A little video from our mini-moon.

Brian and I had the most amazing time upstate on our mini-moon the weekend after our New York City wedding. We spent our days hiking around the Barryville area and our evenings enjoying fantastic dinners in Narrowsburg and Honesdale. Here is a little video capturing our favorite moments from our long weekend. I can't wait to share more photos soon!

Girls' Getaway

One of the (many) perks of loving the people you teach with is that you have all of the same days off, meaning you always have someone to relax and hang out with! Several of us girls took advantage of the Jewish holiday last week with a three-day getaway upstate. We were lucky enough to stay at my friend Liz's country house in Saugerties, NY. We arrived Sunday evening at sunset and had a delicious meal at Miss Lucy's Kitchen, a farm to table restaurant in the heart of Saugerties. I especially loved the house made pappardelle with local sausage, fennel, leeks, cherry tomatoes, and wilted greens. Everything we ordered was amazing!

We woke up Monday morning to chilly weather. We bundled up in our fleeces and sweaters and treated ourselves to brunch at Phoenicia Diner. The grits were just as yummy as I remembered! After brunch we picked up local ingredients in Woodstock to bake a peach blueberry pie. That evening we ordered pizza from Slices and watched episodes of Sex and the City after dining in at home. Allidah worked her magic in the kitchen and baked an amazing pie that we had for breakfast on our final morning. The weather warmed up on Tuesday and we cherished every minute of the sunshine poolside. It felt so nice to escape the hustle and bustle of New York City and relax upstate.

If you are looking for a beautiful place to stay in Saugerties, check out Liz's rental on airbnb. The home accommodates twelve and offers a variety of amenities. We loved relaxing by the koi pond and pool, both located on the property. The kitchen and great rooms are also perfect for entertaining and hanging out with friends!

The Graham and Co.

Brian and I loved staying at The Graham and Co.; located in Phoenicia, NY.  The decor was minimal with Brooklyn hipster vibe, the toiletries smelled amazing, and the continental breakfast was delicious. I swear, I could eat cider donut and dried mango all day long! We enjoyed cruising around town on their free bikes and blasting Brandi Carlisle from the radio in our room. It was still quite chilly during our late April visit; I would love to return in the warmer months to take advantage of their pool! If you are looking for an escape in the Catskills I highly recommend The Graham and Co.

Scenes from the weekend.

Brian and I had the most amazing time upstate this past weekend. We stayed at The Graham and Co. in Phoenicia, a popular retreat for New Yorkers with hipster details, minimal design, and no cell phone service. I absolutely loved it. Another perk of the hotel was that The Phoenicia Diner was only a three minute drive away. We ended up having breakfast there on both Saturday and Sunday and were really pleased with our meals. Mike, the owner of the diner, was there on Sunday morning and was so kind! I would return to Phoenicia just to eat another skillet breakfast there (with a side of biscuits of course). We wanted to try Sweet Sue's as well for their legendary pancakes, but it was closed for the weekend.

On Saturday we hiked to Kaaterskill Falls after our morning bike ride around Phoenicia. Late that afternoon I enjoyed a much needed nap while Brian exploded the area more on bike. That evening we had a phenomenal meal at Peekamoose; my gnudi appetizer was so delicious! On Sunday we went on another bike ride before venturing to the nearby towns of Woodstock and Saugerties. We explored the Saugerties Lighthouse and picked up some treats at Krause's Chocolates before making the trip back to New York City. We are now dreaming of one day owning a country home upstate. I will share more about The Graham and Co. this week, along with a little video of our weekend adventures.