Wednesday, April 13, 2011

What I'm Loving Wednesday... Life is good ;)

There is so much to love this Wednesday! Head on over to Jamie's blog to link up or check out all of the entries!

I've had a great week/weekend re-adjusting to being home and I've been in full on nesting mode, baking, cleaning, organizing etc. It's so nice to be home with friends and loved ones!

I'm LOVING that we had Dad Jones as our guest on Sunday and Monday! He was in the city for a conference and decided to just stay at ours rather than making the 45min drive home back and forth for the event. Knowing we would have company I wanted to bake something to share over cups of tea and conversation and I found this delicious cake/loaf which was a major hit!


Chocolate/Chocolate chip pound cake!

Here is the recipe, it is so moist and delicious and I'm already planning on making another in a bundt pan for mothers day to share with Mum Jones!

I am LOVING that almost as soon as I returned from my trip I had a get together planned with our friends! My friends Tina and Rachel threw a going away party for our friend Kristin who is moving to Canada to be with her Canadian. Although I am totally devastated by her leaving I am also so incredibly happy for her and all of the adventures that await!

Kristin & I



I am LOVING that this family of three officially became a family of FOUR on Tuesday! My beautiful friend Whitney and her husband Adam welcomed baby girl Brinley into the world! I just missed her birth by a week! I had hoped that she would have been born while I was in New York...I guess Brinley had other plans... and yeah.. my comment about not going back to NY until the fall suddenly sounds like a terrible idea! I can't wait to get out there as soon as possible to see her!


I am LOVING that I have been a cooking queen! Last night I made Ina Garten's (Barefoot Contessa) Roast Chicken and Pioneer Woman's Chicken Spaghetti!


Chicken Spaghetti...mmmm


I was going to post a more "posed" picture of me..but it was totally unnatural and awkward this is really what our little dinner photo shoot looked like...blurry shot...me laughing like a hyena..typical.

I had hoped to snap a pic before we carved the chicken but I totally forgot in my cooking frenzy.

And you might be asking a whole roast chicken and pioneer woman's chicken spaghetti all in 3 hours! YES because I was gifting the chicken spaghetti to this new mommy today!

Mama Kylie and baby Ryland!

I am LOVING that I was able to spend some time with this lady and this little man today after work..pure heaven. I'm pretty sure her husband was on crazy baby lady patrol with me, making sure I didn't run off with their little man. I could have stared and cooed and snuggled with this little bug all day long. In.Love.

Ryland just being precious.

Me, the baby whisperer telling Ryland he can come home with me whenever he wants!

So tiny.

It's been a busy and wonderful week already I can't wait to see what the rest of the week has in store for me! Right now it's blog hopping and watching the Giants game! Hope you lovelies are having a lovely day!

XOXO- Miss V

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Empire State of Mind

Well another successful New York trip has come and gone. This was a solo trip for me, the last two have been with Mr. Jones and while I of course would have loved to have had his company it was important for me to spend some one on one time with the family and stay a bit longer as well. I can't believe how much I was able to fit in, a trip to North Carolina to start with and the extra special treat of visiting my family down there was definitely a highlight but with all of the fun had in NYC when we returned I have to say that I loved everything about this trip.

My visit had a little bit of everything, strolling city parks and neighborhoods, lunches with friends...


Myself, Anna, and Steff

A little bit of sightseeing...


Overpriced mini cupcakes... haha


A rainy afternoon spent at the MET...



A weeknight wining and dining with the Sissy and her bf... (a big deal for this major home body)






A quick stroll through the Macy's flower show!! Fairy Tale themed...this lady was in heaven!



A darling French film in Chelsea...


Followed by gourmet doughnuts...delish!




It was really hard leaving this time, however with this being my 3rd trip out there since my family moved in August it really is starting to feel familiar while still being exciting and thrilling all at the same time. New York and San Francisco couldn't be more different and I am so lucky that of all the places my family moved to they are calling NYC home. I was however so happy to touch down on Friday night and wake up Saturday morning to my beautiful city by the bay and Mr. Jones...


Nothing like Coffee on the balcony, a little sunshine, and home.

I'm definitely a California girl but I love having this little east coast love affair and rendezvous here and there, I won't be back to NYC until the fall so until then I guess I'll just have to have an Empire State of Mind...

xoxo Miss V


Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Oh The Places You'll Go... Brooklyn


In Brooklyn... you can follow a path


That leads you through a tunnel...


That takes you to a field of green.



In Brooklyn... just beyond a wise old tree...




Past an old green door...

A girl sits in a cafe...

And shares a glass of wine.


In Brooklyn... a furry friend greets you in the shop...


A mothers garden grows...



And live music can be enjoyed every night...



While the sun sets on yet another day...

In Brooklyn.

-miss v

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

What I'm Loving Wednesday...Spring in the South!

What a wonderful weekend we had in North Carolina! As hard as it can be sometimes with my parents and siblings in NYC it is wonderful that they are now close enough to make a weekend trip to visit the family. I loved every second of being in North Carolina and with a few warmer days we had a great time taking walks, spending time on porches and taking pictures of the blossoming flowers!

My weekend in pictures...


Beautiful Dogwoods

Paw Paws and grandsons



Lunches at Granny's



Family BBQ's




Catching some rays...

Walks around the neighborhood...

Family Bonding...


Fathers and Sons



Mom's and birthday boys...


The men vs...

The ladies ;)

Until next time Carolina...

"Yes I'm gone to Carolina in my mind"- James Taylor

-miss v.

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Sneak Attack...

Hi blogland! Sorry for the small hiatus but I've been busy sneaking across the country to surprise my brother and family in North Carolina for his birthday!


The Birthday boy and I at birthday party #2!
Isn't my brother the cutest! He's single Carolina ladies!!

I flew out to my parents in NYC late on Wednesday night and stowed away in the car with them on Thursday... to surprise my family and brother in North Carolina on Friday! It's been a jam packed weekend celebrating my brothers birthday and surprising my grandparents, aunts and uncles has been soo much fun!!


BBQ with the family!


I love my family and I love North Carolina..I am one happy lady!


Paw-Paw and Nick ;)

I will update more this week on all the festivities hope you lovelies are having a wonderful weekend!!

XOXO- Miss V