New Traditions - Macys Santaland

As much as I have loved moving abroad, the holiday season can sometimes leave you pining for home. So it has been nice to start some new Christmas family traditions and our favorite of the season is Santaland at Macys. 

View from the other side

Before New York got too cold *burrr* we decided to head across the river and spend some time admiring the city we adore from over in New Jersey.

Top of the Rock – the view during fall

You can’t live in the concrete jungle and not spend at least some of your time visiting the top of the skyscrapers.

#MTHoliday Event

 I mentioned in my last post that it was beginning to look a lot like Christmas around the big apple.

The preparations around town were already beginning to make me feel festively giddy, so imagine my excitement to be invited to a Holiday Soiree earlier this week.

Winter Village at Bryant Park

All around New York right now preparations are underway to transform the city into something magical for the holiday period and when they are finished it will look like something straight from the movies…. I can’t wait! 

Fall into the Botanical Gardens

New Yorkers cheer yourself up this weekend at the New York Botanical Gardens and bask in the explosions of autumnal colour before the madness of their Holiday Train Show starts!

Our 5 favourite things to do in Central Park in the fall

 Central Park is amazing at all times of the year but right now with the hazy sunshine and explosions of colour on the trees it feels extra special during these fall (or autumn to us Brits) months.

Boo at the Zoo

At the weekend we headed along to the Bronx Zoo to check out their spooktacular Boo at the Zoo event.

Mama’s day at the Met

Earlier this week after the school drop-off was done I decided some mama time was due. I have a list of things I would like to do in the city that B might not enjoy and this week I managed to tick something off the list; the Met!

Weekend in Washington

We had visitors from back home last weekend, so before hitting all the delights of New York we grabbed a hire car and headed to Washington for the Weekend (they were second time visitors so it was okay).

Halloween Harvest

It’s almost impossible to be sad that summer is over in New York as the vibrancy and colour of autumn is magical here.

We are sailing

They say that in New York the days where you have nothing planned sometimes turn out to be the best days, well this was certainly true for us at the weekend.

10 things I learnt during my first New York summer

So September is here and its officially almost the end of summer; my first summer in New York. Its been such a wonderful summer but I have also been reflecting now that its drawing to a close and here are 10 things I have learnt after surviving my first summer in the city. 

 

An afternoon in Long Island City

  

Another wonderful sunny afternoon in New York calls for another adventure for me and my little guy.

New York Aquarium

The New York Aquarium can be found at the end of the boardwalk at Coney Island, so if you want to take a break from all the craziness you should call in to learn a thing or two about marine conservation.

Coney Island Baby!

My little guy always gets so excited when I suggest visiting Coney Island, he loves the rides, the treats, the sand and the sea! I love it too as its so easy to reach at the end of the F subway line.

A day in the Museum!

Last week we were in desperate need for some time out of the New York heat, so we headed for a day at the American Museum of Natural History.

Longing to spend longer at Long Beach

Hailing from England the land of unpredictable summer weather, means we love planning weekend trips to the beach in New York’s guaranteed sunshine. And honestly the sea breeze and being able to take a dip in the sea is a welcome break from the city heat.

Washington Square Park – Fun at the fountain!

Ever since I heard you could jump in the iconic fountain at Washington Square Park I’d been waiting for a day hot enough to justify a visit to dip my toes in the water. 

Summer Streets

Ifyou been following the blog, you’ll know we recently became a family of scooter enthusiasts. So imagine our delight when we heard they were closing off seven miles of Manhattan streets to motor vehicles and opening it up for New Yorkers to play, run, walk and bike.

New York Botanical Gardens - with kids!

You wouldn’t necessarily describe your average visitor to a Victorian garden known for it's beauty and tranquillity as an adventurous four-year old boy, but earlier this week I took B to the New York Botanical Gardens and he loved it.

Sunday Scoot around Brooklyn Bridge Park

We love the weekends as we have Daddy to join us on our New York adventures!

Imagination Station

B and I are on a mission to try out as many of NYC’s playgrounds as we can while summer is still here (and before my play date starts school, sob).  

A Central Park hang with my dude

 I’m becoming very aware that my days of hanging out with my number one dude are becoming very limited as he starts Pre-K next month. So when the sun came back out after a couple of cloudy, drizzly days we got up early and headed for Central Park. 

Surviving a heat wave in NYC with kids

So you booked a jaunt to New York with the kids during the school summer holidays, half expecting the weather to mimic London. Little bit of sun, some showers and if you’re lucky shorts and t-shirts weather for the duration of your stay. But you arrive and discover the city is in the midst of a heat wave, but don’t worry here are my top tips to help you have a great time without having to hang out in front of the hotel's air con!

One ‘hill’ of a day out!

One 'hill' of a view from Outlook Hill

The Hills on Governors Island officially opened yesterday, so B and I went along today to make sure we were one of the first to check them out.

Beach days rock at Far Rockaway

Did you know NYC Parks Department cares for more than 14 miles of beaches?

All the fun of the fair

Ever been stuck for something to do with your ice rink during the summer? Follow New York’s lead and transform it into a traditional family amusement park.

A walk in the park

Part of the attraction of moving our little family to Brooklyn was having more than 500 acres of beautiful Prospect Park as our back garden.

If She Can Make It There

Welcome to my blogging journey. I’m Erin, an English gal trying to make it in New York, well Brooklyn to be exact. 

I’m a very proud mamma to four-year-old troublemaker B and wife to a very talented creative developer, Adam.

Last year, looking for something more than what the rural Cambridgeshire could offer us, we packed up our lives, left behind our family, friends and jobs, and headed starry eyed across the pond to the bright lights of New York.

After several months, I am starting to feel like I belong in no-mans land, not quite in touch with day-to-day happenings at home in England (think Brexit) or quite fully fledged New Yorkers (where do I view the 4^th July fireworks?). So, I’m turning to blogging for answers or even therapy!

So stay tuned for the trials and tribulations as we try to navigate stateside with a four year old in tow.

If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere right?