Jan 19, 2015 | Little Party Big City
Finding the right apartment in New York City can be daunting and frustrating. Stephen and I were lucky enough to find a charming (doodle friendly) one bedroom apartment across the street from Central Park with a working fireplace, a doorman and a dishwasher. We moved in after our honeymoon and made a very charming [itsy bitsy] first married apartment together. It was all so perfect until last year when we received a notice that all tenants were being force out of the building in 2015.
Nobody is sure what the plan is for the building, but my plan (before we move in three weeks) is to say goodbye to the neighborhood through a series of blog posts.
That’s Hudson with Kevin (one of his favorite doormen). Ignore the awful/damaged finish on the wall in the lobby. They’re likely renovating or tearing this place down, so they’ve let a few things crumble under our feet (quite literally).
S and I are kind of sad to leave the building, but as you can see, Hudson’s always ready for the next adventure (or maybe he was getting sick of this doorstep photo shoot situation). Happy MLK Day, folks!
Jan 17, 2015 | Little Party Big City
When your best friend has a baby in San Francisco and you live in New York, you can’t help but throw a little fit (and then a little party). I took a break from weeping, laughing and cooing at my iPhone to pull together a celebratory dinner for two, but you don’t have to wait for someone to give birth to make charming dinners at home.
For Charlie’s Birthday last night, we had an arugula and tomato salad with lemon and olive oil and a spinach, butternut squash pizza with shaved parmesan cheese. We opened a bottle of Chardonnay from Alpha Omega Winery that we ordered during a trip to Napa last year with Charlie’s parents. We’d been saving our last bottle for a special occasion, and I can’t think of anything more special than this!
We ended our celebration with this big red velvet cupcake (topped with a few sparklers). I can’t wait to tell Charlie that there were people throwing parties for him coast to coast the night of his birth. Happy Birthday, Charlie! We love you and can’t wait to meet you!
You can make dinners at home special by taking care when setting the table (don’t eat in front of the TV) and by serving something colorful and delicious. There is always a reason to celebrate. Happy Weekend!
Jan 9, 2015 | Little Party Big City
Since the summer after the 2nd grade, I spent nearly every June at an all girls camp in the Texas Hill Country (picture the parent trap but better). Having a June birthday at camp meant I was able to make one birthday call to my parents from the office phone, and being allowed to use the phone was a very big deal. During each birthday call, my parents would ask me the same question: “What do you want to do when you get home?” Every year, my answer was always the same: “I want to take a bath.” Showering (especially in flip flops) has never been my thing. I love baths; Hudson, on the other hand, hates taking baths (click here for a photo).
So, if you’re like me and a bath lover, there is only one product you must go get now: Fresh – Sugar Lemon Bath Cubes. They are heavenly and will turn your nightly routine into a luxury within seconds. I have been using these for years, and there is truly nothing better.
Another way to enhance your bath experience is to make your own pot of Lemon Ginger Tea. Click here for the fancy way to make this, or just boil water in the microwave and add a few thin slices of ginger root and a squeeze of lemon. It’s the perfect thing to sip before bedtime because it soothes your stomach (and it’s clear so it will not stain your teeth).
If this post and the freezing weather aren’t enough to make you want to take a bath tonight, read this old article from XOJane (I love that Tinsley Mortimer turned her shower into a closet, since she only uses her bathtub – a party girl after my own heart), or watch this famous bathtub scene. Now go start your bath water (and have a great weekend)!
Jan 7, 2015 | Little Party Big City
It’s too cold to do anything but write thank you notes, while sipping a little splash of your best tequila and eating popcorn with a sprig of rosemary.
I dropped my last bundle of holiday thank you notes in the mail this morning, and I thought I’d share my tips on writing the perfect thank you note (and avoiding a few common mistakes).
What you’ll need: A good pen that writes well. Nice stationary (read this article if you are interested in updating your stationary wardrobe). A stamp.
What you’ll write: Start your note by thanking the recipient; then, elaborate a tad on the gift. Include one or two more sentences about something relevant to your relationship with the recipient but unrelated to the gift. Sign your name in cursive.
What you’ll avoid: Be sincere; for example: a frying pan is not the “most amazing thing ever” a frying pan “will be put to good use.” And, remember that thank you notes are short, so you do not have to mention the gift again in the last sentence… Once again, thanks for the Legos.
Is it just me or does sending mail seem even more vintage and glam with these fantastic brass letter boxes in the lobby of my office building? Happy Humpday…and don’t forget to check the mail (cue the music)!
Jan 6, 2015 | Little Party Big City
Call me crazy, but I always get excited when it’s time to take down my Christmas decorations. Hudson mostly gets excited for trips the p-a-r-k, which is why he was none too pleased when we tied him to this pile of trees for a photo on our way to central park this weekend. Hudson doesn’t bark often, but he has strange way of communicating with his eyes (haha).
Taking down Christmas decorations is pretty simple when you live in a little apartment in the city. With the help of our doorman, we covered the tree with a big bag, took it down the freight elevator and drug it down the sidewalk to hang out with these other trees.
Growing up, un-decorating was involved. I have specific memories of re-wrapping each sterling Reed & Barton ornament in an anti-tarnish cloth, which seemed completely excessive. My mom assured me that I would one day appreciate the collection of sterling ornaments I received each year engraved with my name and date, and of course, she’s right, as mothers always are.
Saying goodbye to the tree is easy, but I cannot throw out Christmas cards (not immediately, at least). I shuffled ours around the floor this weekend so Stephen, Hudson and I could get one more look before putting them away.
Hanging onto anything when you live in less than 700 square feet doesn’t make much sense, but I’ll add hoarding cards to my list of nonsense for now. Happy New Year!
Dec 31, 2014 | Everything Else, Little Party Big City
The first snow of the year is always exciting in New York City, but when you live in a city where that remarkable snow tends to last until late February (and sometimes March), it is always nice to get a little vitamin D before you start getting those “is it still cold up there” texts from your friends and family in the south.
We spent a week walking the beach, drinking syrupy drinks during the day and good wine at night. We finished a few books and more than a few bottles of spray sunscreen.
This trip is just what we needed to prepare for the long awaited, long lasting winter in the northeast.
I love having a little sand in my suitcase from beach vacations; it is like finding cash or your favorite lipstick in the pocket of an old jacket.
With months of jacket season ahead of us, I look forward to making soups, staying in, watching old movies and listening to cozy tunes with my boys. Stay warm, y’all.
