Farewell Financial District

The first time I lived in the financial district was 4 years ago, wide eyed and fresh out of college. Back then it was slowly morphing into a residential neighborhood; management companies were luring young professionals down there with promises of luxury apartments at the most affordable Manhattan prices. They even tried to get everyone to call it FiDi for a while, I think in hopes of making it seem young and hip....fast forward 2 years later (having lived in LA and Hell's Kitchen in between) I moved back.... into a studio, my first very solo living situation.

This weekend marked the last few nights living in the Financial District (for the second time) and Jon and I celebrated by going to our favorite downtown restaurant The Bridge Cafe. This is one of the oldest bar/restaurants in the city and the food has always been amazing! We are creatures of habit at times, especially when it comes to food (shocking I know...hey when you find a good thing?). We have been here enough times where one or two of the waitstaff remembers us each time and (I think) finds enjoyment out of our return. This was no exception.

Scallops with Lobster Risotto

Soft Shell Crab

(when this is in season, it's the only thing Jon orders)

Yummy Desert!

What an appropriate way to celebrate our last night (and last time I'll live down there) in the Financial District. Saturday we got an early start and the move went very smoothly!

Just Like Always

I once read; "friends are like bras; close to your heart and there for support." Slightly comical, and maybe a little appropriate given all the hours of life I've dedicated to the lingerie business (oh the days of minimum wage at Vicky's), but truthfully given that most of my friends are geographically really really far away I do like to think I keep them close to my heart.

Luckily for me one of my best friends, Kathy, came all the way from San Diego this past weekend to visit me in New York! The best thing about my friends, because they are all so awesome in so many ways, is that no matter how much time has passed between talks/visits whenever we are together again we pick up where we left off! This weekend was no different!

Kathy's been to NYC a few times so we didn't do anything overly touristy....she did however get a mini "KP and Jon's tour de dating milestones" by accident. There was plenty of eating and lots of girly conversation, I think there may have even been some squealing, all in all a perfect reunion weekend!

Dinner & Drinks at the Red Head

(best fried chicken evvvver)

Normal

Less Normal

(I believe we were practicing reeling in the fish)

What a wonderful weekend! I'm sad distance prevents us from doing it more often, but when we do get together it's just like always :)

New, Old Love

I am a sap and absolutely melt when I see older couples holding hands...it's nice to know that after so many years they aren't tired of, and still want to hold each others hands (Jon you best be prepared to hold my hand for a long time).

On that note, there is an older couple that, more often than not, I see in the line of people trying to exit my subway station in the morning. Everyday it's the same thing; somehow he gets ahead of her in the throngs of people trying to exit at the same time (New Yorkers can be pushy, literally) and he always waits for her to catch up once outside. They then walk hand in hand on the way to work (at least that's where I imagine they're headed) and right before she turns down 6th Ave and keeps going they give each other a peck goodbye.

No matter what kind of morning I'm having, no matter how many people have pushed me to get out of the way this couple always brings a smile to my face :)

If you like Pina Coladas...

Boca Raton is great place to have one! It's a truly beautiful part of Florida as Jon and I learned this weekend while we were visiting for one of Jon's colleague's weddings at the Boca Raton Resort & Beach Club.

We got in late Friday night, enjoyed some drinks with the happy couple and guests and called it an early night. Saturday we lounged by the pool/beach. It was absolutely sweltering and we were lucky we didn't completely melt!

If only every day could be like this.....

the happy couple!

beautiful flowers everywhere

It was a beautiful wedding and we were so glad to be able to celebrate with Pete, Steph, and all their friends and family. Boca Raton was also the perfect weekend get away from the city. A little sun kissed and a lot more relaxed helped jump start the work week ahead!

BBQ, Baseball, and Superdawgs

For Memorial Day weekend Jon and I headed back to wonderful Chicago! It seems that when I travel with Jon I have about 100x's better flight luck then when I travel alone and this weekend proved no different! We got in right on time, even though Obama was apparently trying to descend on beautiful Chicago at about the same time we were.

There were a lot of home cooked meals which was a nice treat from the normal take out/ eat out routine we've been experiencing here. There was one special stop though that I promised Jon we had to make this time....a trip to Superdawgs! As someone who didn't really eat hot dogs through much of my young adult years I have to admit I can never pass up a Superdawg...yummy.

Jon with Superdawgs signature

gigantic ceramic hotdogs!

Fries...yumm...hot dog...double yum..

..pickled tomato...ehh

Happy!

Jon, Curtis and I got a real treat and were able to take in a Cubs game at Wrigley on Saturday afternoon. Wrigley is magic....as someone who doesn't particularly enjoy the 3 hr + game that is baseball, I find I never mind when it's in this beautiful stadium (a cold beer usually helps as well).

Curtis and I cheering on the Cubs!

We had such a wonderful time celebrating our engagement in my hometown with the fam! That combined with the flight and weather luck we had means Jon had a pretty difficult time trying to coax me onto the plane back to NYC!

"Are you proposing!?"

The answer was yes on all accounts! Jon and I got engaged just this past Sunday and I have to say I could not have been more thrilled and surprised!!

After what was a very active weekend all I wanted to do Sunday was kick back and relax. We decided to grab Dim Sum that morning, and per usual I was "so full". Thankfully we decided to walk back to Jon's apartment because that's when he was planning to ask. He told me he wanted to see what was playing at the Angelika Theatre on Houston and I didn't really think anything of it.

As soon as we get there he won't let go of my hand and is starting to tell me this story about how we had one of our first dates here and that on more than one occasion I've mentioned to him that I remember he didn't kiss me goodbye on that date. I was about to agree that, yes I did remember when all the sudden he keeps talking and is using words such as "love", "future", "happiness", etc. The next thing I remember there's a little black box, he's on his knee, I've got the home alone face going on, and there's this woman repeatedly asking "are you proposing?"!

It was such a wonderful and surreal moment. He totally surprised me which I had thought was impossible. It took a few hours for everything to set in until we could finally call our parents, siblings, and friends to share the news :)

Hints that now make sense after the fact:

1. My mom asking if "anything was new" between Jon and I earlier in the week - this has never happened.

2. Jonathan staying late at work on Friday to "increase his home owners insurance" since I was moving in (this one fooled me at first, but I was suspicious).

3. Jon saying he had to stay late at work once because he had a meeting. A meeting that was apparently about "stuff" when I later asked what is was for.

FORRRREEEE!!

Since moving back to New York, almost 2 years ago, I have realized how difficult it is to have golf as hobby (i.e. my clubs have been in the back of my closet unused since). This past weekend though I broke the dry spell! Jon and I rented a car and spent the day in Jersey visiting the local Target (my fave) and playing a round of golf at one of the courses near the city.

I will admit I was quite nervous, 1. because I'd never played with Jon before (and secretly I didn't want him to be that much better than me) and 2. because inevitably we were also bound to be paired with another twosome. This is always one of the more nerve racking parts of golf for me, finding out who you're paired with (somewhat like a blind date). Thankfully we got paired with a very nice older couple who were very patient and who's daughter ironically went to high school with Jon (this is always happening to him).

I have to admit I was pretty nervous, and it showed in my first few swings (and even a whiff or two) but by the back nine I think I was getting the hang of it! Hopefully we'll get a few more opportunities to play this summer!