Pickle shots & writing on the "real" Facebook wall

Yesterday was a fun travel day. Since I've been in this job for the past year or so, when I travel to NYC, I pretty much stick to Tribeca since that's where our office is based. Yesterday brought me to Midtown for a brainstorm at Facebook's NYC office, so I rode the subway in the city for the first time in a WHILE. Took the fun way home via Grand Central Station and Times Square and bought the Pickle a mini #6 train from a toy store in Grand Central.

Facebook's NYC office is pretty much what you'd expect: high-energy and creative with hilarious conference room names (think Shake Weight) and lots of young execs flitting from place to place. Got to autograph the Facebook wall above and dine in the cafe.

No late-night work session, so I had drinks with co-workers, including a crazy, never-to-be-consumed-again shot: the Pickleback. What is it? Jameson chased by pickle juice. Totally disgusting and I swear I still tasted it in the middle of the night. I detest pickles (except my favorite 2-year-old), but peer pressure sucked me in.

Capped off the night with a trio of yummy cookies from Milk Bar and attempted to star spot since The Other Woman is filming literally right outside my hotel. No luck. :(

A working mom's travel warts

I've always been told that I'm a smiley girl. I tend to look on the bright side. I love writing about stuffing my face at a great restaurant or conquering a new city. But post-babies, travel comes with more downers than delayed flights or crappy service at a restaurant.

These days, happy sighing after inhaling a luscious dinner is followed by a little guilt when I get a report that the kids screamed bloody murder when the sitter came (tonight).

A work roadtrip might entale alternating between tweaking a PowerPoint deck in the front seat and suiting up in the back seat with a hooter hider contraption and my b pump (true story: road trip to Indy earlier this month).

And, at least through the next few months, it definitely means pumping in gross airport bathroom stalls and often arguing with TSA agents about my non-threatening pump while going through security.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining (well sort of) -- I'm just admitting that travel is not all glamour and gorging. (That stuff is just what's fun to write about.)

Lean in or out -- I'm a big believer of doing whatever you know is best for you. I love my profession. I know I'm making the right choice for my family and racking up experience to draw from when my kids seek out career advice. I'll keep doing what I'm doing as long as I enjoy the stimulation and personal growth that a career can offer and have the unparalleled support of my amazing husband. It just makes me feel better to put out there that the balancing act is hard.

3 cities in 3 days -- and a new state!

VIP manipedi + visiting baby, fun at Charlotte yummy restaurants

You know your travel schedule is a little crazy when foursquare gives you kudos for checking into three different airports in three days...

First trip was a mama-and-me visit to Charlotte with the baby to see my college friend Jen. I realized that I hadn't visited since right before I got pregs with the Pickle...long time.

I ate well at Soul Gastrolounge and The Crepe Cellar on Friday night while Jen's husband Matt did a bang-up job of first time babysitting. The tiny Soul reminded me of a hipster Michael Symon joint since pork belly and fried brussel sprouts were on the menu. At The Crepe Cellar, we created a new menu item by concocting a mashup of the brownie and banana fosters crepes...mmmm!

On Saturday, we shopped and basked in the 77-degree weather while the Cleve got a dusting of snow (sorry).

On Sunday, Jen pulled some strings (she's so VIP) and got her regular nail and massage places to open up just for us...can't think of a better way to spend St. Paddy's Day! However, I bet Matt would disagree as he was my babysitter and baby chauffeur...at one point, he delivered Sienna to me for a feeding while I was having my toes done!

Flew home on Monday morning to spend the day with the Pickle before a work road trip to Indianapolis. Yay for a pin on the map for Indiana!
 

Delightful dishes at Late Harvest Kitchen, roadtripping to a new state, my packing "helper"

Found a great local spot thanks to Urbanspoon called Late Harvest Kitchen.The locally sourced chicken thighs and gnocchi were amazing! Sticky toffee pudding was good too.

Now, back in NYC until Friday. Time to kick off March Madness and finally fill out my brackets!