Welcome 2013

New Year's Eve is finally here, in a year that has flown by more than any other I've experienced. Mr. V and I spending the evening with a few fabulous friends, sipping champagne and then heading out for dinner and drinks on the town. 

What a year it's been, and I can't wait for the upcoming one as well! Our wedding is only three and a half months away now, and we've been planning a lot over the past few weeks. Tonight will be a great celebration of an awesome few months and many more ahead of us. Happy New Year's!

Images via 100 Layer Cake. 

Merry Christmas!

Happy holidays, everyone! Mr. V and I are in the Virginia countryside with my parents, all curled up beside a roaring wood stove fire after a delicious home-cooked meal. It snowed a few inches on Christmas Eve, and we were lucky enough to enjoy to wake up to a powdery white Christmas today, which was beautiful. 

Santa was quite good to Mr. V and me this year, and we received some great goodies, including a down duvet to keep us nice and toasty this winter. I'm so grateful for all the events of 2012...We got engaged, we adopted the best kitten in the world, and we're always surrounding by our supportive, loving, and generous family and friends. This was the best year of my life, and there is so much to look forward to in 2013. I've spent this holiday remembering how lucky I am and enjoying this special time with family, and I hope you all are equally surrounded by loved ones and holiday cheer this season. 

Image via WeHeartIt.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I have always loved holidays, and as I get older they are even more special to me. I am truly thankful for my wonderful family and friends, the opportunity to live in the best city in the world, and to be embarking on an exciting new chapter in my amazing life with Mr. V. Not to mention my thankfulness for our adopted kitten Raja, the best addition to our family I could have ever imagined. 

Darkness has fallen upon Manhattan this evening, and the flickering candles in our apartment are creating the most beautiful warm light as the shadows dance across the walls. The chillier it gets outside, the more I relish in having a warm, delicious home-cooked meal and big glass of wine. Our table is set and the food is on the stove, and I can't wait to pull up my chair and enjoy tonight's meal with my family and dear friend. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

Image one via Once Wed; Image two via The Bitten Word; Image three via ZoomDecor. 

Four More Years | Obama Wins in 2012

Congrats, Barack & Michelle. Four more years in the White House!

The silence on my blog has been exacerbated by a few things, most notably the five cold, powerless nights Mr. V and I spent in our apartment after last week's hurricane. Particularly in the wake of last week's weather disaster and hardship, I'm proud of our country and the freedoms that have been upheld, and this election is an exciting and wonderful affirmation of a President I believe in and respect. New York is celebrating today!

Image from President Obama's twitter account. 

Birthday Brunching

Mr. V's birthday was this past Friday, and we celebrated on Sunday with friends over brunch at August in the West Village. It was a low-key and delicious way to ring in a new year for him, and we all really enjoyed it. He even got a candle with his french toast! 

The baked eggs with mozzarella were also delectable, and the Staub cocotte they came in had me dreaming of our wedding registry (cocottes are definitely making the list!). I'm so lucky to be marrying Mr. V,  the most handsome, kind, supportive man in the world. Happy birthday to my dear fiancé, and I can't wait for a lifetime of celebrations together!!

Images taken by me, with my iPhone. 

The Great White Pumpkin

I found this beautiful pumpkin at the farmer's market in Union Square on Monday. It was the only white one in the whole stand, and I just felt like it had my name on it. Raja is pretty smitten with my choice, and he's spent a lot of time cozying up with the new fall addition to our apartment. 

Funnily enough, after spending some time in one stall picking out veggies, I was told that I was actually standing in a movie set. Only in New York! Thank goodness the rest of the market was "real", and I found a fresh spaghetti squash that I baked and then sautéed with truffle oil, garlic, a bit of chili, and topped with local handmade cow's cheese...It was delicious, and the best way to celebrate the chilly fall weather in New York.

Image taken by me, with my iPhone. 

October's Arrival

The green has yet to disappear from the leaves outside my window, but the crisp, fall air has certainly settled into the city. When I walked out this morning, the cool breeze immediately enveloped my body, and it felt so good, as if the fresh season brought a certain calmness along with it. I adore this time of year, and now that October is here (and wow, it snuck up on me), I'm ready to unpack my sweaters and blankets and get the hot apple cider on the stove. 

 

I'm also itching to get to the Farmer's Market and pick up some autumnal blooms, and these two beautiful arrangements from Saipua are especially inspiring. I can't wait to start celebrating this new season, a true favorite of mine.

Images via Saipua.

Engaged Life

A photo booth snap of the future hubby and me at a wedding this past summer. 

Really looking forward to April! Six and a half months to go...