Happy Thanksgiving

This year was the first year that Nick and I would not be with our families for Thanksgiving. Hard, really hard. I have always loved the holidays. There is just something so special about being with your family and continuing the traditions that you have grown up with.

I mean, Thanksgiving at my house use to consist of waking up and watching the Macy's Day Parade while eating breakfast. Mom would be cooking away in the kitchen - the house would smell absolutely delicious. And she would always make sure I had my apple pie - my favorite. By far. After our yummy Thanksgiving meal it would be time for some Dallas Cowboys. Granted, they aren't that good this year but it's tradition, like I said.

I think the second hardest about not being home for Thanksgiving is really the days after. Ever since I was in fourth grade mom and I would be out with the crowds on Black Friday. Most of the time we started our morning off at Macy's and then ventured into the rest of the mall as the stores opened. We always ate breakfast at the same spot overlooking the ice rink in the Galleria (i.e. mall). It really is something that I thoroughly enjoy. I missed it deeply this year.

Mom even sent me a text. She decided to continue on without me but she didn't like it. About 9am my time I get a text that says:

"Christmas shopping without you sucks!" I had to laugh because mom hardly ever cusses (at least not around her kids). And "sucks" isn't even that bad of a word. But I do agree - Christmas shopping without her will suck!

Also, I do LOVE decorating the house with Christmas decorations. I really can't remember a time when I didn't get excited about it. I would help dad get the 20 Christmas boxes down from the attic. And when I say 20 boxes - I mean it. We have tons of decorations. Dad and I would hang lights on the house, wreaths on the doors, display the yard art, and many other things. I love all of that - it really makes you get in the holiday spirit.

So I missed it. A lot. It just wasn't quite the same this year.

However, Nick and I did have a wonderful Thanksgiving. We thought about going to the parade but decided to sleep in and watch it on TV. We had a relaxing day for the most part. Well deserved.

We were invited by my friend and co-worker, Jenienne, to her apartment for Thanksgiving dinner. She was hosting this year. We felt so appreciated that she offered to have us over and be apart of the celebration.

We had a amazing time. We were so glad we went. Her apartment was AMAZING. Really - amazing. It was on the 33rd floor overlooking the Hudson River. It has spectacular views. Everything about the evening was great - the set-up, food, the people. Mac-n-cheese with bacon... TO DIE FOR! I think I might have to make that a new tradition for us! Her family was so welcoming and generous. We really felt apart of the evening and also felt we had gained a extended family. Definitely not a holiday to forget!


Lovely!


Hudson River and New Jersey!


The gracious host!

Today, I spent some time decorating our apartment for Christmas as well as some Christmas shopping! In our old apartment we had a 8ft. Christmas tree that was just gorgeous! Obviously, we couldn't bring that here so I bought a little 3ft. pre-lit tree. It's tiny. But it works. It now has a few Christmas presents underneath it to make it look even better!


Our Christmas tree lit up (kind of blurry though)


Presents!

Christmas shopping in the city is....well, it's just not my favorite thing. I have to be honest. I know most people love it but I'm just not one of them. I don't like to be cold and since you walk store to store - you are pretty much cold the ENTIRE time! Also, there are tons of people. TONS! Trying to walk down 5th Avenue was nearly impossible. I'm pretty patient and don't have the hurried, on-the-go New York way but I have to say I almost bit the head of a few people today. It was just too many people. I got off that street as soon as I could!

The holidays in the city is definitley a magical place to be. No question. Just try and avoid all the crowds. Which Nick and I will NOT be doing when we try to see the Christmas tree lit up on Tuesday at Rockefeller Center. We will attempt - not sure the timing will work with our work/school schedule but we would LOVE to be there (with the millions of other people)!

Yay for the start of the holidays!

Yeah, I Pretty Much Lied...

So in my last post, at the end of September, I started off by saying I would get better at posting on the blog. Meaning.... I would post more than once a month. Yep, I lied - that didn't quite happen seeing it's now the second week in November! No excuses - I didn't make the time to sit down and do it. But I will get better - it has become one of my missions.

Missions. I now have quite a few of those. Like... go the gym, eat better, and now write in the blog. I am making strides in the first two! It's not easy though - unhealthy food is all around us! The city has the online site called Seamless Web... basically we can order anything we want from about 200 restaurants that deliver to us. Amazingly awesome when we first moved here...now, still awesome but definitely unhealthy! Nick and I are gaining more self control everyday!

October was a really nice month. Nick's mom and sister came to visit - fun times! We did a lot of fun tourist things like walk the Brooklyn Bridge, Times Square, Statue of Liberty (from afar), walk around the Food Network Festival! Always great to have family in town!!


Us at the High Line Park before going to the Food Network Festival.


At the start of the event - it basically had a collection of different restaurants that offered a tasting of their menu and stores that offered different tastings of wines! Really fun!!


On the Brooklyn Bridge!

There was also Halloween! Definitely a time when the crazies come out in the city! We went to Club Touch. Yeah, the name says it all. Right in the middle of Times Square. You can imagine the people we saw and all the CRAZY costumes! I was a girl fighter jet pilot and Nick was Dirk Nowtizki from the Dallas Mavericks. He was originally suppose to be Sherlock Holmes but he HATED his costume. And I do have to agree it was awful! Just plain ugly! So with a Mavs jersey and a $5 blond wig - Dirk Nowtizki! Unfortunately, no pictures of this crazy night. Another mission - get better with taking photos!

The first weekend in November NYU held a charity ball at the Central Park Boathouse. Very exciting and I do love getting dressed up. And this was formal attire! Love! We had a really great time. There was tons of people, food, dancing, and open bar. What's not to like. Nick even got out on the dance floor with me. That's one thing that has changed - Nick has started to dance. Who knew he could?! He danced at the club on Halloween and here he was dancing again at the charity ball. Just. Amazing.

Charity Ball! Love getting dressed up!!

This weekend we did a little shopping for a long, warm winter coat for Nick. A must here. It's starting to get cold and apparently the week of Thanksgiving there is a chance for sleet/snow. Though, that's about 10 days away - usually the weather people aren't right!

This weekend experienced Shake Shack. Apparently they have some of the best burgers and shakes. Kind of a staple in the city. The place was in this really nice park. We walked into the park and the line was ridiculously LONG. I mean, crazy long. A good 30 minutes. We decided to wait and see what all the commotion was about. As we are waiting in this crazy long line two men come up behind us and stand in line.

Strangers: "Have you had this before."
Us: "No first time - I hope it's worth it."
Strangers: "Us too."
Then they turn to this guy sitting on a bench who is currently eating his burger and fries.
Strangers: "Hey, is it worth the wait? Is it the best burger?"
Bench Guy: "It's alright, I don't know what all the hype is about."

With that the two guys behind us wished us luck and went somewhere else. That's just what you want to hear when you are waiting in a 30 minute line - it's alright. Great. But we waited and I have to say it was a pretty darn good burger. It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed eating in the park!

LONG LINE! But worth it!

So I think I am pretty much caught up to date. I WILL get better at posting. The holidays have begun in the city and Nick and I plan on exploring all the activities!