mmm$$$$mmmmm

A very generous New York City citizen (who shall remain anonymous) gave Aaron a gift card to Nobu filled with multiple Benjamins on it. Was it that obvious the Monsons needed to be fed a gourmet meal? So this past Friday we cashed in for a combined 10 courses and a night of trendy Tribeca fun. This post's for you, gift card giver!

no idea what this is but we ate it. happily.

the Eighth Wonder of the World

Coney Island is a strange place. We heard if you go in the water at the beach there, you will come out with a rash. We've decided two times to Coney Island was enough for us. However both times showed us some good shiz.

need I say more

Ohhh the Mermaid Parade. Now THAT was a sight to behold.

Watermelon Vikings: genius

aaron loves Astroland

I got really excited when I saw this

also when I saw this

Oh my gosh, and this. It's Miss Coney Island. Who knows how long she's been stuck in that glass box. But if you pay 25 cents, she will robotically dance for you to really scary music. It's awesome.

view from the wonder ferris wheel overlooking the disease-laden ocean

The Mom

Momma Miller came to town in June. WOO HOO! Did we have fun or what. It was her first time to New York City and I'm pretty sure she had the time of her life. Miss you Mom!

times square

new york black and white cookie

enjoying central park

ny bagel

dinnertime at Grimaldi's with Scarlett

the metropolitan museum of art

TIME IS A TICKIN

Why haven’t you visited us yet???? PEOPLE we only have 6 weeks left in New York!!! GET OUT HERE.

deluxe accommodations

luxury at its finest

cut backs

There are several of you wondering what happened to the long boring stringy not-ever-fixed hair on my head. Well I chopped it off on March 1. I was tired of the length, tired of losing gobs from stress, and tired of the 7-year debate to cut it or not. Last summer I was going to finally do it!! but realized how foolish it was to toss those long locks into the wind just for the birds. So I grew it out for another 7 months to give to Locks of Love. (However there was a brief period when I was very intrigued about the possibility of selling my hair for thousands of dollars…talk to me about this if you are considering a hair chop.) Now it’s growing out and I feel like SHAAAVING it because I am sweating all the d*mn time in New York and I CANNOT TAKE another piece of sweaty HAIR on my neck ONE MORE DAY. Oh March 1, how I loved you.

so long and so sad

so short and so happy

07/04/08

Celebrating the Fourth of July in New York City was really cool. Maybe not quite as exciting as Provo’s Stadium of Fire with Miley Cyrus, but it was nonetheless a good day to remember. Scarlett & Chris Lindsay had us over for a celebratory dinner (we brought the blue potato chips) (hey we're on a budget) and Scarlett whipped up a delicious BBQ-inspired meal, everything made from scratch as usual (get that girl a cooking show!). After someone plugged the toilet (Sorry I have bowel dysfunction!!) we walked to the East River on the Brooklyn side to watch the fireworks. Each year Macy’s puts on a dazzling display of fireworks that they say is the world’s largest fireworks display, not to mention their bragging statement I heard every night on the news, “Six times bigger than Washington, D.C.'s display”. Mike Hassen, I'll have you verify that please.

In spite of drizzling rain, there was no rain on this parade. We had a great time standing under an overpass, with our eyes peeled to the sky. Happy Independence Day, America.

freedom to plunge

freedom to spend $7.2 million dollars on fireworks

freedom to party with cousins

Princess Pity Party

Lest you think my life is all roses and pony rides, let me fill you in on some recent happenings.
1. Blood. Yesterday while at my desk working hard for Sundance, the chair I was SITTING ON completely broke from underneath me and I fell directly on the hard wood floor with no warning. Not only did the chair break into pieces (which means we now owe the Christiansens a new chair, how the H am I going to find the same one) both of my legs were bruised, scraped, and cut from the splintering wood. YOU STUPID IKEA CHAIR! I was in a lot of pain and dear sweet Aaron had to bandage me up when he got home from work. I HATE chairs. HATE THEM.

2. Food. You would think living in New York City – a foodie’s paradise – would mean we eat exceptional meals every day. Think again. Food is freaking expensive here. More than you’re paying in any state you’re living in right now, I guarantee it. Thus we cannot afford to eat the way we used to. Pistachio crusted halibut, homemade pomegranate vinaigrettes, molasses marinated rack of pork: I bid you farewell. Mac ‘n cheese, PBJ, cold cereal: I bid you hello. Mix in a non-working oven, a non-airconditioned apartment, and a non-existent dishwasher, pantry, and full-size refrigerator … you have a recipe for disaster. It’s not that I don’t want to cook or bake this summer, I just can’t! Having to drastically lower my food standards has seriously been hard. It is the common occurrence to hear a lot of laughter (mixed with tears) during our “dinners”, as we sit and stare at this crap.

at least it's organic mac 'n cheese...

what would i do without Trader Joe's frozen food section?

3. Pills. Many of you know I am currently being treated for Rheumatoid Arthritis. Joint pain you say? Try joint pain, throbbing ligaments, swollen parts, and growing nodules. I am taking a heavy-duty chemotherapy medication which so far hasn’t done much but cause hair loss and mouth sores. The other prescribed pharmaceutical I’m on is Prednisone, the main side effect being weight gain. Can I just tell you how fun it is to gain 20 lbs in 5 months? It’s like my favorite thing next to broken chairs and poor-man dinners.

Cinco de Free-o (as long as we’re on the topic of winning contests)

Here are some pictures from our wonderful 5 day trip to Puerto Morales, Mexico. We celebrated our first wedding anniversary on May 5, 2008. Who wants to guess that this trip was way better than our honeymoon to the same area one year prior. No chronic diarrhea, no disgusting food, and no paying thousands of our own dollars for a vaca. Just me and the Mons, enjoying every incredible luxurious moment together. Twelve minutes of hula hooping? I'd say it was worth it.

aaron on the pier of our resort, located in the background

view of beach from pool (that no one was ever at)(the beach or the pool)

our welcome amenity basket, compliments of the General Manager (it really pays to know people)

one of our two 42" plasma screen TVs

my favorite thing about our room: the stone bathtub (currently on my 2008 Christmas list)

one view from our deck

the private pool on our deck

(did i mention we were upgraded to a $1,200/night penthouse suite?)

leave me alone, i'm dreaming of hula hoops

turn down service: chocolate dipped strawberries and Spanish wine

enjoying breakfast on the deck

our new winter beach house

mmmm sopes

don't hate

another hidden talent


thank you for the best year of my life

I asked Aaron if we can go back to Ceiba del Mar for every anniversary and he said we can only go back for our 100th. Not if I have anything to do with it!