Coming up for air!

OH my goodness people! It's been a whirlwind couple of weeks! I'm finally coming up for air. :) I don't think I've had a busier two weeks in my life, and it's all been amazing stuff, so I'm not complaining.  I am thrilled to be home though!

I'm a homebody who loves to travel -- it's an odd combination. I love visiting new places and those we already love, but man, I ache to get back home at the same time. I mentioned that we took our annual trip to Disney World a couple weeks ago:

We like to go around Thanksgiving but this time we stayed a day later than usual -- and it kind of threw me off! I'm joining in on a blog Christmas tour later this week so I was trying to get the whole house decorated in just a few days but got sick while at it. 

So I didn't get much done last week because of sickness and then I was off for another amazing (but quick!) trip to Georgia. Last month Delta Faucets asked if I'd like to join in on their trip to tour the 2017 HGTV Dream Home, and of course I said yes! Even though it just happened to be the day before another trip I've had planned. 

I went down to St. Simons Island for less than 24 hours and had an amazing time. I cannot wait to show you more of this beautiful home!:

I'll share a ton of pics soon and I have a fun giveaway for you too. It was such an honor to get to be one of the first to walk through this gorgeous house (that will be on TV in January!). 

The backyard has a small dock on an inlet -- it was so incredibly peaceful back there: 

I didn't get to stay long but I loved that little island and the homes there were stunning. 

I flew home that night, got home at 11:30, got three hours of sleep and then woke up early to take a weekend trip to my favorite city that we've had planned for awhile:

Christmastime is my favorite time to visit NYC! 

Three friends and I took one kid each and I dragged them all around the city for a whirlwind tour: 

We checked out Rockefeller Center, saw a Rockettes show (always amazing!), did some shopping for both the kids and the moms, Empire State Building, Ground Zero, Little Italy, Grand Central, saw Aladdin (it has turned into one of our favorite Broadway shows) and walked around Central Park. 

The kids (and moms) were total troupers and we made some wonderful memories.

We've talked about this trip for at least a year now and a few months ago finally made it happen. I'm so glad we did. I LOVE to share this city with friends and love watching them fall in love with it even more. 

We had seven ladies and one man -- my little guy. He loved being the tour guide too. :) 

The store windows in NYC this time of year are reason enough to visit. :) 

I thank God for these women every day -- they make life so fun. It's funny how people come into your life just when you need them. 😊

If you're a Friends fan you may recognize this one! It's the Cherry Hill fountain in Central Park -- but little known fact (that's kind of sad for Friends fans), this isn't the fountain they actually dance around. They built a replica for the opening credits of the show. ;) It's still cool a cool spot to visit though!

I totally wore everyone out -- we are all struggling a little bit today. I'm resting up (trying not to get sick again so I'm taking a ton of Vitamin C!) and then finishing up our Christmas decor -- I'm so inspired now! I'm also finishing up some small details on the basement fireplace -- we LOVE it! I'll share both that and our Christmas tour this week!

Hope your start to your holiday season has been wonderful. I always say I'm not going to make many commitments this time of year and that NEVER happens. ;) I'm so happy to be home now nesting for the holidays and have so many things I can't wait to show you this month!

Have you been busy already? Any fun trips scheduled during the holidays? Or do you love to stay home the whole season?

P.S.  If you are considering a trip to New York City, you can see all of my posts about the city here, and my tips on how to do NYC in two days here.

Fifteen

Every year on September 11th I pay tribute in my own small way by sharing some photos I've taken at the museums and memorials over the years. I have added to them with time as we travel to the city and see more.

As many of you know, New York City is one of my favorite places on Earth. I knew the second we arrived there for my first trip 15 years ago that I would love it. That trip was less than two weeks before September 11, 2001:


Look hard behind me -- this is the only picture I have of the towers and they look like ghosts in that photo. It still gets to me when I see this.

When we visit the city we make time to visit Ground Zero nearly every time. The first time we went back was four months after the devastation -- everything was still so raw at that point. It has made my heart swell to see the beautiful monuments that have been raised in that spot. In my opinion, they are so well done and pay beautiful tribute to those we lost throughout the country that day.

These first photos are from the Ground Zero Museum and tell the story of that day. This location is separate from the new museum – it used to be closer to Ground Zero but it looks like it’s moved to 14th street. If you visit the city I highly recommend visiting both.

I let the photos do the talking (forgive the quality, all were taken with a phone over the years):

 

 

The new 9/11 Museum is one they've been working on for years. It looks so small from the outside, and you think it will only take an hour or so get through. Plan accordingly because this museum literally goes deep into the Earth and you can spend hours in there. 

It is truly one of the most well done museums I've ever seen, especially considering the content. The beginning is a tour of the footings and walls of the towers (this wall below was one of the towers). Don't miss the room in the middle in this part of the museum -- it holds photos of each of the victims as well as video about each one. There are no cameras allowed in this space -- it is most definitely a memorial. There is a separate room at the end of the main part of the museum and it can be easy to miss -- but it holds most of the photos, artifacts and videos. It may not be suitable for younger kids but our nine-year-old did fine. (There are parts of this room we steered him away from.) There are no cameras allowed in that room as well. 

If you go give yourself plenty of time and be prepared for the heaviness in your heart that you will feel as you walk through and when you leave. It is overwhelming and unavoidable. I think every person that visits New York City should visit at least once. 

This artwork signifies the color of the beautiful blue sky on that morning. There are 2,983 squares -- one for each person lost on September 11th and at the 1993 bombing. 

God bless all those we lost on that day and their families. God Bless America. 

(Freedom Tower)

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How to Do NYC in Two Days

Hello all! I'm back today as your travel guide. ;) As many of you know we are nuts about New York City -- we've been there countless times and love it so much we got married there.

I get so many emails about our recommendations on places to stay and things to do, so I thought I'd put it all one spot for you. Lately we've been taking friends with us and showing them our favorite spots in the city -- that's what we did this past weekend. We go for two nights, two days (it spans three days but the total time there is about 48 hours). We aren't typical "plan" people -- when it's just us we just go and explore. But to see as much as possible this is a good list!

You won't see even a tiny percentage of this vast city in 48 hours, but this is a list of the must do's for us. They are a mix of shopping, tourist spots and our favorite places to eat.

Getting from the airport to the city
The easiest way is to take a cab. It will be anywhere from $40 and up depending on traffic. My husband knows the city so well he started using the bus and subway to get in and we did that last time -- it was less than $3 for each of us so it's a GREAT option. Honestly if the traffic is bad it will take the same amount of time either way.

We usually fly in to LaGuardia and there's a bus stop at the airport that takes you to a subway station. I would research this before you go or there are people at the airport who can tell you exactly what you need to do. It's not nearly as difficult as I thought it would be! If you have more than carry ons or small children I don't recommend this option -- you'll be hauling your bags and strollers up and down stairs and through the train stations. A cab would be your best bet.

Places to stay
We've stayed all over but have some favorites! These vary in price but we enjoyed all of them.
Marriott Marquis - this is our favorite hotel because it's right in the middle of Times Square and just a really cool spot. Rooms are spacious and the elevators are fun. ;) There's a restaurant at the top that turns (very slowly) that offers incredible views of the city.
Grand Hyatt at Grand Central Station -- direct access to the subway system and of course the stunning station which is a must see. There are tons of stores and restaurants within the station and if you want to get to Times Square there's a quick shuttle that goes back and forth all day. (Or you can walk!)
Hampton Inn Manhattan -- great hotel near Times Square but a little more of a walk
Hilton Times Square -- excellent location! Right by Times Square, shows and the subway station
Hilton Garden Inn -- another great location but rooms are very small. (You shouldn't spend much time in your room anyway!)

We've stayed other places but they are either further away from subway stations or were just not hotels I would recommend. These are all centrally located for those who want to travel all over the city.

So this is a very rough outline of what we do when we take new people with us. We aren't sticklers about it but it's nice to have something planned if you want to see as much of the city as possible.

DAY ONE
We take an early flight and can usually get into the city around noon. Grab a bite to eat and then take the subway downtown.

9/11 Memorial and Museum -- the memorial is open to the public but you need to buy a ticket for the museum. I cannot recommend this beautiful museum enough. It will leave you weary but I believe everyone should walk through it at least once. Buy your tickets ahead of time and you can skip the line and walk right in:

One of the most important spots in the museum is near the end but you can easily miss it. It's a huge section with video, artifacts and photos where they don't allow you to take pictures. Leave yourself time to walk through that area.

The One World Trade Observatory is now open and I really want to get up there sometime soon. We always spend so much time in the museum that we don't get a chance.

Union Square/SoHo area -- take a train to this area. There are countless shops and restaurants to choose from -- just walking through these sections of the city is a treat.

Our favorite restaurant in this area is Rosa Mexicano in Union Square. There are a few around the city but we love stopping here between shops. The table side guacamole, chihuahua cheese and pomegranate margaritas are all fantastic!:

Shopping is amazing around that area -- there are too many to list and the small boutiques are endless. A couple of my favorite home spots are Fishs Eddy (tons of fun kitchen items and quirky stuff) and ABC Carpet and Home. ABC has floors of gorgeous decor -- most of it well out of our price range but it's fun to look at and there are plenty of items that are affordable.

(Fishs Eddy)

We take the train back to Times Square and have dinner if needed, shop or walk around and then stop for cheesecake. Our favorite cheesecake place was Roxy's on Times Square but it closed years ago. We love Juniors for that and the food and drinks are great too.

DAY TWO
Breakfast at Europa Cafe on Times Square -- great food and quick!
Train or walk to Macys/Herald Square -- the walk isn't bad at all and you can walk through the fashion district on the way. Mood Fabrics is on 37th street for you Project Runway fans! Macy's is a must see -- it is the "largest store in the world" (actually the second largest but who cares). It is fantastic! If you can go during the holidays you MUST. The decor is unbelievable. Just be prepared -- the crowds are much bigger at that time of year:

Empire State Building/Grand Central Station -- do both if you have time! I actually prefer the view from Rockefeller Center because you have a straight shot of the park and you can see the Empire State Building. But Empire is iconic and higher. (If you have the cash it's totally worth it to pay for the VIP and skip the lines!)

Take train to Little Italy -- this is the place to eat! Our favorite restaurant is Da Nico (ask to sit outside if it's nice). After you're done you can walk and shop the little spots here and in China Town. This is definitely a touristy place to shop but it's fun especially for kids. If you have time after Ferrara Cafe around the corner is a must -- amazing desserts and drinks and just a typical NYC kind of spot.

We usually try to head back for a quick rest and then head out to eat, a show and to walk around. If you can, walk to Rockefeller Center and eat near there (we had steak at Del Frisco's this time and it was so good).

Walk back to Times Square to see a show -- the options are endless. Hamilton is all the rage right now but it's impossible to get a ticket. The current shows we've seen are Wicked, Lion King, Fun Home, The Book of Mormon, Aladdin, and Matilda. Our favorites are Wicked, Aladdin and Matilda (husband's, mine, son's). Wicked may be a bit too much for younger kids but it really is a must see. Aladdin is probably my second favorite Broadway show ever -- it is SO entertaining.
Oh, if you go during the holidays the Rockette show is an absolute MUST. Don't question, just go! They now have a spring show I'd love to see too.

DAY THREE
As I mentioned, this is a two day trip in hours -- the third day is shorter because of the flight home.
Breakfast at Brooklyn Diner -- this is right near Central Park and the food is fabulous. Try the Tony Bennett French Toast. You will thank me. This is where you may see a famous face -- friends who were just there walked in as Jerry Seinfeld was walking out.

Walk or ride through the park -- I recommend taking your time and walking through Central Park but there are also horse or bike carriages that make for a more relaxing trip. They come with guides who will point out famous spots like Strawberry Fields and the bridge from Home Alone and Elf. :)

My favorites in the park are Bethesda Terrace and Fountain and The Mall:

Walk through the tunnel and see the tile work and be sure to look up at the ceilings. It is one of my favorite spots in the city:

The tile throughout the city astounds me. My favorite place to look for it is in the subways. They are dirty and grimy but then there's these gorgeous tile mosaics that are truly works of art.

Through the tunnel is The Mall where the trees reach over and create the most beautiful canopy.

source

Eat at the park -- grab a famous NYC hot dog and pretzel or eat at the Boathouse (I still haven't been) or Tavern on the Green. The latter is another one that screams so NYC to me -- we walked right by Liza Minnelli while eating there once.

There you go! This hits some of our favorites and some of the most iconic spots in the city. If it's your first time there this would be so helpful! This doesn't even touch what you can do though. There are countless shops and museums and places to see. If you have more time I'd go to another museum, walk along 5th Avenue and see the shops and St. Patrick's Cathedral (stunning) or do the ferry boat out to the Statue of Liberty.

A couple things to consider:

• Times Square is BUSY. It's not as bad during the day but at night there are a ton of people. Night is the best time to see it though! And there is a ton of shopping in that area, especially for kids. Unfortunately the Toys R Us closed down, it was a must see and we will miss it. 
• We use Open Table to schedule our meals -- so many of the restaurants use this and it's so helpful! Finally, DO NOT try to look super cute -- comfortable shoes are a must because you walk and walk and walk. It is the best way to see the city! Carry a small umbrella with you if the forecast calls for rain.
• The subway is the best way to travel through the city -- don't be afraid! Ask security and staff what to do and where to go. They are always incredibly helpful. The metro card machines will stop taking your bank card after so many uses (super frustrating), so be sure to fill it plenty the first time (it's good for months), have an extra bank card with you to use or if you are with friends trade off on buying your passes. 

If you have any other questions or want more ideas on places to eat please let me know! I'd be happy to answer them here. I hope you find this helpful! :)