New Beginnings

Happy New Year to everyone! I've enjoyed reading your comments and blogs over the holidays, but I've been pretty silent here, as I process what this new year holds. My husband is starting a new job today, based here in Houston, so the dual life we've been living for 5 years with his previous job that took us back and forth between London and Houston, has now come to a close. All good things must come to an end, I suppose.

But I'm excited that this does mean more time here in Houston with my family and friends, and perhaps more adventures traveling to new and exciting places. For the next 6 months, however, and until my London based son and daughter-in-law also move back to Houston sometime this summer, I've going to be taking advantage of my "bedroom" there in England, and traveling back and forth to be with them and to see friends.

London will always be in my heart, and the memories and the friendships that we've made there will be cherished forever. What to do about the blog now, I've pondered. Since I know I've still got some London blog material that I haven't shared yet, and since I know I'll be traveling back and forth for some time to come, you'll still find me writing here for a bit longer. There will be time for a decision about going forward after this season of time.

So how about a bit of change of pace for today? We recently went to New York for a short trip, and I enjoyed a few places that I thought I would share with you, that may or may not be on your radar.

Have you been to Eataly?

You can find Eataly on 5th Ave. between 23rd and 24th.

If you fancy Italian products and quality food, then Eataly is the place for you, a huge market featuring the best Italy has to offer,

where you can spend a couple of hours shopping, as well as eating.  

The selection of cheeses

are abundant, and the staff is quite helpful as you try to narrow down your choices.

Chocolates, gelato,

and Italian pastries will make it hard to keep those good New Year's Resolutions.

If you are in the mood for a panini,

or a selection of focaccia

and fresh breads, then Eataly should be on your list.

Pasta in all shapes and sizes, both dried

and fresh, make for a yummy dinner if you're cooking that night.

Oils and vinegars from all regions of Italy, as well as other condiments, will enhance your dinner preparations

or you may decide to eat in house where there are close to a dozen restaurants and cafes

serving everything from pizza, pastas, coffee, paninis, gelato, charcuterie and desserts, as well as several fine dining restaurants where you should make advance reservations. 

It's on our list for our return trip and I highly recommend it as a mecca of Italian food and products, unlike anything I've seen outside of Italy.

I've been to Fishs Eddy before, located diagonally from ABC Carpet and Home, but this time it seemed even more fun and whimsical.

Good prices on all sorts of crockery and glassware

if you like digging a bit!

There's something here for everyone, I would imagine, from these cow creamers

to fancy cake stands.

How fun are all these glasses!

Plenty of white dishes in the Shape Shack

and you might find grandmother's china if you get lucky enough.

I'll wave good bye for now, and come back soon with another place that we found on our last NY trip, that might interest you as well. Until then, Happy Shopping!