We're coming to the end of another holiday season with New Years Eve tomorrow night. The end of 2013 has been tough and hectic at times and while I am sad to see it end, I am also looking forward to the new year and lots of fun things we have planned. We got back last night from our Christmas trip to Michigan. Of course no trip would be complete without some kind of dangerous driving condition and we had a white knuckled drive from Detroit to Jackson after we arrived to an ice storm. We made it safely and the roads just began to freeze after we arrived and stepped outside the car to a sheet of ice on the ground. Rough.
I also continued my yearly tradition of getting sick just before, on, or after Christmas with a fabulous cold that knocked me out for the last three days of our trip and caused me to miss some very fun parties. There is nothing quite like an airport when you're sick. The travel gods were smiling on us and Sean was upgraded to first class. He insisted I take his seat so I had a very comfortable ride and all the hot tea I needed. However, that must have used up all our good travel karma because we arrived in New York to an absolute downpour and no cabs to be found at the airport. After waiting for over an hour in a long cab line that was hardly moving, we decided to take the bus to the subway. Two hours later we finally made it home. It took us as long to get from LaGuardia to our apartment as it took to get from Detroit to New York.
Bookended between those two lovely travel experiences, we had a great trip. It was wonderful to see so many family members and friends and get to spend lots of quality time together. We also had the special joy of spending Christmas morning with our nephews. Watching a three year old be excited about Christmas takes it to a whole different level of awesome. We had so much fun playing with Jack and all his new toys and cuddling Hudson who is basically the cutest four month old ever.
This will be a low key New Years Eve for us. Sean and I are spending the evening at home and both working tomorrow. I have plans for a special dinner and Mario Kart tournament and we're hoping to catch the Rose Bowl for a Spartan victory on New Years Day. Here's to a wonderful new year!
Monday, December 30, 2013
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Hello there, December
December really snuck up on me this year because Thanksgiving was so late and now here we are one week away from Christmas. I haven't looked at any store windows or visited the tree or one single Christmas market and that's just the way it is going to be this year because there isn't any time left. Our weekends have been booked with gift shopping and holiday parties and lots of studying for Sean (finals! grad school! isn't it wonderful?).
A word about holiday parties. I don't know if this is because we moved to New York at the same time we were becoming "real" adults or if this is solidly a New York thing, but holiday parties are a big. deal. in this city. Maybe you can also expect to be invited to six holiday parties in other parts of the country or maybe it is just New York or maybe we just have festive friends? Regardless, there are always lots of fun holiday events to attend for work or for friends and you can quickly develop what I call holiday party fatigue. Otherwise known as, what do I wear to these parties and why aren't rain boots appropriate because there are huge piles of slush in the street. There seems to be a lot of social pressure around holiday parties and every year it is an interesting social experiment to witness. Luckily these parties usually come with delicious food. The end.
Some things to note in December:
-I went to Chinatown for the first time, it was a strange place! Thanks to Sarah for getting me down there despite my pleading to not go. It was snowing and decorated for Christmas and we visited a few bakeries and I ate too many red bean pastries and many people on the street asked us if we were looking for designer handbags. We probably should have said yes just to see where they would have taken us.
-Sarah also got me to go to another opera at the Met. We saw Falstaff which was thankfully less than 4 hours. I'm a sucker for anything at Lincoln Center and it beats watching TV on a Monday night.
-Sean and I tried a great new restaurant on the Upper West Side, Red Farm. This is their second location in New York and we have been eyeing it for weeks waiting for dinner service to start so we could find time to go. It finally did and it was delicious! We went on a Tuesday night and it was pretty packed, which I think is a good sign.
-We have watched all the good Christmas movies and we watched them early so we have been left with whatever wierd movies are available for Netflix streaming. This includes but is not limited to movies that were made to air on ABC Family. Yep.
Now there is a lot to do before another trip to Michigan. Big plans include putting Christmas music on my phone for the trip and charging my Kindle. Flight delays will not get the best of me this year!
A word about holiday parties. I don't know if this is because we moved to New York at the same time we were becoming "real" adults or if this is solidly a New York thing, but holiday parties are a big. deal. in this city. Maybe you can also expect to be invited to six holiday parties in other parts of the country or maybe it is just New York or maybe we just have festive friends? Regardless, there are always lots of fun holiday events to attend for work or for friends and you can quickly develop what I call holiday party fatigue. Otherwise known as, what do I wear to these parties and why aren't rain boots appropriate because there are huge piles of slush in the street. There seems to be a lot of social pressure around holiday parties and every year it is an interesting social experiment to witness. Luckily these parties usually come with delicious food. The end.
Some things to note in December:
-I went to Chinatown for the first time, it was a strange place! Thanks to Sarah for getting me down there despite my pleading to not go. It was snowing and decorated for Christmas and we visited a few bakeries and I ate too many red bean pastries and many people on the street asked us if we were looking for designer handbags. We probably should have said yes just to see where they would have taken us.
-Sarah also got me to go to another opera at the Met. We saw Falstaff which was thankfully less than 4 hours. I'm a sucker for anything at Lincoln Center and it beats watching TV on a Monday night.
-Sean and I tried a great new restaurant on the Upper West Side, Red Farm. This is their second location in New York and we have been eyeing it for weeks waiting for dinner service to start so we could find time to go. It finally did and it was delicious! We went on a Tuesday night and it was pretty packed, which I think is a good sign.
-We have watched all the good Christmas movies and we watched them early so we have been left with whatever wierd movies are available for Netflix streaming. This includes but is not limited to movies that were made to air on ABC Family. Yep.
Now there is a lot to do before another trip to Michigan. Big plans include putting Christmas music on my phone for the trip and charging my Kindle. Flight delays will not get the best of me this year!
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Thankful
Sean and I are headed to the great state of Michigan this evening for a marathon of family visits and eating lots of food. We are so excited to finally meet our nephew Hudson who is already (tear) three months old. And on top of that we also get to meet Miriam and Aaron's puppy who I have been facetiming with for weeks (I know, facetiming with a dog...but don't knock it 'til you've tried it!). Before we go, here is the requisite what I am thankful for post.
The big things:
Our wonderful supportive family
Our dear friends, including the new ones we have made in New York and all the old ones scattered around the country and world
Sean and the fact that he still makes the coffee every single morning
Reliable full time jobs that are of course still work, but interesting!
Our tiny little apartment on the Upper West Side that is just perfect for us
The opportunity to travel and explore new places
The little things:
Warm socks
A sturdy umbrella
Central Park in all seasons
Levain cookies
Kale (that's right, I love it)
Coffee and Wine (the nectars of life)
Netflix streaming and how it makes life without TV doable
Whole wheat everything bagels
Happy Thanksgiving!
The big things:
Our wonderful supportive family
Our dear friends, including the new ones we have made in New York and all the old ones scattered around the country and world
Sean and the fact that he still makes the coffee every single morning
Reliable full time jobs that are of course still work, but interesting!
Our tiny little apartment on the Upper West Side that is just perfect for us
The opportunity to travel and explore new places
The little things:
Warm socks
A sturdy umbrella
Central Park in all seasons
Levain cookies
Kale (that's right, I love it)
Coffee and Wine (the nectars of life)
Netflix streaming and how it makes life without TV doable
Whole wheat everything bagels
Happy Thanksgiving!
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Hosting Guests in a Tiny Apartment
Well I have clearly been slacking on my blog duties and a lot of this has to do with busy weekends filled with guests. First Michael came to visit before a job interview (happy to report he got the job and is moving to New York soon!) and then Jocelyn and Cory came to spend the weekend with us. We love when friends and family come visit, but it is admittedly a challenge to host overnight guests in our very small apartment. Hotels in New York are expensive and most of our friends in the city get asked fairly often to host friends, family, friends of friends who are passing through, etc. Of course it's never possible to say yes to every request but here are some things I have found helpful when you're hosting overnight guests.
1. Clean your apartment! I am always grateful for the excuse to do a deep cleaning but this can also just be shoving clutter into the back of the closet/behind the couch/under the bed/wherever guests won't see it. It is easy to feel apologetic and make excuses for your little apartment, but when it is clean and organized, I always feel better about the first impression it is giving.
2. Major points if you manage to clear a space for your guest's suitcase (this is an ongoing challenge for us).
3. Buy fresh flowers and light a candle or two. I always do this when we have friends over for dinner but it does the trick for overnight guests too. It takes the first impression from "wow this place is small" to "wow it's so nice and cozy."
4. It's ok to ask people to bring their own sheets. When Jocelyn offered to bring towels, I thought that was pretty silly, we are well stocked, but bringing sheets was so helpful. It saved us from having to dig in the upper reaches of the closet for a fresh set and drag them to the laundromat afterwards.
5. But if you do ask guests to bring their own sheets or towels, maybe make them a nice breakfast? We like to bake some scones in advance or hello, Trader Joe's pumpkin pancake mix is delicious.
6. Make dinner reservations. I love using guests as an excuse to try a new restaurant. Also, after a long day wandering around New York it's nice to know where you are going for dinner. It eliminates the lengthy "what should we eat" conversation and you don't have to wait an hour for a table to open up when you are starving.
7. Having guests is also a great excuse to do things around the city as a tourist. Visit museums, see a show, or just go for a walk in a new neighborhood. When your apartment feels crowded with three people in it, it's important to get outside, for everyone's sanity.
8. Be honest about your routine. We try to avoid it but we occasionally have guests during the work week. I have found it is much easier to be up front about my morning schedule. "I wake up at X time and I need to make coffee/blow dry my hair/do other loud activities." There's honestly no such thing as tip-toeing around in an under 400 square feet space, so manage expectations for sleeping in right away.
9. Goes along with number 8. We do our best to run errands and take care of chores before we have guests but it is not always possible. Sometimes you have to pick up your dry cleaning and buy another bag of coffee beans. I used to feel guilty about this, then I realized our good friends and family absolutely do not care, and don't mind stopping for an errand with me.
10. But do not take your friends to Trader Joe's in Manhattan. This is reserved for family, aka people you can yell at who will forgive you. Just trust me on this one.
There you have it, my best advice for hosting guests in tiny New York apartments. And now a photo of Jocelyn, Cory, and Sean in our kitchen.
1. Clean your apartment! I am always grateful for the excuse to do a deep cleaning but this can also just be shoving clutter into the back of the closet/behind the couch/under the bed/wherever guests won't see it. It is easy to feel apologetic and make excuses for your little apartment, but when it is clean and organized, I always feel better about the first impression it is giving.
2. Major points if you manage to clear a space for your guest's suitcase (this is an ongoing challenge for us).
3. Buy fresh flowers and light a candle or two. I always do this when we have friends over for dinner but it does the trick for overnight guests too. It takes the first impression from "wow this place is small" to "wow it's so nice and cozy."
4. It's ok to ask people to bring their own sheets. When Jocelyn offered to bring towels, I thought that was pretty silly, we are well stocked, but bringing sheets was so helpful. It saved us from having to dig in the upper reaches of the closet for a fresh set and drag them to the laundromat afterwards.
5. But if you do ask guests to bring their own sheets or towels, maybe make them a nice breakfast? We like to bake some scones in advance or hello, Trader Joe's pumpkin pancake mix is delicious.
6. Make dinner reservations. I love using guests as an excuse to try a new restaurant. Also, after a long day wandering around New York it's nice to know where you are going for dinner. It eliminates the lengthy "what should we eat" conversation and you don't have to wait an hour for a table to open up when you are starving.
7. Having guests is also a great excuse to do things around the city as a tourist. Visit museums, see a show, or just go for a walk in a new neighborhood. When your apartment feels crowded with three people in it, it's important to get outside, for everyone's sanity.
8. Be honest about your routine. We try to avoid it but we occasionally have guests during the work week. I have found it is much easier to be up front about my morning schedule. "I wake up at X time and I need to make coffee/blow dry my hair/do other loud activities." There's honestly no such thing as tip-toeing around in an under 400 square feet space, so manage expectations for sleeping in right away.
9. Goes along with number 8. We do our best to run errands and take care of chores before we have guests but it is not always possible. Sometimes you have to pick up your dry cleaning and buy another bag of coffee beans. I used to feel guilty about this, then I realized our good friends and family absolutely do not care, and don't mind stopping for an errand with me.
10. But do not take your friends to Trader Joe's in Manhattan. This is reserved for family, aka people you can yell at who will forgive you. Just trust me on this one.
There you have it, my best advice for hosting guests in tiny New York apartments. And now a photo of Jocelyn, Cory, and Sean in our kitchen.
Saturday, October 12, 2013
All the Fall Foods
Hello! It has been a while and this mainly because I haven't had anything of much interest to report on. After the long, busy work/school weeks, we have been enjoying quiet weekends without much on the agenda beyond soaking up the nice weather, cooking, and my favorite activity of eating outside in various New York City parks. Saturday morning bagels and coffee in Riverside Park, Magnolia banana pudding in the Sheep's Meadow of Central Park, and salads from Sweet Green while we watch people feed squirrels in Madison Square Park. Side note, why would you want to feed a squirrel? I really don't understand.
This weekend I am aspiring to find a good cider doughnut, roast a pumpkin, and drink some warm apple cider. Despite being a little annoyed by all the pumpkin-everything that crops up this time of year, I still find myself wanting to eat ALL the fall foods. While waiting in line at Starbucks, I even tried to convince myself I liked pumpkin spiced lattes (spoiler: I do not). I was just warming up for my yearly testing of the pumpkin pie theory. I enjoy almost all things pumpkin. Pumpkin soups, cookies, breads, cupcakes (I dream about pumpkin cupcakes from Sprinkles), pancakes, etc. But I hate pumpkin pie and every year I smell it baking and wow it smells so good and I think this year I will enjoy that pumpkin pie. Then I take a bite and hate it. This is similar to my peanut butter cookie problem. When two of your favorite foods are peanut butter and cookies, you would think that you might love a peanut butter cookie, but you would be wrong.
Other things of note, we bought a mum plant last week to keep in our apartment but it has quickly died. We plan to try again, but what gives mum plant? Are mums really that hard to keep alive?
And lastly, if you're looking for a good pumpkin recipe, here's what I'm considering doing with that sugar pie pumpkin sitting on our table begging to be roasted:
Spiced pumpkin soup
http://www.nourishingmeals.com/2010/01/spiced-pumpkin-soup.html
Or maybe pumpkin garlic knots
http://www.neverhomemaker.com/2010/04/pumpkin-garlic-knots.html
This weekend I am aspiring to find a good cider doughnut, roast a pumpkin, and drink some warm apple cider. Despite being a little annoyed by all the pumpkin-everything that crops up this time of year, I still find myself wanting to eat ALL the fall foods. While waiting in line at Starbucks, I even tried to convince myself I liked pumpkin spiced lattes (spoiler: I do not). I was just warming up for my yearly testing of the pumpkin pie theory. I enjoy almost all things pumpkin. Pumpkin soups, cookies, breads, cupcakes (I dream about pumpkin cupcakes from Sprinkles), pancakes, etc. But I hate pumpkin pie and every year I smell it baking and wow it smells so good and I think this year I will enjoy that pumpkin pie. Then I take a bite and hate it. This is similar to my peanut butter cookie problem. When two of your favorite foods are peanut butter and cookies, you would think that you might love a peanut butter cookie, but you would be wrong.
Other things of note, we bought a mum plant last week to keep in our apartment but it has quickly died. We plan to try again, but what gives mum plant? Are mums really that hard to keep alive?
And lastly, if you're looking for a good pumpkin recipe, here's what I'm considering doing with that sugar pie pumpkin sitting on our table begging to be roasted:
Spiced pumpkin soup
http://www.nourishingmeals.com/2010/01/spiced-pumpkin-soup.html
Or maybe pumpkin garlic knots
http://www.neverhomemaker.com/2010/04/pumpkin-garlic-knots.html
Saturday, September 21, 2013
Three Years
This month Sean and I celebrated our three year wedding anniversary. I love anniversaries because they are our own personal holiday. And they give us an excuse to do fun things that we might not have done otherwise (like spend a weekend in Union Square, or go to Hawaii). This year was not terribly exciting. We are saving our pennies for exorbitant holiday flights and Sean has started class again. As usual I spent our anniversary lamenting over the fact that we still haven't put together a wedding album and wishing we had hired a wedding videographer. These are always productive hours. And then I think we watched the Office on Netflix.
We did use our anniversary as an excuse to go out for a nice dinner last weekend. We tried a new to us restaurant on the Upper West Side, Dovetail. It's hidden on 77th street just next to the Shake Shack and we had never noticed it before. I agree with a lot of the reviews which said this is such an underrated restaurant in New York. Walking in feels like entering someone's apartment building, but we were pleasantly surprised by the interior and the service was excellent. They have a vegetable tasting menu (which I appreciate, since being a vegetarian often limits my ability to order the chef's tasting menu) and it was delicious. I was stuffed by the end even though it was spread out over two hours. It was a very fun evening and I'm sure we will be back for special occasions in the future.
This past week we went to the opening night of the New York City Ballet's Swan Lake at Lincoln Center. We billed this as an anniversary present to ourselves because we have both wanted to see Swan Lake for a long time and it is always always sold out before we even think to buy tickets. We got the cheapest tickets possible. Really, there is such a thing as the nosebleed seats at ballets. I was still able to enjoy the ballet once I got over my fear of heights. This time Sean did not fall asleep (as he did when I took him to his first ballet) and we both loved the music and the final scenes which were in a word, epic. Also it was so nice to be able to walk down to Lincoln Center and quickly walk home afterwards. I really am loving the Upper West Side.
Here's an oldie but a goodie from our honeymoon, and cheers to many more happy years!
We did use our anniversary as an excuse to go out for a nice dinner last weekend. We tried a new to us restaurant on the Upper West Side, Dovetail. It's hidden on 77th street just next to the Shake Shack and we had never noticed it before. I agree with a lot of the reviews which said this is such an underrated restaurant in New York. Walking in feels like entering someone's apartment building, but we were pleasantly surprised by the interior and the service was excellent. They have a vegetable tasting menu (which I appreciate, since being a vegetarian often limits my ability to order the chef's tasting menu) and it was delicious. I was stuffed by the end even though it was spread out over two hours. It was a very fun evening and I'm sure we will be back for special occasions in the future.
This past week we went to the opening night of the New York City Ballet's Swan Lake at Lincoln Center. We billed this as an anniversary present to ourselves because we have both wanted to see Swan Lake for a long time and it is always always sold out before we even think to buy tickets. We got the cheapest tickets possible. Really, there is such a thing as the nosebleed seats at ballets. I was still able to enjoy the ballet once I got over my fear of heights. This time Sean did not fall asleep (as he did when I took him to his first ballet) and we both loved the music and the final scenes which were in a word, epic. Also it was so nice to be able to walk down to Lincoln Center and quickly walk home afterwards. I really am loving the Upper West Side.
Here's an oldie but a goodie from our honeymoon, and cheers to many more happy years!
Monday, September 9, 2013
Fall and a love letter to New York City
Can you believe it is already September? Summer seemed to go by very quickly this year. And now the weather is really cooling off which makes it feel like fall, despite my attitude that fall doesn't officially begin until September 22. I am sad to see summer end but am looking forward to sweaters, boots, and pumpkins. And hunting down some cider doughnuts at a farmer's market.
We spent Labor Day weekend in Massachusetts visiting Jocelyn and Cory in their new home. Turns out the middle of MA has some very cute college towns! Unfortunately the weather was horrible so we were cooped up inside but that gave us plenty of time to play Yahtzee and Euchre and watch episodes of the Office together. Also Sean and I conquered cheap East Coast travel yet again by taking the Metro North and then a short leg of Amtrak saving ourselves over $100 dollars in train costs. When you're used to the Midwest, it's easy to forget that there are other travel options beyond cars and Amtrak.
Jocelyn and Cory have purchased a two bedroom/two bathroom condo and wow is it spacious compared with our apartment. It's easy for me to wish we had more space, maybe a backyard, and a car, when we spend time outside of NYC. I can't pretend that I'm not jealous of friends who pay 1/4 of the rent I do in other parts of the country and don't go out for dinner thinking 7 dollars for a beer is a deal. But then I am walking through Central Park on my way home from work or our flight path takes us over Manhattan before landing at LGA and I just feel lucky to be living here.
Despite my strong wish to move to New York after college, when we actually moved here it took me quite a while to adjust. I needed at least six months to get an understanding of the geography of the city and it's only now I can finally say I a strong command of the different boroughs and neighborhoods and all the public transit options for getting there. There has been some adjusting with our new neighborhood (still need a reliable dry cleaner...) but all in all New York just feels like home. A loud, stinky home that sometimes you need to escape, but ultimately you love and are excited to come home to.
This city has given me so many amazing cultural and culinary experiences, wonderful friendships, and work opportunities I would be unlikely to find other places. I love the food, the parks, the busy streets, the buildings, and the bridges. Happy three year anniversary, New York, I think I love you.
We spent Labor Day weekend in Massachusetts visiting Jocelyn and Cory in their new home. Turns out the middle of MA has some very cute college towns! Unfortunately the weather was horrible so we were cooped up inside but that gave us plenty of time to play Yahtzee and Euchre and watch episodes of the Office together. Also Sean and I conquered cheap East Coast travel yet again by taking the Metro North and then a short leg of Amtrak saving ourselves over $100 dollars in train costs. When you're used to the Midwest, it's easy to forget that there are other travel options beyond cars and Amtrak.
Jocelyn and Cory have purchased a two bedroom/two bathroom condo and wow is it spacious compared with our apartment. It's easy for me to wish we had more space, maybe a backyard, and a car, when we spend time outside of NYC. I can't pretend that I'm not jealous of friends who pay 1/4 of the rent I do in other parts of the country and don't go out for dinner thinking 7 dollars for a beer is a deal. But then I am walking through Central Park on my way home from work or our flight path takes us over Manhattan before landing at LGA and I just feel lucky to be living here.
Despite my strong wish to move to New York after college, when we actually moved here it took me quite a while to adjust. I needed at least six months to get an understanding of the geography of the city and it's only now I can finally say I a strong command of the different boroughs and neighborhoods and all the public transit options for getting there. There has been some adjusting with our new neighborhood (still need a reliable dry cleaner...) but all in all New York just feels like home. A loud, stinky home that sometimes you need to escape, but ultimately you love and are excited to come home to.
This city has given me so many amazing cultural and culinary experiences, wonderful friendships, and work opportunities I would be unlikely to find other places. I love the food, the parks, the busy streets, the buildings, and the bridges. Happy three year anniversary, New York, I think I love you.
Friday, August 30, 2013
Pure Michigan
Sean and I recently returned from a long trip to the one and only mitten state. We had a very busy week and a half trying to fit in everything we could and driving over 1,000 miles in our little rental car. I suggested we start a game called Michigan Bingo and award ourselves prizes. On this trip, we definitely would have had a full card. Here are some of the highlights:
-Traverse City! One of my absolute favorite places in Michigan and I got to spend the weekend with two of my best girlfriends from college. Been trying to make that happen for a long time and it was so fun.
-A $20 haircut. I think my jaw dropped at that price.
-Mom's wedding which was lovely and fun and relaxed. It was wonderful to have most of the extended family together again celebrating her and Jack. Miriam and I wore matching dresses because I don't believe that's an opportunity that should be turned down. Also Sean demonstrated his amazing floral skills by making my Mom's bouquet. I helped, barely.
-Lake Huron. We ended our trip with two days on the beach with my Dad and Nancy laying in the sun, reading books, and playing Yahtzee. Perfect.
-There were all the Michigan greats. Oberon, Jimmy John's, Zingermans, local wine.
-Lots of time with lots of family including a stop in Kalamazoo to see Lou, Kathy, and Rick, some relaxing days in Brighton and of course playing outside with our favorite nephew, who remained our favorite and only nephew because the other little guy refused to show his face to the world until two days after we left. The rudeness.
To that last point, now that we are home in New York, we have been enjoying lots of photos of our new nephew Hudson. I don't know when we will be able to go back to Michigan and meet him, but we are still filled with aunt and uncle love and pride. Yes I have been showing his photo to everyone in my office who will tolerate it. What can I say, I love being an aunt!
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Summer Adventuring: Brooklyn and Philadelphia
Apologies for the silence, Sean and I have been trying to soak up every bit of summer that we can over here. That is, when the temperature cooperates. We survived another epic heatwave and it's actually been quite nice since then. A few weeks ago we took a little Saturday trip to Brooklyn that involved walking across the Brooklyn Bridge ALL THE WAY and wandering the promenade. I have been to DUMBO and Brooklyn Bridge park but never seem to make it south to the promenade or into Brooklyn Heights. It was lovely. I can see why people move there for the views alone.
Last weekend Sean surprised me with a trip to Philadelphia. We aren't able to take a real vacation for ourselves this summer but he insisted we at least get out of New York for a few days. He knows I am a sucker for U.S. history and French art and we were able to work both of those things into our trip with a visit to all of Philly's historic sites including Independence Hall and a visit to the Barnes Foundation amazing collection of post-impressionist French paintings. We were able to take public transit (cheap!) and stay in a hotel across for City Hall using credit card points making this an extremely affordable getaway. It was nice to get a change of scenery for a few days!
Last weekend Sean surprised me with a trip to Philadelphia. We aren't able to take a real vacation for ourselves this summer but he insisted we at least get out of New York for a few days. He knows I am a sucker for U.S. history and French art and we were able to work both of those things into our trip with a visit to all of Philly's historic sites including Independence Hall and a visit to the Barnes Foundation amazing collection of post-impressionist French paintings. We were able to take public transit (cheap!) and stay in a hotel across for City Hall using credit card points making this an extremely affordable getaway. It was nice to get a change of scenery for a few days!
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Another good list
Here's what's making me happy this week:
1. Peonies. Trader Joe's had marvelous bunches for a very low price so we got two. Given how I have been cooing over them like babies and smelling them all week, I can officially say they are my favorite flower.
2. Chocolate chip walnut cookies from Levain Bakery. They are too amazing for words and the bakery is only two blocks away.
3. I have been asking Sean to watch the last two Harry Potter movies with me for oh, I don't know, two years. He finally gave in this week. So good.
4. This song.
5. These sandals, which are super comfortable and great for my daily walk home.
6. The basil and mint plants on my patio. They're struggling to keep up in the heat but it's so pleasant to go out and pick some leaves to include with dinner. Yum.
1. Peonies. Trader Joe's had marvelous bunches for a very low price so we got two. Given how I have been cooing over them like babies and smelling them all week, I can officially say they are my favorite flower.
2. Chocolate chip walnut cookies from Levain Bakery. They are too amazing for words and the bakery is only two blocks away.
3. I have been asking Sean to watch the last two Harry Potter movies with me for oh, I don't know, two years. He finally gave in this week. So good.
4. This song.
5. These sandals, which are super comfortable and great for my daily walk home.
6. The basil and mint plants on my patio. They're struggling to keep up in the heat but it's so pleasant to go out and pick some leaves to include with dinner. Yum.
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Fourth of July Heat Wave
Sean and I were thrilled to have Miriam and Aaron join us for the long Fourth of July weekend in New York. We were not so thrilled with the heat advisories and amazing humidity. I had planned on many hours wandering Central Park and a picnic dinner at Riverside Park to watch the fireworks. Maybe even a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge and promenade. Needless to say every time we tried to do something outdoors it quickly ended in exclamations of ahhhh it's so hot, I'm so sweaty, get me out of here!
Of course we still had a wonderful time and our little apartment handled visitors very well (ok there was that ant coup of the patio and apartment but we're not discussing that). It has turned out to be very convenient to have your twin sister married to your husband's cousin. Aaron and Sean had no problem going off to the movie theater together while Miriam and I went shopping and got our nails done. We had too much good food: Casa Mono, Shake Shack, The Smith, ABC Kitchen, the Spotted Pig, and of course banana pudding from Magnolia. We also took Miriam and Aaron for their first visit to the Met and ventured up to the rooftop which was on my summer bucket list. The view up there is beautiful, if only it was air conditioned. I also finally made it to the Lincoln Center lawn. What a lovely spot to spend some time (again, when there isn't a heat advisory). So glad it's only a few blocks away.
You can read more details of their visit and see lots of photos on Miriam's blog. I am too exhausted from too much fun for a full recap. The moral of the story is, I love when my sister visits and I am sad when she leaves. Aaron has forever endeared himself by suggesting we watch Mulan after the ant incident. A true hero. Thank you for coming to see us!
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| Miriam's face says it all. It's 105 degrees out. |
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
It Takes Two
The title of this post is a reference to the most amazing Olsen twins movie which Miriam and I were obviously obsessed with as children. Because my sister is coming to visit! Of course, she's bringing Aaron, which I suppose I can tolerate because it means there is someone to entertain Sean while Miriam and I go shopping and get manicures. I can't wait for them to arrive later this afternoon.
Of course, I am a little nervous about fitting two more people into our apartment for five days. It has been cleaned and organized in every little corner to make the most room. Last night I wanted to give myself a reward for closet organization which in my experience is just a stretch away from Tetris (another throwback). The truth is when we moved in, we wanted to get everything out of our way as quickly as possible, so we were not very purposeful about our storage. We are still stretched for space, but with a little creativity and plotting, things are much more organized and we were able to cram even more stuff into those two little closets. Which I did not think would be possible. Hooray!
And another confession. We have officially entered the secret not so fun society of the Upper West Side lovely old brownstone apartment. No mice yet, but Sean has killed two cockroaches since we moved in, one this morning IN THE SHOWER EEK. That is my worst nightmare right there. I have yet to see one, so I am just living in fear of when it will inevitably happen. I also remain extremely impressed that Sean successfully killed them because let's be honest, those suckers are hard to kill. In my limited experience with them, I have not been able to do it. They just always get away.
Happy 4th of July! I hope everyone is enjoying a long weekend with family, friends, and hopefully some fireworks.
Of course, I am a little nervous about fitting two more people into our apartment for five days. It has been cleaned and organized in every little corner to make the most room. Last night I wanted to give myself a reward for closet organization which in my experience is just a stretch away from Tetris (another throwback). The truth is when we moved in, we wanted to get everything out of our way as quickly as possible, so we were not very purposeful about our storage. We are still stretched for space, but with a little creativity and plotting, things are much more organized and we were able to cram even more stuff into those two little closets. Which I did not think would be possible. Hooray!
And another confession. We have officially entered the secret not so fun society of the Upper West Side lovely old brownstone apartment. No mice yet, but Sean has killed two cockroaches since we moved in, one this morning IN THE SHOWER EEK. That is my worst nightmare right there. I have yet to see one, so I am just living in fear of when it will inevitably happen. I also remain extremely impressed that Sean successfully killed them because let's be honest, those suckers are hard to kill. In my limited experience with them, I have not been able to do it. They just always get away.
Happy 4th of July! I hope everyone is enjoying a long weekend with family, friends, and hopefully some fireworks.
Friday, June 28, 2013
Catching Up
June has passed by so quickly I can hardly keep up with what happened each week. I have wrapped up two very big work events and am desperately trying not to catch the bad cold that has been winding it's way through my overworked colleagues. (Sore throat, just go away please!) I can't believe next week is July but I am thrilled that my summer Fridays will start, Sean will be done with classes, and Miriam and Aaron are visiting us all in one week. Great start to my official summer!
I came to my blog to post something nice about how much we have been enjoying our neighborhood. I was nervous when we moved that it would all be for nothing, that we would still lean towards the hermit lifestyle, cooking dinner and staying in each night. There can be a lot of (self-imposed) pressure in New York to always be out doing something, because otherwise are you really taking advantage of everything the city has to offer? Sometimes all you want to do is sit on your couch and watch TV show marathons on Netflix. Sean and I tend towards that plan more often than not. So I am happy to report that we HAVE been getting out of our apartment and taking advantage of all the wonderful things that are so close by now.
Of course we have the always lovely afternoon or evening stroll in Riverside or Central Park. We are also now within reasonable walking distance to Columbus Circle and all the shopping there. One of my favorite things we have done this month was see a public art project of painted pianos at Lincoln Center (they had been spread around the boroughs but were brought to Lincoln Center for the last weekend of display). Realizing something cool was going on and being able to quickly walk down and see it was amazing. Last Friday after work, Sean and I met for a spontaneous picnic in the Sheep's Meadow of Central Park. It was a beautiful evening, perfect for some cheese, fruit, salads, and being outdoors. I practically had to pinch myself to remember this is my real life.
Lest we forget our old haunts, we went to Astoria last weekend to see Jocelyn and Cory and visit our favorite beer garden, where we of course played Euchre and ate onion rings. Then we went for a walk through Astoria Park and had ice cream cones overlooking the East River. Mister Softee is the standard ice cream truck out here, and he is everywhere. The truck in Astoria used to play music and drive down our block all summer. The trucks on the UWS just camp out in one place and do tons of business. But I digress. It was a truly lovely day, which still, did not make me regret our decision to move, and for that I am grateful. (But Jocelyn and Cory, don't leave us! Are you sure you want to move to Massachusetts? Really??)
I'd say despite the busy-ness, June has been a pretty successful month!
Thursday, June 20, 2013
The Sullivans Take Manhattan Part Three: Little by little...
Our new apartment is turning into a functioning home. We just got the last unpacked box out of here this weekend and that feels very good. Our dining table is still covered in yet to be dealt with items and there are frames laying on the floor when they belong on the wall, but it's coming along!
The number one priority for us was getting the kitchen ready to actually be used. Tiny kitchen or not, we like to cook dinner at home 4-5 nights each week and fitting everything in has been a big challenge. We already had a good pot/pan set up at our old place which we were able to hang on the wall here. We also had an old kitchen cart from college that really needed to go. It was still in fine shape, but doesn't fit the space, and Sean hates it as one comes to hate the kitchen cart they bought at Meijers in a moment of desperation 4 years ago. We did a lot of measuring to figure out what would fit (surprise, not a lot fits) and finally settled on a small prep counter from West Elm which would give us two shelves and triple our counter space. Lucky for us, West Elm is close by and we were able to put the box in a cab rather than pay for delivery. Unlucky for Sean, it was extremely difficult to assemble.
Also very unlucky for us, the size of our apartment has been pretty limiting of what pieces of furniture we can actually buy. We don't want to buy things we don't love just because they work in the space, knowing that we are not going to live here forever. So we try to buy furniture we love that can serve multiple functions over time. This means the cheapest option isn't always doable. Last weekend we also found ourselves hemming and hawing over a new TV stand (the old one also being a college relic that was just too big to fit well). We finally bit the bullet AND paid for delivery and now that it is here, we love it. But as someone with limited furniture buying experience and a limited budget, getting past that initial purchase is still really difficult for me.
Goals for this weekend include finally hanging up a lot of stuff on these blank walls. Our wine rack, new reading lights, photos and art, a double towel rack in the bathroom...etc. There seems to never be a good time to move, Sean and I have both been so busy this month that we have been stalled at getting everything in it's place. Someday soon, I hope to have some very nice photos to share!
The number one priority for us was getting the kitchen ready to actually be used. Tiny kitchen or not, we like to cook dinner at home 4-5 nights each week and fitting everything in has been a big challenge. We already had a good pot/pan set up at our old place which we were able to hang on the wall here. We also had an old kitchen cart from college that really needed to go. It was still in fine shape, but doesn't fit the space, and Sean hates it as one comes to hate the kitchen cart they bought at Meijers in a moment of desperation 4 years ago. We did a lot of measuring to figure out what would fit (surprise, not a lot fits) and finally settled on a small prep counter from West Elm which would give us two shelves and triple our counter space. Lucky for us, West Elm is close by and we were able to put the box in a cab rather than pay for delivery. Unlucky for Sean, it was extremely difficult to assemble.
Also very unlucky for us, the size of our apartment has been pretty limiting of what pieces of furniture we can actually buy. We don't want to buy things we don't love just because they work in the space, knowing that we are not going to live here forever. So we try to buy furniture we love that can serve multiple functions over time. This means the cheapest option isn't always doable. Last weekend we also found ourselves hemming and hawing over a new TV stand (the old one also being a college relic that was just too big to fit well). We finally bit the bullet AND paid for delivery and now that it is here, we love it. But as someone with limited furniture buying experience and a limited budget, getting past that initial purchase is still really difficult for me.
Goals for this weekend include finally hanging up a lot of stuff on these blank walls. Our wine rack, new reading lights, photos and art, a double towel rack in the bathroom...etc. There seems to never be a good time to move, Sean and I have both been so busy this month that we have been stalled at getting everything in it's place. Someday soon, I hope to have some very nice photos to share!
Monday, June 10, 2013
The Good List
There are always days that seem a little worse than others. When maybe you didn't get enough sleep, or your apartment is a mess, and other little irritations turn into big ones. It's probably raining and gross outside and you didn't eat breakfast. Anyway, today was obviously one of those days for me. When this happens, I like to force myself to think about good things until I stop being grumpy and feeling sorry for myself. Sometimes I even make a list. It's pretty silly, but it always helps. Here is the good list for today:
-remembering to wear your raincoat and boots even though it hasn't started raining yet
-a sturdy umbrella that can withstand the wind
-comfort food in the form of a big pot of tofu and red lentil curry
-fine tuned Pandora stations
-running for the bus and catching it
-Hillary Clinton is now on Twitter
-listening to Moon River, the best line is obviously "Two drifters, off to see the world, there's such a lot of world to see"
Yep. I have high hopes of sleeping well tonight.
Saturday, June 8, 2013
Birthday and JUNE
June is here which seems kind of crazy. It's a very busy month for me at work with two big conferences to plan and staff but getting them out of the way will make for a relaxing summer which I am looking forward to. So lets get on to the fun stuff...
Tuesday night I walked home across Central Park and ran some errands, then headed home. When I got to our building with grand plans of cooking a nice dinner for Sean in my head, I could not open the front door to the building. No matter what I did with my key, that door would not open. I started dripping sweat in our tiny entryway for ten minutes trying to turn the lock. I sighed. I swore. And then I gave up and left. I called Sean and told him he would find me pouting on a bench somewhere in Riverside Park because that door just hated me. But then I had a great idea. Why not go to Trader Joe's and pick up some groceries since I was locked out anyway? Well, this was my first trip to Trader Joe's on Broadway and 72 and let's just say it was an educating experience. The line to check out wrapped all the way through produce, cheese, and meat. People do their shopping WHILE they're already in line to check out. It was rough. After waiting in line with my heavy basket for 30 minutes and carrying my bag home, my arm was ready to fall off. Of course when I got to our building and tried again to open the door, it opened quite easily. Of course by this time it was also 8pm, Sean got home and we gave up all hope of cooking dinner. We ordered pick up from a sushi place very close by and it wasn't terrible. End of story.
Wednesday was my birthday and it was also a beautiful day, perfect for the wearing of my chosen birthday dress, a blue shift from J. Crew with silver polka dots (which I tried to find a photo to link to because I know you were very curious about my birthday dress but it was impossible, that dress sold out in about five minutes two months ago). We've been on a strick no shopping rule, so I actually bought this dress in MARCH but hadn't worn it yet due to the complete lack of appropriate spring weather in New York. One of my colleagues insisted on birthday pie and got me a piece of strawberry rhubarb. Birthday pie is a requirement and it was delicious. Sean surprised me when I got home from work with a bouquet of roses and a stack of very fun presents including new pajamas and a straw hat (can I pull it off? the verdict is still out). We had a nice dinner in our new neighborhood at Boulud Sud. A very lovely birthday.
In other news, on Thursday I played an epic game of capture the flag with colleagues in Central Park, which I am still sore from. My team won, obviously, and I like to think my amazing defense skills had something to do with that. Friday consisted of a long day at work and complaining nonstop about the downpour in New York. It rained all day long. Literally all day. The kind of rain where your bus takes 30 minutes longer than it should, the streets fill up with water, and an umbrella can't keep you dry. We got soaked walking just a few blocks to a bar. We got even more soaked walking another few blocks to dinner. When we left four hours later it was somehow STILL pouring.
This morning the sun is shining a bit and it looks like the sky got all the rain out of its system so we are in for a nice weekend. Sean and I have some furniture shopping to do and I have birthday money burning a hole in my pocket, which means we have a date with the Flatiron district and Union Square.
Happy Weekend!
Tuesday night I walked home across Central Park and ran some errands, then headed home. When I got to our building with grand plans of cooking a nice dinner for Sean in my head, I could not open the front door to the building. No matter what I did with my key, that door would not open. I started dripping sweat in our tiny entryway for ten minutes trying to turn the lock. I sighed. I swore. And then I gave up and left. I called Sean and told him he would find me pouting on a bench somewhere in Riverside Park because that door just hated me. But then I had a great idea. Why not go to Trader Joe's and pick up some groceries since I was locked out anyway? Well, this was my first trip to Trader Joe's on Broadway and 72 and let's just say it was an educating experience. The line to check out wrapped all the way through produce, cheese, and meat. People do their shopping WHILE they're already in line to check out. It was rough. After waiting in line with my heavy basket for 30 minutes and carrying my bag home, my arm was ready to fall off. Of course when I got to our building and tried again to open the door, it opened quite easily. Of course by this time it was also 8pm, Sean got home and we gave up all hope of cooking dinner. We ordered pick up from a sushi place very close by and it wasn't terrible. End of story.
Wednesday was my birthday and it was also a beautiful day, perfect for the wearing of my chosen birthday dress, a blue shift from J. Crew with silver polka dots (which I tried to find a photo to link to because I know you were very curious about my birthday dress but it was impossible, that dress sold out in about five minutes two months ago). We've been on a strick no shopping rule, so I actually bought this dress in MARCH but hadn't worn it yet due to the complete lack of appropriate spring weather in New York. One of my colleagues insisted on birthday pie and got me a piece of strawberry rhubarb. Birthday pie is a requirement and it was delicious. Sean surprised me when I got home from work with a bouquet of roses and a stack of very fun presents including new pajamas and a straw hat (can I pull it off? the verdict is still out). We had a nice dinner in our new neighborhood at Boulud Sud. A very lovely birthday.
In other news, on Thursday I played an epic game of capture the flag with colleagues in Central Park, which I am still sore from. My team won, obviously, and I like to think my amazing defense skills had something to do with that. Friday consisted of a long day at work and complaining nonstop about the downpour in New York. It rained all day long. Literally all day. The kind of rain where your bus takes 30 minutes longer than it should, the streets fill up with water, and an umbrella can't keep you dry. We got soaked walking just a few blocks to a bar. We got even more soaked walking another few blocks to dinner. When we left four hours later it was somehow STILL pouring.
This morning the sun is shining a bit and it looks like the sky got all the rain out of its system so we are in for a nice weekend. Sean and I have some furniture shopping to do and I have birthday money burning a hole in my pocket, which means we have a date with the Flatiron district and Union Square.
Happy Weekend!
Monday, June 3, 2013
Life Changing
Beds with built in drawers to store your clothes.
Living a few blocks from Shake Shack.
Your evening commute including the option of just walking across Central Park.
It's taken me a few days, but I can finally say I am very happy that we moved. Loving our new little home on the Upper West Side.
Saturday, June 1, 2013
Tips for moving into a tiny apartment
1. Make peace with getting rid of stuff. New rule: if you haven't used something in over a year, you probably don't need to keep it.
2. CLEAN. Scrub. Wipe down. Do it again. Because the bathroom walls and oven nobs have probably never seen a sponge and they will be better for it. Celebrate the hidden OCD clean freak inside you and let it out.
3. Unpack immediately. Boxes take up a lot of space when you don't have much space to begin with.
4. Get rid of more stuff as you unpack it.
5. Have friends over as soon as possible. This will automatically brighten up a space that doesn't feel like home.
6. When in doubt, go to Ikea. But try not to buy too much stuff.
That's it for now. After some minor moving mishaps and severe dust allergies we are mainly settled and enjoying our new neighborhood!
2. CLEAN. Scrub. Wipe down. Do it again. Because the bathroom walls and oven nobs have probably never seen a sponge and they will be better for it. Celebrate the hidden OCD clean freak inside you and let it out.
3. Unpack immediately. Boxes take up a lot of space when you don't have much space to begin with.
4. Get rid of more stuff as you unpack it.
5. Have friends over as soon as possible. This will automatically brighten up a space that doesn't feel like home.
6. When in doubt, go to Ikea. But try not to buy too much stuff.
That's it for now. After some minor moving mishaps and severe dust allergies we are mainly settled and enjoying our new neighborhood!
Sunday, May 19, 2013
When you're excited to be moving...
Because you find yourself catching a cab to Queens at 1:00 a.m. knowing that in a few weeks you will be able to walk the ten blocks home.
Sean and I had a busy Saturday! I got a haircut, we went out to Brooklyn to visit a friends new baby (so sweet), had dinner with Jocelyn and Cory at Casa Mono (one of our fave restaurants in Gramercy), and then went out for a going away party in midtown. Long day, so we are spending Sunday watching marathon episodes of the West Wing. It's the best.
Sean and I had a busy Saturday! I got a haircut, we went out to Brooklyn to visit a friends new baby (so sweet), had dinner with Jocelyn and Cory at Casa Mono (one of our fave restaurants in Gramercy), and then went out for a going away party in midtown. Long day, so we are spending Sunday watching marathon episodes of the West Wing. It's the best.
Sunday, May 12, 2013
The Sullivans Take Manhattan Part Two: So Long, Astoria
When I began thinking about moving it was difficult to see it as a good idea. We have an apartment that (despite its quirks) we love, that is a reasonable price, and very close to the subway, a bank, a grocery store, a great dry cleaner, and most everything else we could want. Astoria is a certainly not a bad neighborhood and actually has a lot to offer. We have enjoyed living here. There are great restaurants, great bars, and one of the best beer gardens in NYC. It took a while to find the best bagel place, or the good thai delivery places, or the dentist. It took quite a while to be able to give intelligent directions to a taxi driver. It took even longer for our apartment and this neighborhood to feel like home. Now that it does, why would we want to leave, you might wonder. And many people have wondered, as I explained to them what a great apartment we already had.
It's easy to get stuck in a neighborhood rut in New York. One where you hardly leave your own neighborhood (case in point: Sean and I this weekend). Moving to the Upper West Side isn't just like moving to a new apartment, it's like moving to a new city. Lansing to Ann Arbor for example. Commuting time between our old and new place is about 45 minutes. We won't be making it out to Astoria very often and will need to find a new reliable dry cleaner, new dentist, eye doctor, and affordable hair salon, among other things. The change in scenery will force us out of our comfort zone, which is always a good thing. Our time in New York is not necessarily permanent and while we are here, I want to take full advantage of the city that is available to us. The Upper West Side is my dream neighborhood (ok it's actually a close second to Union Square but let's not go there), and if I have the opportunity to live in my dream neighborhood, I should probably take it.
That said, I am going to miss all the best parts of Astoria. The cheap manicures and haircuts. Sweet Afton, Vesta, Il Bambino, Brooklyn Bagels, Petey's Burgers, and all the other delicious restaurants around. The extremely quick (and cheap) taxi ride to the airport. The friends we have in Astoria who we will no longer bump into at the grocery store. The endless supply of Greek cafes and brunches.
Forgive me, it's too appropriate.
So Long, Astoria by the Ataris
It's easy to get stuck in a neighborhood rut in New York. One where you hardly leave your own neighborhood (case in point: Sean and I this weekend). Moving to the Upper West Side isn't just like moving to a new apartment, it's like moving to a new city. Lansing to Ann Arbor for example. Commuting time between our old and new place is about 45 minutes. We won't be making it out to Astoria very often and will need to find a new reliable dry cleaner, new dentist, eye doctor, and affordable hair salon, among other things. The change in scenery will force us out of our comfort zone, which is always a good thing. Our time in New York is not necessarily permanent and while we are here, I want to take full advantage of the city that is available to us. The Upper West Side is my dream neighborhood (ok it's actually a close second to Union Square but let's not go there), and if I have the opportunity to live in my dream neighborhood, I should probably take it.
That said, I am going to miss all the best parts of Astoria. The cheap manicures and haircuts. Sweet Afton, Vesta, Il Bambino, Brooklyn Bagels, Petey's Burgers, and all the other delicious restaurants around. The extremely quick (and cheap) taxi ride to the airport. The friends we have in Astoria who we will no longer bump into at the grocery store. The endless supply of Greek cafes and brunches.
Forgive me, it's too appropriate.
So Long, Astoria by the Ataris
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
The Sullivans Take Manhattan: Part One
Well, we did it. After too many days of making the statement "we are NEVER going to find an apartment" and hours spent browsing apartment listings only to call brokers and find out that apartment is "already taken" or "we need someone April 15, or May 1, or immediately," the universe has finally decided to grant us a perfect little apartment on the Upper West Side.
And by perfect I mean, tolerable. There is about one foot of kitchen counter space, no dishwasher, and it is small. Small as in we cannot take our bed frame or desk with us. BUT it's the perfect location, the kitchen and bathrooms were recently updated, and there is a cute little patio in the back, which is a dream come true for me. Imagine sitting outside having a glass of wine on a summer night and growing herbs and being able to test the temperature without needing to awkwardly stick your neck out the window. Amazing.
Despite living here for almost three years, I am still surprised by just how much a person can pay for a tiny bit of space in New York City. Of course, to accept this apartment we had to go to the upper upper limit of what we had decided was reasonable rent on our budget. I can't say how much that is, because it would shock and horrify my mother. We are just sticking to the happy thought that being nestled between Riverside Park, Trader Joes, and Central Park, with a Shake Shack within walking distance, will be well worth it.
Now comes the fun part, which is decorating! This small apartment is obviously a challenge in maximizing space and creating space where there is none. Right now my brain is living in a world of drawers under the bed and counters that flip down when you don't need them. Small apartments appeal to me, because I don't like collecting too many things. Sean and I are both excited about the potential moving offers to clean out some of our junk and only take with us what we really want and need.
I am a bit sad to be leaving our apartment in Astoria. We love this neighborhood and this will always be our first home. But it's time for a change of scenery and a new adventure. Onwards and upwards as they say.
And by perfect I mean, tolerable. There is about one foot of kitchen counter space, no dishwasher, and it is small. Small as in we cannot take our bed frame or desk with us. BUT it's the perfect location, the kitchen and bathrooms were recently updated, and there is a cute little patio in the back, which is a dream come true for me. Imagine sitting outside having a glass of wine on a summer night and growing herbs and being able to test the temperature without needing to awkwardly stick your neck out the window. Amazing.
Despite living here for almost three years, I am still surprised by just how much a person can pay for a tiny bit of space in New York City. Of course, to accept this apartment we had to go to the upper upper limit of what we had decided was reasonable rent on our budget. I can't say how much that is, because it would shock and horrify my mother. We are just sticking to the happy thought that being nestled between Riverside Park, Trader Joes, and Central Park, with a Shake Shack within walking distance, will be well worth it.
Now comes the fun part, which is decorating! This small apartment is obviously a challenge in maximizing space and creating space where there is none. Right now my brain is living in a world of drawers under the bed and counters that flip down when you don't need them. Small apartments appeal to me, because I don't like collecting too many things. Sean and I are both excited about the potential moving offers to clean out some of our junk and only take with us what we really want and need.
I am a bit sad to be leaving our apartment in Astoria. We love this neighborhood and this will always be our first home. But it's time for a change of scenery and a new adventure. Onwards and upwards as they say.
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Chicago to NYC to San Francisco
In the past three weeks I have been busy frequenting airports as I often find myself doing in the spring. In late March we took a quick trip to Chicago to spend the weekend with family. It was COLD but sunny and we were able to walk through Millenium and Grant Park, go shopping, and have some delicious meals. We also visited the Field Museum, and Art Institute. Jack was a big fan of the pool at the hotel and jumping on the bed, as two year olds often are.
Then we spent a busy easter weekend at home. I found my way into a few social engagements and we tried a speciality cocktail bar/speakeasy in Long Island City which is right next door to our neighborhood but we hardly ever venture there.
On Tuesday I left for a work trip to San Francisco. I have never been to California (can you believe it?!) and was excited to see a bit of the city. I stayed downtown for four nights, and while I was kept quite busy with work, the weather was nice and I enjoyed walking to the Ferry building, seeing the Bay Bridge, and sipping a glass of wine outside in Union Square. I want to go back and visit with Sean. Wine tasting in Napa Valley is also a must sometime in the near future!
I do love to travel, but after getting home at 1:00 a.m. last night and apartment hunting today, I am ready to be home for a while!
Then we spent a busy easter weekend at home. I found my way into a few social engagements and we tried a speciality cocktail bar/speakeasy in Long Island City which is right next door to our neighborhood but we hardly ever venture there.
On Tuesday I left for a work trip to San Francisco. I have never been to California (can you believe it?!) and was excited to see a bit of the city. I stayed downtown for four nights, and while I was kept quite busy with work, the weather was nice and I enjoyed walking to the Ferry building, seeing the Bay Bridge, and sipping a glass of wine outside in Union Square. I want to go back and visit with Sean. Wine tasting in Napa Valley is also a must sometime in the near future!
I do love to travel, but after getting home at 1:00 a.m. last night and apartment hunting today, I am ready to be home for a while!
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Moving
Today I put it out into the universe that we are moving. Do you hear that universe? The Sullivans are moving! Where to is still unknown but I know it will be the perfect apartment walking distance to Central Park with an acceptable kitchen and tolerable commute. Or it will be walking distance to our friends soon to be born squishy baby girl. But that's Brooklyn. I digress.
The problem is every time I make the statement that "we are most certainly moving," my apartment starts to look at me in all kinds of funny ways. Yes I still notice the poorly installed sockets, the odd colored marble floor that prevents you from finding anything that is dropped, and the irritating song played over and over by the one we affectionately call downstairs neighbor (usually accompanied by a loud sigh). But suddenly I'm also seeing how much space there is between the foot of the bed and the wall, and how there is a real entryway! Imagine the luxury. And this is without even looking at any apartments for real. We're just at the Internet browsing slowly getting up the courage to make a phone call stage of things.
By this time next week I'll be marveling at the idea of a full size oven all together.
(I had the opportunity to use my new umbrella in a nasty rainstorm last night. Magical.)
The problem is every time I make the statement that "we are most certainly moving," my apartment starts to look at me in all kinds of funny ways. Yes I still notice the poorly installed sockets, the odd colored marble floor that prevents you from finding anything that is dropped, and the irritating song played over and over by the one we affectionately call downstairs neighbor (usually accompanied by a loud sigh). But suddenly I'm also seeing how much space there is between the foot of the bed and the wall, and how there is a real entryway! Imagine the luxury. And this is without even looking at any apartments for real. We're just at the Internet browsing slowly getting up the courage to make a phone call stage of things.
By this time next week I'll be marveling at the idea of a full size oven all together.
(I had the opportunity to use my new umbrella in a nasty rainstorm last night. Magical.)
Monday, February 18, 2013
When I finally get a new umbrella
Both Sean and I have today off from work and school. Miracle of miracles. And it is my day to recover from a busy weekend that involved all kinds of good stuff including: Shake shack, a (too too cute) baby, one shopping trip where Sean finds pants at the Gap and I give up on ever shopping there again, a very playful dog, one dinner party, one taxi ride home, sleeping in, two bagels, a trip to a modern art museum where we all remember why we don't really love modern art, favorite lentil tacos, playing just dance, and searching YouTube for the best songs of 2004.
Really though, the point of this post is about the state of my umbrella. I love umbrellas. Because I hate being caught without one in the rain. Or you could say that I enjoy being prepared. Either way, I usually have one in my purse if there is slightest chance of rain and I always, always carry one in my suitcase while traveling.
I have been using a bright orange umbrella for over two years. This umbrella was a product of the great umbrella buying of 2010, two days before our wedding when the forecast said rain. It was a part of a family of colorful umbrellas that made for one of the best wedding photos we have. Most of these umbrellas went off with friends after the wedding, but a couple came to New York with us and have since met their umbrella deaths (as all umbrellas surely do on windy and rainy days in New York City). The orange umbrella was really no different than all the other umbrellas, but it has proven itself to be much sturdier and capable of withstanding hurricanes and blizzards. It has often been the source of glares on the street, since all the other city umbrellas tend to be black, not neon orange. And I have often hated it. Sean has listened to me go into great detail about how I needed a "nice" umbrella.
Well, this weekend I finally found one. Reasonably priced but not so cheap that you just know it will fall apart after three rain storms. With a fun pattern. And I bought it. And now I'm just not sure I can say goodbye to my trusty/dirty orange umbrella with the destroyed velcro strap.
The end.
Yes this was a blog post about mainly nothing.
Really though, the point of this post is about the state of my umbrella. I love umbrellas. Because I hate being caught without one in the rain. Or you could say that I enjoy being prepared. Either way, I usually have one in my purse if there is slightest chance of rain and I always, always carry one in my suitcase while traveling.
I have been using a bright orange umbrella for over two years. This umbrella was a product of the great umbrella buying of 2010, two days before our wedding when the forecast said rain. It was a part of a family of colorful umbrellas that made for one of the best wedding photos we have. Most of these umbrellas went off with friends after the wedding, but a couple came to New York with us and have since met their umbrella deaths (as all umbrellas surely do on windy and rainy days in New York City). The orange umbrella was really no different than all the other umbrellas, but it has proven itself to be much sturdier and capable of withstanding hurricanes and blizzards. It has often been the source of glares on the street, since all the other city umbrellas tend to be black, not neon orange. And I have often hated it. Sean has listened to me go into great detail about how I needed a "nice" umbrella.
Well, this weekend I finally found one. Reasonably priced but not so cheap that you just know it will fall apart after three rain storms. With a fun pattern. And I bought it. And now I'm just not sure I can say goodbye to my trusty/dirty orange umbrella with the destroyed velcro strap.
The end.
Yes this was a blog post about mainly nothing.
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Blizzard Supplies
Yesterday the weather channel was full of doom and gloom about this blizzard warning. Gotta say I did not take it very seriously. There was a New York freak out, running for the grocery stores to stock up in case it was really a snowpocalypse. Sean braved the Columbus Circle Whole Foods because he is my hero, and got all the supplies I requested.
Here is what the Sullivans buy when a blizzard is coming.
Dino Kale
Big package of baby spinach
Almond milk
Tonic water
Tanqueray
Baileys
We know our priorities.
The storm wasn't terribly exciting after all, but there is a good foot of snow outside our window. Days like this really make me want to live close to Central Park so I can go see it in all its winter glory.
Also now is when I give a shout out to my father who two years ago heard my desperate plee for a warm coat and provided me with my white monster Eddie Bauer coat with the big furry hood that keeps me dry and warm during blizzards. And to my sister-in-law who knew that I could not reasonably survive New York City rain and slush season without Hunter rain boots. Both these items were very useful yesterday!
Here is what the Sullivans buy when a blizzard is coming.
Dino Kale
Big package of baby spinach
Almond milk
Tonic water
Tanqueray
Baileys
We know our priorities.
The storm wasn't terribly exciting after all, but there is a good foot of snow outside our window. Days like this really make me want to live close to Central Park so I can go see it in all its winter glory.
Also now is when I give a shout out to my father who two years ago heard my desperate plee for a warm coat and provided me with my white monster Eddie Bauer coat with the big furry hood that keeps me dry and warm during blizzards. And to my sister-in-law who knew that I could not reasonably survive New York City rain and slush season without Hunter rain boots. Both these items were very useful yesterday!
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Weekend Things
I spent the better part of the weekend looking at apartments. Why? Because I want to move. I do love Astoria but I think it's time for us to get to know a new neighborhood. Here are my requirements:
1. Reasonable walking distance to a nice park (Central or Prospect obviously)
2. Reasonable commute for both of us (Sean says this means no Brooklyn. I'm willing to debate this theory.)
3. Reasonable walking distance to favorite stores (cough Whole foods and Lululemon)
4. Acceptable sized kitchen with more than a sliver of counter space.
5. Bathroom must not have pink tiles.
6. Dishwasher and laundry in building a plus.
7. Washer/dryer in unit would be amazing. I can dream.
And the big one...
8. Rent must be under $2,000 per month.
If we're going to accomplish all of the above we probably have to move by March. But we probably won't. It'll become July and we won't have moved and rents will have skyrocketed and we'll find ourselves here for another busy fall and back where we started come next January.
What else did we do this weekend?
We did our taxes (ok, Sean did them. I sat next to him on the couch and looked at Pinterest. He's the best.) That was underwhelming. Nothing like owing the State of New York and the Federal Government some money. At least it was less than last year's whopper. I convinced Sean there was no need to file that until at LEAST March.
We ate all kinds of bad for you Astoria food including greasy pad thai, everything bagels, and milkshakes. I tried the tofu cream cheese at our bagel place, and it was tolerable and didn't make me feel like death as the real thing does. We watched the last episode of 30 Rock and mourned that show, which has faithfully made us laugh for years.
Sunday plans involve making carrot soup. Sean has to study. I have to paint my toenails. The excitement.
1. Reasonable walking distance to a nice park (Central or Prospect obviously)
2. Reasonable commute for both of us (Sean says this means no Brooklyn. I'm willing to debate this theory.)
3. Reasonable walking distance to favorite stores (cough Whole foods and Lululemon)
4. Acceptable sized kitchen with more than a sliver of counter space.
5. Bathroom must not have pink tiles.
6. Dishwasher and laundry in building a plus.
7. Washer/dryer in unit would be amazing. I can dream.
And the big one...
8. Rent must be under $2,000 per month.
If we're going to accomplish all of the above we probably have to move by March. But we probably won't. It'll become July and we won't have moved and rents will have skyrocketed and we'll find ourselves here for another busy fall and back where we started come next January.
What else did we do this weekend?
We did our taxes (ok, Sean did them. I sat next to him on the couch and looked at Pinterest. He's the best.) That was underwhelming. Nothing like owing the State of New York and the Federal Government some money. At least it was less than last year's whopper. I convinced Sean there was no need to file that until at LEAST March.
We ate all kinds of bad for you Astoria food including greasy pad thai, everything bagels, and milkshakes. I tried the tofu cream cheese at our bagel place, and it was tolerable and didn't make me feel like death as the real thing does. We watched the last episode of 30 Rock and mourned that show, which has faithfully made us laugh for years.
Sunday plans involve making carrot soup. Sean has to study. I have to paint my toenails. The excitement.
Friday, February 1, 2013
Recently
It has been COLD. And since a majority of people I know still live in Michigan, I get to hear all about that crazy Michigan weather. Well I would like to say that it's not just Michigan, people. New York has it's 60 degrees one day, 30 the next too. Feels just like home.
Thanks to this cold weather, I have a renewed excuse to cook delicious soups and stews. I've recently found myself obsessed with white beans. They are a great combo with one of my favorite foods, wait for it...kale! Fry up some potatoes, add a can of white beans, chopped kale, and a little parm. Tada, delicious dinner, or breakfast for that matter. (Ok, you might want to also add some garlic, lemon juice, and red pepper flakes.)
And lastly, signs you might not be completely an adult yet: I am going to the dentist this morning and I feel like that should give me a free pass on the rest of the day. I went to the dentist. It's enough. I'm done.
If only.
Thanks to this cold weather, I have a renewed excuse to cook delicious soups and stews. I've recently found myself obsessed with white beans. They are a great combo with one of my favorite foods, wait for it...kale! Fry up some potatoes, add a can of white beans, chopped kale, and a little parm. Tada, delicious dinner, or breakfast for that matter. (Ok, you might want to also add some garlic, lemon juice, and red pepper flakes.)
And lastly, signs you might not be completely an adult yet: I am going to the dentist this morning and I feel like that should give me a free pass on the rest of the day. I went to the dentist. It's enough. I'm done.
If only.
Saturday, January 19, 2013
2013
Busy couple of weeks so I am just getting around to my first post of 2013. We had a wonderful (snowy) trip to Michigan for Christmas. We returned to New York for a very fun New Years Eve at Sweet Afton with Jocelyn and Cory. We returned to Michigan 4 days later for Shauna and Brendan's wedding, in a barn, with Texas barbeque (aka I could almost pretend it was summer if it hadn't been snowing). Someday some photos from all these events might make it into a Facebook album. But all that seems like it was ages ago.
Welcome to winter in New York. A time that has usually involved us hibernating in our apartment but this year seems to have been a time for being busy and being out a lot. I'm ok with that, because I think New York and I have finally reached a sweet spot in our relationship. Most of the kinks and little arguments have been worked out, such as not understanding how to easily locate a public restroom or thinking seven dollars for a beer was an outrageous price or being afraid that the taxi driver would refuse to take me to Queens. Now I can just say that I love living here. There is always something new to do or see and our circle of NY friends has grown very big. So in 2013 here are some NYC resolutions:
-Go to a Mets or Yankees game. We have lived here for over two years and haven't been. Unacceptable.
-Explore more of Queens. Sean had jury duty this week and had to go to Jamaica, Queens. We have rarely rarely (and I mean once to see the U.S. Open) been past Astoria. There is a lot more to this borough, including great Asian food that I want to experience!
-Go to the Museum of Natural History. A goal that seems easy enough to accomplish but I rarely think, hmm I'd like to spend $25 to get into a museum filled with kids and tourists today. Need to bite the bullet.
-Take a trip to somewhere on the East Coast that is easily reached from here. I'm thinking Martha's Vineyard, Montauk, a cute town in Connecticut, Maine...I'm not picky.
-Eat at Franny's in Brooklyn! Another thoroughly accomplishable goal. I've wanted to have dinner there for so long, it's time.
Also, we're now accepting applications for weekend visitors. Please send description of late night dance party abilities and list of Midwest delicacies you can bring.
Welcome to winter in New York. A time that has usually involved us hibernating in our apartment but this year seems to have been a time for being busy and being out a lot. I'm ok with that, because I think New York and I have finally reached a sweet spot in our relationship. Most of the kinks and little arguments have been worked out, such as not understanding how to easily locate a public restroom or thinking seven dollars for a beer was an outrageous price or being afraid that the taxi driver would refuse to take me to Queens. Now I can just say that I love living here. There is always something new to do or see and our circle of NY friends has grown very big. So in 2013 here are some NYC resolutions:
-Go to a Mets or Yankees game. We have lived here for over two years and haven't been. Unacceptable.
-Explore more of Queens. Sean had jury duty this week and had to go to Jamaica, Queens. We have rarely rarely (and I mean once to see the U.S. Open) been past Astoria. There is a lot more to this borough, including great Asian food that I want to experience!
-Go to the Museum of Natural History. A goal that seems easy enough to accomplish but I rarely think, hmm I'd like to spend $25 to get into a museum filled with kids and tourists today. Need to bite the bullet.
-Take a trip to somewhere on the East Coast that is easily reached from here. I'm thinking Martha's Vineyard, Montauk, a cute town in Connecticut, Maine...I'm not picky.
-Eat at Franny's in Brooklyn! Another thoroughly accomplishable goal. I've wanted to have dinner there for so long, it's time.
Also, we're now accepting applications for weekend visitors. Please send description of late night dance party abilities and list of Midwest delicacies you can bring.
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