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When I heard that City Bakery was having a month-long hot chocolate festival, I had to swing by after work. Each day in February they have a different hot chocolate flavor for you to try. Tonight's was Moulin Rouge-- a dark, rich blend of cocoa with a tang of fruit-- like dark chocolate-covered strawberries! Their homemade marshmallow squares are incredible, and their chocolate chip cookies among the best I've ever had. That said, a small hot chocolate with marshmallow and a cookie ran me $9, which seemed exorbitant. The place was bustling and the staff seemed annoyed when I tried to order my hot chocolate from the woman who I saw making it ("she is not to be bothered")... my mistake. The uniqueness of the flavors available for the remainder of the month still may draw me in one more time (sunken treasure hot chocolate?!) but I'll have it to go, sans cookie, and save myself $3 and the snooty attitude.

City Bakery hours: mon-fri 7:30a-7p; sat 8a-7p; sun 10a-6p.

Yesterday I had brunch at MexiQ in Astoria. I got the french toast- which is coated in a crust of frosted flakes- yum! The eggs, unfortunately, tasted just how they looked- like rubber eggs from your kitchen playset back in the 80's. But the french toast and bacon were more than enough for me, so no complaints. After brunch we went skating at Bryant Park, which is always a fun time. We were super chilly after a couple hours outside, and it was starting to snow (again!). We walked up to Rockefeller and stopped into Magnolia for some hot chocolate and cupcakes. (Their hot chocolate is ahmaaazing!)

While we were enjoying our sweets, I noticed the LEGO store across the way in Rockefeller Center (which apparently has been there since June... I guess I'm less than observant). We went over and were more excited than 20-somethings should be about being able to pick and choose individual LEGO pieces to buy (windows! rims! flat green pieces for front yards!) When you were building LEGOs as a kid, didn't you always lament over that one piece that was MIA from your collection? I digress.... but the LEGO store was pretty fun, and definitely a place I look forward to bringing my nephew when he comes to visit the city. 

It is officially the snowiest January on record in NYC- ever... anyone else had enough?! Stop snowing, already! Alas, we've got 53 days of winter left. Here are a few pics I've snapped of the snow this week:

snowy commute down Fifth Avenue

snowy Empire State Building outside of my office

my neighborhood in Astoria... hurtin' for certain!

trying to get around on my street has been messy, to say the least

Was poking around my mum's basement and look what I found! This got packed in my bags to come back to NYC with me and I've been playing Super Mario and Mario Kart like it's my job. What were your fave old school games?

I love Christmas! It really makes me happy picking out special gifts for everyone on my list, and this year I got some really amazing gifts in return. My faves: Oscar de la Renta sunnies, an Alice's Tea Cup cookbook, new ice skates and a gold Erica Anenberg I heart NY twosome ring... what a lucky girl I am!