Author: <span>Nadya</span>
Halloween is a holiday I have come to enjoy and embrace having started to partake in all the festivities after moving here from the USSR at the age of 11. I was not so enthralled with Halloween as a tween and then a teenager having been too old to find and see the magic of it all.
The very magic that I didn’t have a chance to embrace as a child, I am helping my kids embrace as a parent. This is also the first year that we were able to all join in on the trick-or-treating and everyone enjoyed the experience. It helped that, despite living in the city, we picked the most beautiful neighborhood and street to visit. The residents on Delancey street in Society Hill really go out of their way to decorate their homes and get involved with the trick-or-treaters. Many residents dress up and sit out on their front steps to hand out candy and engage the kids in conversation. I will never tire of saying that I am charmed by Philadelphia, Society Hill, and Old City, especially. Old, cobbled streets, quiet and stately homes the facades of which have changed little since they were first built in the 17th and 18th centuries. These homes are that much more charming decked out in full Halloween glory.
The girls enjoyed more than one celebration having been invited to a friend’s halloween party over the weekend complete with a scary story under a blanket and decorated treats. Until next year when we can get creative with new costumes and maybe make my nephew’s suggestion, that I wear a kangaroo costume and have Eliza be a pouch baby, come true.
This was, by all accounts, a three alarm fire children’s party weekend. Evan and I hosted one for Sophia and we attended two others. To say that I would very much like a weekend to unwind is an understatement. I have vivid visions of pillows and blankets, lazy mornings, and fluffy buttermilk pancakes.
For the first time ever, Sophia had a clear vision for what kind of a party she wanted. “A mermaid party with a chocolate and vanilla cake, all our friends, and Alex…” said Sophia when we first spoke to her. I haven’t done too many themed child parties but decided that even I could tackle this one. Purple tablecloths, starfish, sea-shells, and pink and gold confetti set the stage for the tablescapes. I felt that though pretty, the sea-themed decorations would, on their own, will not have enough height to really stand out in the room. We decided that purple/blue and white hydrangea would add height and delicate femininity.
Hydrangeas, confetti, and balloons were mere decorations, but the real stars of the party were those who made time to come and celebrate Sophia’s BIG 5! Eliza, as we can see here, did not suffer greatly as the birthday sister. Not only did she get a few small birthday sister presents, but she was loved on by her aunt and uncle.
That’s a wrap. See you next year when we’re shifting to much smaller, more exclusive celebrations for the kids’ birthdays.
These days our lives are much like this merry go round; round and round they go. Events, birthdays, parties, and family gatherings keep popping up on our calendar and while it would be nice to have a few weekends or weekend days to ourselves, we press on and try our best to make it to every single one. Family and friendships are very important to us and we do our best to maintain them by joining in special celebrations.
I feel like in this day and age and especially at this stage in our lives, as parents of young children, it would be too easy to drift apart from our circle of friends. But the support and diversion that our friends and family provide from the at times deep-trench warfare that is parenthood is immeasurable. And so, at times beaten by dress-related battles and toddler tantrums, we press on to the next birthday bash and outing. In doing so we are teaching the girls that family and friends are relationships that must be maintained, honored, and cherished.
Evan and I just returned from a weekend in Mexico City. This getaway almost didn’t happen because … life gets hectic this time of year or maybe, now-a-days, it is hectic all year round. Fortunately, traveling without kids doesn’t require so much planning or diligent packing. Although it was a difficult choice between a relaxing beach/mountains destination and an active getaway in one of the largest cities in the world, we are glad we chose the latter.
Mexico City was, by far, the most unexpected and welcome surprise. I expected a big sprawling city that would feel foreign and unfamiliar bursting at the seams with ~20 million people. Instead, I found a lively, beautiful metropolis, densely packed with parks and public works of art. The architecture of Mexico City is the most awe-inspiring juxtaposition of European renaissance splendor and geometric grandness typical of Aztec and other pre-Columbian styles.
The city is lively, vibrant, full of colors, flavors, smells that are otherworldly (at least to us). Here is a Mole spice stand presenting all the chilis and spices that are called for in most recipes.
The architecture is grand and there are even government-funded musicians in the streets which play lovely classical tunes, but the food, the food is nothing short of extraordinary. Restaurants, stands open all day, every day, full of exotic treats and delights for the locals and adventurous travelers. Theirs is a food and drink culture and at the price of ~ $1.oo USD for a taco, you couldn’t not try a bit of everything. Even the crickets and ant eggs. CRICKETS AND ANT EGGS. Yes, we tried them.
Art. Art. Art. Mexico City has more museums than any other city in the world. These are Diego Rivera’s murals in the Palacio National. There’s so much to see and take in from them that, to really understand all that he is trying to convey, I’ll have to come back over and over again.
Art in museums and art on the streets. We’re spoiled with our murals here in Philadelphia but the ones in Mexico City were such a treat. Vibrant and traditional they made for welcome surprises as we explored the city.
Culinary traditions are highly respectful of seasonality and we happened to be visiting the last week of mushroom season. You can put anything into a taco including mushrooms, pumpkin (the season for it is just starting now) and huilacoche.
Authentic aztec treasures exported from the surrounding areas exported straight into the jungle of the city.
Wild, eclectic, awe-inspiring, utterly charming, and eye opening is how I found Mexico City. But perhaps the best treasure that this wonderful city has to offer are the people. Warm, enchanting, religious, traditional, and spirited they live in harmony with a great respect for one another, for their culture, and their families. So the next time you want to go to Mexico, think about forsaking the beach and going to Mexico City to see it for yourself.