Parea is nominated for best Med restaurant on Citysearch. I voted and now it is your turn:

Click HERE to vote for my man's restaurant.



Vote!!!

It has been a tumultious week of traveling and we have finally arrived back in NYC. Lucky for us the mysterious smell is gone and it's not THAT cold. Ihave tons of shit to do today, and that includes updated the blogs, laundry, working out, grocery shopping, etc etc. Not fun but gotta be done. Hopefully tonight I will be back up and running.

I hate that this might be happening. Please email Peter Vallone and demand that these actions against pitbulls be stopped. What happened New York? You were such an advocate for pitbull rights! People need to stop being so ignorant and try to understand that it is not the breed but the owner who should be banned. Every decade it is a new dog to persecute. This needs to stop. Even if you don't live in New York, it can't hurt to write this guy and let him know you are outraged and will not stand for this kind of action against pits. Do it for Potato Pit Bull!


NYC councilman wants to make the city pit bull free

NEW YORK (AP) -- Regarded as dangerous pets by their detractors but loved for their assertive nature by their owners, pit bulls may find themselves banned from New York City.

City Councilman Peter Vallone Junior said Tuesday that he wants to ban the canines, calling them a danger to public safety.

"Pit bulls are responsible for many, many attacks," the Democrat said. "A parent on the street can't protect their children, or themselves from this, what is actually a weapon."

Vallone said that many gangs and criminals train pit bulls to be attack dogs.

The canines do account for 15 percent of animal attacks in the city. They are also among the most commonly abandoned, found in disproportionately high numbers at the city's pet shelters.

But pit bull lovers said they don't think pit bulls are inherently dangerous and that they don't need to be banned.

Pedro Rosario, who owns four pit bulls and has worked at the Manhattan shelter and adoption center for more than a decade, said Tuesday that the dogs' temperament depends on how their owners raise them.

"With a responsible owner, this could be a great pet in the house," Rosario said, as he sat in the shelter, ruffling the fur of one of the famously tough dogs.

Another pit bull owner, Greta Godoy, agreed with Rosario. "It all has to do with how you teach them, how you nurture them," she said. "If you do abuse them they will become very aggressive."

Vallone's proposal would ban pit bulls from being sold or bred in the city. Current owners would be able to keep their pit bulls.

Other cities have placed similar bans on pit bulls - including Denver, Kansas City and Miami - after high-profile attacks involving the canines.

As well all know very well my husband and I are not lucky people. We may be perhaps, the most unlucky couple of people ever. However this morning I was notified by Vera from I'm Not Obsessed that I won her Girlawhirl contest. I am going to get a nice litlle goodie pack in the mail that will includes:

• Flavored Olive Oil and Vinegar from O Olive Oil
• Treezers from Ramy
• Peeled Snacks Numi Tea Coupons
• Akhassa Foot Soak
• Paddywax Candle
• Aveda Atmosphere Ambiance Set
• Method Hollyberry Handwash and Candle Set

Thanks Vera!

I am obsessed with my dogs. They make me young and happy. My dream of all dreams is to buy a shit ton of land and open a pit bull rescue commune + doggy day camp. Well looks like someone beat me to it minus the PB rescue commune. Check out how awesome the Glencadia Dog Camp is. If we weren't so broke ass poor I would send Tato & Vito there while we are in Florida.

The family is back from the holidays now and I will resume writing as of now. We had a fun and fantabulous Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, & mini vaca in Hershey, Pa. Christmas turned out to be a super sick day for me. I had begun to feel shitty the night before and Christmas morning I woke up feeling awful. Catcher, on the other hand, had a blast opening presents. He was so serious with each one. He took meticulous care with the paper and then once the present was open he would gently place it on the bureau where the other presents were. He didn't crack a smile or say a word for two hours. He is so silly. He got a lot of great gifts from a lot of great people.
Here is a breakdown of some of the items Catcher received on Christmas morn, not from Santa:

• 1500 Lincoln Logs
• Vintage Radio Flyer PushCar
• Bath Drums, Bath Fishing Rod Set, Bath Roadways, Bath Sink (Someone loves his bath)
• Mittens, mittens, & more mittens
• We Sing Italian Kids Songs
• Melissa & Doug Deluxe Art Easel
• Paints, Markers, Crayons, Chalk
• Books, like 20 of them
• New Booster Seat
• Clothes, not limited to but including as Boater's sweatshirt
• Subscription to Maxim (starting him early...j/k)
  

I would have to say that his favorite gift was from his mommy & daddy, a vintage Radio Flyer push car. His eyes lit up when he saw it and present opening was put on the back burner. He had to play on it and then when he found out there was a bell, it was all over. Christmas was done and the playtime had begun.
Mommy was a happy camper too...Daddy got her this bad ass Gucci ring, Flowerbomb & Narciso Rodriguez parfum spray, a beautiful locket with pictures of my boys, a plethora of oil paints, Bikram yoga gift card, & a knitting class.

The husband didn't make out so bad either...new tattoo, ipod, undies, bluetooth headset~

My husband got a nice little blurb in In New York Magazine. You can check it out here.

How cool is this pic? Well my friends, hopefully you will all have a beautiful, magical, and amazing holiday. Thank you all for reading and I will be back next week. Cheers!

CHEF JONATHON'S CHILI



Beef (1/2 lb)

Pork (1/2 lb)

Tomato (Can/Fresh)

Put can of tomato's in big pot and start to simmer.

Brown Pork & Beef



Add Seasoning To Taste~

Goya Adobo

Salt & Pepper

Chili Flake

Dried Cilantro

After Meat is Brown, add Chopped Onion (1) and Chopped Garlic (2 cloves)
Strain & Rinse Bean (Choose which ever you dig, I love Black Eye Peas)
Add Beans to Meat, Onions, & Garlic.
Cook for a couple minutes.

Add mixture to tamata's and let simmer for about 15 minutes and Viola!

OK! I have been sucking lately but I have had a lot of shit going on. Of course nothing that I can talk about here however let's just say my week has been full of blackouts, broken hearts, and a lot of tears. No nothing at all to do with my relationship with the Chef or the boy. So today to cheer myself up I am going to make chili! And for the first time ever I am actually going to publish one my dear husband's recipes. Give me a few hours and I will post some pics of the extravaganza and the recipe~

This is what I have been doing for the past couple of days. I just haven't felt like messing around on the computa'. It gets tiresome. More later. Still recovering from some Christmas festivities.

Another lame Saturday night for me and the boys. However lame, I did manage to make some super sweet articles of clothing. I bought 2 doggie tees and 2 longsleeve onesies and some iron fabric and I went to work. The final products:
1. Vito Tee w/ Skull & Crossbones (quite appropriate for the little mean black dog)
2. Potato Tee w/ 'Free Vito' Pic from when Vito was imprisoned in doggy jail.
3. Catcher Tee w/ 'Liberty' Black Flag
4. Catcher Tee w/ "Strollerhead' Logo (Like Motorhead but for babies:)

Sometimes I think that the man I married doesn't know me at all. He really doesn't seem to be able to read me or my emotions. Is that a man-woman thing or is it a relationship thing? How can someone who I have vowed to live and love for the rest of my life walk out the door thinking that everything is fine? WTF? For the most part I know he gets me. He understands my insanity, he complies with my crazy logic, and he loves me no matter what. He just can't see when I am sad. And right now, I am sad, I am sad because I am not going home for Christmas. First year ever, even when I lived in Italia I made it home for the holidays.
He just left for work and was on his phone with his mom (who were spending the holidays with) and it really depressed me. He didn't even see it, he just walked out the door and went to work for the next 28 hours. At least I have the little guy to hang out with today.
Yesterday we went to Target and it was a g*d damn madhouse. It was at least 80 degrees and there were about 6 checkout lanes open and 30 people in each checkout lane. Mass chaos ensued and once we finally got out and walked home, I realized I didn't even get what I went there to buy. Now I am headed back this afternoon to brave the crowds.

I just watched The Office for the first time ever and I think I may have pee'd my pants a little. I get the hype. It is f'ng hilarity.

I could possibly be the worst mother (besides Britney) on the face of this earth. I do some stupid things sometimes. For example, yesterday we had big day of holiday hurrah planned for the boy. We decided to go to Bloomingdale's to see Santa. We get on the Q and head into the city. Being the most intelligent woman in the world I decide that it is a good time to trim my son's fingernails. They are totally nasty and he's strapped in the stroller, so what bad could happen? You guessed it~ I missed a nail and clipped the skin on my baby boy's thumb. All hell broke loose. Blood started going everywhere and C started screaming. Jon picked him up all the time blood is spurting all over his tuxedo shirt. Everyone on the train is looking at me like 'why the f would you clip your child's nails on a subway?' I'm an idiot that's why. So the day started off bad. We had to get off at 34th instead of 59th, so we ended up going to Macy's. Then we were starving, and being extremely unfamiliar with midtown we ended up eating at this super pricey steakhouse. We eventually got to FAO Schwartz which is where we really wanted to go but by that time we were so exhausted all we could do is go home. I suck. Oh and we never saw Santa or made it to Bloomingdales. We did see three Rolls Royce's though.

Going to see Santa today at Bloomie's. I wonder if the Santa is gonna make the boy crazy. You know like in the movies...

I stole this from someone else's blog but I thought it was kinda cool. Very varied. The things in bold, I have done. Cheers.

01. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
02. Swam with wild dolphins
03. Climbed a mountain
04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid
06. Held a tarantula
07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
08. Said “I love you” and meant it
09. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby’s diaper
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten drunk on champagne
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 50 states
41. Taken care of someone who was drunk
42. Had amazing friends
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched wild whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your CDs
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Played touch football
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Rafted the Snake River
82. Been on television news programs as an “expert”
83. Got flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark
88. Kissed on the first date
89. Gone to Thailand
90. Bought a house
91. Been in a combat zone
92. Buried one/both of your parents
93. Been on a cruise ship
94. Spoken more than one language fluently
95. Performed in Rocky Horror
96. Raised children
97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost 100 pounds (close to it)
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Touched a stingray
110. Broken someone’s heart
111. Helped an animal give birth
112. Won money on a T.V. game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a facial part pierced other than your ears
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had major surgery
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school
131. Parasailed
132. Touched a cockroach
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read The Iliad - and the Odyssey
135. Selected one “important” author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head
149. Caused a car accident
150. Saved someone’s life

When I went to that Chocolate Show event I snagged a bottle of Alchemy Chocolate Vodka. Tonight I made myself a cocktail consisting of chocolate vodka and raspberry soda water and it is yum yum yummy...It taste like a chocolate covered raspberry and if I wasn't such a great mommy (unlike this mamma) it may get me into some trouble. But alas, I will only have one. Maybe two if Jon gets home early enough.

I have been listening to this Ani DiFranco concert for the past hour and boy does it bring me back. Whenever I listen to Ani these days it is like a time machine. I become the girl I used to be. The girl who would spend all her money at a ticket broker for front row seats to her show. The girl who would pit wires in her hair to turn them into Medusa curls. The girl who would go with her best friend to the candle store and pick out the perfect one for Miss D. The girl who worked for RBR while she lived in Italy. It's amazing how music can mold you into the person you are. When I started listening to Ani I was in high school. She changed my life and influenced who I was. Her music spoke volumes to me and every show I went to I treasured dearly. She has been a constant in my life hence forth. Whenever I need a reminder of that inner independence I have always been so proud of I flip on Ani DiFranco.
It's actually kind of funny that she is still in my life especially now that I am married to Jonathon. I remember when we were in high school, he was off to a Phish show while I was rocking out at an Ani show. He used to hate listening to her. Now not so much. On our road trips he lets me get a few of my fave's in before he tunes out.
I would like to share this great show with all of my two readers...:) It will change your life. Just make sure you've got an hour to let pass by because you won't be able to turn it off.

The weekends are the hardest part of being married to a working Executive Chef. I find myself not being able to go to sleep without him but having an extremely hard time waiting up till 2am. How funny is that? I, have a hard time staying up till 2 am. There was a time where I would have laughed hysterically at that. I used to go out at 2 am.

He has been taking a way better schedule lately. I feel like we are rejuvenated again. We are back in sync, he knows what I need, I know what he needs. This marriage is hard but it's fucking worth it when it's good. Because when it's good it is the best thing I have ever experienced. It's like nothing matters except our little family. I love it when its good. Now I just need to get some friends.

I guess the 'friend' issue is always on my mind. It's hard to make new friends especially if you have had the same friends for 10+ years. In college, I only made 1 girlfriend. That's right 1. After college, when I first lived in NYC, I made 1 more girlfriend. So I'm pretty much averaging 1 friend for every four years. I think I have one more year left until I can add a new friend to the list. I am so lame.

What am I going to do tonight? Maybe a bath and a book...

This is the coolest preview I have ever seen. I wish it was a real movie. The husband and I would totally check it out.

I just found this new band from Stockholm called Hello Safe Ride. They kind of remind me of The Juliana Hatfield but with smarter quirkier lyrics. Check them out here, here, & here.

Dear Husband,
I am going to provide you with some guidelines of what I want for X-Mas. I know you have a hard time picking stuff out so here are some examples and links! Don't forgot about the limit! Love you more.
Your Wife



1. Some kind of locket necklace or bracelet
2. Narciso Rodriguez Parfum For Her
3. Oil Paints

Some funny dog pics for you...

The boy and I made a Catcher Crazy Face Christmas tree last night. We had a blast, I cut, Catcher tried to steal the scissors. I hung the ornament, Catcher ripped it down. Now that they are all up out of arms reach he kinda gets freaked out by seeing his face on the tree. He keeps going to the lowest pic and giving it kisses. He is f'ng super sweet- I think I may have started a family tradition. Each year I will cut some pics out of the annual Catcher calender (not all like I did this year, don't want to have a little Dorian Gray on our hands) and turn them into ornaments. Then I will save my favorite one from each year and hang it the next year. By the time he is 18, we will the 18 faces of Catcher. Hells yeah.

My husband was off work today and he made me a delicious lunch that consisted of perfectly cooked Roasted Chicken with Broccoli & Olives. It was tasty! I am so lucky that I am married to the most passionate chef in the universe.

Ahhh Sunday how I love thee...
This morning we woke up bright and early and headed down 7th Ave to do some grocery shopping. Catcher was in the stroller reading Amelia Bedilia and I was chatting with my bff on the cell. As I came to the corner of Union, I noticed a beautiful family walking towards us, then I noticed that they were not in fact just a beautiful family. They were in fact the talented and amazing Paul Bettany & Jennifer Connelly family. Now I think I have mentioned before that they live in our neighborhood and we see them often. What I don't think I mentioned is that they are really really good looking, so good looking that they should probably start a Center For Children Who Can't Read Good And Wanna Learn To Do Other Stuff Good Too, a place where they teach you that there's more to life than being really, really good looking. Anyways here I was in my scrubs, my Fidel Castro hat, and mascara under my eyes and here J.C. was with the same 'get out of bed look' going on and looking like she just accepted an Oscar. Really great self esteem boost for the early am Sunday walk.
Well whatever movie stars are supposed to be super hot all the time without even trying. They got that down pat. Chef's Widow's not so much...

P.S. Check out one of my all time favorite Jennifer Connelly movies here.
P.P.S Bettany is easy on the eyes...seriously, I might bump him to my top three.
P.P.P.S There is a blog rumor that they are expecting, didn't look like it to me but people this pretty shouldn't be allowed to procreate.

My husband and I have the absolute worse luck (i.e apartments fire, $1000 stolen on Honeymoon, etc...). Seriously if it's not one thing it's another. Every night at 8 I take the dogs and the baby for a walk. Last night we decided to walk by our car. As we walk past, it is on the other side of the street, I notice that the back passenger door looks strange. I gather the dogs and cross the street. The car looks strange because somebody bashed the shit out of it. The panel was hanging and the door was dented in. I took the hanging panel and put it in my front seat. What else could I do? As I open the door this little note falls out that says 'I saw what happened, call me at 718-xxx-xxxx, 10.55am.' So I go home and call and it is some kind of state mental retardation board. The dude who answers barely speaks English and tells me the girl I am looking for is on vacation until the 15th of the month. Seriously wtf do we do to deserve this? I mean just when things are starting to even out and we feel a little bit good about our life something turns to shit. Thank god I have the most adorable insane baby in the world. God knows what I would do without him.

New York living at it's finest. Remember a couple days back my post was regarding my new washing machine? Well it is all set up and I have a semi-decent working laundry room in my bathroom. It's a bit tight but I love the fact that I can wash something and it will be ready to wear within 24 hours. Plus it reminds me of living in Italy. When I first walked into my gorgeous Italian apartment I noticed there was a washer but no dryer, there was just a drying rack. I love having my clothes air dry, even if it's not fresh air. It is so much better than a dryer. Loves it!