Just Run

Yesterday I was doing the loop in Central Park and was shocked at what amazing runners I saw there! The loop is funny because most people you see on one side, you see again when they loop. It's great people watching, epic really. On the run yesterday, I saw 3 things that amazed me! First, I saw a blind man working out with a cane. He was in the running lane even! Next, I saw a three legged dog running with his master. He looked like a champ! Finally, a man with one arm ran by in his running group. It made me stop and think about my internal whining and wanting to stop and walk. How could I when the three legged dog was kicking my tail? How inspiring these runners are to us everyday ones!

I wanted to share this quote too. It makes you realize just how important and nonjudgmental it is to tie up those laces and just...

How to Execute a Perfect Beach Day

How to Execute a Perfect Beach Day

 Since moving to NYC, I have discovered the joy of going to the beach. Amarillo has crappy beaches. I didn't even realize the true beach culture I was missing out on.
 This weekend all the stars aligned for an 80 degree day and a rugby game at Rockaway. So, after an hour and a half on the subway/bus, we arrived at my favorite beach, Fort Tildon! Pat reffed, I laid in the sun and felt the cool breeze of the ocean, both of us doing our favorite things.
For me, there are several key beach necessities to complete the experience. And by that I mean mostly snacks.
-hummus with blue corn chips
-watermelon or grapes
-gummy bears
-seltzer
-audible book, it's hard to read lying down
-sheet to spread out
-towel, sunscreen, blah blah
You can't fail with this list! All clutch, ESP the gummies.
What do you like to bring to the beach?

my new bike

Gabrielle Hamilton

Four Days of Fun!

     I have been having quite a treat of a week here in NYC! It started last Saturday with a trip to the Broadway show, Book of Mormon. I had pretty much given up on seeing this play because the tickets are outrageous. Somehow the box office lady took pity on me and sold me 2 of the $69 tickets that had limited leg room. Sure, Pat and I were a little scrunched but we still got to see it. The play is as good as people say. Very funny, extremely clever, incredibly irreverent, and all around wonderful. We laughed the whole time! 

     On Sunday, I got to pick out a new bike for my birthday! Pat gave me it for my birthday! It is a beautiful pearl cruiser complete with basket, bell, and bottle holder. I am in heaven and look forward to biking around with Pat! 

     My birthday was Monday and those are always fabulous when you spend your days with 6 year old munchkies. I had an adult celebration that night complete with a tequila shot birthday cake and great friends. So blessed!

     The four days of fun culminated on Tuesday. In the afternoon, I got to see one of my favorite writers and chefs, Gabrielle Hamilton. She wrote this fabulous memoir called, "Blood, Bones, & Butter," and she owns a wonderful restaurant on the Lower East Side called Prune. Tuesday night, I took a trip to Le Bernadine to celebrate Claire's graduation from Columbia! If you aren't familiar with this food mecca, it's one of NY's most famous French seafood restaurants. Some of the beautiful food shots are included because I am a food dork. It was an incredible meal! I am do thankful to Claire's parents for treating me to a place I would never be able to eat at on my teacher's salary. 

     I knew my four days were up when I was snapped back into reality on Wednesday morning while sitting in jury duty. Brought me right back down! So grateful for all the experiences I had this week. 

mini-desserts 

red snapper with smoked paprika & chorizo sauce

Pat :)

Smorgasburg

I traveled to Brooklyn this weekend with my cousin, Sarah and her husband, Eric, and everyone's friend, Megan. I don't go to Brooklyn much, it's kind of intimidating with all those hipsters running around. I feel I need a trip to Urban Outfitters to even step foot off the train. However, a legendary food fair was calling my name. I had to go.
A friend at church told me about Smorgasburg. It's a large food hotspot for local Brooklyn restaurants, food carts, and food producers. They had everything from hamburgers to kimchi hotdogs to English toffee. There are loads of samples of foods to buy and hot foods to taste. It was fairly inexpensive too! Here is what I tried:
-A gordita (corn fried roll stuffed with barbacoa, radishes, hot sauce, cabbage, and cream)
-A few bites of a homemade pretzel
-A few bites of a giant ice cream sandwich with salted caramel ice cream between 2 delicious sugar cookies
-A bite of a s'more with homemade mallows and graham crackers
-2 waters (healthiest choice)
-1 mini cheesecake bite topped with strawberry balsamic jam
To say I was in heaven is a vast understatement. Also, to top that off, Smorgasburg sits on the edge of the East river with a terrific view of Manhattan. If you are free on a Saturday in NYC, please take a trip. You and your taste buds won't be sorry!
http://www.brooklynflea.com/smorgasburg/

A Plethora of Papers

On the subway in the morning there are free newspapers, the "AM NY" and the "Metro." They have a little news, celebrity gossip, crosswords, horoscopes, and lots of advertisements. Not great, but they are free and entertaining. Each stop has a person passing out these papers, some more aggressively than others. I have a man at my station now that is literally shoving that in my face quite rudely each morning. I am about to have a "Come to Jesus meeting" with him.
However persistent he is, I can't take another paper. I already have 3 facing me each morning. I have two first graders that bring me a paper each day. They strut in proudly with their delivery. It makes me smile and affirms my notion that first graders should run the world with their cheerful dispositions. And lately I have been taking one from this sweet man at my exit station. He is so positive, tells everyone to have a blessed day, and works very hard. The past two days he has given me a little wave. I think I am becoming a regular! :)
The sad part is that I don't read the papers. None of them. I read "New York Post" on my iPhone and watch the "Today Show" for my news. But, it's the thought that counts. Thank goodness for recycling!

Berserk for Brioche

Finally, after a rather harrowing month of March, I am on Spring Break! What a glorious holiday it has been with lots of naps, shopping, and an exquisite visit from the parents... and I still have a week left. Thank God for the French!! I apologize for my lack of writing lately. I hope to remedy that in the coming months.

A few weeks back, Pat & I took a bread baking class as Le Pan Quotidian in Soho. It was glorious! Three hours in a gorgeous bakery spent mixing, kneading, patting, and braiding bread. Each of us made 2 challah loaves, brioche rolls, and cinnamon rolls (my favorite). We were tired bakers by the end!

This is not bread for dieters mind you. Both breads have an almost even ratio of fat to flour, making them delicious you see. The brioche, a French bread, is made with butter, eggs, and flour. Again, the French bless us all. Challah (pronounced hall-uh, like the rap song) is a Jewish braided bread that is made with oil, eggs, and flour. This keeps it Kosher because there is no mixing of animals, i.e. the butter and eggs.

Braiding the bread was very fun. Pat had a little harder time, his hair was never long enough as a child. The dough was so rich that I came out of there with a natural moisturizing treatment on my hands. After 2 hours of working with the dough, watching it proof, and rolling cinnamon rolls, all the bread went into a marvelous oven. It came out twenty minutes later where we quickly plopped the steaming creations into paper bags and off we went. I am surprised there weren't people lined up outside because it smelled like heaven! I ate the yummy, rich bread the whole way home on the subway.

Thanks for a wonderful Valentine's present, Pat! I had a blast baking bread!

Famous Phrases

A few weeks ago, a fabulously funny and shockingly accurate video about New Yorkers surfaced and exploded on Facebook. Just go ahead and watch it, so you understand the post. Click here:

I have probably seen this video ten times and find myself laughing each time. I have heard someone say each and everyone of those lines, except "Oooh it's Pat Kiernen," which my boyfriend and I googled. He is a news anchor, but I didn't know him. I only watch the Today Show, I am a very loyal fan. Sans Pat Kiernen, on any given day, one can hear those lines being said over and over on the street. Other personal favorites of mine are:

"This place is huuge!" (The best compliment any NYer can receive about their matchbox size apts)

"I hate this place---ooh I love this place." (Very common feeling, it's a love-hate relationship at times.)

"All I have had to eat today is a bagel." (Wish that was more true of my life. I heart NY bagels. The secret is in the water. If you come visit, the bagel is on me.)

"I read that in the [Times, New Yorker, Time Out]." (Have to be legit about your news source. However, I do read the New York Post everyday. It's a fabulous source for news!)

"I want a dog. Oh, but it wouldn't be fair." (Essentially my trademark phrase. I want a dachshund pup so very badly. However, the fairness factor and the five story walk-up usually squash that dream quickly.)

Enjoy this silly video. It always gives me a good laugh. :)