Back to the beginning: Moving to NYC for 1 month.

So, as I've written before, Jeff and I met in NYC, lived in NYC, and then subsequently moved out of NYC a couple years ago.  We still live very close by as the train is a 10 minute walk or 3 minute bike ride from our home and the train itself only takes 35 minutes to get there.  Nonetheless, I still crave living there just a little bit. To not have to race for a train after happy hour or work is a beautiful thing.  This is why Jeff and I have decided to make the move back to NYC...for the month of October. 

In the past, living in Manhattan was AMAZING and TERRIBLE.  Period.  

It was amazing because of the vibe, the inspiration, the lower east side, the east village, the restaurants, the bars, the FOOD, the street noise, the people, the subway, and the never-ending list of things to do.  I loved just being there.  Walking down Orchard Street or sitting, perched on a bench on Avenue A with a bagel and cream cheese, people-watching.

However, things were not 100 percent rosy 100 percent of the time.  The apartment aspect was tough.  Whether you spend 1000 or 3000 a month, it's always pretty trying.  My first apartment was only 950/monthly and a dream come true for a recent college grad. I could live in Hells Kitchen, close to my work for under 1k a month? I'll take it! So I did...BUT, it was also an illegal sublet which basically meant that I had to hide from the landlady who lived in the building housing only 10 apartments for 4 months. Not fun. Also, I'm pretty sure the place was haunted. Oh, and it was above the subway, with my only windows positioned at a bus stop.  Buses run 24 hours a day. I did not sleep for 4 months.  

My second apartment was the best one.  It was a 3 bedroom in a hi-rise with a doorman and a roof deck.  I had 2 roommates and Jeff was actually one of them for a few months.  The only downside at all was the sharing a TV/living room/kitchen/fridge/bathroom/everything fairly between 3 people.  Not stepping on anyone's toes was like an olympic event in that place.  Also, I apparently did not take any pictures of this place in the 1.5 years that I lived here. Annoying!

Whoa. Bad hair day.

What a slob! But please note: this was a huge bedroom for me at the time.

My third apartment (just over 2k) should have been great since it was mine and Jeff's first home together.  And it was in the lower east side, an awesome neighborhood.  It really would have been great other than our drug-addicted, abusive next door neighbors who screamed and made up ALL day, every day.  I seriously don't think they even worked.  They also chain smoked cigarettes which would have been fine, if it didn't billow through our intercom into our apartment. Nasty. Ultimately, that did not even break us.  What did, was the no dog policy.  We wanted a dog!

Also considered "big" in NYC.

Our mini office. With a window looking onto a brick wall.

A very New York Christmas

Couch was replaced by bar stools shortly after this photo was taken.

The hallway that separated us from our wacky neighbors.

That brings me to our 4th (dog-friendly!) apartment.  This place was so darn spacious.  Something we had never dreamed we'd have. Right in the east village, with a view.  Not an easy thing to acquire in that part of town since there aren't many tall buildings.  But of course, it wasn't all peachy.  There was a problem. A HUGE one.  The apartment. was infested. with mice.  Nothing could stop them from coming in and honestly, it drove me mad.  It was awful, petrifying and disgusting.  They drove Remy insane, as well, and they made me want to throw up on the regular.  We didn't even make it to the end of that lease.  We needed to get OUT.  

Our last place was supposed to solve all of our problems. It had a HUGE outdoor deck, so that we could feel free and not boxed up.  It had an upstairs office, separated from our downstairs mini kitchen, mini living room, mini bedroom and bath.  It was also on the 5th floor of a walk-up building.  Hellooo exercise!  This place was clean, renovated and actually pretty awesome.  The only real setback was that we were too darn big for it.  Remy had no place to run or play and the freedom deck was not as amazing as we'd hoped.  It faced inwards and kinda felt like a jail.  Oh, and I could hear my neighbors burp. Thanks, paper-thin-walls. 

I do think that if we'd never gotten Remy (our lives would be awful) we would probably still be in the city.  There are TONS of normal not-pet -friendly apartments that would have worked for us.  But I'm glad we didn't live that life.  Remy is our everything and our house and town that we live in now is unreal, amazing. Ultimately, I'm thankful that things went the way they did but I still can't wait for our month back in time.  Back to when we lived in a tiny space. In a walk-up building. Surrounded by restaurants and a bajillion people.  This one month trip is going to be so amazing and I can't wait!

xoxo
L

Basement Walls...

are going up!

This is me standing in the soon-to-be bathroom's doorway.  I cannot wait to have a normal sized bathroom. OMG.  Moving into an ancient house is cool, but the bathroom's that come with it are not.  This will be amazing.  A nice little getaway.

We leave Monday for a month in NYC! 
xoxo
L

The Basement Bathroom Floor is Here!

It looks and feels like carrara marble, which really fits with the period of our house, but costs a fraction of the price.  And it's durable.  I want the bathroom to be classy and fit in, but it's still a basement bathroom at the end of the day.  I can't go too crazy!  Oh, and we ordered it from Home Depot for just over 2 bucks a square foot.

Bull.

Looking for the perfect over-the-fireplace accessory?

FOUND IT!

I noticed my bull friend whilst walking by their storefront and KNEW he had to be mine.  Unfortunately, they only had Bull in bubblegum pink, so I had to go ahead and special order a white one.  He came in a week later from Mexico and he's perfect!

I bought my bull at SHED in Maplewood, NJ (Go small business! Yay). You can find them here: http://shedhome.blogspot.com/   

xoxo
L

Basement Remodel Step 1: DEMO

We're remodeling our basement!!!  All I have to say is, what a mess. 

Knockin down walls and taking names.

The basement toilet shed is gone!

The area formerly known as Bar 52

So much mess!

How exciting is this?!  We're adding a FULL BATH, LOUNGE AREA, laundry area, storage area, and a completely revamped BAR 52!  Pretty fun.  Except the living here through the renovation part.  As of now, we're hoping it will be completely done by Halloween.

There's a Cat on the roof!!!!

Poor kitty got stuck on my neighbor's roof!  Can you believe it?

I can't...

xoxo
L

Flashback Friday - Around NYC this summer...

I can't believe it's almost Fall, Cheers to that!

Equal parts bizarre and sad.  Yes, that is a guinea pig in a dog bed.

TWINS!!!!!  It's like the East Village, dog version of The Parent Trap!!!

Blow outs at DryBar...with complimentary champagne!

Fun drinks at Mayahuel in the East Village. Their drink menu (and food) is ridiculous.

Hells Kitchen apartment parties with some lovely friends.

Rooftop drinks at 230 Fifth on a gorgeous night. Go here! Often, but before the doorguy shows up. No hassle and less of a crowd makes it easier to enjoy with friends!

 Pink Floyd concert (Roger Waters - The Wall) at Yankee Stadium with my Dad!

And my nephew finding the perfect crack in the West Village to play with his trains on!  So innovative, that kid.

Pirate Booty delicately placed on Remy's snaggle teeth did not happen in NYC...but it happened. And that in itself is amazing.  Au revoir Summer!

xoxo
L

YUM: Labor Day Guacamole!

Holy guacamole, this stuff is AMAZING!!!!

3 ripe avocados
1 clove garlic
2 small slivers of chopped red onion
1 plum tomato
1.5 tsp lime juice
1/4 tsp salt (plus a pinch)

Mix it all together (without completely smashing the avo's) and you should be set. If you need to keep it fresh for a party (like me) wrap it in saran wrap with the saran actually touching the guac.  Air is what ruins it, so don't leave any room for it.  Also, you can be paranoid like me and throw the pit in along with another glass cover on top.

Enjoy your long holiday weekend!
L