...when you're having fun

Well…looks like I took an unplanned sabbatical from blogging. Sorry to all my avid followers (aka Grandma Binny) for being MIA for so long…did ya miss me? That's all right if you didn’t; I do this blog mostly for me anyway!! And I’m back at it!

Today is a big day. For most of you that big day is Hump Day…yep, you are 2 days away from the weekend. Congrats! But for my significant other, and me well, we’ve been married one year--which, if you ask me is a bigger deal than hump day…sorry, we win! But hooooooly cow! 1 year?! How did that happen! To quote my insta post, “you know what they say…time flies when you are having the time of your life happily married to and completely in love with the best guy in the world! Well, that's what I say at least!”

In one year, I got married, moved to New York, fell in love with Scarsdale, only had a husband on the weekends, adventured on the East Coast, moved back to Utah, got a husband 7 days a week, and found myself more in love with him each and every day. For you hopeless romantics, cue the sigh. For you mooshaphobes, sorry, but it's true! Being married is the best. I highly recommend it.

Here are a few of my favorite photos from the year…

Welp, one year. I guess that makes us old fogies now!  

Bring it on year number two! 

in case you were wondering...

I’m alive!!!!!!!!!

Oh. You weren’t wondering?

Well you probably should have been because this girl just made her first drive to the JFK airport, and barely made it back safely. Whew! This journey--notorious for its crazy traffic, ominous roads, hard to read signs, and chaos in general—trumps all driving experiences (in a bad way) I’ve had in NY thus far and I would be glad if I never had to make the drive over. Well, maybe I’d consider doing it again so long as it wasn't pitch black and dumping rain like it was this time around. Not a good combo.

That being said, before the drive I was an innocent little Utah girl afraid to use the horn. After the drive I can proudly and aggressively say I honked. 3 times! So maybe it was a success after all—I officially feel like a New Yorker.

If you were wondering whom I took to the airport, well, I had the sad misfortune of saying goodbye to my cute husband. He is off to Europe on his first business trip...

I think his mom would agree with me when I say this little boy is growing up too fast! 

Good luck Rob, i'm rooting for you :) 

It's Christmas Time in the City

The song “Silver Bells” pretty much nails NYC in December. That being said, if I might be so bold I would like to make a few changes to the current lyrics we all know and love….

City Sidewalks, busy Sidewalks,

Dressed in holiday style

In the air there’s a feeling:

It’s freezing

Children shivering, people pushing,

Meeting shove after shove

And on every street you’ll see

(chorus) 

Camera lights,

Trinket stands,

It’s tourist season in the city

Silver bells

I don't hear bells

Just honk after honk after honk

Strings of streetlights, even stoplights,

Blink of bright red and green

As the shoppers drain out their life savings

See the crowds bunch

Feel your toes crunch

As they get trampled on

While you wait in long line after line

(chorus)

There’s the tree

Yes THE tree!

Hurry, take a picture for all to see.

Still listening

For that ring-a-ling

Maybe those bells don’t exist!!

Okay okay, I think its safe to say I’m no lyricist. And while my version of the song may seem a bit pessimistic, let me clarify: The city really is great at Christmas time! I just had to add what the christmas songs don't tell you :)

Anyway. We had a fun outing on Saturday where we got to see the twinkling lights and busy street corners for ourselves. And yes, it was crowded and freezing but boy was it worth it just to get a glimpse of the ever-famous Rockefeller tree. I highly recommend a New York City outing during the Christmas season.

A few pics from the day…

Gotta love the Holidays!!

Here Comes the Bride

When I was little, I absolutely loved flying. On a plane, that is. I loved the butterflies I got in my stomach as we drove to the airport—excited for whatever trip lay ahead. I adored carrying a backpack full of treats and games to keep me occupied for the duration of the flight. Security was exciting…after all, what kid doesn't like taking off their shoes? I treasured being responsible for my boarding pass, aka the golden ticket to take me on my next adventure. And I loved knowing I would never have to sit by a stranger, as my parents would arrange seating as such. The legroom was in abundance (not hard when your feet don't touch the ground), and mmmm those airline pretzels were divine. But wait, the airline dream doesn't end there. What about the landing? I remember crossing my fingers hoping we had a bad pilot so that I might experience the free-fall-lose-your-stomach-feeling that comes as a plane makes a horrible landing. Oh the joys of being a kid!!

My views of travel are drastically different these days. In fact I think it is safe to say I loathe traveling via plane. But, last week Rob and I were lucky enough to be able to go to Utah for our sister’s wedding and as such a plane was unavoidable.  Naturally, the journey from NY to Utah was anything but simple. 1 train ride, 2 subway trips, 2 air-train excursions, 1 plane ride, and 10.5 hours later, we finally made it to our destination. Sigh. Typing this makes me tired all over again! Luckily, this time, I didn't cross my fingers for a bad pilot and the landing was relatively smooth :)

It was SO GOOD to be home. Gasp! The mountains!!! They are truly glorious. And how about all that space on the roads? I could swerve all over the place and still remain in my chosen lane. Amazing!! I think it is safe to say I missed Utah. Anyway, it was a whirlwind of a trip—we fit bowling, two thanksgiving dinners, two trips to the temple, a family dinner on The Roof (incredible view by the way), a stroll around city creek, a night at the Grand America, a wedding, a luncheon, a reception, good conversation and a whole lot of hugs, all into 3 and a half days. Whew! We blinked and suddenly we were back in our little apartment in Scarsdale. That saying always proves to be true—“time flies when you are having fun”.

Before I overload you with pictures, I just want to say congratulations to Marcus and Elisa Hoskins!! I am so happy they found each other and I am even more happy I am related to them :) They are truly a dynamic duo!

So without further ado, a few pictures from the weekend:

Trip to Utah...check. 

Okay okay I know I already posted lots of pictures but i just have to show a few more, because guess what? I finally got my wedding pictures back! Here is just a peek at them...

Saving the rest (or at least some of them) for a future post.

And this concludes yet another loooooooooong entry.