Hi, hello! The last time I checked in, the end of November was fast-approaching. And mindfulness was the name of the game. For Thanksgiving, my husband and I hopped over to Dallas, Texas to visit my in-laws. We had a low-key Thanksgiving, which included exploring the greater Dallas area, Christmas shopping at the farmers market, and eating all of the homemade pulla and korvapuusti. Here are a few snapshots from our trip.
We’re now inching our way into the thick of December. Time flies, doesn’t it? I can’t believe Christmas is right around the corner. Whether the holiday season is a time of joy, stress, sadness, or a mix of the above, know that I’m right there with you. For many reasons, the holidays tend to bring out a messy mix of emotions in us. But this December, I’m committing myself to patience, gratitude, and self-acceptance — simply meeting myself where I’m at. I’m also committing myself to slowing down and savoring my hobbies. Because I’m not great at prioritizing them. From one workaholic to (possibly) another, let’s make more space for our hobbies, okay? So, in the spirit of carving out more time for the things I love — i.e. this corner of the web — I plan to blog more frequently. I suppose that’s another commitment I’m adding to my list. Cheers to more writing, more recipes, and more updates this year.
Anyway, let’s back up to Sunday. This past weekend, I jetted off to NYC to spend a few days with my wonderful CookIt Media teammates. If you’re new around here, I left my tech job in the fall of 2017. I started health coaching and freelance copywriting. In early 2018, I joined the CookIt team. Since then, there’s been no looking back. It’s a balancing act — health coaching, copywriting, and CookIt — but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
On Monday, our tiny (but mighty!) team gathered together for FY ‘19 planning. It was a productive, inspiring, and delicious couple of days in New York City. I’ve been to the city a few times before, but never during Christmas. If you live there — or have been to NYC in December — you know it’s a magical and energetic place. I love it so much. While I didn’t have much time to explore, here’s a brief recap of my trip to the Big Apple.
I landed Sunday afternoon, made my way to Midtown (we stayed at a Pod hotel), then walked until I found a Le Pain Quotidien. I ate a late lunch and wrapped up some freelance writing. Le Pain is a rather convenient, delish, and work-friendly spot. They’re all over the city, too. That evening, I traversed down to the West Village for dinner with a lovely friend of mine. Along the way, I passed Rockefeller Center, the NY Public Library, and Madison Square Park. It was misty and cold, and the streets were jam-packed, but I graciously embraced the hustle and bustle. The two of us met at Rosemary’s, a quaint and cozy restaurant with an Italian-inspired menu. We split an arugula salad and each ordered the pumpkin sage cavatelli. It was perfect. Rosemary’s was decorated for the holidays, and it exuded all sorts of hygge. It’s a gem. Oh, and by NYC standards, it’s very reasonably priced.
The following morning, Jackie and I took a SoulCycle class together, then we stopped by Remi Flower and Coffee. Oh, Remi. You’re my kind of place. Filled with beautiful plants, flaky pastries, vibrant matcha, and rich coffee, it’s my dream coffee shop. We spent the rest of the day working at WeWork, stopping mid-day for pizza at a food hall near 575 Lexington Ave. That evening, we grabbed drinks at 230 Fifth, a rooftop bar with igloos (yes, plastic igloos). Only in New York, right? 😉 For dinner, we ate at Mermaid Oyster Bar, an iconic seafood restaurant with everything from fresh oysters to lobster rolls, sashimi tacos, clam chowder, and seasonal salads. We ordered appetizers and entrees, each of us ending with a semi-sweet chocolate pudding. The food and ambiance were lovely.
Tuesday morning, we picked up bagels from Ess-a-Bagel. Life, changed. Do you remember that Chef’s Table episode were Christina Tosi noshes on a deliciously savory bagel? That’s the place. And their bagels are next level. I snuck a few in my bag on the way back to Denver. Duh. We worked until mid-day on Tuesday, then Jackie and I flew back to Colorado. It was a whirlwind of a trip! We all work remotely, so getting the chance to interact, face-to-face, is worth every minute of travel. And while there wasn’t time for the Rockettes, Central Park, Eataly, or any of these bakeries, I guess that just means I need to go back. Until next time, concrete jungle. Talk soon, friends.
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