Happy (Day After) Mother’s Day everyone!   My sisters and I have been planning something special for my Mom for months now.   We wanted to spend a weekend in the city with just the girls, (no kids or husbands) to see some shows, go to some new restaurants, shop and have some spa type relaxation.   We stayed at The Peninsula Hotel,  which is right on Fifth Avenue at 55th street.   The Peninsula is a luxurious hotel that also has a fantastic spa.  Since Joe works there, I know a lot of the staff.   We had impeccable service and experienced New York at it’s finest!  This was just what the doctor ordered as we are just about to do a major house renovation and are living in a mess.  We giggled, saw two Broadway shows, (“Once” and “Jesus Christ Superstar”) shopped, ate in some of my favorite restaurants, spent time in the pool and fitness center, and even got some spa time in.  Wow~this was such an incredible experience!

Our room was gorgeous!   There was chilled white wine and chocolate covered strawberries waiting for us.  They even left a personal note for me made out to “Reverend Cynthia Basile”~wow, now I’m a reverend?

I might just have to put a TV in my new master bathroom.

I loved staying right on Fifth Avenue!

We ate at “The 5 Napkin Burger” and stopped in “Amy’s Bread” before heading to the theater.

On day two we headed to the spa before going downtown to shop and eat lunch.

We checked out  Mario Batali’s Eataly which is worthy of it’s own full day trip into the city!  This space is in the former Toy Center building and is huge!

And then headed downtown to the meat packing district for lunch at Pastisse.  I love how clean New York has become… I remember when the meat packing district was just plain scarey and not anywhere that I would have taken visitors.

I had to pay a visit to Christian Louboutin !

Then back to the hotel to relax before going out to see our second Broadway play.

Overall, a once in a lifetime weekend…a girl could get spoiled!

I’ve had the pleasure of doing some charity work recently for “Her Haven” and my new friend and founder Carey Dougherty.  Her Haven works with Habitat for Humanity and Fairfield University’s Interior Design students to create serene and comfortable housing to honor women who are inspiring, deserving and giving.  I was very moved by this first project at Nordia Black’s house and grateful to have connected with all of these fabulous women.  Please come out to join us at Fairfield University on May 17, 2012.  My best friend Carrie Johnson gave us permission to use her song “Strength To Move” for my slideshow and she will also be performing at the event~yay!

It is with great joy that I share this very special first shoot in my Connecticut studio.  Ever since I was a young girl growing up here, I’ve dreamed of fixing up my cottage to be a shooting space.  Mr. Hildebrandt used to paint by the cathedral window which has amazing north light.  A group of very special ladies came to celebrate with me for a boudoir party.  It was a magical day that I will always remember!  I am so grateful to this group of beautiful women for bringing their laughter, honesty and trust (OK their heels and lingerie too!).  I am so blessed to have such incredible friends!  Mr. Hildebrandt would have been right at home in the company of such lovely ladies and I felt him smiling.

I discovered these beautiful watercolor birds on some blog that I was reading and that I can no longer find.  These would be a great idea for an escort table at an event.  I’m so glad that I saved the artists name, and she was so kind to share these.  If anyone can find Becca Kallem, please let me know her contact information.  She truly has a talent with watercolor!

I had such a great time covering the 9th annual Go Red For Women luncheon for Serendipity Magazine last week at the Hyatt Regency in Greenwich.  The celebrity guest speaker was Anne Burrell.  I just love her!  Anne hosts the Food Network’s show,  Secrets of a Restaurant Chef and has a new book, “cook like a rock star”!  There were 750 women at this gathering for The American Heart Association all wearing red.  Anne’s talk was so inspirational,  she is such a sparkling personality!  Of course I had to buy her book and have her autograph for me!