country mouse

I love my job.  I have the best coworkers on the planet.  This morning, someone brought me a latte from 'wichcraft.  A few hours later, someone brought me a cafe con leche from Lena.  Someone else brought me a bagel with cream cheese.  Not to mention, the agency provides Dunkin Donuts every Friday morning.  I have not eaten a donut (yet) but I did drink both coffees and eat the entire bagel.  Iambouncingoffthewalls!


This might also be because I am going upstate this afternoon to spend the weekend at my parent's and I am so excited!  As much as I adore the city, I can really appreciate the country now.  It snowed a bit more up there than it did here so I can't wait to see how beautiful my parent's farm is going to look.  My dad sent me this picture last weekend and it brought me to tears with longing...

And I get to kiss this face

See ya Monday, NYC!  I'll miss you ;) 


**Update**

This book was actually in my parent's bathroom.  Makes NYC feel 90,000 miles away.

on Broadway

So pumped to see Memphis tonight!!!


I want to give a HUGE shout out and thank you to my coworker for all his help with this blog.  It means so much to me!


Also, found a decent lunch special at Guy & Gallard today.  Half a sami and a medium soup for less than $7 - can't really beat that!


Weather is crappy again today.  Managed to make it to the movies with friends last night though.  I'm seeing the show tonight, going to Iggy's tomorrow night, then heading to my parent's for the weekend after work on Friday so it is turning into quite a full little week.  Busy, happy, lucky little lady <3

singing in the rain

Coming into work this morning after 3 days off was not an easy task. 


Wind + snow + rain + umbrellas turning inside out + ICY sidewalks + delayed trains = 100% MISERY


Not to mention, this weather brings out the stupid in people.  I'm convinced.  (As I'm watching someone pull at the locked door marked "Please use revolving door".)


I had friends over this weekend, went to the gym, watched football, made tacos, slept until noon every day, and was supposed to go to The 13th Step but decided to be a bum and stay in.  I also skipped the usual brunch at Moonstruck and opted for tea and toast at home.  (Not that I didn't WANT to bury my face in a stack of pancakes and a pile of bacon...)

via adozeneggs.com

Not sure what I'm eating for lunch today but I have a feeling it will involve something being delivered to my desk.  I've had just about enough umbrella-stabbing-dodging for one day.

I WANT

the bacon wrapped figs from Pipa but we can't get a reso until Sunday!  So bummed.  Instead I think we'll try Boqueria - which doesn't take resos for small parties but has bacon wrapped dates on their menu!  Must compare! 


Wishing you bacon-wrapped joy on this frigid Friday night :)

via redwhiteandfood.blogspot.com

*Update*
Had a great time at Boqueria but unfortunately their dates couldn't hold a candle to Pipa's figs!  However, their croquetas cremosas where out of this world.  I mean, no joke, anything that tastes that good should be illegal.  We had to wait about a half hour for a table but it was 7:30 PM on a Friday night so that was to be expected.  Well worth the wait :)

The Cuban List

Just had the most AMAZING lunch from Tina's, thanks to one of my fave coworkers who had it delivered unexpectedly for me!  The roast pork sandwich (pernil) was perfect.  I will absolutely order from there again and have been recommending it to people in the agency since I took the first heavenly bite.  Here's a couple other Cuban places worth checking out:


Agozar - tres leches, tres leches, tres leches
Havana Central - whatever you get, order a batido as well
Calle Ocho - go for brunch (unlimited sangrias), but make a reso!


And if you find yourself in Montclair, NJ, you HAVE to go to Cuban Pete's!  Be prepared to wait though unless you make a reso.  BYO wine for their sangria choices.  You will be so happy you did.  Also, I could live off of their vaca frita.  And that is not an exaggeration.

polar bear

Braving the 20-something degree temps outside to do happy hour at Stout with coworkers.  (Technically Stout doesn't offer a happy hour and it can be a bit pricey, but the sweet potato fries are to die for, the beer list is huge, there's a free coat check, and the place is 3 floors, clean, and always hoppin'.  Also, if you love chicken pot pie, like I do, you'll love theirs.  However, if you are in the bar area(s), expect to be hit on by drunks who come in after the game at MSG.)


What's your fave happy hour joint??


If you're in the Herald Square area, which happens to be near my office, I would recommend Galway Hooker for their $4 happy hour, especially since The Ginger Man is always too packed and Slattery's isn't anything special - although, the one and only time I was there we all got a free shot with our first drink - not sure if that is a regular deal or not.  I also really like Legends.  They have a happy hour special (on Tue & Wed) and the food is pretty good too.

I WANT


The Meatball Shop for lunch.  But, I'm broke.  Add it to the To Do list!

via NYDailyNews.com

mouthiswatering

Have you noticed...

...more female cabbies than usual?  You go, girl! (?)


Honestly, I don't care who's behind the wheel as long as they get me home in one piece (or at least the same number of pieces I was in prior to getting in the cab - a.k.a, I uuusually only take a cab in extreme conditions: too drunk to walk, not sober enough to stay awake on the subway, way too much of a chance I'll end up in another bar or at a pizza place or a McDonald's, heels too high, too cold, too hot, feelin' rich).  Other than that I use the ever-loving crap out of my $89 $104 unlimited metrocard.


Taking cabs in the city has become something I really enjoy (when I remember the experience), and I hope that little, baby, tiny feeling of awesomeness associated with it doesn't go away any time soon.

The Burger List

Bacon & egg cheeseburger from STAND

With inspiration from one of my fave blogs I've been searching for the best burger for quite some time now.  Here are the places I would say to try if you said, "I could really go for a burger"...


STAND - saw it on Food Network, HAD to try it, GLAD I did
Shake Shack - #1, nothing compares yet in the city
Heartland Brewery - perfect every time
Burger Creations - love love love


On the To Do list:


5 Napkin Burger
Burger Joint
BLT BURGER
Corner Bistro


Wish these would open in NYC:


Bobby's Burger Palace - hands down, best burger I have ever had
Carl's Jr. - de-lishhh


Do you have any burgers to add to the List?  Comment, comment!

a year in new york

In 3 days I will have officially lived in the city for one year (bridge and tunnel girl prior to that).  It only seems fitting that this morning I was rocking a killer hangover from drinking too much on a Tuesday night with the girls.  As we danced in the snow and sang "Smooth Criminal" down E. 19th St. all I could do was smile.  I have the most amazing people in my life.  And I have made truly incredible friends here. 


Two pitchers of white wine sangria and consuming my weight in tapas at Pipa (followed by Petron shots at The Hill) only helped to solidify my feelings about my friends and about living in this city.  I am one lucky little lady. 


Here's to another year.


Oh, and if you try Pipa, which I HIGHLY recommend, do yourself a favor and get the Piggy Back Dates.  Phenomenal.

cookie tin

Some families have cookies jars but we had a cookie tin - a round, Christmas-themed cookie tin that we used every single day for well over a decade.  My mom would come home from grocery shopping and I would immediately fill the tin with all the new cookies.  Often times, an entire container of Oreos or two whole sleeves of Chips Ahoy wouldn't fit in the tin, despite my best re-arranging efforts.  Nights when the tin was empty would result in my dad grumbling under his breath and me adding Ovaltine to my already poured glass of whole milk.  (Now the only milk you'll find in my parent's fridge is low fat and organic - not that I'm complaining.)  Sometime when I was in college, I think, the cookie tin disappeared.  Oh sure, there are always cookies in the pantry, way more and way better than when I was growing up, but they never make it from their original containers to a tin.  I have no idea what happened to that Christmas cookie tin, and I wonder if my parents would have any clue if I ever asked them.  I don't know why I found myself thinking about that tin this morning, but it gave me inspiration to start this blog.


Everyone has their own cookie tin story.  A place that they've come from.  Somewhere they miss.  I struggle every day with making a home out of NYC...  

So thanks, cookie tin.  I think I miss you.  (And I blame you for my unhealthy obsession with Christmas.)

Hi, blog. I give you the gift of life.

"There is something in the New York air that makes sleep useless. Perhaps it is that the heart beats faster here than elsewhere." - Simone de Beauvoir, from America Day by Day