We’ve almost made it to the end of a very, very frigid week here in New York, and from what I hear, we’re not alone in the fight to stay warm in these Arctic temperatures. I have literally never felt such cold before as I have this week, with one day dipping down to negative twenty-five degrees with the wind chill. Needlesstosay, I set foot outside as little as possible for those few days, and when I did, I spent most of the time exclaiming how cold it was.

A few of my tips for staying warm:

…don’t go outside.
…drink tea/coffee/hot chocolate constantly.
…wear the warmest, fuzziest sweatpants/sweaters you have.
…snuggle with someone you love (preferably a spouse or child).

We experienced some insane wind on Tuesday night, which was so strong I was worried it would break the windows. Maybe that’s not even a valid concern, but in that half-awakened state of mind at three o’clock in the morning, anything is possible. I guess the Arctic north wanted to make sure we didn’t forget it’s existence, and maybe also to prove a point to the global warming theorists.

Along with fighting the cold temperatures, I’ve been fighting a cold and flu-like symptoms all week. I was determined to not let it win me, and I think I’ve managed to keep it away with my myriad of home remedies. The only unfortunate downside is I’ve almost managed to give myself a stomach problem with all the things I’ve been downing in my efforts – apple cider vinegar, charcoal, garlic, onions, vitamin c, green superfood powder. But I don’t have the cold, and that is a victory. We are traveling tomorrow, and I really did not want to be sick during the trip and for the weekend we have planned.

Ben and I are spending two weeks in Texas for a work trip, and I am pretty excited about the sixty degree weather forecasted for the next ten days! It’s fun to pull out my summer wear again and pack flip-flops instead of snow boots. We leave early tomorrow morning and will spend the weekend in San Antonio before heading a few hours away to where we’ll be for the rest of the trip. A few of the plans for the weekend are the Alamo and the river walk, plus getting our fill of Texas barbeque and authentic Mexican cuisine. If anyone has recommendations for things to see, eat, or do, please let me know!

What about you: what are your weekend plans?

I’d love to hear your thoughts!

It’s crazy how Christmas is always over with so fast. Just like that, it’s December 26th, the holidays are behind us, and it’s onward to a brand new year. December went by quickly for me, but then so does every month. I felt like I was able to really soak up the holidays this year without it all becoming so busy and full that you can barely breath, and I like that.

The biggest thing that Ben and I did to celebrate Christmas this year was a weekend trip into the city. We’ve been talking about going ever since we’ve been married, and then decided instead of doing much gifting to each other this year, we would take that trip. We arrived last Saturday morning and spent the next few days doing a lot of walking, exploring, and eating. One of the funnest city attractions for me is food experiences and we found some really fun and good spots. I’m lucky to have married an adventurous eater-man who is willing to try anything! I always did have a small fear in the back of my mind that I would end up with someone who only wanted meat and mashed potatoes every single meal…nothing wrong with that kind of meal, but it’s usually one of the last to get put on the menu for me. There is a whole world out there beyond meat and mashed potatoes, and I’m lucky to be with someone who will explore that world with me.

The highlight of our foodie explorations was Zoma, a little Ethiopian place a few miles from where we were staying. We took the subway (quite the adventure in itself) since we weren’t really up for walking any more after logging in about eight miles that day. We ordered the combination platter for two which came with three meat choices and one vegetable, and it was all pretty tasty. The meal is served with a spongy flat bread called injera, which is used for scooping up the meat or vegetables. Any cuisine that makes you use your fingers for utensils is pretty fun, in my opinion.

Another highlight was a sweet little French cafe and bakery we discovered on our last morning. It felt like we were really in Europe (or at least what I would imagine Europe would feel like) and the food and drinks were tops. Our waitress was from somewhere foreign and the entire place was like a scene from an old French farmhouse, complete with long family style plank tables for customers to sit and mingle with each other. My only souvenir from the weekend was a few loaves of bread that I just couldn’t resist buying from this little piece of Paris in the city. It made some fabulous French toast for us on Christmas morning.

The rest of our Christmas week was spent with family here in New York. We hosted them all here for Christmas lunch yesterday, and it was a fun, lively time as usual! Ben’s mom is here from Thailand for the next few months, so we have loved catching up and spending family time with everyone.

I still have my Christmas decorations up, and I’m wondering how long I can leave them before it starts to feel like I’m a Southern redneck that just leaves them up all year…?

What about you: what was the highlight of your Christmas season?

I’d love to hear your thoughts!