our new loft in Albany

 It's been a stressful couple of months trying to find a place in Albany from 2+ hours away, but we finally found the perfect one! We signed the lease this past week; so it's officially our little loft.

Not only does the loft have gorgeous brick walls, but it also has a DISHWASHER!  and a WASHER AND DRYER! After living without those luxuries for the past few years, I am so stinking excited to wash dishes and clothes...you have no idea. This place is loaded with charm, but with that comes some decorating challenges that I am so excited to tackle. 

First things first, those toothpaste colored walls need to be painted a nice, crisp white ASAP. The loft is big and spacious, but I think white walls would make it so much brighter. 

Love the kitchen! I am so excited about having barstools and a big pantry. Doesn't take much to excite this girl.

This is the living room - if you are standing in the kitchen it's looking over to the right. Remember what I said about some decorating challenges?? Not so sure about the random blue spots on the wall and the strange lights, hopefully I can figure out some ways to camouflage the weirdness. OBSESSED with the brick! Also need to figure out how to hang curtains and pictures on that pretty brick!

This is the master bedroom - another pretty brick wall and a pretty decent sized closet! (the bed will go on the brick wall)

The other side of the master - a long dresser will go here. Can't decide if I absolutely hate the wall color, or if it's okay enough to stay. Thoughts?

There is just one bathroom, but it's nice and big, so it's okay! Lots of storage space and nice fixtures, so I'm excited! The laundry room is in a closet across from the vanity.

Here is the guest bedroom. That brick is dreamy, right?? So excited to finally have a proper guest room for our visitors! I think I'm going to put all of my clothes in the closet in this room, and set up a little vanity area so it can get out of Joe's way when I'm getting ready in the mornings. 

We get the keys at the first of May, and should be all moved in a couple of weeks after that! 

life lately

Life lately has been pretty low key, but wonderful nonetheless.

I hate that my blogging has been so spotty, but with the big move nearing, jobs, school and a tiny budget...there isn't much decorating or fun stuff going on that is worthy of a post. I really need to stop waiting on something big and exciting to happen, and just blog our everyday lives!

I jumped on the Vine (Twitter's new video app) bandwagon and had fun making a few silly videos.

I had to go into the city to pick up my new glasses, and I decided to stop by Financier, a precious little patisserie, and pick up my favorite treat, macarons! I couldn't decide which flavor I wanted, so I just got the biggest package they had. Smart, right? My favorites are Chocolate and Lemon and I'm pretty sure I could eat them every single day and never tire of those delicious little cookies. If you haven't had one, I suggest you do soon. They will rock your world.

more macarons, s'il vous plait vine.co/v/b1vKwFDIXVW
— Molly (@Molly_Fo) February 17, 2013

Speaking of my new glasses, I am so obsessed with them. I've been wanting some new hipster tortoise frames for a while, and finally decided I needed some after remembering I haven't gotten new glasses since my freshman year of college. Aren't they fun??

On my way home from getting the glasses/macarons, I was in Grand Central (one of my most favorite places ever) and noticed it was it's 100th birthday! I missed the big celebration because I had to catch my train, but I am so glad I got to be there on that special day. Such a magical place!

Last weekend was the big Nemo blizzard, so we hunkered down and were prepared for the worst. We only ended up getting around 10 inches, but for a Southern girl like me, that is more than enough! I put on my warmest layers, and headed out into the thick of the blizzard with Charlie, and we had so much fun. We stayed out so long that poor little Charlie was covered in icicles and snowballs, so we had to cut our fun short and go inside and get him a warm bath. I'm pretty sure he would have stayed outside all day long if I would have let him. (the video is on a loop, I promise he didn't pee THAT much)

vine.co/v/bnYeh2VaTJe
— Molly (@Molly_Fo) February 17, 2013

Those pictures just show the beginning of the snow. Our parking lot was a huge mess, and Charlie was up to his belly in snow the next day!

We had work/school until late on Valentine's Day, so we moved our celebration to Friday night, and boy was I pampered. Joe started a tradition last year by cooking me a delicious, elaborate Valentine's meal at home rather than going out, and like this year, last night's meal was out of this world. He found the recipes in the New York Times, and were flavors that I never would have thought to put together, but was one of the best meals I've ever had!

Caprese Salad with Blueberry Croutons 
Spaghetti with Puttanesca Sauce
Strawberry Ricotta Cheesecake with a Cinnamon Graham Cracker Crust

Whoever says Valentine's Day is just a Hallmark holiday has lost their mind. I love having a whole day devoted to LOVE and had so much fun letting all the people I love know how much they mean to me.

What I've been listening to:



Happy weekend everyone! :)

Big News...

Joe got a JOB!!!!!!

He graduates from law school this May, then we are packing up and heading a couple of hours north to Albany, NY! 

His new office, come August!

The gorgeous Capitol Building

We are really going to miss White Plains and the city, and everyone who has touched our hearts here, but we are so excited for this next season of our lives and can't wait to see what Albany has in store for us!

So incredibly proud of my sweet boy!

Christmas in Carolina

I meant to post our Christmas card before we left to come down to South Carolina, but seeing as how I only put them in the mail the day before we left, you can understand why I've been so slack. Everyone should have gotten theirs by now, so here is my virtual card to you! :)

Our sweet boy stole the show once again. Isn't he precious??

{this is his preferred way of sleeping in the car...so strange.}

Speaking of Charlie, he did so great on on our 13 hour long car trip down here. He's a wild man, but is so, so good in the car...thank God! He has been spoiled nonstop since he's been here, and I think we are going to have some problems when we get back to NY. He was showered with gifts as soon as we walked in the door by my mom, and my dad has been putting sausage or bacon in his food every morning to "help him eat his breakfast." Now he won't eat his food without it...great. What a hard life he lives!

 He's a little football player just like his daddy!

His new favorite spot.

 My brothers and Joe (unintentionally) matching on Christmas Eve

 My sweet Daddy and I

 The "kid" table on Christmas Eve...I don't think we'll ever graduate to the adult table

 Love you Maddie!

My mom's family always comes over to our house on Christmas Eve for a chili supper and to open our presents from each other. We have so much fun together, and it was so great to spend time with everyone!

 Christmas Day lunch at Mema and Papa's house!

 My mama!

 So thankful for this wonderful guy!

Uncle Joe: The Baby Whisperer

My nieces and nephew think Uncle Joe hung the moon. He is so sweet and patient with them, and the girls told me multiple times they want to marry him. I told them they could be my sister wives but only if they like to cook and clean. ;)

Hope you all had a very merry Christmas! We are looking forward to spending New Year's Eve in the mountains with our college friends. Be back soon with some New Year's Resolutions/Goals!

Weekend in the City

I had an eye appointment downtown on Friday afternoon (yay for finally getting some glasses with the right prescription since high school!) After that, I high tailed it to Bryant Park to meet up with mis padres! Woo Hoo!! They came for the weekend to see their most favorite daughter.

Hooray for new wannabe hipster glasses (ignore the writing the Dr. had on the lenses...I'll be picking up my pretties this week!)

Christmas in the city is truly magical, and I was so glad I got to spend the weekend with them! Poor little Joe was stuck in White Plains studying for finals, but he was able to meet us in Little Italy at our favorite restaurant Novella for some delicious dinner on Saturday night!

My mom and I continued our hunt for the best cupcake in the city, and we stopped in Crumbs Bakery to do a little taste test on our walk to Macy's. She didn't care for her Vanilla cake/chocolate icing, but my vanilla/vanilla (my go to flavor...boring, I know) was out of this world. Definitely my favorite so far! Do y'all have a favorite NYC cupcake? (Please don't say Magnolia's...gag.)

We also stumbled upon the most amazing holiday shops in Columbus Circle and we only wished we had more time to peruse. They definitely beat the shops in Grand Central, Bryant Park, and Union Square by far! 

I am so lucky to have such wonderful parents that I love to hang out with - we have so much fun together!

Times Square is such a madhouse during December, you can barely walk without getting pushed around. I always complain when having to go back there when people are visiting, but I secretly like it :) 

It was an extremely dreary day, and the Empire State Building was hiding from us behind some clouds 

We had to visit Macy's at Herald Square - it was also a madhouse, but we were determined to see pretty Christmas windows! Thank God we were there because my sweetie pie nurse Mama helped an elderly man who was hurt and confused after falling onto his hip off of the curb. Poor guy!

One of my most favorite places - the New York Public Library. Last time I was here, the marble facade was covered in scaffolding and was being cleaned, so I was glad to see she was looking sparkly and new!

Ohh, the Plaza. Can I please just move in here? Lucky Eloise! We actually just stopped in here for a potty break before a carriage tour of Central Park and the Christmas decor was just breathtaking. Note to self: come here for high tea SOON! 

Chandelier in the lobby of the Plaza...gorgeous, huh?!

Their stay just wasn't long enough, it never is. So excited to see them again this weekend! We are headed down to South Carolina for Christmas/New Years and I am so.stinkin.excited.

A Few of my Favorite Things

I was inspired by Natalie's Obsessions posts,
so here are a few of my favorite things...
 

{2011 Loosen Brothers Riesling}

I usually stick to red wines, but this Riesling was seriously delicious! My fabulous in-laws had some of this at their house for Thanksgiving and my brother-in-law's girlfriend, Kadie, and I were absolutely obsessed. (We may or may not have finished off 7 bottles over the course of the week...woops.) My MIL found it at Costco, but you can order it online here...super affordable at $9.99 a bottle. I will be stocking up, that's for sure.

{Old Navy Sweaters}

I scored these two beauties on Black Friday for super cheap! The polka dots are so fun, can't wait to pair it with a brightly colored scarf and the long fair isle sweater is totally amazeballs. I wore it on our 6am flight back to NYC on Sunday with leggings and boots, and it was like wearing a big comfy blanket. Go get yourself one before they're all gone! Joe thinks I look like a grandma wearing it...boys just don't understand.


{OPI The Spy Who Loved Me}

My sweet MIL took Kadie and I out for pedicures this past Saturday while we were in Kansas City, and it was WONDERFULLLLL. My sad feet were so thankful and I was so excited about the color polish I got. I used OPI The Spy Who Loved Me...I think it is a new color that is part of the new James Bond collection. Anyway, it is the perfect holiday red with some gold glitter in it and my toes look so fabulous!


{Monogrammed Sweatshirt}

If you're gonna bum it, might as well bum it in a cute monogrammed sweatshirt, right? This would make such a cute Christmas gift for a girl who's as obsessed with monograms as I am!


{Cheese plate with honey}

I've always been a huge fan of cheese plates...the stinkier, the better...but my in-laws took it to a whole new level when they introduced me to a cheese + assorted honey plate. (I think it's something they picked up on their Mediterranean cruise last year) Easy peasy and so delicious - slice up a few types of cheeses (sharp white cheddar, gorgonzola, brie, goat, etc.), put out as many different types of honey as you'd like (lavender honey and rosemary honey are my faves), and add some crackers, nuts, and dried fruits and you have yourself a beautiful cheese plate. I will definitely be sharing this with my family for Christmas this year!

Also found this little recipe when I was Googling cheese plates...can't wait to make this - I love figs!

Source: camillestyles.com via Molly on Pinterest