13 NYC Restaurants, Bars & Cafes I Love

It's been a few months since I last shared a round-up of NYC spots I love and would recommend. It's also been a few weeks since my last blog post, so hi! I've missed you, and I'm excited to share some places I've been trying in the past few weeks that I've been ignoring you (sorry, love you! lol). In this post, I've broken down the spots into three categories: restaurants/bars, just for drinks, and cafes/breakfast spots. Would love to hear if you've been to any of these spots and what you thought, or if there's a spot I absolutely need to try!

This Week's Top 10: Labor Day Weekend

image via pinterest

1. Happy Friday and Happy Labor Day weekend!! I am so excited to be heading out to the Hamptons this weekend with my family! In the spring our family sold the original house we had in the Hamptons, so the new one has been under renovation all summer. I am so so excited to see it and see what my aunt has done with the new home, and especially looking forward to time with my brother (he got into the city last night and stayed with me) and the rest of my family!

2. There was quite the storm here on Wednesday night... Thinking of not only everyone in NYC who was affected, but also anyone in the south/New Orleans area who was in the path of hurricane Oda! I have a coworker who is from New Orleans and was telling me about the evacuation, and the damage that has already been done. Prayers to everyone affected and hoping you are all somewhere safe!!

3. I published the September mood board yesterday (both the desktop and iPhone size)!! If you haven't seen it yet, check it out here!

September Mood Board (Desktop + iPhone Wallpaper)

I feel like I've said this every single month this year, but how is it truly already a new month? September?! The end of summer? Fall, already?? I just can't keep up! I feel like winter was yesterday, even though I've been sweating in my shoebox apartment for three months. I love, love, love, August. It's my birthday month and it just feels like a really lovely, peaceful time of year each year... no holidays, not too many commitments, just riding out the last of the summer. I am glad I spent all of August in NYC, getting a bit more settled in, because I am planning to pop in and out of the city this September.... heading to the Hampton's this weekend (our new house has been under renovation all summer so I am very excited to finally go this weekend for Labor Day!), and Wisconsin at the end of the month. 

Anyway, September always feels like a fresh start, so I channelled smoky light blues, creams, and "academia" energy for this month's cozy and clean mood boaord!

This Week's Top 10: It's my birthday!

1. Wow... what a week. This work week was definitely in my top 3 of the most stressful/busy/overwhelming weeks yet. I've never been so eager for the end of the week, and because it's my birthday today, that feeling was especially strong!! I don't have any crazy plans this year, just dinner tonight with a few friends, and then going to the Yankees game tomorrow, which I am really looking forward to. LOL, I got a manicure last night and I can barely type.

2. I treated myself to this adorable workout set as a birthday present to myself!! Can't wait for it to come. I don't have any matching sets and it pains me every time I go for a walk, so this was definitely justified, haha.

3. What is happening in Afghanistan is devastating. I can't imagine how Afghan women are feeling right now. This article is really insightful and shares how you can help. I have also heard about the organizationn Women for Afghan Women (WAW). 

Easy Zucchini Fries + Homemade Aioli

Yesterday was... a lazy day for me. I went to brunch with a friend, church with another friend, and just chilled in between. Last night when dinner rolled around I realized I hadn't gone to the grocery store and the only thing to eat in my apartment was oddly enough, a zucchini about to go bad. What do you do when you have a zucchini about to go bad? You made zucchini fries!!! It's literally the only non-staple ingredient you need for this entire recipe, and it works for people like me who still don't have an air fryer (but if you're living in the 21st century and do have an air fryer like (seemingly) everyone else, this is even easier for you!)