Happy Halloween and Happy Birthday!

To my big brother!

And in case you can't see what's causing that huge smile, that's his baby sister getting him the most awesome gift ever - Marx Brothers DVD box set.  Yup, be jealous.

Snowy October?

Get ready for it Northeast!  The snow is a-coming and I for one could not be more excited!  Snowboarding, ice skating in the park, snowboarding, snowball fights, snowboarding.... can you tell I can't wait to get back on the mountain this year?

Well to put me and those snow-bunnies out there in the mood for the upcoming season, I'm going to revisit one of my favorite days of last winter.  No work + Snow + Hot Chocolates + nearby Park = SNOW DAY 2011!!!

And my favorite shot of the day.  The wind swept up the snow and swirled it all around Juniper Valley Park.  And just for an added bonus, this little dog decided to go for a run in the middle of it all.

Ryan Christmas Card Shoot: Pelham Bay Park

Here are a few of my favorites from Ryan's recent "Christmas Card" shoot.  It was such a beautiful day spent in Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx!


Peek-A-Boo...

The kid always rocks his Jordans!

A Life Changing Weekend - the Avon 2 Day Walk for Breast Cancer NYC

This weekend was the Avon 2 Day Walk for Breast Cancer in New York City and I was happy and excited to participate in my second year.  NYC walkers collectively helped raise $8.4 million towards the fight for breast cancer this year and I am proud to have been a part of that.  Starting at Pier 84 along the Hudson River, we made our way out on Saturday morning starting our journey through the city.  It was so moving to not only see everyone who was participating struggle through the 39.3 miles to the finish line on Sunday afternoon, but to see the faces of everyone who came out to show their support.  Whether it was the amazing Crew and Staff of the Avon Walk or the people at one of the many cheer stations set up along the route, they really helped motivate me to keep pushing forward to the finish line.  It was so inspirational to be able to walk alongside women and men survivors (yes breast cancer doesn't just affect women).  To see them now and know what they have gone through the be there this weekend, you can't help but know what you are doing is making a difference.  It was a long, tough weekend, and I was happy to be able to walk through that finish line with my sister-in-law with my swollen shin splints and her aching knees.

I just want to take this moment to thank the amazing staff of the Avon Walk organization, the medical staff at the Wellness Center, the boy scouts who helped set up the tents, the people who donated their time and services at the Rest Stop areas, those who provided the delicious food for us, the awesome motorcycle crew for stopping traffic, The "Moo" crew for cheering us on throughout the route, the sweep van crews, the youth crew for coming up with their witty cheers, and for everyone who just smiled at us and told us we rock and to keep going:  THANK YOU!

Even though my journey this year has ended, that doesn't mean the fight against breast cancer stops.  If you have a moment, please visit my walker page below and, if you can, make donation and help fund breast cancer research.

CLICK HERE TO DONATE

For more information about the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, please visit http://www.avonwalk.org/

Getting ready to start the walk at 6:00am...

And we're off!

The Youth Crew cheering us on!

These feet were made for walking...

Walking uptown along the Hudson River...

Making our way over the Brooklyn Bridge...

A beautiful view of the city from the Manhattan Bridge...

Every walker's favorite view:  the bridge crossing over to Randall's Island to Saturday's finish line...

We've made it 26.2 miles to the Randall's Island Wellness Village!

Our awesome pink tents!

Stopping for a little lunch break on Sunday...

Making our way down the home stretch to the finish line on Sunday...

And we did it!  39.3 miles and still able to keep the smiles on our faces (Me with my sister-in-law, Jen)...

Eastern State Penitentiary

Home to some of the most notable criminals in history, such as "Scarface" himself, Al Capone, the Eastern State Penitentiary now stands as a piece of history that visitors to the Philadelphia area should take the time to see.  Although my visit to the prison was to get the "you-know-what" scared out of me in the "Terror Behind the Walls" Haunted House (yes that's right, a haunted house in a real prison), I still had a few moments to appreciate the ruins between my screams of fright.

If you are visiting the Philadelphia area, you should definitely take in a tour here or if you are visiting in October, I highly recommend the "Terror" tour.

http://www.easternstate.org/