This post contains affiliate links. Please read our Disclosure Policy for additional info.
Hello Friday, I’m so happy to see you! We don’t have any major plans this weekend, which is actually nice, since I feel like our past few weekends have been pretty busy. My son is on a two night Boy Scout camping trip, so we won’t be seeing a lot of him this weekend. Plus, it’s been a super busy couple of weeks at work and I can really use the downtime to relax. Here are five from this week:
1. NYBG Orchid Show – Saturday we went to the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) Orchid Show. I had seen ads for the show and I had to go! I love orchids, despite not being able to keep them alive for the life of me. We ended up buying a family membership for the year and I can’t wait to go back in the spring when the outside gardens will be in bloom. The orchid show was beautiful and I have a post linked below if you’d like to see more pics!
2. Reading – This week I finished Regretting You by Colleen Hoover. This was my first five star read of the year! I love Hoover, so I may be a bit biased. However, this was such an emotional, but good read.
3. Westchester County Knicks Game – Sunday we went to the Westchester County Knicks game. Dana heads up the Westchester Chapter of the Binghamton Alumni and this is their annual family event. It’s always a fun time watching the basketball game. Unfortunately, the Knicks have been on a losing streak, and lost this game too.
5. Eating – Monday we had a February birthday celebration for two of my HR colleagues. One of our coworkers made these Mardi Gras cupcakes. How pretty are they?! I brought one home for the kids to share.
Step into a colorful world of flowers at the New York Botanical Garden’s 18th annual Orchid Show. This year’s show is the masterpiece of floral designer to the stars, Jeff Leatham. Inspired by the kaleidoscope, Leatham transformed 30,000 square feet of the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory into a dazzling, colorful feast for the eyes.
Thousands of orchids are on display at the orchid show. From pinks and purples to whites, yellows and oranges, you’ll see orchids of all shapes and colors, from all over the world.
The exhibit begins with a show stopping 10-foot tall mirrored orchid sculpture that sits below hanging rows of purple and pink orchids.
In the opening gallery you will also find the Leatham vanda orchid, named after the designer. Each gallery has its own unique color scheme and vibe.
To get from the desert gallery to the rain forest gallery you will walk through a kaleidoscope tunnel of color. Teens will love the Instagrammable photo ops!
In the rain forest gallery, orchids decorate colorfully painted bamboo posts. There’s also a staircase where you can get an elevated view of the rain forest.
One of the last galleries, “Rise and Shine”, features arches of orchids in shades of orange, yellow and red. Below the arches sits a giant reflecting pool.
You can visit the NYBG Orchid Show now through April 19th!
The Details: NYBG Orchid Show at the New York Botanical Gardens 2900 Southern Boulevard Bronx, NY 10458-5126 (718) 817-8700
Dates: February 15 – April 19, 2020 Hours: Tuesday – Sunday and select holiday Mondays, 10 AM – 6 PM Parking: $20
Tickets: Weekdays: $23/adults, $20/seniors (65+), $20/students w/ID, $10 children (2-12), Free/children under 2 Weekends and Monday Holidays: $30/adults, $28/seniors (65+), $28/students w/ID, $15/children (2-12), Free/children under 2
Tips: *Get there early! We arrived a little after the 10 AM opening and it was crowded.
*Dress in layers. Although we visited in February and it was cold out, the temperature inside the gardens was very warm!
*Strollers have to be parked outside the Conservatory.
*If you think you’ll be visiting the garden again during the year, it’s cheaper to purchase a membership.
*Food is available for purchase at the Pine Tree Cafe (casual eatery) and the Hudson Garden Grill (sit down restaurant).
*Enjoy a 25 minute tram ride around the gardens, included with your admission. Hold on to your admission ticket, as you will need it to board the tram.
*Because it is winter, there is not much blooming in the outdoor gardens. This was a quick trip for us and even with the tram ride, our visit was about 2 hours.
Hello Friday! February has been flying by and I can’t believe the month is almost over! I am so ready for the weekend though. Even though it was a four day work week, it felt super long! I got no posts published this week on the blog. I’ve been working on some major projects at work and have been literally sitting and staring at my computer screens ALL day. Coming home the last thing I wanted to do was sit with my laptop. The kids had no school this week and it was nice to not have any after school/evening activities. Here are five from this week:
1. Supper Club – This past weekend we hosted our monthly supper club. This month’s theme was Latin American. I made Oyster Mushroom Ropa Vieja and Dana made Cauliflower steaks with Chimichurri Sauce and tostones. I say this every month, but it was a delicious meal!
2. Reading – This week I finished The Escape Room by Megan Goldin. It was a fast paced thriller which had some aspects that were a little unbelievable. But overall, an enjoyable, fast read. I also had book club this week where we discussed this month’s book, Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate. This was a reread for me, but was as good of a read as the first time I read it.
3. Circus – Sunday night the Royal Hanneford Circus hosted us for their evening performance. Despite performing in Westchester for over 50 years, this was the first time we had seen this circus. It was a great show and a fun night out.
4. Walkway Over the Hudson – Monday we all had off from school/work. Since it was such a nice day we drove up to Poughkeepsie and walked the Walkway Over the Hudson. There’s always beautiful views of the Hudson River.
5. Eating – After our walk we found a new to us restaurant near Vassar College for lunch. Twisted Soul Concepts has a variety of vegan menu options. One of our faves were these Korean Grilled Tofu Steamed Buns.
Happy Valentine’s Day! Honestly, I’m not a huge fan of the holiday. I feel like it’s become an overly commercialized Hallmark holiday. So we aren’t really celebrating in a big way, but we did get some chocolates and candy for the kids. The kids have a week off for February break starting tomorrow. I only have a three day weekend but we are hoping to squeeze some family fun in. Tomorrow night we are hosting our monthly supper club – which should be another delicious evening! Here are five from this week:
1. All-County Concert – last weekend my daughter played her alto saxophone in the All-County concert. This concert is where kids from 5 different school districts come together to play in one band, orchestra or sing together. There was a mandatory almost 8 hours of practice before the concert. Plus she put in lots of practice time on her own. The band did an amazing job and even played a Lady Gaga mix!
We surprised her flowers and chocolate for such a great job!
2. Reading – This week I finished Recipe for a Perfect Wife by Karma Brown. It was an okay read, but I didn’t love it.
3. Eating – last weekend after a very chilly walk by the river my husband and I stopped at Peaceful Provisions. They make vegan doughnuts and we enjoyed this deliciousness!
4. Buying – I’ve been on the lookout for a large tote pocketbook for work. My only criteria was that it needed to be large enough to fit a book and have an outside pocket for my keys and phone. I found this bag at Marshall’s and am loving it. It even came with a matching smaller hand bag and a clutch/wristlet. I love all things gray plus it’s PETA vegan approved.
This post contains affiliate links. Please read our Disclosure Policy for additional info.
January flew by and I did A LOT of reading! This year, I set my annual goal of 75 books again. I was short last year by TWO books! But, I’ m off to a good start for this year. I can’t remember the last time that I read 8 books in one month! I’m trying in the new year to read at least 5 books a month: one book off my own shelf, one historical fiction book, one YA book, one non-fiction book and one fiction book. I realize sometimes I can double up on my reading, like reading a YA historical fiction or a historical fiction book off my own shelf. I’m not very good at sticking with reading goals though, so we’ll see. We are almost two weeks into February and I only have one book read! I’m sharing my reads with Steph and Jana’s Show Us Your Book linkup. Here are my January reads:
2 stars:
Vegan Freak: Being Vegan in a Non-Vegan World – by Bob & Jenna Torres – Around mid-December, after watching Game Changers on Netflix, our family decided to go vegan. So, being new to veganism, I decided to read this book. Some of the information was useful, but I found the author to be so condescending and having a “holier than thou” attitude about being vegan. Needless to say, I wasn’t a fan.
3 Stars:
Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult and Samantha Van Leer – Delilah is a high school loner who prefers to spend her time reading. When she discovers that she can speak to Oliver, one of the characters in her favorite fairy tale book, the two try to create a plan where they can be together. Jodi Picoult is one of my favorite authors. I own almost every one of her books so I had to get this book that she co-wrote with her daughter. I’ve had this for years and finally decided to read it off my shelf. This book is VERY YA and I wasn’t a big fan.
Girl, Stop Apologizing by Rachel Hollis – This book is geared towards women who want to achieve their goals. It overs motivation and advice in her tell-it-to-you-straight manner, but didn’t really tell me anything I haven’t heard or read before. I enjoyed Girl, Wash Your Face more and after listening to a few episodes of her podcast, I think I’ve had enough of Hollis.
The Night Olivia Fell by Christina McDonald – Abi Knight’s teen daughter is brain dead but being kept alive because she’s pregnant. The police rule her fall as an accident. But Abi is determined to find out what really happened that night to her daughter. This was a good, suspenseful read.
Red at the Boneby Jacqueline Woodson – This book opens at 16 year-old Melody’s coming of age ceremony. The story then goes back to the past and tells the story of her parents and grandparents and how they all got to this moment in time. The chapters weren’t labeled and I found the jumping from different character’s stories to be a bit disorienting. Overall, I found the book to be an okay read.
4 stars:
The Arrangementby Robyn Harding – Natalie Murphy is a poor art student trying to survive in NYC. She learns about being a sugar daddy from a classmate and thinks that she’s found the answer to all of her financial problems. Then she meets Gabe and ends up falling in love with him. So when he unexpectedly ends things with her, she doesn’t take it very well. This was a fast-paced, suspenseful read for me.
Such a Fun Ageby Kiley Reid – Emira, is a 25 year-old African-American woman who makes a living babysitting two white Caucasian children. Unfortunately, she’s involved in a confrontation at a local grocery store, when the security guard thinks that she has kidnapped the toddler she is watching. The incident ends up being videotaped and mom Alix, attempts to make things right for Emira. I went into this book not knowing anything about it. I was pleasantly surprised at Reid’s writing and her take on race and privilege.
What the Wind Knows by Amy Harmon – Anne Gallagher was very close with her grandfather Eoin. When he dies, she fulfills her promise to him and brings his ashes back to Ireland. During her visit she ends up being transported back to 1921 and is mistaken for her great grandmother, whom she looks just like. Anne adjusts to living in Ireland and during this time period meets Thomas, who helps her navigate this new world. This book is historical fiction and time travel. It started out super slow for me. I only stuck it out because this is my work book club’s current read. I am glad that I finished reading, because about half-way through the story picks up and had me hooked.
This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting this blog!
Hello Friday! For once, I can say the week feels like it’s flown by! It’s been busy with the usual and as always, I’m happy for the weekend to be here. In the beginning of the week we were expected to get some snow/sleet yesterday……but nothing! Rainy and 40 degrees. It’s too warm for snow! Today, there’s a high of 51 degrees…..in February! I’m not going to lie, I don’t mind not having freezing temps. But this is winter. I want snow days (one of the few things I like about the season!) which require SNOW!! Here are five from this week:
1. Date Night – Last Friday night the Westchester Broadway Theatre kindly hosted us for their press night production of Five Guys Named Moe. I have a blog post linked below all about the show. It was a great production and a fun date night out.
2. Watching – This weekend Dana and I watched Hustlers and the Downtown Abbey movie. Both were good in their own way. I didn’t realize that Hustlers was based on a true story. And even though I didn’t watch the Super Bowl or the half-time show, I did see pictures and everyone’s comments. Both Hustlers and the half-time show prove that J. Lo has an amazing body and I hope to look that good when I’m her age!
I also watched Miss Americana on Netflix. If you are a Taylor Swift fan you have probably already watched this! And even if you aren’t a big fan, I recommend watching. I enjoyed watching her evolution from teen country star to modern day music wonder woman.
3. Reading – I am almost finished reading American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins. After a family tragedy, a mother and her son attempt to escape Mexico and find refuge in America. They go from middle-class to migrants as they make a long and dangerous trip. I think this book is a good read. In my opinion, it’s well-written and had me invested in the story from the beginning.
I was halfway through reading it before discovering all the controversy over this book. Critics have pointed out that Cummins, who has identified herself as white, is writing the story from the perspective of Mexican American characters. They believe that this isn’t her story to tell and allege that Cummins has written many errors in her descriptions of Mexico. Oprah selected this book as her book club selection and after lots of backlash about the choice has stated, “….this selection has struck an emotional chord and created a need for a deeper, more substantive discussion.” The book is already being adapted into a movie.
5. Internet Reads *Any other documentary fans? I’ve got some watching to do….but I love that Miss Americana made the list! *It’s almost time for spring cleaning! I can use all the help I can get! *I love the sleep score tracking on my Fitbit. However, I’ve been noticing that I need to work on getting better sleep. Even though I’ve been going to bed before 11 PM every night, I’m barely getting a little over six hours of actual sleep. Any sleep advice I can find, I read! I’m even thinking about getting a weighted blanket. Do any of you use a weighted blanket?
We were invited to press night for Five Guys Named Moe. Thank you to the Westchester Broadway Theatre for hosting NY Foodie Family. As always, all opinions are our own.
Westchester Broadway Theatre’s newest production, Five Guys Named Moe, debuted January 30th and it’s a must-see show!
Photo Credit: John Vecchiolla, courtesy of Westchester Broadway Theatre
Five Guys Named Moe is set in an unnamed city and unspecified year. It tells the story of No Max, recently single and drowning his sorrows with alcohol. It’s almost 5 in the morning when he’s taken by surprise as five guys, all named Moe, emerge from his radio. Big Moe, Little Moe, Eat Moe, No Moe and Four-Eyed Moe give No Max lessons in love via song and dance in hopes of helping win his girl back.
Photo Credit: John Vecchiolla, courtesy of Westchester Broadway Theatre
This musical pays tribute to American musician, songwriter and bandleader Louis Jordan, featuring over 20 songs, many of which are written by him. It originally debuted at London’s West End Lyric Theatre in December 1990 and made its way to Broadway in 1992. Local residents can now enjoy this lively production at the Westchester Broadway Theatre through March 1st.
Photo Credit: John Vecchiolla, courtesy of Westchester Broadway Theatre
Dana and I knew nothing about Five Guys Named Moe prior to seeing the show. We were both pleasantly surprised at what a fun production it is. The small cast did such a great job of highlighting the unique personality of each Moe. There was lots of dancing and even some audience participation, including a sing-along. Yes, even we stood right up and joined in!
I recommend Five Guys Named Moe to families with tweens and older. Although the songs are catchy, I don’t think the subject of the show will interest younger kids.
This was our first WBT production where a six-person band played on stage. There were even a few excellent instrumental solos. The music and songs are lively and will have you clapping your hands and tapping your feet along to the beat.
Since the Westchester Broadway Theatre is a dinner theatre, we can’t write about it without mentioning the food. I’ve written in previous reviews that the food here is okay. They are cooking for the masses and I feel the meal is a bonus for the quality of the production you get to see.
This was our first time visiting the WBT since becoming vegan. We weren’t sure if they could accommodate us, since we looked online beforehand and only saw a vegetarian option on the menu. Since we aren’t strict vegans, we were okay with eating the Eggplant Parmesan. However, when we asked if they had a vegan option, our waitress mentioned that they usually have a veggie burger.
I opted for the Eggplant Parm and Dana ordered the veggie burger. When our entrees arrived, he got a GIANT plate of veggies and a baked potato, but no sign of the burger.
We asked our waitress if they had run out of veggie burgers. She was very apologetic for the confusion and brought out TWO veggie burgers. While these are not much to look at, they were larger than expected and actually very moist and tasty! They were a southwest chipotle type burger with a hint of spice. It is probably one of the best things we’ve eaten there. We didn’t call ahead to alert them to our dietary needs, but our server did recommend doing so in the future and to let them know that we’d like to make sure the veggie burger is in stock!
Every production at the WBT has a signature cocktail. “All That Jazz” is the signature drink for Five Guys Named Moe. Dana enjoyed this drink of citrus vodka, grenadine and orange juice. It costs $12 and comes in a souvenir glass that can be taken home.
Five Guys Named Moe is playing for a limited time at the Westchester Broadway Theatre! Be sure to get your tickets before it leaves!
The Details: Five Guys Named Moe Westchester Broadway Theatre 1 Broadway Plaza Elmsford, NY 10523 (914) 592-2222
Tickets: (price includes dinner and the show) $61-$91 plus tax, beverages and gratuities, discounts available for children, students and senior citizens at select performances
Performances: January 30 – March 1, 2020
Show Times: (The show runs approximately 2 1/2 hours, with a 30-minute intermission between acts) Wednesday, Thursday and some Friday Matinees: 11:30 AM lunch, 1 PM show Thursday, Friday and Saturday Evenings: 6:30 PM dinner, 8 PM show Sunday Matinee: 12 PM lunch, 1:30 PM show Sunday Evening: 5:30 PM dinner, 7 PM show
Tips: * If you want to take home the souvenir glass, either be sure to hold on to it, or ask the staff for a clean glass to take home.
*They usually have a vegan meal option available. I recommended that you call ahead to make your dietary preference known so you can be sure they can accommodate you on your visit.
*Photos are not allowed during the show
*Check out the website for special offers
*There is a convenience fee for purchasing tickets online. There is no fee for purchasing tickets in-person or via phone.
*Up to 4 tickets can be purchased online.
* AAA members, AARP members, and military discounts are only given for phone or in-person ticket purchases.|
*All seat locations are the same price. The earlier you order, the better the seats.
