The Perfect Weekend

Now that I will be in New York for the foreseeable future, I've written about how I've been trying to relax, and settle into a routine. Slowly I'm getting more comfortable not having a huge, exhausting adventure every single day that I'm free. This weekend was filled with the perfect mix of activities that were relaxing but also incredibly fun and exciting in their own way.

Saturday morning I made the trek back to Queens for free yoga in Socrates Sculpture Park. I tried yoga for the first time last Wednesday and was immediately hooked. Every Saturday until the end of September there are two free sessions in the park. I opted for the later one (11am - noon) and it was wonderful. The teacher was helpful, the poses were challenging but not impossible and it was an incredibly beautiful morning. There weren't a ton of people so it felt intimate and the breeze off the river was perfect.

After yoga, I headed back to Manhattan to meet some friends for a picnic in Sheep's Meadow in Central Park. Everyone brought snacks (and, um, beverages) and when the iPod speaker arrived it really became a party. It was impromptu, casual and totally fun. There's really not many better ways to spend a summer afternoon than eating a variety of snacks while lounging with your friends in a sunny meadow in Central Park (or at least I haven't done them yet).

When we finally decided to pack it up, my friend Alisha and I weren't quite ready to call it a night, so we headed uptown to a wine bar that we had been wanting to try for a while. We both live around the west side of Harlem, and had tried to meet up at Vinatería once before only to discover that they are closed on Mondays.

They were pretty busy Saturday night, but we got seats at the bar. We both ordered a glass of wine, and then almost immediately decided that we had to try out the cheese/prosciutto plate as well. The entire place was just as awesome as their cheese plate presentation, with a metal bar, custom tile floor and a ton of industrial, vintage touches. We decided to make it a regular date, and made a note to check out some of the other new and interesting-looking places that have opened in the area.

On Sunday I slept in, and then took a leisurely stroll through Central Park. I'm only a few blocks from the always-stunning Conservatory Garden so I took my time wandering around, trying to take as many "insect-in-flower" photos as I could. The garden is breathtaking in the spring, but I've been in most other seasons (I'm coming at ya, fall) and it never disappoints. It's small, but carefully curated and feels like a secret haven, with a quieter, more reflective vibe than the surrounding park.

I walked down past the Reservoir, and crossed over to the west side, ending up at my new favorite brunch place: Cafe Eighty Two. They have an entire gluten-free menu, but I've gotten the GF waffle (with bacon) three times now because it's so delicious.

I definitely want to make it my usual place, and I can't wait until they know me and my order as soon as I walk in. The place is filled with elderly, UWS residents who are cranky and demanding and I love every one of them. I can only hope to be doing exactly what I'm doing now, when I'm 80-years-old, although I'm sure I'll have on a lot more sweaters.

Right across Broadway is a Barnes & Noble, so I went there after brunch to catch up on my trashy tabloids. After spending a few hours with my good friends US Weekly, People and Entertainment Weekly (Fall Movie Preview!) Alisha met me there and we headed downtown to the Strand. She needed to pick up a gift, and I needed to browse the dollar racks because it had been a whole week or so since I'd been (the horror!). I have a habit of buying and hoarding used books, but since I've moved to the city I've actually been reading everything I buy. Reading on the subway means that I go through about a book a week, which has been really wonderful. I plan on getting my library card soon, but I'll always have a soft spot for the Strand.

When I was done browsing, I headed back uptown, stopping at Trader Joe's to buy my groceries for the week. I'm getting pretty good at only buying what can fit in two bags, and I think I've finally perfected my post-shopping subway turnstile entry technique (slide the bags through first). I'm so glad that I'll still be close to TJ's when I move into the new place (this week!). Everything I ever get from there is so delicious, and it's crazy cheap when compared to other places in the city.

When I got home, I cooked up a huge batch of my new favorite pasta dish (GF pasta, vodka sauce, mushrooms, zucchini, hot pepper flakes, feta, parmesan) and I have at least two more meals-full in leftovers for this week. I always want to eat everything I buy on grocery day at once, but I'm trying to pace myself. Add in a few episodes of Gilmore Girls, an early bedtime and ladies and gentlemen, I give you: the very perfect weekend. I hope to repeat this itinerary  — with minor variations — on many more weekends to come and it feels great to finally be settling into my new life.

And what a lovely life it's turning out to be.

Living the Dream

My apartment is behind that tree, I promise.

When I moved to New York a little over a month ago, I had a few interviews lined up, but no solid job prospects and stayed on my friend's couch for almost two weeks. I had planned to sublet a room temporarily while I looked for a job, and I found a great place on Central Park North that I moved into on July 11th. The sublet is only until August 31st (my birthday?) however, so the pressure was on to find something more permanent before then.

I probably don't need to tell you how crazy competitive the New York housing market is, and most people won't even show you a place if you don't have a job. Luckily, I got a great job working at W.W. Norton as a designer in the college division, so all that was left on my list of life goals (for the moment) was to find an apartment.

Well, last week I did that too!

Everything moves so fast here: I went to see a place on Sunday, put a deposit down on Monday, found out I was approved the same day, and by Wednesday I was signing the lease papers. It's such a relief to know that I won't be homeless come the 31st (happy birthday — you're homeless!), and even more exciting that I'm moving into a place I really love.

The apartment is on Amsterdam Ave. btwn 106th and 105th streets on the upper,

upper west side. The neighborhood is technically called Manhattan Valley, but I rarely hear that term used here. It's definitely not Morningside Heights or Harlem, so to anyone not familiar with the ridiculousness that is New York neighborhood naming conventions, it's easier to just say the Upper West Side. It's an amazing neighborhood, and I'll be only a few blocks away from where I stayed when I came here in January/February of this year.

I'll be two blocks from Riverside Park, three blocks from Central Park, five blocks from Morningside Park, right across the street from Mama's Pizzeria and four subway stops from Trader Joe's. There's a laundromat literally in the ground floor of the building, a Duane Reade one block away, a 24-hour deli on the corner and a Dunkin' Donuts half a block away. There are a ton of great restaurants that I can't wait to try, Chinese and Mexican places that I can't wait to order delivery from and great markets and coffee shops super close by.

My move-in date is August 21st, which gives me some overlap time to slowly move the things I have over to the new place, while still having a bed (and Internet!) until the 31st. I'll be going back to Ohio on Labor Day weekend to grab the rest of my belongings, but most importantly I'll be returning WITH MY CAT. I can't express how much I've missed that perfect specimen of a feline, Mozart, and I think she'll be very happy in her new home. A few of the windows in the apartment overlook an alleyway, and when I was there three pigeons were hanging out on the windowsills. I imagine they will keep her very entertained, and the place has a railroad-style layout with a long hallway perfect for playing fetch. It's been lonely living in a new place without my best friend. I really hope she likes being a New Yorker as much as her mom does.

Until then, every spare moment I spend daydreaming about how I'm going to decorate my adorable new place. Everything seems to have happened so fast and I'm trying to let it all sink in, but I'm officially a New Yorker with a real New York job (!) and a real New York apartment (!!). I know it's corny and emotional, but I can't stop thinking about the part in Willy Wonka (probably because I saw it twice in two different parks?) when Willy turns to Charlie and says:

"But Charlie, don't forget what happened to the man who suddenly got everything he always wanted."

"What happened?"

"He lived happily ever after."

My First Month as a New Yorker

Unless you've just discovered this blog, you're well aware that one month ago, I officially moved to New York City. I was reminded of this when I went to swipe my 30-day Metro Card yesterday and received the dreaded "insufficient fare" notice. I moved here on July 1st on a one way flight from Ohio, with one enormous suitcase (50 pounds exactly ask me how I know), one large duffel bag, my computer, and a dream. Feel free to never read this blog again after realizing that I actually type sentences that end like that.

In just one month I've found an amazing, albeit temporary, place to stay right across from Central Park, a block away from the express 2/3 trains, and Dunkin' Donuts adjacent. I've been on six interviews for six different but equally exciting-sounding jobs, and accepted an offer from one of them (I start Monday!).

I've eaten Shake Shack three times, gone to Long Island (Long Beach) for the first time, watched fireworks from the New Jersey waterfront, fell under the spell of Fishes Eddy, had my first Dallas BBQ margarita, and walked the Williamsburg bridge.

I bought two items of cat-printed clothing, ate naked balls at two different Meatball Shop locations, watched Willy Wonka on two different occasions in two different parks, walked the Brooklyn Bridge at night, found a place that serves an amazing gluten-free waffle, and visited Staten Island for the first time.

I've seen two different 9/11 memorials, had some amazing iced coffees, had a perfect day exploring Long Island City, stumbled upon 5 Pointz, found gluten-free "Cheetos" and attended the Post-Pride Party (it was free!) at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

I went to two botanic gardens in two different boroughs, had the most amazing baked Alaska (also a first), went to Governors Island for the second time to see Fête Pardiso, spent a touristy day in Lower Manhattan, saw a cloud shaped like a bunny and waited in line for Shakespeare in the Park tickets (I got 'em!).

Looking back on everything I did exhausts me, and I'm the one that actually did it all. I'm sure as I get more settled and start my job, my sightseeing will slow down a bit, but I don't ever want to lose my sense of wonder about the city. I'm going to still try to have adventures whenever I can, and my list of places to see grows every day. One of the most amazing things about the city is that it's constantly evolving and changing — I can't imagine ever actually running out of things to do.

It all still sort of feels like one big dream, but it's slowly sinking in that I actually live here now. It's ok if someone is busy one night or it rains on the weekend because I have my entire life to see and do the things I want to do. I miss my family and friends back in Ohio (of course), but now I get to experience the excitement of having visitors and showing the city I love to the people I love. I hope I never lose the sense of gratitude that I feel every single day that I get to call this amazing place my home.

I really am living the dream.

Weather Complaint

BREAKING NEWS:

It's the middle of July and it's hot outside. But seriously, at least here in the city, it feels like we're living inside of a dog's mouth.

I never really had a problem with the heat when I was younger, and as someone who is perpetually cold (or so I thought), summers were a welcome respite from my layers upon layers of sweaters and jackets. But suddenly (or not so suddenly) now I'm old, and living in New York City where you (or rather, I) don't have the luxury of bouncing from air-conditioned house, to car, to office and back.

Instead I am living in an apartment without AC, temporarily so there is no point to me even thinking of buying a window unit until things are more settled. I haven't started my new job yet, so there is no freezing office to escape to, and the subway stations are stagnant cesspools that feel like you're walking into an even hotter mouth within that original disgusting mouth.

That's how hot.

While I'm certainly no expert, I have found a few things to help me make it through this heat wave, and summer in general:

Shorts

As I discovered during the winter (oh what I wouldn't give to relive this day right now), it's all about appropriate clothing. Before I moved, I was adamantly against shorts. They're strictly for models and children, I thought, and my ankles were the only part of my legs that ever saw the light of day. This philosophy quickly dissipated, however on July 4th.

After walking around all day in my rolled up jeans, I grabbed a pair of scissors and made one of the best decisions of my life. I am now the proud owner of two pairs of shorts (my cutoffs and one legit pair that I've since purchased) and much like the hat before them, they've changed my life. Sure my legs are white as a fresh snowfall (ahhhhhh), but not having to drag around that sweaty, heavy denim below my knees is totally priceless.

I'm also trying to be more of a dress and skirt person (maybe even sans leggings— baby steps), and H&M is certainly helping me out by putting cat faces on everything so that I have to buy them. Are cat face-print dresses and skirts considered business casual?

I'm asking for a friend.

Iced Coffee

Sure, sure I've read the reports that say you're supposed to drink hot beverages and eat chili peppers to cool yourself down. But there's no amount of science that can convince me to walk around the city carrying a huge hot coffee while everyone else prances by me sipping their icy, sweating, totally delicious and refreshing iced versions.

I've actually become quite obsessed with iced lattes from Dunkin' Donuts, which is probably horrific to the cold brew coffee snobs, but who cares. There's a DD on practically every corner (and right near my subway stop) and they're about half the price of a similar drink from Starbucks. Although I did splurge on an iced latte from the Doughnut Plant the other day, and I have to admit it was one of the best (and most expensive ones) I've had.

Water Bottle

One of the first things I bought upon arriving in the city in the middle of a heat wave, was a water bottle. I originally wanted a glass one, but decided on this aluminum model that I picked up at Whole Foods. It's incredibly lightweight (at least when it's empty), and seals completely without spilling a drop.

I figure I'm saving at least $2 a day by not impulse-buying Snapples at every street cart I pass, so it's definitely worth the investment. There are enough water fountains throughout the city that it's easy to keep filled, and New York City tap water is famously tasty so it's not that much of a sacrifice.

Movie Theaters

Going to see a movie for the AC is certainly not a new concept, but one for which I've definitely developed a newfound appreciation. So far I've done a double-feature of The Heat (seriously hilarious) and Despicable Me 2 (the first one's better), and yesterday I saw The Bling Ring (wait for it to come to Netflix).

Tomorrow I'm planning on trying to squeeze in another double-feature, this time with Girl Most Likely (Kristen Wiig AND Annette Bening??) and The Way, Way Back (Steve Carrell is a fox, and I can't resist a coming-of-age story). Would you judge me if I said that by "double-feature" what I really mean is "pay for one, sneak into the other?" What about if I told you that it cost $14 to see a movie and some theaters don't even have a matinee option (and if they do, it's usually only before noon)??

No judgment, it's too hot for that.

Happy Independence Day!

July 4th has never been a huge holiday for me, but this year I have a big reason to celebrate the fittingly-named Independence Day —I've moved to New York!

Despite not having completely solid plans in place, I decided to just bite the bullet and book a one-way ticket for July 1st, and I haven't regretted it one second since I arrived. It's only been a few days, but I've already found a place to stay (right across from Central Park - !) and had two interviews for two great, potential jobs. I have one more interview lined up for next week, and if you know of anything that might interest me don't hesitate to send the info my way.

I've worked at 427 Design for the last five years, and while it was incredibly sad to leave my family (and my amazing office), I'm excited about switching it up and doing something new. It's insane to think that it's been five whole years since I graduated college. I guess I'm really getting old because at least once a day I think: where did the time go? I'm sure in the blink of an eye I'll be thinking the same thing about my first five years as a New Yorker, but for now I'm trying to enjoy my first five days.

It's incredibly difficult leaving the only home I've ever known, but I'll miss the people I've met even more. I never felt "at home" in Ohio, but hitting the jackpot in the friends and family (and coworker) departments always more than made up the difference. The support I've had has been overwhelming and it hits me in waves how very, very lucky I am.

Getting here was not always a breeze, and the last few months have been particularly challenging for me in a lot of ways, but I know it's time. I still feel as if I'm on vacation, and I've been told that feeling will last a while. I hope it never goes away entirely, and that I never lose my sense of wonder and awe at being able to actually live here. I've loved and respected this city for more than half of my life, and I'm honored to be able to finally call it home. I always felt like I was, but now I legitimately mean it when I say, I'm home.

I've Got Nothing To Do Today But Smile

Hello! If you're reading this, you may have noticed that the blog has undergone some changes since the last time I posted about the closing of Blue Carrot Shop. My twitter name was the first to change, and since I've renamed my Instagram, Pinterest and this blog. While the Blue Carrot

 site is still up, I've put the shop on an indefinite hiatus — it may return in some shape or form someday, but I've sold all of my inventory in an effort to finance my next adventure.

In case you haven't guessed it already, I'm moving to New York City!

If you know me in person (or even just through this blog), this may seem like the most anti-climactic announcement ever, but I'm still pretty excited about it. I first came to New York when I was 14, and sent my sister a postcard saying "I want to move here ASAP." Well, 'as-soon-as-possible' turned out to be now — nearly 14 years later.

It's time.

To say I'm ready to be an official resident of the city I've loved for so long is an understatement of epic proportions. Even though I've still got a ton of things to figure out, I am planning to be back in the city at the beginning of July. I'm still looking for a job (anything remotely graphic designer-related) and an apartment, so if you hear of anything or have an amazing job that you just need get off your hands, let me know.

In the meantime, I will be recapping a few of my recent city adventures — my mom and I went for a week recently to scope out apartments and in between we managed to see some new things (Governors Island, The Little Red Lighthouse), as well as a few favorites (the Strand, Brooklyn Bridge Park, Coney Island).

I hope you have fun following along on all of my upcoming city adventures. Simon and Garfunkel said it best in one of my favorite songs, The Only Living Boy in New York:

I've got nothing to do today but smile.

Saying Goodbye, For Now

By the time you read this, I'll be in my dad's truck, probably somewhere in Pennsylvania, headed back to Ohio. I hesitate to call it "going home," as Ohio has never really felt like home, while New York always has — infinitely more so now that I've just spent two months living, walking and loving it. People keep asking if I'm sad to leave, and the answer is of course yes, but also no. I know I can't keep living this life of limbo — living in the city, working from Ohio, with most of my things there, while I sleep in someone else's bed here — forever, so in a way it's not hard to give up. I know that no matter what happens when I return to Ohio that I have to get through it to move ahead. Sometimes I think you need to go back, before you can continue to move forward.

It seems like yesterday that my dad dropped me off here, and in a blink of an eye he's back again. At the same time, it feels like I've been here for years, especially when I look back on what I've done in just two months. I've seen museums, parks, monuments, d-list celebrities, breathtaking skylines, walked bridges, explored neighborhoods, collected coffee cups, rode a sky tram and photographed every single moment of it all.

I'm not the same person that came here two months ago, and I'm forever changed by what I've seen and done. I've learned more about myself in this time than I ever could have living my "old" life and no matter what happens I know I'll cherish and look back fondly on this time.

I'm so incredibly grateful for my wonderful family and friends, who always prove themselves to be selfless and amazingly kind in (and out of) my times of need. I'm so very lucky to be able to do what I do, love what I love, and have experiences that have made me want to leap out of my own skin with joy.

It's impossible to sum up my time here in any amount of words, but just know that I'm not terribly sad that I have to leave, but instead grateful that I got to come at all. There's nothing in this life that has more consistently brought me so much joy, enrichment and opportunity than this city has, and it has my eternal gratitude.

Sometimes, when you don't have the words, it's best to default to someone that does, so for the second time on this blog I'll leave you with a quote from my very favorite book, The Hours: "We live our lives, do whatever we do, and then we sleep — it's as simple and ordinary as that. A few jump out of windows or drown themselves or take pills; more die by accident; and most of us, the vast majority, are slowly devoured by some disease or, if we're very fortunate, by time itself.

There's just this for consolation: an hour here or there when our lives seem, against all odds and expectations, to burst open and give us everything we've ever imagined, though everyone but children (and perhaps even they) knows these hours will inevitably be followed by others, far darker and more difficult. 

Still, we cherish the city, the morning; we hope, more than anything, for more." 

I hope, more than anything, for more.

I Heart NY

I finally found a real-life "Happy to Serve You" cup of coffee - down the block and only a dollar!

Whether or not I've had a significant other in my life, I've always loved Valentine's Day. Back when I was in elementary school, my mom and I used to spend hours crafting the perfect valentine holder out of a shoebox, and we always went overboard. I think there's something so wonderful about a day when it's perfectly acceptable if not a little bit mandatory to express your love for something or someone special — we should all be so lucky to have more such days in our lives.

This year I'm spending the day of love in, and with, the city I love: New York. I've loved this city ever since I first visited with my parents as a naive (and totally awkward) 14-year-old kid. My dad likes to tell the story of a bartender he met on that trip, who upon finding out that my dad had brought me here for the first time said, "She'll never be the same," and he was right. I've been finding ways to get back here ever since, and with every trip I fall in love a little more.

Since today is the day that you let your loved ones know how you feel, I thought I'd tell New York what I love most about it. Are you reading this, New York? This ones for you.

• The Subway - taking the subway home at 1am in a blizzard > driving home at 1am in a blizzard
• Tap Water - New Yorkers like to brag that they have the best-tasting tap water in the country, and I have to agree. It might not seem like a big deal, but to someone who orders water at every restaurant religiously, the quality difference does not go unnoticed.
• The People - New Yorkers are notoriously grumpy, but I've generally found them to be kind and complimentary and not at all axe-murdery.
• The Nature - I've never met a park I didn't like, but New York has the best manufactured nature expanses that I've ever been too. I could walk in Central Park every day for the rest of my life and still not get bored.
• The Museums - I am currently 20 blocks from some of the most famous paintings in the entire world, and I can see them 7 days a week for a nickel.
• The Newspaper - I've always preferred the New York Times to any other paper, local or national, but having the Metropolitan and Real Estate sections every Sunday is a real treat.
• The Food - for a picky eater like myself, having a million options is a great thing. It means that I'm never far from something that I can or like to eat, and my limited palette is constantly being expanded and introduced to interesting things that I may have never experienced living elsewhere.
• The Seasons - I know that having four, distinct seasons is not a trait exclusive to New York, but it is something that gives it an edge over places like California. I wouldn't trade my 11.4" of snow for 342 days of sunshine, and you can't convince me otherwise. Every season here has its own special treats and it's hard for me to pick a favorite, I love them all.
• The Service - People here don't waste time. They get in, they get out, they know what they want and how to get it. There is no room for indecision or incompetence. And if there is, ain't nobody got time for that.
• Apartment Living - Houses have their merits, for sure, but living in an apartment frees you from a lot of the constraints and hassle of home ownership. I can't think of the last time my friends in apartments had to rake leaves or mow the lawn, and while those things are necessary and can be rewarding, I can see how one can get used to devoting that time and energy to more enriching pursuits.

New York isn't the city for everyone, but I find new things to love about it every single day I'm here. I only have a few more weeks here until I return to Ohio, but I definitely don't think that our journey together will be coming to an end just because I have to leave for a while. True love lasts a lifetime, and me and New York, well we're just getting started.

UPDATE: Upon reading this post, my sister sent me this photo of a postcard I sent her from my first trip to the city (how awesome is it that she kept it?). You can see that not much has changed in the past 13 years — except of course now I know how to correctly use the words "were" and "where."

For shame, 14-year-old me.

New York: The First Month

I've officially been in New York for four weeks, which is four times as long as I've ever spent at once in the city before — and they've absolutely flown by. I'm paid up with the apartment until March 11, so I still have some time to check things off my to-do list and figure out that whole "what I'm doing with my life" thing, but I feel like I've learned so much in just four weeks.

I've always been pretty good navigating the subway system, but I'm pretty much a pro now. I haven't once taken the wrong train or missed my stop, and I've even helped a few people safely (and efficiently) reach their destinations. I still check my iTrans app a lot, but mostly just for the arrival time of the next train, or for service announcements. I always have my MetroCard ready to swipe and I've yet to be sliced to pieces by the revolving turnstiles that used to be my worst nightmare but are now just a minor annoyance.

My worst nightmare  |  My spirit animal

I've figured out how to do laundry, buy stamps and take out the trash. After about a week, I stumbled upon a grocery store a block away from the apartment that basically has everything I could ever need and is surprisingly cheap. When I'm feeling fancy, I can take the train to Trader Joe's on 72nd Street, which is not only super cheap, but every single thing I've ever eaten from there has been the best — string cheese, white cheddar popcorn, cookie butter — I've ever eaten. There's a deli two blocks away that will make me a delicious sausage, egg and cheese bagel 24-hours a day for only $2.50, and I've figured out the schedule of the school across the street so I no longer run into hoards of obnoxious middle schoolers on my lunch break.

I've been to Riverside Park, Central Park, Morningside Park, Tompkins Square Park, Flushing Meadows/Corona Park, Madison Square Park and Washington Square Park, and taken hours-long walks in the snow, rain and wind.

I've eaten the best cupcakes, bagels, cheesecake, banana pudding, pizza, hot chocolate, fried chimichanga and short rib that I've ever tasted and eaten more feta-and-mushroom omelets than I can possibly count.

I've been to the NY Historical Society, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the American Museum of Natural History, Grant's Tomb, the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, Riverside Church and the Queens Museum of Art.

I've walked the Brooklyn Bridge, wandered Greenwood Cemetery, perused the Brooklyn Flea, celebrated Grand Central Terminal's centennial, read four Sunday papers, frolicked in my first New York snowfall, bought a hat, watched "the Beatles" play at Carnegie Hall, taken photo booth photos at the Ace Hotel, and hung out in a room full of butterflies.

It's also worth noting that I haven't once been pushed in front of an approaching train, mugged or robbed in any way, or kidnapped and sold into white slavery (yet!), much to my family's surprise. I haven't gotten lost, or given up, or even been frustrated with the city in any big way. There are a lot of terrible things about living in New York, and it's definitely not for everyone, but by this point I think I can say that it's most definitely for me.

Me and new bff Hat the day we met  |  Hat and me walking the Brooklyn Bridge  |  Me and Hat on a windy day

Every single day I've walked out of the apartment and gone some place amazing, or interesting, or ridiculous and I think how incredibly lucky I am to be in the greatest city on earth. I get to walk in Central Park on my lunch break, and walk by places every day that some people can only dream of visiting once in their lifetime. I was bored on a Wednesday night so I walked over the Brooklyn Bridge. I'm so grateful and humbled and thankful to everyone and everything in my life that has led me here, and I'm trying my hardest not to take it for granted.

I am also really trying to be positive, to live in the moment and enjoy every single second. It's so easy to get annoyed by the weather, or by my lack of money, or to feel lonely in a city of 8 million people when I only know five of them, but I'm determined to live a wonderful, happy life and I believe that is something I can definitely create for myself.

People have commented that I'm lucky or that my life is so wonderful, and they're absolutely right. But I'm also trying very hard to make the best of my time, here in New York, and here on this planet.

And it is true. I'm having a wonderful time.

The Brooklyn Bridge

Yesterday I had one of those emotionally exhausting days where nothing really goes wrong but everything just kind of feels wrong, you know? In other words, I'm a 27-year-old girl. Anyway, after work I wanted to do something to cheer myself up, plus I had taken a shower AND washed my hair and that's really not something to be squandered by staying in and watching bad tv on my laptop.

So, I took the subway to Brooklyn Heights and walked over the Brooklyn Bridge. And then I walked back. I've walked it once before, on a super hot day one July, and it was amazing, but super crowded. Last night, however, true to my observations of New York winter, it was pretty empty.

I started at the very beginning — like Dorothy beginning her journey on the Yellow Brick road. There are a few different entrances along the route, but I like being able to say I walked the entire thing.

It's so beautiful and every time I looked up and saw a new, amazing view, I couldn't help but smile like a giddy little kid.

Also, it should be no surprise that I can't even think about the Brooklyn Bridge without thinking about Sophie's Choice, although I've never been bold enough to hang from a lamppost — or bring a bottle of champagne.

I would still like to walk the Manhattan Bridge for its amazing views, but there's something about the Brooklyn Bridge that will always be magic to me. When I got home, a friend of mine had commented on a picture I had posted from my walk, and said "Your life rules." It was a totally nice thing to say and it made me realize that not only am I doing Facebook right (i.e. presenting my life as flawless and exciting) but that he's kind of right. My life totally rules.

I Bought a Hat

In case you haven't noticed, or you're one of those people that live in an annoyingly warm climate (I don't want to hear it, ok??), it's been pretty cold this week. Almost every day I've woken up to a nagging little red exclamation point on my Weather.com app that warns me that I will freeze and die of hypothermia immediately upon stepping outdoors.

Well, I'm currently in New York and sometimes staying indoors all day is just not an option. Ok, it kind of is for me because I'm working from my apartment, but yesterday I needed stamps so I had to walk to the post office. Life is just hard sometimes, you know?

At the beginning of this frigid week, I had decided that I should probably buy a hat. Simple enough right? Well, I hate hats for one. And they hate me right back. Put a hat on my teeny, tiny, short-haired head and I look like either a 12-year-old boy or a cancer patient. Many people have tried to convince me over the years of the merits of hats, to no avail. But I decided to give this whole hat thing another try, however, and set out on a mission to find the perfect one on Wednesday after work.

Macy's may not have had a hat for me, but at least their escalators are wooden.

I went to 34th street because of its concentration of relatively cheap clothing stores and thought I'd have my pick of the best winter hats in the world. It's January in New York City after all right? Well, I went to about ten stores — Macy's, H&M, Forever 21, Old Navy, etc. — and found not one single decent winter hat. The selection was terrible — I actually found more swimsuits than I did hats. I get that fashion moves fast, but seriously, it's still January. I even went into a K-Mart, you guys. I came to New York from Ohio, ended up in a K-Mart and even they didn't have a hat for me. As a last resort I trekked all the way to Brooklyn just to go to Target, thinking they would most certainly have what I needed —nope.

I went home sad, cold and hatless thinking I was right to hate them all along.

Then yesterday, after one very cold walk to the post office, I stopped into an American Apparel a few blocks from my apartment. Hats were far from my mind, but hats are what I found. An entire wall, in fact, of perfectly suitable hats, in every color imaginable. I grabbed a Mozart-colored (gray) one, of course, tried it on — and I didn't hate it! I might have even liked it a little. The girl at the counter rang me up and asked if I'd like the tags cut off — I must have looked as cold as I felt.

I put on the hat and walked over to Riverside Park and felt warmer than I had any right to. After five minutes I was a convert. Now I totally understand why so many people in the city have been wearing hats — why didn't someone tell me about this sooner? I feel like I can go anywhere now, weather be damned. You're not the boss of me, cold, I have a hat! 

Now if someone could just solve the problem of hat hair, I'd be really set.

City, I Love You.

A week ago I moved to New York City.

I had initially been planning to come here in May, for a couple of months, to see what it was like to live here. Ever since I first came here with my parents when I was 14, I've been basically obsessed with all things New York. I've been here more than 20 times (4 times just last year) and I've worn a Subway token around my neck almost every day for the past three years.

It was time.

When an opportunity for the perfect place (perfect location, perfect set-up, perfect price) came up on Monday, January 7th, I expedited the whole plan (quite a bit). I am so incredibly lucky to have an extreme support system: Most important are my wonderful employers who trust me enough to send me 500 miles away with an iMac and the promise that I'll get all of my work done. I'm also lucky enough to be in a profession (graphic designer) that can pretty much be performed from anywhere with a reliable Internet connection.

Of course there's also my dad, who was more than enthusiastic and totally on board for a road trip to deliver me to the city, even though he only had a few days notice. Not only did he drive the entire way — in rain and fog, no less — but he helped me carry my things up five flights of stairs (that's 76 stairs, believe me, I've counted) and managed not to have a heart attack doing so.

As if that wasn't enough, I also have the most incredible family and friends who have done more than their share of cheering me on, checking in on me and just letting me know how very excited they are for me. I think part of their excitement comes from knowing that, at least for a while, they don't have to hear me talk endlessly about how much I want to come to New York. I'm pretty sure I even heard the rumblings of a collective "FINALLY" when I made my plans.

The apartment is awesome. I'm on W. 109th street and the Upper West side has always been one of my favorite neighborhoods. I'm one block from Central Park, one block from Morningside Park and super close to Columbia University and basically anything I'll ever need.

I've loved (and visited) New York so long that it doesn't really feel like I'm away from home, so much as that I'm finally home. I have a lot to figure out while I'm here, huge, lofty things like what I want to do with the rest of my life. I've given myself two months, that should be enough time right?

NO PRESSURE.

I'll be recording my adventures here and I apologize in advance that it's about to get real New Yorky up in here (even more than it was before), but maybe some of you are into that? I totally realize that I'm so incredibly lucky in nearly every single way and I don't intend to waste my time here.

Oh and if anyone knows of a totally awesome apartment opportunity here, let me know. Somehow I don't think two months is going to be long enough for this wannabe New Yorker.

Pinterest Treats

Mine|  Theirs

I've had a Pinterest account for some time, but despite my best intentions I haven't really made anything that I've pinned (I even have a board called "Things I'll Never Make"). I currently have 113 pins in my board "Tasty Treats," and I was determined to make something from it this Christmas. I actually got ambitious and made two tasty treats, and to my delight they were both a major success.

The first one I made was this Buckeye Bark. Ever since my epiphany for the city swap gift, I've been craving the Ohio-centric candy. But I also wasn't looking forward to rolling balls of peanut butter until my hands fell off, so the bark version was a perfect compromise.

It's so easy you really don't even need directions, but here they are anyway: layer the chocolate, peanut butter mixture, then chocolate again on a Silpat-lined cookie tray, popping it in the freezer to set in between layers. I was worried I would be waiting a long time for the layers to harden, but each probably took less than 15 min. Breaking it with my hands was a little difficult (and melty) and resulted in some not-so-photo-worthy shards, but it tasted so good no one seemed to care.

Mine|  Theirs

Emboldened by my success with the Buckeye Bark, I decided to make these chocolate cherry cookies. My mom and I had made a version of these (called Santa's Whiskers) back in elementary school for a cookie exchange, and I was so excited when I stumbled on this version.

I added twice as much cherry juice as the recipe called for, doubled the almond extract and added more cherries for extra flavor. I actually only put kisses on top of about half, and sprinkles on the others. I definitely prefer them without the kisses, but I was making them for family and thought they might like the option.

Some reviewers said these were bland because they're not super sweet, but I think they're absolutely delicious. I just ate the last of them today, and I'm already thinking about making more. The cherry juice turns the cookie a really pretty shade of pink that would be perfect for Valentine's Day, even if my man wasn't a huge fan. Luckily, I don't think I'll have any problem eating an entire batch by myself.

Friday Finds

1. Penguin Sweater |  2.Chalkboard Map |  3.Fox Mug |  4.Kazoo Cases |  5.Fossil Bag |  6.Cat Sweater

Despite the fact that I'm pretty much terrified of birds, I've always considered penguins an exception. Maybe it's because they can't fly, thereby eliminating my no. 1 fear when it comes to feathered friends (that they'll fly in my face and hair, The Birds-style). Plus they're just incredibly cool looking, and I would be too in this sweater.

I'm a wanderer at heart, always dreaming and planning trips, and this chalkboard map would a perfect way to map out routes, or show where I've been.

This fox mug from Starbucks is even cuter in person. The tail handle is perfectly adorable, and they surprisingly resisted all corporate urges to slap their logo on it, although anyone with eyeballs will probably recognize the cute critter from their winter campaign (I wish they also made a rabbit one, he's always been my favorite).

At 27, am I too old to have one of these animal cases for my iPhone? I kind of think I am, but I also kind of don't care because they're so incredibly cute. As a bonus, they also look like they'd really protect your phone — can that be my excuse?

I not-so-subtly asked my man for this cross body bag from Fossil for Christmas, and I'm not-so-secretly hoping that he got the hint. I've been coveting most of their vintage-inspired collection for a while, and my $25 purse from Target is finally on it's last legs, so I think it's time for an upgrade.

If I need to explain what's so wonderful about this cat sweater, then I'm curious why you're even reading my blog. You must have come here by mistake. Thanks for reading, and I'm sorry.

Christmas Vacation

I already revealed that Christmas Vacation was my all-time favorite holiday movie, but I feel like my love for it goes far beyond it's nostalgic Christmas charm. I'm kind of obsessed with everything concerning it, whether it's the merchandise, soundtrack or these amazing commercials from Old Navy.

1. DVD |  2. Dickey  |  3. Holy Shit Where's the Tylenol|  4. Moose Mug  |  5. Santa Hat  |  6. Ornaments  |  7. T-Shirt

Last night my friend Emily came over and we had our annual viewing while we sipped nog from my beloved moose mugs. Nothing puts me in the Christmas spirit like hearing the opening song ("Christmas Vacation...") or holding a cup by it's antler.

Some of my favorite quotes:

• Is your house on fire, Clark?  
• Can I refill your eggnog for you? Get you something to eat? Drive you out to the middle of nowhere and leave you for dead? 
• Don't throw me down, Clark.
• Oh, Eddie... If I woke up tomorrow with my head sewn to the carpet, I wouldn't be more surprised than I am now.  
• I don't *know* Margo!
• Every time Catherine revved up the microwave, I'd piss my pants and forget who I was for about half an hour or so.  

Please tell me you've seen Christmas Vacation. What are your favorite parts?

How I Spend the Christmas Season

Stores start putting out Christmas merchandise in October and I'm like:

Then people start lining up weeks ahead of time for Black Friday sales at places like Best Buy and I'm like:

I hear about stampeding moms at Wal Mart and I'm the one person that's like:

My Uncle and I go Black Friday shopping in a heavily-Jewish area of town, which is usually deserted and we're like:

But then I see someone headed for the same thing I want and I'm like:

For the next week I get approximately two hundred emails containing the words "cyber Monday" and I'm like:

But then two people buy something from Blue Carrot Shop and I'm like:

Then I realize I have extra money in my PayPal account and I'm like:

I fill up online shopping carts only to be mere pennies away from receiving free shipping and I'm like:

Then I add and subtract items until I've spent exactly enough to get free shipping and I'm like:

Then I realize I've hit my spending limit for each person and I'm like:

Then I buy even more things because:

Then I decide that I'll just make cookies for EVERYONE, which ends up looking more like this:

Then I wrap my gifts and put them under the tree, and my cats are like:

Then Christmas comes around and while I'm hoping it looks like this:

Thanks to climate change it's been looking more like this:

Then I pass out my gifts and I feel like:

Until someone gets me something way less awesome then the gift I gave them, and I'm like:

 And spending time with our families always starts out like this:

 And ends up like:

And after eating ALL OF THE THINGS, I pledge to eat better for the New Year, which starts out like:

But pretty soon I'm right back to being like:

NEED MORE GIF RECAPS?

See how I spent election night

Christmastime is Here!

I don't go super crazy with holiday decorations, but I've been slowly accumulating things over the years and I'm really happy with my growing collection. I've tried to stick to a wintery, red and white type of feel — I'm pretty traditional in my Christmas tastes. I got the stockings from Target last year (hung by our bookshelf with care), including the two tiny felt ones for our cats.

I got these ric-rac trimmed towels last year at TJ Maxx, and this year I picked up the snowflake placemats (Target again). I've had my eye on these votive holders, but I haven't been able to quite justify the purchase yet (gimme some time, I'll think of something).

PS - Can you spy the cat portrait by Rachael? It makes me smile daily.

I was always a huge stickler for real trees growing up, but my man already had this faux tree when I moved in, and who am I to argue with something pretty, free, and incredibly easy to set up (it's even pre-lit)?

I've been collecting ornaments for pretty much my entire life, and I have a good mix of vintage, Hallmark and bulbs. It's always hard to pick favorites, but my Christmas Vacation ones make me smile every time I pass the tree. I wish I had the other two in the set (the RV and light-up house), and not only because they are bringing insane prices on eBay right now.

Lastly, one of my very favorite things in my house is this faux bois ceramic vase I got a few years ago from Anthropologie. I switch out the foliage depending on the season — lilacs for summer, Japanese lanterns for fall and holly for winter. Like the tree, I used to abhor fake flowers, but I've been able to find some really nice looking ones lately — a far cry from the dew-drops-on-roses that I will hate always and forever.

I'm really trying to enjoy Christmas this year because we were away for Halloween and Thanksgiving. I'm nearly done with my shopping, and soon it will be time for the annual viewing of Christmas Vacation, complete with rum and eggnog sipped from these mugs, but of course.

Presents for Me

So I finished most of my Christmas shopping today, including a particularly good haul on Amazon whereby a savvy combination of gift card credits ( thank you Key Bank Rewards, and Amazon Credit Card!) I ended up scoring more than a hundred dollars in gifts for a mere $11.38.

Which led to me looking for one last gift for my man on eBay, where I stumbled (aka I was searching for Meryl Streep posters, totally for my man, I swear) upon two posters from 70s stage productions starring Ms. Streep —Measure for Measure, with John Cazale, and The Taming of the Shrew with Raul Julia. So I made "best offer" offers on them, thinking, oh they won't be accepted.

But then they were.

So, I am now the proud (and broke) owner of these two amazing (and huge — 30" x 45") posters, and now all I have to do is find frames and a place to display them. There's something I love about them being illustrations, and I would imagine they didn't produce many of either.

One of my very favorite experiences in life was seeing Meryl at the Delacorte in Mother Courage, and I can only imagine how wonderful she was in her other performances. I actually know how amazing she was in The Taming of the Shrew, however, and so can you thanks to this video.

Now I just have to save my money for this one to complete the set.