Central Park Rowboats

There are some tourist attractions in New York that are totally worth it. Renting a rowboat in Central Park is one of them. $15 enables you to enjoy a self-guided tour of Central Park Lake. Rentals depart from the Loeb Boathouse and provide up-close and personal views of popular park attractions such as Bethesda Fountain (top) and the Bow Bridge, as well as plenty of wildlife (we noticed several sun-bathing turtles!). It also offers fantastic views of iconic NYC landmark, The San Remo (home to famous residents such as Steve Martin, Bono, Tiger Woods, Steven Spielberg, Dustin Hoffman, Bruce Willis, Glenn Close and Rita Hayworth, to name a few).

Tiho did the majority of the rowing (chivalry ain't dead!) while I manned the camera. On the way back to the dock, we sat together in the center of the boat and each took an oar. The hardest part was maintaining the same rhythm, though once we accomplished that, we wondered why we hadn't attempted joint-rowing the entire time.

Whether you're local or a visitor, definitely add this one to your list. Make an afternoon of it with brunch (we headed to Sarabeth's on Central Park South).

P.S. Another view of The San Remo, Sailing the Hudson, and our Brooklyn Bridge wedding kiss.

Kaitlin & George

When George first reached out asking if I was interested in capturing his surprise proposal to his longtime girlfriend, Kaitlin, I was pumped! We all attended Fordham University together as undergrads: I hadn't seen either of them in years.

Coordinating the timing and plan of the actual proposal was complicated, as we risked the chance of Kaitlin recognizing me beforehand. George and I exchanged several emails back and forth plotting and scheming about how the day would unfold at the Botanical Gardens in the Bronx. In the end, everything went off without a hitch thanks to the help of iphone tracking apps, detailed maps, and sneaky text messages.

The above photos were taken after he proposed. We spent about twenty minutes snapping a few unofficial "engagement shots." The photo below depicts her expression right after he popped the question. A favorite for sure--pure emotion right there.

Congratulations again, Kaitlin & George! Wishing you two a lifetime of happiness.

Sailing the Hudson

On Saturday night, in celebration of our first wedding anniversary, we hopped aboard the Schooner Adirondack for a sunset sail along the Hudson River.

To say it was romantic would be an understatement: between the complimentary champagne/wine/beer, the wind wipping our hair, cuddling under a cozy wool blanket when the sun dipped below the horizon, and watching the city skyline sparkle from the water, we were utterly blissed out.

After the sail, we strolled along the highline and discussed the merits of raising children in the city before eating greasy vendor food and hot chocolate on the steps of the gigantic 34th street post office.

All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable evening commemorating our first year of marriage.

Scenes From (A Wedding) Weekend

We just returned from a whirlwind weekend away making merriment at the wedding of our beloved friends, Emily & Alex. I didn't take any photos aside from the two above on my phone: I was too busy having the most delicious fun dancing, crying, laughing, eating and drinking. The north shore of Massachusetts is pretty spectacular in early summer, but throw in the irresistible charm characterizing two incredible people and their celebration of marriage, and the place is downright dazzling.

We're Engaged!

I'll share the whole proposal story once we return to the U.S., but I couldn't wait that long to tell all of you. I feel like singing it from the rooftops! He asked me in the gardens at Versailles with a diamond so sparkly it makes rainbows in the sunlight.

I didn't think I could be any more in love with him, but somehow, impossibly, I am.

Ten-Minute Picnic

On Saturday, the temperature rose above fifty degrees, so we spontaneously decided to pack a basket full of munchies and venture out for an afternoon picnic in the park. I am a very enthusiastic picnic-goer, and in this case, an overzealous one, too. Just as we got all cozy and comfortable on the grass, a storm cloud settled directly above us, completely blocking out the sun. Needless to say, we wolfed down our food and booked it home, where we huddled under a blanket and broke out dessert. That first photo shows the ominous cloud moving in. The other three were snapped within a five-minute period preceding it.

Despite its ill-timed appearance, I really do like the rain. It helps the earth come back to life again, as evidenced by the above.

(all photos via my iPhone)

Surprise "French" Picnic

Allow me to gush today, friends. After last night, I can't help myself. Tiho and I celebrated Valentine's day yesterday (the 15th) because I had night class on the 14th.

This is what I arrived home to after work:

An indoor picnic on our bedroom floor, complete with a blanket, candlelight, rose petals, a basket containing a baguette, assorted cheeses, olives, crackers, stuffed mushrooms (my favorite!) and a bottle of wine. Oh, and romantic french background music and a vase of long-stemmed red roses.

I was speechless. And so touched. But then, that's who Tiho is. He just gets it. And me.

I love you, T. Thank you for this romance, today and every day.

Can't Resist

I mean, can you?  I think this might be my favorite heart ever. 

Can someone please convince Tiho (and our landlord) that adopting a kitten is necessary to my general well-being? I'm not kidding.


(image)

Scenes From The Weekend

 

(grilled cheese squares for lunch)

 

 (one of many silly drawings I sketched this weekend)

 (magazine & peppermint tea = requisite lounging materials)

 (late night trawling of the internet at the newly set up desk space in the living room)

(pretty colored pencils)

 

 ($3 salt & pepper shakers bought Friday after work. I already own two very nice salt & pepper shakers, but apparently, I have hoarding issues)

 (admiring the calendar every time I walk into the kitchen. I like that I love my calendar)

 (impromptu breakfast picnic on our bedroom floor, courtesy of Tiho running out to the local bakery before I woke up and surprising me with a "just-the-way-I-like-it" bagel)

Whew. I was Hyper with a capital H in my last post. I've calmed down a bit after a relaxing weekend at home.

On Friday night, we met up with friends for dinner & drinks and then (finally!) saw Black Swan. (loved). After our indoor picnic on Saturday morning, I puttered around the house all morning doing random things. I tried to make homemade caramel sauce and burned my finger. It really hurt! In the process of hopping from the stove to the sink, I knocked over a bottle of vanilla extract--spilling it everywhere--and then, while tending to my injury, proceeded to burn the batch of caramel. oops.  After a second, half-assed attempt with one hand in a bowl of ice water, I gave up. I'll try again next weekend. Any tips? I had no idea caramel was so testy.

I felt momentarily bummed out by the lack of caramel brownie crumbs on my tongue, so I took out my colored pencils and spent almost the entire afternoon and evening drawing. I haven't done that in a long time and it felt really fantastic. I am not an illustrator: I've just always enjoyed doodling and making little stories. I'll share some of the weekend's sketches in an upcoming post (a french school girl theme emerged, not sure why). Before hitting the hay on Saturday night, I watched the Miss America pageant and felt really old when I realized that the newly crowned Miss America was born in 1993.

Sunday involved lots of reading and an afternoon run to the park. It wasn't horribly cold, but the icy patches and slushy sidewalks sure made for an amusing experience. Mac n' cheese, football playoffs (rip Patriots) & the Golden Globes capped off the weekend.

I have the day off today because of this man. I was going to write a small tribute but then decided I still like what I posted last year in honor of him. Check it out if you like :)

Happy Monday, pretties!

Just Because

On my way home from work last night, I spontaneously stopped by our neighborhood sweets shoppe and picked up two cupcakes. I arrived home to find dinner on the table and a grinning Tiho offering the following greeting: "My beautiful girl is home. Life is amazing." We popped the cork on a bottle of cabernet and toasted, simply, to "us." Just Because.

My heart feels lightest when it's full.

Weekend Blinks + Sickling

Hello again. Care to partake in the ogling of some lovely weekend blinks (blog links)?

 The colors match my blog. Yup, I notice these things. via Pretty Stuff

This room is so pretty (love the painted heart, but that's not too surprising), spotted on Greige

This happy image via Clock and Bell

Delightful handkerchief pillows from Blue Eye Brown Eye etsy shop, discovered on A Room Somewhere

Loving this girl's simple style, red lips and fiery hair spotted on Cup of Jo

It's true. (via Design Crush)

"How to spend a rainy day" collage, via the impossibly talented Jane of Lox Papers

Beautiful wedding invitations from a serious stunner of a wedding, via La Petite Coquin

Who wants to have a cozy dinner party in this setting? That would be me! spotted on High Street Market

This book was just added to my amazon wish list, thanks to Frolic

 A sweet vintage junkyard engagement shoot spotted on Ruffled

 This DIY chalkboard painted globe looks like a fun project, via Design*Sponge

 Hmm, can I ask our landlord to demolish our staircase and put in something like this instead? (From Courtney Wotherspoon's home, spotted on Style Files)

Happy 1st of October! (whaaa?) I've been really under the weather the past few days and am a bit bummed about being sick because we're leaving early Saturday morning to spend the weekend upstate (in Ithaca, NY) to see my beautiful sister in a production of Electra. I was looking forward to enjoying an entire weekend full of fall festivities, but it's looking like I'll be spending most of mine sleeping in the hotel room. Not losing all my faith though, so here's to hoping for a speedy recovery.

Enjoy your weekend, and stay healthy!