Keystone, CO Annual Trip 2012

Stuart and I watched from our tiny window in the sky as blackness turned to spots of light and finally transitioned into the glittering city of NYC as we flew in last night from Keystone, CO. This is the first trip we have taken where flying "home" means flying into NYC. We have not flown anywhere since moving here, and coming home here was the first time it sunk in for both of us...about where we are and where we live. We both looked at each other as we rode into the city in a cab and both agreed, it felt good to be coming back to the city. I think it is starting to feel like home a little more each day. The streets were empty last night as we were driven to our house in the sky and I just starred out the cab window as if I had never seen it before, the city was enchanting. I thought to myself, "I made it to the place that used to be a flicker of a dream", it was a surreal feeling. New York has not been an easy place to live by any means, it is a lot of work, and I will write a post on that soon, but I know why people love it, you become addicted and there literally is no place like it.

The day after vacation is always hard, but today is extra hard because it wasn't just a vacation, it was a gathering of the best of friends, new and old, surrounded by the most beautiful mountains and glistening snow, it was the definition of bliss. I cannot express how much I LOVE my friends. It is so hard to find special friends now that you are not surrounded by people your age like in college, but Stuart and I have hit the million dollar jackpot of friends and I will hang on to them forever.

Some brief highlights from our Keystone, CO annual 2012 Snowcation!

• Accidentally left phone at home and realized it in the taxi ride to JFK- turned out to be the best gift the vacation gods could give me.
• Arrived at the airport too late to check my bag (30 min. before flight), so Stuart rescued me and took a later flight with my bag while I ran to catch my flight.
• Meal times together with friends: Cooked Chili, Chicken Tacos, Brownies, Breakfast Galore, made Snow Cream, took an annual trip to the Mexican Food place in Breckenridge, CO.
• Hot Tubed while snow flakes fell and froze to my head.
• Skiied in 18 degree temps with 30 mile winds blowing through my hair. My nose snot froze. :)
• Snow shoed down a mountain trail which included some fun face plants in the snow.
• Lots of "All in the Family" and "Thumper"games.
• Took an annual trip to 9280 the ski lodge bar where we always meet colorful characters.
• Took a day to curl up by the fire and chat it up with the girls...best day ever. Definitely planning an all girls getaway for the summer.
• Enjoyed time by the fire de-thawing and sharing stories with friends.

Stuart and I will be forever grateful for being invited on such a special trip. An enormous thanks to Haley Bryant and her family for letting us stay in their mountain house. It was our third annual Snowcation and I really think they are getting better every year. We miss the Snowcation crew already and wish we could all just go back and do it again next weekend.

Dad in the Big Apple

A few weekends ago my dad and his wife Maggie came to NYC for a visit. My dad was definitely excited to come and visit Stuart and I, but he insisted he had been to NY before so I could tell he wasn't expecting too much in the form of an adventure. After a robust 5 days in the city though and a lot of "inside" information from a few locals, ;) I think we changed his mind about the Big Apple. Although my dad is a nature and country boy to his core, I think he left with curious appreciation for the city that he not had before. The rich history, old buildings, and the sheer magnitude of the city won him over...just a little bit.

Some highlights from the trip include:

• A Hop on Hop Off Bus Tour (Dad & Maggie went and LOVED it, it's a great intro to the city)
• Lion King on Broadway (Dad's first broadway experience)
• David Letterman Taping
• New York City Museum
• Brooklyn Bridge Stroll
• Grimaldi's Pizza under the Brooklyn Bridge
• Chelsea Market
• East Village Thai Food
• Amor & Amargo Bitters Bar
• 911 Memorial
• Early morning walks through Central Park (Dad & Daughter)

Every time my parents or friends leave us from visiting the city, Stu and I feel a little sad. We have never lived this far from home, and it has been hard to adjust to the thought that we cannot just hop in the car and drive down to see someone. It makes time together more precious and too short, but this NYC adventure is teaching Stuart and I SO much about ourselves. Moving here is literally the best thing we have ever done together so every time I get sad and miss someone I think about the big picture and it helps to put it in perspective.

My dad and Maggie took a ton of pictures, so I need to get those from them and then I will post pictures!

I love you Dad!!!

Sweetest Valentine

Stuart out did himself this Valentines Day.

It started by coming home to gorgeous Hydrangeas, an adorable card and the most insane looking Chocolate Ganache Flourless Cake! Now, all that know Stuart, knows that he does not cook. I have made it my personal endevour to teach him all of the basics like scrambled eggs, grilled cheese. etc...but he has never taken on a full meal by himself and I have to say he blew competing Valentines menus from fancy-smancy restaurants OUT of the water last night.

As I walk into the house, this Chocolate Ganache Cake had just been removed from the oven, and Stuart is in the midst of removing a casserole dish full of boiling water from the oven. He proceeds to explain that the water was crucial when cooking a chocolate ganache cake so that it helps create a moist and steamy environment, which prevents cracking in the cake.

My heart does a flip, "who is this chef in my kitchen?" ...Cracking, steam pan, spring form pan, Chocolate Ganache...what has become of my husband. I was so curious as to what the rest of the night would include, and loved this side of Stuart I was meeting for the first time.

Stuart's new interest is mixology. We are building a fully stocked bar complete with every cocktail ingredient imaginable and due to his new interest I have been deemed Chief Taste-tester!!! Tonight's special was a Pink V-day Cocktail that was slightly fruity, with a hint of bitter, and overall divine! yum

Next up, the surprise appetizer was unveiled- Oysters Rockefeller, our FAVORITE appetizer ever. I couldn't believe he got all of the ingredients and wanted to take this one on...we have always ordered it at restaurants, but never made something this complex. The adventure began!

So, I removed the oysters from the fridge to find they had not been shucked. Eeek, I dunno how to shuck an oyster. Stu steps up to take on this challenge, and after lots of great attempts and a few bent butter knives, he decides to take a run down the block back to Whole Foods to get them to shucked. hehe It all worked out in the end.

The finished product turned out to be so delicious...that it is going to be hard to order these at a restaurant anymore knowing how good they can be. I totally reccommend taking on the Oyster Rockefeller adventure if you love Oysters. I am sure Stu would be flattered to share the recipe he found.

Next course...was a build your own Margarita Pizza! It was a great lighter balance to the Oysters and it was perfect since we have lots of left overs today. :)

Lastly, it all came full circle and we devoured a slice (or two..) ;) of the Chocolate Flourless Ganache cake. GAH...heavenly.

I just love that after knowing/dating Stuart for 11 years now, I am still pleasantly surprised to discover something new about him. When he puts his mind to anything, he masters it. So proud. It was so refreshing to come home and have the best Valentines Day celebration because coincidentally I had spent my day with a lot of V-day cynics. I do not fall for some people's argument that holidays like V-day are all worked up for nothing, it's a marketing ploy, and the excuses go on... You know, if no one ever got worked up or excited about any holiday what would we all look forward to? What would force us out of our everyday routine to do a little something extra for ourselves or others? Holidays like everyday are what you make of it, and I choose to go with the big, fun, enjoyable, loving option rather than choosing to downplay the excitement that can come with these special days sprinkled throughout the year. What is your take on it all?

And...I just wanted to add that Stuart got some Valentine surprises himself. The problem is...I got way too enthusiastic about his Valentines Day present and gave it to him the night of Feb 13th. I just couldn't stand hiding it or waiting an entire night. So now...he will be sporting a few new fashionable items around NYC. He has been working super hard in the gym and has needed some downsized clothing options to show off his new form. ;)

Love you Stu. Thank you for the best Valentines Day ever.

Be Mine, Valentine

It's Valentines Day and love is in the air. On my morning walk with Nora to Central Park there was an Edible Arrangements truck unloading lots of fruit bouquets in front of an office building, a guy was walking down the street with the most amazing bouquet of roses, and even Nora found a little dog boyfriend at the park this morning...it is all so sweet and there seems to be a lightness in my heart today.

I wanted to dedicate this post to the ones I love, because they are the ones that make everyday special.

Happy Valentines Day Stuart, I Love YOU! I know that nothing in my life will ever be as great as the love we share.

Nora is my angel. I know that everyone loves their dog, and I have had dogs in the past I loved, but none like Nora. She watches over me, cheers me up, and constantly brings me down to earth by putting into perspective what this life is all about.

I LOVE my family. My family=my parents, sister, in-laws, aunts, uncles and Stu's grandparents. I cannot think of any better support team. My family is fun, quirky, unique, and most of all loving, which makes me deeply happy.

I LOVE my friends. My friends are some of the most giving and loving people I know. I want to spend a lifetime building our friendship; traveling together, sharing great meals, having amazing parties, and sharing life's moments. Ooooo I cannot wait.

Happy Valentines Day! Find your love today.

Nuyorican Poets Cafe NYC

Happy Friday!

Tonight is the night where we are going to experience the slam

BAM BAM BAM

We are headed to the East Village to explore

No not to a store, something much more

Going to feel the rhythm and the beat

Nodding our heads and tapping our feet

Grooving to the moving of the artist and his word

We can all relate as they mediate and the word strikes the right cord

BAM BAM BAM

It's called Nuyorican Cafe where the artists poetry slam

and I cannot wait to chill with my mate

on this new and adventurous Friday night date.

BAM!

We will report back on thoughts about Poetry Slam concluding our Friday night outing to Nuyorican Poets Cafe. Should be interesting and fun... cheers to trying something new.

Go outside your comfort zone and do something extra special tonight. It's the first weekend of February, ground hog saw his shadow, the weather is beautiful, and love is in the air for Valentines Day, things are looking up and lots to be grateful for.