An Abundance

So much to be thankful for this year, it's almost
hard to put it all into words but I'll try.

I am so thankful for..

*My husband. He deserves something fancy for being
so supportive throughout this pregnancy.
I can't wait to see him as a Dad, he is going to be great.
We've got a lot of new adventures on the horizon

*This apartment- though I always call it our house- that
we were so lucky to find 6 years ago.  Now we are
creating a space for a little peanut to live with us.
And in NYC having the room to grow is a VERY
luxurious thing.

*Being able to travel. We soaked in the geothermal
pools of Iceland last January, and I was able to visit
dear friends in Albuquerque in March. We spent some
family time at the Jersey shore, and our anniversary out
in Montauk.  I cannot wait to bring this baby on adventures
with us and also to drop him at Gaga and Chief's for a
vacation of his own!

*A beautiful support system.  I was reminded last night of
how fortunate we are to have such amazing family and friends
near and far.  I don't know what I would do without them.

*So thankful for a healthy body, that is able to grow a tiny human.
And to have a very calming mother and mother-in-law that make
this process a bit easier to deal with.

*For this new job that I really truly love.

*For all of the little pleasures and creature comforts that I indulge in
and appreciate.  Mugs of hot chocolate, changes in seasons, shopping at
the greenmarket, eating biscuits every Sunday, being able to look out my
kitchen window and see a variety of animals, bedtime, Costanzo's Night Out,
living in NYC, huge bowls of ramen noodles, making art, hiding out at the Met,
fat pugs, good wine, and well made cappuccinos. Just to name a few.


Wishing everyone a very wonderful and delicious Thanksgiving <3

Latest Obsessions

*The Artist is Present documentary
Filmed while Marina Abramovic was putting together
her show for the Moma, it is incredibly moving.
Really shines a light on how disconnected our technology
makes us, and it shouldn't shock anyone but I cried a few times
throughout the film. Thinking back I know I went to the Moma
while she was there but I was so focused on seeing
the William Kentridge exhibit that I didn't check out anything else.
(streaming on Netflix right now)

*Fall Foliage
I took a walk through Central Park last Wednesday because the colors
on the trees were so enticing- I wanted to be a part of it.

It was so enchanting. It also helped that the park
was pretty empty that day, so I felt like I had a
whole forest to myself.


*Jacques Torres Hot Chocolate
I used to watch Jacques Torres on TV when he
had his show on PBS, he would make these epic chocolate
sculptures or candies and make it seem so simple-
you truly believed you could do it at home. Anyway,
one of his shops is about a half a block away from work
so I've been indulging in a lot of hot chocolates as the
temperature begins to drop. His is definitely the best
on the UWS.

*Getting the House Ready for Bébé
Our studio is kind of in shambles right now,
we'll be moving out the big ikea storage unit
(which is for sale if anyone wants it)
and making the room half art studio half baby room.
Is our apartment big enough for 3? not really.
Will we make it work? Yes.

*Fighting off the Christmas Spirit
I'm really not OK with the fact that you get
bombarded with Christmas ads and decor starting
on Halloween. To me, the Christmas season begins
the day after Thanksgiving and goes until New Year's Day.
That said I've been dying to watch White Christmas, decorate our house,
bake cookies, and plan our holiday party.
I actually feel mildly prepared for the holidays this year
so maybe that is why I'm so excited.
Only 12 more days to go until I can freely indulge in the
Christmas Spirit!

*Bob's Burgers
The husband and I have been watching this constantly.
There are very few shows that make us laugh as hard.
Tina Belcher is my spirit animal.

Prep Time

One of my favorite things is getting the holiday issues of
my magazines (Living and Bon Appetit), it sounds dorky
but I just love getting inspiration for gifts, food, decorations-
just everything.

Living came today and it's got all kinds of good things in there.
Especially all the party recipes! It's always exciting to add some
new things to the party spread.

I'm pretty sure I have this goal every year-BUT I plan to be
super prepared this time around. I want to have my gifts ready to go,
the cards printed, and cookie game plan all ready by December 1st.

My homemade projects are:
Beeswax candles
Peppermint Scrub
Vanilla extract
Notebooks
Ornaments
Peanut Butter Cups
Holiday cards

What are you working on??

So Much

I've been trying to write blog posts for weeks now.
There is so much going on it's hard to even put it all into words.

The husband and I celebrated our 2nd Anniversary 2 weeks ago. Our wedding
still feels like yesterday! I love this man more than I thought possible, and the
love continues to grow.  There's so much more I could say about this but that's
between the two of us.

I'm 5 1/2 months pregnant now,  I'm halfway there.  The little man has been
dancing up a storm (possibly an early sign that my fantasy of him being the
next Mikhail Baryshnikov or Fred Astaire will come true??)
Been back and forth with feeling overwhelmed by the whole thing, mostly
on the emotional front.  Creating life is mind blowing and so is carrying it
around inside of you. The occasional realization that the husband and I are
actually going to be someone's parents is a lot to take in.  On the flip side
there is the majority of the time that I feel completely OK with
all of these things. But like all gigantic life changes fear and doubt
creep in now and again.

The holidays are rapidly approaching and I'm excited for them.
I'm so ready to make our house cozy and festive and to spend
as much time with family and friends as possible.  There is something
magical about this time of year, I love the building momentum at work
and the planning of gifts, cards and decor at home.

Latest Obsessions

*Cranberries are back!
I'm such a dork at the market, when new seasonal things
start to show up my face lights up with excitement. I doubt
that many people get as excited over cranberries as I do.
I love seasonal produce and I don't care who knows it!!
These cranberries are destined for a pie.

*Binging on Horror 
It's October, the only time of the year when the husband will
agree to watch scary movies. So we are doing our usual
horror movie marathon, and throwing in a few shows as well.
Also in the mix (obviously) are my favorite old-school Halloween
cartoons/movies that are more of the fluffy sort, Grinch Night,
Hocus Pocus, Practical Magic, etc.

*Biscuits
I've been trying to perfect my biscuit game for years, and it has
finally happened. Each batch in the last few months has been fluffy,
flaky, and ideally crisped on top and bottom. The summer was strictly
buttermilk, but for the fall I've mixed it up with sweet potato.
I should clarify that even though through facebook and instagram
it may seem like all of my baking and cooking endeavors go very well
it's only because I choose to leave out my horrible failures.
Which is why I am always extra proud of the things that turn out perfectly
because it doesn't always happen, but that is the grand adventure of the kitchen.

*The Glorious Second Trimester
Ladies weren't lyin' when they said it would get easier in the 2nd.
I finally feel like my normal self (albeit with a small bump in my midsection).
My energy is back, I can actually focus on projects  & cooking, and I can actually
stay up until midnight. Small victories.


* "And above all,  watch with glittering eyes the whole world 
around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden 
in the most unlikely places. Those who don't believe in magic 
will never find it." -Roald Dahl

Mantra

I started a book of mantras for myself,
something that I can read, recite, and believe in.
It acts as a lighthouse would for a ship stuck in a storm,
calling it back and guiding it to safety.

The nice thing about writing mantras for yourself is that they
can be anything.  Most of them start with "You will" or You are"
and just restate things you know to be true but can easily forget about.
They can be as epic as you want them to be which, for me, makes
them even more empowering.

Pregnancy truly puts you through tests of strength. Physical, emotional, spiritual..
It's intense.  I know that mantras aren't for everyone but they work for me.
And really, that's all you need to find. Things that work for you.

A Sour Sweet Wind Blows In

There is something magical about the transition
of summer into autumn.
The peaches and tomatoes slowly turn
to apples and pumpkins.
The air becomes crisp and light,
and our internal clocks begin to reset as
the sun sets earlier and earlier.
Richer smells of cinnamon spiced desserts
and hearty roasted dinners begin to fill the house.

I'm ready to decorate for Halloween,
 cozy up on the couch with scary movies,
eat these pumpkin brownies I just baked,
and welcome in a new season.