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.

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. 

Late Summer Musings

As August winds down and Labor Day weekend begins, I've found myself clinging to the last bits of summer. Thinking back to May 12, when Mr. V and I got engaged, it feels like minutes have gone by, much less three and a half months. This has been the best summer I can remember, but it was also a whirlwind...

Since the end of May, I've been to Berlin, Martha's Vineyard, Milan, Torino, Vermont, Virginia, and Florida. We've celebrated several friends' weddings (Mr. V has been to ten ceremonies since January; I made it to eight of those). Mr. V and I have also been working hard to plan our own wedding, which is seven and a half months away and feels like it's just around the corner. Additionally, we recently adopted a sweet kitten that we just adore. With all of these wonderful summer memories and experiences tumbling around in my mind, it feels hard to let go of the season. However, today's weather finally ignited a small yearning in me for fall. The air felt warm, yet crisp, and the light streamed through the trees, illuminating a few yellowing leaves, just as in this beautiful image of a farm's garden. It has left me exited for a new season and a fresh start, and I'm going into the long weekend feeling ready for the change. Have a happy final few days of summer!

Image via Modern Hepburn. 

Welcome Baby Raja!

I'm happy to announce that Mr. V and I have a new addition to our family - a sweet kitten that we have named Raja!

We brought him home this past Sunday night, and he's already enjoying his new city view. My Mom rescued Raja on July 1 after he showed up on her porch at only a few weeks old, and she and my Dad lovingly cared for him ever since. We think he was born in mid-April, and at around four months old Raja is happy and thriving! His full name is Maharaja James, a little nod to Lebron James, one of Mr. V's favorite athletes. Maharaja means great Indian king, and it's a name I had always wanted to give our first kitten. Lebron's nickname is King James, hence it's the perfect moniker for our little guy. And fittingly, he is the total king of the castle already! I'm loving every single second with this baby...There is nothing better than soft tummy rubs, early morning kitten kisses, vigorous play sessions, and lots of cuddle sessions. We're so lucky to have him in our lives!

Image taken by me, with my iPhone.

Independence Weekend

Happy (belated) Fourth of July! I hope everyone is enjoying a fantastic long weekend, hopefully relaxing in your red, white, and blue finest and avoiding the heatwave gripping the east coast. 

I spent July 4 in Milan, where I traveled for a three-day work trip this week. I flew back from Italy on Friday morning, and Mr. V met me in Virginia. We're spending the rest of the weekend here visiting my parents - and our new adorable kitten! We're adopting the sweetest little grey tabby that showed up on my parent's back porch last week...He's a real charmer, and I'm already in love. Happy weekend!

Image on via Note to Self; Image two via Paul Costello.