Crans-Montana, Switzerland

One of the difficulties of having two kids in two different schools (in two different states!), means that they have different spring breaks. Our son, Cruz, had the first two weeks of March off, and my daughter, Tusia, has the last two weeks of March off. FUN FUN FUN! So for Cruzzie’s second week, I went with my friend Catherine,  her son, and another one of their friends to Crans-Montana and Paris. Crans- Montana — NEVER HEARD OF IT BEFORE — but you should keep on your radar, because it is such an incredible place.

 

Crans-Montana is a ski town in Switzerland. It is a 90 minute drive from Geneva, and super easy to get in and out of. And don’t you love meat, cheese, and pickles?

Continue Reading

Chocolate Croissants x 2

YUMMMMMMM. One of my family’s favorite food items is chocolate croissants — I mean, WHO doesn’t love chocolate croissants??? So when in the Flatiron area of Manhattan last Friday, I fell upon not one, but two, different bakeries, that were so beautiful and scrumptious, that I had to get something at each. First off….

 

Lysee

 

The store looked like a museum. On the ground floor, there was a sit down cafe, and to order take out, you walked up the stairs to where the baked goods were all displayed and where you placed the order. Even the bags are beyond chic and beautiful.

Continue Reading

Currently Loving February 2025

February has been an insanely busy month. On top of the normal parts of life, I have also traveled to California, Montana, and Florida. Yes, lots of times on planes, but of course, all worth it. Here is what I have loved this month.

 

1. Family Time

 

We went to California to present with my uncle his story on the Holocaust to the Thacher School. It was an incredible assembly and experience, and I was so happy to have been a part of this special event. And yes, Cruzzie’s jeans are gigantic.

 

2. Erewhon Hailey Bieber Shake

 

While we were in CA, we stopped in at Erewhon, which is the most incredible health food store I have ever been to. Had I not had a carry on, I would have bought everything to bring back to NYC. In particular, this smoothie was delicious. Worth the hype.

 

3. The Getty

 

Despite rainy and cold weather, we went to The Getty to kill time before our red eye that night. We loved looking at the views, the art collection, and just being there. Highly recommend. And did you know it was free?

 

4. Governors Island

 

In between all the travel, the family went to Governor’s Island to see the Ice Sculpture competition. Although it was fun to see the ice sculpture, it was even more fun just to walk around the island, even in the cold weather.

 

5. Bedazzling

 

Bedazzling!!! The new fun hobby! It takes a lot of patience and time — you have to glue every single one of the pieces of glitter (!), but look how fun and cool my AirPods look. Thank you, Tusia!

 

6. Blockus

 

This has always been one of my favorite board games — but I always seem to lose the pieces (not good!). We just bought a new set, so here we are playing it. Love this game!

 

7. The Motherload

 

I devoured this book in two days (which says a lot because these days I am a very bad reader). Dark, raw, vulnerable — loved this book.

 

___

What are you loving this month? Do share! I hope you have a great week.

Comedy Cellar

This past Friday, instead of going out to dinner, I went to Comedy Cellar with a friend (Ken and Tusia were skiing for the weekend). Not only was it fun to mix things up — instead of a typical Friday just going to dinner with other couples or friends, but doing an activity. Always love an activity — especially when it is a super fun activity like STAND UP COMEDY. Can it get any better or more fun? We LAUGHED AND LAUGHED AND LAUGHED and omg, I want to go back as soon as I can. It was that much fun.

 

Comedy Cellar — the best place for comedy. It was my first time going, but definitely not my last!

 

There are a bajillion shows per day — and on this Friday night, we attended the 6:45 pm show (there were 3 shows AFTER this one!). You must reserve in advance on line (it sells out quickly) and the cost is 2 drinks minimum. We showed up in the rain hungry, so we went to Artichoke Pizza and ate a slice of pizza at the counter — another fun highlight. (When was the last time that happened? Loved it)

Continue Reading

Currently Loving January 2025

Last week of January — longest month EVER!!!! — it (always) feels like it lasts a full year instead of just a month. Especially this year. Here is what I am loving this month!

 

1.  The Let Them Theory

 

I am currently listening to this as an audio book — and I love it so much. Every part of it — and it feels like Mel Robbins is speaking to you as a friend. HIGHLY highly recommend reading it — but even more, listening to it.

Continue Reading

Luna Luna + Din Tai Fung

At the VERY start of break (yes, I am very behind on all posts and catch ups), we went to one of our favorite dumplings spots, Din Tai Fung, and also to a fun immersive art experience, Luna Luna. I highly suggest going to both — for taste, color, experience!

 

Luna Luna

 

Lots of color — and super cool to learn about everything. (It was VERY cold and we stayed in our coats the entire time)

Continue Reading

Thai Diner

Always on a hunt for an adventure and a new restaurant, I read about Thai Diner and knew it was somewhere I needed to try. So I dragged the family there this past weekend — and loved every minute. HIGHLY recommend if you are in the city! Or if you come to visit — loved it. A mixture of diner food and Thai food — lots of flavor, spice, and deliciousness. It opens at 10 am, we got there at 11:45 am and had a 45 minute wait, but. we roamed the streets of Soho, so didn’t feel like a wait. There was a line around the block for 2 hours when we left. 2 HOURS!!!!

 

Located in Nolita on Mott street — across the street from my favorite (but no longer there) retail store, Warm, RIP). Easy to get to from our place on the subway.

Continue Reading

Currently Loving November 2024

This morning when I was walking the dog, I was in disbelief that there were Christmas lights on so many of the stores along Madison Avenue….but then I realized, we are 2/3 done with November and it is almost December….how did this happen? In any case, Christmas light season here we are. And here is what I am currently loving.

 

1. Bonbon Candies

 

When I went to visit Cruzzie, I thought it would be nice to bring him and his friends something from NYC to CA. It had to be compact, easy to travel with, and something everything would like — which turns out to be candy. Bonbon candy. It was a huge hit and worth lugging it across the country.

Continue Reading

Oat Bakery

During my California visit to see Cruzzie at Thacher, I also had the chance to spend a couple days with a beloved friend who moved to Montecito. Not only do I love my friend dearly, but I also love Montecito. It is the most picturesque, paradise, perfect place. This visit, a new bakery, Oat Bakery, opened up at The Montecito Country Mart and OAT MY GOD, (I love puns but can’t take credit for this one — it is from their website) it is so amazing. We went to get a little croissant / baguette / sweetness deliciousness, and three minutes after we left, I went BACK to get more.

 

The cutest bakery – The Oat Bakery.

Continue Reading

Turtle Conservancy

Last weekend, I had the privilege of going to see my son at boarding school in Ojai, California. Although I had been there three weeks before to attend Family Weekend, I wanted another chance to just go see Cruzzie and his friends, and be with him for a relaxed weekend. It was an absolute incredible time — not just because I spent precious time with my boy, but also because I stayed in a secret gem hotel, the Turtle Conservancy.

 

The entry way.

Continue Reading

Currently Loving October 2024

WELP, October here we are! (or actually mid October!) It has been a whirlwind month of the Chicago Marathon and then visiting weekend at my son’s boarding school. Maybe life will slow down now??? Or not…but in the meantime, here is what I am currently loving!

 

1. Cruzzie’s Dining Hall

 

Cruzzie’s school, The Thacher School, is located in Ojai, California. It is the dreamiest place I have ever been — not just the academics, people, community, program, ethics, but also just the pure beauty of the school. Here is the dining hall at dinner. LOOK AT THAT SUNSET. You can eat outside. IT IS INCREDIBLE.

Continue Reading

Pop Up Bagels

One of Tusia’s best friends brought over THE BEST BAGELS AND BUTTER I have ever tasted. Currently all the rage, Pop Up Bagels, is rumored to be one of the best (if not the best) bagel in NYC at this time.

 

They have a lot of locations in the tristate area — 3 in the city (UWS, UES, downtown) — Westchester, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. Every time I have walked by, the lines have been out the door. So when our bestie stopped by with bagels and butter for us, it was a win win HAPPY day!

Continue Reading

Shabbat x Nobody Wants This

One of my favorite follows on Instagram is Erin Foster (and her sister Sara Foster). They are funny, witty, smart, quirky, beautiful, and real. So when they came out with a new show on Netflix “Nobody Wants This” — I jumped on the bandwagon to watch it. Sure enough, I binged the whole show over the weekend. I loved it so much — the jewish aspect of it (The main girl falls in love with a Rabbi so there are a lot of Jewish traditions throughout the show), the romcom, the humor, all of it.

 

HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND. Cute, easy, fun.

Continue Reading

Currently Loving September 2024

WHOA here we are. September. Kids are finally in school (I miss them) and it feels like we never had a break. HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE. Here are random things that I am loving!

 

1. Hazelnuts

 

I ate these in one sitting. I love hazelnuts (they are grown everywhere in Oregon) and this combination of sweet and salty are to die for. I bought these to bring back to NYC but then ate them that same day. Oops.

Continue Reading

Currently Loving August 2024 Part 2

Fall is around the corner, but still trying to soak up every inch of sunshine and moment of summer. Here is what I am currently loving Part DEUX of August 2024. And please share with me what you are loving too — I always love hearing what people are loving at the moment.

 

1. Tru Fru

 

HOLY CRAP THESE ARE ADDICTING. The best little bit of sweetness and dessert. We love them in both dark and milk chocolate — but especially the milk chocolate raspberries. You must get. To die for. Frozen raspberries coated in white chocolate and then milk.

 

2. Rafting

Continue Reading

Lion’s Gate Portal

Last week, on August 8th 2024, we did a little ceremony to manifest the good! What is Lion’s Gate Portal? GOOD QUESTION! It is an astrological term describing the alignment of the sun in Leo, the star Sirius, which is the brightest star as seen from Earth, the constellation Orion’s Belt and the Earth. Basically, it is a day reserved for the practice of manifestation. August 8th 2024 — 8 – 8- 8 (get it the 2+0+2+4 = 8)

 

 

So, we charged the crystals during the day.

Continue Reading

Blueberry Bake Off

Over the weekend, we went blueberry picking again, and decided to have a bake off that afternoon with the blueberries we picked!

 

The blueberry patch is located on the McKenzie River. It is a farther drive than the farm we usually go to, but they have 80 different types of blueberries and it is all organic and super beautiful, so it’s worth the extra drive.

Continue Reading

Pickled Green Beans

Typically in summer in Oregon, I do a lot of fruit harvesting and cooking / baking / figuring out what to do with all the fruit. But this year, there are less fruit options due to a big Ice Storm that hit Oregon earlier this year. So instead of the normal peach picking I do around this time, we went green bean picking — yep, green beans! Despite not being the best treat to eat when picking, it was fun to be on the farm and collecting the beans.

 

I didn’t know what to expect — I thought the green beans would be on a bush — but nope, it is a plant that you have to squat to pick.

Continue Reading

Electrolytes

My sister from another mister is someone that she says BUY, I do it. I mean, we bought our dog from the same breeder — same dog, same breeder. We didn’t even ask questions — she is just the type of person that has the best taste (except our dog likes to bark a lot and is super anxious, but the best nonetheless) and always knows the best of everything. So when I ran the Big Sur Marathon this past Spring and stayed with her for a night, she told me to drink these electrolytes — Ultima — and so I did. No questions asked. AND NOW I CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT THEM. They are the best best best thing in the world and I am drinking a lot more water now, because of her. Not only that, my kids love them, too. And they are drinking more water because of this too. So this, my friends, is a PA, to get these electrolytes and improve your water intake!

 

You can get big tubs of them, but I prefer to get the individual packets. I know, I know, not as environmentally friendly, but so handy to put one of them in my purse for later, or just to grab and go.

Continue Reading

Paris Biggest Croissants

The morning of Tusia’s birthday, we went on a hunt for the biggest Pain Au Chocolate / Croissant in the city. I had done some research and found that it was 1.5 miles from the apartment. So, that is what we did. We walked, we looked, and we HUNTED for the croissant. Thankfully, our scavenger hunt worked out, and we got it. It surpassed our expectations and highly recommend everyone do this on their next Parisian Adventure. The croissant is from Philippe Continci and it was not just beautiful to look at it, but incredibly delicious. We kept asking how something THIS big, could be so flaky, light and tasty. 10/10 recommend.

 

Croissants.

Continue Reading

Currently Loving Paris Edition

Went on a quick 3 day trip to Paris last week to celebrate Tusia’s 12th birthday and there are so many highlights from the trip! Here is what I loved from Paris last week (and will always love)

 

1. The Random Street Art

 

is there anything more beautiful than art all over the streets of Paris? I could spend days just looking at the walls along the streets!

Continue Reading