"This is my good friend- I don't remember her name" and other tales from Connecticut

While sitting in the Las Vegas airport last week I called Gram Liz to confirm the key aspects of my upcoming trip to Connecticut- lobster, beach, art (listed in order of importance).  After I confirmed plans for the trip, I attempted to end the conversation quickly- Auntie Anne's was calling my name and I had 30 minutes to take off. 

Gram ended the conversation with a sincere, "I am going to be very careful between now and your arrival so nothing will happen to me before the visit." I then cried in the airport. Awesome.

Her comment was a simple reminder of how fragile life is at age 93, when each day is neither expected nor anticipated.  In the middle of a crazy 10 days filled with 6 trips to the airport it was a not so subtle reminder to slow down.  Thankfully she made it through the weekend without a hitch.  In fact I was the one who needed an afternoon nap!

Whenever I visit Gram I always go treasure hunting.  What others in my family view as trash, I view as treasure.  This trip did not disappoint.  I found this vintage 1930's headpiece from Gram's trip to Asia.  I plan on  wearing it to a wedding this summer.  Post royal nuptials I will be quite on trend with my headpiece.

After treasure hunting and some (very) light shopping, we drove to Branford to catch the sunset at the beach house.  I rarely visit Branford in the winter and it was a treat to see the super low tide and beautiful sunset caught on my iPhone.

Branford Sunset= RELAXING

We capped the night off with a traditional shoreline dinner at the one and only Lennys.  I then caught a late train back to NYC to prepare for an early morning and this. . .

Professional shoppers at a post fashion week trade show = STRESSFUL

Valentine's Day Prep

Earlier this week I asked Nick where he made reservations for Valentine's Day dinner.  A look of panic consumed his face.  Instead of an 8PM confirmed reservation at Fearings he offered me a blank stare.

I let the him squirm for a few minutes before I announced my big news- "I'm going to Vegas for Valentine's Day . . . alone . . . for work." 

This news was met by a fist pump and mumbled "yessss".

Apparently my husband isn't one for Hallmark holidays and I am secretly excited about a quiet dinner of room service after a long day at Magic.

See you next week!

Dear Dallas, Get a Snow Plow.

6" of snow and an ice storm = Jane not going to work for 4 days this week.  What was just a typical winter storm for Michigan or Chicago has seriously paralyzed the Big D thanks to a lack of snow plows and a refusal to use salt on the ice. 


The night it snowed we went for a midnight stroll to enjoy the unusual weather.  It was seriously slippery.  I fell no less than 3 times- I am coordinated like that.  

The walk starts safely

Lola makes it clear that she did not star in Snow Dogs the movie.

Lola snow torture courtesy of Nick.

She tries to save herself

and she's down

Ready to go back inside

Lola prefers the indoors with a scarf for warmth

Super Bowl!

Our friend Cam works at ESPN and invited us to a Super Bowl party last night in celebration of the big game.  The party confirmed what I have long suspected.  I really have no clue when it comes to professional sports.  However I do know how to get a party started thanks to my friend Champagne.

When we left at midnight (we thought we had work today) it was snowing.  Like real Chicago snow.  Great ending to a fun night.

Yes some of you may remember the shirt I am sporting from 2001- what can I say my winter party wardrobe has shrunk and I had to go "vintage"

Nick, Jane, Carolyn, Troy, Catherine, Cam (our host)

There's No Place Like Home

After 20+ years my parents moved out of their house this week.  Life under this roof was not always perfect, but memory has a way of forgetting the bad days in favor of the good ones.  This house played gracious host to annual Fourth of July parties filled with good friends and friendly competition (egg toss, sack and three legged race), unauthorized and authorized high school parties, pictures before our wedding and countless other good times.

However, my favorite moments were spent on warm Sunday evenings, eating dinner on the screened in porch as a family.  The menu was generally the same (shrimp cocktail, marinated chicken, rolls- until Weze decided carbs were bad, salad, and a vegetable) and the company predictable, but with crickets chirping, wine flowing and dad grilling there wasn't a more perfect way to start the week.

Rick & Weze outside of 582 South Ave the week before move out

The house will be missed, but I am confident the Sunday night dinner tradition will endure.