Nick and I took a impromptu trip to New York City to meet up with some of his friends who were visiting for a few days. We took the train into Grand Central and headed right for the Empire State Building. No one in the group had ever ventured to the top. In fact, Nick and I realized that there are quite a few sites we have yet to see in New York City. We took advantage of the opportunity and went to the 86th Floor Observation Deck.

It was the perfect time of day to be viewing the Big Apple. We were able to see the sun set turn to twilight and eventually into night. This is when New York really came to life. The city lights were incredible from this vantage point. The picture below is my favorite of the hundred that we took. You are able to see the iconic landmarks of midtown Manhattan and beyond.

Two weekends ago Theresa’s bridal party got together to knock out some of the DIY crafts she had on her To-Do list. We actually had a really good system going between the six of us, her mom, future mom-in-law, and aunt; a lot was accomplished.

Instead of just having lunch and playing arts and crafts then hitting the road, we planned a Girl’s Night for some more bridal party bonding. That evening we had dinner and headed to Cosmic Bingo at the Casino. If some of you are cocking your head to the side wondering what exactly Cosmic Bingo is, you’re not alone. Until Theresa introduced it to me I too had no idea. It is essentially Rock’N’Bowl but with Bingo. There are crazy disco lights, themed costumes, and blaring music. It was a blast! Not to mention we had a great group of girls to play with. After the shenanigans at Bingo and walking away with zero winnings amongst our group, we headed to one of the many bars in the Casino. We danced the night away and had yet another fantastic night together.

Now this picture isn’t of the best quality but it was one of the best from the evening of cell phone shots. We have a few more events in the horizon pre-wedding. I’m very much looking forward to spending them with this group of girls.

I’m a little behind with my Photo of the Week posts, so you’ll have to bear with me as I play catch up. There has been a lot going on to keep me busy. From two of my good friends upcoming nuptials and all of the events and planning in between to a new business venture that has kept my “Free Nights” preoccupied.

I was recently asked by a local breakfast and lunch spot to bake their desserts and other various baked goods. I happily accepted and have been doing so for a few weeks now. This has been a great way to expand my product to new clientele. We stopped in one day for breakfast and I was able to see a batch of my monster cookie bars on display. It actually was a pretty cool feeling. I have hopes that this will open the door for even more opportunities.

For Valentine’s Day I thought it would be best to steer clear of the crowds. It is rare these days for Nick and I both to have a full night off together so we both thought it would be nice to enjoy dinner and a movie at home. I took control of the meal, while Nick was in charge of dessert.

I wanted to make something a little more special. You know, not the typical weeknight meal of burgers or tacos. I came upon a brilliant idea of recreating the delicious meal we enjoyed in Tampa, FL at Bella Cafe. The pear sachets in saffron cream sauce were really to die for. So I embarked on an adventure of recreating this delectable dish. Though I had a few setbacks, I am confident that my dish was pretty close to the original. Practice makes perfect though, so stay tuned!