Hey guys,

It’s Soleil, writing to you after a whirlwind adventure with my family in NYC and San Francisco. I just came home and am filled with inspiration from my incredible journey. I thought it would be fun to share some of my experiences with other parents and give you a little guide to two cities that I truly love. I have always felt like a real vacation would be lying on a beach somewhere in the tropics. I never imagined that we could take a work trip and turn it into something amazing for the whole family.

Our trip started with a late night flight to NYC. I have now realized that it is the only way for me to travel long distances with the little ones. They slept most of the way and that made it so much easier for us. I couldn’t believe that my little Poet was no longer a lap child and was now sitting in her very own seat beside me. I even had to ask her to hold my hand for take off and landing. Crazy how the time goes by. Jagger was great and we got to New York by the morning.

We arrived to a stunning Manhattan day, the kind you see in Woody Allen movies where the sky and leaves meet in perfect harmony, checked into our hotel and then took the girls to explore the city that I consider my second home.

It is hard to put into words how much I love New York. It is where I first lived on my own when I headed off to college and where a big part of my heart still belongs. There was no greater feeling then seeing it through my little girl’s eyes. From running with Poet through Central Park, to rocking Jagger to sleep while her eyes look out at the city around her. It was truly one of the most incredible experiences.

Our days were filled with city adventures. We took Poet to see her first Broadway show “The Little Mermaid.” It was amazing getting her dressed up to go to times square with her daddy and me. She loved the show and was mesmerized throughout. She hasn’t stopped talking about it for weeks. Jagger loved the long walks best of all. As if she had been to the city many times before. She is such an old soul.

One of the days we were there, I took both of the girls to see one of my closest friends at the firehouse, Ladder 18. Pete is one of the greatest guys you could ever meet. He is a fire fighter in Manhattan and I am constantly blown away by his courage along with the other fire fighters and their families who dedicate their lives to helping others. Pete took us around the firehouse. The girls had a blast playing on the trucks and touching all of the gear. From the firehouse we headed down to show the girls where I used to live in Tribecca.

My old apartment was a housing project on a tiny stretch of grass. It had the most incredible views of the twin towers from the rooftop. I will never get used to how the skyline of the city has changed. Now the little stretch of grass outside is a full blown park. Again I was so overwhelmed with emotion by how fast the time goes by. After a trip down memory lane on my old block I took the girls to Bubby’s, one of my favorite restaurants with the best blueberry pie. Poet and I had a feast while Jagger gleefully drank her bottle.

We ran throughout the city everyday, highlights of joyful moments filling our minds. The lotuses were in bloom at the fountain in Central Park. We rode on the back of bikes laughing and I took the girls to one of my favorite places in the universe, “The Mall” It is a strip of the park where when you look up it feels like you are in a painting. We rode the rides in Victorian Gardens ate lunch at the boathouse, and went skipping by Sheep’s Meadow. We got lost more than a few times. It amazes me that no matter how well I know the park, I can still get lost in it.

Poet was in love with FAO Schwarz. Calling it “where the toys live.” We explored the brilliant children’s boutiques. From the stunning Makie to the fun Yoya Mart, I couldn’t stop myself from getting stuff for the girls. I would come back to the hotel with goodies and use the excuse that I was doing research for the store. My husband couldn’t help but laugh with me. Their Auntie Maggie took us to one of the coolest places ever, The Children’s Museum. You can spend hours with your little ones there. Poet was in play heaven. It is a really great hands on experience for them.

We stayed on Gramercy Park which is so beautiful and we were lucky enough to spend many hours inside. Poet believed that it was where Cinderella’s squirrels and birds live. Very sweet. It is like a story book inside and somehow time suspends itself when you are within its gates.

After a week, I was very sad to have to leave New York. My heart certainly was holding on tight but full of memories of my girls in this enchanted city. From Manhattan it was off to San Fransico where our adventure continued.

Check out our blog in a few days for the rest of my adventures in the city.

SOLEIL’S NYC GUIDE

GRAMERCY PARK
*You will need a key to get inside.
If staying at the Gramercy Park Hotel, you have access.

CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF MANHATTAN
THE TISCH BUILDING
212 West 83rd Street
New York, NY 10024
212.721.1234
www.cmom.org

FAO SCHWARTZ
767 Fifth Avenue
(5th Avenue at 58th Street)
New York, NY 10153
212.644.9400
fao.com

THE LITTLE MERMAID
Lunt-Fontanne Theatre
205 West 46th Street
New York, NY
866.870.2717
www.luntfontannetheatre.com

HUNGER MEMORIAL LOCATION
Corner of Vesey Street and North End Avenue
Manhattan
Hours: 6 A.M. to 1 A.M.
*no admission fee

Click here to see some of the outfits my girls are wearing from thelittleseed.com

Comments will be reviewed by The Little Seed staff, and we will remove any comments that we feel are inappropriate to our blog or hurtful to others.