nataliesolis's Blog

Just got back from 4 days in NYC. I went to visit my best friend from college who's moving next month back to San Fran, her hometown. We had great girl time together...shopping and stuffing our faces at all of my favorite haunts. I lived there for about 4 years out of college so going back is kind of like being in a time warp...so little has changed and yet everything's different.
We saw Gypsy on Broadway. Wow, what a performance by Broadway diva, Patti LuPone. She recently got the Tony for her performance and now know why.
My friend also exposed me to the latest rage in frozen treats...Pinkberry. Those of you who recognize it from California know what I'm talking about. How good can frozen yogurt be you ask. Well, at 11pm on Sunday the line for a yogurt spilled out into the street. I waited half an hour crammed in the tiny shop with Pinkberry crazed New Yorkers to get a small with NO toppings and paid 4 bucks and change for it. All it took was one bite to realize why people are so obsessed. I loved it so much I had a medium with three toppings, blueberries, mochi (a chewy, hard to describe food), and carob chips. It was fabulous and worth the wopping $6 I shelled out for it. Am I the only one who thinks that's insane for yogurt! But...since I love it so much and am now craving it, I'm hoping, praying, someone will open a franchise here.
And finally to Batman. So cool to see Batman in Gotham! My only complaint is that the guy behind me kept sucking the popcorn out of his teeth just loud enough to annoy me.
All in all, though, a wonderful time in NYC.

   I am my mother's only child. For the longest time it was just me and her. She was a single mom who worked long hours, and even as a little girl I knew she was underpaid and overworked. Despite being exhausted in the evenings, she'd kick off her heels and I knew I had her full attention. No task was too big. There were all those hours she helped me with homework, the countless times she shuttled me all over town for activities and dates with friends, the meals she made, the house she cleaned, the sleepless nights when I was sick, and the steady flow of care packages when I was away at college.  I always knew if it was important to me, it was important to her.

   What was important to me as a kid was dance. I'll never forget the time my dance costume was at the cleaners and I had a performance that night.  The cleaners was closed and I was devastated. That was the beginning of our adventure. Over several hours and after a lot of desperate phone calls , my mom somehow managed to track down the manager of the cleaners at home. The laundry was done off site, but my mom convinced the woman to go hunt down my outfit from what I imagined was a warehouse facility with mounds of dirty clothes. We eventually met the woman in a movie theater parking lot on the other side of town and she pulled my crumpled outfit from her trunk. My mom and I left feeling like special agents who'd successfully completed a clandestine mission. 

   My mom didn't give up, even though I'm sure she would have preferred doing something else with her Saturday afternoon. She could have easily told me I'd be missing my performance, which in retrospect, wasn't really that earth-shattering anyway, but she didn't. What she did say is, "when you have a child, I expect you to do the same for them." And because of her example, I will.  

I love you, Mom.

 And to all the moms out there who always go the extra mile....Happy Mother's Day!

 

Wow! what a day for Mayfest. I spent a few hours out there this (saturday) morning, and it was fantastic. I was so happy to spend a few hours outdoors in the cool, crisp air before going into work. Just wanna let everyone know, it's a fabulous weekend to be there with the kids. Seems like there were a lot more booths this year. I had an egg Mcmuffin on the way over there so sadly I wasn't hungry enough to try any of the food. Corn dogs are my fave, but maybe next time. Anyway, I hope you guys get out there and stop by the FOX 4 booth. There's lots of goodies to be had and great people to meet. Have fun!

Eat, pray, love is probably how must of us would like to spend our lives, if only life didn't keep getting in the way. Actually Eat, Pray, Love is the simple yet profound title of a book by Elizabeth Gilbert....and I promise it will leave a lasting impression, if not change the way you look at life.

I'm guessing many women on this blog have already heard of it. Gilbert has done the talk show circuit, including Oprah, and her book is front and center at Barnes and Noble stores across the country. I have to admit I hadn't heard of it or seen it until the day I bought it. The title piqued my curiosity and the synopsis on the back cover alludes to the fact that she travels through exotic countries, and that was enough for me. (In case you haven't read my bio, I love to travel!)

Let me just say it's one of the best books I've read in a long, long, long time. Gilbert, in her interview with Oprah, said she wrote the book for herself and no one else. But as a nice little bonus for us she connects to every woman who has ever gone through a breakup or divorce or left a job, or suddenly had an identity crisis and felt like she had to reinvent herself, starting from square one. No, it's not a self help book. Quite frankly at times her depression is so vivid you can actually hear the wah, wah, wah in the background.

Gilbert is your average over-achiever. She has a good husband, a nice house, nice car, great job, but her unhappiness and uneasiness in that life become more than she can bear. As you continue reading you realize the book is more about her journey, a recovery if you will, than the  things that nearly broke her for good. And the beauty of it is you come to see how she takes her life back....And if it's possible for her, well gosh darn, it's possible for anyone.

Ok, I have way over simplified a wonderful book, but I just wanted to share it with you.

But please don't take my word for it.....

Eat, Pray, Love.....and READ (it)!

Prom....Some have fond memories....Others have a mental block on the whole experience.

For better or worse, it's become a right of passage for a lot of young adults and an experience a lot of girls would rather die than miss. Maria Sotolongo did a segment today on Good Day on Prom Shop Project. You can donate a gently-used prom dress (and accessories) for a girl who might not be able to afford it.

<http://www.promshopproject.com>

You might have also noticed we followed up the segment with a funny picture of Dan Godwin who was rocking a light-blue tux for his prom....way back when. It got me thinking, I'm sure a lot of you have some hysterical prom stories. Remember wearing that dress you saved all your money to get, only to look back on it years later and realize you bore a striking resemblance to Ugly Betty? Any embarrassing moments you have yet to live down, like splitting your pants doing the moves you saw on Solid Gold? Got the pix to prove you REALLY DID look like Jennifer Beal from Flash Dance or the lead singer from a Flock of Seagulls at your senior prom? Prove it. We could use a good laugh.