Canal Street

Sometimes I forget how fun this city is! The other day we went down to Canal St to bargain hunt. I walked into a place that had perfume everywhere. I've been wanting to try Chance and Gucci Guilty, so I asked for them both. They of course have them and offer me some crazy price (still cheaper than the real price). I smell the Guilty to confirm that's what I like and they won't let me smell the Chance, so it's out. I start bargaining with them and eventually get over 50% off what they offered me. For me, it's all about the game-over 50% I win, under they win. At this point, I give in and pay the agreed upon amount, get my prewrapped box and head out. Like a kid in a candy store, I open it immediately when I get home to try it out. When I am opening the box here is what I find

 A few scratches on the top, no big deal

Oops, the back panel fell off in my hands. I had to laugh, guess it was worth the money I spent on it!! Actually, still smells good-but have to imagine it's been tampered with a bit!! I'm still happy because now I have the perfume and I didn't pay an arm and a leg for it. Thanks Canal St

The Kimberly

Happy Hour is a must here. Doesn't matter what you do, where you live or what type of drink you prefer-there is a happy hour for you. Some places have good deals, some have good drinks and the Kimberly Hotel (http://www.kimberlyhotel.com) has great views. As it has warmed up here a bit, we decided to head out and take advantage.

We started in the daylight hours and watched the sky change. The views were pretty good. The weather was gorgeous, only problem was we didn't wear our suits. We walked in (dressed up in nice jeans, jewelry, cute shoes/top) and immediately knew we were out of place. The hotel is in midtown and I am sure every single banker type comes here after work-in their suits!! Oh well, live and learn.

 Same view, day and night.

 Found this one other guy in jeans, had to take a pic

 David, mike and I

This car sits right out front. Pretty cool!

Definitely worth the attempt to see it, but probably won't be going back without appropriate attire! At least the drinks were fun...

Houston

A fews weeks ago, I went back to Houston to see Bryan for the first time since I left in July. It was just as I remembered and maybe better. The city is really fun and so special since this is where B has created his life. He had a lunch date with some of his new friends planned, a date night and running tracks for us-since he knew I was training. Can't verbalize how fun it was to be back in the normalcy of the south, in a car for transportation and mostly hanging out with my best buddy in the whole world like we used to. Almost can't wait until August when we are back in the same city for good.

I kissed this little man goodbye and headed south. (That's fancy face, loving it!)

It was so warm in Houston. These are numbers I haven't seen in months. I literally ran in shorts, had brunch on a patio in shorts, basked in the sun the entire trip and came home to 32 degrees...

Here's pics from date night, we went to Eddie V's. It was fun to get dressed up and be fancy with B, don't always get to do things like this when we only have a little time each weekend together.

 Could not get enough of this bread (think really the butter, which had salt, chives and paprika on it)

 My steak...I don't eat much red meat here, so this was a fabulous treat. It was one of the best steaks I've eaten in my life. It was perfectly cooked and HUGE! Luckily, I shared a little with Bryan. He had the red fish and said it was good.

 Our dessert was banana's foster. Oh my, this made for the perfect cap to the night! It, similar to my steak, was one of the best I've ever eaten. We had actually planned to go to another place for dessert that his friends had recommended, but after we saw this-there was no need. It was fabulous!

To work off all the calories we consumed, we spent some quality time on the trails at Herman Park (http://www.hermannpark.org/). This place is super neat. They have a golf course, a zoo, a local train that kids ride on, water features and ponds for paddleboating, running trails for all levels, gorgeous views and people from every walk of life enjoying all it has to offer. Here's a pic of the trails we ran on

Totally worth checking out if you are ever in Houston. This was a great weekend for us, almost too good. I have to admit, being away from home is getting harder. Miss you all.

Favorites

This week (a few behind) is pink grapefruit perrier

This is such a treat compared to regular, old, tap water. I think it also helps me keep up with the no coke thing I started at the beginning of the year. Special thanks to B for introducing me again!

Katie B

Most of you guys know Kate, but those that don't. She is my inspiration for this year. I met her in OK while she was doing some training and a year away from her hubs. Many days I think that she made it through her year, I can too and I keep trucking along.

She has become one of my very best friends, despite the distance between us. So, when she mentioned she was interested in a weekend trip here, I took her up on it. As we planned all this we knew she would be/was pregnant. So the last weekend in Feb, she came to visit (btw, she is due in May). What an amazing, selfless, giving friend! She brought Jackson a gift, even though she was the one traveling here, spending the money. I'm really blessed with my friendships in life!

Our weekend together was great. Half of the time we spent exploring and half the time we spent talking. Kate is one of those people I can never get enough of her wisdom and positive outlook on life. So fun!

In keeping with my food blog theme, here are a few restaurants we caught along the way. I was actually worried with her pregnancy that food options would be challenging, although here it was not a problem. Recette (http://recettenyc.com/) is a cute little place (I mean little, 15 tables max and they had to move them out for me and Kate's little preggo belly was almost too much).

We shared the onion soup with ox tail, spaghetti and beef tenderlion

Our dessert...Smores

Brunch at Balthazar!! This is a must when coming here, the people watching alone makes it perfect. But, the breakfast food tops it off. Kate had the French Toast with warm berries that I can only pray I can replicate for my husband one day!! Love this NYC staple

And while I was at work, Kate when out to Greenwich to visit a friend. In Grand Central, there is a Magnolia Bakery and of course, she had to stop and bring us home treats. I am now absolutely in love with their lemon bars. I normally prefer chocolate over everything, but here the lemon wins. Found their recipe in another blog (http://www.cannellevanille.com/2008/01/lemons.html), but thought it was worth re-posting!

Lemon Bars from the Magnolia Bakery Cookbook

Makes half a sheetpan

For the crust:

1 lb butter, room temperature
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp lemon zest
4 cups all purpose flour

In a mixer, cream butter and powdered sugar with paddle attachment. Add salt, lemon zest and the flour. Mix only until combined and crumbly.

Spread soft dough onto the sheetpan, going up the sides and flattening it as much as possible. I use a sheet of parchment on top and the bottom of my measuring cup.

Refrigerate the dough for about half an hour.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes until golden.

For the filling:

3 cups sugar
9 eggs
1 1/2 cups fresh lemon juice
9 tsp lemon zest (about 7-8 lemons)

In a bowl, whisk eggs with sugar. Add zest and juice. Whisk until combined.

Pour the custard into the baked crust, return to the oven and bake at 325 for another 25-30 minutes until the custard is set.

Thanks Kate for coming and making for a great weekend! Love my buddies.

Back home

After a weekend in NC, I came home to a great treat. Becky was here for a couple classes, so we got a full President's day off to enjoy the city. Started with brunch at Sarabeth's. Then we shopped all around Soho, found a few shops in the lower east, tried a museum, but it was closed on Mondays, ate a bit along the way

 We found this rice bar/restaurant in the East Village. We tried the ginger lemonade, so different and actually pretty tastey.

These pics are hard to see because of the dark, but this is Mercer Kitchen. A communal table type place by Jean Gorges. Love his food!

North Carolina

My brother in law and soon to be sister in law live here. So, Bryan and I planned a weekend getaway to go visit them! What a fun weekend we had. It is so neat to see the connection between the two boys, they are scarily similar in so many ways. Carlyn and I have so much fun comparing notes. After weekends like this, you always appreciate the value of family and I wish they lived closer!!

This is the first place we went-a local brewing company with a ton of micro brews. Should have known this night that we'd been in for a fun-filled, drinking, basketball watching, shopping, art gallery perusing weekend! Maybe it's better they live a few states away!! Cannot wait for their wedding in June, lookout Mexico!