new york = great friends, great food, happy girl

I am forever grateful for the 4 years I spent in New York City. I remember people telling me, "Enjoy being in college while you can, you will look back and wish you had appreciated it more." This is not the case for me. I knew how good it was while I had it. I laid down and rolled around in it, enjoying every precious moment.

With that said, I feel the same way about this time in my life now. Maybe it's a good thing to appreciate every stage in your life. My Dad always tells me, "Focus on the blessings." He is so wise.

When this small town life starts to get a little dull, I so enjoy going back to the city that was once mine. It is exciting and fun and exhausting... I am not used to walking so much any more. My suburbia legs were struggling to keep up with the pace.

I had 4 places on my list to go to, one of them thanks to my blogger friend Amy at Elephant Eats. Thanks, Amy!

Fishs Eddy
City Bakery
Levain Bakery
Popover Cafe

I am so proud that at least one thing was not food related. Most of my places to visit are food related. I'm just saying.

My dear friend, Jill, joined me on Saturday afternoon. We took the 6 downtown to 23rd street and walked a little ways to City Bakery for some of the best hot chocolate ever. It was thick and creamy, like they just melted a dark chocolate candy bar into a mug and slopped a homemade marshmallow on top.

Fishs Eddy is one of my favorites. I shop online sometimes for cute dishes and glasses.

But nothing beats the real store. So authentic and cool.

After a fun night celebrating my wonderful friend Ame's birthday, we woke up early to have breakfast with Chris, who is in the city from LA looking for grad schools. He is beyond hysterical. He had Ame and I in tears, laughing, the whole breakfast.

Sitting across the table from these 2 was good for my heart. It was bursting with happiness.

This place was not new to me. Popover Cafe and I go way back. I've been going there since I was a freshman in college, especially whenever my sister was in town to visit.

They make eggy, delicious popovers served with whipped strawberry butter. They are so different and delicious. It's one of my favorite places to eat breakfast. They also have the best hot drinks - chai latte and Mexican hot chocolate being my favorites.

When I think of enjoying a relaxing breakfast on a chilly winter morning, I think about Popover Cafe on the Upper West Side. There are some Sunday mornings that I consider taking the train up just to enjoy breakfast there and then come home again. But then my good sense kicks in.

Side note: After opening his bacon and cheese omelette and saying, "There is an entire pig in here...." Chris put it in his popover and exclaimed, "This is the best decision I have made all day!"

Next stop: Levain Bakery. Home of the most delicious, outrageous, Heavenly cookies on the planet.

It's a hole-in-the-wall type of place. Just my style. Low key, easy going and so delicious. They only make 4 types of cookies so you know they do them right. See the huge bags of sugar? And the dough balls about to be put in the oven? Huge mounds of dough. That's a good way to bake a cookie.

I got a dark chocolate chocolate chip cookie and a glass of milk. They serve milk with their cookies. Does it get better than that?

(Christi, these look a lot like your cookies!!)

Chris and Ame both had their signature cookie, chocolate chip walnut. I agree with their decision because I got to try it. See how big they are? My cookie is the size of my hand.

After our breakfast together, we sadly parted ways. Chris went off to work, Ame to church and I went to Penn Station to take my train home. My grandfather upgraded me to Amtrak, which means a much shorter and comfortable trip. Thanks, Nana and Papa! :)

It was a wonderful weekend. I got to go to all the places on my list and still had time to lay around Ame's apartment, reading and relaxing. But it was the first time I felt disconnected from the city in a way. I think it's all a part of my transition into realizing that my life is different now.

I was sad to leave it all behind... again. But then, after a 2 hour ride, my train pulled into Wilmington station and I stared out the window at a handsome man standing on the platform with his hands in his pockets... smiling and eagerly looking through the windows of the train to find me.

how to poach an egg in the bronx

I am headed to New York City this weekend for a dear friend's birthday. Most of you know I spent 4 incredible years going to college in the big city. Then I took a job across the river in New Jersey for a year. Then I fell head over heels in love with Michael and moved back home to lil ol' Delaware, where you can drive for miles without seeing another car and the ocean is never more than 30 minutes away.

I love it here. My family is here. My future husband is here. I have a good job here. Delaware has plenty of fresh air, farms and open fields. It's very peaceful.

But there are times when I miss the city so much. The friends I met there are the most amazing people. A few of my wonderful friends stayed in the city after college and give me their sofa when my heart starts to crave time with them again.

I'm staying with Ame, Audra, Aleta and Jill this weekend. Their hospitatlity cannot be matched. They let me sleep until whenever I want and sit and listen to me ramble on about Michael. They feed me and make me laugh. We talk. We watch movies. We eat. It's wonderful.

Plus I get to wake up to this every morning.

I am so excited. In honor of my upcoming trip, I am going to write about an egg poaching experience I had the last time I stayed with these girls.

The roommates and I were still in our pajamas talking about what to eat for breakfast, enjoying our coffee and tea.

Aleta suggested making poached eggs, but wasn't quite sure how to make them. They all turn to me, because I'm a food blogger and I'm supposed to know how to cook things. Luckily, I know how to poach an egg.

By the way, Michael was with me that weekend. He slept on the other couch. Raise your hand if you love a living room with two couches?!

First thing: heat up a big pot of water to a low boil, you don't want a heavy rolling boil for this. Put a splash of vinegar in the water and start spinning the water around and around with a big spoon.

At this point, Michael chimes in from the living room: "Initiate the vortex!"

So don't forget this important step. You need to initiate the vortex before dropping the egg in.

Break the egg right in the center of the pot, where the spinning water has created a little water tornado.

The egg will spin around and around. You will think this technique isn't going to work, and then all of a sudden it does. The egg forms and cooks perfectly.

After a few minutes, take it out with a slotted spoon and plop that baby on a piece of toast.

It's good stuff, people.

I can't wait for the 2 breakfasts I will be sharing with these girls this weekend.

Michael offered to drive me to the train station in New Jersey because he doesn't want me driving into the city all by myself. Even though I did that for 5 years. He says he feels better seeing me get on the train and knowing that I am safe.

I'm spoiled because I never have to drive anywhere since we've been dating. He is so old fashioned in that way.

Plus I get to be the passenger seat photographer.

It's only for 3 days, but I am going to miss that man.

lauren and evan's engagement pictures

My dear, sweet, hard working (handsome, sexy, loving...) boyfriend spent hours editing photos this weekend. He is very particular about his working conditions when it comes to editing photos. I know all of you have spent time editing a photo, then had it developed to find that the print looks completely different than what you saw on the screen.

Well, that won't happen to Michael Beard Photography anymore! My love invested in a sweet photo editing monitor. I don't understand it the way Michael does. I know that it is big, it has a matte finish, and no matter where you are in the room the image looks the same... which is a lot different than a normal monitor. He also has "color calibrating software" that he uses to be SURE that the image on the monitor is exactly the same as the digital image. It's all very technical.

That's what makes our little photography business so beautiful. My self-given title as the "Creative Director" allows me to pose our models, figure out the setting, make sure little cutesy moments are happening, make sure they feel comfortable in front of the camera, do some hands-on arranging of stray hairs and hands... That is where I shine. Michael knows the ins and outs of his equipment and he shines in post-processing.

I know you all have been anxiously awaiting these photos! I have too. Michael's patience is infuriating. But I love him.

I want to share some of my favorites from our shoot in Central Park.

Her ring! Good job, Ev.

By the way. I was totally there when he gave it to her. Well, it was a couple minutes later... but still.

I love what Michael did with the color here, and their faces are too cute for words.

This one has been a favorite from the beginning. There was a little stone bridge over a small stream. I remember saying to Evan, "Is there a place where you can sit on the stones? Is that comfortable??"

Good thing he found a spot. I probably would have asked him to sit there anyway, just to get this shot. I love how leaves are dusting the ground, and the rock on the right frames the whole photo.

This one is so sweet. I love that Michael zoomed in on Evan's arms around her.

 

He was holding her for SO long. It was hysterical. But this shot was worth it! I love the tree in the background.

Perfection with a yellow antique tint. Go, Michael.

This one is so cute!

Haha! So classic Evan and Lauren. I love her laugh.

I adore this one. I love the way she is looking at him.

I don't think Evan saw the vision in this pose. But I knew it would be cute.

The stones on the ground were interesting and perfect for this shot. I love the traffic lights in the background.

This one needs to be framed, put in a magazine, blow up and made into a poster... Just kidding. But really. I love it.

Thank you guys for being such great sports!

Michael and I learned so much from this shoot, I don't even think I could write it in a couple sentences. It was such a huge learning experience for us. We are very grateful.

Lauren and Evan, you two are so in love. It's adorable.

I obviously can't wait for the wedding. I'm excited to be a bridesmaid of course!! But I'm also thrilled to see you too vow to be with each other for the rest of your lives. It's a beautiful thing.

love and laughter in the bronx

I absolutely adore going back to visit the city. People always ask me if I miss living there. The answer is: sometimes. There are times when I miss it a lot. Especially when I look back through old pictures of my wonderful friends and I doing something awesome in the city. Then there are times when I'm driving to work and I don't pass a single car... and I don't miss the hustle and bustle.

Basically, I am so glad that I got to live there while I was in college. For me, it was the perfect age to fully enjoy the madness. I loved it with a passion.

Now that I'm in a serious relationship with the most wonderful man on the planet, we are starting to talk about planning our life together. This involves a lovely little home on lots of land, a garden, a dog and eventually babies. So domestic and wonderful and peaceful. I can picture us buying a tiny old house with lots of character, eating dinner on a blanket on the floor until we get a dining room table, painting the walls and not resisting the urge to smear paint on each others faces... happy future plans. Very happy.

Luckily, Michael is the adventurous type. He is always up for going back to visit the city for the weekend. Pretty much every time I have the spontaneous urge, he is right by my side.

My wonderful, hysterical, loving friend Ame lives in the above brownstone with 3 more of my most favorite people ever: Audra, Jill and Aleta. (Go Barton!)

I love their stoop. And their fall wreath. Just thought that needed to be said.

They are such gracious hosts, and usually once every two months they let Michael and I stay with them for the weekend. We enjoy it so much. They let us sleep in until whatever time we want. They give us space to read, lay around their living room and relax whenever we want. I am forever grateful for their incredibly ability to make us feel comfortable. (I love you guys!)

This past weekend, Michael and I drove up to the Bronx, New York for another awesome weekend. On Saturday, we enjoyed a morning to ourselves in Manhattan. We took the 6 train downtown to a camera store on 22nd street. Then we walked 10 blocks north, stopping along the way to eat lunch a brick oven pizza place.

Note to self: make these pizzas. Michael got prosciutto, roasted asparagus and parmesan pizza. I got classic margherita with fresh basil.

This was quickly followed by Pinkberry frozen yogurt. Go there.

Mine is the pathetic one on the left. I was trying to be good. I ended up eating some of Michael's too.

When we reached midtown, we became super tourists and stopped to watch these guys. Mad skills.

After that, we took the train to the Upper West Side to Central Park West to meet my amazing, wonderful friend Lauren and her fiance Evan.

And then the highlight of my Saturday: Lauren and Evan's engagement pictures.

 We were decked out with all our camera equipment. 2 bags full of cameras, lenses and flashes. We looked so legit.

It was a perfect fall afternoon in Central Park. Plenty of leaves were still on the trees and there was a nice breeze. Lauren looked beautiful of course, and Evan is lovingly referred to as the male model (LOL-Kri, Vic) so he looked handsome as usual.

I can't tell you how much fun it was to take their pictures. They are so in love, and very comfortable with each other. I love Lauren so much, it was good for my heart to see her happy. I can't wait until their wedding!

This was our second engagement shoot. It was a huge learning experience for us. It's no secret that we are in the works of starting our own photography business. It's something we both enjoy and we make a great team. Michael is a genius when it comes to the technical aspects of photography. He knows the ins and outs of his equipment, he understands lighting and he loves the photo editing process. I am better with people and posing them in creative ways. When we work together, we always create wonderful pictures.

I begged Michael to let me post a teaser photo today. He said no... sadly. But trust. The photos are incredible and I can't wait to share them - so stay tuned for that!

The rest of the weekend was equally fun. I cooked dinner for all my friends on Saturday night. Michael took pictures, so that recipe is coming this week. We had a hysterical poached eggs experience on Sunday morning. The drive home while sipping our Starbucks tea was relaxing.

I am looking forward to only working 3 days this week. Then THANKSGIVING dinner with my family. It's a food blogger's dream.

Plus the reveal of Lauren and Evan's engagement pictures. Plus spending lots of time with my boyfriend.

I am also considering buying a juicer today.

Lots to look forward to!

memories of an apartment

I lived in midtown Manhattan for the most epic 4 years of my life. Never will a day go by, that I don't thank God for the chance to get to go to college in New York. I made something of myself. I learned who I was. I met the greatest people. I had fun.

This was the view out of my bedroom window:




This is 12A9. I lived in this apartment during my senior year of college with Rachel, Ame and Lauren. The best people you'll ever meet. If the only reason I went to college was to meet them, it would be worth it.

This was our kitchen, and part of our living room. We spent all our time in here. I can't remember how many times our Southern gal, Rachel, would make the best chocolate chip cookies ever... and somehow we would fit 15 or so friends in our little living room to watch a movie.


This is the view from our apartment, which was on the 12th floor. It was pretty cool to look outside and see the tops of other buildings. Now I look at my living room window to a driveway and lots of grass. I'm not complaining - I love the quiet. I also love knowing my city is only a 3 1/2 hour drive away and waiting for me whenever I want to go back.



This was my desk, in the room I shared with Lauren. I spent many hours here writing papers, reading, studying. That is the one thing I don't miss about college...



So what do I miss about college? This:



These people and that couch:



Living with them:



Definitely this:



All of these people:



I was looking back through some of my old pictures and came across these. It does my heart good to remember the moments I shared with these awesome people, in that wonderful apartment. That place held us during the best and worst times that year.

When I look back on all my years in college, I think about Barton of course. OF COURSE. Barton and 12A9. And it makes me smile.