Buenos Dias!

Hola, from Madrid!

I hope you had a GREAT weekend! I slept in hardcore this morning (it's 11:45AM in Spain right now) and am loving every moment of it. I feel like we've done so much in such a short amount of time here thus far and I'm just soaking it up. It feels great to be on vacation and in a foreign land. Since I plan to do more detailed posts when I'm back in real action, today I wanted to share a few highlights of the trip, things I'm loving here, and things I've learned.

1. Ham is e.v.e.r.y.w.h.e.r.e. In addition to occupying every menu in Madrid, there are actual ham shops, called Museo de Jamon...which actually translates to Ham Museum. I don't mind.

2. Neither does Shaun. His no pork rule went out the window the moment we landed in Spain. Apparently pigs in Spain are fed sticks and acorns...a far cry from Boar's Head. Touche.

 

3. You can buy fresh Patatas Fritas - potato chips - in some bodegas and candy shops (which are plentiful 'round these parts).

 

4. Bakeries are just better in a foreign country. Especially when you find pastry cream-laden sugary doughnut things that are the size of your head.

5. Though I still managed to find the one cupcake shop in Madrid.

 

6. I am obsessed...no, wait...OBSESSED with my PacSafe purse! It it the perfect size to fit my DSLR without it jostling around, it's lightweight, and most importantly, adorable.

 

That's about all I've got time to share today. Shaun is working, so I'm flyin' solo (Jason DeRulo-style) all day today. Since it's after noon, I should probably get dressed and get to a cafe for some lunch stat. I'm totally geeking out and rereading Something Borrowed. It's a gorgeous day, so perfect for sitting outside and reading! Have a great day friends!

PS - any European travelers out there...does my MacBook need a voltage converter to be plugged in? I've been using this method for the last couple of days, but this morning it's not reading the charge...can I try it without the voltage converter...without frying my comp?! Help! Or this will be the only blog for the week! :)

A few things before I'm off...

Friends! I don't have a ton of time this morning but I wanted to say a quick HI and tell you about a few things. I'm finishing up my packing and heading off to work for the day...then I will be leaving for the airport this evening and hopping a flight to Madrid. No big deal!

The first order of business is my new TOMS shoes.

Aren't they great?! I have the traditional ones in peach/pink, but I love the simplicity of these, from the color to the laces. I can't wait to trek around Europe in them. My only complaint? My heels do bother me a little in them...I plan to pick up some heel cups this morning for them!

Secondy is my camera bag. I told you that I spent way too much money on this bag from Kelly Moore:

It's so pretty, adorable, love it, etc...however, when I received it, it was GINORMOUS! Way too big for my DSLR and would not be great for sightseeing. Unfortunately I will have to return it...perhaps someday when I have better photo skills with more lenses, the time will be right for Kelly and me. Until then, I ordered this PacSafe bag from Zappo's and fell instantly in love...

It arrived yesterday and I must say that it's everything I wanted in a travel bag. Though it's not a camera bag, it's structured and padded, so my camera will fit perfect inside without be jostled around. Not to mention it's a great color that will go with all of my daytime outfits. And the bonus? It's made for travelers, so there are extra 'security' measures on the bag to prevent thievery. Smart, right? Plus, I love the cross-body or shoulder option.

Lastly, I am not signing off for a week! I will be blogging from the trip and also have some fantastic guest bloggers lined up for you. Lauren at Spiced Plate will be here, along with the first guest post from my sister Kimberly, who I speak about all the time on the blog.

Adios, for now! Hasta la vista, baby!

What to Eat: The Meatpacking District

I get a lot of requests for restaurant recommendations in New York City. Though I am very far from an expert, I have certainly sampled my fair share of restaurants (though nowhere near as many as I'd like!). I'd love to share some of my favorite places in New York with you. Though I know a lot of you are not necessarily from this area, think of it as a travelogue...and when you get to NYC someday, you can simply consult my neighborhood restaurant listing, mmmm kay?

Pop Burger. You may recognize it from Bethenny Ever After when she and Jason made an emergency stop for food. It's high class fast food and it rocks the house. When I went in the fall, I got 2 sliders and they were fresh and fantastic. Oh and don't let the whole 'fast food' thing fool you...the ambience is cool and modern, with no signs of Ronald McDonald.

Fig + Olive. This is one of my favorite restaurants. It's pricey, so Shaun and I made sure to go during restaurant week last year. With trendy decor and Mediterranean-style food, delicious is an understatement here. They are known for their crostini, so be 100% sure to sample some of it...it was my favorite part of the meal! Especially the dessert version...mascarpone cream, bing cherries and pistachios...I'm still dreaming about it.

Chelsea Market. I hope you saved room because you do NOT want to miss Chelsea Market. The market stretches between 9th and 10th avenues and is one of my favorite places in NYC. With bakeries, seafood shops, restaurants, espresso bars and gourmet Italian stores, you could spend the afternoon wandering and eating. And you should.

Ruthy's Bakery. This is one of my favorite NYC bakeries, also in Chelsea Market. The rugelach  is authentic, the macarons are perfectly light, the apple crumb cake is moist and fresh, and the cupcakes are perfectly sweet and not-too-dense. Not that I've sampled all that...I'm just guessing...

The Park. I went here with my mom, sister, aunt and cousins over Easter weekend. While the food was not particularly fantastic (though it was good!), the ambience is great. The whole inside is designed to look like a Park...and it's cool.

675 Bar. This quaint, underground bar almost feels like a cave. It's got multiple rooms with different activities...like billiards, board games, arcade games and even a library. It's fun. Try it.

Jacques Torres. Also in Chelsea Market and the perfect spot for chocolate fiends. Not for the weak of heart. Christine and I shared a small hot chocolate and it was the perfect amount for both of us. It's the richest hot cocoa I've ever had...almost like straight melted chocolate in a cup. And I like it.

Artichoke Pizza. Located on 10th avenue, I have not actually gotten to this Artichoke Pizza location just yet. I've only been to the teeny one in the East Village, but the pizza is fantastic, and this is definitely on the Pizza Tour list!

The last thing on my list to do is visit the High Line, a park along a raised railroad track that runs through and over the Meatpacking District and beyond. I haven't gotten there yet, but as the weather is getting nicer, I plan to make it happen!

So there you have it. My favorite places in the Meatpacking District. What do you think? Do you have any favorite neighborhood spots, in NYC or beyond?