Brooklyn Bridge Ornament

Maybe I've mentioned once or twice that I just moved from Brooklyn and that I miss it. It shouldn't come as a surprise to you that I wanted to incorporate good old Crooklyn into our Christmas tree this year. We have ornaments from various vacations and travels, but nothing that represents our love for our favorite borough.

I used to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge all the time - on nice days, I'd commute to work by walking across the bridge and then hopping on the 4 train on the Manhattan side. We'd take Fred for long strolls on the bridge on the weekends and most of my out of town guests were "treated" to a walk or two across the East River. Jaisa actually used to only pack high heels on her visits to Brooklyn so I wouldn't make her walk. It's kind of like how I only bring flats to Chicago so she doesn't make me go clubbing.

I digress.

This ornament is fairly simple and just requires a steady hand and, unless you have all of the architectural intricacies committed to memory, access to Google images of the Brooklyn Bridge (or your city skyline of choice). Here's what I started with:

round ornament

black Sharpie

colored pencils

Using the Sharpie, I drew on the image of the bridge and let the ink dry.

Then, I colored in the sky, water, and American flags with colored pencil and hung up:

I'm tempted to make one with the Space Needle to commemorate our time living in the Emerald City. Or maybe one with the Prudential and the Citgo sign for my Bostonian friends. The possibilities are endless! Happy Friday and stay homey!

The Fantastic Flatiron

I always get overwhelmed when I see guides to NYC and I'm from New York and know the area.  When suggesting places to friends, I think it's much easier to start with a neighborhood and find a few great places within those blocks.

I used to work in the Flatiron District and had a few favorite spots for homey goods and gifts. When I visited NYC this weekend, they are the first places I hit up:

Fishs Eddy - 889 Broadway

I am obsessed with Fishs Eddy. I love the colorful dishes, the unique & quirky patterns, and the huge selection of glassware. I seriously used to go at least once a week.  At least.  Jesse and I have some of the Brooklyn platters, a selection of cookie cutters, and a few of their funky pint glasses.  I wish I had known we could have registered there!

ABC Carpet & Home - 888 Broadway

Diagonally across the street from Fishs Eddy is ABC Carpet & Home. It's like the home section of Anthropologie in there, but way bigger (and, okay, way more expensive). From home decor to dishes and textiles, they have a ton of unique gifts. I especially love it around Christmastime.

Paper Presentation - 23 West 18th Street

My colleagues used to roll their eyes when I would (frequently) tell them I was heading to "the paper store" for lunch.  I went all the time to buy birthday cards, thank you notes, and (especially in the past 2 years) engagement & wedding cards. This is also where I bought the blank notecards and colorful envelopes I used to make our save the dates. For a paper-lover like me, this place is a total dream come true.

After hitting up all of my old haunts, I headed back to Union Square to catch the subway to Brooklyn. Right now, the Union Square Christmas Market is in full swing which means row after row of holiday vendors, local artisans, delicious sweet treats, and unique gifts. I used to go with my colleagues every year and it was great to wander through the tents and check out the vendors.

When you're in New York, be sure to check out these great spots and stay homey!

Brooklyn Brunch

I was "home" in Brooklyn this weekend and it felt amazing. As much as I love the clean air, extra bedrooms, porches & pool, wildlife, and other benefits that my country life affords, I sure do miss NYC living. I miss being able to walk everywhere, I miss my friends, I miss the shops & museums & parks & even the subway musicians, and I sure miss the food.

Jesse and I had brunch with our friend Ben at Applewood in Park Slope and it was right up my alley. Here's what we ate...

The autumn vegetable omelet (local! seasonal!):

Beef cheeks hash:

Grilled cheese with grits (I've had cornmeal on the brain since Jaisa cooked up that polenta last week):

I have a ton of restaurant suggestions in Brooklyn so stay hungry, my friends!