It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Hello!  Happy Holiday season...I must admit that I love being in the northeast and especially near NYC around this time of the year.  New York is so magical during Christmastime and I am also loving being in the suburbs/countryside where I get to see all the houses lit up, Christmas tree stands on the side of the road and the town center shops looking so festive.

We have had a great past couple of weeks...lots of fun get togethers with friends and have really been "nesting" as I like to say in our new place.  Nick surprised me with Broadway tickets to see Lion King for my birthday and we hit up Shake Shack afterward.  Shake Shack is a NY institution and we have yet to go!  It's a hot dog, burger, milkshake joint...yum!

i am wearing rainboots b/c it was pouring...nick chooses style over practicality and looks pretty good lookin' in this pic, i must say!  that's a cute husband i have!

mufassssa.

me with a shake in front of shake shack!

Our friends, Tina and Joey came up from DC for a weekend and I loved having them stay with us...they actually got their own room, bed and full bath!  An upgrade from the air mattress that Cole loved to jump on and sharing a tiny bathroom...right?!  We all had a great dinner with some friends (new residents of NYC), Kerby and Meredith, at one of my all time fav restaurants in the city....Extra Virgin.  There were many members of the clean plate club and many empty wine bottles that night!

Tina, me, Meredith

For Thanksgiving we drove south to Richmond, VA.  We spent thanksgiving with my family and got lots of quality time in with my little niece...who has quite the personality these days!  She definitely knows what you're saying when you talk to her now, she's walking/running all over the place, and has a high pitched squeal when she wants or doesn't want something...pretty funny!  She is just so cute with little bows and clips in her hair now...and she loves Uncle Nick!  It was so sweet to see her climb into his lap and have him read her a book...I was laughing though b/c it was for 1 min intervals over and over. It was very fun playing with her and being with family....the weather was incredibly warm which was so nice!

we were telling Caroline how to cheer on the Eagles against the Patriots while her daddy wasn't around

December has brought on the cold weather and all the Christmas decorating and festivities!  We got a large Christmas tree this year and it's turned out so nice...I love looking at it and the colored lights make it fun :)  I wanted to buy from one of the local farms or nurseries, but we have figured out that on week days most things close early!  Restaurants and the grocery store are open till 9, but we can barely get pizza delivered past 8....big change to our lifestyle!  So after heading down some dark, dirt country roads, we went to home depot to buy a tree....gave our $$ to the man. :( 

had a nice fire this weekend...but quickly realized we had no fireplace tools...opps.

I did buy a wreath from a local nursery though!

Although we're all unpacked, I haven't hung too many things on the walls yet and we've been waiting on furniture that we've bought...big purchases that will last a LONG time...couch, desk, ottoman, dresser.  So a tour will have to wait...

I actually have an office! 

We had some more friends visit...Trace and Natalie (we're going skiing in Colorado together January!) from Boston.  Game night with wine till 4am, lunch at Eataly, ice skating a Bryant Park, Hokie game at our favorite sports bar (3 Sheets Saloon in the village), then brunch and shopping in Soho on Sunday. During our time in the city, I also got to see one of my best friends, Allison and her new hubby Jared who joined us for ice skating!  so fun to have people in the city this time of year.  Trace and Natalie make us laugh so much and we absolutely love hanging out with them...we're so lucky to have friends like that!

Flatiron District

Eataly...love it...yumm.

after whipped cream cappuccinos, prosciutto on italian bread, and margherita pizza

Allison and I...she was ready for to watch the Hokies game!

Byrant Park ice skating...Jared's from Michigan, so naturally he's semi-pro.

We are so grateful to have friends and family (my parents this weekend!) come to visit us this time of year...we love having them! Thanks for visiting...can't wait to see you again!

Love from Jersey!

Vacation

While I've had a great summer and have traveled, and continue to travel (stay tuned for my 9 day Cali trip to visit Casey around labor day) there is nothing like a true vacation.

My family had our annual week at Sunset Beach, NC in July. It was a perfect hot summer week with no rain.  We didn't do a whole lot of activities, which is exactly how we like it.  We did however let two new members join in this year...King Cole and Little Miss C.  They both added a lot of fun to our vacation and seemed to really enjoy themselves as well.  Cole loved the beach and swimming in the ocean...Caroline also loved the beach, crawling in the sand, and her cheerios.

Nick played 5 rounds of golf and we played 9 holes together one evening...my family had our annual putt putt game and I beat Nick which I rubbed in quite a bit ;)  My Dad held the winning title for the 2nd year in a row.  We also went out to eat and tried something new...gas station pizza.  The pictures pretty much tell the rest...

we read...

we ate...or tried to sneak a bite...

we got some zzz's...

we caught some rays...



i must brag...he's a poster pup.

we played at the beach...

we visited with a friend...some of you may recognize this guy

and we took the annual family photos.

already wishing to go back!!

Little Smith Update

I've had two visits with my niece, little miss Caroline in March!  She is soooo adorable....I know all babies are adorable and I'm obviously biased, but she is one cute babe!

She has a big personality, loves to talk with lots of babble, shrieks, and giggles.  She loves to play and be "flown" through the air and the last time I saw her she was really into gumming on her toys too.

While she's snuggly, she also loves to move...kicking and grabbing at things...such a squirmy worm!  I think we can all tell she's going to be one talkative little girl we'll all be chasing around!  here's a few pics.

love from the city!

loves to laugh

Caroline about to go on a walk with Nana and I...ignore how tired I look in this pic and just stare at the cute baby!

oh soooo cute!

I was in Boston for work and squeezed in some time with Caroline....love!

Balancing Act

Life is a balancing act...that much I have learned in the past 2 months. I don't even have kids and I feel overwhelmed sometimes...I can't even imagine how to balance that. Some people look like they can do it all...spend time with friends, cook, take time to be creative, work out, excel at their career. All I can say is do these people sleep??

I'm not a type A, never have been...never will, but I'm type A about certain parts of my life and that includes my job, a clean house, and good relationships. Honestly right now I am finding it pretty hard to get caught up with work and learn a new job while making sure to prioritize family and friends. Not to mention hobbies...what's "exercise" again? I know it's about making your priorities but sometimes everything seems important. I am trying to carve out time to catch up with family and girlfriends...pay attention to my husband in our free time while still being a good employee. Now I understand why there is so much talk about the pressure of being "superwomen"....it's true!

I know that if my job was less stressful or I wasn't new to it that I wouldn't feel this way. So at least I know it's temporary. The new york area also breeds a mentality of work work work...people are hustling and bustling to and from work...long hours...trying to be 1 step above or ahead everyone else. I love the drive and ambition, but ever wonder what's the point?! I keep telling myself that the point is to make $$ to enable us to do enjoyable things in life and then eventually enjoy retirement!

Through my deep breaths, headaches, to-do lists, and a few tears...I remember I'm lucky to have a wonderful support system around me. Personally and professionally. I'm also lucky enough that my career allows me to drink on the job and that always helps the day end well ;) hahaha.

This is honestly what's been going on with my life recently...so interesting or not...it's my blog for the week. All I can say, is these pictures help me remember what life is all about...plus talking to Casey is always the best, she never fails to come through and even sends me articles like this.

family and my ridiculously cute niece, caroline...who's new found laugh almost made me pee my pants laughing over skype this weekend. she's the happiest baby I've ever met!



sweet and incredibly supportive hubby and cuddly soft dog who's affection is always welcome (although him being on the couch is no longer welcome!)


girlfriends, champagne, and celebrations...Allison and Barbara celebrating Allison's engagement in NYC (they came up from DC for the night)!!


i like my job. i like my job. repeat...

cutest niece on earth...but i'm not bias.

Since we're gearing up for Christmas this week and we will be spending it in Boston with the cutest niece on earth, Caroline...I thought I'd treat you to some cute pictures. Two pictures from our day trip to Boston in November and one that was sent to us last week.

hanging with Uncle Nick and Aunt Leslie


first of many roadtrips together! check out those cheeks and a cute hat courtesy of her Aunt Leslie ;)


little cupcake!