Celebration

As you read earlier, we had cause for a little celebration tonight!

Patrick picked the restaurant for a birthday date, an Italian spot in SoHo called Rubirosa. 

Neither of us had been before, but I can say with certainty that we will be back. 

(half Vodka / half Supreme)

We both loved it! 

Let's just say I've had a lot of pizza in this big city, and I have finally found my favorite. 

*Sigh* I wish you had a scratch & sniff screen. 

I'm serious. The taste was unreal. If you live in NYC, you must go.

We hung out in our little corner of the restaurant, chit chattin' for a couple of hours

 (doesn't get much better if you ask me), before heading back to Chelsea for gifts & cake.

(Anyone want to come help us eat this?)

necessary documentation :)

...

Happy Bday, 'rick.

I hope 27 is your favorite. year. yet.

until next time,

g

Don't Worry...

('cept you're even cuter now.)

happy birthday to my partner in crime.

i'm so excited to celebrate tonight! :)

until next time,

g

Greetings

Patrick was out of town this past weekend so I had a chance to truly unplug, decompress and catch my breath. Alone time is rare these days living in a jam-packed city and a jam-packed apartment and a jam-packed life. I leave work and I just want to zone out and listen to music and have a leisurely commute home. More often than not? I'm dodging tourists on the sidewalk then I'm squished between the subway pole and a sweaty/smelly person while my heavy purse dents my arm and I nearly suffocate inside my puffer coat. It's a cute look, lemme tell ya. And then I'm either going to the gym and changing in a small/confined locker room filled with one too many nekkid women or I'm going to the grocery store and trying to navigate my way down the narrow aisles that only allow for a one-way flow of traffic... a maddening obstacle for us New Yorkers who always seem to be in a big ol' rush. Once I'm finished with the gym and errands, I walk into a 450sq. foot apartment in which I cohabitate with a giant.

One of the things I've had to work on (and am still working on) in this stage #637 of our relationship ;) is how I act when I walk through the front door. Most nights, Patrick is home before I am...and since I haven't had a moment to myself and since I know I still have plenty more work to get done that night, I walk in with a chip on my shoulder. If I walk into a mess or dirty dishes, I heavy sigh. If he asks me how work was, the gym was, if I saw the funny video of some dog, I sharply retort since I'm still trying to take off my shoes and coat. Why is this? Am I a terrible person? I'm being completely honest over here, but maybe I'm the only one who finds themselves ever behaving like this and you're chalking me up to be some evil witch. Trust me, I wish I could be the person that throws open the door and exclaims with my arms in the air, "Hi, honey!! How ARE you? Tell me everything!" While I realize that might be a stretch, I am trying to improve.

I read something recently that said, "Forget the troubles of your day before you greet someone." (And I was all, write that down.) I think it can happen in various scenarios, too. Like, have you ever met up with a friend and the first thing out of their mouth is one long rant? They stand there complaining, "Ugh you will not BELIEVE my day!" and 30 minutes later they finally say hello? And maybe ask how YOU are? It's a little off-putting.

In an effort to recognize ways in which I can self-improve, I am going to try and remember that sentiment above whenever I'm greeting someone...whether it's on the phone, in person, and particularly, when I walk through that front door. Even if it requires me to walk around the block once more or stand on my stoop and take a deep breath, I gotta dismiss those silly troubles of my day before I say hello :)

until next time,

g

Love Is

via

& for p:

love is.

love is teasing a little too much.

love is getting up in the middle of the night to record how insanely loud the other one's snore is just so you can show them the next day and both laugh uncontrollably.

love is admitting that you were just being stubborn and you're sorry.

love is coming home with a Peppermint Patty in your pocket or hiding sunflower seeds in the cupboard.

love is giggling together over YouTube bloopers when it's way past your bedtime but you just don't care.

love is checking in during the day for no real reason.

love is being the most silly and embarrassing version of yourself.

love is finding the other's comfort food when they're sick even if that means going to fetch it in the rain.

love is leaving little notes hidden in the oddest places before you go on a trip.

love is being in a heated argument and you're trying to prove you're right, but you're biting your cheeks to try not to laugh at their "are we done here?" smile.

love is making the task of washing the dishes together, fun.

love is doing your own thing and going out with your friends, but being excited to meet up at the end of the night.

love is sleeping with your phone next to your face just to be sure you hear their call before they board an early flight.

love is immediately sharing any news and getting really excited when it's good.

love is that second - and less obligatory - hug.

love is trusting that despite the unknowns and what-ifs and question marks, love is and will be.

love is...

...dancing awkwardly together.

until next time,

g

A Week of Love - Five Things I Love About Myself

 

Five Things I Love About Myself

I love my name. It's my heritage. It's my identity. It's my brand. And I struggle with the notion that one day, I am supposed to just up and change it. So, I like to think of it as keeping my main name but adding a few nicknames to the bunch. My real name is Virginia -- a title I didn't introduce to my repertoire until moving to Manhattan in 2007. Before that, I was mainly Ginny. I share my middle name, Lucas, with my dad. And who wouldn't love a last name that is a homophone of heart? ;) Most of my family calls me "Gin" but with a southern twang thrown in, giving it two syllables. Other nicknames include: Little Gin, Ginster, Skippy, Luke, G, Gin Bucket, Buc, V, V-A, Virgie, & Little Lady.

I love my hand-eye coordination. Let me begin by first saying that for the most part, I lack all typical motor skills and coordination. I am constantly running into everything around me, tripping, spilling, falling, you name it! I spend the majority of my time looking like this. But I do believe I have a strong hand-eye coordination, if that's what it's even called...it's what has allowed me to play piano, field hockey, tennis, and actually beat Patrick (sometimes) in ping-pong. It's what allows me to type with never glancing at the keyboard. It's what allows me to look at something and draw it, a skill that I think God has blessed me with for a reason. (I realize this skill isn't unique to me, but it doesn't make me any less thankful.)

I love my imagination. Likely resulting from a combination of reasons, I have developed quite the broad imagination.  I attribute it mostly to my childhood spent on a farm entertaining myself with my pets and imaginary friends. I spent an entire year drawing a family of cat-people for crying out loud!  My older siblings constanly read to me, took me on intricate treasure hunts in the woods, told me stories of fantasy lands, and made Santa a sacred tradition. I am truly thankful for an imagination that prevents me from ever experiencing boredom. (I don't get people who get bored.)  Also, it's comforting to think that no one can strip me of two things: my beliefs and my imagination.

I love that I am in touch with my emotions. Patrick asked me the other day if I could cry on demand. I stepped out of the room and came back crying and he stood up and hugged me and begged me never to play that game again. As much as I wish I had a future career in acting (move aside Claire Danes and your quivering chin), I know it's just because I am in touch with my emotions. Probably too much. If I think about something that is sad, whether it's sad for me or for someone else, I can move myself to tears. Same goes for something that is truly good & happy. For example, people should warn me when they're calling to tell me they're engaged or preggers because I usually terrify anyone in the vicinity (poor Patrick) by my reaction. I don't remember the specific incident, but I was in trouble as a kid and my mom sat me down and told me that I needed to think long and hard about how someone else felt in that situation. I am constantly wondering how others are truly feeling especially as a result of my words or actions. It's like I never left timeout. As hard as this can be sometimes, particularly if I'm dealing with people who might think differently, I've discovered that this quality can shatter my wall of shyness.  And if people choose to open up to me, they'll realize I genuinely care.

 

I love that I am my own friend. The future, in a sense, terrifies me. As hard as it is for us to admit, we have no control over how certain things unfold...and there's a possibility that we will end up alone for a part of our life. And, by golly, it's scary to think! The only fact that brings comfort to those fears is knowing that I am my own friend. I can take care of myself, I can laugh at myself, I can feel whole by myself. I would be fine. So yes, I might be a total nut job...and I might cry too much and my imagination might get the best of me...but I have & value my own friendship. I guess you could say I love myself.

 

*I found it easier to think of things I could complain about or say that I "hate" about myself. Acknowledging five things you love about yourself is harder than it sounds. I dare you to try it. I think we can all benefit from this little lesson. If you do, please share with me what you love about yourself!

until next time,

g

Sushi & Sake 101

Patrick & I typically order sushi once a week and have had many-a sushi dates all over the country, always gabbing about how fun it would be to make our own. This Christmas, I wrapped a tiny little note in a big box and put it with the rest of Patrick's gifts. He couldn't understand why it was so light! :) The note was actually a handmade coupon for a sushi-making class that we participated in last night.

It started with a tasting of four different kinds of sake (not my fave, but definitely interesting) while we snacked on edamame, tempura, a sea bass appetizer, and sushi. (so much!) Then it was time to take a stab at that bamboo-rolling device.

I would like to back up for a hot second and quickly say that out of 15 couples, we were the LAST to show up. Talk about awkward as we squeezed into our seats. Also, Patrick gave me a face when the sake instructor asked if anyone did not like the sake so of course that followed with the instructor pointing and saying, "It's okay if you didn't...and if you're wearing red. Now you! Tell us why. What notes do you taste in this particular sake? Do you think it's the salinity level?" (errrwhat?)

but then...

WE MADE THIS!

aren't you impressed??!

After everyone had a turn making a roll and while people were moaning that they were stuffed, the instructor told us we could make more if we wanted.

 Lots of people went back up.

 Oh wait. Nope. Only Patrick.

his new BFF.

(that second roll he made is the one pictured in the very first photo - pretty good, right?)

They wrapped up the class by giving us a list of how to make sushi rice and all the best places in the city to shop for the various ingredients.  Are you a sushi fan? It was a fun little experience that I would definitely recommend! 

until next time,

g

Christmas in New York

The past few days? Have been magical.

There's just nothing like Christmas in New York.

snowflake!

i could have stared at the Bergdorf's window display all night.

:)

you are never too old for a holiday sucker from the bank!

i heart hearts apparently?

i went to a holiday party at a friend's adorable apartment!

isn't this a creative photo display? i want to replicate!

pretty friends.

love him.

when your friend thinks to get you a ribbon holder (and pretty ribbon!) for Christmas,

they are a really good friend. obsessed!

some commissioned place cards for a friend's Christmas dinner!

'Alexander' was a fun name to write.

being silly in the cab after a girl's night.

the neighbor's window...just beautiful!

Bryant Park.

btw, that hot chocolate was the chocolate-y-est chocolate I ever did have.

which means I inhaled it.

happy holidays from the little lady & the big guy!

...

Patrick & I celebrated our own little Christmas last night. He completely blew me away with his gifts and thoughtfulness and I found myself feeling exceedingly...lucky. Who woulda thought that my nineteen-year-old crush and I would be trying to not kill remember to water our first Christmas tree?! Oh 2012, you will always be so special to me.

Like I said, there's just nothing like Christmas in New York.

until next time,

g

Oh, Christmas Tree!

The morning after they lit the tree in Rockefeller Center, 

I made a special pit stop on my way to work. 

Sigh... I love Christmas trees!

This time of year, the city streets are lined with trees for sale.

The smell of pine and Christmas and sugar plums everywhere you go?

Heaven.

All of a sudden, this little tree hobbled forward.

And it just stared at us.

So we knew we had no choice but to adopt it.

Full of personality, it immediately insisted on shopping for some bling.

Patrick assisted in picking out some lights since, ya know,

trees don't have hands.

We took it home and played dress-up...

...voila! 

our first ornament :)

I've never had a live tree before. For those of you who have adopted in the past, 

do I do anything besides water it? And have staring matches? And smile nonstop?

I'm in love.

until next time,

g

A Week of Festivities

There has been a lot going on these past few days... a birthday, Thanksgiving, a wedding - oh my! Despite being sick (why this week?) and traveling five days in a row, it has been downright special...and a celebratory stretch that will make returning to reality tomorrow mighty difficult. I especially loved spending time with my family and sharing those moments with Patrick...staying up late with my sister, breakfast on the farm, hunting stories & deer meat (mah country roots), watching The Family Stone (one of my favorites) with my parents, sitting by the fire, welcoming a new face to our crew, extra long hugs, a fatherly talk over lunch, and discussing all the many things for which our family is thankful.

Here are a few moments these past few days I wanted to share ::

I was greeted at work the day before my birthday by the most thoughtful arrangement...

a homemade card, homemade "healthy" cake pops, homemade hair ties, 

metallic calligraphy ink, and pumpkin spice tea. 

I mean, really. Does it get any sweeter? 

"Macks" by essie

 (makes for a great holiday color!)

I got a little excited when it was just the 'G' hanging in our neighborhood,

but Google had to go ahead and ruin my excitement. 

So I said goodbye to NYC for a few days...

...and flew through some pretty thick fog. 

"Ladies and gentlemen, you can breathe now." - the flight attendant after we landed

some birthday pamper! gotta love it when your parents' loft is above a cute hair salon.

they even have massage chairs for when they wash your hair!

ya know, just in case getting up at 3:15AM didn't make you sleepy enough :)

Patrick's train pulling in! 

birthday dinner.

just so you know...if you peeked inside my heart, 

these two would take up a rather large space.
coincidentally, they both share the nickname "Mac"
...so basically? they're my Big Macs.

Patrick in his happy place.

our view on Thanksgiving.

most of the gang.

since i can't cook worth a lick, i made 23 place cards as my contribution to the meal.

yup.

a few post wedding snapshots!

(take a second look)

wait.

it's hard to keep up with all my adorable nieces & nephews,

but one of these is not like the other.

one last stop in Virginia before we boarded our train.

...

On Thanksgiving, our family passed around a blessings jar. 

We jotted down notes of things for which we are thankful and put them inside.

This was a quote my mom dropped in :: 

I was a total sob-fest as my stepdad read the cards out loud, by the way. I just can't help it. Looking back on this year...looking around the room that night...I don't know how I deserve what I have, but I feel endlessly and overwhelmingly blessed. It's a good thing one of my nephews wrote "God and football" on his card as I quickly giggled those tears away! :)

Cheers to the beginning of this magical holiday season. 

I'm so glad it's here.

until next time,

g