Photos by Indu Huynh // Christmas Card courtesy of Minted
Oh Holy Night, the stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear Savior's birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Til He appear'd and the soul felt its worth
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn'
Thankful for Jesus. Merry Christmas dear friends!
Love,
Kate
Quality time in NYC is just what the doctor ordered. Two days, about fifteen miles of walking, and one night next to central park at the Essex House was perfect.
Brian and I are a good match for traveling. We want the most out of our time, and we love walking the best. We're also big on food, but when it's such a short trip, we don't necessarily want to spent excessive time sitting and eating. I needed a good bagel, and Brian needed a couple good slices, and we were good.
We got a great deal at the Essex House and couldn't have asked for a better location- it was so central to Manhattan. Met up with a friend and took a subway near Union Square and grabbed Thai at ROHM on 20th in the flatiron {totally recommend it... good food/location}, coffee at The Grey Dog on University {and the most massive brownie ever served}, then called it a night. Sometimes it's good to call it a night when you're reeeeallly jetlagged and you want to get the most of the next day.
We wanted to stop at the ShakeShack, but ah, not enough time...
So we legitimately made the most of the next day. We grabbed bagels at Ess-A-Bagels... friends, that place is SUCH a delicious tourist trap.
While seriously enjoying our bagels, we discussed the crazy tourist situation... The place is packed-line-out-the-door, and the friends of the ones out the door waiting were sitting in the 10 tables available... none with bagels yet, most with glares, and most also with five extra chairs for future companions. Yelp didn't mention this sort of madness.. we had some good laughs about the seriousness of ordering bagels there. Don't get me wrong, I'd go back in a heartbeat. The bagels are legit. I'm talking insanely good. How do the places in New York manage to get bagels so right, and why don't they give SF bagel shops their secrets? At least we've perfected the sourdough and the dutch-crunch breads.
The Shop Around the Corner is, indeed, a cleaners now.
So I was browsing the good ol' internet Friday night and noticed the 15th anniversary of You've Got Mail {thanks to SometimesSweet Friday links}, and quite perfectly, we were in the vicinity of the sites where the best rom-com was filmed... so naturally, I dragged Brian to the Upper West Side with me. We discovered that The Shop around the Corner is a standard cleaners, rather than the enchanting deep-green-with-patterned-floors- book shop it once was, but gosh, I was excited to be there. The block was charming, and I decided that if I lived in Manhattan, the Upper West is my ideal. We made it to Gray's Papaya {W 72nd}and I embarrassingly took a picture there too, without any hotdog purchase. Somehow in the moment, it felt right to stand at that corner. In retrospect, I can't decide if it's awesome or ridic. Both, I think.
The dream slices of pizza, Bella Vita Pizza, 58th St.
Yes, I'll go back anytime. I love you so, New York City. I have the best husband ever! xo
Oh hey, East coast- thanks for looking out! My children assumed snow would happen but we weren't so sure...
We got off the redeye, drove a bit, unloaded a bit, then made a snowman. Can it always work out this perfectly?? I haven't made a snowman since I was about 4, seriously, so Brian taught us all the tricks. Maggie and I loved saying "rollllll it, paaaat it," just like when we patty-cake with babies. Sophie figured celery was the closest thing to a carrot for the snowman's nose, and we all agreed.
Maggie did a couple adorable slow-motion face plants while getting acclimated to her snow boots, but after that was in bliss-mode.
Redeye to the chilly, beautiful east! One chattery toddler and one sleepy {but happy!} five year old, and two grown-ups well-equipped with caffeine... annnd we're off to a good start here!
All photos by Pictilio
So. Here's the question: are you getting excited for Christmas yet? WE ARE.
I mean really. We're singing carols around the house, eating our weight in sweets, and rocking the beanies and cozy hats everywhere we go... because it's "winter" and kids are only tiny once and tiny kids are adorable in colorful hats.
We're headed for snow (A white Christmas maybe? The east has been getting so many snow days), and I'm ready for it. I'm ready to lay low, and eat a lot of potato chips with dip only found at my in-law's house, give gifts, and be merry. We're already merry, but there's a bit of a cherry on top when no one is working and we're all together.
Maggie's outfit: Zara beanie & Sweater // Hand-me-down leggings & boots (similar here and here)
Photos by Pictilio.
Maggie is my little winter baby. I was scrolling through pictures of the kiddos, because naturally after spending every waking hour with them, they go to sleep and I miss their faces, and somehow these wintery pictures landed beside each other, and I love them all together. Also, she spends more of her days with giant smiles or giant tears {the life of a 2-year old is incredibly emotional}-- or running around so fast that all we get is a blur of a photo, so it's also remarkable that she looks like such a serious child in all of these, ha!
xo.
