Memorial Day BBQ, baby

When we got an invite from the ever so charming and gracious Ben Flocks to his Memorial Day BBQ on his terrace in Brooklyn, we didn't have to think twice. Yes, count us in immediately.

Monday might have been the most perfect weather we New Yorkers have ever seen. I could have sat on Ben's terrace with the sunshine and the refreshing breeze for days and days. Honestly though, if you were in NY over Memorial Day, you can totally back me up on this - it was dreamy.

A bunch of our friends gathered at Ben's to drink, eat and be merry. There was home-made gaucamole, an epic fruit salad, yummy sides and the juiciest grilled chicken I've ever had. The perfect cook-out. I forced our friends to stand in front of a yellow wall throughout the afternoon and give me a smile, or a smirk or what have ya. As the sun began to set, the light shifted and changed my yellow wall into  different golden hues. Thanks for putting up with me, friends. It sure came out cute.

^^BBQ Portraits... Jake + Kate// Sam + Claire// Jeff + Catherine// Ben + Hannah// Mike + Sean//^^

^^I dream of owning an apartment with a terrace... for grillin' and chillin'^^

^^I must say, Jake looks quite dashing in Claire's sunglasses!^^

^^Hi friends^^

^^Catherine and Jeff^^

^^Thanks for throwing the BBQ Ben!!^^

^^I love you Sam & Claire^^

Logan & Grayson's bouncy castle birthday bash!

On the only beautiful day of this rainy Memorial Day Weekend Jake and I were lucky enough to be on the VIP list for the big Park Slope birthday bash for Logan and Gray! Although I didn't get in the bouncy castle (next time, I swear) it was indeed the main attraction of the afternoon. Well that and the cake and the cars and the balloons and the pizza and well... the whole party pretty much rocked.

^^June and Liam enjoying the bouncy castle with Logan!^^

^^Backyard Bouncy Castle = Success^^

^^Beautiful flowers leftover from Lady Kyle's Bachelorette Bash! It was a big weekend for parties!^^

^^You're never too old for Mama/Daughter coordinating outfits.^^

^^Happy, silly family for Gray's 2nd Birthday!^^

^^It was seriously yummy.^^

^^I love the way Gray and Logan are looking at the cake!^^

 ^^Gray enjoying his cake!^^

 ^^Logan enjoying his cake!^^

^^Little guys enjoying cake!^^

^^Me: "Hey June, will you wear this party hat and smile?" June: "Mmm, okay!"^^

^^Kill me dead from this level of cuteness, seriously, I can't take it!^^

^^This is my best friend Emily. She knows how to throw one heck of a partay!^^

^^Sometimes your meet a kindred spirit and she's only three. Please don't move to Portland June!^^

^^ Two daughters and their Mama - PS I'm lovein' Peggy's nail polish! <3^^

^^Because no trip to Park Slope is complete unless I get a glamour shot of Ice^^

Friday night in Brooklyn

Late Friday afternoon Jake picked me and we drove down to Williamsburg for an early dinner-date and  then hang with best man, Mr. Zach Gould. 

I love Brooklyn. I would move there in a heartbeat if the right place at the right price were to pop-up on the market. In the mean time, until that miracle of miracle happens, I'll happily visit as often as possible. Luckily, it's only a short 35 minute drive to be in the heart of it all and now that we have the car for a bit, it makes the trek oh so luxurious (well, at least for me!)

Back to Friday - I was hungry, Jake was starving and I knew if I was going to try and sneak any shopping into this evening (Catbird is right around the corner!) we'd need to fuel up. Pies 'n' Thighs has quickly becomes one of those restaurants I fantasize about while dieting. I dream about the Chicken Biscuit. Seriously. I wish I had a food-critic's vocabulary to explain the deliciousness of this particular menu item; but I don't, so hopefully the picture will be descriptive enough to satisfy you!

^^Wearing JG's grandfather's Panama Hat... it's the greatest.^^

^^The Chicken Biscuit, if you go you must order this.^^

^^Have I mentioned how much I love seeing JG in his wedding band!? Oh, I have? ok... ignore me. :)^^

^^We sat on the deck and with the cool evening air breezing past and the last remaining hot afternoon sun shining between the neighboring buildings I was in heaven.^^

^^Wall art everywhere^^

^^Crushing on JG in spectacles. Too bad he has 20/20 vision.^^

^^Barbed wire and flowering trees, oh and ZG serenading us on the guitar with the song he wrote - for us! Does it get anymore Brooklyn than that?^^

^^It's hard to tell in this picture but chez Gould's dining room walls are the perfect shade of pale pink - Taryn told me it is called Antique Pearl and I don't want to forget.^^

^^Driving home I couldn't get enough of the city silouetted against the beautiful pastel sky. I love NY. I really do.^^