October

Hello there and Happy October! Well lets see what's new? My day job has turned to a night job, I have undergone an extremely difficult life change (losing my pup Maya to cancer last week) and Im feeling major transitions ahead. The onset of fall feels ripe with the first day October, and so what better time to get reacquainted with my blog? I am itching for a major redesign, to make posting and reading a lil more user friendly so stay tuned for that.

This morning I had a lovely brunch with my pal Leah followed by a quick dash through the local farmers market to get soup provisions. Then right when I get home I see that my mom has posted about this October Unporcessed food challenge. Given the handy dandy timing, I'd say Im poised and ready to participate. Anyone out there done it? It doesn't seem too off base with my daily diet but given my newfound candy addiction, I might have to make a few small sacrifices..

Woman's best friend: a tribute

(The one chair he wasn't allowed on)

On Thursday my boy dog lost his battle with heart disease. I can still remember the day I brought him home, it was love at first sight. We were only supposed to get one dog but we ended up with a brother and sister pair because I couldn't bear to part with this sweet guy with his oversized head and kind eyes. The feeling was mutual, he curled up in my lap and fell asleep, ensuring that I wouldn't go anywhere. From that moment on, I knew I was a goner and would do anything and everything I could to have him by my side. There were times he really tried my patience, he loved ransacking the kitchen to steal a forbidden snack, or going through the bathroom trash for Q-tips and destroyed many a roll of toilet paper in his time. We used to say that his favorite past time was "fuckin with stuff." But without fail, whenever I returned home he would be at the door: a bone in his mouth and a wagging tail. His name was Ender but he went by many names: Friender, Papa, Chinaman, Fred, and many more. He was a great  couch cuddler and loved to curl up in the sun with his sister.  As anyone who has ever lost a dog can surely understand, it is like losing a member of your family. I spent 8 years of my life with him and couldn't have hoped for a better sidekick or more loving companion. He will surely be missed.

NYC

 

Last Tuesday I celebrated 4 years going strong with the love of my life, New York City. My friend Kate and I thought it would be fun if all us transplants celebrated the day we moved here by doing something in NYC we have never done before. Unfortunately it being a Tuesday, and with little notice I only managed to cobble together a dinner out with my pal Erin at my Freeman's sister place, Peels. It qualified because I had not been there, and then we followed that in the grand tradition of getting turned down by a speak easy and the trekking to midtown to hit up PJ Clarke's, which felt appropriately New Yorky. I realized the main mistake we made was not going to the all important third location. My theory is that 3 places is always the makings for a fun night in NYC, but its something you can't really force.

Either way, it didn't need to be a big celebration because being here is enough (even though sometimes it seems like I'm making it happen by the skin of my teeth.) Its a city that is easy to love, forever changing, inspiring, putting new things in your path, new characters on your subway ride, and new people in your circle of friends. It gets tough at times, but I am so grateful I made the decision 4 years ago to risk life in the big city. Now do I get a diploma or something?!

Little Bittle

Yesterday was a gorgeous day here in NYC. It was one of those crisp fall days where you can wear a scarf but aren't ever cold and the sun sparkles all along the east river. I celebrated it with a bike ride and a leisurely brunch (I even got to try out some elements from my fall look) followed with reading the latest Martha Stewart on my roof deck. The pups came along and celebrated the fresh air by chasing each other around incessantly. For years my girl dog has had the nickname, "bit bit" or when she is being particularly cute: "little bittle". My roof has so much graffiti that coincidently she found a similar phrase, so she sat for a portrait. Love it.

Dogs

This is probably the best music video ever made. I love the dog that barks at the end. Aren't dogs just amazing?! I'm a teensy bit obsessed with them in general, and find that I smile and wave at dog passers by way more often than human ones.

Ok Go video from my friend Elise, and some photos via Design Crush (the last ones are my very own pooches, couldn't resist)