Enjoying Jersey City

{some of the best cupcakes around: Molly's and Sprinkles}

Thanks for all of the birthday wishes yesterday! I had a nice day, filled with lots {and lots} of eating, from bagels to Thai food to many delicious cupcakes from both Molly's and Sprinkles...today I'm still feeling full and ready to get back into the swing of real life. Sort of.

{view of Jersey City from my office}

I feel like so many of my blog posts are riddled with tales of how we are constantly on the go and how we're never home and how we are always exhausted from running around all over the place. Though I've been doing a bit of traveling lately (New Hampshire, Las Vegas, camping, Aruba), Shaun and I have decided that we really want to make an effort to enjoy the fruits of Jersey City when possible. On free weekend days, instead of heading out of dodge, we are trying to find things to do around Jersey City, from splash parks and swings to food fests and fireworks. I made a list of all the things on my radar over the coming months in Jersey City and I hope we get to do some (or all!) of them!

Jersey City Summer Bucket List:

Take Penelope to the Newport Green splash park (we've already gone a couple of times and she LOVES it! Can't wait to go again this weekend!)

{thigh rolls!}

Take Penelope on the carousel at Newport Green

Visit Milk Sugar Love, the lovely new organic ice cream shop at Hamilton Park

Attend Jersey City Project Eats, next weekend at City Hall

Check out La Festa Italiana, an Italian festival downtown

Walk around the 6th Borough Market & see the local vendors

Possibly hit up Liberty Science Center? Not sure if P is really old enough for this yet, but might be fun to give it a try!

Visit the Hamilton Park BBQ Festival in September

Just looking at this list is making me so excited for the coming weeks and to spend time doing fun things in our own town! 

Do you have any fun summer bucket list things coming up? 

Do you take advantage of local happenings in your town or those surrounding you?

Gorgeous Evening

Fun things: My Chocolate Stout Mini Cakes with Irish Cream Frosting are on The Daily Meal today! Head on over to check it out :)

Yesterday was a positively gorgeous day. It was sunny, about 70 degrees and slightly breezy. It was, dare I say...perfection.

In the NY/NJ area, we really only get like a handful of these days each year. Generally, the weather is either too warm and humid or too cold and windy. To have a perfect day is one to be savored.

So when I arrived home (and it was still light out! yeah daylight savings!!) last night, Shaun and I decided to hit the streets for a nice long walk around the neighborhood.

 

 

The streets of Jersey City were bustling! Everyone was out enjoying the weather.

 

We headed up toward the Path station and I couldn't help but stop at McDonald's for a....Shamrock Shake!

 

I've actually never had one before and have been obsessing over it for the last week (although the commericals are so annoying and make women look dumb...oh well). I finally just decided that I needed to see what all the hype was about...you know, for research purposes.

 

Verdict? It was super sweet (no problem there!) and refreshing but I wish it was just a little more minty. Ah well. Still a nice treat for a Tuesday evening :)

Today is supposed to be almost as beautiful outside so I'm excited to wear a spring coat today! Hope you all are having beautiful weather this week!

Questions of the Day:

What's your favorite thing to do in the warm weather? I love just being out and about, or having dinner or glass of wine out on the terrace!

Shamrock shake...yay or nay?

Oh and if you want to make your own Shamrock Shake...check out my healthy mint shake!

And in case you missed it...you might also like my Chocolate Stout Mini Cakes with Irish Cream Frosting! Just sayin'.

Halloween Party, Zombies + Brownie Cupcakes

Happy Halloween!

I can't believe that October is coming to a close. We had such a fun weekend and got all zombied up for a giant Halloween party in our apatment building. It was so nice to not have to leave the building (especially in the crazy snow) and the party was amazing! We had expected around 200 people to attend. The party room was packed with people, food, booze, music and creative costumes. As I've mentioned, Shaun and I were zombies for the party. Here's the big costume reveal:

make up close upWe homemade our costumes, which was extra fun. Shaun tattered a suit he picked up at Goodwill, and we used these zombie kits (plus some real make up for me) to get it done...

We had some amazing sponsors for this event. Local restaurants in Jersey City donated food and raffle prizes, which really made the whole thing. Boca Grande, our favorite JC Mexican spot for their amazing empanadas, fresh tortilla chips and fantastic margs, donated gift cards to be raffled, along with trays of flautas and empanadas. I'm pretty sure Shaun and I downed a tray of flautas ourselves :)

Michael Anthony's, an Italian restaurant on the Hudson in JC, which we frequent on many a Friday evening for their spectacular views, sports-showing televisions, and delicious Italian food, donated trays of pasta and 2 gift cards as raffle prizes.

 

Skinner's Loft, one of my personal favorite spots in Jersey City for its cozy bar vibe (I just want to curl up there with a glass of wine and look out onto a snowy street), delicious mac & cheese, and other tapas, donated a very generous gift card raffle prize to the event. And now I'm dreaming of going there once the holidays come around...

Lastly, the Loew's Landmark Jersey City donated a Movie Night for 2. I am mildly obsessed with this theater. It's absolutely stunning, has a world of history and shows fun old movies (one of my personal passions). I can't wait to get over there this fall for some movie showings!

So a GIANT thanks to all of the sponsors for the party this weekend. You have rekindled my love for all of these places and I cannot wait to get back to all of them soon!

Meanwhile, I wanted to leave you with some eye candy. Today we are having a little Halloween lunch at work, so I am bringing my carmelized potato & parsnip tart and some cute little brownie cupcakes. My mom found this Betty Crocker recipe and I knew it would be a perfect Halloween treat.

Yum!!

Questions of the Day:

Did you get a blast of cold or snowy weather this weekend?

What, if anything, did you do to celebrate the holiday?