Pictures of the New Place!

I posted quite a few more on facebook, but for anyone who hasn't seen yet, here's a peek at life in our new home! We just love it!

Welcome to the Neighborhood

After two months filled with moving and a lot of travel, we are finally settling down and we've had the opportunity to get to know our neighborhood! I've posted a map of the Manhattan neighborhoods (loosely defined) as a guide. I work at the UN - which is located in the "Midtown East" neighborhood. Nate works at Columbia University, which is located in the "Morningside Heights" neighborhood. So you can see our choice of picking Upper West Side was very strategic - it's in between our places of work! Nate takes a local train up 5 stops (72nd-116th) to Columbia, where I take the express train from 72nd to Times square (42nd street, NO STOPS) and then the Shuttle train across to Grand Central - arriving in Midtown East.

Beyond the location, which was ideal, the Upper West Side (UWS) is perfect for us in so many ways. It's a lively neighborhood and there are people out at all times of day. In the morning there's the work crowd, during the day there are some young families with kids out and about, in the evenings lots of couples like us walk the streets shopping, checking out restaurants, sitting on benches. We are located in the "heart" of the UWS at 72nd street and Broadway. The UWS stretches south past Lincoln Center into the mid 60s, and also stretches north to around the mid 80s. Its width covers from Riverside drive (which faces the Hudson River) up to Central Park. 72nd and Broadway is literally right in the middle - supported with a major subway stop where both the local AND express trains stop. Our apartment is at 71st and Broadway - literally across the street from the subway which makes commuting to work a breeze (in Brooklyn we were a 10 minute walk to the subway). We are also two long blocks (AKA, horizontal width blocks, not up and down vertical blocks) to Central Park. On nice days it's so easy for us to walk over to the park.


picture: a bridge in Central Park

We're also finding "our" places in the neighborhood. Right now our favorite sushi restaurant is Tenzan, which has the most unique rolls we've ever seen, including our favorite Green River Roll which has a jalapeno Mexican twist! Our favorite Italian is Pappardella, which showcases truly Italian recipes and a warm, cozy atmosphere. Both these restaurants are located along Columbus Avenue, which is the street between our apartment and Central Park (so one long block away). It has dozens and dozens of cute local restaurants - we are still finding the time and money to try them all!! We are also big fans of Harry's Burritos which is at 71st and Columbus. I'm starting to worry about the proximity to all the delicious food when we can't go out to eat every night!! Haha! Broadway and Amsterdam house banks, major stores (including Trader Joe's across the street - I couldn't be happier!). So we really have everything right where we are.


picture: Lincoln Center at night

We are a short walk from Lincoln Center, and we've been to one performance already of the New York Philharmonic. I'd also like to see the Ballet, Opera, and smaller jazz group performances. There's so much culture in our neighborhood, it seems like the possibilities are endless - which I know is the case in a city like New York City, but I'm finding it to be the case even in our neighborhood! Across from Lincoln Center is our favorite Mexican restaurant - Rosa Mexicano - which we've been to already a staggering 5 times! And we're going with friends visiting the city this month! Any excuse really... it has the best frozen pomegranate margaritas, made at your table fresh Guacamole, and Filete con Hongas - filet steak with mushrooms in a tequila cream sauce. YUM!

I can't wait to explore our neighborhood more. We already love it and we feel so at home! More soon on our beautiful apartment... stay tuned!

Top Five Friday: Movies

Today I got to thinking about my favorite movies... you know those great movies you can watch over and over? They may not be the world's best FILMS... but you find yourself watching them over and over again anyway? Thus I present my Friday top 5: films I can watch repeatedly without getting sick of them!!!

1. The Emperor's New Groove

By FAR the best disney movie (for adults) ever made. The innuendos, the sarcasm brought by David Spade and John Goodman's voices, their full acknowledgement that the plot is ridiculous, historically inaccurate, and logistically implausible. At only 90 minutes, it's the perfect movie for a rainy day when you're feeling down... it will be sure to get you laughing.



2. Mr. and Mrs. Smith

I have legitimately seen this movie over 20 times, and I still can't get enough of it. The banter between Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's characters reflects so many relationships and marriages - with the far fetched married assassins spin thrown in. Tons of action and never boring, this is the movie I turn to when I'm in the mood to laugh and watch things blow up!



3. Anchorman

This movie is so quotable - and brings back so many laughs from college - that it has to make this list. I never get sick of the jokes. They still manage to get me laughing (do we see a trend? all these movies are comedies). It's also a favorite for Nate and I to quote around the apartment "that really got out of hand fast" or "i love lamp". Perfection.

4. Mean Girls

This is my favorite movie to watch with my sister - really funny, great writing, the amazing Tina Fey... need I go on? "You're like really pretty" "Thank you!" "So you agree? You think you're really pretty?" I could go on... but nothing beats lounging around on a weeknight in pjs watching this movie with my little sister! We really can recite the entire thing :)



5. Sweet Home Alabama

This is a favorite to watch with my mom and sister... it's so funny and sweet. Plus I just love Reese Witherspoon!

Honorable mentions: Billy Madison and Monty Python and the Holy Grail. :)

Mallory's Wedding

What an AMAZING weekend. I traveled to Tallahassee, Florida for one of my best friends’ weddings. Mallory and I are sisters in Pi Beta Phi. We met in 2005 and instantly bonded, becoming roommates for my senior year. We had so many special memories and funny inside jokes! This is one of my favorite pictures - us tailgating before an FSU football game! :)

I arrived Thursday night – just in time to be called up on stage by Allyson, also a PiPhi and Mallory’s Maid of Honor, to serenade her with “Dixiland Delight.” Friday we woke up and celebrated with Mallory’s family at the Bridesmaids’ Luncheon. After that we did a little set up at the church and then were treated to manis and pedis at a Nail Bar, which is a new discovery for me – both a bar AND a salon. Sipping on chardonnay while getting a pedicure – not too shabby!



Friday night was the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner. Father Jeff, who married Mallory and Michael, was hilarious and kept everyone laughing and the rehearsal short! And Mallory and the bridesmaids accidentally coordinated outfits – Mallory wore white, Allyson wore green, Harper wore coral, and my dress had all 3 colors! The dinner was yummy! Italian restaurant called Mom and Dad’s.



Saturday morning we all slept in and then relaxed at the downstairs market. Then it was time to get ready! Mallory had all the bridesmaids in different dresses – same fabric and color, but different styles. So we also had unique hair styles. I went with a Rhianna side bun, Harper with a classic Carrie Underwood half up-half down, and Allyson with a Taylor Swift loose side bun.



Mallory looked AMAZING. Like a magazine bride, and no exaggeration at that! She had long blonde curls, natural makeup, and was super toned and tan in her gorgeous strapless gown. I was so honored to be a part of her day. It was classy and beautiful, and she and Michael are really perfect together. It was wonderful to be reunited with so many of my piphi friends too!



Nate had a great time too meeting all the piphis and being our unofficial photographer. He was a great sport about it (and a cute one at that). We had a wonderful weekend in Tallahassee, I was reminded of so many memories and special people I met there that helped shape me into the person I am today. I went into piphi nervous and curious about the girls that I would meet, if I would meet girls that would become life-long friends and sisters. Standing by Mallory’s side on her wedding day was all the more special, realizing how far we’d come and our year living in the piphi house together. I’m so happy for her and Michael and the life they are going to share together.

Memorial Day in Colorado

What an AMAZING trip to Colorado we had! We went to visit Nate’s sister Angie, her husband Ryan, and their baby Tanner who is 16 months old! They live just outside of Denver in a suburb called Parker. It’s beautiful, has incredible views, and is so close to a whole range of amazing outdoor places that we got to visit!

On our first day we drove to Idaho Springs and walked around a beautiful Lake. There was still snow on the ground and you could see the mountains! It was chilly but not too cold, but a little windy with the baby so we went to a brewery for lunch! Homemade pints of ale, piles of nachos, and Tanner entertaining us at lunch of course!



The second day Ryan had to work, so Angie, Nate and I headed to Colorado Springs with Tanner. There we walked through what is called “The Garden of the Gods” that has AMAZING views of Pikes Peak Mountain. The rocks are a bright orange red, I had never seen anything like them! They were absolutely amazing.



We had a picnic, then hiked while Tanner slept in his stroller. In contrast to Idaho Springs which was chilly, we actually got hot walking around Colorado Springs! We learned that the temperature in Colorado is highly variable and depending on your elevation, can be dramatically different. It was so picturesque, I could have stayed all day! Luckily though we got hot and drove through Sonics for some yummy slushies for our drive back to Parker. That evening we made pizzas in the backyard over the grill, the boys played horseshoes (Angie and I had happy hour) as we watched Callie (their dog) chase Tanner around the backyard (so adorable). At night we lit a fire, it was nice and cool with a breeze. Very relaxing and fun!

Monday was Memorial Day AND Angie’s Birthday. To celebrate we went to dinner at their favorite Mexican restaurant. But beforehand we managed a self-timed photo shoot and got a great picture of the five of us – including Tanner! It was an amazing trip and we were sad to go. We are constantly reminded of our blessings and our amazing families! We are so lucky.