Pop-up Pool in Brooklyn

This was something I had seen instagrammed a ton and didn't feel was worth the shlep out to DUMBO for. It was basically a temporary pool built for the summer. It was a ticketed event, so I anticipated standing in line for an hour after an hour subway ride. I thought that sounded lame. Had I taken into account the location, I would have probably realized how charming and worth-it it would be. My friend Kristi-Lynn Gibson got me out there. I would miss out on so much if I didn't have great friends! And because the day was mildly overcast, there was no line! We walked right in!

The view of Manhattan, swoon!

The pool was really more like the cherry on top. They had created a beach complete with bistro lights, a swanky lemonade stand, and Beach Boys music. 

Amazing!!! We spent a lot of time there ; )

Being that I was in the pool, I didn't really get any swimming pictures but you can kind of see the pool behind us there. 

We followed our swim with lunch, my first watermelon and basil lemonade, and a view of Brooklyn Bridge. 

And we ALWAYS have to ride Jane's Carousel. Always!

Goooooo Mets!

Being our last summer, we've had a demanding bucket list. I declare 2013 the year of professional sports teams and musicians!! 

Our favorite PA romance and occasional babysitters, Austin and Dan, treated us to a double date at CitiField. We had been shopping around for tickets, but in the grand tradition of getting things for free here, this escapade would come at no cost, thanks to Austin donating blood and later passing out during surgery. I vowed I would have fun, but not too much fun!

 Our seats were total nose bleeders, but thanks to the skeptical weather and less than famous opposing team (I can't even remember who they played), we later hiked down for a closer view. However, I was perfectly pleased with where we were.

Hunky, me, Dan, and Austin

Center field was the coolest, I thought! Like a mini-Time Square complete with Shake Shack...our kryptonite.

Center Field

View from our new seats 

The sky turned a deep purple later in the game....it was a little foreboding but nothing came of it.

Mets...check. Yankees, Jets, and Knicks....still to come!

Smorgasburg

Another cool summer tradition occurs in Williamsburg in Brooklyn, where some of the yummiest food vendors set up each Saturday to tantalize our taste buds. 

Complete with perfect views of Manhattan

Not only was this popsicle stand super cute, but the actual popsicles were like eating frozen jam on a stick. Come to think of it, they might have been frozen jam, but honestly why hadn't I thought of that before? 

Bread...I secretly wish someone delivered my bread to my home in this wagon.  

Tori girl and Manhattan

Mighty Quinn's brisket and pulled pork sandwich

Poor Brighty always on lock down. At least he can make fun out of anything...even grass.

"B" is for Birthday...

And beach, bridge, boat ride, Brooklyn...all things we did for Brandon's 31st birthday!

This is why he is 31 and cooler than the other side of the pillow.

The carousel picture is out of order of events, but totally appropriate nonetheless. On B's special day he was pretty set on going to Coney Island for the day, although I fought him pretty hard on it (on his birthday whaaaaaa?). I felt some vintage filters were appropriate to preserve our memories of the beach. 

I was a little lame as far as surprises went (putting down his beach idea and lame gifts, whaaaaaaaa?) But, BUT, I did manage to sneak in a giant red velvet (which I would later discover was not his favorite flavor) cupcake from his favorite bakery Crumbs (wrong flavor, #whaaaaaaa #hegotanipadforvday #nuffsaid).

We only had 14 candles but he doesn't look a day over 13...if 13 year olds are usually extremely masculine with facial hair and the brains of Paul Allen.

With Pres and Mandy's visit, festivities would carry on into the weekend and even the following week (read on for details), but let's stop at the next day where we revisited DUMBO, Grymaldi's, Jane's Carousel, and the Brooklyn Bridge.

Our first time trying Grymaldi's...well as I recall, I said it wasn't worth going back for. Brandon agrees that we must have had a bad cook that day because second time around was awesome!!! Greatest pizza I've had in NYC so far.

And now time for my sappy closing! But let's get serious people, Brandon is.....everything to me! He has been the force behind so many -- of what I consider -- my greatest accomplishments in life. He is my greatest confidant and the person I am most excited to see each day. I am so humbled to be on this journey with him and grateful that his ambition has taken us to so many exciting places with so many unique experiences along the way. They should call us the Febreze brothers, because it's so fresh in here.