post weekend wrap up -

seeing as i didn't post my TDTW list, i thought it apropos to fill y'all in now.

It was a very busy weekend in the most relaxed way.

On Friday night, I went to a spin class that i really like. Afterwards, i talked to the instructor about what it takes to get certified and teach spinning classes. it seems the certification process is fairly easy (though physically demanding) but it's the whole getting-a-job part that's the challenge. Still giving it some serious thought.

When i got home, i went to work making oatmeal-chocolate chip cookies and doing little things around the apartment that i had neglected. it was a quiet, productive night, which i needed after M.'s holiday party the night before.

Saturday morning, M.'s brother M. came into town. We spent the day eating our way through brooklyn with a big breakfast, pizza, belgian waffles, cookies and mulled cider. We visited the holiday bazaar in union square, looking at expensive and mostly unattractive crafts, and did some more christmas shopping in the frozen tundra that was nyc. we had a great time with brother M. who flew in just for the day. Husband M. and I can't decide whether we should be flattered that he flew in for the chance to spend 5 hours with us or offended that he can only tolerate us for that short amount of time. Either way, it was great to see him and there will always be a slice of pizza with his name on it in the bk.

Then it was time to primp for our two parties that evening. The first, was a somewhat formal birthday dinner at Cara Mia in Hell's Kitchen for a dear friend. We were seated next to some friends of hers who we had never met, which could have been painful but instead we had so much fun with them - really an awesome group and a great time all around. And the food was delicious. I had one of my favorite dishes - pasta with tomato, eggplant and mozzarella cheese, i love how the eggplant tastes stewed and sweet. i need to learn how to make this since it's such a go-to when i'm at italian restaurants.

Next we went to an ugly-sweater party in stuy town. it was the classic twenty-something holiday party with lots of good looking people (in ugly sweaters), drinking beer and having a good time. I wore a sweater M.'s parents had given me and felt tremendously guilty to be wearing a gift from them aside truly offensive sweaters. Being a jew, married to a catholic, the guilt is sometimes more than i can handle. thankfully, the apt was warm so i didn't wear it for too long. And in all fairness, the sweater is not UGLY, it's just christmas-like and it's exactly what i asked for 2 christmases ago.

Saturday morning i woke up early and went for a long, cold run. it started off a bit painful on my lungs and overall, i was just not feeling it but then i hit my stride and it felt great.

I bundled up to go to a family friend's house for lunch with delicious treats from our local italian bakery in tow. I met up with my mom and we headed downtown to Larry and Richard's glorious apt, to hang out with Larry's daughter, Sarah, and her beautiful family. And seriously, what a beautiful family. Lucas is almost 3 and his baby sister, Emma, is just 6 months. They are both adorable and gorgeous - so well behaved and unbelievably good-natured. rarely do i call anything precious, as i'm a jew from New York, but these children are everything precious.

We spent most of the day there and in the early evening, i headed home. I made more cookies - cut outs in the shape of NJ, thanks to my new cookie cutter and then M. and i got to work choosing photos for our wedding album, which is harder than one would think. we're not done narrowing the photos down yet but we're getting there.

See, it was a busy weekend but filled with all things good - a perfect pre-holiday weekend.