Posies

Last week I spent a few days in New York City to celebrate my birthday. The weather was perfect and the vibe in the city was upbeat and happy. I love wandering around Manhattan this time of year and as I've mentioned before, I like to discover new things each time I visit.  This time I found an adorable little flower shop on the Upper West Side called Posies. The store is tucked along Amsterdam Avenue. It's not a big place but the bright pink awning and plants spilling onto the sidewalk are so inviting you can't help but stop and notice. I had to go in and check it out. It was really cute so I thought I'd share it with you. I didn't have my camera so I used my iPhone to capture some photos and show you what Posies has to offer.

Even though it is currently surrounded by scaffolding, this little flower shop jumps out at you when you are walking down the street.

The store is literally overflowing with fresh flowers and plants.

There are buckets of seasonal flowers inside. You can make your own bouquet or have Posies create something for you.

I was amazed at the selection of flowers offered in such a small space. There were so many varieties and colors to choose from.

If you can't decide or don't have time to make your own bouquet, you can choose one of the premade bouquets that are lining the wall. This was my favorite part of the store. The bouquets were gorgeous and inexpensive.

I love garden roses and hydrangeas together so I chose this beautiful bouquet to take home.

If you need a vase or vessel for your arrangement Posies has those too.

I didn't need a vase so my bouquet was carefully wrapped in purple tissue paper and cellophane, tied with a raffia bow and placed in a large white shopping bag. I love that! So simple but so very pretty. This little flower shop gets a huge thumbs up for me! It was a great little find and a fun stop to make in the middle of a busy day. If you visit the Upper West Side head to Posies!

Enjoy your week!

Leslie xo

Favorite Things

If you know me, you know I like to travel. I worked in the travel industry years ago and fell in love with the idea of wandering the globe the minute I took my first trip. I like to explore new places and try new things so the idea of hopping on a plane or taking a road trip has always been exciting to me. I have been fortunate enough to travel to some great places, both near and far but my favorite trips are the ones taken with family. Some of the best memories are made that way! I am usually traveling this time of year but since I don't have anything planned right now, at least not in the very near future, I am reminiscing and I thought I would share some of my favorite places with you. Happy Friday!

Città Sant 'Angelo, a town in the province of Pescara, Abruzzo, Italy.  A beautiful town where my entire family stayed on a trip to trace our family heritage five years ago.

Wandering the streets of SoHo in New York City.  Whether you are eating,  shopping or people watching, it's a cool place with a great vibe.Roaming through the Wineries in Napa Valley, California.

Watching the sunrise in Stone Harbor, New Jersey. One of my favorite beaches.

Walking the beaches on Sanibel Island in Florida collecting sea shells.

 Watching the Harbor Seals and enjoying the restaurants and shopping in La Jolla on the California coast.

Walking through The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch in Carlsbad, California to enjoy the breathtaking view of the blooming Ranunculus.

All of these places hold special memories of good times spent with family and friends. I'm not sure what's next but I'm looking forward to wherever the next adventure takes me! Have a wonderful weekend!

Leslie xo

Photos by Leslie Reese

A Trip to Terrain at Styer's

I love finding unique places to dine and shop. I live in a town that is close to some great cities like New York, Philadelphia and DC so it's easy to find something interesting no matter which direction you go. Last week my daughter and I decided it was time to hit the road and find a new place to explore so we grabbed my mom, who is as adventurous as we are, and jumped in the car. We headed toward Philadelphia this time and ended up in Glen Mills, PA. And oh what a wonderful place we found! The store is called Terrain and it is the most amazing home and garden store I have ever been to! There is a fantastic outdoor market, a wonderful indoor shopping area and a fabulous Cafe. Two of my girlfriends have been raving about this place and they were right! It really is unique, so unique I thought I would share my day with you so if you are ever in the area you can make a point to stop there. You will not regret it!

We had lunch at the Garden Cafe. Beautiful plants, stone walls and a rustic setting all contribute to the natural and comfortable atmosphere that makes you feel like you are dining outside.

The drinks were served in mason jars and fresh baked bread was delivered to the table in a small clay pot. It's little details like these that create a wow factor. I love that.

The lunch menu is amazing. I ordered Seared Maine Scallops with quinoa and barley salad, grilled corn, heirloom cherry tomatoes, toasted pine nuts and garden herbs. It was delicious.

After lunch we started our journey around the store. It's a challenge to find the right words to describe it but I'll try. Did I already say amazing? There is an abundant supply of all things green. A plant lover's paradise.

I like plants but I was happier exploring the home products. This store has everything from specialty soaps and leather handbags to flower bulbs and fountains . These were a few of my favorites...

Bath Products. Love the packaging.

Specialty Soaps. Beautifully wrapped. 

 Sponges. Creatively labeled.

Matches in an Apothecary bottle. Just plain cool.

Pink Himalayan Salt. So pretty, you have to have it.

DIY Terrariums. I'm thinking perfect gift idea.

Real, but not so real, fabric pumpkins. A clever and unique fall decorating idea.

Natural Cotton Stems. One of those things you don't realize you want until you see it.

If you can make it through the store by the time it closes (trust me you won't want to leave) there is an unbelievable outdoor market waiting to be explored. Plants, pumpkins, outdoor decor and more. It really is a spectacular place to visit. I can only imagine what it will be like for Christmas. I guess I will have to go back to find out! If you go, have fun and don't blame me if you get hooked!

Leslie xo

Terrain has two locations. For more information click the links below:

TERRAIN

Glen Mills, PA  &  Westport,CT

Photos by Leslie Reese

A Walk on the High Line

If you know me, you know that New York City is one of my favorite places on the planet. Ever since I was young and got my first taste of the hustle and bustle, I have been fascinated with Manhattan and its surroundings. I love to visit as often as I can and I will never get tired of what there is to do there. I have some favorite places in New York City, but every time I go, I try to discover something new.  One of my recent discoveries was something called the High Line. It's an interesting place so I thought I would share my visit with you.

The High Line is a beautiful public park that is located on Manhattan’s West side. It was built on a historic freight rail elevated above the streets and runs from Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District to West 34^th Street between 10^th and 11^th Avenues.

The park is owned by the City of New York but is maintained by Friends of the High Line, which was formed in 1999 in an effort to save the structure from demolition. The fabulous efforts of this non-profit conservancy have resulted in fantastic place for visitors to relax and enjoy. It is truly a remarkable space with so many beautiful things to see. The first section of the park opened on June 9, 2009.

We wanted to take a walk on the High Line last week when were in the city so we decided to start at West 30th Street and head toward Gansevoort Street.

There are lush grasses, flowers and trees planted throughout the park.  You will see them growing along the train tracks.

There is an area that is called Wildflower Field. It’s beautiful and so unexpected in a city like New York.

Park benches are scattered along the walkway giving visitors plenty of opportunity for relaxation.

There are several viewing spurs where you can get a great look at the city from the High Line. This one is at 26^th Street.

If you look West at certain points on the High Line you can see the Hudson River and a peak at New Jersey.

There are so many interesting things to look at along the way. I absolutely love this display of artwork that we spotted on the side of a building on the East side of the park.

At the 23^rd Street Lawn and Seating Area there is a grass lawn where you can spread out and get some sun or just sit and relax.

Or hang out on the steps.

The 10^th Avenue Square gives you a fantastic view of 10^th Avenue looking north.

One of the nicest parts of the High Line is the Sundeck and Water Feature. There is an area where water is flowing over part of the walkway where you will see children playing and people walking around barefoot to cool off. On the opposite side there are built-in wooden lounge chairs where you can lay in the sun or sit and watch the kids play in the water.

The Gansevoort Woodland was the end of the line for us. It’s a beautifully landscaped area with trees and grasses where you quickly forget you are in the middle of a busy city as you are walking through.

When we came down from the High Line we were in Chelsea. We stopped at the Standard Grill at the Standard Hotel, which is literally right on the High Line, and had a drink and a bite to eat. Then we did some shopping and wandered around Chelsea.  It was the perfect ending to a great morning.

So if you want something unique to do the next time you go to New York City, I recommend you put the High Line on your list. There are so many fun ways to enjoy it and it just keeps getting better. If you want to learn more about the history and future plans for the High Line you can check out The Official Web Site of the High Line and Friends of the High Line

If you decide to visit the next time you are in NYC, I would love to hear about it! 

Leslie