NYC Week 3

In some ways it feels like we have been here forever, and in some I still feel like I am going back to Georgia to my house and my job!  We had a fun week, we are trying to get out as much as we can and explore while we are living in the city.

On Tuesday it was a very rainy day.  I met David for lunch and then went down to Salvation Army.  I signed up to volunteer at their after school program to help kids with their homework.  I am just waiting on them to finish the background check and check references.

Wednesday I finished something I have been working on since 2005.  David and I went to Disney World right before he moved to the U.S. and I started a scrapbook when we lived in Ohio...and yes, I did JUST finish it - procrastination at its finest!  That evening, we went for a long walk on the upper west side and came home to watch the debate.   I enjoyed looking at the apartment building across from us to see how many people I could spot who were also watching the debate - probably a little more interesting to me than the actual debate;)

On Thursday, I wandered around and explored.  David came home early to watch Liverpool (loose!) and then we went for a LONG walk to the London Candy Company on the upper east side.  We live on WEST 56th St. and the store was on the EAST on 96th street...it was so humid, we both looked like we had just gotten out of the shower when we arrived!  AND, we walked out of their with 3 little bags of chips, 4 candy bars and a small bag of chocolates for $27!!!  On our way home, we saw Anderson Cooper coming out of the grocery store and getting into his car.

Friday was another beautiful day, I went shopping and walked through Central Park.  Friday night we walked down to a restaurant we had been to before, A Salt and Battery.  We got fish and chips, but they were just ok, nothing too great.  Then, we walked over to see David Blaine and his high voltage stunt, but it hadn't started yet, so we didn't see much.

Saturday was another humid day, along with another long walk to Harlem.  On our way up, we wen tthrough Central Park.  It was so crowded!  We walked up to the restuarant that was used in Seinfeld.  It is a little diner, with typical diner food.  That evening we went to a waffle truck for dessert that I have been wanting to try, we got waffles topped with chocolate and cream.

One of the things that blows my mind is how expensive it is to do laundry here.  Sunday morning we did laundry, it is $3.25 to wash and another $3.25 to dry!!  We had a lazy day on Sunday, it has gotten cold here now (in the 50s), so we walked to Dylan's Candy Bar for a sugar fix and then watched the Redskins at our new favorite bar, the guy now recognizes us and didn't charge us for all our drinks.

Yesterday I went out with the realtor in Hoboken.  As fun as it is to live in NYC, Hoboken is defintely more our speed, slower, quieter, and only a 12 minute train ride from NYC.  I didn't see any apartments that I loved, and realized we have way too much stuff, we but I am going out again with him at the end of the week.  Last night we walked to Bryant Park in our sweats (we laugh because we say we are back to our Ohio Wal-Mart attire) and had a beer outside.

NYC - Week 2

Monday was a quiet day, the weather again was beautiful.  On Tuesday, I went to a taping of Anderson Cooper Live with a friend.  We had a great time!  We were seated in the second row center of the audience seating.  Before we got told we weren't allowed to take pictures, I snuck in a few.  The guests were Carol Burnett, Vicki Lawrence, Tim Conway, Meg Ryan, America Ferrara, Olivia Wilde and Gabrielle Union.  Anderson Cooper seems like a geninuely nice guy.

On Wednesday I ventured out to Macy's......it was so crowded that it makes it difficult to shop!  We took a walk that night to Whole Foods and came home to relax.  Thursday was probably one of my laziest days here so far...I did laundry, and that's about all I can think to write about for Thursday (kind of pathetic, I know).

Friday was a rainy day.  David took the day off which was nice.  We went to the British store and stocked up on crisps (chips) and lots of chocolate.  Aftewards, we went to Chelsea Market, just a cool place with shops and little food stores.  Friday night we went to eat at one of the most popular food vendors here, The Halal Guys.  The food was good, and they give HUGE portions for only $6.  We didn't even finish half the portions were so big.  We went around 7:00 and there was a line of about 40 people.

On our walk back from dinner, we saw the filming of a Lenoardo DiCaprio movie.

On Saturday we watched Liverpool (and they won, which meant David would be happy, which meant my day would be better:)).  Then, we went to the lottery for Book of Mormon.  We didn't win tickets, so we headed to the lottery for Peter and the Star Catchers.  David won tickets for that show, only $27/ticket!  The show started out very weird, but then got better and better.

Sunday was another hot and humid day.  We took a long walk along the East River, saw the United Nations and then walked down to Gray's Papayas, a famous hot dog shop that has been in a lot of movies.  The hot dogs were good, but nothing I think I would ever make a special trip for again.  Sunday evening we went to a bar to watch the Redskins play...and win!!  We ended the day with our favorite $0.99 slice of pizza.

Monday was a warm day, just in time for the weather to turn very, VERY wet on Tuesday.  Oh and David got a new car to fit in in NYC!! ;)

NYC - Week One

Monday, September 24th marks the one week anniversary of us moving to New York (I know we technically got here Sunday, but we were still in a hotel that night, so I am not counting it:))

We checked in to our apartment on Monday, on the 40th floor!!!  So, we went from a view of backyard to this.

Here is a picture of our apartment building.

The view looking straight down from our balcony......it makes your legs shake!!

The week consisted of getting our car shipped safely to NYC and getting some things delivered to our  temporary housing.  It is amazing how you figure out where to put stuff in such small spaces!!

On Saturday we took a long walk (9.25 miles to be exact!) down to Battery Park.  The weather was beautiful!  When we got there, we may or may not have rewarded ourselves with a cold drink:)

On Sunday, we took another long walk, but this time up the West side and back down through Central Park. After that, I took on driving in New York City!  We drove up to Harlem to Costco, and I must say it was much easier than I had imagined.  My method is staying in the middle lane to avoid the cabs pulling over and pulling out from the curbs, oh and I actually use my turn signal, unlike all the other drivers in the city.  Sunday night we ate a fantastic Indian place, it is right around the block from us.  Monday was another beautiful day.  

Here are a few of our observations so far:

• There are ALWAYS people out and about in this city.
• No matter where you go, it is crowded.
• Shopping at Whole Foods is as stressful as driving here.
• No matter how cool it is outside, you are HOT by the time you get to wherever you are going from so much walking.
• It is cheaper to eat out or get carry out than it is to buy groceries.

Atlanta to Chicago to New York

On Tuesday, September 12th the packers came to pack up our house.  Then, Wednesday, September 13th the movers came to get everything.  Wednesday was my last day at work, which was very bittersweet, and I was sad to say goodbye, but my kids were so sweet.  Many of them wrote very nice letters and some brought in cookies and cake for a goodbye party.  Wednesday night we stayed in a hotel in Buckhead, Thursday we closd on our house - which thankfully went smoothly, Thursday night we stayed near the Atlanta airport, and Friday we flew to Chicago for a wedding.

                            Our last dinner at Welton Place - Pizza and Champagne

We went to Chicago for my second cousin's wedding.  On Friday we met up with Bryan for lunch.

Then, we took a boat ride with my parents.  For dinner, we had deep dish pizza, it was sooo good!!!

On Saturday, we went to the wedding, which was beautiful.  The weather was unbelievable nad we had a great time!

On Sunday it was a one way ticket to New York City!!!!

When we arrived, we made it just in time to get to a bar to watch the Redskins loose:(

Recently.....

We have started packing, selling things, and selling more things.  A couple weekends ago though, we went to Holeman and Finch, a restaurant we have been wanting to go to since we moved here.  They are very well known for their burgers, and every Friday night starting at 10:00 they make 25 burgers, when they are sold out, they are gone.  But, on Sunday mornings, they have an unlimited amount during brunch.  So, David's friend Paul was in town for work and we went on Sunday morning.  It was so crowded that there was an hour and a half wait (even at 1:00pm on a Sunday!!), so we ate at the bar.  The burgers did not disappoint, I have to say hands down it was one of the best burgers I have ever had!!!  I am just bummed I didn't get a picture of it!



Since we are moving, we have been trying to eat and drink EVERYTHING in our house.  In 2010 while we were at my parent's house for Christmas, we bought a bottle of sparkling beer at Troegs Brewery.  It has been in our fridge since then while we waited for a special occasion.  We finally decided to drink it last Saturday night, it was good, but not worth an almost 2 year wait!



Last night my friends at work had a happy hour for me.  They brought a cake and made me a frame with pictures of me at school...it turned out really well. 

This week is a busy one - Tuesday the packers come, Wednesday the moving truck comes, Thursday we close on hour house, Friday we fly to Chicago for the weekend, Saturday a wedding in Chicago, and Sunday a one way ticket to New York City!!!!!

Oh, and my parents were in Columbus, Ohio for a wedding last weekend, they went by our old house...it doesn't look like much has changed.

American Girl....

Yes, I act like a kid sometimes, and yes, my friends and I took our American Girl dolls to the American Girl store for dinner tonight.  We had a great time!  When we bought our dolls, they didn't even have stores, we bought them for a catalog!!!  Now they have stores where you can take your doll to eat and get their hair done. 

Our dolls sat in booster seats at the table with us.  It was adorable, they gave us menus for our dolls, and little tea cups!

One Car Family

As of about 6:45 on Saturday night we became a one car family!!  We sold our car to Carmax, and while we probably could have gotten a little more money selling it privately, it was easier to sell it to them.  We were in and out within 20 minutes.  It was great!  Here are a few pictures of David with the car...after all....it was his first car!  We bought it from my sister, and now it is officially not part of the family anymore.