the district.

As I mentioned last week, we took our little show of two on the road at the beginning of the month for a week of vacation.

After two busy and wonderful days in New York, we took the train to DC for two busy and wonderful days with my best friend, Kourtney.  I made a pilgrimage to the nation's capital last year, but Andy had never been before -- isn't that crazy?  We walked miles and miles, saw the monuments, a few of the Smithsonian's, indulged in dozens of $1 oysters, and ate the best pate of my life.  You did us right DC.

 My favorite guy from Illinois in the foreground, America's favorite guy from Illinois in the background

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?

take me away, tuesday.

Maybe it's because today is a particularly foggy and wet day, or maybe because summer may actually be here for real and I'm getting cabin fever, but this Tuesday I find myself extra anxious to get out of town.

When I think about packing my bags and taking a vacation/weekend/life hiatus (which is a pretty regular thought), my destination is always Yountville, CA.  Why Yountville?  I have only spent five days there: one in the summer of 2011 while Andy and I were driving up the coast of California, and four last July when we spent our honeymoon there.  It's the most beautiful, peaceful, ethereal place I've ever been.  Is that an exaggeration?  No.  Not only does it have THREE Thomas Kellar restaurants, but you can bike to vineyards all day, walk the cozy, flower lined streets, and soak in the California sun.  Also, we ate $.50 oysters before the best meal of my life at Ad Hoc -- can't really beat that.

We've already committed to going back for our five year wedding anniversary, which is a mere 49 months away.  I've also been looking at real estate there, so yeah, I'd like to go back, please.

 Quick detour from our bike ride to pick some grapes (don't worry, he's just pretending)

 We biked six miles and went to ten vineyards in one day on these rented bad boys.

Yountville, I love you.