Sunday Brunch: B Bar NYC

Brunching is the quintessential NYC experience. Everyone and their mother does it. Girlfriends, boyfriends, parents, grandparents...the list is never ending. Honestly, I could brunch everyday. It's my favorite meal, and the best part is it is always shared with people I love. Last weekend, I enjoyed my Sunday Brunch at B Bar in NYC with one of my dearest college friends. 

Folks, the atmosphere in this place is spectacular. The ambiance and setting alone are worth the visit. B Bar has a ginormous outside patio that is covered with twinkle lights and beautiful flowers. Not to mention a huge, Mexican tiled fireplace for chilly nights. How often do you find that in NYC? Never. Exactly why this place is amazing. Due to the scorching heat last weekend, we opted to sit inside and gaze out at the beauty through huge garage door windows. It felt like we were out there without the sweat.

This place is retro with a Mexican twist. You can find your typical brunch fare {cinnamon french toast for me...delish} or you can get something a little more exotic like avocado toast. The food was fine, but honestly, the atmosphere is what did it for me. If you want a leisurely NYC locale to spend a few hours with your friends, lover, significant other on a Sunday, give it a try.

Hunkering Down

This weekend the Northeast is due for a few days of rain. Tropical depression rain. Meaning a downpour all day for two days straight.What does that mean for me? Two whole days of nothing but naps, cups of hot tea, reading, and a chick flick {or five}. I'll be hunkered down at home for a solid two days.

I. Cannot. Wait.

This is the first weekend in months that I haven't traveled to the Cape or another lovely destination. I dearly cherish my weekends and time spent with loved ones, but sometimes you need to recharge and relax. This is also my last weekend at home before I begin five more weeks of whirlwind events and traveling. Then six weekends from now, I will be calling a new place home. It's all becoming a little more real each day.

Hunkering down isn't necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes it's a good thing {the best thing} to lay low and take care of yourself for a little while. While the world is an unrelenting storm outside, you have the calm and peace that the feelings of home provide. The best part is that after the storm, the I always seem to feel renewed, reenergized, and ready to take on anything.

Saratoga Springs

I spent a lovely weekend in Saratoga Springs, NY last month with some of my family. My beautiful little cousin was graduating from college, and I had long promised to visit her. So this was my last chance to venture up north for a little while. I was absolutely enchanted with Saratoga. I had always heard it was charming, but I was completely blown away by its old world character and beauty. The countryside around the town is so calm, and it reminds you to slow down a little bit. I would love to return to the area for a weekend retreat in the future. Saratoga, you have won me over.

Blooming

I've spent the last few weeks soaking up life, time with my family and friends, and enjoying life in the New England. It's amazing to think that I only have six more weeks left of living here for the next few years. Very bittersweet. I can't wait to being my new adventure {though where I will be living is still up in the air}, but I will dearly miss my life here. 

I spent a few afternoons over the last few weekends enjoying the blooms around my parents' yard. They have the most beautiful flowers. Lilacs and rhododendrons have been in full bloom, so I picked a few to bring inside. Lilacs are so fragrant and make the entire house smell like a garden. What is it about fresh cut flowers that makes you feel like you live in a fairytale?

Weekend Snaps

Dear Readers

Dear readers, Today is the day to thank you for the wonderful impact you have had on my life. I started this blog a few years ago with zero followers and no idea what exactly I would write about. But this space has evolved in many ways, from look to content, to who I am as a person. As I grow and change, so does this little corner of the internet. It's a place where I try to honestly voice who I am, what I love, and the kind of person I want to be. I want to share the wonderful things in life with you through my eyes. I've learned that the things in life that you should share are not always big.  Though we have some big moments in our lifetime, most of the living we do is though the little moments. The day to day things that we so often take for granted define us and who we are. How we live our everyday lives leads us to the big moments. If you think about it, those life changing moments are preceded by innumerable little moments that escape without much notice, but had those moments not happened the way they did, we might be in a very different place.  So, that's what I try to capture, though my words and photos on this little space. The big moments and little moments alike. Because life is made of up of everything from the everyday to the extraordinary. I still try to find the beauty of the little things in my life every day, though sometimes it's easier than others. I want people to realize it's not living a lavish lifestyle with unimaginable experiences that make an extraordinary life. Sometimes the things I share, I wonder who even cares? Most people probably wouldn't, but you, dear readers, never disappoint. You leave me comments and emails that brighten my day and sometimes catch me off guard. I'm so glad I have this space to connect and learn from my readers.  So thank you, to each and every one of you, for stopping by and reading my nonsense from day to day. Even if you don't comment or email, I see the visits and know that I have a loyal little group of readers. You make me smile every day, and I hope I can make you smile a little bit too.  Sending lots of love, Michaela

Favorite Links of the Week

Two posts in one day? Yes, that's right. All because scheduling posts never quite works out for me for some strange reason. It's a frigid morning {seriously...it was in the 40s when I woke up} on Cape Cod today, so I'm snuggled up in yoga pants and a big sweatshirt enjoying a steaming cup of tea. The sun is supposed to pay us a visit later this afternoon, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it will get warm enough for a walk on the beach!

Today, Jenni's prompt is to link up something you've read and share your thoughts. So I thought I'd leave a few of my favorite links I've discovered this week to give a bit of variety. I always enjoy reading posts that share favorite links, so why not give it a try?
This list from The New York Times will have you imagination going wild with ideas of new places to visit. It made me add eleven new places to my travel bucket list. A dangerous list for those bitten by the travel bug.
I'm not sure if everyone stalks Style Me Pretty as much as I do, but I think it's one of the happiest corners of the interwebs that you will every find. I'm currently crushing over this gorgeous, colorful inspiration shoot that has me drooling. This could be so beautiful for either a wedding or simply done for a dinner party. Either way, I'm now craving some pink peonies and a pink lemonade. 
I am absolutely in awe over Jes from The Militant Baker and her seriously incredible response to Abercrombie and Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries. Please do yourself a favor and go check it out.
Happy Sunday!