Bucket List for Fall 2013

I love NYC in the fall. There are so many amazing things to do. I created a little bucket list for myself and the man friend of things I love to do in New York and new adventures I would love to have.

1.) Saturday Night Live - I have always wanted to go see a taping of SNL. Tickets are free and all you have to do is wait in line at 7am the day of the taping. I was thinking October 19 would be a good day to go. However I can't see who the host is yet. You can check daily here to see who is coming next: Fall 2013 Hosts.

2.) Now the one thing I will give NYC is they know how to do chocolate. Philly doesn't have a single chocolate "bar" and New York has three that I have been frequent patron at. My favorites are the following:

• Marie Belle - Located down on Broome Street, this place is adorable and plays movies about France and Chocolate. I love their sipping hot chocolate.
• Charbonnel et Walker - On the 8th Floor of Saks Fifth Avenue, right near the Prada and Jimmy Choo shoes, there is a little chocolate cafe called Charbonnel et Walker. What makes this place so great is you sit down at a conveyor belt and as chocolate treats pass you by you just pick one out and add it to your tab. Also there is a fondue fountain that you can fill your bowl with and ask the bartender for fresh fruit.
• Henri Bendel, 3rd Floor - A little bit up higher on 5th Ave you will find Henri Bendel's Snack Bar. This place is more for special occasions and if you really want to indulge. You can see the menu here.

3.) Light a candle at St. Patrick's Cathedral. I have a few traditions when I go to New York: try to hold my breath going through the tunnel, use the bathroom at the Marriott Marquis, stop by a Duane Reade at least once, but the only I always try to do if I am in the area is to go light a candle at St. Pat's and say a quick prayer.

4.) New York is the inspiration for so many of my favorite movies and TV Shows: Gossip Girl, Sex and the City, You've Got Mail, Big Business, Home Alone 2 plus so many more. I have always wanted to take a fun New York City Movie and TV Bus Tour. How fun would that be?!

5.) Splurge on one good dinner! Thanks to Open Table I have been racking up my points and saving for a gift certificate to use for a nice dinner out. Just to make your mouth water and tease you a bit, here are some of my favorite restaurants in New York.

Remi - Fun fact about this restaurant, Carrie catches Big here on a date with another woman!

Russian Tea Room - My mom took me here after an audition once for lunch and it was amazing. We did the $40 Business Lunch special which was a steal at the RTR, and unbelievably delicious.

Isabella's - Ugh this restaurant is so beautiful and they have this amazing "Chocolate bag" dessert that holds beautiful fresh berries. *Note this photo was taken when I turned 21 so I may have had a Cosmo and a glass of Champagne at this point. #strug

6.) See a performance at the American Ballet Theatre. My favorite dancer is Gillian Muprhy. She makes being en pointe seem so easy and effortless that anyone can do it. I have been dying to go see her dance because I am sure she is breathtaking in performance.

7.) I know it seems very touristy and so cliche, but before it gets cold out I have always wanted to take a River Cruise around the island of New York.  I think its something that everyone needs to do at least once. Because after all there is nothing like Autumn in the Big Apple.

Xoxo,

Catherine

In My Own Little Corner

I am in love with my one of my students Stephen and the gift that he gave me today. You don't understand how I have been lonnnnnggginnnggg to see this show. And although it won't be the same as being there in the flesh, it is still an amazing thing to watch.


Xoxo,
Catherine

New York Weekend Adventure

Hello world!

I had such an amazing weekend in NYC. I got to kick it off with the man friend and his wonderful family. They are hilarious and we had a delicious dinner in Queens at Antika Pizza. The food was delicious and we all split an amazing thin crust pizza. After his family left for the weekend, we met up with my college buddies Jordan, Jackie, Tina, and Amanda. Ugh the friendship was much needed and we had delicious drinks at Sweet Afton. Haha it was like the NYC version of my Philly favorite Tria. Best part of the day had to be when Bryan received his Musician Union card in the mail. Well that, or when his mom and I drank several glasses of wine together.

After a wonderful breakfast of pumpkin coffee and pancakes, Bryan and I met up with Amanda and headed to the Broadway Flea Market. Not gonna lie I was kind of disappointed this year! Now you have to understand, I am a Broadway Flea Market connoisseur. There weren't any items that really grabbed at me this year! I did get a Bye Bye Birdie water bottle, a 2012-2013 Broadway Season Candle, a Follies beer glass, and a Phantom production photo of my friend Jennifer. Also, the crowd was insane. I try to go every year, if not every other year and you could barely move through the people. I have never experienced that kind of high volume before at the BFM.

However it was wonderful to spend the day with friends that I haven't seen in a long time. Especially Laur Laur and Man Man. I miss my girls a lot, and its so wonderful to know I will be seeing them a lot more in Astoria.

I cannot wait to get my ass back up to NYC again soon. Autumn in New York, there is nothing like it.

Xoxo,

Catherine

Lovely Fall Weekend in Philly

I have to say I had a great weekend in the beautiful City of Brotherly Love. Fall is definitely favorite season, and the weather this weekend did NOT dissapoint. I was so lucky to get a surprise visit from the man friend and enjoyed a lovely Saturday with him. We walked up to Rittenhouse where I introduced him to one of my favorite spots DiBruno Brothers. Luckily we only had lunch, and did not go shopping in there. Ugh I could do a lot of damage in that store.

He left to go to play for Les Miserables (Click to hear him rock out One Day More), and I left to go surprise my friend Danielle for her bachelorette party. Danielle and I hav been friends since we were 7 years old, and I would not miss this party for the world! Danielle's sister Lea planned a great night of pole dancing and drinks with her cousins Kristen and Noelle. Danielle was completely surprised, and let me tell you she rocked that pole at Awakenings Pole Fitness. I had such an amazing time but let me tell you I am so sore today! Our instructor was Heather, and damn she was ripped. I would totally go again, and you wouldn't believe how much of a work out it is! Check out my photo below!

After a great dinner at Smokin Betty's, we headed home. Sundays are my "catch up"days. I love food shopping and cooking for the week, and getting my laundry done. So exciting I know. Haha. I made the Giada de Laurentiis Artichoke Soup and it came out delicious! All in all, a great weekend, and I cannot wait 7 more days until Broadway Flea Market!

Xoxo,
Catherine

She's a Balance Beam

Perfect fairy tale song for the day. Skip to 1:17 haha. Balance Beam by Blue October



1.) You gotta take it kind of slowly

2.) You have to hurry up and make your move

3.) You have to tell her that she's pretty

4.) You have to be the perfect gentleman, shake the walls yea you have to make them bend.

You got to show her that she's a balance beam and I keep falling around this fairytale.

Happy 12th Birthday Matthew! #neverforget

Today is always such a weird day for me. So many sad photos of the towers falling down, families grieving, the iconic firefighters raising the American flag at ground zero, etc. However today is a day of joy and happiness because my brother Matthew was born on September 11, 2001.

My parents had a difficult time having children, and after my sister and I they figured they were done. However a miracle happened and my mom became pregnant with a boy! Now you have to understand how elated my dad was. He was surrounded by girls: my mom, my sister Christina, our dog Hannah and myself. We were so excited that a boy was coming into our life, and we believed he was a "gift from God". Which was why we named him Matthew.

I remember September 10 was a Monday, and my mom was going into the hospital on Tuesday for her C-Section. I literally couldn't pay attention in school all morning that sunny September 11. When was I going to get a call that my baby brother was here!? Then something strange in school happened, every class was silent and something shifted in the air. I was in Mr. Rhoads Honors Social Studies class when we were told the first plane hit. I will never forget watching him slink into his chair and start to choke up. We just sat there in silence until the bell rang for our next class.

All day I watched girls cry because their dads commuted to NYC and nobody could get through on their phones. Our school was on lock down and no one was allowed to leave. It took forever for me to finally get in touch with my mom. She said Matthew was born and he was very healthy and perfect. I couldn't wait to get home so I could finally meet him.

The instant I saw Matthew I cried (Ugh I always cry in emotional situations so this is not a shocker.) He was so wonderful, and he held my hand right away. He never cried, and always slept or smiled in my arms. I totally sang "I'd Give My Life For You" from one of my top 5 favorite musicals, Miss Saigon. #musicaltheatrenerd and my sister made fun of me all the time.

Now that he is 12, I think he is starting to realize how special he is and what this day means to a lot of people. Now my brother says some pretty hilarious things, and I think he is the coolest kid I know, but I'll never forget when we took him to see St. Paul's Church in 2009. The church was unharmed during the terrorist attacks, and many victims were brought there for shelter and aide. When we were in the graveyard I took this photo, and he asked me "Why did God want a bad thing to happen on my birthday?" Naturally I choked up and told him, "Well a lot of people died on your birthday but he wanted to give you to our family, and make sure something good happened that day."

Come and Meet Those Dancing Feet

Thanks to Stephen Wovna, I found this gem today. 42nd Street at the Ritz Theatre Company was such a blast and I was so fortunate to work with such talented people. We had an amazing review and audiences loved the show!

Enjoy the finale from 42nd Street.

Xoxo,
CML

What You Have Some Kind of Radar?

#truestory

Artichoke Soup with Fresh Mint on the Food Network

Artichoke Soup with Fresh Mint on the Food Network

I cannot wait to make this next! One of my favorite things about fall is finding new healthy stew and soup recipes to try. I think Giada might be on the right track with this one. The spinach will be delicious.

Hopefully this recipe can make my boobs look like hers!

Cure FA! Together we will find a cure.

For those of you who don't know, I am an advocate for my sister's foundation Friedrich's Ataxia Research Alliance, also known as FARA. My 23 year old sister Christina was diagnosed last summer with Friedrich's Ataxia. FA is a neurological disorder that affects a patient's nervous system. Some of her symptoms include slurred speech, difficulty walking, loss of feeling in hands and feet, and sleep deprivation. There is currently no treatment or cure for FA.

Last year my sister and I participated in the 5K Race for Matt and Grace. I am so bummed that I am unable to make it to the event this year due to my work schedule! Matt and his family are wonderful, and they helped me out so much for my race this past May.

I cannot wait for the 2nd Annual Race next year. It was an unbelievable feeling to have over 200 of our friends, families and neighbors there supporting Christina and FA. SAVE THE DATE!!! Mother's Day May 11, 2014 8:30am-Noon at Tyler State Park.

To see information on last year's race click here: 5K Race for Christina

Here is a video created by FARA for our event.

I'm Crazy For You!

I feel like I have found home movies that you consider treasure, and never want to lose them. My very good friend Jeff Dietzler from DeSales University has posted some YouTube videos of my favorite college production, Crazy for You. I think the best quote from our review was "Save yourself a trip to Broadway and get a ticket while they're still available."

You have to understand, they don't make shows like this at DeSales anymore. The acting, costumes, sets and caliber was unreal. It was also during the lowest point in my life personally, being hurt by someone very close to me. This cast was there for me and whole heart and soul was put into this show. I could do it every day and never get bored.

To show you what I mean check out the following numbers:

• "I've Got Rhythm"
• "Slap that Bass"
• "Stiff Upper Lip"
• "Shall We Dance"

XOXO,

CML