Nutcracker ballet

Since honeypie was 2 years old, we have been taking her to Nutcracker Ballet performances. We all adore the gorgeous music and the whole experience.
This year her dream come true, of her being in a nutcracker ballet, (granted, she was going for the part of Clara ...hah! she definitely doesn't lack in self confidence!)
This was a local community production through a wonderful hardworking company. She had to audition for a part and she got the parts of a cute little mouse and an angel.
I've never seen a 5 1/2 year old more determined. She endured long hours of practice time each weekend without complain and a long day of performing in the AM and PM.
( I, myself was pooped !!!).

Here she is ready to go on stage...




Here she is during dress rehearsal for her angel part...




I also baked a ton of cookies for a fundraiser for the ballet company. I was lucky enough to have a helper, our nana, who lovingly baked all my cookies while I decorated and iced them! :)
(Martha's sugar cookie recipe and icing recipe never fails!!)














What a whole lotta bakin'!




Thank you nana!

It was a beautiful performance with our little angel/mouse!
(One day... One day you will be Clara in sweet Nutcracker dreams.) I am sure.

Christmas in the big apple.

We took a couple of days off from homeschooling to do some nostalgic holiday roaming through NYC. Growing up there as a kid, I used to take city for granted but now, years later, I reminisce of those fragrant chestnuts roasting in food trucks, salty pretzels, all the holiday lights, the shows and strolling through the streets for store window browsing.
Holidays is the city are beautifully magical and it is so special sharing it with my little girl.

What can compare to the gorgeous Rockefeller tree?





and iceskating there amongst the bright lights?







The seeing the singing light display and window displays at Saks 5th ave?




Now that I am a mama...
An annual visit to the American girl cafe is so sweet to share tea with my best girl !







A visit to the famous Magnolia Bakery for their "Rockettes" red velvet cupcakes is a must ...













Add a beautiful night at Lincoln Center seeing the Nutcracker Ballet.




(Daddy and girl going in hand in hand.)








Daddy's girl .




And finally a great day at Radio City Music Hall to see the beautiful Rockettes!! (It had been so long!).



















Here she is...
Loving the bright lights - big city.





And for mama...
Ohhhhh, wagashi heaven!!!

















Beautiful days in the city .
(I guess you can take the girl out of the city but not the city out of the girl.)

Now on to merry making at home... where the heart is.

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Getting ready for Christmas

Getting ready for the holidays is so exciting!! I love this time of year . With so much planned ... I hope we have time for it all.
These were just some things we got around to doing this weekend...
Hope you are enjoying this holiday spirit and engaging in some merry making as well. :)

Trimming the tree and holiday carols.




Holiday flapjacks!




Ornament making ...



















And stringing popcorn and cranberries for an outdoor Christmas tree for the birds.



















~It's beginning to look a lot like christmas!

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A nest for Celeste by Henry Cole

We just finished reading a gorgeous new book called "A nest for Celeste" by Henry Cole, (a story about art, inspiration and the meaning of home).The book is a true story, a period in time in which John James Audubon visits the Oakley plantation in the south to document and paint birds of the area, but the story is told through the point of view of a little mouse named Celeste.
The book is filled with beautiful illustrations and the story is so sweet, while at the same time teaching us about Audubon, his artistic process and birds. Also, the point of view of the story, through the eyes of Celeste, gives you an idea of the trials a little mouse may encounter to survive through the seasons.











Here Audubon is painting a picture of an Osprey.







Honeypie painted a picture one of her favorite characters in the story, the little thrush named Cornelius.







And she wrote a journal entry about the parts she liked and did not like from the book.










A great read-aloud book and beautiful addition for a naturalist's library.

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