lots of catching up to do!

So much has happened since the last time I was on here:

+ birthday party celebrations

+ gamedays at The Ainsworth

+ watched a friend run the NYC marathon

+ a beautiful weekend walk along the Hudson

+ dressing up as Will Ferrell & Cheri Oteri

+ a visit from my sister & cousin

+ winning the fall softball championship

+ a trip to Macy's Herald Square Santa Land

+ a much needed date day

Brunch at Supper  for Kelsey's birthday

Because going four people deep in a small cab needs a photo

Celebrating Lauren's birthday at The Ainsworth

Go Kelsey!

Literally the most perfect fall day in Nyack.

The wig - kills me everytime

Jessica & Alicia came to visit!

I can't tell you how many times people asked if we were twins. I just don't see it.

We ended their stay with a walk around Central Park!

Go Underdogs! Bryan's team won the Spring AND Fall championships. #1 fan goes to . . . . JULIE!

Because when you get a chance to preview Santa Land, you go & wear Christmas sweaters.

Wine & cheese at Beecher's

taking stock | 04

I have survived a little over two years living in New York City. Two years?!?! Seems like yesterday I moved here with my two very large, over-stuffed suitcases & settled into my first teeny tiny apartment. So many things have changed since the fall of 2013 so it only seems fitting that I take stock as I head into my third year {& bracing for the arctic winter ahead}. 

Making: plans for a BBQ & bonfire night with friends
Cooking: a polish dinner tonight
Drinking: lots of water & hot tea
Reading: this funny article
Wanting: an elephant print for my room
Playing: Thomas Rhett | South Side
Enjoying: simple weekend plans
Looking: forward to my visitors next month!
Liking: Love My Goat & Friday night date nights
Giggling: while watching this video from The Ellen Show. I am patiently waiting for this years post.
Needing: a manicure
Smelling: my favorite creamy pumpkin candle
Wearing: a striped sweater dress & boots
Counting: down the days until 2016 . . . it's going to be my year!
Feeling: the struggles of the changing weather {hello sinus & cold season}
Bookmarking: soooo many recipes {especially from Half Baked Harvest}

we shall watch sports & pick apples

So far October has proven to be idyllic. The weather could not be more perfect, Alabama football traditions are in full swing, & enough crock pot recipes have been bookmarked to last the season. Weekends have been chocked full of fun events . . . 

Introduced some friends to The Ainsworth to watch the Tide beat the Georgia Bulldogs

Best part of the day was running into family friends from my Birmingham church.

I have become obsessed with this food blog. I made my own version of her Autumn Chicken & Phyllo Dough Pot Pie. I have leftovers for days & it left the apartment smelling delicious!

Hockey season has begun! 

Bryan, myself, & my friend Jenna spent Sunday afternoon in Warwick, New York. It's a quaint little town just an hour north of Manhattan. We picked apples from Maskers Orchards, saw some farm animals, & ate apple cider doughnuts. 

 

"Act like you love apple picking Bry!" He was a great sport playing chauffeur & putting up with our "Isn't this so cute?!" & "Look how pretty!"

But seriously, how pretty is this view?!

f a l l

photo credits on tumblr

My favorite time of year is almost here! Who doesn't love pumpkin spice lattes, apple picking, college football, Friendsgiving, & everything else that is associated with the fall season? I've been tumbling for inspiration for this year. I can't wait to wear chunky knits, lots of layers, & using fresh tomatoes for flat bread & soups. See my top sweater picks below:

1  2  3  4  5  6

A Virginia Vacation

Hope y'all had a great Labor Day weekend! 

Bryan & I made a road trip down south to Virginia to visit my sister & brother-in-law. Bryan had a genius idea of listening to a podcast since neither one of likes each others music haha. Did you guys ever listen to Serial? We spent the 7 hour car ride each way listening to lawyers point-of-view in Undisclosed. It kept us intrigued most of the way! 

Friday we spent the afternoon exploring the battle fields & earthworks of The Civil War. Of course I didn't take pictures of these {high five, Julie}. Later that night we drove into downtown Richmond for dinner at Capital Ale House where the beer was good & the food was delicious! Afterwards we went to their downstairs area where I showed off my dart skills & embarrassed myself by playing pool haha

Group shot at Capital Ale House

Saturday was a day well spent in front of the television - aka the official start of college football. We started off with College Game Day & watched back-to-back games until Alabama came on. I love to start off the season with a win!

Sunday the four of us made a day trip to D.C where Bryan's sister & brother-in-law met us. I have been there a couple times, but never had the chance to visit any sites. So that afternoon we were full fledged tourists - eggs benedict for brunch, tour of the Holocaust Museum, Lincoln Memorial, & Washington Monument. 

Our last day in Virginia we spent on the golf course playing a twilight round. My level of golf skills stops at putt-putt so I hit a couple balls at the driving range, but after that I was very content with driving the golf cart while the boys played a round.

Thanks for having us Jesse & Jessica! We had a blast! 

girl talk, date nights, hikes, softball champion, & an anniversary

I've been meaning to share some fun photos from weekends the past month. So let's get to it . . . .

Whoever thought of summer Fridays deserves a high five & a snow-cone. There's nothing better than getting a half day & catching up with friends over lunch & a margarita!

One of my favorite things Bryan & I do together is have a low key Saturday date night in. A couple weeks back we made our way to Nyack after his softball games & made a delicious dinner for two followed by a nice chat around the fire pit. 

The next day we went to Hook Mountain to go hiking. The rocky trail follows the Hudson River; so most of the way you can steal little glimpses of the river & my favorite . . . sailboats! The weather was absolutely perfect! My only suggestion would be to wear proper hiking shoes & not running sneakers. I was walking like a granny the last two miles haha.

All those early Saturday mornings & trips to Staten Island were worth it by the end of last Saturday! The Underdogs took home this GIGANTIC trophy!

 

Later that night we met up with some friends for mexican {read: queso dip & steak nachos}. I also realized that I need to start taking group photos . . . whoops! But I think we got a framer . . . 

Bryan & I celebrated one year together this past Monday. Holey moley one whole year!!! We started the celebration off with a good laugh. My favorite flowers are tulips & the poor guy tried so hard, but was steered to lilies in the shop instead. When I broke the news to him he felt bad, but you still get an A++ for effort, Bry! We headed over to the Roosevelt Hotel for a drink {if you're in the city you have to go. The drinks may be a little pricey, but they are darn good} & then ate the best dinner at Delmonico's. I sure do love this guy {those dimples - how can you not?} & can't wait to celebrate many more! 

weekly muse & a carousel ride

What do you do when NYC has hit its summer peak & it's too sweltering hot outside to do anything? Why you make muse boards for the week & take a stroll through Brooklyn, of course!

Yesterday as Bryan & I were travelling back to Manhattan we decided to make a pit stop to explore a section of Brooklyn. Sandwiched between the Brooklyn & Manhattan Bridges is a neighborhood called DUMBO {Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass}. Front Street is lined with cute restaurants & pop-up stands {think lemonade, hotdogs, beer, & ice cream}, but after seeing this post over on Love Taza I knew I had to  pony up on Jane's Carousel. 

After we melted in the sun for an hour or so, we made our way to Williamsburg to gorge on ribs, brisket, & good ole southern sides. I've been called a BBQ snob more than once. I've tried almost every place in NYC and nothing compares to southern pulled pork & ribs. Behold Mabel's. I highly recommend this smokehouse - be sure to try the collard greens!