In 2013 I Will

1. Enjoy my life and allow myself to take pleasure in the moment

2. Scan everything until I am living a paper free life

3. Pay off 16% of the principal balance of my student loans.  It would be more, but I have a feeling I will be going on a few trips this year.  

4. See at least one new American city 

5. Go to at least one new state (Maine or Vermont I hope)

6. Get fashion bucket list item #5 

7. Go see at least four Broadway shows (including Book of Mormon and Annie)

8. Rekindle old relationships

9. Go to a concert of one of my favorite artists

10. Finally visit the Statue of Liberty

Christmas 2012

Immeasurably more than all I asked or imagined.  In fact, it seems like that has been what this year has been all about for me. God has put the most generous people in my life.  This has been the best year and I just want to enjoy every single last minute.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to me.  Just scored this baby at a sample sale during my lunch break. Original price 597.00. Sample sale price 159.00.  I've never shopped this brand before and there were so many beautiful pieces.  I'm so excited to wear this when my life goes back to it's normal fun routine.

Alice and Olivia Gabby Embellished Blouson dress

All Work And No Play

That's how my life has felt for the past few weeks. Working six days a week and helping others on the seventh is no joke. Nevertheless, I have had some moments of fun.

J and I went to see Evita on Broadway last week, starring Ricky Martin.  He was great, but Evita was ehhh. This was only the third on Broadway show I saw this year so I've been really slacking in the musical theater department.

C and I watched this the other night.  I thought it was super cute and I can't believe it took me 19 years to see this movie.

And of course decorating the tree.  That has been the best part of my holiday so far.  The Lilly ornaments were a free gift and I couldn't wait to use them.  I'm so excited to give everyone their presents.  

Church Chick Lit

Lately my obsession with reading and the library had turned into an obsession with Church Chick Lit.  I remember when this genre was comprised of maybe two authors.  Now there are heaps of books to read and many of them are available to borrow from the New York Public Library.  Here are the ones I've read recently.  I would recommend them all.

This series is geared at a younger crowd (late teens, early twenties), but I thought it was really cute and the traveling part makes the stories interesting.  

I loved this book.  I thought it was well written and definitely not the typical Christian love story.  It deals with divorce and serious disappointment but still manages to be a delightful and uplifting read.  

This has been my favorite because it's a mystery.  The first installment of the "Smart Chick" series, Jo solves mysteries using a mix of home economics and chemistry degree savvy.

Glycerine- Bush w/Gwen Stefani (Gibson 12-8-12)

If I had seen this is person, my head would have probably popped off from excitement. love x one million.

Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has To Travel

I did one fun thing last weekend.  I went to see Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has To Travel.  I definitely recommend it.  She is so much more fascinating than the current editor of Vogue, although I will definitely be watching her documentary on HBO when I get a chance.  I believe it comes on tonight at 9pm.  Obviously, I'll still be at work because that is my life right now.  As rough as it is, I am just so thankful to be working.  Tonight I'm ducking away for a couple hours to have dinner with friends after which I will come right back.  Hopefully, I can squeeze in another fun this coming weekend despite having to come into the office.

Favorite Christmas Albums

 

Thanksgiving

This year I am most thankful for my relationships.  I have a lot of people in my life that have supported me through difficult times.  My life is not what I imagined it would be at 30 but I have never felt more blessed to be me.  I was going to write about this a while back but my friends never sent me pictures.  In early October I got a text from my friend S with all these exclamation points.  Turns out our friend C got us tickets to see Jay Z at the Barclay's Center in Brooklyn.  Now that's a reason to travel across a bridge or tunnel if I ever heard one.  During the concert I realized the following:

(1) I love Jay Z. - One of my resolutions for 2012 was to get tickets to a concert of one of my favorite artists and without even trying it actually happened.  (Thank you C!)  He totally inspired me when he said, "[I'm] a young black African male who was raised in a single-parent home in low-income housing and I stand before you as an owner of the Brooklyn Nets. . . . Don't let anyone diminish your accomplishments.  You don't have to be inspired by me, be inspired by Barack Obama if you choose to. Latinos in here, be the first Latino president. Ladies in here, be the first female president."  According to Jay, each one of us has a freakish genius talent bestowed upon us by God.  We just have to tap into it.  I agree.

(2) I know all his songs; - My favorite is PSA, but when he took is back with Money Ain't A Thang and the Best of Me remix I was in heaven.

(3) that I should start going to concerts again because I am withering up into an old fogey; prune. - I can't get excited about current artists and the older ones charge way too much for concert tickets.  But in my pre-law school days, I would go to about ten a year and

(4) that nothing beats having friends who have seen you through college, 9/11, job searches, job loss, breakups, Glitter and Crossroads.  I'm really bad at keeping in touch so one of my biggest challenges in life is maintaining relationships with the people I adore.  I'm so thankful to have at least three people who call me out of hibernation every now and then to share in major life events.  Yes, I just referred to the Jay Z concert as a major life event.

Christmas List

Yes, I still make one.

cute socks

blank cards

stamps for those cards

mittens

for fashion bucket list item # 5

Fashion Advice

There’s great fling material, and then there’s great husband material! Apply that to your wardrobe and it means invest in the key pieces you’ll want to spend time with season after season, the pieces that will help define your style. Don’t invest major money in the trendy pieces that will feel old by this time next year. Like dating that guy just for fun-it’s not to say you shouldn’t do it, just don’t sink a lot into it! -- Michael Kors

It Bag

So I have been needing a new work bag and also a new tote bag (bigger than my vineyard vines University of Mnnesota one) for some time now. I've come to the conclusion now that there probably isn't one bag that's perfect for work, trips, beach, church, fall, spring, summer and everything else but I really wanted to get as close as possible. My apartment is tiny and my budget is even tinier. My friend L made me this amazing chart back in May and I started wanting every bag on this list but the bags in my budget were ubiquitous in my zip code, 10065. Just click the chart to make it bigger but I know it's still hard to read for some reason.

I had been debating the Goyard versus the Louis Vuitton Neverfull for several months when I saw this bag on a blog and fell in love.  Last night I got home and found my much anticipated Frank Clegg bag had finally arrived. 

It's the perfect for me for so many reasons not the least of which are
(1) no one I know has this bag
(2) no patterns or logos (unlike the Goyard and Neverfull)
(3) matches everything
(4) made to order in America
(5) great for work and travel
(6) less expensive than all the other options yet if anything, higher quality

I haven't been this satisfied with a purchase since my classic flap bag.

Residing on Sandy

Annie's on Broadway and I'm super pumped to see it, hence the title.  I am blessed to have been in Georgia during the hurricane and to have come back to a warm dry apartment with electricity.  My friends experienced flooding, loss of power, water, heat and I even have a new roommate temporarily because some people lost their homes.  I had the opportunity to help friends and strangers this weekend and it made me embarrased at all the complaining I did about my cancelled flights last week. 

I've been through 9/11, the blackout in 2003, the subway strike in 2006 and Hurricane Irene and it took Sandy to finally get me thinking, is living on an Island something I want long term.  The irony is that this is the first disaster I've not been in the city to experience first hand.  Being away from the city probably inspired more fear in me because I had to rely on television for hints and the unknown is always worse to me.  If this is going to become a yearly event than renting definitely seem like the way to go.  Atlanta and Los Angeles are looking better and better but I'm definitely not there yet.

Today marks the fourth presidential election I've voted in and thus far, I've never picked a winner.  Here's hoping that I can go to sleep happy on election night for the first time.

Fall Wish List



Frank Clegg Callie Tote in tan 475.00

J Crew Schoolboy Blazer in navy 198.00

Reiss Marabella Fit and Flare Coat in black 500.00

 Diane von Furstenburg Menaro Sequin Dress in nougat 545.00

Corso Como Richmond Boots in black burnish 199.00



Book-It

I have been on a total reading craze lately. I cannot wait until my lunch hour every day to delve into these books. My sister was always the bibliophile growing up so it's strange for me to be the one unable to put these babies down. Here's what I've read or am currently reading in the past couple months. They are all page turners, although some are much better substantively than others, and I would recommend any of them.

Did anyone else get free personal pan pizzas for reading from pizza hut when they were little?

Too Many Shows

At first I accidentally wrote Too Many Shoes, but as we all know, that doesn't exist. What I meant is that I just have too many shows to watch.  In the last year I've added Downton Abbey, Scandal, and Revenge to my already long list of must-see tv.  This season I am limiting myself to just two new additions.  I figure that the finale of Desparate Housewives left me a little space.  I had to think hard about which two to choose, but I finally made my decision. 

and

I sure hope these don't turn out to be a waste of my precious DVR space.

Da Silvano

yellow heirloom tomato sorbet at Da Silvano

Lately I've been feeling overwhelmed with work and other things happening in my life.  Although I'm thankful for all the work I've had, it hasn't left me much time for friends, emptying out my storage unit, and exercise.  Fortunately two great things have happened in the past month.  First, my friend S moved from central New Jersey to Jersey City which makes her much more accessible to NYC and to me.  Second, my friend R moved back to the city from Pittsburgh.  Last week I had dinner with them and my friend C at Da Silvano, which happens to be one my my top 2 favorite Italian restaurants in the city.  Dinner was delicious and it felt so good to have more friends in close proximity, even if it's difficult to find the time to see them. 

Mmmm Good

I've been wanting to use Carrie Underwood's sweet potato burger recipe ever since I read about it on the Preppy Vegan's blog. I finally made them this weekend and they're soooooo good!  Here is the one I brought for lunch today.



Weekend Getaway

On the last weekend in August I made my second foray into Canada. Last summer was Montreal. This summer was Toronto and Niagara falls.  It was a lot of fun and a nice break from work.  

Casa Loma fountain

Casa Loma

CN Tower

Toronto Zoo

American Falls after Maid of the Mist boat ride

Canadian Falls - view from our hotel room