We'll See How This Goes

So, one of my 'resolutions' for the new year is to blog every Sunday for at least one hour. I know I am currently very bad at blogging with any kind of consistency and usually my blog entries are just re-caps of trips or events. However, I am sure that this blog will be something that Matt and I would like to look back on once we leave NYC, and maybe some of you actually enjoy reading about our time here. So, in an effort to make this more of a blog, I am going to try my best to invest more consistent effort. As the title says, we'll see how this goes. I can't promise anything ;)

I put 'resolutions' in quotes (here and above) because I generally try not to make resolutions as I am aware of my track record of not keeping resolutions :) So, instead let's call them goals. Goals imply something to strive for that may or may not be 100% met.

If you're interested, here are some of the other 2012 goals Matt and I have come up with (in no particular order):

• Commit to one date night a month. Matt and I actually spend a whole lot of time together, so this isn't a problem. But, we would like to concentrate on making at least one night a month more like a date, like in the old days ;) Our first one takes advantage of restaurant week and one of my favorite celebrity chefs, Bobby Flay. We will be going to Mesa Grill for dinner on 1/27.
• Try to knock one thing off of our NYC bucket list every month. (However, as a lot of these are northeast trips - like to Vermont, Maine, Canada, etc - we are giving ourselves leeway on the 'every month' aspect as that could get expensive.)

And, a few of my own...

• Increase my runs on the weekend. I currently run 4 times a week for 5 miles each run. I would like to increase one of the weekend runs to 6 miles. I think I could theoretically have this done in the next month or so.
• Organize my study time better and STICK TO IT! I always have grand plans of how I am going to manage study time, chore time and play time. However, on most Fridays where I have a big block of time that should be used productively, I end up sitting around on the couch and 'resting' from all of my study/school stress during the week. I really need to be better about doing something semi-productive with this time so my weekends can be devoted to play ;)
• Make picture books!! I have a 90% completed picture book project of our time in London sitting on Shutterfly waiting to be finished (it has been sitting at 90% completion for over a year now!) and grand plans of making one for each of our years in NYC. I need to get on this!!

Ok that's it... if I list anymore, I will overwhelm myself :)

In my usual re-cap style....

Yesterday we went to brunch at Max Brenner, a restaurant/chocolate shop where the owner calls himself the "bald man" who is "creating a new chocolate culture". I have been wanting to go here since our friend, Noelle, told us about it. I LOVE CHOCOLATE!! However, as Matt and I are both pretty healthy people it is always hard going to these kinds of places. I want to indulge and get the intended/desired experience, but I also don't want to go overboard. So, we settled on healthy entrees and indulging in a really awesome dessert of crispy fried banana dipped in melted chocolate and toffee sauce. I was not disappointed. Definitely a good place to go when visiting NYC. Yes, it is a 'tourist trap' but those kinds of places become 'tourist traps' for a reason. I highly recommend it! :)

A delicious cappuccino with two dark chocolate squares to melt/mix in.

The sinfully indulgent Banana Tempura Fondue :)