new beginnings.

Have you seen this beautiful video/ad from the New York City Ballet?  

The footage was shot at sunrise on September 12, 2013 -- one day and eleven years after the horrific attack on my home town.  I got goosebumps watching this video, the way I get goosebumps when someone talks about that day, the way I close my eyes when footage plays on TV, the way I know I'll have a pit in my stomach one day a year, every year.  

The ad agency for the NYCB said, "Our hope is that 9/12 can  be rebranded as a day of optimism and new beginnings."  How incredible is that idea?  To celebrate that morning when we all woke up to the sun, as we do everyday, but this time thankful and united and loving our city more than ever.  Let's start to remember 9/12 too, for the memory of the ones we lost, and the memory of the ones still here.

vacation (all i ever wanted).

Hey, remember when I posted A WHOLE MONTH AGO?!  C'mon, Torie!  Anyway, besides taking a hiatus from the blog I've also recently taken a hiatus from work and had a whole week long vacation.  Can you say heaven?

Our week of vacation started off with a blissful weekend at home in New York with my nearest and dearest.  My in-laws had never been to New York City before and as a true and, stubborn New Yorker I set out to fix that, so we all met on Central Park South and it was all very dreamy.

We had two jam-packed days of playing tourist and going to some of my favorite spots and, despite all the walking, everyone survived!  The best part of the trip was that it was incredibly stress-free, I got to spend a few precious hours with one of my best friends Alie, and, most importantly, my mom spent all of Sunday with us.

Here are a few pictures from the trip, if you'd like to see.

Central Park as seen from Top of the Rock :: Can't beat classic Jewish deli

 Housewares mecca Fishes Eddy :: Book mecca The Strand

 Beers at McSorley's :: Pre-dinner seafood tower at Fish

 Hers and His favorite exhibits at the Met

Oh, also...

We met Andy Cohen!  Mazels all around!

Not pictured: three large pizzas from John's, steak for five from Peter Luger, and all the general New York beauty.  Check back this week for an update on the rest of our vacation including a trip to DC and painting our apartment -- oh the glamour!

Follow me on Instagram at @toriehajdu to see more!

september in new york.

Remember in March when I announced with much aplomb that Andy and I would be taking a belated anniversary trip?  Well, in true Abramson fashion, we've cancelled the trip.  I'm somewhere between heartbroken and okay with it.

Truth of the matter is that we're really not in a situation right now where we can just run off for a week and pay for an entire week of hotels and lobsters (no matter how "cheap" they are).  Plus, I've heard that Maine is pretty cold in September, which makes me feel really good about my decision because who wants to eat a lobster roll by the ocean and have to wear layers?  No thank you!

Speaking of layers, we're still going to New York with my in-laws, as planned.  And that means one thing -- New York in the fall!  Well, early September/technically still summer but fall schmall!  It's been exceptionally breezy and fall like this past week in Chicago (summer schmummer?) and I've been online window shopping for new clothes for my favorite season like mad.

New York Times t-shirt, Dolce Vita Booties, J Brand Jeans, Foley + Corinna Purse

Thinking I all of the above for our trip to New York, don't you?