We went to visit my brother this weekend in NYC and stay over at his new apartment. It was so much fun just to relax and hang out in the city before classes started. (Sorry, no pictures. I left my memory stick at home.) NJ Transit offered FREE rides to students all week, so it was perfect.
On Friday night, we went to Dallas BBQ in Chelsea. Keith is the BBQ fan, not me, but I have to admit it was really good and affordable. The portions are really large and most entrees were $16.99. We ordered the Full Wings as an appetizer that were really good. Between the 3 of us, we had ribs, steak, chicken, crab cakes, and a filet of fried catfish. Everything was really good. The crab cakes were full of crab, but I think I would've rather gone with the shrimp. The fried catfish was good, but not nearly as good as the fried catfish from Ms Tootsie's in Philadelphia. Everything at Ms. Tootsie's is fantastic!!!
The next day, we walked around and browsed all the shops near Grand Central Station and Union Square. Since we took the train in, it was so relaxing not to be bounded by our car. I wanted to check out the "chandelier" again at Olivier's & Co. It wasn't as impressive as when I first saw it years ago. I am making a note of it because someday, I'd like a scaled down version of the olive oil chandelier that Emeril has on his show. Maybe I can make one myself if I can't buy it. (You can see it in the window here on the right hand side)
We went down to Union Square where they have the open green market every Saturday. I went to visit Cherry Lane Farms; a friend of a friend owns the farm. I bought some of these Fairytale eggplant. Aren't they cute? We're going to skewer them and grill them. Now I am going to want to grow them next summer.
Then we had to stop at Paper Presentation, so I could pick up some stuff for our Christmas cards this year. The store has been "revamped" since I last visited. There were a lot more choices in scrapbooking embellishments, ribbon, and a wedding invitation consulting area upstairs. I am in love with their new mini tags. I was thinking of things I could make with them just so I could find a reason to buy them. But alas, we are on a budget and have to avoid buying "extras".
After that, we checked out a sleeper sofa at Jennifer Convertables that my brother wants for his apartment. It's crazy how small apartments are in NYC. We browsed all the shops around there for decorating ideas. He's going for a contemporary cream with black and red accent look. Sister to the rescue!
We went to Fishs Eddy and I gasped so loudly that I scared the lady next to me when I found these! Ceramic labels 6/$2.00 for my garden. I am going to run either a wire or ribbon through it and tag all my flowers and veggies! I am so excited about this.
I love all things Alice in Wonderland! We were already on our way out of Fishs Eddy when I spotted the collection. These are definitely going on my Christmas wish list!
Then I did a little Back to School shopping and by that time we were hungry again. My brother was in the mood for Minado (AKA To dai) in Koreantown, so we went there. We walked in and ROLLED out since we ate so much. Yummm We went back to my bro's apartment, watched MadTV and fell asleep. Overall, it was a VERY good weekend and it wasn't even over yet.
Sunday morning, we took the train back home. Keith had to go to work and I had the itch to clean. Every once in a while I get the itch to decorate or take on a new project. I rearranged the living room furniture to give it a "new" feel. The living room was too spread out before and we wanted it to be a little cozier to encourage newlywed affection! It's not my ideal living room arrangement (I hate things caddy corner), but for just 2 people, I think it works. Our living room has no solid walls (ie. window or opening in every wall), so that makes things really tricky. After 2 hours of playing doll house, vacuuming 10 times and dropping the tv on my legs OUCH! This is what I came up with.
Yes, Keith is playing video games and wouldn't move out of the way for my picture.
I moved the kitchen hutch/cabinet thingy out to the living room. The wood matches the coffee table and actually completed the look of the living room. It balances the room out so that the couches don't seem to be sticking out in midair.
The enclosed porch out front.
Our jade plant is doing much better thank goodness! Apparantly, it's telling of your financial situation. Let's just say that in the summer, it was shriveling up and thin. Now it's plumping back up. I hope that's good sign!
Time to empty out the fridge! I made soup with ground sausage, peppers, leeks, tomatoes, arugula, parsley, garlic and orzo. It was DEEEEELICIOUS!!! Everything but the sausage and leeks were from my garden.
Then at night, I just worked on our scrapbook some more and started my wedding shadow box. I am also working on framing 8x10's of all the places Keith and I have visited over the years. We were thinking of hanging them along the wall going up the stairs and progressing chronologically up the stairs. Unfortunately, the pictures of France and Italy are low resolution since we took those over 4 years ago. This week, I start classes so I'll be pretty busy until Christmas. I hope I can get to the rest of the gardening and fall decorating by this weekend.
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