Category Archives: USA

Las Vegas holds a special place in our hearts–it’s where John proposed to me!  He set up a “date around the world” inviting me to breakfast at Paris, shopping in Rome (Caesar’s), and playing the World’s Largest Slot Machine in NY, NY.  Each stop had a handwritten invitation.  The day culminated with a viewing of the Phantom of the Opera at the Venetian and dinner at Zeffirino on the Grand Canal.  After dinner, John handed me a map of Venice.  When I unfolded it, I discovered another handwritten note:  “I wanted to take you here, but thought I would save it for our honeymoon”.  When I put down the map, John was on one knee with a beautiful ring and a final invitation:  to our wedding.

We always knew we wanted to come back to Las Vegas, but our travels have taken us elsewhere.  On the tenth anniversary of our engagement, my water broke.  Conrad was born two days later.  So we definitely didn’t visit then 😉

Almost seven months in to parenthood, my Mom and Daddy (Mumsie and Granddaddy) offered to watch our little guy for a few days while we took a holiday.  Where did we choose to go baby free for a few days?  LAS VEGAS!!!!

We made it!

Our first night, we headed straight for downtown.  I had been to Vegas a couple of times before, but always stuck to the Strip (or a couple of blocks off).  It was cool to see the “original Las Vegas.”  We aren’t into gambling, but the people watching sure was fun!

Iconic Downtown Las Vegas

Our journey to downtown was capped by one of the best meals of our trip:  Pizza Rock!  It’s a nightclub meets pizzeria with four pizza ovens.  The ovens use different temperatures and techniques to cook the pizza, resulting in the perfect finish for whatever you order.  We got the Margherita Pizza (Winner of the World Pizza Cup in Naples–I mean, how authentic can you get?) and the New Yorker (Winner of the Best Traditional Pizza in the World at the Las Vegas Pizza Expo).  The Margherita Pizza was one of the most delicious pizzas we’ve had since going to Naples itself.  They only make 73 of these a day–so make sure to get your order in early!  The New Yorker was hearty and filling.  Just like you’d find in the Big Apple.

The New Yorker.

After an amazing full night of sleep sans baby monitor, we awoke to this amazing view.

Good morning, Las Vegas!

We stayed at the Encore, a Wynn property.  And, enjoyed breakfast in our room each morning.

Breakfast with a view. Yes those croissants are huge!

Our first full day, all we wanted to do is sit, relax, and enjoy the sunshine!  So we parked at the pool for the day.

Poolside.

Before heading in, we checked in with our little man who was having a GREAT time in Kentucky!

Having so much fun!

That evening we saw The Rat Pack is Back, a delightful intimate show with Rat Pack impersonators.  John and I have long enjoyed the music–the show was great!

With Frankie, Dean, and Sammie.

The next morning, we hit The Strip!

Chihuly at the Bellagio.  An old favorite 🙂

Start spreading the news…

Excalibur behind us–where we stayed when we got engaged!

We had lunch at a delicious Franco/Belgian restaurant:  The Bardot Brasserie.  Seriously one of the best pastry baskets ever.  And, I may have put a baguette in my purse.  😉

Basket of pastries. AKA basket of deliciousness.

Duck.  And Waffles.  Amazing.

After a BIG brunch, we continued down the Strip.

Grand hotels call for grand Christmas decorations!  At the MGM.

Sun setting over The Strip

That evening, we saw O–a show I’ve been wanting to see for a decade.  It was as incredible as I imagined.  Artistic with a few aqua acrobatics.

O at the Bellagio.

Then we took an evening stroll down the Strip to dinner.

Ah, Paris. With a palm tree.

The famous Bellagio fountain!

From Paris to Venice, all in one evening!

We had dinner at Bouchon–Thomas Keller’s Las Vegas restaurant.  I’ve had Thomas Keller’s “French Laundry” cookbook sitting on my coffee table for years, so I was pretty excited.

Christmas came early!

Salade Maraîchère au Chèvre Chaud

Steak Frites

Lemon Tart

The next morning, slept late, then opted for a lovely (light) breakfast at the Wynn Breakfast Buffet.  It was whimsical and had a plethora of options.

Whimsical buffet breakfast at the Wynn.

For our last day, we chose to sit by the pool.  It was so nice to be able to read and nap uninterrupted for hours.

Ironically, this little gem popped up on my Timehop that day.  This picture was from our first trip (with three great friends) to Las Vegas.  Our engagement trip happened the following spring!

Memories…

For dinner on our last night, we went to Zeffirino–the restaurant where John proposed in 2007.  I’m so thankful we went when we did, as the restaurant closed in December.  Not sure where we will go back to in ten more years!

10 years and 7 months ago to the day–John proposed to me here.

After the show we saw LE RÊVE at the Wynn.  It is similar to O, but honestly, the stunts and acrobatics are on a whole other level.  We held our breaths several times, especially during the high dives.

Inspiring

The next morning, we were up with the sun to head back to KY and our baby boy.  We felt refreshed and re-energized after our few days away.  We are so thankful to Mumsie and Granddaddy for taking such good care of our little man.

Las Vegas will always be a special place to us–can’t wait for our next visit!

Good morning and good bye, Las Vegas!

Gorgeous journey home.

For Christmas 2016, my parents gifted us a trip to the beach!  We knew Conrad would be coming our way in the spring, so a summer beach trip would be a relaxing way to spend a week together.

This was also Conrad’s first ROAD TRIP!  We drove from Philadelphia to Outer Banks, NC, a seven-ish hour drive.  We did it in a day and he was a champ!

We spent the week mainly relaxing and enjoying each other’s company.  A major highlight was Patrick’s (my brother) proposal to his now fiancee, Megan!  Other than this, we slept, read, ate, and played with the baby.  This series of pictures is a departure from my usual play-by-play blog entry.  Eat, sleep, play, repeat does not make for exciting reading.  But, it sure was a precious time with family.  It’s a trip that we will remember forever.  Thanks, Mumsie and Grandaddy!  Enjoy the pictures 🙂

Snoozing!  A great way to spend a road trip!

We made it.  Now to figure out how to get into the house!

Typical family meal with the baby on the table!

Newly minted family of three!

Baby’s first swim.  He does not look impressed.

Mumsie is so funny!

Enter a caption

Conrad with his toes in the sand. Again, not impressed.

Maybe a nap will help!

First dip in the ocean

Family photo (minus Patty and Megan)

Yummy southern beach food.  Bring on the fried stuff!

Conrad reacting to his cultural experience.  Nothing like Philly!

Another cultural experience.  The Bru Thru!

Momma and Dad got a date night!  It was delicious!

On the porch in some monkey jammies!

Post-engagement brunch spread!

Engagement brunch crew, minus Mumsie and Conrad.

Fresh from the beach, the newly engaged couple!

Refreshed and ready for proper photos

It’s exhausting when your Uncle proposes to your future Aunt

Conrad tolerating us.  Haha.

Sweet time with my baby boy.

Mumsie is so comfy!

Family beach shot, Conrad is starting to chill out.

More baby snuggles 🙂

Beach trip success!

Mumsie snuggles 🙂

Still not a huge fan, but definitely tolerating the ocean.  Hahaha

Sweet pic from our last day!

Conrad turned 3 months on our last day 

No trip to the south is complete without stopping at a legit BBQ joint!

First Road Trip = A Success!  

The Hills have featured on the blog before (we are a fan of adventures together) and they are dear friends of ours.  So, when we had the opportunity to travel to Dallas to visit them and introduce our kids to each other, we jumped at the chance!  We figure, the babies have to like each other, right?

This was Conrad’s longest flight to date (about 3 hours).  He did great on the flight, but once we got to Dallas, he was a little cranky.

All parent travelers have moments like this! Conrad was DONE!

When we arrived at the Hill’s beautiful home, we took a little rest.  Then, Conrad got to meet his very first dog, Hattie!

Conrad loves Hattie 🙂

Then, he got to meet the star of the show, Finley!  Finley is about 4 months older than Conrad and full of energy.  They’re really sweet together.  The older they get, the more they’ll be able to play.  This bodes well for us and our future adventures!

Conrad is a Finley fan!

On our first full day there, we ventured to the George W. Bush Presidential Library.  It was a stunning building, with excellent exhibits.  As George W. Bush was the first president during whose administration I had significant political awareness, this was really cool.  It traced all different kinds of events, including 9/11 and made me realize how human W really is.

The Hills at the Museum

Babies at the Library

The library included a replica of what the Oval Office looked like at the time of George W. Bush’s presidency.

Conrad was ready for action.

Then we had a delicious lunch at Bubba’s.  Ross’s favorite was the fruit salad, which actually had more marshmallows than fruit.  Gotta love the south!

Calm babies.

It was delicious.

Next, we went to a coffee shop!

They really like each other 😉

Dallas!

And, we wrapped up the day with a visit to the Brewery!

Conrad sized brew.   No, he did not drink it.  😉

The next morning we went for an early lunch at a delicious Mexican restaurant!  Because, you can’t go to Texas and not have Mexican!

So yummy–but not yet, baby boy!

Hands full!

And next, more coffee!!!

I LOVE this one!

Next we went to the Dallas Farmers’ Market.  Where we bought a cow hyde rug.  And drank a Topo Chico.  When in Texas, right?  😉

A very Texas day.

The next morning, our return flight came all too soon!

Our trip was characterized by some sightseeing, lots of delicious food and drink and great time together.  The best part was hanging out with good friends and catching up on life which has changed significantly for ALL OF US over the last 12 months.  My favorite memories are “Mom’s Night Out” and our late nights on the Hill’s back porch.

We had such a lovely time visiting Ross, Katie, Finely, and Hattie and can’t wait to see them again!!  We love you guys!

Airplane Selfie

I was blessed with a relatively straight forward pregnancy.  Other than a banana that sent me to labor and delivery at 35 weeks (false alarm) and some last minute baby acrobatics (that resulted in a breech baby who flipped back at 39 weeks) things went smoothly.  This was such a blessing as we had so much change in the months leading up to Conrad’s arrival.

We moved to Philadelphia from London when I was about 7 months along meaning new doctors, a new hospital, and an entirely new health system to adjust to (we’d been in the UK and under the NHS for almost six years).  And John started a new job that requires some regular travel.  On the plus side, we are closer to family and our US-based friends.  And we get to explore a new city and enjoy a new travel base.  I think the word of 2017 is “change”!

April progressed and we felt more and more settled in Philadelphia.  And ready for baby to come.

About 38 weeks here. And ready for baby to come!

Easter came and went.  No baby.

Easter Sunrise Service in Rittenhouse Square.  39 weeks pregnant.

Conrad’s due date (and my Daddy’s birthday), April 24 came and went.  Still no baby!

Baking in more ways than one!  😉

April 27 rolled around, the 10-year anniversary of John’s engagement proposal.  No baby.  We celebrated with some orange juice in our classy Vegas champagne flutes.  Then, John headed off to a work dinner and I parked my rather large self on our new couch!

10-years since John popped the question!

At about 8pm, I felt something wet on my leg and I leapt off of our new sofa (it was the fastest I’d moved in a while).  Could this be it?  I called John at the restaurant–they had just finished appetizers.  I told him to stay put while I called the doctor.  I’d been having contractions for a few days, but nothing regular or so intense that I had to cease all activity.

I explained my symptoms to the doctor over the phone.  He told me he thought my water had broken!  However, as my contractions were irregular and not very strong, I didn’t need to rush.  I could come to the hospital in the next few hours.  I called John excitedly and told him the news.  They were just bringing the steaks to the table, so I told him to stay and finish the dinner.  Honestly, I wanted to shower and pack a few last minute items anyway.  Plus, he could bring me some food since I wouldn’t be allowed to eat anything once I checked into the hospital.

John followed my advice and stayed through dinner (and dessert/coffee–haha) much to the humor of his colleagues.  They still won’t let him live it down–especially since he got “the call” at dinner.

After eating (and texting me every 10 minutes for an hour) John brought me some food, packed up, and we headed to Hahnemann University Hospital.  Since we only live a few blocks away, we walked.  I wanted my own Rocky moment!  😉  Plus, it was NFL Draft weekend in Philly–we had to get into the spirit!

In labor and walking to the hospital. Excited to meet our baby boy!

We checked into the hospital around just before midnight on 27 April 2017.  I won’t go into great medical detail here (if you’d like to know the story, I am more than happy to tell you in person), but after some drugs to speed things up, an epidural, and a quick 15-minute push, Conrad was born!  I was in labor for a total of about 30 hours–he was born on 29 April 2017 just after 2am.

Conrad Ernest Candeto.  Born at 2:04am on 29 April 2017.  20.5 inches long, weighing 8 pounds 2 ounces.

Our sweet baby boy!

My parents had flown in upon hearing I had gone into labor.  They arrived late Friday night, just before Conrad’s early Saturday morning arrival.

Proud Dad and grandparents!

It felt so good to have a shower and get settled into a recovery room.  Now, we could focus on our adorable little bundle!

Conrad.

We loved all of the baby snuggles we got those first few days!

Birth:  Nailed It!

And my first meal request:  sushi!  John had it delivered and it was absolutely scrumptious!

So much deliciousness.

After a couple of nights in the hospital, we were released.  Only being a few blocks from our apartment we walked home, baby and grandparents in tow!

Leaving the Hospital.  They let me walk out 🙂

Walking through City Hall on our way home.

We were blessed with a very positive birth experience  I cannot say enough good things about the doctors, nurses, midwives, staff, etc. at Hahnemann University Hospital.  John and I often compare our “customer service experience” there with the likes of American Express or Disney.  I felt empowered, informed, and well taken care of.  I am very grateful for that.  I always say that I wouldn’t give birth for fun, but they made the daunting experience very pleasant for this first time Momma.  And to top it off, we have now have our sweet baby boy!

Our biggest…and most excellent adventure yet!

Thanks for reading and sharing in our joy!  We can’t wait to show the world to this little guy–and take him along on our Most Excellent Adventure!

Philadelphia is an amazing city in its own right, but I do have to admit one of the perks of living here is the proximity to NYC.  We took advantage of this by boarding the Amtrak early one Saturday and heading to New York for the night for one last baby-free trip–just the two of us.

Our first stop was Chinatown for some Dim Sum.  It had been a while since we’d had some really good dim sum (visiting Hong Kong spoiled us forever), but we managed to find some in New York!

Nom Wah Tea Parlor – the first Dim Sum in Chinatown!

After some googling, we opted to try Nom Wah Tea Parlor — and I’m so glad we did!  It’s no frills with some delicious dim sum, a lot like our favorite spots in Hong Kong.  The highlight was the house speciality, a pork bao.  And don’t forget to order some Chinese tea (Bo-lay is my preference) to wash it down.

Pork bao.  Aka deliciousness.

The pork bao, soup dumplings, and rice flour rolls were all delicious.  You can imagine my delight when I found out they also have a Philly location!  Score!

Our bellies full, we strolled around Chinatown and took in the ambiance.  Our hotel was just a few blocks away…

Once we reached our hotel, we dropped our bags and I took some time to rest.  33 weeks into the pregnancy, I was starting to slow down…just a bit ;).  We stayed at a lovely boutique hotel in Soho called Nomo Soho.  The location was excellent–close to the food and sights we wanted to see, but a bit away from the main tourist hustle and bustle of Times Square.  Perfect for our quick little getaway!

Hotel Entrance

View from our room

View from our room

We didn’t take many pictures of our evening (FAIL) but we did go to a delicious restaurant and then for drinks at our hotel after.  The hotel lobby had a club-esque vibe in the evenings.  With my big belly and my non-alcoholic beverage, I didn’t feel like I quite hit the level of coolness required to hang out there ;).

The next morning, we attempted to check out Dominique Ansel’s bakery to try a famed Cronut.  However, the queue was down the block and this pregnant lady was HUNGRY!  We settled for bagels and headed uptown for a stroll through Central Park to visit the Met.  I had never been before and was very excited to see one of the best museums in the world!

Excited to be at the Met

33 weeks–Peanut loves museums!

Washington crossing the Delaware

Stunning building, inside and out

After touring the museum, we headed to a jazz brunch at one of John’s favorite jazz institutions:  Blue Note.  The last time we were here as an engaged couple nearly 10 years ago, while John was interning in New York.

This time, we saw a jazz set put on by student musicians.  The food was ok–but the music and ambiance are hard to beat.  Side note–Peanut loves jazz music.  He kicks as the music plays.

Jazz Brunch at Blue Note

From there, we did a little bit of walking and taking in the city until we ended up in Little Italy.  Believe it or not, I was hungry again, so we settled in to a quaint Italian restaurant for a bite.

Little Italy

The restaurant was like something out of a movie.  We entered through a bar and walked by several gentlemen who I am sure are regulars and into a connecting building which served as the dining room.  There were old fashioned plastic checked table cloths and an old-fashioned menu featuring Italian-American classics.  We ordered a sampler meal which came with a massive plate of antipasti (not pictured) and a huge plate of the house speciality pastas.  So. Much. Food.  But it was delicious!

Italian done the American way 😉

After this meal, it was time to head back to Philly via the Amtrak.  It was a quick 36 hours in New York, but it’s always great to get a taste of the Big Apple.  See you soon, NYC.  Next time, Peanut will help us explore 🙂

Farewell, New York. See you soon!

For Christmas 2015, my parents gifted us a family trip to NYC and Quebec City!  NYC because a childhood friend is starring on Broadway in Paramour and Quebec City because Mom and Daddy went last year and loved it!

We flew out early and all met up in NYC!

Start spreadin’ the news…The Wallaces/Candetos hit NYC!

There was a major heat wave happening in the city while we were there but that didn’t stop us from making the most of our time in the Big Apple.  We still waited in the queue to check out Ellen’s Stardust Diner, where the waitstaff sing show tunes!  I personally loved it!

Ellen’s Stardust Diner–a favorite of mine!

Paramour:  Starring Ruby Lewis!

We had a wander around the city for the rest of the evening then went to bed early.  We needed our energy to explore the next day!

Rockefeller Center

From our hotel in Times Square, walked north through Midtown and to Central Park!

Pre Central Park walk. I am obviously the most excited of the bunch!

Patty and me!

That night, we went to see Paramour (Cirque du Soleil’s first resident show in NYC) at the Lyric Theatre starring Ruby Lewis–a friend I’ve known since we were three.  Ruby was STUNNING.  I could not stop smiling as I watched her captivate the audience.  Definitely worth checking out if you are in town!  Before, though, we had an incredible Italian dinner with all you can eat pasta!  Yum!

Delicious!

Ready for the show!

Ruby was even kind enough to give us a glimpse of life backstage!  It was such a cool experience–thanks, Ruby!  🙂

Ruby Lewis–Broadway Star!

Thank you, Ruby for such an awesome backstage tour!

The view from a Broadway stage into the audience–a view I will likely never see again!

After an amazing night at the theatre, we woke up to another unique New York opportunity.  We had the chance to go on the floor of the NYSE and watch the opening bell!  We got there so early, we had a little extra time to take in the sights, including the Trinity Church (from the movie National Treasure).

NYSE early in the morning

Trinity Church, just by the Stock Exchange

The floor of the NYSE was buzzing and we got to take it all in.  Such a cool experience.

NYSE–so cool!!!!

Opening Bell

One of my favorite family photos ever!

After our time on the floor of the NYSE, we hopped a boat and headed for the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.  That sea breeze felt amazing on such a hot day.

On the boat to see the Statue of Liberty!

Lady Liberty selfie!

Ellis Island

After coming back to shore, we engaged in a more somber activity:  visiting the site of the World Trade Center.  We went to the museum as well, which I highly recommend.  It was very informative and paid good tribute to those who were lost.

9/11 Memorial

One of the best museums in NYC. A haunting reminder.

Unbelievable

The following morning, we were up early to catch the train from NYC to Montreal!  It was a beautiful scenic trip and provided us with a lovely day to rest up after running around NYC.

Good morning, New York!

Sneaky pic on the train!

View from the train–gorgeous!

Upon our arrival in Montreal, we walked to a quick dinner then went to the bed.  The following morning, we set out to do a bit of sight seeing before catching our final train to Quebec City!

Montreal Olympic HQ

Notre-Dame Basilica

Notre-Dame Basilica

One last train–on to Quebec City!

Upon our arrival in Quebec City, we headed to the iconic Château Frontenac for a round of drinks.  Such a gorgeous hotel.

Our first round in Quebec City

I love sampling the local food and wine wherever I am.  Canadian wine is quite delicious 🙂

Canadian Wine at Château Frontenac

After some drinks, we found dinner at a local restaurant and had to try one of the national dishes:  poutine.  Poutine is french fries with cheese curds and gravy.  It’s actually quite nice, but very rich!

Poutine

Cannon ball in a tree!

The following day, we explored the town and topped it off with dinner at Panache, a restaurant serving Canadian fare.  It was my favorite meal of the trip.

Artist street

Exploring!

Steep hill

Stunning. Like Europe in North America

My favorite meal of the trip: Panache

Amuse-bouche

Yum!  Venison Wellington!  

Love these folks!!! (This is the church from “Catch Me If You Can”)

This pretty much sums it up–I am way too excited!

We took the funicular back up the hill–I decided we needed a selfie.  Some played along, some did not.  😉

Mama’s feet are tired

After exploring on our own the previous day, we joined a guided tour to learn more about what we were seeing.  Our tour guide focused military history.  I learned a ton–French and British history are definitely intertwined here.  Having lived in England for five years, it was interesting to see how this relationship has played out on a different continent.

Walking tour–John and the tour guide.

View from the top of the stairs

My sweet boys!

Iconic view

🙂

Aren’t they the cutest?

Daddy/daughter selfie

Twilight in Quebec City

No trip to Canada is complete without Tim Hortons

My sweet parents

After an incredible trip, it was time to head back across the pond.  Big thanks to Mom and Daddy for such an incredible time!  We learned lots and loved spending time with family 🙂

Ketchup crisps–pairs nicely with prosecco 😉

Empty Tube car on the way home bright and early!  An unusual sight!