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