we’ve been in NYC for 5 weeks, and while some days it seems like we’ve been here forever, other days it still feels like a dreamy vacation in our favorite city.

when we decided to move to NYC, we knew there would be great opportunities for both of us to achieve goals and create a fulfilling life that we love. I had some career goals in mind to achieve by the end of August, but when I heard about a particular job that is so in line with my passions, I couldn’t resist. I applied immediately.

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when I went in for my interview last week, learned more about the role, and met so many incredible people, I knew right away that this was the ideal environment for me.

I am so happy to say that they felt the same way and offered me a fulltime position. starting next week, I’ll be the Social Media Coordinator at Integrative Nutrition!

this is something I’ve been dreaming about since I started this blog almost two years ago (while taking a course in nutrition & wellness), and signed up for a Twitter account. it’s incredible to look back and recognize how this all unfolded here in NYC.

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I love social media, and I love promoting health & happiness through nutrition.

I am confident that I will love this change in my life, and so thankful that I get to continue working with talented, passionate people in a natural environment.

I’m grateful for my time spent with lululemon. I learned about personal development, goal-setting, integrity, authenticity, gratitude, community, and more.

all of those things, along with the friendships and connections I’ve made, will carry on with me wherever I go. right now, it’s onto a beautiful new chapter in life.

when was the last time you changed jobs/careers?

are you doing what you love, and loving what you do?

on my run yesterday morning, I really listened to my thoughts and paid attention to where my mind wandered. there were some, “just keep running, just keep running” moments in the mix, but the majority of my thoughts centered around gratitude.

what I acknowledged throughout the day is that starting my morning with a run, and therefore many thoughts of gratitude, led me to feelings of gratitude all day long.

random grateful thoughts:

• making the green lights to cross the street so I didn’t have to stop running on my way to the West Side Hwy.
• the water at our apartment gets hot in .4 seconds
• a nice maintenance man at our building showed us a secret for better water pressure in the shower
• our curtains are the exact right length and we didn’t even measure for them
• Billy’s abilities to put things together, hang things, drill holes, and look good while doing it all
• the fruit & vegetable stand at the corner of our street where I can buy perfectly ripe avocados for $1/each
• the beautiful weather forecast for the rest of the week

one moment of gratitude for the small things in our daily life adds up to so much more. it’s really about awareness, and goes back to living in the moment, and recognizing that all moments are worthwhile.

in other news, my Sony point & shoot has taken its last good shot, and I’m in the market for a new camera. I want another point & shoot for the convenience & size, but one that has much greater capabilities than my iPhone camera. #1 option:

Canon PowerShot S100

I’ve heard great things!

do any of you have this camera, or another you’d recommend?

what’s one small thing you are grateful for right this very moment?

p.s. also! remember the awesome Fitness Magazine event I got to attend last week as a FitFluential Ambassador? well, if you’re interested in joining FitFluential yourself, click here. or, if you just want to learn more about the nationwide network, click here.

another full weekend with beautiful weather!

Friday evening we walked to Mad Sq. Eats to have a drink and a snack.

I worked Saturday while Billy went to a Chili Cook-off, and we both arrived home in time for a nap before heading to meet friends for a drink at Valhalla. Valhalla is known for its wide selection of beer, but they have a full bar, too.

our friends chose Valhalla because it’s a couple of blocks from Terminal 5, and we had tickets to see Neon Indian, an indie band from Denton (just north of Dallas), Texas.

fun night!

we are incapable of sleeping in lately, but we enjoyed a lazy Sunday morning with breakfast at home, then it was off to IKEA in a rented U-Haul. we were pretty efficient since it was a gorgeous, sunny day and we didn’t want to spend it all indoors.

thanks for the inspiration, IKEA. we’re getting creative in our space!

per usual, Billy did most of the work, while I took photos of random things.

after IKEA, a drive home over the Brooklyn Bridge, phone calls to our dear moms, and a quick bike ride to the closest park for some blanket time.

last night was spent organizing our new purchases, cooking dinner at home, and watching Will Ferrell host Saturday Night Live. a great ending to the weekend.

what was the highlight of your weekend?

have you ever been to IKEA?

many times every day, I recognize how thankful I am to live in this city. as I wrote about in my off the top of my head posts, part 1 & part 2, I continue to fall in love with Manhattan, more so now that we’re in our new apartment and neighborhood.

yesterday was a great day, and while the weather took several hours to figure out what it wanted to do, by 6:00pm, it was spectacular outside. scenes from the roof:

we walked a couple of blocks to meet friends for dinner at Tipsy Parson.

great spot. incredible service, delicious food, festive atmosphere.

they have housemade peanut butter served with cheese crackers & apple slices.

and the best broccolini I’ve ever had – grilled with lemon, garlic & chile flakes.

they serve warm cornbread with a homemade jelly, and several in the group (including Billy) ordered the fried oysters to start.

the kitchen is happy to accommodate vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free diners.

we had a great experience, and this is the type of neighborhood gem where we’d love to take out of town guests. come visit us, ok?

it’s Friday, it’s sunny. can’t stay indoors, so I’m off for a run.

some link love:

• do you love kale as much as I do? this salad sounds amazing.
• traveling soon? read this article for tips on staying healthy.
• sweet tooth in the morning? check out this recipe (there’s chocolate involved).
• hosting a Mother’s Day meal? check out this menu.

any fun plans this weekend?

After spending yesterday with a bunch of tweeting fitness bloggers, I’m thinking and speaking in hashtags today, so I might as well keep it up. #isthatcoolwithyou?

Fitness Magazine hosted the Fitness Bloggers Tweet & Meet yesterday, and I’ve been looking forward to it since before we left Dallas. I knew it would be a great chance to meet a bunch of bloggers in New York City, and say hello to some familiar faces.

The doors opened at 9:00am, and the 1st scheduled panel began at 10:00am. We spent the first part of the morning circulating to visit with all of the sponsors. There was a breakfast table with a variety of breads and spreads plus juice, coffee, tea, etc.

Mia Hamm was at the event signing mini soccer balls. I got one for Billy. #madehisday

The lunch buffet was beautiful and everything tasted fresh and delicious. I went back for more fruit. I can’t resist fruit salad when strawberries and grapes are involved.

One of the highlights of my day was spending time with Caitlin from Caitlin Lives Well – a blogger and lululemon co-worker. I adore her.

There was a panel on Carbs, Cleanses, and Caffeine, and one on Gym to the Streets: Fashion Tips That Will Help You Stretch Your Spandex Beyond the Gym.

Other panels included Easy Beauty Secrets with Laura Geller, and How to Turn Your Blog into a Business with Tina from Carrots ‘N’ Cake, Julie from Peanut Butter Fingers, Carla from MizFit Online, and Kelly Olexa, the founder of FitFluential.

I loved all of the panels. They were entertaining and interactive with lots of questions and answers. Once the panel portion was finished, we had a break before the pop-up fitness class sponsored by KiwiSweat. I snacked on raw almonds I had in my bag (don’t leave home without ‘em!) and Sun-Maid raisins, one of the sponsors.

The high-energy, 45-minute class was taught by Reign Hudson, and we did a mix of African Dance and Kickboxing. It was 100% as awesome as it sounds, and everyone worked up a good sweat. The class ended with a quick, intense abs workout. I wish I had pictures of the class to post, but there were a bunch of people watching us and taking photos, so I’m sure they will make their way online sooner or later.

The event took “swag” to another level. There was quite a buzz all day about how sincerely grateful everyone was for all the awesome gifts.

Besides the delicious food and ridiculous swag, the best part of the day was meeting so many great bloggers and getting to know people I’ve “known” online through Twitter, Instagram (dorrybird), blogs, Facebook, etc. #socialmedianerdheaven

I feel spoiled, humbled, inspired, and so thankful to all of the organizers and sponsors who hosted this incredible event. Can we please do it again next week??

Have you ever attended a blogger event/retreat/summit/get together?

CrossFit is all the rage these days, and I support the principles and lifestyle of this exercise program that focuses on strength and conditioning through varied daily workouts called WODs – workout of the day.

There’s an emphasis on nutrition as well, and many CrossFitters eat a grain-free, low or no dairy Paleo diet of meat, eggs, vegetables, fruits & nuts. Billy eats a Paleo diet by default most of the time, but he always makes room for nachos…

As part of a lululemon challenge, our whole team tried to make it to CrossFit 212 last week, and I went on Friday at noon with 2 of my friends from work.

CrossFit 212 is located in Tribeca, and when we arrived, there was a commercial being filmed outside. Welcome to life in Manhattan.

the space is large (for NYC!) and fully equipped.

like most places in the city, there’s a downstairs.

the majority of our workout took place downstairs, but we stretched upstairs before and after the workout.

about that workout:

• Part A – 100 side plank crunches
• Part B – 5 starts & 10 full rows, followed by a 500 meter warm-up row
• Part C – 15 minute AMRAP (as many rounds as possible):
  • 250 meter row, 25 hand release push-ups

my goal was to complete at least 4 rounds and I almost made it to 6!

CrossFit is intimidating to me, and I think that’s part of the reason I like it. When I read the board last Friday, I had a wave of doubt that I’d be able to do the workout, but I’m a lot stronger (and more determined!) than I give myself credit for.

CrossFit is a community, and while I’m not committed to going several times a week, I’ll definitely keep it in my fitness rotation when I’m looking for a good challenge. It reminds me to test my limits and get outside of my comfort zone.

have you tried CrossFit?

I know most of the locations in Dallas offer a complimentary class at least once a week (often on Saturday mornings), and CrossFit 212 offered a discounted rate for 1st-timers.

As a FitFluential ambassador, I have the opportunity to attend the Fitness Magazine Fitness Bloggers Tweet & Meet today! I know a handful of people who will be there, but I’m looking forward to meeting new faces and hearing some great speakers. The Twitter hashtag is #fitblognyc if you want to follow along throughout the day.

while I was at work on Saturday, Billy (with the help of a friend) moved all of our belongings from point A to point B, and our new bed was delivered. by bed, I mean mattress, which is on the floor until we get our platform bed frame.

it’s a work in progress, of course. our couch and chair will be here this week, and we have a TV hooked up with cable and internet. well, the wireless internet isn’t exactly working, but it should be very shortly according to Time Warner.

we went to sleep Saturday night in our new apartment after eating a homemade Mexican meal on the floor. that was our Cinco de Mayo celebration!

in the midst of working and the move, we managed to do/see/play this weekend:

in photos, per usual:

while running errands on Friday, we stumbled upon the 1st day of Mad Sq. Eats, a lineup of sweet and savory food vendors with shaded tables to sit and relax. Billy had a beer, I had a glass of wine, and we were off to continue mattress shopping.

we’ll definitely go back this month!

a few shots of the new place just after we got everything inside Saturday afternoon.

although our apartment faces north, we get an abundance of natural light being up on the 16th floor with no building obstructions. we are very happy here!

we met some friends for brunch yesterday at Elephant & Castle. great food, cute atmosphere, reasonable prices, quick service once we were seated.

it was a gorgeous day so we put off running our errands for an hour or so and walked the high line with our friends. we had some sorbetti and took our time…

then it was off to Bed, Bath & Beyond to buy things like showers curtains, bath mats, and hangers. once we learned that they deliver for $15, we decided to load up on everything from laundry detergent to a new vacuum. our purchases arrived, and it felt like Christmas. we spent last night getting things somewhat organized. I captured this smiling photo of Billy, but the whole Bed, Bath & Beyond trip really did him in. he passed out on the bed the minute we walked in the door for a quick nap. zzzz.

and now it’s a brand new week! by next weekend, I hope to have all of our furniture. in the meantime, we’re enjoying the nesting process (no, I’m not pregnant, just a reference to being a Bird.) I’m off for a run. new neighborhood, new sights to see.

furniture shopping – love it or hate it?

yesterday, I posted off the top of my head, the 1st 10 of 20 things I love about NYC.

continued:

10. dining al fresco – so many great patios and outdoor dining options

11. brunch! brunch is a big part of the weekend in NYC, and there are so many incredible places to go. a 2009 favorite: Bubby’s, a more recent favorite: Peels. somewhere I’d like to try soon: Fig & Olive for the South of France…

12. the energy on the streets – it’s intoxicating and contagious.

13. nightlife – although I’m not one to stay up too late these days, this is the place to be if you’re looking for some action. we like to go out dancing every now & then…

14. 3 airport options – JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark. makes it easy to find a flight in and out of the city based on where you live and where you’re going.

15. Governors Island – we have fun memories of taking the ferry to Governors Island to get away from the city for the day. bike rides, picnics, exploring.

16. Chase Bank is everywhere – that’s where we bank, so it’s quite convenient. when we drove from Dallas to NYC, the 1st city that had a Chase Bank was D.C.

17. 5 lululemon locations + another opening this summer – one of the best parts about the multiple locations is that each one hosts different complimentary yoga & fitness events on a weekly basis for the community.

18. riding bikes! – such a fast & efficient form of transportation. I’m slightly obsessed and realize I won’t be able to ride year-round, so I’m getting it in while I can.

19. opportunities abound – this city is full of people with big dreams.

20. taking photos! I don’t know a better city in which to take photos. I’m currently in the market for a new camera. my point & shoot is pretty much kaput.

dinner last night: steak, salmon, stuffed mushrooms, cauliflower mash, green avocado salad (my friend whipped up the best salad dressing with dijon, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, salt, pepper, etc…), warm brownies for dessert. red wine, of course.

which do you prefer – steak or salmon? red wine or white?

I’m off to another new-to-me class at SoulCycle, followed by my 1st NYC CrossFit experience at CrossFit 212. yikes.

the top 20 things I love about NYC:

1. walking everywhere – it was raining too hard to ride my bike to work yesterday, but it was nice enough in the evening to just walk the 2ish miles home.

2. variety of amazing restaurants – if I were a chef, I’d want to live and work here, too! there are so many kitchens in this city that produce delicious meals.

3. healthy food options – if I walk a block in any direction, I’ll come across a deli, a market, a bodega, or some place I can buy a quick, healthy snack or meal.

4. memories of the beginning of Bird + Bee

5. public transportation – can’t ride my bike to work? take the nearest subway or grab a cab. although if it’s not raining, I almost always prefer to ride my bike or walk!

6. parks! Central Park, Washington Square Park, Battery Park, Bryant Park…

7. convenience of drug stores – there’s a Duane Reade every few blocks. chapstick, toilet paper, toothpaste, etc. whatever you need is always accessible.

8. free (& beautiful!) public library

9. the diversity of the people – hearing so many different languages spoken, and finding out where people are from, and how long they’ve been here in NYC.

10. running in Central Park

that was fun! I have 10 more to complete the list of 20, but I’ll post those tomorrow.

I’m off to Whipped again this morning, then lunch, then work, then having friends over for the last supper at our temporary home. Billy has prepared quite a menu!

how do you get to work? drive, ride, walk?

how has it possibly been 4 weeks!? and then again, how has it not been 4 months?

we left Dallas in our rented SUV 4 weeks ago today, and took a week-long road trip, ending in NYC, our new home. since then, we’ve been searching for apartments, working hard, running many miles, biking more than ever before, trying new workouts, eating a lot of delicious foods, and adjusting to a new life in Manhattan.

whew.

although we’ve been incredibly fortunate to have a lovely, comfortable, (FREE!) place to stay since we arrived on April 11th, we are so excited to move into our new apartment this weekend. unpack our bags, scout out the neighborhood, and be more centrally located with access to some of our favorite places (.4 miles to Whole Foods, .7 to Trader Joe’s, .4 to the High Line, .5 miles to Chelsea Market, etc., etc.).

I still look around most days and wonder if I actually live here, or if it’s just a matter of time before I board a plane back to Dallas. having a job certainly helps it feel more “permanent”, but I know settling into our new apartment will really do the trick.

there’s unarguably a lot of action and people in this city. we managed to find an apartment that is just close enough to some action, but on a quiet street up on the 16th floor of a beautiful building. there’s an abundance of natural light and charm.

and room for a king-sized bed.

speaking of action, there was a May Day protest of Occupy Wall Street supporters yesterday. I felt the energy and tension immediately on the streets when I left work…

and it followed me a couple of miles to our temporary home in the Financial District.

after hours of listening to loud protesters, helicopters, and sirens, Billy finally declared he was “off to occupy the bed.”

do you live in a city with a lot of action?

I hope you are having a happy, peaceful day!

p.s. you might have noticed the new ads on my blog. I’ve recently decided to partner with Bliss.com, a community of bloggers who focus on Health & Wellness, part of the Glam Media Network. I’m in the fabulous company of some great friends (who happen to also be bloggers), Theodora, Lindsay, and Kristina. I’ll be sure to let you know when I write posts that are related to Glam!