It's Me, KP

MIA Me

I think that Spring is never coming to Chicago. I'm waiting... and drooling over Instagrams from friends in NYC who have the gorgeous blossoms.  Where oh where are my blossoms?  Today we had rain and a lot of coldness. I have a feeling that we're going to skip Spring this year and BOOM it'll be sweltering hot summer.

This time last week I was in Miami for a few days.  My happy place.  I don't remember when the trip got booked but it ended up being perfec timing because sand and sunshine were really needed.  It makes me happy, makes me feel lighter.  And the water.  I need the water, to just float for a little while.  But this is nothing new to you.

I really enjoy Meg Gilger's blog The Fresh Exchange and her posts on self-care - this one in particular. This is something that is so important to me and I never had a word for it until I started reading her blog.  I have started to believe a healthy life involves work hard, play hard, relax hard.  Good for the heart and good for the head, no?

I Love NY

I have a strange addiction to cookbooks.  It's not just limited to cookbooks, I buy Bon Appetit every month, Food + Wine almost every month, and Saveur on occasion.  I save a lot of recipes from different magazines and have a pumpkin pie one from Locanda Verde in NYC that I'm dying to try.  But the thing is, and you probably know this by now, I don't actually cook.  It's like love... I am enamored with the idea and the look and the sound of it.  But I don't actually use these cookbooks.  I joke that the only thing I make is dinner reservations, not dinner.

Enter I Love NY.  This cookbook, which is not precisely a cookbook, but a book full of "ingredients and recipes" and some truly beautiful photos.  This cookbook, which is not precisely a cookbook, was written by Daniel Humm + Will Guidara, who run Eleven Madison Park which I had a most pleasurable dining experience at last year.  Truly top notch and "very New York."  This cookbook, which is not precisely a cookbook, might just be the one to make me actually cook something.  It is really inspiring.  Inside are recipes for New York classics and if there's anything I can get on board with it's a New York classic.  You can look inside the book right here on Amazon.

And so, coming from a girl who does not yet own dishes in her new Chicago apartment, I have been pouring over I Love NY deciding what my first conquest will be.  Soon.  I will cook soon.

Please leave any recommendations for cookbooks that you think I must also pick up to add to my collection.  The prettier the pictures the better.

I <3 NYC

I spent last Friday - Monday back in NYC for a long weekend.  Hello, the weather? It was sunny and started to get really warm and just plain wonderful.  And my friends?  I miss them like crazy and they showed up to hang out with me.  Saturday morning we met up on a street in Brooklyn to go to Smorgasburg and there were six of us doing a group hug.  My heart was so happy that I just kept bouncing up and down.  I miss that life and was glad to have a slice of it again for a few days.

I haven't blogged much lately because I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed right now.  Things are good.  Things are happy. There have been big changes in a lot of areas lately and I guess I'm slowly adjusting and taking everything in.  But life is grand and just as it should be.

A List of Thirty: The Year of Thirty

I think it is safe to say that I am handling turning thirty-one much, much better than the ridiculous episode that was the month leading up to my thirtieth birthday.  Shit.  Last year I was basically huddled in a ball in the corner breathing hard into a paper bag.  It wasn't easy for me but I made it out alive and have survived the past 364 days.  With one day left of year thirty, I am getting a bit sentimental (as I always tend to do) and came up with another A List of Thirty (as I always tend to do) to document my Year of Thirty.

1. Made the decision to leave my job at Studio Calico.
2. Went to the South of France.
3. Had a book published.
4. Had a book party where all the guys I dated the past year showed up. At the same time.
5. Walked from 12th Street all the way up to 74th Street.
6. Made the decision to start my own company.
7. Experienced immense joy in my heart when one of my best friends told me she is pregnant.
8. Experienced immense sadness in my heart when I moved away from one of my best friends.
9. Received the screeners of GIRLS then made every single girlfriend in the city watch them.
10. #vegasbuffetchallenge2012 with my bestie Sarah.
11. Actually packed up my life and moved from New York to Chicago.
12. Took my beloved annual trip to Portland.
13. Worked out with a trainer to be in the best shape of my life.
14. Tried to live life to its fullest.
15. Experienced a loss and grieved in my own way.
16. Ate at Per Se, Eleven Madison Park, Jean Georges, and Blanca.
17. Danced at my brother's wedding.
18. Had adventures for the first time in Central America and Asia.
19. Enjoyed fantastic beach days with my girls and Rockaway Tacos.
20. Visited London with my brothers as the Olympics began.
21. Figured out that some day when the time is right, I will be a mom. 
22. Went to Sleep No More which turned out to be one of my favorite experiences ever.
23. Visited Kyoto dressed in autumn colors, which took my breath away.
24. Made the decision to start partnering with Simon Says Stamp.
25. Sat around the kitchen table talking for hours with my four best friends from high school.
26. Started fresh.  And it felt really good.
27. Revisited the past.  And it felt really fun.
28. Said farewell to my amazing NYC friends with a Photobooth party.
29. Laid in a hammock on the beach in Costa Rica with great girlfriends.
30. Had a year that unequivocally changed my life.

There are many things I could say about the past year and the people I spent the days with.  It challenged me and took me further and taught me more than I ever thought was possible.  It was a gift.  Now here is to another wonderful one ahead.

More Lists of Thirty found here.

Walking on Sunshine

Amy took this quick little video of me last week when we went for a walk on Venice Beach.  I'd say it's a pretty accurate snapshot of me right now... especially the part where I trip and fall a bit off camera.  Clumsy as always.

The Ties that Bind Giveaway winner is below - please email me.  Thank you to all who entered!

Ain't No Party Like a Photobooth Party

It felt like I said a hundred goobyes before leaving New York but I've always thought it's a lucky thing to have friends that make it hard to say goodbye.  And they were really farewells until next time.  I had a small farewell party at The Smith, which was up in my neighborhood. 

The food is alright (the desserts are fun + fantastic), it's incredibly loud, and apparently a celebrity hot spot (we were seated nearby Michael Strahan, who I completely did not recognize) but the best thing is there is an awesome photobooth down in the unisex bathroom.  And you know how much I love a good photobooth strip.

I love the results, especially the random roulette strip.  They are now some of my most cherished photos.  In a city of 8 million people it's surprisingly easy to feel lonely but you will never feel lonely for long with good friends like these ladies.  They were always there for me with encouragement, laughter, a listening ear, a big appetite, and lots of love.  They mean the world to me.  I'm missing them so much already.

More photos from the night on Julie's and Jodi's blog.

Goodbye, New York

I left New York City and almost four years of life as a New Yorker on Saturday.  I feel like I literally cried for the entire week before leaving.  There was a heaviness that I carried around and so many moments that I wanted to shout "Hey everyone, I'm just kidding!  I can't leave New York!  I'm staying!" then run around hugging everyone I see. And constantly in my head I would think "Wow, this is hard." (Followed by a "that's what she said" because sometimes I am still 13.) 

But it was tough.  Saying goodbye over and over to good friends was brutal.  Letting go of stuff I couldn't figure out how to take with me was painful.  I whittled down my posessions, furniture, and wardrobe to 12 boxes + two suitcases.  Getting into the back of the car and driving away from my beloved corner of West 74th + Amsterdam broke my heart a little.

Like the never fail crybaby I am, I began to cry as my plane started to back away from the gate and the very kind flight attendant asked if I was ok, then if I was leaving home?  I nodded yes and had to smile a bit.  I was indeed leaving home but also heading in the direction of home.  Chicago has always felt like home to me. And, as a friend reminded me the other day just when I needed it, only a 2:05 hour plane ride away.

So here we come, Chicago.  My 12 boxes, two suitcases, and me.

Coming Home

I covered all my social media bases this morning with some news and the last place I've got is here on the old blog. It's a little harder to write this post than to try to fit something into 140 characters.

January is my last month in New York and after some traveling I will be moving back to Chicago. This decision has been in the works for a long time.  I've thought about it endlessly the past six months.  I always felt that I would return to Chicago and the timing is finally right.

It's hard to think about leaving New York.  Leaving my friends, mostly.  In fact, I can't talk about that right now.  I've relentlessly tried to pursuade a few of them to come with me, without any luck.  Needless to say, it's difficult to be leaving a city that feels like such a big part of who I am.  

But there were so many reasons, very big and very small, that I decided to move. What it comes down to is the fact that I think I will be happier in Chicago.  There is a good life waiting there for me and I'm ready to live it.  

Wrapping It Up

Via Pinterest

I always freak out a bit as we get to the end of the year.  So many things that I wanted to do.  So many goals that I want to accomplish in the new year.  So many issues I want to fix for the future.  My head is filled with plans + ideas for 2013.  Changes are brewing.  Stay tuned.

Mike and Neha Got Married... Twice!

My brother Mike got married back in September and I had posted some photos on Facebook but realized I never shared them here.  They had both a Hindu and Christian cermony which meant double the fun (and double the pretty bridesmaid dresses for me!)  It was a really beautiful weekend and I wish I had taken more pictures.  Here are a few favorites of the ones I snapped and the characters in them...

There was a Sangeet on Friday night which was like the rehersal dinner.  Lots of delicious Indian food and lots of dancing.  Everyone in my family out on the dance floor.  It was quite a night to remember.

In the morning there was the Baraat procession where my brother rode a horse for the first time in his life.  I thought this was awesome.  And then dancing dancing and more dancing.  Good thing I wore my dancing shoes.  This was followed by a beautiful Hindu ceremony back inside.

At night there was a short Christian ceremony and a reception, which was gorgeous.  And included more dancing.  And some tears from the sister of the groom during the speeches.  

This was my first Indian wedding and it was an amazing weekend.  I have never been to a more beautiful wedding and was the most perfect way to celebrate Neha joining our family.