take it easy

2015 so far has been whirlwind… my little blog space has been on the way back-burner – which has been completely fine with me. I am still enjoying reading so many blogs, but just been a little too occupied with other things to give my blog a little love.   I debate here and there when I should get back to posting, and I continually update my books read list to publish at the end of 2015 (hey bear hey… you can tell there will be at least one post to end 2015!).  One day at a time, maybe a post a week if I feel like it… and if there is no post that’s okay.

P.S. Today is my blog's birthday. It marks four years since I started rambling around the internet.

(quote via flapjackmelody)

lately

My little space of the internet, I'll say it now - even with the best of intentions I think I am going to suffer through 2015 and admit now that I'll never hit a good blogging schedule. It's not that I don't want to blog, there are just a few other things out in the world that require more of my time and energy.

Anyway a little lately post to keep the creative juices flowing:

Listening: Louisa Wendorff and Devin Dawson's mash up of Taylor Swift's Style and Blank Space - it's so good. I could listen to this all day long. Rumor is Taylor is a fan of this too. It's amazing, do yourself a favor and favorite this now.

Baking: Birthday cupcakes for Mom's birthday. Probably the best looking cupcakes I've ever made, and surprising as I totally had to scrape all the mix out of the cupcake liners back into the bowl because I forgot the water the first round. Truth to paying attention when you are baking, or well...

Reading: Shrinkage by Bryan Bishop. Informative and funny - sometimes you need a little non-fiction in your reading list.

Getting warm fuzzies: from the extra special birthday lunch I had in Connecticut last weekend. I got a nice surprise from some very special friends. Sometimes you feel the love.

Looking forward to: to a weekend in my old stomping grounds, including a concert by my music crush Matt Wertz. As soon as I saw that he was going on tour at one of my favorite small venues, some emails were sent and tickets purchased.

Not minding: 6 AM spin class once in a while during the week. It's refreshing to bang out exercise first thing in the morning and then be free in clear of that the rest of the day.

Keep me up to date on what's going on with you. Also would love some book recommendations for when I finish my current book.

today the blog turns three!

Wow… When I started doing some writing back in the summer of 2011, I thought yep let’s see how long you keep this up. I think I’ve gone back and forth a lot of, lots of posts, and a slight disappearing act. However, I am happy that I still manage to write fairly regularly because I do this primarily because I like to think of it as a way to stretch myself in a more creative aspect.  For those of you who are fairly new, I am an analytical type at work, so I really love the opportunity to stretch myself outside my comfort zone out here in the blog world.

This little blog is special to me – because I get to share little things here and there, try out my voice. I am such a reader by nature, writing felt like a nice extension of that little piece of me.

I hope in the coming year to be able to share more with all of you, particularly now that I’ve ventured to a new (old) city. I am still very much getting my feet wet around here, and figuring out my world – so hopefully that leads to some interesting adventures and insights. Or maybe some hilarity – that to me would be a win for all.

As always, thank you to those who come by from time to time. I appreciate your support on this endeavor.

(photo via esty shop: Lucy Snow Photography)

birthday girl

Well another year older, another year wiser right? I will say the 10 day span of Christmas to my birthday feels like I get all the partying out in less than two weeks each year. I use to loath when my birthday fell, particularly as a kid when people would always do a combination gift. I am sorry but that’s just lame, because even if you tell yourself your making that gift extra special, as a little kid you want to feel like each day is unique and special, not a great way to only have to put thought together once. Now as an adult, I am embracing the holiday hangover and just keeping the party going a few more days.

This year I hosted a cocktail party with appetizers to snack on. It was great to get everyone together and have a good reason to really make sure the apartment was in tiptop shape for company. Anyone have that problem? Sometimes the best motivation to clean and organize is to have people over, because nothing embarrasses me more than having people discover how messy I like to be on a regular basis. I also got to leave up the Christmas decorations up a bit longer because I love how homey that makes my apartment feel, plus it’s always a bit sad to take down all that holiday feeling.

I spend the day prepping food after a good workout session (I woke up Sunday morning with some seriously sore triceps) and doing some last minute cleaning. I was lucky to wrap up early enough to get a pretty birthday manicure, complete with the accent nail, before having people come over. I made my famous seven layer dip, turkey meatballs, the family holiday staple- cheese, pepperoni and crackers, veggies, frozen grapes with cinnamon and sugar, and gluten free cupcakes. I also was able to stock up on all that sale Christmas candy so put a lot of that out too. One of my friends make deviled eggs, which are one of my favorite foods. It was a delightful little feast.

It was my ideal birthday, with friends dropping in, enjoying lots of champagne (I’ve taught you all so well) and celebrating another year. Thank you to everyone who celebrated with me, and everyone who sent along well wishes. I look forward to next year.

Letters to Norby #24

Dear Norby-

One year ago, you came into my life as the best little gift I could have ever received (thanks sis!). You came a little sooner than the family was expecting, at near 3 in the morning, when we were expecting to hear about you later in the afternoon. I’ll never forget that I was on my way down to Maryland to a wedding for two friends (who’s wedding anniversary I’ll always remember) when Grammy called me frantic, telling me you were here and that she knew nothing else.  All of a sudden, I was your auntie and all that mattered was that you were healthy.

Being your aunt is one of the best jobs I’ve ever had, I get to watch you grow, I get to play and have fun. I get to do some of the less then fun things like change you, pick up tons of toys, and I always get to return you to your mom. This past year has been full of many things full of you!  You’ll not believe me for years on how you use to fit in the crook of my arm and how you’d like when I rolled my Rs for you and cooed like an owl.  I can hardly believe the little baby you were has grown into a grilled cheese eating little man.

Looking forward to the next year of adventures with you. Happy Birthday Norbs!

Love your favorite auntie


(image via fun4kids)

happy birthday to...

Happy Birthday Ali! Since you are my most loyal blog follower, and one of my very good friends I want to make sure you get lots of birthday wishes today (I also apologize for the poorly lit photo, it's one of the few on the phone). I hope you have the best year yet, and that it's full of all the magic and wonderful things you desire. I cannot wait to have one of our many adventures this year - particularly our annual pilgrimage to Newburyport. Many happy returns!

it's bulls and blood

The photos are extremely blurry- but I think you still get the excitement of, Professional Bull Riding, probably one of the most exciting sports to watch and just think oh my goodness these guys are crazy and this is awesome. As part of my birthday extravaganza weekend, I asked my friends if we could go to PBR as part of the fun. I am pretty sure at first people thought what the heck are you thinking - bull riding in New York City, because that's completely normal. However, this was one of the most fun events I've been to in ages, it's pretty insane watching grown men get bucked off of bulls, and that 8 seconds of glory is awesome. I was also intrigued to find out that Mr. Luke Perry (oh 90201, I will always love you) starred in a movie about bull riding, and that's now on my list of things to see.  The bull riding was so exciting, and the rodeo clowns were really fun too - everything was just different then a typically Saturday night. I definitely would recommend checking this out if it comes to your town, or next year when PBR returns to NYC.

31 candles on her birthday cake

And yikes… how did I get to another birthday so quickly I ask you? I am actually quite excited to celebrate my birthday this year, I just have a feeling that this year is going to be full of fun an all sorts of surprises.  Since my birthday actually falls over a weekend, I am going to celebrate starting with a happy hour after work at my favorite place for margaritas. I cannot get too crazy because in the morning I am running a 10k in Central Park (I am nervous about the cold, the distance, and well the hangover too if I am being completely honest).  Saturday night is going to be the insane night out though, heading to see Professional Bull Riding with my friends. I am ridiculously excited for my cowboy themed outing – it best not disappoint.  Hope you also have a fun weekend lined up – hopefully I have lots of fun stories to report back on.