NYC and a Recipe for Love
New York City.
Busy. Wonderful. Breathtaking views. Beautiful buildings. Amazing markets. Magical everything.
I’ve been there before, but I’ve never seen it quite like this before. I’ve never seen it through these eyes before. These eyes that have fallen madly in love, had their heart shattered into millions of pieces, gotten back up and done it all over again. These eyes that have stared fear in the face, walked through it with head held high, cried, kicked, screamed, pondered the meaning of life. These eyes that have been blessed in so many ways. These eyes that have experienced so much love.
Life experience appeared to be all I needed to enjoy the magic and beauty of NYC!
Things like…
A NYC city firehouse, more symbolic now than before 2001.
Highline park…
Chelsea Market and the bakeries within it…
Coffee shops…
Bakeries…
The subway…
Central Park…
Catching up with old friends near and dear to my heart…
Everlasting love…
And the beautiful family that comes along with it…
Thank you Billy, Charlie, John, MaryAnn, Uncle Richie, Rita, Tom, Richard, Taylor, Emily, Josselyn, Tyresa, Marc, Diana and Jennifer for unequivocally accepting me into your family! It is an honor.
So with that, friends, I give you my recipe for love. I won’t lie to you: It will take a lot of work. You’re going to need to get your hands dirty. You’re going to get a little bruised and battered. You’re going to cry. You’re going to hurt. But you’re also going to laugh a lot. You’re going to experience happiness you thought only happened in fairy tales.
This recipe might not work out exactly for you as it did for me, but add a pinch of salt here, a drop of vanilla there, and a whole lot of love everywhere, and I’m sure yours will turn out just like mine: sweet and delicious.
A RECIPE FOR LOVE by Lauren Lobley
2 Parents whose example and love provided a foundation for me to not only give love, but to have self love.
2 Siblings, Jarrett and Jillian, who I would die for, and who I would be nothing without.
5 cups Family who continued the example of love my parents taught me, and whose impact on me will live with me until the day I die.
5 cups Friends who have been there for me in times of happiness and sorrow, whose smiling faces are forever etched into my heart.
3/4 cup Old boyfriends who broke my heart, but who broke it wide open enough to let the love of my life in when the time was right.
1/4 cup Old boyfriends whose hearts I broke: thank you for being what I needed when I needed it. I wish you nothing but love.
1 tablespoon Self awareness that brought to me through life experience: heartbreak, tough decisions, and laugh-until-you-pee good times alike
2 teaspoons Self love, because if I don’t love me, what reason have I given anyone else to love me?
1 cup Trust, not only in humanity and your loved ones, but also in the universe, trusting that you are exactly where you need to be.
2 cups Understanding, and knowing what battles to pick, and which ones to just let go.
1 part Letting go of the past, and any preconceived notions you might have about how the way things should be.
An infinite amount of Forgiveness, because without it, we bring poison into new relationships, and ruin them before they even have a chance to grow.
1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. Whisk all the ingredients together in a big bowl.
3. Bake for 29 or so years. Insert toothpick to be sure it’s ready: if it comes out clean, your LOVE is ready. If not, put it back in the oven for a few more years.
What do you end up with?
Someone to grow old with, in my case, Ted: light and love of my life, who challenges me when he knows I can do and be better, and accepts me for the things I cannot change.
*Important Tip: write a vision of your life in 10 years, and include your ideal relationship in that vision. The last sentence in my recipe is a line taken verbatim out of the vision I wrote for my relationship. I wrote the vision 5 years ago. I met Ted 3 years ago. Just sayin…*
Sending you much love,
Lauren
xxx
love this xx
Thanks, Jen! You are so sweet!
Well honey, you do have a way with words! I wish you and Ted only the best. My love to both of you.
Love,
Aunty Linda
Thanks, Aunty Linda! Our love right back to you
xoxo
I’m over the moon for you both!! Thanks for letting us all into your beautiful world with your beautiful words!! Love, love, love reading this <3 Big hugs to you both ~ Liza
Thanks, Liza!! Our love and hugs right back to you
xoxo
Love this. Love you. Love that you are truly loved. Xo
Thanks, Tricia! I feel the same way about you
xoxo
LL
You are simply irresistible — not just your banana bread!
Wise and wonderful beyond your years.
Phil
And you, kind sir, a just lovely. Your smiling face warms up every room, and I love you for it! So lucky to be able to call you my friend
Beautifully written. Definitely, a recipe worth trying!! Love the photos, too. And, can’t WAIT to see you on Saturday!! Yipee!!!
Thanks, Courtney!! I can’t wait to see you!! xoxo
Soo happy for you! Tears streaming down my face. Beautifully written. He’s a lucky man. Just sayin’.
Oh, Ashley – thank you, thank you, thank you! You are so lovely
xoxo
Babe, if you bake half as good as you write, you’re gonna be a culinary rock star! Can’t wait to buy your first cooking book !!!! Marc and I are sooooo happy for you and Ted, you are both such lovely people, it’s so amazing that you found each other. Hope to see you both soon
Diana and Marc
Oh thanks, Diana…and Marc!! I LOVED meeting you guys and can’t wait to see you again very soon!!! Thanks for the kind words and support
xoxo
I could cry. This is the most amazing post. I just love LOVE. So happy for you and Ted! You keep creating your radical life. I just love your guts and Ted’s too!
xoxo
Thanks, love muffin! I love you!!!!! xoxo
You don’t know me, but Charlie posted a link to your blog on his fb page and, thankfully, my curiosity got the best of me! I cannot tell you how much I LOVE this particular recipe (and btw, I checked out a couple of other posts that you wrote and you now have an avid blog follower in this girl)! You have made me want to write my own vision for my life…so, thank you for that! Although I do not know you, I want to wish you and Ted a lifetime filled with immense love and happiness! Enjoy every moment!!!
Oh my goodness, Rachel – you just made my day!! Thank you so much for reaching out! I’m so appreciative of your time, and am so excited that you will be following Delectable You!! Please let me know when you write about your life: I would love to hear about it! Do you have a blog already? If so, let me know what the address is and I will follow it!
Thank you also for the kind words and wishes for me and Ted
Hope to meet you some day, Rachel! Have a beautiful night!
Sincerely,
Lauren
xxx
beautiful. thank you for sharing so openly! infinite blessings to you both!!
Thank you so much, Gabrielle! Wishing you a beautiful day
xoxo