Mem day weekend was an absolute dream - what I hope the rest of the summer turns out to be: lazy afternoons relaxing in the hammock with Mr. P, BBQing with friends, strawberry shortcakes, and mini roadtrips in the zipcar. I'm keeping it short and sweet and letting the photos do the talkin... can't wait til the weekend again!
doin the dishes and preppin for the BBQ
there were no losers in the macaroni and cheese bake-off
everyone's grubbin
the chef/pitmaster hard at work...
it was all smiles all day...

who can blame him?way to cap off the night... coffee patrón?


Monday afternoon walking to world financial center:

newly opened playground on west thames st.
no girls, i don't live here...
dallas, taking a mini break as we enjoy lobster rolls from ed's lobster bar
watching a couple pickup games
dallas has pretty good pickup too...
typical nyc photo opp - in front of graffitti lol

New crunch classes: Kangoo & Beaming

I love Kangoo - it's really fun - and soon soon soon hopefully I'll be teaching it - here's me doing a demo with lead instructor, Mario Green. Oh and video of us demo'ing Beaming - another new class to debut at crunch this season. Love tv cameos!!