Mountain Breaths: New York City

Wednesday, December 5, 2018

It's beginning to look at lot like Christmas

Christmas 2018

We went to New York City for the day on Saturday, and then to the movies on Sunday to see Bohemian Rhapsody and enjoyed the preview for Jennifer Lopez's new movie "Second Chance" that starts in our theaters on December 21. I loved the NYC scenes and seeing the Christmas tree at Lotte Plaza at the end of this clip Lotte Plaza Christmas Tree.

I was grateful to have four days off from work at Thanksgiving time to get the house in order and start decorating for Christmas. I haven't done a darn thing since then, except participate in holiday festivities.

This little guy (Xavier) is getting so big. He was freezing getting this Christmas photo taken :-) I love this age, and the way he talks to me. When he sips tea from a tiny espresso cup I have, he exclaims "delicious" pronounced dee-wish-us.

"I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields that it kisses them so gently? And then it covers them up snug, you know, with a white quilt; and perhaps it says, 'Go to sleep, darlings, till the summer comes again.'"

- Lewis Carroll

A quick trip to Magnolia Bakery for cupcakes, and I spotted this festive cake.

I attended an English Tea at a local bed and breakfast Oak and Ivy, and it was delightful.

We got lucky and just happened to walk down Bleecker Street in New York City where they had these fabulous storefront windows decorated with flowers for "Love, Bleecker'. The area is alive and kicking, once again. #lovebleecker

My family thinks I plan these black and white photos LOL. I got a kick out of my cousin messaging me this :-) I think only you can go someplace and find that black and white theme. It's like you call ahead of time and say I'm going to be there around 12 noon please have a black and white display out so I can do a photo shoot.

Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo

Debbie

Thursday, March 1, 2018

Tales of the Traveling Tote - Winter Edition

Lake Placid

If you are here for the first time, welcome to Mountain Breaths. Today I am joining a group of talented bloggers to bring you our Tales of the Traveling Tote. Do not expect to see palm trees in this post! I had Olympic fever and am a winter sports enthusiast. The Adirondacks (where my camp is) has a special relationship with the winter Olympics. Lake Placid hosted the Games in 1932 and 1980 (Joe attended), and that history lives on as the region continues to be a center for world class competition and training. A dozen athletes from our "north country" competed in Pyeongchang. So off we went to Lake Placid and stayed at the Mirror Lake Inn im February for Joe's school break.

Each afternoon at 3:30, they have "High Tea" and something we have enjoyed over the last 20 years going to the inn. Then we roamed around the inn and the town enjoying the Olympic vibe. Take me back! I can get used to eating chocolate chip cookies every afternoon.

Lake Placid rolled out the welcome mat for us. The village embraces the Olympic spirit like nowhere else. It's nearly impossible to go anywhere in the village without encountering somebody in training for something, whether it's skiing, bobsledding, mountain biking or a triathlon. Everything about it, the whole vibe. Main Street is decorated in red, white and blue and adorned with welcome flags.

Flashback to December when we travelled to NYC after Christmas. If you travel on Amtrak, did you know that you can get a Red Cap to haul your luggage and put you on the train? It's a service they offer, although my husband always tips them. You will find the employees with the Red Caps when you check into Amtrak at Penn Station. I love this service since we are always first to board the train. Guess where my first stop was? Yep, to Magnolia Bakery to get my favorite cupcakes. As soon as my teeth hit the buttercream, all is good in New York City.

Brrrr, can you tell I was frozen to the core but a quick stop at Magnolia Bakery cured that. Also, a trip to NYC is not complete for us without lunch at Tavern on the Green. It's under new management, and we have many fond memories over the years. It is very relaxing and they don't rush you which is great because it took me an hour to warm up.

If you are planning to be in NYC around the holidays in December 2018, the trees are spectacular. We walked the streets and enjoyed the trees at Tiffany, Lotte New York Palace, Bryant Park, Washington Square Park, Le Parker Meridian, Chanel and Rockefeller Center.