3 on Thursday

There is a ton of work being piled on my plate right now, and my stress level is definitely creeping up there.  I'm actually welcoming my over-booked weekend because I think all the people and activities will offer a nice distraction.  Now if I can only figure out my Halloween costume...nothing like waiting til the last minute, right?!

1. On a recent Tuesday night stay-in date night, I switched my usual wine for beer so Albert and I could toast with his monogrammed mugs.
2. One of the best parts about going apple picking was the crisp I made afterwards.
3. Last weekend I attended my first ever professional football team.  I am by no means a Jets fan and would typically align myself with other teams, but I loved getting into the spirit.  Yankees are big pro football tailgaters - crazy to me, considering how cold it gets up here! 

3 on Thursday

I made it through a very busy weekend only to realize I have plenty of plans lined up for the upcoming weekends.  Everything I'm doing is very Fall, and I love taking advantage of the season.

1. Everyone is gearing up for Hallween, even the delivery trucks!
2. I recently discovered Charming Charlie via a favorite blog, The College Prepster.  When styled on the blog, all the fashion looked so classy, despite the extremely low price tag.  But I just wasn't sold that it would look that good in person so I held back.  But then a couple weeks ago I was in Hartford for a wedding and there was a huge Charming Charlie store.  Even up close these clothes and accessories look great.  And so inexpensive!  For $60 I walked away with a ring, a cloche hat, a sweater, and a scarf.  Now that I know I can trust Charming Charlie, I'll be hitting up the website regularly to fill in the holes in my closet.  Just like the store it's organized by color (as well as product type) so it's very easy to navigate.
3. I was so happy to check an item off my bucket list and go apple picking.  I can't wait to bake something delicious!  

3 on Thursday

As of last weekend, we are done with weddings in 2014.  I have loved each and every one, but I'm kind of excited to have some more low key weekends on the horizon.  That said, my weekends seem to be filling up pretty fast...

1. In celebration of the brand new Lego store in Flatiron, Madison Square Park was filled with tiny toy builders over the weekend.  Stop by to check out a field of lego flowers or the giant statue of liberty being constructed in the picture here (I love that they're wearing hard hats!).  There are also some pretty impressive superhero statues.
2. I recently discovered McClure's chips.  I've had their pickles and bloody mary mix, but now they're infusing the briny flavor into chips.  I've only tried the garlic dill pickle flavor so far.  It's like a waaay less vinegar-y salt and vinegar chip.  Plus garlic.  And dill.  It sounded weird, but I loved it.  I haven't tried the bloody mary or spicy pickle varieties yet, but I have high hopes.
3. On Monday I went to Joe's Pub to see Freestyle Love Supreme and now I'm ready to sign up and become a groupie.  FLS is basically hip hop improv.  Like any improv show, they take words/cues from the audience and turn them into hilarious, complicated rhymes.  I have no idea how their minds work that fast.  I discovered them because I am a Broadway junkie and when I learned that Lin Manuel Miranda (composer, lyricist, and star of my beloved "In the Heights") had started this freestyle group along with his "In the Heights" co-creator, I did a bit of stalking until I found out when they would be performing.  Other members of the troupe include Christopher Jackson (also of "In the Heights"), Utkarsh Ambudkar (of "Pitch Perfect" and "The Mindy Project" fame), and James Monroe Iglehart (just won the Tony for portraying the Genie in Aladdin - I've seen him on Broadway 4 times in 3 different productions...and he was just as good at this).  There's also a super talented beatboxer who goes by the name Shockwave.  I was incredibly impressed by their performance, laughed my booty off, and need to see them again ASAP.

3 on Thursday

I'm off tomorrow to wedding number nine - the last one of the year.  The rest of the weekend is wide open and I'm looking forward to doing some sort of activity that feels particularly "fall" to take advantage of the season.

1. On my way to meet friends for dinner in the UWS last week, I walked past this storefront announcing the imminent arrival of a new bookstore.  The left window actually says "Dear New York, You've Got Mail...Again," in reference to the beloved movie that celebrates the independent bookstore.  I did some research and learned that it will be a Book Culture store.  I have some East Side stores that are more convenient for me, but I urge all Upper West Siders to check this place out once it opens.  Book stores should be communities!
2. Last week I had the opportunity to attend an event that included an interview with Kirsten Gillibrand (great speaker) and a panel featuring Linda McMahon, Tamron Hall (my spirit animal), and Kristen Anderson-Lopez.  The event, put on by on by Time and Real Simple magazines, was all about women and success.  The women had vastly different experience which only underscored that success comes in very different forms.  It was totally empowering!  By the time I arrived back at my apartment I was ready to take on the world!
3. On Sunday night Lindsay and I went to the theater to see If/Then.  It was refreshing to see a brand new musical that was totally original and not based on a movie or even a real person.  Idina Menzel has some serious pipes.  I was in awe of her voice.  It's not a splashy musical, but the songs are beautiful and we all wonder how a simple choice can alter your life's path.  Here, you get to see it played out.

3 on Thursday

Despite a beautiful Indian Summer weekend of temperatures in the low 80s, we're really beginning to see a shift in the weather.  I don't mind the occasion to pull the cardis out of my closet, but my body is not reacting so well to the change.  I'm in the process of staving of a cold and thanks to udon soup and lots of hot tea with honey, I've been keeping the symptoms at bay.  After an incredibly busy summer, the slightly scratchy throat and stuffed nose are serving as a nice reminder that it's time to slow down now that fall has arrived.

1. Usually my trips to The Strand are limited to quick digs through their streetside bargain bins, but last weekend my plans cancelled and I found myself standing outside one of my favorite bookstores with nothing but time.  I picked up four new books and have already started devouring them.
2. Just at the tail end of summer I discovered the perfect pink shade.  With my complexion, true pinks can be touchy.  I always felt like the bright shades are best for blondes.  Scared by the nearly neon shade in the tube (the pic doesn't quite show how bright it looks), I was nervous to try Maybelline's Color Whisper in Petal Rebel.  Once I put it on, it immediately became a favorite.  It is perfect for summer as it alludes to a bright pink while still somehow remaining tame.  
3. Usually when you run in a race, your participation gets you a t-shirt.  T-shirts can be great, but now that I'm out of college, I only wear them to sleep so I was so happy that the 10K I ran earned me a great tote.  It's super durable and shows off my support of the FEED organization.

3 on Thursday

I've been taking it very very easy this week in preparation for my big 10K this weekend.  I'm not nervous yet, but I'm sure I'll be singing a different tune once it's actually race time.

1. Have you ever seen a green plum?  Me neither.  But they exist, and I found them at Trader Joe's.  And they're also delicious.  I've been enjoying them as a post-run snack.
2. Eucalyptus has to be one of my absolute favorite smells.  It was a spur of the moment addition to my vase this week, but I think it's going to become a regular.
3. I ordered an antique clock off Etsy and it finally arrived all the way from Slovakia this week - check out all that postage! 

3 on Thursday

Football may be in full swing, but UGA actually had a bye for the second weekend of the season.  With the extra time, I headed to Hoboken for a much needed night with my best gal, Steph.  We may have had plans to tear up the town but instead ended up sitting on the couch, drinking lots of wine, and watching a Lifetime original movie.  Boring to you, maybe, but perfect for us.

1. Since I'm new to the running game, I had not heard of Brooks Running, a shoe and apparel company.  My Mom is the one who introduced me after seeing them on one of those deal websites.  When she found out there was a company with the same name as my new nephew (her first grandbaby) she couldn't help but buy me a shirt with their tagline "Run Happy."  It may end up being part of my outfit for my big race that is getting scary close.
2. Albert and I started our Friday night with a trip to one of our favorite spots, Good Beer.  Though we were heading to supper afterwards, we decided to have a snack with our beverages and picked up some of the SlantShack Jerkey from the counter.  I had tried SlantShack at Smorgasburg and have always been interested in making some custom jerky through their site, but that dream was put on the backburner when I tried the Brooklyn Brewery flavored jerkey they had by the register.  Delicious and perfectly paired with our brews.
3. I loved being able to watch the cheese being made at Beecher's before heading downstairs for brunch on Sunday.   

3 on Thursday

I hope everyone had a wonderful Labor Day weekend!  Though I planned to go on a grand adventure on Labor Day itself, the weather was too up in the air to commit.  I still enjoyed a wonderful weekend roaming my beautiful city so there are no complaints here.

1. I am always drawn to these teeny tiny yogurts when I see them at fancy food markets because I remember them from my time in France.  I have always resisted purchase, though, because they're pretty expensive.  I finally gave in as a treat and think I'll be continuing.  Though it's shelved next to the yogurt, Le Petit Suisse is actually cheese, a creamy cheese with a texure that is thicker than Greek yogurt.  It seems expensive because it's so much tinier than yogurt, but because it's thicker, you need less to get satisfied.  For me it's also perfect because I get sick of the yogurt consistency after any more than this so the puny packaging is the perfect sized breakfast for me.
2. I hate seeing summer come to an end.  I'm just not one of those people who says "sure summer is nice but don't you just love fall and the crisp sweater weather?"  The upside to fall, however, is football season.  I love cheering on my Dawgs and I was so happy to see them pull out a W in the season opener against Clemson on Saturday night.
3. Tea for two.  I loved the girly setup of pastels against white marble at Ladurée Soho.  

3 on Thursday

Labor Day came at me fast this year.  I didn't realize until Monday that we had already reached our four day weekend.  I'm not complaining because I could certainly use the time off, but it does make me a bit sad to realize that my summer this year was dreadfully short.

1. A couple weeks ago we discovered a bar that stocked plenty of games to make the drinking experience even more enjoyable.  My Jenga skills were pretty good...I guess that's because I'm just a big kid at heart. 
2. After a Friday happy hour in the Madison Square Garden neighborhood, Albert and I decided to take the walk directly across town towards my apartment since it was nice out.  Since Koreatown is at the halfway point on the walk I thought it would be the perfect place to stop for a fun supper.  I seemed to have forgotten how easy [Korean alcohol] Soju goes down so I paid for my fun with a pounding headache on Saturday.  I still think it was worth it. 
3. I am a BIG fan of going to see movies in the park during the summer.  My favorite is the Central Park Film Festival.  The screen is big, the lawn is slightly sloped for somewhat stadium style viewing, and it is just the right amount of crowded.  Unlike the other movies in the park, which show one movie per week, the Central Park Film Fest shows one movie every day for a week, set to a theme.  This year's theme was "Scenes From Our City" and the movies spanned decades.  The Friday flick was Hitchcock's Rear Window, which I had never seen.  Hitchcock is a master of suspense, but don't worry because this one isn't too scary.  Grace Kelly was perfection.  Now I see why she was courted by a Prince.  Like last year, we attended the movie with Seth and Danielle, but this year Matt, Karina, and Rebekah also joined us so we had a great group.  We also had a picnic spread that was the envy of everyone else in the park.   

3 on Thursday

Somehow every "calm" event this weekend turned into an aggressive boozing activity.  Happy hour and date night on Friday and Saturday left me begging for more sleep the next morning and brunch on Sunday escalated into me passing out at 8 PM.  I'm not sure why I decided to act 19 instead of 29 but it can't be terrible to [every once in a while] have a crazy weekend that leaves you thinking "what the...?!?!"

1. My everyday purse this summer has been this perforated bucket bag from Target.  My Mom knew I had been on the hunt for a bucket bag in a fun color and when she found this one, she texted me a picture and said I would have a treat when I arrived in Savannah a week later.  I've worn it almost every day since.
2. My new stationery from naomilynn just arrived and I am obsessed!  Having something nice to write on just makes me want to send letters.  Hopefully my friends enjoy receiving snail mail as much as I do.
3. I recently saw Avenue Q for the second time.  I forgot how much I loved it.  It is a hilarious show and now that it's off-Broadway, tickets are easier (and cheaper) to come by.  I strongly suggest seeing it if you haven't already.  Or see it again.  Trust me, I laughed just as hard the second time around.

3 on Thursday

After yet another wedding this past weekend I'm looking forward to having the time free to relax.  Because I've been traveling a lot recently, I'm hoping this weekend affords me the opportunity to catch up with friends around here.

1. The door to the kitchen at Cohen's Retreat is pretty much better than any restaurant swinging kitchen door I've ever seen.
2. For his bris, Brooks wore the very same onesie my brother wore at his.  I love that circle of life stuff.
3. Knowing how much I love deviled eggs, Rebekah gifted me my very own deviled egg platter recently.  Having the proper platter for this appetizer is kind of a game changer and makes me look like a real hostess.

3 on Thursday

Everytime I come back to NYC after being home I have the desire to go back.  This is nothing new.  But now I really reeeeally want to go back because I've gotten a taste of my Brooks.  He's a newborn so he's not doing much, but even in the week that I was there I could see him growing and changing and I don't want to miss a thing.  I'm sure he'll be a completely different boy when I am back for Thanksgiving.

1. I love oyster shell decor because it reminds me of my Lowcountry roots.  This chandelier is the perfect example.
2. Though I planned to spend a lot of time on the river and in the pool while I was home, there was only one day when the weather cooperated so I squeezed in an hour of tan time.  Chloe enjoys soaking up the sun so she laid out in the pool chair across from me.
3. At least for a while, Brooks will be spending all his time at his own house or his grandparents' places (both sets of grandparents live a quarter mile from my brother and sister in law).  Every one of those homes comes equipped with a dog so it's important for Brooks to become acquainted with his canine counterparts.  We all got a kick out of Chloe sniffing out her new friend.   

3 on Thursday

The Konters are on cloud 9 right now because last week on July 22nd my nephew, Brooks Lawrence Konter, made his grand entrance into this world.  I am home right now enjoying every moment with him and already beginning the process of spoiling him rotten.  That's why Godmothers exist.

1. My precious little Brooksy, only a few hours old.  He's perfect.
2. After Brooks came into our lives, I got all sorts of excited and wound up, so I decided to walk to work to expend some of that energy.  I stumbled upon an art installation in Times Square called Nearness by Cuban artist Arlés del Rio that is basically human silhouettes made out of chain link fencing.  I like when artists encourage interaction with their work as this one does.
3. If you're like me and find the best form of running motivation to be a good playlist, then you need to check out jog.fm.  Basically, you can enter the pace at which you intend to run and the site provides a list of songs set to the appropriate beats per minute.  I made a playlist with a bunch of the songs on the 8:35 pace list, but I think my next move will be to download the app which works as a sort of radio station based on your pace.  

3 on Thursday

To onlookers, my weekend probably looked pretty boring.  Following a low key dinner on Friday I spent all of Saturday on my own.  Sure, I took a quick subway ride to SoHo, but most of the day was spent watching tv on the couch and reading a book in bed.  Even when I did venture out on Sunday, I did little more than lay on a blanket in Central Park.  After four very busy weekends, boring was the most exciting thing that could have happened to me.

1. One of my favorite things about summer is cherries.  I eat them the way other people eat popcorn and enjoy spitting out the pits, as un-ladylike as it may be.  Now that I finally picked up my first bowl, it really feels like summer has gotten underway.
2. I received a bottle of nude nail polish in a gift bag and though I thought it would totally wash me out, I'm diggin the trend.
3. I stopped by one of my favorite book stores, The Strand, on my to meet Matt and Karina for drinks on Friday.  So.  Many.  Books.  I love craning over the bargain priced books on the side walk.  It feels very New York to me.  I walked away with a copy of Cyrano de Bergerac for 52 cents (including tax). 

3 on Thursday

I spent my weekend partying it up at Rebekah's wedding and am still in awe of how perfect the entire event was.  I am so happy for Rebekah and Alex and know they have a beautiful future ahead.

Background: The most amazing chupah I have EVER seen.  It looked like an enchanted forest.  I watched as the florist's six person team built the entire thing from scratch.  It took them six hours to arrange every branch, orchid, moss patch, and tealight.  It was very labor intensive but worth it because it was breathtaking.

1. While we were primping on Friday after the rehearsal, my cell phone rang.  I answered it to realize it was Rebekah calling from the other side of the nail salon.  She realized they did not have menu signs for the signature cocktails and asked if I could help out.  I take my bridesmaid duties seriously so I sprung into action and and ran to a few stores to pick up picture frames and card stock.  I wrote out the signs on the day of the wedding while I was waiting for my hair to set.  If you've ever been a bridesmaid, you know there can be some awkward downtime day-of so I enjoyed having a little arts and crafts project to keep me busy.  It may have seemed like a last minute add, but having the signs on the bar to describe the signature cocktails (one to match each of their flavor preferences) and the official wedding hashtag was a nice personal touch.  This couple thought of everything.
2. The decor for this wedding (at Guastavinos) was stunning.  It was full glamour.  Rebekah and Alex didn't really want to have a sweetheart table so instead they had one very long table at the end of the dancefloor for them, the wedding party, and their plus ones.  I've never seen a 32 person table but I liked it.  It was just another way to continue sharing the experience with the bride and groom and kept the mood light and fun.
3. Rebekah arranged for all the girls to get their hair and makeup done by a legit glam squad.  I asked for big hair and major lashes.  Loved it.

3 on Thursday

This past weekend included 4th of July in the city, a rager of a birthday party in Connecticut, and then margaritas back in the city on Sunday night.  It certainly felt like summer with lots of good time vibes.  This weekend should be just as packed with fun since it's Rebekah's wedding weekend, which is shaping up to be quite the classy Manhattan affair.

1. I love movies in general, but I also really like that living in a community like New York City affords me the ability to see small independent films I wouldn't get to see if I lived elsewhere.  Lately, Albert and I have been enjoying these indies at small, intimate theaters like the Angelika.  We recently saw "Supermensch," a documentary about legendary manager Shep Gordon (his life - wow) and this week saw "Snowpiercer," in which the US has frozen over and the only survivors are those who boarded a train that serves as a 20 car microcosm of all society.  Both are worth a watch.
2. On Sunday Albert and I went to Captain's Cove, a marina in his hometown.  There is a large, two story restaurant on the premises and all of Bridgeport seems to go there on Sunday in the summer to dance to live music, play cornhole, and eat baskets of fried seafood.  It reminded me of my favorite place in Savannah, which is something I very rarely get to say up here.
3. I thought my 4th of July party would attract 15-20 guests but wound up with about 40.  I felt so popular!  The best part was that I had some special guests.  I get to see my cousin Amy often since she lives here in the city, but her sister Natalie was up for a visit so I got double trouble.  My cousin Aaron was also in town so our fam was in full force.  We are a super close and tight-knit bunch so I was over the moon to have them there.  

3 on Thursday

Everyone around here is anxious to kick off their 4th of July weekends a bit early, and I am no exception.  I can't wait to leave work and finish up a few last minute errands before a little date night.  Then tomorrow it's party time!  Now that the fireworks are back on the East River, I've planned a little shindig on my rooftop where relaxation is the name of the game.

Background: entrance to the newly opened Union Square Pavilion

1. I dug into my treats from Myers of Keswick on Tuesday night and now realize they won't last long.  Both cookies - I'm sorry, "biscuits" - were very different from what we have here.  The Hobnobs (great name for the "nobbly oaty biscuit") weren't too crunchy (phew: I like my cookies like I like my boyfriend's heart, soft) and I like that they have a dark chocolate variety since everything in the US seems to be milk choc focused.  The caramel wafer cookies may have looked like a Kit Kat but the texture was softer, like a Belgian waffle.  Plus, I'm a sucker for such great packaging.
2. One of the best ways to beat a case of the Mondays is to do something extra fun on what is typically the lamest night of the week.  I headed to Central Park to see Counting Crows at Summer Stage and it was a total throwback to middle/high school.  They're still great.
3. The Empire State Building was lit up in all the colors of the rainbow for Pride this past weekend.  While I didn't get to take my Mom to the West Village for the parade on Sunday because of her flight time, she could tell that there was some craziness brewing in the city and loved being surrounded by that energy. 

3 on Thursday

I'm in a stupendous mood today!  Why, you ask?  Because my Mom is coming tonight, that's why!  When she found a super cheap flight a year ago, she booked a solo trip on a whim (much to my Daddy's chagrin who was feeling very left out).  We had so much fun last time that she decided to do it again this summer.  I can't wait for two full days around the city with her!

Background: sunset view from Anthony's Ocean View, the venue for a wedding I attended over the weekend.

1. Everyone's got World Cup fever!  One reason Albert and I were so drawn to Pinches Tacos last week was the tv they set up outside so nobody had to miss soccer for something as silly as eating.
2. I'm a fan of micheladas (basically a bloody mary with beer) so I liked finding the canned version.  Albert made a face after tasting it, but I liked it...even if it was just a wee bit trashy.
3. I'm hesitant to share this next tip with you, but I don't think it would be fair to keep this information to myself.  Thanks to the EW Must List, I recently discovered a new app called Today Tix.  Basically, it's like the TKTS line for day-of or week-of Broadway tickets...except way cheaper.  The best part is that you don't have to go anywhere to pick them up.  The concierge will meet you in front of the theater with your tickets before the show.  Now there's no reason to relegate Broadway to the group of activities reserved for parental visits, special occasions, or tourists.

3 on Thursday

I made the difficult decision to lay low on Saturday and Sunday.  I knew that if I didn't, it would mean seven straight weeks with no time to myself.  While that means I may have missed out on a party, I got to rest up and recharge my batteries.  After spending my weekend taking a long walk, reading, and laying out on my roof, I feel like a real person again.

Background: Vegas club entrance

1. The one thing I did do this weekend was go to Yacht Rock (my fave!) on Friday night.  It may have been rainy, but it was worth it to head to Williamsburg to partake in their brand of smooth rock.  The concert was at Brooklyn Bowl, which - once the 6-year old birthday party cleared out - was a great venue.  I was pretty adamament on not doing anything for my birthday this year.  I'd be at a bachelorette in Vegas on the actual day, I'm saving up for the big 3-0 next year, and I've been fortunate enough to feel loved constantly and have had a whole bunch of stellar weekends in a row.  Instead, I got to hang out with some of my closest friends at brunch after my race the weekend before my bday and go to Yacht Rock with Albert and Beth the weekend after.  As my final bday gift, Albert got me the captain's hat you see pictured after he caught me staring at it for a couple hours.  It may not have been a big bash and my bday may never have been explicitly mentioned, but it happened to be the best birthday I've had in years.
2. On Saturday I took a nice 3 mile stroll around the city while running errands.  On my way back, after gawking at the homes surrounding Gramercy Park, I stopped into Bedford Cheese Shop to treat myself to some fancy cheese.  The store is super cute, the staff knowledgeable, and all the imported goods give it a European feel.  
3. Matt and Karina gave me this gorgeous set of stackable rings for my birthday.  With my current love of dainty jewelry and my always love of all things monogrammed, this is pretty much a perfect gift.  

3 on Thursday

It's safe to say I am fully recovered from my Vegas trip.  We went crazy as is necessary at a bachelorette party and I'm not quite sure how I survived on an average of 4 hours of sleep per night for 3 nights.  I'm looking forward to a slightly more relaxing weekend this weekend but I can't shut down entirely - not when Yacht Rock is playing tomorrow night!

Background: Vegas from my hotel balcony.  Wanna guess if this was what I saw when I woke up or when I got back at the end of the night?

1. I've always said Coke tastes so much better in the glass bottle so I was so excited to see it offered at a movie screening last week.
2. My team at work surprised me with a little bday celebration before I left for Vegas.  They know I don't like cupcakes so they made me a meat and cheesecake instead.  They know me so well!
3. Download the soundtrack from The Fault in our Stars.  It's wonderful.