Quick Catch Up

1. I'm at my parent's home now for 2.5 weeks! Yay! We got here this past Friday, just in time for my friend K's rehearsal dinner. The wedding was on Saturday and it was incredible. Here are a few sneak peak photos:

2. For those of you that are my friends on twitter, you already know after 2 months of talking about it, the Kate Spade charm shoes are now mine. They were a WONDERFUL early Christmas gift from my sweet husband. I wore them to the wedding with a black cocktail dress on Saturday. They are princess shoes and I can't wait to wear them again. Do you have a party you can invite me to so I can wear them again soon? You should all add them to your list!

3. A and I went on a 24 hour trip on Sunday to New Orleans (he had a business meeting and we stayed at the Ritz and ate at Stella, which is AMAZING!) It was a much needed escape and my parents watched J for the night. There is nothing like 24 hours off and a little breakfast in bed to refresh a Mama. And it was a good thing I got some sleep...

4. J is a sick little guy. He has croup. We had to go to the doctor down here on Tuesday morning after a very rough night. He's on antibiotics, steroids and a cough med. He's been running a fever on a off and sounds just awful at night. Neither of us have had any sleep. =( Thank goodness for my Mom, she has helped me out in the mornings so I can go back to sleep for a couple hours. I'm praying J does better tonight. We've already had to do a steam shower and go sit outside in the cold to help with one of his coughing fits. I've got him propped up and a humidifier going full blast. Let me know if you have any other suggestions! 

Ok, off to bed. I have a feeling it is going to be another long night! Hope everyone is doing great!

Gulf Coast Vacation Recommendations Blog Hop

It might already be the beginning of August, but in my opinion the best time to visit the Gulf Coast is just around the corner. Late summer and early fall are magnificent on the white sandy shores of the Gulf. As I mentioned in my post about Ways to Help the Gulf Coast, this post is dedicated to helping you plan your family vacation to help support the communities affected by the BP oil spill. The restaurants, shops, and rental companies are hurting and many of them run the risk of going out of business. The best possible way you can help, is to pack your bags and go for a vacation. Go for a long weekend or go for two weeks! Thank you in advance for supporting my home and your backyard!

Here are my recommendations for Orange Beach, AL and Perdido Key, FL:

Restaurants and Bars

The Crab Trap
The Oyster Bar
The Shrimp Basket
The Jellyfish Bar
Hub Stacey's
The Point
Lillian's Pizza
Cobalt
Louisiana Lagniappe
Tacky Jacks
Pirate's Cove
Doc's Seafood Shack
Cosmo's
Geno's Freshcatch Grill
Bear Point Marina (Flippers) 
The Keg
The Flora-Bama

Places to Stay

Perdido Beach Resort
Island House Hotel
The Wharf
The Purple Parrot
Brett Robinson Realty
Kaiser Realty
Sugar Sands Vacation Rentals
Prickett Properties
Alabama Beach Vacation Rentals
Spectrum Resorts
Young's Suncoast
Pointe South Rentals


Please feel free to email me at magnoliasmarriageandmanhattan at gmail dot com if you need more advice or have questions or if you want your restaurant or rental company added to my list!

Now it is your turn, write a post about your favorite Gulf Coast vacation spot and link up here in the Gulf Coast Vacation Recommendations Blog Hop. Feel free to do another post with your favorite spots, even if someone else does it too. We all have different favorites! The more the merrier, spread the word!




Click the link above to copy the code and post this on your blog too! Support the Gulf Coast!

On the Road Again!

We moved to NYC from Alabama almost 3 years ago. Have you been along for the ride the whole time? If so, thanks! When you live in the city, there is no need to have a car. The garages are very expensive and walking, cabs, trains and buses are just a way of life. We've adapted this lifestyle and just rented cars when we wanted to go on quick getaways. Well, since summer is just around the corner and our days on the East coast are numbered we decided to bring A's old car to the city so we could have lots of getaways this summer! His parents have been using the car (they both have smaller cars and it is a old Explorer, so they enjoyed having a "big" car.)

On Friday night, A flew to Bama and he hit the road yesterday morning. He made it to Hagerstown, Maryland. He is so funny. He stayed in a Motel 6, went to dinner at Ruby Tuesdays by himself (with all of the local kids who were heading to Hagerstown High prom) and went to the local theater to see Iron Man 2! Ha! Big adventures in Hagerstown! He currently in route to the Upper East Side! We've missed him terribly this weekend and can't wait to see him in a few hours.

I'm so excited to plan some weekend and day trips. My question for you...where should we go? I would love to pack Daisy up and bring her to a dog friendly beach. She used to be such the swimmer and she hasn't been in a car since the day she arrived! I can't wait to take her somewhere...anywhere! Please leave your suggestions in the comment section on where you think we should check out this summer. We already have a trip placed to Newport. Thanks in advance for your help!

Don't forget to enter my giveaway for Photo Card Creations $50.00 gift certificate! Click here to enter.

Doodle Bugs Paper Show-Bag Tags

I am in need of a bag tag for my diaper bag. I'm thinking one of the below options would be perfect for Baby J. Which one do you like the best? There are more options here. They make great baby or shower gifts for diaper bags. Or, you can use one for your kids book bag or overnight bag. Or, you can just pop one on your luggage so it will be easy to spot at the airport. You can get one during my sale for just $7.20! Just use the code MMM until Sunday for 10% off anything on the Doodle Bugs Website.

Ame & Lulu

Are y'all familiar with Ame and Lulu? I had never heard of them until they contacted me about reviewing one of their cosmetic bags. I'm so glad they did! I've been looking for an alternative to my Vera Bradley overnight luggage that has my maiden name monogram on it. I'm definitely in the market for an Ame and Lulu overnight back and I know that is one thing I want for Christmas!

Ame and Lulu sent me the cosmetic bag in the below pictures. It is their bungalo fabric. It is very well made and the lining is extra thick. I hate it when the lining is cheap and you know it is going to rip apart after just a few uses. The fabric is so pretty and I received a few compliments on a recent trip where I used it. It really is pretty! Cosmetic bags never seem to wear very well with me so I'm looking forward to putting this one to the test.

An up close of the fabric I picked!

The inside. I love the green with the THICK waterproof lining.

How cute is this? Should I monogram it or is that too much? What color would you monogram it?

Great size!

This is the pick they have on their website.

Here are a few other things I found while checking out Ame and Lulu's website:

I would like you to meet my future overnight bag. With a pink monogram, the two of us will be looking quite charming on our overnight trips! She is called the resort overnight bag. Hello pretty girl, oh the places we will go!

I love this one too! The green really pops. This would make a good diaper bag. Hmmm. I can always use another diaper bag, right?

This jewelry pouch is always a good choice. I love the brown with the hot pink.

Another great option for my baby boy diaper bag or a great carry on bag for the plane. These everyday totes come in lots of fun patterns. Check them out here.

But, I should probably get it in the pattern to match my future overnight bag, right? Baby J might not want me to use it as a diaper bag then. Hmm. So sweet and pretty. This pattern just makes me happy.

How fun is this? A little tee caddy. I should really have taken golf lessons when my Dad and Mom begged me to when I was younger. I never realized how smart my parents were until I had my own baby.

This pattern is also really pretty. I could see a few of my friends with it, of course, I will stick with my pink and green. But, wouldn't this look pretty in pink and green too!

Here is one of their tote inserts. Has anyone tried one of these before?

If I had taken up golf, then I certainly would need a set of these head covers!
This looks like the set my Mom would have if she played more golf. Right Mom?

I keep coming back to this pattern..

Now, I did play tennis growing up (Alta anyone?) and in high school and I would have loved to have this pretty little case. It is precious! This is their junior cover.
When I move back to the South someday, I plan to take tennis back up and I will buy this racquet cover because it is just gorgeous. They have lots of other pretty options though.
I'll need this tennis tote back too. Also available in all of the fabulous fabrics.

Do you have anything from Ame & Lulu? See anything you like? They have free shipping on all orders over $100.00 right now.

Update on Life

I have had one hell of a week! Let's see where do I start? My oldest best friend got married Saturday in Atlanta to the most wonderful guy. I have never seen her so happy and she looked absolutely beautiful. That's right...I was there!

You might remember, S had asked me to be a bridesmaid shortly after I found out I was pregnant. We both knew there was a slim chance I would be able to make it so I was made an "honorary bridesmaid" and we agreed I would play it by ear. Since Baby J came early that was really the only way we were able to make the trip! I had told S that the peditrician said Baby J should not fly until he was 2 months, but he actually told me at his 1 month appointment that he would be fine to fly at 7 week. It took some work, but I convinced my husband to take a day off work (he's in the middle of some big deals) and come with me to Atlanta for her wedding so I could surprise her. Our mothers met in lamaze class...we go WAY back. My parents were planning to be there and my little brother and sister were also planning to attend. My Dad and little brother and sister had not had an opportunity yet to meet Baby J so I was so, so excited about the weekend and my big surprise for S!!

Rewind to late Wednesday afternoon. I received a call from my Dad. He let me know that he had gone to the doctor and she suggested he take a stress test. The stress test did not go well and his doctor let him know late Wednesday that he would need a Cardiac Cath at 5:30am the following morning to check on a suspected blockage. I was a bundle of emotions as I realized how scary and serious this was and also that there was no way he and my Mom would be making it to Atlanta. Dad made it through the cath and they had to insert a stent in one of his arteries because he had a 90% blockage. His doctors agreed that his regular doctor saved his life. We were SO lucky and blessed that they caught this! I can't even imagine. I can't even write about what I would do if something had happened to my Daddy. He is my rock and this was one of the scariest 24 hour periods in my life. They released him from the hospital on Friday morning and he is expected to make a full recovery after some Cardiac Rehab.

A and I had to make a game time decision on Wednesday night if we were going to continue with our trip. My Mom had bought a bouncy seat, car seat adapter, pack and play, diapers, wipes, etc, etc and was supposed to pick us up at the Atlanta airport on Thursday evening. My little brother lives in Atlanta, so we decided that we would go ahead and come. My Dad convinced my Mom that he would be okay and my little sister drove home from the U of A instead of going to the wedding. She was his nurse for the weekend so that my Mom could go to the wedding. I know my Mom would normally never leave my Dad's side...but the docs and my Dad said he was fine and she should go. Everyone knew how important it was for her to be there too. She arranged all his meals and for his friends to check on him (in addition to my sister) and headed to Atlanta on Friday, arriving just in time for the rehearsal dinner.

A, Baby J and I arrived on Thursday night. Baby J slept the ENTIRE way there and did not wake up until we arrived at my brother's house. We checked into the Georgian Terrace on Thursday night (they upgraded us to a two bedroom suite which was so nice) and Baby J stayead up for the rest of the evening. Lovely. On Friday, I just walked right into S's bridesmaid luncheon at our country club. I know she was so excited to see us. She said she looked up and was like "oh there is M and Baby J," then a few seconds later she was like "What in the world are they doing here?????" It was so much fun for me!! Did she really think I would miss her big weekend? It was great for her to get to meet baby J. She and her new husband are moving to Germany right after they return from their honeymoon in Costa Rica. (For more on S's adventures, click here to read her blog.)

A's parents graciously offered to come from Birmingham and babysit for all the various events. I think they were pretty excited about some alone time with their grandbaby. We went to the rehearsal dinner on Friday night, but had to leave a little early when the bottle of pumped breast milk we left for them somehow leaked all over the place and Baby J was ready for a meal. Oops--someone forgot to put the valve in the Dr. Brown's bottle. We're still learning! On Friday night, Baby J slept for SEVEN hours. It is his personal best! I felt like a new person on Saturday, it was so lovely. The wedding was at noon on Saturday at Christ the King, followed by the reception at the Fox Theater in the Egyptian Ballroom. Everything was perfect and the weather was heavenly. I'll post a few pictures soon.

We left Atlanta early yesterday morning to come back to the city. Baby J slept the entire way (I think the plane is like a giant bouncy seat complete with white noise.) My Mom made it home to my Dad and he is doing well and goes back to the doctor this week. My sister is coming to visit me this weekend for her spring break so she'll get her fill of her nephew. It was a pretty crazy few days, but I am so glad we decided to make the trip. Seeing someone you love make a lifelong commitment to the perfect guy for them is one of the best things in the entire world.

Congrats S and R! I love you both!

The Bronx Zoo

Also during the Memorial Day weekend we took a trip to the Bronx Zoo. We had a great time even though it was VERY crowded. Here are some of my favorite pictures from the day.


Momma came to say hello to me! I would put my hand up on the glass and she would put hers palm to palm with mine against the glass. It was the sweetest thing.

A baby!
The new monorail.
Roll Tide!

The Butterfly Garden

Sea lions!
Giraffes!

This gorilla was picking his nose---then he would eat it. The crowd could not quit laughing.

Summer days for the bear. He looks like he's relaxing in a hot tub!
Scratching his back on the limb

Pacing the cage
A little warm for this polar bear!

Tiger coming straight towards me!