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October has been a funny little month. First I had no work, then I had too much work, and now I may have just the right amount of work. It was really hot, then it was cold, then it warmed back up, then it went down to freezing, now I have the window open again, and my allergies can't handle any of it. I went to a beautiful wedding in the Berkshires, saw a concert in Central Park, found a rooftop garden in the middle of Queens, had a million heart attacks as I watched my beloved Cubs make it to the finals, and then lost a bit of my soul (along with that ball) in the ivy sometime around the middle of Game 2. But there's always next year, right? We made some more headway in the wedding planning department, but then got delightfully sidetracked when we started talking honeymoon destinations. Galapagos Islands? Adriatic Sea? Vietnam and Thailand? The world is our oyster right now, and it's exhilarating but also overwhelming because the world is just so big! But I can't complain - this is a good problem to have ;)

1.) astoria park / 2.) bagel date / 3.) central park / 4.) sunbeam / 5.) crunch time / 6.) coffee talk / 7.) farmer's market / 8.) modern art / 9.) pepper time / 10.) hot date / 11.) rooftop farm / 12.) questlove

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We've been hit with some absolutely stunning weather recently (read: no humidity and tons of sunshine) and I took that opportunity to walk everywhere and anywhere. From laps around my neighborhood to exploring new blocks in LIC and Flushing to playing Tourist For a Day at the Met Museum (because how could I not at least stop in for a few hours?), I've given my Fitbit a run for it's money these past few weeks - which is good, because I'm still working off all that midwestern goodness from my trip to see family in early August. I feel a bit bad because just as everyone is wrapping up their summer vacays and going back to school and work, I'm getting started on my break. But then I notice how for the first time in months there aren't a million people everywhere and I'm able to zip in and out of stores without having to elbow my way to the sale rack and I stop feeling too bad and I look up and see beautifully puffy clouds in a bright blue sky while on my way to meet my lovely friends for a ridiculous adventure and I smile and remember why I moved to this city in the first place.

1.) I finally found the "secret" bookstore (Albertine's)
2.) Rooftop vibes
3.) Bench sitting
4.) Eating our way through Queens
5.) Art admiration. Artmiration? Let's go with that.
6.) Peekaboo skyline
7.) Sometimes a friend of a friend invites you to Sunday services at a Hindu temple. And so you go.
8.) Bought a coat and they threw in the views for free.
9.) Ruben craving.
10.) Astoria architecture.

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Summer is in full swing here in New York, and after a horribly humid first few weeks of July, we've finally gotten some relief and have been treated to the most loveliest of sunny and breezy afternoons. The farmer's market is overflowing with giant berries and stone fruits, my CSA is providing me with more zucchini's than I know what to do with (but chocolate chip zucchini bread is a good start), I took myself on a solo one-day staycation to Rockaway Beach and gorged on books and tacos, there's a bizarrely cool art installation in Madison Square Park that I was finally able to check out, and long walks to work and on weekend dinner breaks have not only helped me dominate my Fitbit step count but also given me the urban eye candy this city is so well known for. Getting organized is the name of the game for me these days - I took an entire afternoon to obsessively reorganize the kitchen cabinets while once and for all telling the Tupperware who's boss, and I'm already making wedding to-do lists and schedules like it's my job (because it kind of actually is). There's only one more week left of the show I've been working on since April and then I'm taking a month off from theater to recharge and reassess a whole bunch of career stuff - a terrifying undertaking, but a necessary step that is long overdue. Until then, though, I'll be soaking up every last ray of sunshine I can get my hands (and face and tank-topped shoulders) on - happy summer!

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braving the cold and the snow and the wind by wearing approximately 55 layers just to go to the grocery

tracking my steps (often obsessively) thanks to my Fitbit

having mixed emotions about this season of Girls (are they ever going to get it together??) but loving the new Togetherness.

celebrating that Mei won this season of Top Chef (I totally called it way back during episode 1!)

probably watching too much television (but what else am I supposed to do when it's this cold out?!?)

cooking all the hearty winter stews and chilis

savoring leisurely sunday brunches with the bf and evening get togethers with the gfs

heading into a crazy long run of non-stop work days (because it takes a lot of work to make a play)

already planning my spring shoe purchases

adding touches of color wherever and whenever I can

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I'm back in rehearsals this month for a big show that's taking up pretty much most of my time and energy, but I had two glorious weeks of staycation right at the beginning of January. I accomplished a smattering of really boring tasks (laundry! organize nightstand drawer! haircut!) but I also enjoyed some beautifully lazy days in the kitchen, a couple of long walks with friends, and even a quick trip to Cincinnati for a family event. With grey skies, cold weather, and short days, I often have to remind myself to pull out the camera (even if it is just my iPhone) - but I did manage to find a few photographable moments ;)

1.) The Zamboni flies past the tree at Rockefeller Center / 2.) Wintery mix in midtown / 3.) One last look at my tree before it goes back into storage / 4.) Nothing is better than homemade bread right out of the oven / 5.) It's Murphy's Law that it will rain on the very day I need to run a million errands / 6.) Travel nerds unite at the NYT Travel Show / 7.) Ciao, New York! / 8.) Grey skies / 9.) Need to get those 10,000 steps? Pick a destination and go / 10.) DAY -> LGA