This post was created in partnership with Sonder. All opinions are our own.

Last month we flew to New York for two fun events to promote our cookbook. The city was clearly showing off for us that week, with blue skies, warm Spring temperatures, and blossoming cherry trees covered with pink and white flowers on every corner. It rained the morning we left—but more on that in a moment. We arrived on a Wednesday evening and were both exhausted from waking up at 4am to catch an early flight to the east coast. No matter how long and uncomfortable the plane ride felt, we kept reminding ourselves that we were just a few hours away from thin slices of New York pizza.

Our accommodations for the week were almost as big as our house in LA. We stayed at a Sonder apartment in the heart of the financial district, literally next door to the iconic New York Stock Exchange. It’s neither a hotel nor an Airbnb—Sonder has combined the two so guests can enjoy the relaxed apartment-style experience Airbnb offers, but with 24-hour concierge service and amenities like a hotel. Our spacious, modern apartment had a beautifully designed living room, a cozy bedroom, and a fully equipped kitchen that we used to cook breakfast every morning. We also took advantage of the oven to make multiple batches of our Gooey Butterscotch Blondies, which we shared at our book signing event at the MacKenzie-Childs store in SoHo. We loved our Sonder’s neighborhood—it was just steps from the subway, centrally located so we could get to any part of the city in minutes, and most importantly, within walking distance of Joe’s Pizza.

On Thursday evening, we celebrated the release of our cookbook at the Feedfeed space in Brooklyn. We started the festivities by filming a live cooking demo with the charming and talented Jake Cohen on the FeedFeed’s Instagram account. The three of us prepared the Gooey Butterscotch Blondies from our cookbook in their test kitchen, and the show felt even more special since we were allowed to invite our friends, community members, and fellow bloggers, who made up the live studio audience as we prepared our simple, sweet squares. After the demo was over, we all joined together for dinner at a communal table decorated with fragrant eucalyptus leaves, thoughtful flower arrangements, and flickering candles. The entire menu for the evening was recipes from our cookbook, lovingly prepared by the Feedfeed culinary team. Starting with Kale Quinoa Tabbouleh and our Toasted Orzo with Brussels Sprouts and Wilted Greens, guests also enjoyed a bowl of California Gumbo—which paired perfectly with our Life Changing Cornbread—and sparkling glasses of Tropical Rum Punch. For dessert, there were slices of Cinnamon Crumb Coffee Cake and of course, the Gooey Butterscotch Blondies that had just come out of the oven. It was an unforgettable evening, and it even sparked an idea about designing a Husbands menu for a restaurant one day.

Saturday was our book signing at the brand-new MacKenzie-Childs store in SoHo. The streets were filled with cheerful locals and tourists soaking in the morning sunshine, and the store opened their doors wide, welcoming in the breeze and encouraging people to wander inside. We shared our golden treats and mingled with customers, and at 12pm we began speaking, telling the story of how our new cookbook came to be. We love hosting events like this—the best part of touring is getting to meet new people and reconnect with friends, and this trip was a success… especially since we made pizza a part of our daily itinerary.

No trip is complete without at least one unexpected adventure. Our friend mentioned to us that the cherry blossoms were peaking in Central Park and highly recommended that we visit this stunning annual spectacle which only lasts about a week. With a camera around our neck and tripod in hand, we stopped for breakfast bagels in the financial district, then leisurely walked to the subway station under clear blue skies, excited to see this colorful Spring display. The train ride to the upper west side took less than thirty minutes, and as soon as we stepped off the subway, we noticed that the station was unusually congested. Hundreds of people were slowly inching their way towards the exits, and the stairs leading to the street outside were completely jammed. As we got closer we realized why—it was pouring sheets of rain outside and everyone seemed unprepared for it, including us. We waited several minutes, hoping the storm would pass, but the puddles were growing deeper and everyone entering the station was drenched. Oh well, we’ll just have to come back and see the cherry blossoms in Central Park next year. We turned around, got on the subway, and headed back to our Sonder to grab our luggage, then caught a ride to the airport for our flight to Los Angeles. At the end of a long (and sometimes wet) day, it was relaxing to come home to our Sonder apartment: it was quiet and comfortable, and we can’t wait to experience their other rooms the next time we travel. We were browsing their properties around the world, and we already have our eyes on this cute location in New Orleans for our next trip… French Quarter here we come!