Spring has Sprung!

New York is looking more and more like the backdrop of the romantic comedies it's famous for. The trees are in bloom and the flowers are flourishing. I have to say this winter was not bad at all. It only snowed twice and I only had to pull out the big down overcoat for about a month. I think I can handle the 50 degree winters, although I'm assured that this is not normal.

I can't take credit for the pictures, but this IS how it looks right now.

A Dog's Life in NYC

The dog run right by our apartment has been being renovated for the past 4 months. My poor dogs haven't been able to get out and play very much, so we were so excited to find out that it is finally open. This Winter has been unseasonably warm and since it was 60 degrees today we decided to take advantage of it. Little miss's playgroup decided to hold playtime at a nearby playground instead of the church gym. Little miss got her generous playtime for 2 1/2 hours there, so I thought the dogs deserved some time outside as well. Roxy and Thor made lots of new doggie friends and got to run around till they started pawing at their leashes. Everyone is tired, calm, and happy. Even though I haven't gotten much done around the house, this needs to happen everyday.

Th New Zodiac?

I don't put much stock in Horoscopes, but when ever I would read about Capricorn I never thought that it really described me well and it kind of bugged me. A capricorn is this:

When it comes to professionalism and traditional values, Capricorn wins hands-down. This practical sign loves to tackle life in the most conventional of ways, leaving no stone unturned. Considered the most serious-minded of the signs, the Capricorn possesses an independence that allows for considerable progress both personally and on the job.

Really? Not at all me?

So about a year ago I think they decided that the current Zodiac was wrong and that there are actually 13 signs and so according to it I am a Sagittarius. This is the Description of a Sagittarius:

Inquisitive and energetic, the Sagittarius is the traveler of the Zodiac. Their philosophical, broad-minded approach to life motivates them to wander far and wide in the search for the meaning of life. Extroverted, optimistic, and enthusiastic, it can be almost impossible to keep the Sagittarius down. They love change. In fact, change is essential for this sign to feel their best.
More me? Maybe.

Happy New Year!

In 2011 I had my first real surgery, I got kicked out of my house by my evil landlord, I watched my husband attain the title of Doctor as he graduated from dental school, spent 3 months apart from my husband, and moved to a city that I less than like. So, here's to 2011's end and the beginning of a new year! Yay 2012! I'm determined to make it a good one.

New York is a different country. Maybe it ought to have a separate government. Everybody thinks differently, they just don't know what the hell the rest of the United States is. ~Henry Ford

It's been a really tough week. I've never been more unhappy than since I moved here and I have had a lot of outbursts saying, "I HATE IT HERE!!!" This wouldn't be a very honest blog if I didn't admit it once in a while. Living in New York is FAR from easy, fun, or glamorous... At least for me. Sit back and hold on because this is going to be a bitch-fest.

Reasons I hate NYC this week:

1. This city is completely stroller unfriendly. What happens when I have another kid?
2. Taking my child anywhere and keeping her interested/under control is impossible.
3. The fear of us getting separated on a train, her running away from me in the park, or her falling on to the subway tracks are very real to me and somedays I have such bad panic attacks I can't leave the house.
4. Got a ticket for having my dogs on the playground. $50 Effing dollars!
5. People here suck.
6. My husband has hardly been home in 2 weeks, therefore, no help, no relief, and no one to talk to.
7. I still feel like a total outsider in my ward, there is not one person I relate to.
8. Being so poor, I can't even shop at H&M or TJMaxx.


Sometimes you just have to vent. I can't pretend that life here is wonderful all the time. Next week I'm sure I'll have a list to counter all my complaints today.

XOXO

Brrrrr,

New York has been fabulously cold lately. As a mountain grown girl I love being cold, the heat makes my skin crawl and even in the winter there is a window open in my house. I love the look of red noses and cheeks from walking around outside and I absolutely love not sweating like a pig everyday. What I love about cold in New York is the fashion parade late fall and winter bring out in a fabulous array of outerwear. There are so many pea coats and trenches to drool over this season. In New York winter is about 2 things, a fabulous coat and a fabulous scarf. Hats and gloves are optional but not overlooked. In other states that I have lived winter outerwear is whatever coat you wear to the ski resort. In New York, your coat is as important as what's underneath. Because everyone walks everywhere in NYC you rarely see what's under someone's coat, so that coat has to be fabulous and as fashion forward as every other piece in your wardrobe. My favorite styles are the coat dress, Military, and the classic pea coat. Here are some examples of what I'm drooling over as I walk down Madison Avenue:

The coat dress

The Military trench

The classic Peacoat

Walking

I love to wander and just lose myself in the beauty of the city. I had a doctors appointment over on the east side this week and I decided to make a day of it. I packed a lunch and snacks for little miss and we took the subway to 71st and Central park west. We entered Central park and by Strawberry Fields and passed the "Imagine" memorial to John Lennon. It's a beautiful walk especially in the fall. You go past Bethesda Terrace (my favorite place in the park), and the Boat House restaurant. The trees are so vivid Orange right now that it causes the light to glow this gold/orange color everywhere. It's breath taking.
After my appointment I decided to continue down Madison Avenue and then crossed over to 5th avenue and walked down to The Plaza. This was how beautiful the walk was.

I walked all the way over to Columbus circle and then caught the train home. I wish I had had the thought to turn on the GPS on my phone to see how far I walked, but it didn't occur to me. Little miss slept through the doctors appointment and all the way home, it was peaceful and lovely and I think I need to do it more often,