Sunday Morning Lists and Photos

This week was cut slightly short by the "gigantic nor'easter" that hit the  . . . wait for it . . . north east. I   put gigantic in quotation because, had it not been for the snowless season we had last year, a snow storm that dropped 10" inches wouldn't have caused such alarm and panic. There was admittedly, a lot more snow in New England and on Long Island than we had here, but none the less snow in winter should be anticipated.

I can't complain though, the storm meant a nice cozy weekend at home (that started early Friday afternoon!) with movies, hot chocolate, and snowy walks in my Sorels (which haven't had much wear since 2011).

Currently:

Watching: Skyfall, we started watching it last night and fell asleep.

Reading: Cook's Illustrated. The most recent 2 issues. Want to make everything!

Procrastinating: Going to the gym. My gym clothes are on!

Wishing: To make it to the beach in March.

Loving: This clean apartment! For the moment.

Waiting: For my iPhone to update so I don't have an excuse to not go to the gym.

Enjoying: Instagram and Afterglow apps. So much fun playing with photos! (See below)

Listening: This American Life, Pandora piano playlists, and Beyonce.

Central Park. Gelato from Eataly. New favorite wine.

View of the Village. Tea and Honey. Blueberry Peach Buttermilk Coffee Cake (no sugar, so good).

Evening Commute. Puppy Paws. Snowstorm Aftermath.

Building. Chinatown. Central Park.

This Week: List Form

Since I love making lists . . . to-do lists, wish lists, more to-do lists . . . I thought I'd share this week's thoughts in list form.

Missing: Warm sunny weather. I'd really like a sunny beach right now. It's not that it's cold (it really isn't - it was 57 degrees this week) but it's grey, rainy, damp, and dark all the time. The caribbean would be awesome, but I'd be psyched with just Tampa at this point.

Wanting: To take more photos. I think I've been lazy with photo taking recently. I need to get out of the apartment and take more well-lit, interesting photographs. 

Enjoying: Listening to This American Life. I've managed to catch a few really great shows recently - it's been a great running buddy this week.

Needing: To vacuum. But seriously. Well maybe I need a new vacuum - which is a totally lame purchase and NOT at the top of my things-I-want-to-buy list.

Loving: Smoothies for breakfast

Amazing: The new puppy at work. She's a 12 week old collie/german shepherd and she is a ball of cuddly, soft, delightful puppy smell and puppy fur. TOO CUTE. 

Seriously. Best new coworker ever.

A New Year and A New List

I had a lovely holiday and very happy New Year's eve, as I hope you did as well

Canada was lovely, although our drive back was interrupted by the onslaught of snow. We decided to stop for the night at a hotel off of Route 91 in Northhampton which was an excellent choice. I use the word 'decided' loosely . . . it was more of an executive decision made by the van in which it declared we weren't going to continue up those MA hills in the storm. Anyhow, we had cozy detour and then made our way the rest of the way home the following morning. 

A few things I've come to realize while being on vacation from work over the last few weeks:

1. Apparently I get the flu when I am most rested, least stressed, and have lots of free time. I guess that's a good thing? As long as I'm recovered for Monday . . .

2. The apparent urge to be creative and draw pictures seems to come only after 8+ hours on the couch with said flu, watching Netflix.

3. Traffic is more stressful when I'm not driving in it twice a day.

4. Since I haven't had to be up with an alarm in almost three weeks, I don't actually hear Zack's alarm anymore when it goes off in the morning. This worries me. I had better set at least 3 alarms for Monday morning.

5. Extra free time doesn't mean more productivity. It means the opposite.

6. Unless productivity means catching up on movies and television I've missed. If that's the case, I've been extremely productive.

7. After seeing The Hobbit, I want to travel to New Zealand. Or live in an underground house that's round. But, travelling to New Zealand sounds better.

8. I've decided that I enjoy being UP early, but I don't like having to BE somewhere early. Unless it's in my kitchen with coffee that I have to be at 7 AM. 

9. I am missing work and am simultaneously afraid that I have completely forgotten how to do my job. 

10. Quentin Tarantino makes pretty great films.

Some photos from from the holidays. All in Canada, except the ones that are obviously not:

Winter Squash

Winter roses in my parents' solarium

Rt. 21. 

Pruned fig tree

A very chilly winter wonderland.

Happy New Year!