a tacky sweater party

This past weekend Lynn & I hosted a tacky Christmas sweater party. I'd have to say, I'm pretty proud we crammed seventeen people in our New York apartment. Of course I stink at taking pictures, but the party was a lot fun! It was a great chance to bring friends & coworkers together before we all head out of town for the holidays. The countdown is on til I'm on my way to Nashville. T minus 6 days!!!

tis the season

 

New York City is truly magical during the holidays. I love smelling the Christmas trees posted along the sidewalks. I took the photo above on the way to book club late last week.

This past weekend my sister and her mother-in-law came to visit! It poured all day Saturday so we spent the afternoon at the American Natural History Museum. I definitely recommend going there - just allot a full afternoon. There is so much to see!

 

The rest of the weekend was spent strolling through Central Park, down 5th Avenue, finished up Christmas shopping at Macy's, dinner at Beso, and then ended their stay with the Rockefeller Christmas tree and hot chocolate at Bryant Park.

 

human totem poll

wine bar with the boyfriend & sister

Rockefeller Christmas tree selfie

macy's thanksgiving day parade

I've sat in the crowd along 6th avenue for the past two years watching the parade go by. This year I took full advantage of working at Macy's and having the chance to volunteer. I still wanted to see the parade so I chose to be in the grandstands to help seat people before the performances and floats started. I had the best seat in the house - front row on 34th Street! Even though my toes were frozen, I had the best experience. I can't wait to participate again next year!

 start of the parade // lucy hale // kiss // nick jonas

cheers to the weekend

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Seriously, we both deserve a high five! Work is in full force through the peak season & I savor the weekends for friends & down time - hence the lack of blogging lately. Life has been treating me fairly well & I've done nothing but soak it all in. Any fun plans for the weekend? I've got a pretty solid weekend ahead of myself . . . Friday is date night in: home cooked dinner & a Red Box {although I think he'll nix my rom-com pick}. Saturday my cousin Alicia will be in town & we've got a big game to watch! Have a great one & enjoy these fun posts from around the web . . .

 

A song for your weekend

Skincare tips from a pro 

A chowder to make for a chilly weekend

Made me laugh

Damsel's advice on living in the moment

What are your pet peeves? Mine definitely have changed since moving to New York {slow walkers, teenagers on the subway, & car horns}.

Would you wear a blanket cape? I would if it looked like Natalie's!

Oh. Em. Gee.



taking stock 03

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Making: a recipe book; you know the kind with all of your favorite recipes from when you were a kid

Cooking: breakfast, aka eggs over easy
Drinking: a cup of hot green tea
Reading: The King of Sports & Sydney's blog
Wanting: it to be Christmas! I'm ready to hug the family.
Looking: for inspiration on bedroom décor
Wasting: time looking at old photos
Wishing: we had a long weekend ahead. This girl needs a vaca!
Enjoying: walking to work
Waiting: for Saturday - big game & fun company coming into town!
Liking: coats, scarves, & hot chocolate
Wondering: when the first snow will fall {hopefully not for a while}
Loving: feminine sweater dresses
Listening: Christmas music {yes, I am one of those people}
Needing: a quiet weekend | someone hand me a cozy blanket & a good book
Smelling: wood sage & sea salt, my new favorite scent
Wearing: flannel pajamas
Following: a list
Noticing: holiday windows being prepped at stores around town
Knowing: this year has flown by & I'm determined to savor the last month & a half
Thinking: about my grocery list & homemade pumpkin pie
Feeling: thankful
Bookmarking: Thanksgiving recipes
Opening: emails - ready for the holiday season to be wrapped & tied at work!

a month away . . .

It's been over a month since I last posted on this blog of mine. Here's what happened the month of October . . .

 

The last roof top happy hour without a jacket - man I miss this already!

 

Macy's does the ice bucket challenge in Herald Square - proud of raising over $2,000 to ice our bosses.

Electro brunch, a drag queen, & girlfriends.

Experienced my first horse race at Belmont Park

Oktoberfest - 1 | Me - 0
NYC probably doesn't compare to the real shindig, but man was it fun!

Went to my first Ranger's game!

Sushi, Miss New York 1983, & a bank robber sans mask & money bag for Halloween

And just to start November off on the right foot . . .

Lynn & I frozen & windblown, but so worth watching folks run the NYC Marathon!



One of my favorite events to watch here in the city - so proud of my coworkers!

 

fall to-do list

It's no secret that fall is my favorite season. There's no need to make excuses for baking every weekend {pumpkin everything is acceptable}, cozy nights by a fire, & knowing the holidays are lingering weeks away. Since we're finally in the beginning of the season, it's only apt to make a list of things I plan on doing . . .

 

+ apple picking followed by baking an apple pie

+ rent a cabin with friends

+ master new soup & stew recipes

+ wine tasting with the girls

+ sign up & start training for a half marathon

+ purge my closet of items I didn't wear last season

+ pumpkin carving {probably my #1 thing to do every year}

+ host a bon fire complete with chili, cocktails, caramel apples, & s'more fixings

+ call the family & friends more often

+ be more thankful

+ go to a football game {seriously having withdrawals over here}

+ go on a hike

when life gives you lemons, grab tequila & salt

 

This week I was given a whole lotta lemons. Good thing it's Friday and I have the next couple of days to recuperate. Have any fun plans for the weekend? Tonight is wine & movies with the girls, picnic & concert Saturday, & a day of rest on Sunday for the upcoming week. Sounds like a winning weekend to me!

 

Before we get to the fun weekend links, let's catch up. September is almost over {WHAT?!?} and a lot has been going on in between Jordan's visit until now.

 

+ Beach trip to Ocean City, New Jersey. Y'all I went to the Jersey Shore . . . well kind of. I didn't see Snooki, but it was a nice getaway from Manhattan.

 

 

+ Spending Saturday afternoons at The Ainsworth . . . where the fans say Roll Tide & sing Sweet Home Alabama.

 

+ FaceTime dates with the family in Alabama & my brother across the ocean in Italy {seriously, the kid is living the life!}

 

+ Working out the final details of moving apartments coming this fall!

 

+ Re-watching Scandal because it's that good & because I secretly wish I were Olivia Pope haha

 

+ A visit from my cousin Whitney.

 

Have a good one and enjoy these fun links from around the web . . .

 

A song for your weekend {excited to see these guys Saturday night!}

My favorite fall fragrance

The only season I burn candles

What your first crush says about you {mine: Devon Sawa. I can't tell you how many times I watched Now & Then with my sister & cousins growing up.}

Baked pumpkin cream cheese French toast - say that three times fast!

11 facts you never knew about bedding

J. Crew is killing me with their new collection! This, this, & this {in heather grass} belong in my closet pronto!



Seasons change

Lena Dunham gives great advice

Loving Kate's collection 'Wit & Delight' for Target!

A fun & creative party, wedding, dinner idea

 

jo comes to town

This past weekend was a real good one. My best friend & college roommate Jordan came into town! We packed a whole lotta things in our short weekend together . . .

+ Ferry ride over to Staten Island for tapas & sangria

+ Bagels & cream cheese at Brooklyn Bagels

{untoasted toasted coconut bagel with plain cream cheese. ever. single. time.)

+ Cheered on the Tide at The Ainsworth

+ Wine bar & flatbread

+ Rooftops & girl talk

+ Brunch & Madison Avenue

+ Walking 6 miles, blisters, & Battery City Park

+ Italian pasta & nutella pizza

Come back Jo, NYC misses you!

 

taking stock 02

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Making: a fall bucket list . . . coming your way soon
Cooking: a summer vegetable quesadilla {complete with red onion, summer squash, tomato, & cheese}
Drinking: not nearly the amount of water as I should be
Reading: If I Stay {I just saw it in theaters & man oh man does it make you think about life}
Wanting: a puppy.
Looking: forward to tomorrow!
Wasting: time reading through Vogue's September issue {aka the years fashion bible}
Wishing: for summer Friday's & a day on a sailboat
Enjoying: late night chats
Waiting: for the timer to go off
Liking: that it's almost sweater weather
Wondering: what the next year will be like
Loving: my new friends & a fresh tube of chapstick
Listening: to the fan blowing & keyboard clicks
Needing: new walking flats
Smelling: salt water & sand in my near future . . . the last beach trip for the year
Wearing: dress, glasses, & bare feet
Following: all the fashion blogs because it's NYFW, eeekkk!
Noticing: the change of weather, especially the cooler morning walks to work
Knowing: it's okay to say no
Thinking: about my last year in NYC & holy cow has it been fun!
Feeling: smitten
Bookmarking: soup & stew recipes
Opening: snail mail. Having a pen pal is wonderful!
Giggling: every time I chat with my grandmother. She's got a heart of gold.

moments from august



Adventures in Smorgasburg means lots of good food, fresh coconuts, & a whole lotta hipsters. See ya next summer Brooklyn!



In bed, lights off at 11 o'clock, then getting a phone call from a girlfriend to go have a drink. Yep that happened & it turned out to be a fun night!

One of my favorite reasons of working at Macy's is having the opportunity to get involved in the community. Being on the United Way committee this year not only has led to making new friends at work, but I also got to help out at a benefit concert with proceeds going to United Way of NYC.



Brunch at The Penrose where the food & drinks are just as delicious as they are pretty.

See what I mean? Shrimp & grits with a cool twist.

 

SEC Alumni happy hour at American Whiskey. There was even a controversy over someone taking the Alabama name tags. Gotta love those SEC rivalries!

 

First game of the season at The Ainsworth - Roll Tide!



Ending the summer has never been more picturesque.

Sorry for the silence - again! This summer has been filled with fun travels to the beach & exploring new places. Our last summer Friday has come & gone, which is slightly heartbreaking. Who doesn't love to squeeze in a little extra weekend time? The beginnings of fall are slowly creeping into the city. I'm not complaining at all since that means apple picking, pumpkin spice lattes, & cozy sweaters are coming my way.

know when to stop & have a margarita

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That is the mantra for this weekend. I would say it's well deserved after a productive work week. You know it's a good one when every last bullet point on your to-do list is scratched off. Bonus points for getting out of the office in a timely manner {high five to New York & summer Friday hours}! Tomorrow I'm going to MoMA PS1 - MoMA's rooftop that displays experimental & contemporary art with emerging musicians from various parts of the world. Should be a great afternoon with friends! Enjoy your weekend & these fun links from around the web . .  .

This has been on repeat all week - take me back to Monday night
Made me laugh
A pretty chignon updo
Spent the majority of the week reading a coworkers blog on her 15 month journey through Asia
Olive oil & sea salt brownies
Prepping for fall | looking for a moto jacket
Love this Natalie Deayala maxi - easy to dress up or down
Summer mornings

midnight memories

The highlight of the year goes to . . . . seeing One Direction live last night!

I'm not kidding - Kelsey & I had an absolute blast and those guys know how to put on a fun show.

 

 

We danced all night & sang along to every song. I'm too embarrassed to post my own videos due to my excessive fangirl screams & off key singing. Can't wait to see those British lads again!

By the way this is hilarious and completely truthful.