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A Nice Little Fall Weekend

So far, it’s been a nice little Fall weekend her in New York City. Bo and I are enjoying our first travel free weekend together.

Yesterday after a very productive Friday working from home, I met a co-worker for a manicure and pedicure before meeting Bo and Meg for dinner and a movie. Our dinner was enjoyed al fresco at The Smith filled with stories of Meg’s successful Friday afternoon interview. The Smith downtown is always a great option if you’re looking for a relaxed atmosphere, reliable food that can please both steak and salad lovers and good beer in the East Village.

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After dinner we laughed for over an hour and a half! Pitch Perfect opened yesterday in limited theatres across the country, including 3 in New York City. After seeing the previews for it on Thursday night I immediately wanted to see it. I’m a huge fan of Anna Kendrick and Rebel Wilson. All 3 of us enjoyed it and the humor though I am pretty disappointed in the soundtrack for sale on iTunes.

Luckily I was in bed by 12:30 which meant I could sleep for 8.5 hours and still make it uptown by 10am to volunteer with my New York Junior League committee. Due to snoozing one too many times this morning, breakfast was enjoyed on the subway along with this week’s trash mag.

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After volunteering Bo and I met up for a nice little Saturday, including a stop at the Union Square Farmer’s Market, 71 Irving and The Container Store.

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Lattes are always better when served with a bit of heart and a smile.

I was all smiles during our shopping trip since Fall has arrived at the Union Square Farmers market!

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After that adventure it was off to Container Store and Eataly for some organizing and long run dinner ingredients. Bo and I have had a blast coming up with different pasta based dishes this training season, especially since we’re both training for the marathon.

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Walking through the city and Eataly with our Container Store purchases wasn’t exactly fun, but the prospects of an evening at home as soon as we finished helped us get through the tasks quickly.

On our way back home I spent some time playing with Bo’s new iPhone 5 which is supposed to have a better camera than my iPhone 4. Not too shabby Apple, not shabby at all.

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The rest of our evening has been spent in the living room and kitchen. After our shopping trip to the Farmer’s Market we were able to update the house for Fall in a few nooks and crannies.

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Now it’s time to elevate our feet, enjoy some pasta, sip water, and make sure everything is ready to go for tomorrow’s 20 miler. I’m both excited and so ready for this marathon training test to be over.

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Happy weekend!

Have you started decorating for Fall or Halloween yet? If so, how do you spice up your home for the new season?

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ashleyd /

Salad and Potato Chips

 

Last night I was that girl. The girl who orders a salad, with dressing on the side, and then chows down on potato chips. You know what? I loved every minute of it and wouldn’t change a thing!

When Tina announced that she was coming to NYC, I knew that called for a celebratory dinner and some much needed girl time over delicious food and some quality beer. I really wish we’d captured a picture last night because we had such a great time together!

After Frank and Melissa introduced us to The Smith last year during a double date, Bo and I have since become huge fans of The Smith’s original East Village location due to the fact that they are on Seamless Web. Every so often we’re in the mood for delicious takeout that is a step above sushi or Chinese. Everytime we order from The Smith we’re impressed more than the last!

Therefore, I was excited to share The Smith with Dori, Theodora, Tina, and my friend Jessie last night and knew it’d be the perfect spot for us to celebrate!

Below picture via Tina.

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The Smith is best known for their upscale and perfectly executed comfort food. The house specialties include hand cut potato chips, macaroni and cheese, and tomato soup. Both the Midtown and East Village location are quite large, leaving plenty of room for large groups and a hopping bar.

Choosing drinks was the easiest task as we each knew exactly what we were craving whether it was wine, beer, or a cocktail. I started with a perfectly refreshing Duvel which paired perfectly with our next course.

004 As I mentioned before, The Smith, is known for their hand cut chips. Who can resist potato chips topped with blue cheese, melted and served on top? Dori and Theodora ordered these for the table and it was an amazing choice.

001 (640x478) By the time we were done with this bowl there was nothing left except some melted blue cheese which had dripped to the bowl’s bottom.

While most of the table was dreaming of The Smith’s famous chunky tomato soup, I knew exactly what I wanted: salad. I’ve ordered one of The Smith’s huge salads at least 90% of the time and have never been disappointed. Their salads are always huge portions, piled high with delicious and fresh toppings that leave me satiated and stuffed.

Tonight I chose the chicken salad which is a bit simpler than some of their others but equally as delicious. This huge bowl included fresh arugula, sliced Granny Smith apples, walnuts, Brie, grilled onions, and rotisserie chicken.

002 (640x478) In case you’re wondering what the tomato soup looks like, below is a picture of Tina’s chunky goodness.

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I’m not going to lie, it looked pretty amazing. I think I’ll have to order this next time!

If you live in New York City and are looking for a casual dinner, lunch, or brunch spot with friends The Smith is a reliable and reasonably priced choice! If you’re looking for more information, I highly recommend checking out Dan’s review here!

Question: Have you ever been that person who orders Diet Coca Cola and fries or a salad and potato chips?

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