June 29, 2016

That Black Jumpsuit.

June 29, 2016/ Kristen Hale

Last week, Stevie and I took a spontaneous trip to New York City for our anniversary! The 3 days were a blur of impromptu fun and delicious eats and seeing darling old friends. On our actual anniversary, we stopped by a blogger event downtown in Soho (where I met Amber Fillerup Clark of The Barefoot Blonde and almost died of glee. More on that next week though :) and then we went for dinner at my favorite NYC restaurant - Fig and Olive in the Meatpacking district. If you are planning a trip to NYC, looking for somewhere a little more upscale to celebrate an occasion, this is a MUST. The food is outstanding and the service is impeccable. When we sat down to our corner table, the waiter greeted us by name and then assured me that my non-alcoholic mocktail was already being prepared. They really read their Opentable reservation notes, you guys! This place is just the classiest. Go there.

Sporting an itty-bitty baby bump is always a bit awkward, like, um, did that girl eat too many tacos or is she actually pregnant? I've decided to embrace this weird stage and just wear what I want. I'm currently mixing a lot of maternity clothes with just a few non-maternity items. Things have gotten thicker much faster this time around (just in time for bathing suit season, hurray!), so the choice is to either whine about what what to wear every day or just wear it and proudly sport that beer-belly-looking-non-beer-belly.

I loved putting on this black Urban Outfitters jumpsuit, borrowed from my cool little sister's closet. I just felt so sassy and free, without the constriction of a waist band holding me back from ordering dessert :) I paired it with an old pair of BCGC heels, Free People bralette, Kate Spade bag and Anthropologie earrings. Most of these items are a few seasons old, but I've linked to some similar styles below.

Silence + Noise Portia Jumpsuit

Ann Marino Bettye Muller Daphne Strappy Sandals

Galloon Lace Racerback

Wenny Drops

Cedar Street Small Hayden

Tell me, would you every wear a jumpsuit? What's your favorite date night go-to look?

July 23, 2015

Things To Do In New York City With A Baby.

July 23, 2015/ Kristen Hale

I know I sound like a broken record, but guys, we had SO MUCH FUN on our family trip to New York last week!

It was a work trip for him, and a play trip for me, so I was the one spending most of the time shuffling around the city with my darling, almost 1-year old son. And even though I have lived in NYC before, and visited a million bajillion times, there is always something new to be discovered in this fetching, enticing, frantic city. And exploring it with my kiddo? Well, this opportunity was no exception. My eyes were opened to a whole new slew of opportunities and places to be discovered with a baby/toddler in tow. I wanted to share a few of my finds for all you adventuring mamas (and papas!) who want to tote their babes along while exploring the big city.

We packed a few balls to pull out and be played with at a moment's notice.

Babies love fountains. They just LOVE THEM.

Everett roamed with daddy in his stroller, he crawled around Books of Wonder (don't judge, the kid REALLY needed to get out of his seat and it was an obvious play area for babies), and there he is on the subway, where he actually threw his ball in t… — Everett roamed with daddy in his stroller, he crawled around Books of Wonder (don't judge, the kid REALLY needed to get out of his seat and it was an obvious play area for babies), and there he is on the subway, where he actually threw his ball in that woman's face. I practically melted into a puddle of sweat on the floor, I was so embarrassed.

Baby and Kid-Friendly places in NYC:

Washington Square Park- For the gorgeous fountains, epic live music, and frolicking in the grasses. We might have eaten some stray dandelions, too.

Books of Wonder - Best bookstore ever! He was free to crawl on the carpet and play play play to his heart's content. This is a very special book store, and reminds you of the Shop Around the Corner from You've Got Mail. So sweet.

Picnic in Central Park - Because when you have an adventurous kiddo, picnics are the new way to lunch. We did this on several occasions, grabbing meals from Whole Foods and Shake Shack and enjoying them in the park. There are so many open field areas to lounge on the grass, too. It was a great place to pull out all the balls that Stevie made me pack for Everett, and we rolled them back and forth to each other. That child is getting pretty good at playing ball. It's really cute, but its even funnier how proud Stevie gets when Everett rolls the ball towards him. Oh boys.

FAO Schwartz - Talk about making a kid dream. My baby's eyes practically popped out of his head at all the wondrous toys, displays, animals, and joyful atmosphere. You don't have to be a big kid to enjoy - this place is even for babies! Heck, even for adults, we really love it there, too! I always want to over shop and Stevie is always like, "We can find it on Amazon later", and of course, we never do. Because this place is special and the toys in it are just rare, rare finds.

Hudson Eats at Brookfield Place in Battery City Park - Such an awesome place for a baby, because there are TONS of places to eat and you can sit inside or outside and stare at the ocean, the boats, Lady Liberty and Jersey City. Needless to say, my child was pretty quiet while we were all eating, because he had so much to look at and take in. Score.

Raining? It's no problem. There are so many places that you can stroll around with your baby that are so enjoyable and entertaining:

Time Warner Building at Columbus Circle - It's like a really nice mall. With really nice restaurants and bathrooms and coffee and pastries. These are mom necessities, right? Also, while you're there, make sure to check out Landmarc, which is known in the city for being an upscale, kid-friendly joint. Everett ate my entire grilled cheese there. Along with his own lunch.

The MoMa - This is New York's Museum of Modern Art and it is amazing. Luckily, it was located right around the corner from our hotel. I headed that way, then the rain stopped, so we didn't actually visit this time around. But any of the museums are really great for kids, including The Children's Museum, the American Museum of Natural History, and the Met!

Have something to add to this list? We seems to find ourselves there at least 1-2 times a year and I would love to know of some more kid-friendly places! Because, you know, I plan on bringing this little one with me everywhere :) If you have more to share, please do! I'm sure other mamas would want to know, too!

July 22, 2015

New York City, Another Tour of Eats

July 22, 2015/ Kristen Hale

One thing that I love about New York City is how there is always a new "latest and greatest" thing to try, do, see or eat. Always. It's the city of change, and there is a constant, bubbling rotation of trends in every industry. You certainly don't get bored, no matter how many times you've visited or how long you've lived there. There is always more to explore.

The recent visit my family took was no exception, and we made it our mission to try all the latest eats (that were relatively kid-friendly, because c'mon, I'm not going to take Everett to Mercer Kitchen and let him terrorize the pristine-ness). But we found some great spots and were introduced to a few new ones by our best buds from the Upper West Side (who we keep trying to convince to move to Atlanta - it never works but I'm taking the it's-a-marathon approach and hoping that eventually I can convince them). They are legit foodies and always steer us in the right direction. They took us on this East Village food tour last time, and obviously, it lives on in my memory as one of theeeeee most righteous nights in NYC.

Annnnnyways, we ate and ate and ate and ATE. And Everett truly shocked us with his endurance. That boy can hold his own! I fear for my future grocery bills. They are rising, people.

Stumptown Coffee (hairbender is my favorite blend) and a Black Seed Multi-Everything Salmon Bagel. BEST BREAKFAST EVER. And that was just the start of the day :)

Oh the fame. We just want a tiny piece of it. In the form of a croissant perhaps.

Really glad my kid slept through the ice cream part of this field trip, or else he would have demanded some of his own. And I wasn't about to share this delicacy.

Look at who's re-opened since I moved away! One of my first New York memories is from eating in this restaurant with my dad and Aunt like a million years ago. And now it's back and better than ever!

We made friends sitting at the communal tables and sharing brew. And watching Everett flirt with all the girls. And stuff his face with sauerkraut.

Hudson Eats! It's like a food court except way more awesome, with some of the most famous/delicious restaurants in NYC represented.

Eating outside at Brookfield Place, so you can watch the sun go down over the water and dream of owning one of those phat yachts. Yes, I said phat. PHAT.

BFFLS. FTW. Who cares if the photo is blurry. The friendship endures.

A few spots (where we devoured) that are worth trying:

Black Seed Bagels - Get anything. Just flippin' anything.

Dominique Ansel Kitchen - Try the Sumac Chicken Salad Toast with Parsley Tabbouleh! Oh, and of course the crazy famous Burrata Ice Cream. Dear God, that ice cream.

Stumptown Coffee at the Ace Hotel - Always a fave. Great place to buy coffee as a gift, too.

Hudson Eats at Brookfield Place - We devoured burnt ends at Mighty Quinn's Barbeque, catfish from Num Pang Sandwich Shop, shopped at bit at Le District, and reveled in the glorious crepes from Financier Patisserie.

Landmarc - I actually ate here twice with friends. It's fancy, but a good option for kiddos because it's stroller-friendly and extremely spacious. Plus, you get a view of the Upper West Side!

Burger and Lobster - Oh my goodness, why didn't I know about this when I lived there?! LOBSTER ROLL FOR THE WIN. And sangria :)

The Beer Garden at Tavern on the Green - German style pretzels (totally made me remember this little jaunt over to Munich), awesome beer, and Everett eating more bratwurst and sauerkraut than me.

Let me know if you visit one of these places on a trip to NYC! I would love to hear about what you tried/loved/hated!

*Other posts about NYC eats and food tours: munching through Alphabet City, tasting through East Village, Cruising through West Village, testing the CRONUT, enjoying high tea at the Plaza and high tea at Alice's Tea Cup, first time at Black Seed Bagels, feasting on outdoor eats in Soho, barbeque in Harlem, pizza in Brooklyn, and a fancy meal option on the Upper West Side, just to name a few :)

July 20, 2015

New York City in the Summer!

July 20, 2015/ Kristen Hale

New York City in the summer is like, well, New York City in the summer. It's so perfect that there is nothing else to compare it to. I can't get enough of this place. I am simply addicted to this crazy gorgeous city and all its grit and wit and glimmer and glamour. My little family had such a fun 5-day stretch in the city, exploring new places, paying homage to our old standbys, and reconnecting with friends. There are days when I miss living on the grand old Upper West Side, with all it's stately trees and delightful park access and established, artsy vibe. I loved our season there. It was hard, trying to make it as an actor and feeling some level of rejection all the freaking time, but- I am so proud that I took on that challenge and did my absolute darndest. I really did. And so I can always look back on my time in New York with a smile.

But I have to admit, this trip was good for my soul in a whole new way. Because as much as I love this place and I hold it dear to my heart, I felt certain in my gut that it was the right thing to leave this city when we did. And this visit really solidified that choice. I wasn't sure if I would come back and feel an incredible sense of longing, of regret. I am so happy to report that I didn't, in fact, I feel the opposite! I feel proud of our choice to move back home.

All that being said, this trip was even better than the first time we brought Everett. He's bigger, more mobile (though not walking yet, he's so close!), and even more curious about the world. And all the hustle of the city really had him intrigued: he was silent when we were in crowds. He was assessing, taking everything in, considering the moments and looking to me for reassurance every other minute. What a good boy he is.

Probably the only place where you can watch a ball game and gaze at the cityscape ALL AT ONCE. Central Park, you rule.

Don't you just love how quaint New Yorkers are? Pink shirt, big hat, this man is displaying his confidence! I love.

Summer in New York means the park is always packed with ecstatic dogs and their multitudes of humans.

I have to admit, one of my favorite memories from this trip is the evening that I went to dinner with a girlfriend all by myself. You have to understand, I am almost never alone. I haven't been alone much at all in the past year. Every mom who's reading this KNOWS WHAT I MEAN. It's just this thing, we are never, ever alone. We have these babies that need us and these families that need us and we tend to spend all our time providing for those familial needs and then time seems to always run out. And sometimes, I want to be alone. I'm the kind of person that needs alone time to recharge.

So one evening in New York, I made plans to meet my friend downtown for dinner while Stevie stayed at the hotel and put Everett to bed. And I have to say, it was THE BEST. I loved getting on the subway all by myself, NOT lugging a diaper bag, and remembering how to get around on public transportation using just my memories to guide me. I loved walking down the twinkly streets, sidestepping all the trendy youngsters who were getting off work and rushing to meet others for post-work cocktails. I loved seeing all the beautiful people, dressed up in weird trends that I will finally think are cool like 2 years from now, when those things are finally mainstream and the New Yorkers will already be way past it, on to the next. I loved meeting my dear friend at a super cool restaurant, waiting entirely too long for a table because the place was packed to the brim with the aforementioned beautiful people, paying entirely too much for a cocktail (a cocktail! Oh the joy!) and laughing entirely too loudly because I was having a ridiculous amount of fun. We talked about our dreams and talked about our mistakes and talked and talked and talked and - I felt so ignited after leaving that meal that I almost floated the whole way home. It was all very New York. I left feeling young, full of life, full of promise, and excited about the next chapter of my own personal journey. I don't know why this city always makes me feel that way, but that magic worked again. I know I don't have life all figured out, but I've got some light that I will keep on keeping on. I guess you call this feeling rejuvenation.

I was envious of that guy sitting out on his patio, looking over midtown. If you squint hard, you can see him. What's that feeling you're experiencing? ITS CALLED JEALOUSY.

Everywhere we went, this is how he rolled. I don't know where he comes up with this stuff, but he always has a new party trick to show the class.

Jessica giving Everett lemonade from a cup! Who wants a sippy cup of water when you can have someone drizzle lemonade in your mouth? He just loved her.

Stevie worked while we were there, so during the day times, Everett and I would gallivant, meet with old friends and play in the park. We walked sooooo much and it was awesome. My feet reminded me that it had been a while since I'd walked miles in sandals. We might have even fed Everett his first Shake Shack burger and fries... although I'm surprised that he didn't LOVE it the way I do. Ugh that healthy kid. It's gotta be all-organic, locally-grown with that one. Just kidding, unfortunately I've probably made him that way. But in all seriousness, I learned about a lot of places that are perfect for babies in the city, and I'll share more on that later this week.

This guy was playing all the classics in Washington Square Park and he was THE JAM. We stayed a listened for a long long time. Another thing I love about New York - free concerts!

Saturday was our family day, and we pretty much ate our way through the city. We spent the whole day just lazily munching our way through downtown, stopping only to frolic on the different tufts of grass we found along the way, listening to street musicians and watching Everett's eyes light up at, you know, everything. It was so much fun. I'm so lucky to have this little family that I just love love love. And to share my favorite city with them? Well, I think that's what we call bliss.

It was the most unexpected trip of the summer, but an infinitely important one. I'm so grateful that we don't live in NYC anymore, because it's so much fun to come back and dream and laugh and eat and reminisce. I wouldn't change this life for any other life.

Sidenote - Is it cheesy that I sang "Welcome to New York" to Everett every morning that we woke up in the hotel room? Because I totally did that. And now he raises his hands and claps to that song. That boy.

August 28, 2014

50 NYC Adventures

August 28, 2014/ Kristen Hale

Once upon a time I lived in New York City. And these are a few of the spectacular adventures I had (sigh.) This is a great guide if you are a newcomer to the city or if you're planning a visit - just don't expect to see all these sights in one visit!

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