on making it worth it.

I’m feeling thoughtful.

I don’t know why but the feelings are there. Maybe it’s because I heard some sad news yesterday. Or because it feels that with winter’s arrival things are closing in, shutting down, cozying up, settling in.

On Saturday it snowed. The evidence is long gone now– it didn’t last for more than a few hours, but it happened and I was a witness. It was kind of perfect, really. It being December 1st and all. I woke up and looked out the window, and there it was, that swirling white goodness falling from the sky. And I smiled.

Warmer days will always be my favorite, but this winter thing is important, too. It makes you take a step back. Look at your surroundings harder– to see your strengths and come to terms with your weaknesses. Feel your heart beating with just a little bit more appreciation as another year comes to a close.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned about myself over the past few years and one thing I’m truly thankful for it is for my ability to see the good in things– in people, in situations, in experiences. I don’t exactly know how I got this way (thanks, mom and dad), but I do know that it’s a nice way to live. It’s an intentional way to live, too. You just have to believe it.

Be you and no one else.

Live passionately.

Practice kindness.

Feel beautiful.

Surround yourself with people that make you happy.

Breathe.

Smile.

Laugh at yourself.

Let it go.

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This life is what you make of it, and I intend to make it worth it.

Believe you are worth it too, okay?

Because you are.

We all are.

about the time I went to NYC and it was magic.

I feel like something is happening to me.

Or, has happened to me, rather.

It’s like I can’t go anywhere with my camera lately without taking a bazillion photos.

And then. Then! If that’s not bad enough I can’t write a blog post without posting said BAZILLION photos.

Sorry?

Not really.

Hope you don’t mind!

Behold!

MY SATURDAY DAY TRIP TO THE ONE AND ONLY NEW YORK CITY:

Can I actually just say something before we begin? One more thing?

New York City is just so incredibly romantic.

Isn’t it?

Gosh I just want to hug it every single time I go.

Some parts I do not want to hug (Ahemm, Times Square) but most parts I do.

This particular trip brought me to the West Village. Talk about romantic. I could straight up slow dance with the West Village. DREAMY!

My main reason for heading to New York on this fine November day was to meet up with my best friend Bailey, who was visiting family in NJ and NY for the Holidays. Bailey used to live in Manhattan, then Brooklyn, and now she lives Charlotte.

(Remember when I went to visit her last spring?)

It’s only a few times a year that we get to spend time together, so I decided to take advantage of my proximity to the city to hang out with her, Luke, and Kevin.

We went to Aria Wine Bar and had small plates and wine. It was super lovely.

Mostly, I just loved being with my friend.

And isn’t Luke crazy cute??

YES. Yes he is.

After lunch we just walked around shopping and talking, catching up on things that are new and reminicing about favorite memories of old. We got cupcakes at Magnolia Bakery (the original!) and we popped into Chelsea Market and strolled through the Union Square Holiday Market, too.

I bought some handmade local gifts at Teich and Bailey picked up some adorable kid stuff for Luke.

All in all, a really great afternoon…

When I first made my plans to go to New York for the day, I just imagined having brunch, then hopping on the train back to Greenwich. But my brain got reeling and I just kept thinking WHAT ELSE can I do in this city of DREAMS?

Because, I mean, let’s live it up in NYC why don’t we.

YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE.

And so came about the fabulous idea to see if the New York City Ballet was performing The Nutcracker.

AND THEY WERE. AND WE WENT!

After saying goodbye to Bails, I headed towards Lincoln Center to meet up with my sister and my cousin Haley. We went to dinner at P.J. Clark’s in Lincoln Square– right across the street from the theatre, which was perfect (thanks for the rec, Colleen!), and then skittered right on over to watch the ballet.

Seeing the New York City Ballet perform The Nutcracker has always been a lifelong dream of mine. And going to Lincoln Center, yet another dream. Ever since this movie, circa 1993. And this movie, circa 2000. Also, I was in the Nutcracker when I was younger, and was an aspiring ballerina back in the day. SIGH. The memories.

The theatre! The costumes! The music! The dancing! THE NOSTALGIA.

It was in a word:

MAGIC.

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Thanks for everything, New York.

Always.

scenes from a thanksgiving in connecticut.

Thanksgiving!

This year for Thanksgiving my sister and I headed down to Connecticut to spend the holiday at my Grammy’s house. My parents drove down from Syracuse and it was a perfectly relaxing weekend spend with my mom’s side of the family. Greenwich is where my mom grew up, and since we’ve been taking trips here a few times a year since I was born, it truly does feel like home. I know the town like the back of my hand and although I do spend some times out of doors, I always feel happy enough just kicking my heals up and basking in relaxation– which is much of what I did this trip and exactly the kind of weekend I was looking for.

Thursday was spent watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving parade in our pajamas, pouring all the love into baby Hope, and then spending time together cooking and eating. We had an early dinner, and by 6:00 were all quiet and sleepy, the aftermath of too much rich food and much too many varieties of delicious pie. It was in a word: wonderful.

Friday my sister and I took a stroll down Greenwich Avenue, dipping into our favorite stores to shop the Black Friday sales. We both came back with goodies for our closets, and less money in our wallets than we’d had the day before. Since my gifts this year are all being bought handmade, this day was of the “treat yo self” variety. And a very nice treat it turned out to be.

All in all it was a such a good weekend. It was good to be with family and it was so very good to be “home”.

happy thanksgiving.

There is so much love in my heart for all I’ve had in my life this year.

For the experiences.

For the good health and good cheer.

And most of all, for the people who fit so perfectly into my story. For the ones who have always been there, and the ones who have come along and stayed.

Thanks for filling up my heart, you.

You mean the world to me.

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Happy Thanksgiving, friends.