Trusty Sidekick Reunion

One of the best things about living in New York is getting to see friends when they come to town.

Virginia and I became fast friends on a church mission trip to Costa Rica in 2004. We bonded over our shared love for The Bachelor and amused ourselves endlessly (and tortured the rest of our group) reciting lines from Steel Magnolias. Upon our return to Charlotte, we were inseparable and took to calling each other "Trusty Sidekicks."

Virginia and her mom Carol are in town for a weekend of Broadway and shopping to celebrate Virginia's birthday. I met them at Fig and Olive in the Meatpacking District for an awesome Mediterranean dinner -- and some very tasty cocktails!

These are, unfortunately, the only pics I remembered to snap. We were too busy eating!

My second cocktail had a fig and shaved walnuts!

Not pictured: crostini with manchego, fig jam and almonds; chicken tagine; chive gnocchi; seafood pasta; apple tartlet and chocolate pot de creme. It was an outstanding meal, and the atmosphere is fantastic. I'd eaten at Fig and Olive in Midtown for Restaurant Week and liked it, but the Meatpacking location is even better.

I was up at 8:15 and hustled to the gym to get a bike for a 9 a.m. spinning class. Lots of calories to burn off! It's a gorgeous day outside, so I decided to experiment with a Christmas card photo. I got Kurt to lean out the living room window and take my photo leaning out of my bedroom window. The light and the cable wires weren't really cooperating, so I'll have to come up with a Plan B.

Off to enjoy this beautiful day!