my thanksgiving adventure.

i thought that spending my first thanksgiving away from family would be tough, but it wasn't! i still had family, they just weren't mine! i spent the holiday in middletown, new jersey with my friend kelsey and her family. kelsey and i were roommates in college and we still see each other as often as we can.

unfortunately, i had to work at 5:30am, but was off and headed to new jersey by noon (not without encountering THOUSANDS of parade patrons, though!).

it was a great day--really. i've met most of her family so i felt like i was back at home; the smell of turkey, stuffing (or as us southerners call it-dressing), and potatoes, and the merriment of family was lovely. it was successful day--i left feeling just as stuffed as i always do and had a nice turkey nap on the train ride home :)

                

Kelsey (R) and her sister, Molly, who I hadn't 
seen in forever! 

Molly's youngest, Kate, who I met for the first time
on Thursday!

And of course Ava, Molly's oldest, who steals
the show :)

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

thanksgiving eve.

well, the holiday season is upon us! and for the first time in 23 (almost 24) years, i am spending thanksgiving away from my entire family.  it's crazy to think of it like that, but i suppose it's just part of growing up.

i work at a very popular bakery in rockefeller plaza so we will be open tomorrow for the parade.  what does that mean for me? 4:30am wake up call.  fortunately, i have friends in the tri-state so my college roommate has been kind enough to invite me to her house in New Jersey to spend thanksgiving with her and her family! i've been baking for the past few days (quite a task in a tiny nyc apartment-stay tuned for that later!) to get ready for thanksgiving and the start of a great holiday season.

today though, i spent my thanksgiving "eve" doing a pretty touristy thing--i went to see the balloons being blown up for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade! since i can't see the actual parade, i suppose this was the next best thing. tonight, i'm spending it indoors where it's warm (it's finally getting cold up here!) drinking hot chocolate out of my trusty Zabar's mug, burning my first holiday candles, and watching a good holiday movie.

if i could, i would list everything i am thankful for this holiday season but, i suppose you would get tired of reading as there are a ton! but for now, i will just tell you all that i feel so blessed to be where i am in my life and for all the people who are in it :)

 

                       

 

                       

   

happy turkey day!

my inspiration for today and everyday.

unfortunately i can't take credit for discovering this but my friend amy posted this to facebook a few weeks ago as inspiration to anyone struggling to live in new york city. 

not only is it an inspiration, but it's a daily reminder that we are the few (well, 8 million) that are lucky enough to live in this great city and to have survived the ups and downs that come with making such a huge change in our lives.

so, to those of you new yorkers that read this, bask in the fact that you probably know all the spots where this was filmed. enjoy the goosebumps you get when you see the skyline from the 7 train (i know i did and do), as well as the goosebumps you get when you realize that this is your city; this is home.

to those of you that are just visitors, let it be a reminder that there are places in our great country where change is made everyday and there really is a place where dreams are realized.

watch it. over and over again.

A Year In New York

autumn in new york

boy did i pick the right weekend to walk through the park and go for a run around the reservoir! i kept waiting for fall to "fall" and it finally has! i won't talk about how it was nearly 70 today, though...

enjoy!

if you look closely towards the bottom right, you
can see a couple getting married! i saw 3 weddings in
the park that day.