Hi, everyone! Happy Monday 😊
There will be two recaps up on the blog this week since I didn’t get around to posting one last week. Today, I’ll share photos from our trip to visit family in Hoboken, New Jersey. It was so much fun, and I was so happy to see the snow finally! We only get a light dusting that never sticks to the ground in South Carolina, so it was such a magical scene. It made me miss the big snowstorms back in Iowa. It’s funny; I took a poll on Instagram to see how many people loved the snow. I found that most people who loved the snow didn’t live in a place that had much snow, and the ones that didn’t like it lived in super cold wintery places. It’s one of those “you want what you don’t have” type of things. Kyle and I had roasted brussels sprouts, kale caesar salad, and bruschetta turkey burgers on Thursday night. We get them at our local grocery store and cook them up on the stovetop. I haven’t mastered cooking them without the fire alarm going off just yet. Aside from that, they taste so good! I can’t remember the brand name, but I’ll share it next time I pick them up. After dinner, I finished up watching season five of Married at First Sight and made a batch of homemade granola for Kyle’s sister and my brother (I love shipping it to him!) I packaged the granola in a tin I bought from Valentine’s day aisle at Walmart. I’m currently watching the newest season while also working my way back to season one. I love that show! On Friday morning, I ate the last low carb poppyseed muffin I made. I need to make another batch soon because they are soo good, and I love having them after my morning walks. I had Whole Food’s Sanoma chicken salad with seasoned kale, parmesan crisps, and a few protein Quest chips for lunch. Since making my closet more minimal, packing for trips is so much easier. Even when I get home from my trip and toss everything in the laundry, it’s so much. Easier to put things away. I used to leave my suitcase half unpacked for weeks. We took off around 4 pm and landed in New Jersey around 5:45 pm! It was such a smooth and quick flight. It went by so fast because I was reading my book club pick. I just finished that book this morning, and it was so cute! Kyle’s sister set up the sweetest decorations for my 30th birthday! She had beautiful balloons hanging as soon as we walked in, and the next surprise was sitting on the couch when we walked upstairs, his mom! She flew up to hang out with us for the weekend, too. We immediately got into our pajamas and ordered food from Sweet Green. We love that place, and I hope Charlotte gets one soon! I get their kale caesar salad with blackened chicken. Kyle likes their hot honey and pesto potatoes. And out the window, my low-carb diet went. We had the most delicious carrot cake baked from Derry Delights. If you live anywhere near Hoboken or NYC, you have to try her creations. The cakes are so beautiful, and she even hand-delivered them herself. I went back for seconds with no guilt whatsoever. I’m not bringing guilt into my 30’s with me. We hung around on Saturday with our sweet little niece, watching movies, drinking coffee, and catching up. Oh, and we had Sweet Green again because we love it. Did I already say that?
I was officially 30 years old on Sunday morning. Of course, I wanted my last year in my 20’s to look a lot different, but it’s hard to plan life around a pandemic. Traveling overseas, the wedding and other living things were put on hold, but there is only going up from here. That’s what I’m telling myself anyway.
We decided to bundle up and take a walk to get coffee and breakfast in Hoboken. It was only 16-degrees outside, and at one point, I thought my feet were going to freeze off. We grabbed cappuccinos at Bwe Kafe, a cute little coffee shop in Hoboken. I can’t wait to visit again when the shops are fully open, and everything is back to normal. I know there’s a lot of exploring to do. Plus, I can’t enjoy exploration when it’s this cold. 😆
We decided to grab a birthday brunch at Anthony Davids. We heard the food was good, and they had seating under the heaters outside. Even though we sat under the heaters, it was still freezing. We used our scarves to wrap around our legs for warmth. It always gets so cold before a snowstorm. I ordered a decaf coffee, and it warmed me right up. For my meal, I ordered the poached eggs, avocado toast with bacon, and fresh fruit. It also came with an arugula balsamic salad that tasted so good!
We couldn’t stand to walk a mile back in the cold, so we ordered an uber. The numb toes could barely walk a block, and we are used to the high forties as our “cold.” Side note, I didn’t dress for the weather either. I’m sure I’d complain a lot less if I actually had pants on that kept my legs warm. Instead, I wore thin yoga pants that didn’t even reach my ankles. Kyle and I had a dinner reservation at Lokal Eatery for my birthday. It had waterfront views overlooking the NYC skyline. I was so excited! The blizzard started as soon as we left for dinner. We started with a glass of Rutherford Hill Chardonnay and the Elliott Stubb cocktail. It was so good! It had yuzu juice, aguafaba, blueberry honey syrup verjus, blanc vermouth, bee pollen, and tequila.
For our food, we ordered the flash-fried shishito peppers, shaved brussels sprouts with parmesan, gremolata, and a whisky maple drip, rock shrimp with gochujang cream, and chicken yakitori with scallions, garlic, and ginger.
I could not pick a favorite because everything was equally delicious! The storm was getting really bad, so we took an uber back to the house after dinner. We didn’t want to stay out too late and end up getting stuck. We celebrated the night with a chocolate Guinness cake! I’m telling you, Derry Delights is a cake artist! Kyle’s family made my 30th birthday so special. Waking up to a snow day was so much fun! Our flights were canceled for the next two days, so I decided to use that time to drink coffee, read my book, and hang out with my adorable new niece. We did manage to stop at the grocery store! Kyle was craving chicken and cheesy rice or dinner, so we decided we’d cook that for everyone! It’s the easiest dish you prepare in advance and just pop into the oven an hour before you’re ready to eat. soooooo goooood!
2 lbs of cut-up chicken breast
5 cups of water
2 boxes of chicken RiceaRoni + another box but only the seasoning packet in it!
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
In a baking dish, add the rice boxes, 3 packs of seasoning, water, chicken breast, and top with the cheese!
Bake for about one hour at 400-degrees. Give it about 25-minutes to cool and for the rice to absorb all the water. For our last night, we had the Chart House. We are going to dine there next time we visit, but the food was so good. I had the blackened salmon. We finally got a flight back home at 5 am on Wednesday! ♥️
Questions for you!
- What is your favorite cake on your birthday?
- Do you love a snow day?
- Do you live somewhere cold or warm?
Jenny says
I love love love the recap posts! I’m sure kyle enjoys the privacy, but would you be willing to do a post thats just a little bit about kyle? youre so open in your recaps and I’d love to learn a little bit more about him!
Taralynn says
I love sharing pictures of Kyle and I out on vacation and around the house, but he didn’t choose to be a blogger, so I like keeping his personal life and details of his life off the blog. I really want to respect his choices and privacy.
Alicia says
Where is your skirt from?! I love your outfit
Taralynn says
I believe it’s from Loft! 🙂
Kam says
No pictures of your neice?
Taralynn says
I’m going to protect her at all costs lol Kid’s don’t belong on the internet for content 😊
Rebecca says
Your trio looked like a dream! So jealous of the cakes! My favorite cake on my birthday is German chocolate or any cake from Whole Foods! Their Chantily is tooo good😋 I love snow days! I’m from Colorado so I’m a winter gal! I currently live in New Mexico though so the snow days are few and far between
Taralynn says
German Chocolate is so good!!!
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog says
Happy birthday, Taralynn! Had such a lovely time reading this post, so happy for you. Here’s to a great year ahead! ❤️✨
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
Taralynn says
Thanks so much, Charmaine!
Naomi says
Happiest of 30th birthdays to you, Tara! I’m a year into my 30s, and I promise, it’s even more fun than your 20s! Your hair looks amazing from your birthday dinner, I’m so happy you had a great celebration 🙂
1. Chocolate cake, always!
2. I do! But they’re rare these days because…
3. I live in Australia
Taralynn says
Thanks so much, Naomi!
I so want to visit Australia one day!
Shawna Tacy says
I absolutely love Tres Leches cake. My 39th birthday was 1/28 so my coworkers got me one from a little Hispanic place so it was super authentic. I am trying to be more mindful about what I but I totally wasn’t that day and ultimately paid the price was a tummy ache that didn’t go away until 11pm that night. Looking back, I should have asked for a nice, light, and fluffy angel food with light whipped topping which is my 2nd favorite. I am not really a cake person (but lord knows not to leave me unattended with warm homemade chocolate chip cookies or brownies, LOL!)
As far as a snow day, I live in Lake Placid, Florida where is mild to hot 90% of the time. I lived in NY for a few years after graduating high school and while visiting with snow is cool, I despised having to dig my car out of the snow to go to work and driving with icy roads terrified me. So I am back in the Sunshine State for good- northerns can keep their beautiful snow, I will stick with my sunny lakes and beaches!
Love your blog BTW- been a loyal reader since your Tumblr days and I listen to your Youtube videos every day on my way to work (I say listen instead of watch cuz, you know, keep your eyes on the road!). I actually get overly excited when you have new videos up and your blog inspired me to start my own. 🙂
Taralynn says
Wow, that sounds delicious!
I’m also team chocolate chip cookies ♥️
Haha that is funny! I know that feeling too well. I hated driving to school in the snow and shoveling my car out!
Thank you for the sweet words! I need to get back in to the YouTube videos! Thanks for the motivation!
Ashton Jury says
Love your recaps Tara, and Happy Belated Birthday! I live in sunny & warm southern California so I do love a good snow day. All of my brothers are in Utah so I love going to visit them in the snow. I used to be obsessed with Red Velvet cake but I think just a good dark chocolate is now my go too! Can’t wait for your other recap, also I love your outfit that you wore out on your birthday, where are your skirt & coat from they are adorable!
Taralynn says
Thanks, Ashton!
You can’t really beat California weather!! But I have Utah on my travel bucket list!!
Ashley says
I’m so happy you had a wonderful birthday!! I love how Kyle’s family went all out for you, that was so sweet. It looks like you are joining an absolutely beautiful family, friend!
Both of those cakes look SO good. I don’t have a special cake that I love on my birthday, but just anything chocolate will do, haha!
Make Life Marvelous
Taralynn says
Thanks, Ashley!!!
Katie says
I want to try Derry’s cakes! I live in Hoboken and will check her out.
Taralynn says
You will love it!!!!
Jenny says
1- Favorite birthday cake is usually lemon or strawberry!
2- Snow days are only good when you have nowhere to go and can inside with a warm drink and a book or a tv show to binge
3- Of course I live in a snowy cold state ha ha ha but I am eager to move back to somewhere warmer and sunnier, that only gets the dusting of snow occasionally
Glad you had a terrific finale week in your 20s. Happy BELATED birthday Taralynn!
Taralynn says
Ohhh thats so good! Especially when lemon and strawberry are together!
♥️
Katie says
My favorite cake for my birthday is either red velvet with cream cheese frosting or yellow cake with chocolate frosting. Or white cake with buttercream frosting. Haha I may or may not love cake.
I love a good snowstorm and am originally from Michigan so needless to say, I’ve seen a ton of them in my 33 years. However, I have lived in Georgia for the past 6 years, so I don’t get them very much anymore.
Hope you had a great trip! I have ALWAYS wanted to go to NYC.
Taralynn says
ohhhh that sounds amazing and now i want cake 😆
Milena says
Happy Birthday Taralynn and welcome to the 30ties! I turned 30 in August as well 🙂
I love snow but only for few days in a row! I grew up in Poland with very freezing winters and sometimes I miss snow but I couldn’t stand so much cold for more than a couple of days. That’s one of the reasons why I moved to Barcelona, to live in a warmer place 🙂 Now it feels like Spring, the weather is so nice!
Once again, my best wishes and I hope you enjoyed your Birthday to the fullest! Kisses 🙂
Taralynn says
Happy belated! ♥️
I can’t wait until spring here!!
BreAnne says
Happy 30th! What a wonderful way to celebrate! Where did you get your striped cardigan sweater? It’s beautiful!
Taralynn says
Thank you! It was from TjMaxx!
Erica says
Happy 30th birthday Taralynn!! A new decade, how exciting!! Hope you had the best birthday!
I don’t really love cake so I always choose cheesecake! That counts right?
I love snow days as long as I’m not scheduled to work! I have a dog who absolutely loves the snow so we just spend the day outside in the blizzard and warm up with hot chocolate or coffee afterwards!
It’s cold right now where I live. It’s been 5 degrees all week but we have really warm summers to make up for it haha that’s Canadian weather for you!
jessie says
I am making the casserole now looks delicious