Mom Ramblings #5: When Mommy Goes Away.

1. I'm back! Finally. I was supposed to come home early Sunday morning. However, the weather on the east coast was horrible and I had to buy a ticket on another airline so I could get home before late Monday night. Instead I got home early Monday morning (we're talking 12 am people.) It wasn't the most pleasant traveling day. However, I did get to wander around NYC by myself for a little while and that was pretty fun. Especially when you actually know where you are going!

2. Speaking of fun. The weekend was so much fun! My sister and her fiance' are getting married in October and so we went to NYC to search for wedding dresses and the dreaded bridesmaid dresses. The wedding dress was found on Saturday. Sister Sara is not one to hem and haw about things. When she finds what she likes she buys. She's not a shopper. Although she doesn't just buy with passion and frivolity. She does her research goes in with a purchase in mind and then buys what she loves. It seems to be working for her! Here's a peak at the dress:

Okay, that's not it. That entire dress is actually made out of tiny little ceramic tile. There was a groom on the other side in a tux made out of tiny little ceramic tile too.

I can't show you the actual dress. Not yet. But, here's a peek at the material:

3. Bridesmaid dresses were not as easy. But, they were still relatively easy. I think I tried on 15. And sister Lou tried on about the same amount. We finally went in to a little shop that Sara frequents for dresses and bought three cocktail dresses off the sale rack. It was fantastic! 

 The dresses do not involve Lou or any of us wearing this $385 hat.

4. If you ever want to know what would go on in your house if you happened to not be around any longer, then take a little vacay all by yourself. Here's what I noticed when I got home; The boys were fed, bathed and happy. The laundry was piled high. I mean HIGH. There are no clean underwear. The mantel did not get finished. The floor board on the landing did not get nailed down. BUT, the dishes were done. The boys were happy. They played a lot of Star Wars and watched a little too much TV. A bottle of Old Crow was on the counter. Apple Jacks in the pantry. Candy bowl empty. Laundry piled HIGH. Broken jacket, muddy shoes, clean kitchen floor. Happy kids. Tired Dad. All seems right with the world.

5. Tom and I are like ships passing in the night. I got home late last night. He left before the sun got up to go to Chicago for work. Again.

See that dude behind the woman in the gray jacket and jeans? I want his outfit.

6. After I went to the Y to work off the 9 bazillion calories I enjoyed this weekend, including the cupcakes below, I took the boys to GW. They missed us. We hadn't been the week before. I got some great things today. I will show you tomorrow.

We had these for breakfast on Thursday morning. Magnolia Cupcakes. Delish.

7. We saw Natalie Morales from The Today Show. And Allen Cummings from "The Good Wife".

 I thought the pinwheels on this display were fantastic.

8. I am refreshed and determined to work harder as a mom. The boys got older while I was gone and I didn't like that. I am so glad I went on a little trip. It was a much needed break. In fact, I may have to do it every year just to appreciate them more.

This store had the most amazing wood flooring options I have ever seen. All reclaimed lumber. I wanted to go in there and steal all the samples.

9. I thought a lot about blogging and writing and being a mom and how much I appreciate all the kind words people say about me and my little family.