Running on empty.

This week has been a blur of work, friends, family, and fun. Because of this, I am currently running on fumes. Or whatever comes after running on fumes (simply not running?). I have so many things in my mind that I want to share and post about, but just can't seem to find the time or energy to. So, in the meantime, I will leave you with a few pictures and quick glimpses of my week in review...

Until next time, COW.
Last Wednesday was my last COW class at school. COW, also known as Community Open Work, is a program at my school that allows kids to be in classes based on interest rather than age. We have a class for everyone, from pinata making and cooking to karaoke and origami. I decided to lead Beads and Braids, a friendship making class. In honor of our final week, I made each child a bracelet to take. As I sat at home making bracelet after bracelet, I couldn't help thinking back to my little fourth grade business I set up on the playground back in Minnesota. What a little entrepreneur I was...

My spiral staircase bracelets were a hit and I was sad to drop my kids off after our final hour together of peaceful jewelry making. I am really looking forward to my next COW session.

There's no place like home. Or the family from home. 

On Thursday, my family arrived for a long weekend of sightseeing and exploring. We walked almost every neighborhood in Manhattan, along with parts of Queens and Brooklyn, and had a fantastic time. There is nothing better than having my family here from Minnesota. Marathon post to come...

My girlfriend is almost a wife. 

In two short weeks, my girlfriend of seven years will be a married woman. So, in honor of her fabulousness and last days as a "single girl," we took her out for an Italian feast in the Upper West Side. Good food, good wine, and great company. Brendan, you are a lucky man. 

He only gets better with age. 

Brian is another year older, another year wiser, and just as amazing as ever. We celebrated his birthday tonight at Blue Smoke with his parents, who were also in town visiting for the weekend. We had a great time dining on delicious comfort foods and catching up. I feel so lucky to have Brian in my life, and am so proud of all he has done over the past year. I cannot wait to see what is to come for him in the next year of his life! 

I am hoping I will  have some more time this week to be a more present blogger who posts more than once a week... fingers crossed.  I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!