1.05.2025

Broadway Dreams and Meatballs: Our Spring Break 2022 NYC Adventure

Every epic adventure starts with a dream. Mine? Seeing Dear Evan Hansen on Broadway. It all began when I stumbled upon Jordan Fisher belting out "Waving Through a Window" on Facebook in September 2021. Cue instant obsession. I replayed that video more times than I’d care to admit and convinced my husband, GSpice, that we needed to see Jordan perform live. Spring Break 2022 was decided. But life had other plans: Jordan left the show two weeks before our trip. Cue heartbreak due to the fact that Gspice wouldn't let me take a redeye to see one of Jordan's last shows as Evan Hansen. Yes, I still hold it against him.😏

But we soldiered on, and spoiler alert: the show was still everything. More on that later—let’s start at the beginning.




Tuesday, March 15: Planes, Airports, and Meatballs

Our travel day kicked off with a layover in Chicago, where we grabbed lunch in the airport. Nothing fancy, just fuel for the journey. By the time we landed in NYC and made it to our hotel, we were starving. Enter The Meatball Shop, (@Meatballers), a cozy spot with, you guessed it, amazing meatballs. A carb-loaded welcome to the city that never sleeps.









Wednesday, March 16: Brunch, Central Park, and Broadway Magic

We stayed close to our hotel and started the day with brunch at Times Square Diner & Grill, (@timessquaredinergrill). Afterward, we took a leisurely walk through Central Park. It was peaceful, until my phone buzzed with a call about Otown (because life can’t just pause, even on vacation). Thankfully, my mom was there to step in and help. 

Dinner was at Serafina near Broadway & 55th St, (@serafinanewyork) where we fueled up for the main event: Dear Evan Hansen. Sure, Jordan Fisher wasn’t there, but the new Evan and the entire cast were incredible. I even snagged a photo with him afterward! Afterwards we ended the night soaking up the lights of Times Square, like a true tourist.

















Thursday, March 17: Rainy Day Vibes and Hawksmoor Delights

The rain gave us permission to slow down. We started late and hopped on the subway to NYU territory. After a short stroll, we found The Grey Dog, (@thegreydognyc), a charming spot that felt like a hidden gem. Post-brunch, we walked a bit around campus before heading back for a much-needed nap.

And then: Hawksmoor, (@hawksmoornyc), located in Gramercy Park in the historic United Charities Building. If you’ve never experienced steak that melts in your mouth, add it to your bucket list now. But it wasn’t just the steak—everything about Hawksmoor was a dream. The wine was perfection, pairing so beautifully that I’m still raving about it. This wasn’t just dinner; it was an experience that lingered long after we left. I’ve dreamed about that meal more times than I can count, and in 2023, I nearly screamed when I found out Hawksmoor was coming to Chicago in summer 2024. STOCKED doesn’t even begin to cover it.












Friday, March 18: A Little Italy Misadventure and Brooklyn Charm

We set out to find a taco spot—only to discover it had closed. Plan B? Nolita Pizza, (@nolitapizzanyc). Classic NYC slice, no regrets. From there, we subway-hopped to Ground Zero. Sobering and beautiful.

Our walk took us past the Charging Bull, Wall Street (kind of a letdown, tbh), and a lookout point for the Statue of Liberty. A coffee break later, we hopped over to Brooklyn. After poking around some of G-Spice’s favorite stores, we dined at a cool taco joint, Taqueria Al Pastor, where I spotted a Top Chef judge. (my type of celebrity!) Proof is in the DMs.

The night ended with a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge—romantic, right? G-Spice detoured for more treasure hunt action while I went on my own hunt for some Italian takeout. Sadly, the place I wanted wasn't still open so I trekked back to The Meatball Shop for dinner and picked up some Loverboy, (@drinkloverboy), a sparkling hard tea from another beloved Bravo celebrity couple from Summer House. Turns out, pasta cravings and NYC hours don’t always align.






















Saturday, March 19: Early Flights and Toll Regrets

We dragged ourselves out of bed way too early for our flight home. Fun fact: we forgot to pay the tolls we drove through to and from O'Hare on time. Whoops. But was the trip worth it? Absolutely.

Special thanks to my mom for holding down the fort while we lived out our NYC Broadway dreams. Here’s to meatballs, rainy day naps, and the magic of live theater.

Until the next adventure!

1.03.2025

Holiday Cheer 2024 {1} - Holiday Card

It’s been a hot minute since my last “Holiday Cheer” post, but this one feels especially fitting. I had every intention of sending out a holiday card at the start of 2024. In fact, I even designed a beautiful card using photos from a recent Oelrich family photo session in late November 2023.

But life had other plans. Early 2024 brought a heaviness I hadn’t anticipated, and that carefully crafted card never made it past my desk. There they’ve sat ever since, waiting for a moment that never quite arrived.

The holiday card was just too lovely to discard (or recycle, as my eco-conscious self prefers). So, while the card didn’t make it to everyone’s mailbox, it still holds a special place in my heart and deserves a spot here on the blog.

One card did go out on time. In fact, I was able to hand-deliver it to my parents during my visit with them in late January 2024. It was such a sweet moment to see their smiles as they held the card, and it felt even more special bringing along our new puppy, Lexi, to give my mom plenty of puppy cuddles. 

2024 was a rollercoaster year—challenging in so many ways, yet filled with moments of joy and love. Looking back, it feels like a brighter chapter than 2025 has been so far.

So, without further ado, here’s a peek at our Happy New Year card from 2024!

(Credit to Jillian Webb of JWebbArt.com for capturing our family photos.)








11.16.2022

Owen is 9!

Owen is NINE!

Owen LOVES:

  • Playing Madden
  • Watching the Slime Time
  • DK Metcalf!
  • Talking
  • Singing in the car
  • Orange Fanta
  • chewing gum
  • pizza
  • playing outside, playing with neighbor Jack
  • his awesome haircut
  • pointing out all of the legendaries (cool cars)

INTERVIEW

Who is your favorite person in the whole world? Aaron Donalds, DK Metcalf, Jamar Chase

What is your favorite color? Yellow, black, purple, pink, yellow

What is your favorite TV show? NFL football and Ricky, Dicky, Nicky, & Dawn

What is your favorite outfit? Seattle Seahawks Jersey

What sport do you like the best? Football

What song do you love? Wishing Well, Falling, Lucid Dreams

Who is your best friend? Christian, Roman

What do you want to be when you grow up? LSU football player, Chiefs football player

What are you really good at? football

Where do you wish you go could on vacation? a NFL football game

What would you buy if you had $1000? buy a vacation beach house

What vegetable do you love the most? Cauliflower

What fruit do you love the most? Applesauce

What is your favorite flavor of ice cream? Bubblegum

Who is your biggest hero? myself

What do you like to do with friends? Play with them

What do you hope you'll get to do before your next birthday? Play real football

What is your favorite thing to sleep with? with Pizza pillow

What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? BACON

What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Lunchables with candy and gatorade

What is your favorite dessert? all the desserts in the world. and S'mores Pizza with Hershey's

What is your favorite drink? Gatorade, Fanta, powerade, juice boxes

What do you want to eat for your birthday dinner? fanta, pizza, and a s'more pizza cake with hershey's 

What is your favorite game? Madden

What is your favorite thing to do outside? Playing with Neighbor Jack


On to the pictures!