New Year, new you

I haven’t really taken part in the New Year’s resolution making thing in a while – but I’m going to make a few this year. And I think that part of resolving is telling someone – so you’ve actually put it out there that you want to change something. Or do something.

For perspective, this is where 2014 started –

And then a few short hours into the new year,I flew back to New York and reality with sand in my shoes and a few things I wanted to do more of on my brain.

1. Birthday Cards

All of you people who send birthday cards every year – especially those that arrive on time, or even early – have the stuff I aspire to . It’s two fold really. I love receiving these cards. So I want to send them, too. I try – I’m just not always that successful.

Secondly, I think it’s part of actually being an adult. Yes, I know when people’s birthday are (thank you Facebook when my memory fails me), and I usually call and text, but real, actual adults – they send birthday cards. Early. Marked “Don’t open until 1/6! xx” Or something.

So stake in the ground for a more adult 2014 – be more concerted about sending birthday cards.

2. Use my phone to call people

Yes, this can go somewhat hand in hand with the previous resolution, but it’s supposed to be more about keeping in touch than celebrating once a year. I live in New York, and a lot of my best friends and family live elsewhere. So I want to talk to them more. I think emails, texts, instagram and snapchat are all great for making people feel close by… but nothing beats a phone call. So I want to keep in touch via phone, rather than apps on my phone, more.

3. Yoga

Sure, there a million great workout classes / fads / ideas, and I’m sure I would like the pilates classes where you are suspended from the ceiling or spin class by candlelight or whatever, but second to running, I love yoga, and I think it’s great for you. I look at my 50+ year old instructors and think I want to be that kind of moving when I’m 50+. I want to be that kind of bendable when I’m 27.

My schedule in the last few months hasn’t really allowed me to go to night classes (my favorite) and my lack of motivation hasn’t gotten me to those 7 AM classes (my least favorite)… so this resolution is about bringing back something that is good in 2014.

There – that’s it! Three whole resolutions. Hopefully, I can keep these and report back that I’m a birthday card sending, phone call making, yogi.

Here’s to that!

#bizandrob

This weekend were lucky enough to be able to celebrate two of our dearest friends Biz and Rob in Atlanta.

The whole weekend was filled with joy and excitement (love this sneaky pic)…

 

Amazing views and good friends.

 

I actually read scripture in their wedding, and it says better than I can what it means to love with the way you live, not just what you say…

We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?

Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God; and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him.

And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us. – 1 John 3:16-24

We wish you two lived in New York with us… but more than that, we wish you the best as you start your lives together!

MDW 2K13

As the rain was falling here in NYC, I made a pretty last minute call to head to NC for warmer weather, fried chicken, family….. and puppies. That’s right, my parents have not one, but two puppies. Miniature Australian shepherds. Yes, they “make those”.

Meet Indy (for Indiana Jones, obviously) and Percy (L to R)-

My mom even made my favorite-generally-reserved-for-Christmas-morning cheese souffle. Yes.

It was a wonderful break from the hullabaloo that endears me to the city in the first place, but this is an example of what happiness looks like:

 

Happy Anniversary!

On Cinco de Mayo, Hewitt and I celebrated our one year wedding anniversary – I meant to get these pictures up sooner, but in the same way the last year has flown by, the last week or so has too. So I’m a bit late – but at least we celebrated on time even if I recap  later. We were lucky enough to head to Puerto Rico for a quick weekend getaway… and goodness, was the view perfect.

Check this out –

And also, my most successful use of the panoramic feature on my camera yet:

Smiley and a wee bit sunburned!

And sad to be heading back to the city so soon, but grateful for a few nights away filled with sunshine.

In true travel to and from NYC fashion – our flight on Sunday was delayed, so we had a decadent and romantic meal in the San Juan airport. And since our frozen wedding cake is in a freezer in North Carolina, I improvised with some Molly’s Cupcakes. Which I recommend if you’re in the neighborhood!

(The “Cookie Monster” was my favorite flavor.)

Here’s to many more years together – pretty pumped to take on the world together.

Winter Weather FAA Furloughs and a Wedding!

Last week I was in Minneapolis for work… and believe it or not, we actually got snowed in. Not forever, but our flight was delayed four + hours due to snow! Check out the photos below of the spring blizzard I managed to drive a rental car through…

 

And take off in a plane through…

One of the perks to landing at La Guardia around 3:45 am on Friday morning was watching the events in Watertown, MA unfold live over reddit and Twitter. It was pretty crazy.

After a few more weather delays and reddit-following-breaking-news… we made it to NC with enough time to see family quickly – literally at a gas station.

And finally to Raleigh to see Robert and McKinley tie the knot with friends we haven’t seen in a while!

Cheers to the beautiful couple and your perfect wedding.

I hope you’re having a blast on your honeymoon, and thanks for giving us all a reason to come back to the South and celebrate you two. :)

A happy Easter to you and yours!

I had the blessing to head back to NC for some family time with the Thores and the Engrams, plus a little shopping and plenty of catching up and delicious food.

For whatever reason, warm weather is evading us everywhere… but it was still wonderful to be at home.

Also, my mom made a homemade lemon bar cheesecake… that was divine.

If I had room for a springform pan in my little kitchen, I would try to duplicate this, but that will have to wait. I’m pretty sure hers rivals the one featured on the cover of Southern Living. You should see for yourself.

Long Weekend Company & Recap

My sister and brother-in-law visited this past weekend, and I think we did a prettay good job showing them the city condensed into about three days – which is actually quite difficult.

We kicked off Saturday morning with the most involved brunch I have ever made – thanks to Smitten Kitchen, I tried some new recipes: spinach strata, cinnamon chocolate chip bread and made one up –  citrus fruit salad, accompanied by some lovely hickory smoked bacon fried by Hewitt and fresh OJ for mimosas courtesy of Fresh Direct. More on the recipes and deliciousness later- but I’m definitely planning to make them all again. For sure.

(Photo doesn’t do the table justice.)

For my sister’s birthday, we gave her tickets to see the NYC Ballet perform Sleeping Beauty – and it was perfect. Truly, the sets, the feet, the costumes… it all reminds you of the importance in slowing things down and taking it in. Cathleen and I were kids again watching the girls in tutus we wanted to be, and although we never were, it’s a memory and a dream we get to keep and an appreciation for been a part of it.

(Yep, that’s Prabal Gurung for Target – great color / print / fabric.)

We snapped a few pics when the boys met us at Lincoln Center, post-ballet –

We were both taken by the Rigaletto banner at the Met (although we were unaware of the kiddo taking on the fountain behind us) –

Sunday was freeeezing, so we sought warmth and caffeine and jewelry at Chelsea Market, and I spotted this gem painted on the brick.

Who doesn’t love an Oreo? :)

We didn’t last long on the High Line – the wind was insane, but we managed a quick picture.

Survived / enjoyed Top of the Rock – even though it was so windy the 70th floor was closed… and the 67th and 69th perhaps should have been! It was so windy. And freezing.

We look a bit freezing. And windblown.

Monday, for President’s Day, we took the Staten Island Ferry to see the Statue of Liberty, took on the subway, saw The Big Piano at FAO Schwartz and saw Central Park / took a quintessential photo.

Not my best face, but a funny photo, framed by the between-bench-space I always gravitate to on the subway…

 

Cathleen was a bit more cavalier with her swing, but Matt, you’ll get it.

Like all weekends, it came to an end too soon, but since we’re family, I know we’ll get to do it again. I am quite pleased with how our little apartment has fared with guests so far  – thankfully, no one has come in expecting their own room, etc… but it just feels 20-something and cozy to have your sister and brother-in-law on an air mattress in your living room, measured to fit perfectly between the coffee table and writing desk, waking you up to let you know the coffee pot hasn’t come on yet.

So please, come back and see us.

Let the Countdown Begin

These crazy kids / my sister and brother-in-law are coming to visit us for the long holiday weekend! Obviously, I’m excited, and you can count on a recap post with lots of photos and hopefully tales of yummy dinners (Minetta Tavern, black label burger, I am coming for you) and treats (Cones, Magnolia, Waffles & Dinges… where to begin).

Also, we’re going to see Sleeping Beauty and The Fantasticks. Talk about a weekend. Get ready, guys.

Happy Valentine’s Day, Windows

The Christmas windows in New York are an item to see on most people’s lists in December, but I thought the festive Valentine’s windows in our neighborhood deserved a little love, too.

This one  is my favorite – I love the simplicity of the neon heart. (I also love their bags.)

 

So Happy Valentine’s Day, to you and yours from our little decorated part of the world.

Nemo 1, Sandy 0

Hewitt and I have had quite the newlywed year so far when it comes to extreme weather. I’m sure you’ll remember Sandy, that devastated much of our city and the surrounding communities. We’re still working as a community to come back from that, entirely, so it should be a no brainer that we all preferred our “blizzard” and keeping our power, to Sandy.

After walking home in a heavy and blustery snow storm – that I tried and failed to capture with my iPhone camera because my umbrella almost blew away – we woke up on Saturday to the most snow we have had in New York so far! Feeling quintessential, we bundled up and headed to Central Park – hoping to catch a glimpse of the city with areas of untouched snow.

Luckily, we were on foot – because if we had a car here, it would be a stuck as these.

Central Park was filled with kids and parents and older couples taking advantage of the hills and the fact that the park was “open for cross country skiing.” Growing up in the south, cross country skiing really isn’t something we get to do frequently, much less locally, so maybe someday, I’ll get to cross country ski through Central Park too – because that has to be cooler than cross country skiing anywhere else in the US. (Right?)

All of the kids and their families sledding reminded me of great snow storm memories I have from growing up – I felt compelled to make pancakes for friends or snow cream for anyone who hasn’t had it before. I wanted to find a stray Christmas tree and some open space, (finagle a permit) and have a neighborhood sledding party because there are some streets that slope in the City, and I’m sure our neighbors would love a good party. Instead, we made homemade pizza with friends and wore wool socks and cozy sweaters, but I couldn’t help be refreshed by the snow that blanketed our city and much of the Northeast. It’s impossible not to surrender to wonder when you wake up in the morning and everything that looked one way before has been completely transformed by the all encompassing, non-discriminating snow. It’s quite perfect, really.

We lucked out and the random passerby in Central Park who snapped our photo / saved us from a selfie got a great picture for us –

And I couldn’t resist this sign – even though Hewitt refused to make heart shapes or play Patty Cakes with our hands in the frame. (Just kidding – I didn’t want to do that either.)

Here’s The Boathouse whose windows promise an awesome view from the other side, too.

And some other shots of Central Park, where we keep most of our trees in the City.

Overall, I would say it was a most successful first New York snow for us. It even gave us a bit of an excuse to make a dent in Season One of Homeland… so as I said, it has been a success.