A night out at Mesa Grill!

Though I cook most nights during the week, the thought of whipping up a huge dinner on my weekends has not been very appealing to me lately. Despite the fact that the weekends are when I have the most time, it's so easy to step out of my door and have a great meal at one of the many restaurants NYC has to offer. My cousin Mary Eileen and boyfriend Nick spent Saturday having a fun dinner at Mesa Grill in the East Village. As many know, Bobby Flay is the owner and executive chef! I happen to adore Bobby Flay and watch him constantly on the Food Network. The staff was so friendly and helpful as we gazed at the menu forever. There were just too many wonderful options! The three of us all seemed to chose a seafood dish. They were simple, but in such a creative way. 

There are so many culinary options in Manhattan that it sometimes makes my head spin. I tend to stay away from the pricey restaurants because most of them are overrated. Restaurant Week in NYC is a great time to experience the best restaurants in NYC for a prix-fixe menu totally around $35. You can chose an appetizer, entree and dessert at places that would otherwise be way out of my price range. Restaurant week occurs usually in the months of January and June. If you are in NYC during the next Restaurant Week, I would definitely recommend visiting a fancy restaurant that you would never have thought you could afford...for only$35! You're friends will never know! 

RUN with me...

(me running around the reservoir in central park)

I consider myself to be in pretty good physical shape, but the one thing that has always scared (and intimidated) me is running. In middle school, I was the girl who finished the annual "mile run" dead last in her class. So it's really no wonder that I mentally convinced myself that becoming a runner was just not in the cards. I really thought I could not do it. What was wrong with me?! I am trying to change that way of thinking because -in reality- you can do anything you set your mind to. ANYTHING! My boyfriend Nick has been an avid runner since college and has done nothing but push and encourage me since the moment I told him I wanted to run. On a few occasions, we have even gone running together, but I have never gotten past 1.58 miles (the distance of one lap around the Jackie Onassis Reservoir in Central Park). Tonight, I fought through my usual after-work fatigue and went to my local gym on 86th St and Lexington Ave. I was able to run a solid 3 miles! I was so proud of myself and could not wait to rush home and tell Nick. Walking home I was glowing (and sweating) with excitement! Though I really had to mentally push myself, I couldn't believe I actually did it! Now to some of you, running 3 miles may not seem like that big of an accomplishment. But to me, IT HUGE! 

Exploring Chelsea...

(about to head to Chelsea)

My love affair with Manhattan is still in full swing. Just when I think I have seen all of the different nooks and crannies this city has, I discover new places and experiences. Recently, Nick and I have had more free time since another of his exams have come and gone. We took advantage of this time by walking around Chelsea (my mom joined us too!), a very chic and artsy area in NYC. It's known for fabulous brownstones and world-reknown art galleries. Since we live on the Upper East Side, we had to take our 6 subway train to 51st and transfer to the E subway train to get to Chelsea, which is on the west side. Among the places we went to, we visited Chelsea Market (home of the Food Network offices) and the High Line (a garden path that hangs above the streets between 20th and 14th St along 10th ave). Needless to say, we had an amazing few days just seeing the most we could of the neighborhood! I would definitely recommend this area to anyone who appreciates eclectic and charming atmospheres. 

(Chelsea Market has such great vendors, from a french Creperie to all-natural popsicle stand made with fresh fruit!)

(walking the High Line)

Pilates Perfect!

{free to be jacket } wearing this brightens my day! it's versatile enough to go from gym to street & it's so soft and cozy too. 

{groove pant*r} i can wear these pants all day. the way they conform to my body makes them such a necessary piece for me.

{my iphone} while doing intense cardio, i can't workout with anything other than my "cardio blast" playlist.

{manduka equa towel} i can lay this towel over my yoga mat for both comfort and cleanliness. 

{simply stainless bottle} nothing is more important to me than staying hydrated with h2o throughout my workout.

{luna bar "nuts over chocolate"} it gives me a boost of energy to work hard when i feel lethargic after work...plus it's delish!

{run swiftly razorback tank} pretty much the ultimate gym tank. 

Tonight was my first Pilates class of the week. My new found love for Pilates has taken a hold of my life--in a good way! It has turned into a great stress reliever and helps wash away the stress of the day. Pilates is a relatively new fitness method that places a large emphasis on controlling your core muscles and keeping your body balanced through the alignment of your spine. Pilates heightens your awareness of every breath you take through concentration and flow. At first, I was very intimidated by the Pilates class offered at my local New York Sports Club. But I decided to just go ahead and try it. I loved it! Since then, I have been hooked. I have been pretty good about going at least twice a week {schedule permitting}. 

No matter who and where you are in New York City, fashion always plays some part of your day-to-day life. For me, there is no better way for me to feel comfortable, motivated yet stylish than by wearing anything from Lululemon. Though their individual pieces are expensive, the quality is superior to most athletic brands. The clothes move so well during my workouts, especially during Pilates. 

my may goals

Wow. It has been over a month since my last blog post! There has been so much happening lately that it seems the month of April completely passed me by. Professionally, I have been staying busy and working hard as always, for which I am incredibly thankful. But aside from that, I have been busy setting goals for myself in every facet of my life--ones that I hope to accomplish before the summer is over.

June 1st will mark the completion of my first full year living on the Upper East Side of New York City {& living with Nick}. It's incredible how many personal changes have come in these twelve months. I have developed a confidence that I didn't think I would find. New York women walk with a sophistication and elegance that only this city can give you. Living in the city means something different to everyone, but to me it means strength. I can do so much in one day because I have access to anything--whether it be food, fashion or culture. Don't get me wrong, there are days when I feel overwhelmed and stressed with crowded sidewalks, delayed subway trains and unexpected rainstorms. But I am always quick to stop, reflect and give thanks for having this amazing opportunity that I have. This time in my life is so precious to me and I appreciate every bit of it.

Now back to my goals...

After graduating from Fordham University, I was uncertain about which direction I was headed. Law school seemed like the path to embark upon, so I applied, got wait-listed and ultimately rejected in a matter of a few short months. That period of my life was such an emotional roller coaster of anxiety, sadness and a little relief. As the old adage goes: "everything happens for a reason". In my heart, I truly believe I would not have been happy with my life had I gone down that road. I can recognize that today. It has taken my current job in the healthcare field and the support of my loving boyfriend to help me realize that my passion lies in nutrition and dietetics. Going down this path never seemed like a tangible option for me until now. I love working with people and helping to change their lives for the better. It's such a cheesy way to describe it, but I believe this quote by Donald Trump says it better than I could: "Ultimately, if you're not doing what you love, you're not going to be fulfilled. Sure, to make money, you have to be tough, you have to have some smarts and a little luck would help, but the bottom line is: You have to love what you do". This is truly the path that God meant for me to take. Clarity is a beautiful thing, so all I can do is be thankful and make him proud. 

Summer Goals of 2010: 

Study for the GRE: 

I scheduled my Graduate Record Exam for August, giving myself just the right amount of time to formulate and stick to a rigorous study schedule. Wish me luck!

Volunteer: 

May 26th will mark the beginning of my commitment to giving back to my community through an organization called City Harvest. I have always been in awe of the work they do to help those who go hungry in New York City. I will be working to assist both dietitians and low-income families through City Harvest's Nutrition Education program. I will be helping others and gaining knowledge at the same time. I cannot wait!

Challenge myself: 

On a weekly basis, I commit myself to exercise at least 5 days a week. I have developed a love for Pilates and I am lucky enough to be able to attend classes 2-3 times per week at my gym. With that said, I have always wanted to develop a love for running. It has not been easy and to be honest, I have not tried as hard as I could. This summer, I want to incorporate running into my weekly workout regimen. We'll see how that goes.

Develop new friendships: 

This is a goal that I have set for myself beyond the summer. I want to build new friendships and strengthen my current ones. I can do this by giving more of myself to these relationships, something I have always been hesitant to do. I guess we are all a work-in-progress.

always surround yourself with people you love being yourself with.

I recently celebrated my 24th birthday last Tuesday! My whole day was simply perfect. Dinner with Nick topped off a special day filled with lots of love. I can't believe how much my life has changed in the 10 months it has been since I moved to New York City. I feel more grown up than ever and it's a great feeling to know that you can take care of yourself- both financially and emotionally. I also could never have imagined that living with Nick would be this awesome! I enjoy every day I get to wake up next to him and eagerly await 5 p.m. so that I can come home and see him. Our life together seems to get better everyday...

My birthday was awesome for many reasons, but I truly have never felt more special than I did that day! Everyone at work was so kind and generous with their {red velvet} cupcakes, cookies and flowers. I am very blessed to be surrounded with people that I genuinely enjoy being around. Being this my 24th year, I have made a promise to myself to become more open with people and allow them to see the person I am at heart. Being guarded in both friendships and relationships is something that has always hindered me in the past. I have conquered the relationship aspect of my life...now it's on to the friendships. What else could be more important... :) 

live.laugh.love.

"we all think we're going to be great and we feel a little bit robbed when our expectations aren't met. but sometimes our expectations sell us short. sometimes the expected simply pales in comparison to the unexpected. you got to wonder why we cling to our expectations, because the expected is just what keeps us steady. standing. still, the expected's just the beginning, the (unexpected) is what changes our lives" -grey's anatomy

a little (forward) thinking...

In a desperate attempt to start thinking about all things summer, I decided to torture myself by looking at some bikinis on the internet last night. There is nothing quite like finishing dinner, feeling happily full, and then skimming pages worth of swimsuit models showing off their bronzed perfection sprawled across tropical beaches. Life's unfair! Anyway, I found a few adorable pieces that I can't wait to purchase! I always go to two places for my swimsuits: Victoria Secret and J.Crew. There is nothing quite like the classics! Here are some of the items on my summer 2010 lust list: 

Victoria Secret:

(hands down-my favorite! Simple, yet so adorable)

(how precious is the little starfish)

J.Crew:

(i usually detest a one-piece...but i am a sucker for a great paisley print)

(i love this purple floral print! finding a great purple swimsuit is so hard to find!)

Accessories a la Bloomingdales!

(How on earth can you pass up Tory Burch sandals for only $45!)

(these Corso Como "Feature" ruffle flat sandals are beyond chic! perfect for a dinner by the ocean)

(this is my idea of the perfect beach bag!)

L-O-V-E-L-Y Weekend! Happy Valentine's Day

Finally!! I feel like this weekend took forever to arrive. I have been so overwhelmed with work and my crazy schedule that I had to remind myself that it was the weekend. I don't go crazy during Valentine's Day and I do not need to be "wined-and-dined". But I just adore all of the love that everyone expresses during this holiday. It's a holiday designed to make us stop for a moment and realize how lucky we are to have people around us who love us unconditionally. I love Nick so much and I remind myself everyday (not just on February 14th) how lucky I am to have such an amazing soul in my life. I hope everyone has a great Valentine's Day and that you take some time during the 364 other days of the year and remember what's truly important in life...love and happiness! mwah!! :0)

(Fourth of July in Westchester)

(my love)

Dining out

Have you ever had so many choices that it's impossible for you to make a decision? Well, that's exactly how I feel sometimes when Nick and I try to pick a new restaurant to try here in Manhattan. It can be a maddening task-I always feel pressure to find something on the menu we would both like, that it's a nice location, decent reviews..ahh! It drives me nuts. It's as if I was choosing my last meal before walking The Green Mile. But when this happens, sometimes I opt for picking our favorite go-to place here on the UES: Beyoglu. The food is not amazingly inventive or gormet..it's just good! My favorites are the spinach with greek yogurt and the shepherd salad. The Turkish/Greek cuisine never lets you down..it's always flavorful, healthy and leaves you feeling good afterwards. Everyone says that you should "eat like a tourist in Greece". This food never disappoints. Check it out next time you are in the city or if you're as indecisive as me :)

Dear Cupid...

I have the world's greatest boyfriend who I love more than life itself. I told him not to get me anything for Valentine's Day with the exception of flowers. I can't resist a beautiful bouquet of colorful roses or daisies. They have a way of instantly making my day brighter! My reasoning for asking Nick not to buy me any gifts is because the reality is-living in Manhattan is expensive. Our day-to-day lives in this city costs a pretty penny (i.e. rent, groceries, subway passes etc). Don't get me wrong, I love it here and would not chose to live in any other city right now. But it's not cheap! All I need is love...and that's priceless :)

But if there was a Valentine's Day cupid....

I have basically been drooling over the Louis Vuitton Neverfull MM bag since it came out a few years ago. In my head, I always come up with a bunch reasons why I need this bag...but then I inevitably think about the countless reasons why I don't. If only there was a Valentine's Day cupid that could make my dreams come true! But there is no magical V-Day fairy that generous! One day, I will splurge and treat myself to this perfect purse. I deserve it! 

(fresh) powder

A winter blast is coming to new york city tonight. I love the way this city looks when it is lightly snow-kissed! I hope this is one of the last snowfalls this season {wishful thinking}. I am very much ready for spring :)

Let's indulge!

Even though I consider myself a healthy eater, I do have my moments of weakness. Don't we all?! I do have a lot of self-control, i.e. not ordering the pasta dish and opting for the grilled chicken salad when dining out. I enjoying eating veggies and healthy versions of classic dishes. As crazy as it sounds, sometimes it's fun to eat healthy! However, with that said I have to admit that I have the ultimate girly weakness - chocolate! Yum! My other weakness is the candy stash at work...but I am working on not giving in to the constant temptation!


Anyway, back to the chocolate! The other day, I happened to catch an amazing show on The Food Network called "The Best Thing I Ever Ate". This show has me glued to my screen every time I catch it on TV. In this particular episode, chef Claire Robinson took us on a trip to Brooklyn, NY to visit a little bakery called "Baked". How apropos! Claire's dessert of choice was Baked's "Sweet and Salty Brownie". It basically made me salivate all over my remote control. The brownie consisted of dark chocolate, caramel and fleur de sel! I would certainly venture down to Brooklyn for this savory treat! 

After watching this episode, I was on a hunt for my own brownie concoction! I am a huge fan of Trader Joe's and shop their weekly. I picked up their "Reduced Guilt Brownie Mix"! I couldn't believe such a thing existed! Wow, it's amazing! One of the things I hate the most about baking brownies from Betty Crocker or Pillsbury brands is that it's always a greasy mess...and it always gives me a tummy ache. This mix has two ingredients: *the mix & 2/3 cups of non-fat vanilla yogurt* That's it! It was so delicious and a relatively healthier alternative to the fat-filled brownies our moms made. If you are anywhere near TJ's while you're in a chocolate-craving frenzy, run..don't walk! Pick this up and indulge without maxing out your diet bank account! 

(note my NYSC key fob in the picture-oh, the irony!)

love love love!

I can't believe it's February already! I feel like Christmas just passed and now all of a sudden we are a month into 2010! February is such a romantic month...for obvious reasons. This year, Nick and I will be celebrating our 2nd Valentine's Day together. It's amazing how one person can change your life in such an incredible way. Being with Nick has turned what used to be a depressing and meaningless holiday into a symbol of everything good in my life. I have never loved someone as much as I love this incredible man. I am someone who can truly appreciate the blessings of having someone love me unconditionally. I understand  and appreciate what an incredibly rare gift I hold in my hands. Even though our V-Day will be extremely low key for us since Nick's surgery rotation demands much dedication and finals are just around the bend, whatever we end up doing will be just lovely. Even if Valentine's Day involves us ordering take-out in our sweats while we watch TV, it's perfect as long as we are together :)

a little bit of "me" time

With all the rushing I do Monday through Friday, I have made a promise to myself to find a little more time just for "me". My schedule is always crazy and I am always rushing from one place to another. Nick has lots on his plate trying to navigate his way through the insanity that comes with being a 3rd year medical student. I have decided to become way more invested in reading than I have been these past few years - even if it's before I get dressed in the morning, on the subway, or while I'm laying in bed. After college, I took a breather from any heavy reading and definitely fell of the wagon. Here are a few that are at the top of my list:


1. The Onmivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan 
2. Dear John by Nicholas Sparks
3. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
4. Going Rogue by Sarah Palin
5. Roses by Leila Meacham
6. Can You Keep A Secret by Sophie Kinsella 
7. Manners by Kate Spade (Ok, not quite a book-but something every lady should read!)


I can't wait to relax with a cup of hot chamomile tea and get started...

sNOw..

For the past few days, the weather here in NYC has been beautiful..almost spring-like! In fact, I found myself fantasizing about pink floral dresses and fancy espadrilles. My heart fluttered wildly at these lovely thoughts! Until however, I woke up this morning and was slapped in the face with the unthinkable: a snowstorm. No!! Ugh and blah!! Tonight, the wind was so strong that it practically knocked me over as I walked home from the gym. I feel like winter has been here for so long with no end in sight! I'm so over it. All I ask for is a little sunshine and a nice warm breeze. Is that too much to ask?! 

Cupcake love!

Everyday, I take the 6 subway train from 86th Street to 59th Street to get to work. It is always the same and never too exciting (which certainly isn't a bad thing!). But today, imagine my surprise when I walked up the steps at the corner of 60th Street and Lexington Avenue and saw this amazing thing in front of me (No, not Bloomingdales)!! The elusive and ever-so-hard-to-track-down CUPCAKE STOP truck! This adorable truck filled with cupcakes (mini cupcakes too) chooses new daily locations all around Manhattan and the only way to know where it will be on any given day is by following them on Twitter.  I couldn't help but gasp with excitement...which was short-lived considering it was 8:30 am! If I were a billionaire, I would place one truck in every city across America and spread my love through cupcakes. It's such an simple way to brighten up someone's day! It certainly brightened mine :)

If you would like to get a jump on where the CUPCAKE STOP truck will be tomorrow, just follow them :)

A touch of spring :)

After I got home from the gym tonight, I decided to indulge myself in a little retail therapy...while sitting on my couch of course! I heard from a friend that Vera Bradley recently released their new Spring 2010 line. I have been a huge fan of Vera since I was young and I am so excited about these new patters. It's so fun to collect certain patterns through the years because not only due they never go out of style, they seem to get better with age!  I have heard mixed thoughts about these newest patterns, but I personally think that they are the most unique designs that Vera Bradley has come up with in a while. 

My personal favorites are:  

"Loves Me"..a pretty combination of navy, pink and yellow hues

(daisies just happen to be my favorite flower. And, c'mon..how cute is that name!)

"Sittin' in a tree"

...a pretty blend of light and dark greens with a cute little bird hidden throughout the pattern

"Paprika"

..an adorable mixture of orange and cranberry with a splash of turquoise sprinkled in

I don't see too many ladies walking around NYC with their Vera Bradley's (especially not in the winter). But the suburban gal in me just gets giddy at the thought of picking up one or more of these patterns. I can't wait for spring already!