eateries in NYC.

now i'm no professional foodie, BUT i do enjoy myself a good meal/snack/dessert every once in awhile. when we moved to NYC i decided i'd never eat at a franchise while living there (with the exception of Shake Shack and Le Pain Quotidian- i LOVE those places). so far, i've kept that "promise" up and i've created a fun list of places to eat that are not touristy but are very good and worth a try...

JACOBS PICKLES: known for their pickles (obviously) and pickled veggies, as well as their southern, home cooked meals! the quantities are huge, but oh so good. my first meal? a fried chicken sandwich drizzled with honey and topped with shredded pickles. omg. take my money now.

LOS TACOS: in chelsea market, they only take cash and are super busy during lunch and dinner. but the wait isn't too long because they slap these small tacos together real fast and before you know it you've already consumed your 4 steak tacos (yes, steak is the best).... 

THE BUTCHERS DAUGHTER: my all time favorite breakfast/brunch place in the city! all vegan and vegetarian, there isn't a thing here yet that i don't like. the coconut yogurt with granola- AMAZING. french toast with raspberry spread- AMAZING. breakfast sandwich with cashew cheese- AMAZING. do you get the picture??? breakfast is served before 11:30am, and on the weekends it is super busy! they also serve lunch, which is equally as good, but try to go during an off time.

JULIANAS: the pizzeria in brooklyn where all the locals go. it's a long story why you should go here and not grimaldi's next door (if you want the story message me), but i promise it's worth it. authentic new york pizza sure not to disappoint!

* THE MEATBALL SHOP: maybe i love this place so much just because it's in my hood... or maybe it's because i just really love chicken meatballs with mushroom sauce. regardless, i just really love this place. if you love meatballs, too, check it out. 

CHOBANI: someone asked me the other day if there was a food/snack that never gets old here. i said chobani. although you can go buy chobani yogurt in the refridgerator section of you grocery store, it's not the same. their spin on yogurt and fresh ingredients is so impressive. i love the chocolate, mint, orange and pistachio blend. after that i feel like i could go run a marathon. (but have yet to do so. don't judge.)

* PIZZA BEACH: okay let me give you a hint as to what to order: the pear, arugula, almond pizza is to die for. with a side of meatballs and caramelized carrots??? get in ma belly!!!!!

* SWEET GREEN: 1, i LOVE their philosophy and story. that's the main reason i keep going there:) 2, for all the doughnuts i eat, i need to balance it out with a salad or two. so this is my go-to place for a lunch i'll feel good about.

* TOTTO RAMEN: do you love ramen as much as secret does?? okay, okay, okay, then get excited because here is a fun, delicious place where you'll find just that. feast yo eyes, and lmk what you think!

THE BAGEL STORE: do you remember when these rainbow bagels were all the fad about 3 months ago? so much so, that they had to shut down the business, reorganize and reopen up in hopes that they could keep up with the demands...? ring a bell? well we made the trek over there and i have to say that although not the best bagel i've ever tried (Murrays are the best), it was definitely novel and fun. hence it's appearance on the blog. the springfetti cream cheese was a fun twist on the plain and it was just fun trying something new.

DOUGH: i'm a major lover of doughnuts. like doughnuts are my jam. so i've tried a few and dough makes a good solid doughnut. the flavors are unique and the doughnut is genuinely good. they have a few locations around the city, but i suggest the actual stern 19th, they are the most fresh and the ambiance is so charming.

THE DOUGHNUT PLANT: in chinatown, but worth the trek. their blueberry doughnut is literally the best ever. it's so cakey and delicious. i didn't even get a picture because i didn't expect it to be so good.

* DOUGHNUTTERY: my favorite little doughnuts in the entire city. favorite flavor: paris time (aka pistachio and lavender :) are you surprised??

LADY M: these are the lightest, daintiest and most beautiful desserts i've ever seen. just looking at all the cakes/pastries brings one so much spiritual peace. and you know what else brings peace?? eating a light and fluffy piece of cake that doesn't leave you writhing on the floor. win-win.

MELT ICE CREAM SANDWICH: i cannot remember the name for the life of me, but go with me here. it's on governors island, and it's little truck/stand that sells homemade ice cream sandwiches in the best flavors. this one is snickerdoodle, but we also got red velvet and both were a sugar addicts delight. take your sandwich over to a hammock and kick back, and you've got yourself a highlight of the year. you're welcome;)

HOLEY CREAM: if you like doughnuts (i do, i do!!) and ice cream (i do, i do!!!) then you'll like this doughnut and ice cream baby. these guys take a doughnut, cut it in half, fill it with the ice cream flavor of your choice, and top it with icing and topping of your choice. it's not really a baby dessert, it's a monster dessert. like it's big. BUT if you want an opportunity to cozy up to your date and maybe share a romantic bite or two, this is for you. 1 is plenty for 2 people/lovebirds.

LADUREE: okay, i know, i know, these are technically NOT a NYC native food. but you know my soul really belongs in paris, so therefore, i have to give a shoutout to the best macaroons in NYC. unfortunately their location on madison avenue is between my house and the park.. so therefore, i guess to get to the park i HAVE to stop and get a rose macaroon... bummer.... ;)

* MILK BAR: do you drink the milk out of your cereal when you've finished? me, too! okay, then you'll LOVE their cereal milk ice cream. topped with cornflakes, this special ice cream is something you'll always crave. and if you're weird and don't drink the milk from your bowl.... then i guess you can order a slice of their crack pie or some birthday cake truffles. if you order those, then i won't even be mad because those are freaking amazing, too. 

* CHINATOWN ICE CREAM FACTORY: hands down the best ice cream in the entire city. the almond cookie ice cream will leave you dreaming. unless you're allergic to almonds, then it'll leave you with hives.

happy eating/adventuring!

** pictures not my own. taken from their website.

the learning curve.

i went into this whole "2nd child" chapter with a very confident idea of what it would look like and entail. well let me tell you.... i was off. WAY OFF let me explain:

here's what i learned: i was under the impression that having a baby naturally isn't "that big of a deal and is sort of a beautiful experience." um, having a baby naturally its not a beautiful experience AT ALL. although i didn't scream like they do in the movies, i definitely shed way more tears than i did with remie.  sam came quick, like active labor for an hour, 2 pushes, HELLO BABY quick! but i kid you not, it was the hardest thing i've done in my life thus far. i'm super proud of myself and felt like a true hero, but oooo-da-la-lee... it was quite something.

 

here's what i learned: introducing your first kid to the new one isn't always this tender loving moment. sometimes the older one only cares about yogurt and the "owie" (umbilical cord) on baby's belly. i had dreams of remzer being completely in love with her little brother, and although she will come to be, it was sort of just a moment of "well that's cool, guys. mom, when are you coming home?"

here's what i learned: i thought for sure i could be that mother that had it together from square one. kids perfectly dressed and coiffed, mom back to pre-pregnancy weight, dad happily stuffed with a home cooked meal. LOOK AT MY KID. she's not dressed. my postpartum belly is still with me (8 weeks later) and secret has cleaned out all of our frozen burritos. so we're alive, but definitely not as put together as i hoped. and i'm convinced those moms who do "have it all together", secretly have a nanny (or two) hiding out at home.... #findthenannies

>>> EVEN FOR THIS PICTURE: week old, unwashed hair. loooooove it (sarcastic smile).

>>> also faking the "i love my brother" look. i bribed her with 2 orange tic-tads for this baby:)

here's what i learned: i thought i could still pull of days of endless adventure. well between feedings sometimes we can only make it out for a quick walk or stop at the grocery store. but that's okay, right?! this season of feeding every 3 hours really is just a season. at least i tell myself that. i also tell myself that leggings are ALWAYS in season. if that's a lie, don't tell me... LET ME LIVE THE LIE.

here's what i learned: having parents come to town to help you is amazing. downside? when they leave reality hits HARD....

here's what i learned: signing your oldest kid up for lots of unnecessary classes is a nightmare during the early stages with a newborn. terrible idea. the first day by myself of course it was pouring rain as we hustled to her "ballet class"... AAAAAAAND you can't even call it that, as the toddlers just lay on the floor eating the stray raisin they just found. 

oh wait, only my kid does that?? 

cool.

REALITY: pushing a stroller with 2 kids on it can be a freaking circus. first of all it's heavy. second, it's like driving a semi truck. 3rd, it calls all this unwanted attention as people stop to gawk at your "contraption." one guy stopped me and asked if it was "hard pushing a high rise...." what does it look like, SIR????

here's what i learned: boys pee a lot, and they pee all over. one minute, dry. next minute, WHY IS YOUR HAIR ALL WET?! why is your sister all wet?? why am i all wet??? and pee isn't the only problem. their little bowels can do other things, too. weird things. like, it's impressive how sneaky their little poops can be.

TMI??

sorry.

here's what i learned: mom guilt is real. i've discovered the only way to help not feel so guilty is get up way before the kids and get myself completely taken care of. then when they wake up i can get them ready and we can get out the door to galavant around town. then it's all about them until nap time. nap time? the only time of the day where i ignore the guilt completely and also take a nap. #napqueen

here's what i learned: etsy is the best place to buy little boy clothes. i've decided that sams style will be "hipster." can i do that? can i decide that for him?

i don't know. i don't care. hipster it is:)

here's what i learned: watching LDS general conference is now like trying to put a fork in a socket without getting shocked- impossible. kids are either jumping on the bed, or asking for snacks, sliding down the slide, blocking your view of the speaker, etc. the shenanigans are just unreal!

here's what i learned: the "doddler toddler" is A LEGITIMATELY REAL THING. who knew it could take so long for a person to walk such a short distance. there are rocks to taste, baskets to climb into, dogs to talk to, bird poop to pick, tantrums to throw.... the whole outing just takes FOREVER.

settle in people, this will be the longest, but slowest walk of you life. but i guess one could argue she's just teaching me patience....?

here's what i learned: take whatever quiet, alone moment you can get with the new baby. sometimes a whole day will go by before i realize that i haven't really (really) looked at sammy pants. you know that deep, loving, cooing look all new parents give their baby? so when remzer is asleep and it's just us two, i've started to smother this kid with kisses and love. because heavens knows, as soon as she gets up, the shenanigans will resume.

here's what i learned: toddlerhood is 50% hard, 50% fun. this kid, let me tell ya: repeats almost everything i say (i learned that from jokingly telling secret to shut up one day [yikes!!!]), says hello to everyone that passes, is super insistent on wearing her hat anytime i wear mine, but then of course finds the hat to be unbelievably "ichy (itchy)." it's just an entire day of juggling with her. BUT i'll take it. all day, any day. I'LL TAKE IT.

>>>> her newest way of expressing her unwillingness to do what i've asked. accompanied by a strong "no."

here's what i learned: to just take it all in strides:) life is indeed c'est bon! sometimes i just forget and get all caught up on looking like we have it all together (i'm convinced no one does!!). well guess what? sometimes i find myself laughing the hardest when sam farts super loud in public (a regular occurrence) and remie goes running off with boogers smeared across her face. we may not have it all together but we sure have fun trying.