what a celebration...

I'm curled up on my couch, sipping on left-over, re-heated, mulled cider from Thanksgiving and reflecting on what a fun time it was. I got to spend some much-needed time with my mom. We were between the kitchen and various grocery stores for most of the time, but man, it was way easier to cook Thanksgiving dinner for 10 people with her help. Practice makes perfect I guess! Our dinner was lovely and so much fun.

Ma and me on Thanksgiving. (That's Jamie's new baby, Remi, that I'm holding!)

It was a great, great day. I feel thankful that I got to cook and invite friends to be a part of it all! 

We also celebrated Andrew and Jamie's birthday and had such an amazing dinner in the city, followed by drinks with friends. Andrew said it was the best birthday he's ever had. How awesome is that? 

My gift to him was a new record player and the start of what I'm sure will be a huge collection of vinyl. He was really surprised and is now "DJing" every minute that he's at home!

This is my new favorite photo of us. It was a really happy night with lots to celebrate!

And here's one of the birthday twins. Here's to a great new year!

Now it's almost Christmas and I'm along for the ride! I'm going to embrace the holiday-ness this year. Looking forward to getting out of the city and heading to the mountains, seeing family and spending time with friends. Then once it's over, I'll allow myself to have my "count down to spring" attitude.

More soon!

give thanks time...

To start, here's a photo from our little disposable camera that I finally got developed after our beach trip this summer. (That's Andrew in his element, too.) Love the colors.

Unbelievably, Thanksgiving is less than a week away! And I am so excited! I have always loved Thanksgiving, obviously because of the food, but the whole day is always so perfect. As a kid, I would wake up to the smells of turkey and stuffing wafting into my room and would head downstairs to the kitchen to see what I could snack on. My mom would always have the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade on TV, along with cheerful music playing, and cinnamon scented candles burning. Those smells... there is nothing like it. I would immediately start eating uncooked stuffing out of the giant silver bowl that it was mixed in. I have this weird and powerful addiction to stuffing. When stuffing is near, I really lose sight of reality. I would keep snacking until my mom would remind me that there were raw eggs in it and that I'd get sick if I kept eating. If you know me, you know that is the one thing that would stop me. At some point Johnny and I would take photos with the raw turkey. I am laughing just thinking about it. (I tried to make Andrew take photos with me and the turkey last year, but he didn't think it was as funny as I did.)

It's just such a low pressure holiday. Everyone is happy, hungry, and ready to be uncomfortably full (and then eat pie). I love that! Just accept it, people! You're going to eat like a pig and then eat more! One day a year, this simply must be okay. (Unless you're me and you eat like a pig for consecutive days until there isn't a leftover in sight.)

Andrew and I are hosting Thanksgiving at our apartment for the second time this year. It's really special to me to be able to do this. I just really love it. I'm not sure what else to say. But it is definitely tricky in New York. We have no dining room. We have no chairs. We have no space. You get it. But we make it work. And this year, my mom is coming! So all the magic will happen. Last year was delicious and fun, but a little rough around the edges. This year will be polished and perfect and look beautiful too! There's an attention to detail that my mom has that makes the good things great. I will take photos. I promise!

It's also almost Andrew's birthday! I love a reason to celebrate him, so obviously I'm excited for this too! I'm happy that Thanksgiving can be a little bit turkey and a little bit birthday party. He's so great and I'm so proud of him every single day. I'm so lucky to get to share my life with the best person I know. Andrew, happy birthday! You are amazing and I love you.

Another fun thing about Thanksgiving is that if it's Andrew's birthday, it's Jamie's birthday! Thanksgiving twins! Double turkey birthday party celebration! Jamie, happy birthday to you, you lovely lady! Great things are coming your way. (Everyone, I might have more news about Jamie soon! Hint: it could possibly be a baby cousin for Trinny! Another hint: She's not having an actual baby.)

All of this mixed up with family and friends coming to visit is definitely going to be a memorable few days! Right now, the count at our table is 13! I am picking up my 20 pound, free range, organic turkey that lived a very happy life on a farm in upstate NY tomorrow morning at 10 a.m.! So yes, I am excited. I will post photos of the whole ordeal. I am thankful for Thanksgiving, and all that it reminds me of, and all that it stands for, and all that it creates. Here's to tradition and new memories! Enjoy, everyone!

let's see...

The last week-ish of time has held a variety of things. Some work, some play, of course a few dog walks, then a long sleepless night with a sick doggy, a beer braised pork shoulder (I'm still working on cooking the right amount of food for 2 people, that thing was 4 pounds!), a ballet class, a lack of participation in Halloween (except for over-eating candy), a small gathering of friends at our place for pizza and beer, lots of love and energy to and from my family, a visit from my dad (I know!),  my lovely friend Jess, from college, is engaged, exciting! Sprinkle in coffee and wine, a sore throat and a hot toddy, and that kind of sums it up... I think.

I can't believe how fast time is passing. Halloween is over and we are less than 3 weeks away from Thanksgiving. How bizarre!? I'm still trying to hit my breaks from summer, seriously.  I'm looking forward to turkey day, of course. I think it's my favorite holiday. I'm hosting dinner at my apartment again this year. Last year Andrew and I cooked for 17 people! It was pretty ambitious, but we actually came out on top. I think this year may be a bit simpler. My mom is coming so that takes some pressure off, plus I'm thrilled to spend some time with her! Then comes Andrew's birthday! Then mine, then Christmas and New Year's Eve, then... yeah, sad, snowy, winter. BUT... the way time has been flying, I'm actually not that worried. I usually dread winter so much, but a few months is nothing. We'll get through. And the fact that Andrew and I are probably going to be able to join my dad, Johnny and Justine in Florida for a few days after Christmas definitely helps. I'm done wasting my time on nonsense, worrying about what people think, and putting myself on the back burner. No more of that! Clearer thought and intention, cleansing breath and following through. I'm ready for 2012, it's my year! (You're welcome for the pre-mature pep-talk.)

I'm not sure what else to say tonight. One of my downstairs neighbors is brewing beer- there's no mistaking the strong smell of steeping grains and boiling yeast- it's distracting me. Trinny is snoring loudly next to me on the couch. I'm going to put clean sheets on the bed and start a new book. I'll post photos from my dad's visit soon!

Don't forget to turn your clocks back!