Birthday Update

When I got home from work on my birthday, the hubbs gave me his gift. I did not know what to expect since I had not told him what I wanted and he did not ask. After the card opening he pulled out THE box.... yes, it was robin's egg blue with a white ribbon with the words "Tiffany & Co". I did not even have to look inside, because seriously, I was good with just the box! Still not knowing what to expect, I opened up the box and then the pouch and there sat the necklace I had pined over for the past four months! It was shown here. I looked up at him and said "how did you know?", apparently Mr. Sneaky Sneaky himself has been reading my blogs regularily and got the idea from that blog I posted here. Still shocked, and then embarassed that he had been reading my ramblings for so long. Oh well, all I can say that when Christmas rolls around I will be posting what I want again-fo sho. Once I got over my excitement we darted off to dinner where we were sat in the back corner in a separate room for some reason and regularily ignored by our waiter. The restaurant was having an off night, I believe, but everything was still good. I was too stuffed to even think about dessert because I had eaten so much bread.

My Bottom Line: I love thy Hubbs!

Bracket Bummer

March Madness officially started today and I am ticked off and pouting as I write this. I look forward to this time of year all year long. I usually print out my bracket, randomly look at who I need to guess on, scribble in the teams and hope that for some odd reason I win the office pool. Although I have been close in years past, I have not won.

Looking at my bracket has been on my "To Do" list for the past week however has never made my top 3. Because I waited too long, now, I sit like an outsider looking in as some of my coworkers follow the games throughout the day while glancing at their completed brackets which are tacked up on their office walls. Occasionally my concentration is broken by muffled jears as they let out their frustration or excitement of a win or loss.

Jerk offs- way to rub it in. It always gave me such an excuse to not work during the day, because, shoot... mama needs a new pair of shoes!

Happy Birthday to Me

Today is my 26th birthday. I am at work. Acting like I am working. Most of my coworkers are out of the office or sick so we could not do a group lunch to celebrate. They did send me some exotic looking flowers though and the hubbs also sent me a large bouquet too. I instead went to grab a mini salad and a weird looking quiche from a good market nearby but was tempted to just hall ass into the Carl's Junior parking lot and get a Superstar meal. It sounded so good.... I was craving it but decided to be good since my dinner will take care of my calorie quota for the day. Not that I count, I just try to not get crazy, which it seems like I have been doing lately. I rarely eat fast food, but sometimes you just need to.

Hubbs made me breakfast in bed. Because I have been so nauseated lately it was nice to eat before I got out of bed. I wore a new shirt my mom gave me this past weekend. We are going to our favorite French restaurant for dinner. It is so good. Hopefully I will get the cherries jubilee for dessert. Ummm.... So that is basically it for my typical birthday. Oh yeah, a couple of my coworkers brought in cupcakes in serenaded me at 9 a.m. That was fun.

My St. Patty's Day

I am home sick today. Phooey. Sick to my stomach. Have been slurping down ginger ale like it's going out of style. I first tried the Safeway brand but that is clearly useless so drove all the way across town with the hubbs to go to Whole Foods and pick up real ginger ale. The kind that actually contains ginger. I took another can for the car ride home. It tasted so horrible I had to pinch my noes when I took a sip. It literally tasted like band-aids.

Day time tv stinks. After my Good Morning America and Live With Regis & Kelly watching I soon found out that between 11-3 the only things to watch was A Baby Story or Bringing Home Baby. I watched all 5 episodes and cried during all three.

There was no food in our house so I got myself off the couch and brought my lazy & sick ass to Safeway to get food which sounded good (Hubbs is at work so I can't have him pick things up). Every shopper there was wearing their green shirts in spirit with the holiday. I was coicidentally wearing a green sweatshirt with bleach marks. By the time I came home all I could think about was putting something in my stomach. I made a whole wheat grilled cheese with Kraft Singles! We never had Kraft Singles growing up (along with sugary cereals and Kool-Aid) but I think they are truly the tastiest things to use for a grilled cheese. That is the only time I like them. It was such a good sandwhich. I contemplated making another one, but decided I needed to drink more water instead.

My mom made the traditional Irish dinner on Saturday night (we are not Irish) and I ate so much food. Now thinking about it makes me almost dry heave.

So excited, my favorite show "How I Met Your Mother" is finally airing all new episodoes starting tonight! Whoo Hoo!

Flying First Class

Yesterday I took a field trip down to one of our wineries three hours south. Instead of piling into my car, we were able to take one of our company planes down making the trip into a 45 minute rendezevous. It makes life so simpler. I wish everyone could just take planes everywhere, we could get places so much faster.

It is when I am up in a private plane flying above San Francisco that I think how lucky I am to be doing what I am doing. Then I land, the wind is blowing 65 mph, dust tornadoes are everywhere with dirt flying into my mouth I decide that maybe my job is a bit over rated. I grew up out in the country and have no fear of getting down and dirty (yeah, we even raised pigs). However, when I have gritty teeth and a headache from hurricane force winds I just want to say "peace out" and throw in the towel. Maybe it was because I was somewhat nautious from the bumpy plane ride, or maybe because I was just in a fowl mood yesterday. I don't know, I am still cranky thinking about it.

Wrestle Mania- Puss vs. Lucy

WrestleMania broke out in our house several weeks ago involving our dog (Lucy) and our cat (Patty Pickles) who we usually call Puss. She likes to sneak attack Lucy. She hides behind chairs or around the corner of a room and waits until Lucy is right next to her and runs out and does a pat, pat, pat on Lucy's back legs. Puss never gets tired of sneak attacking. She does it to me and does it to hubbs all the time. She is so not sneaky because she has become so predictable. We expect to see her waiting for us around the corner. As soon as I run up the stairs, I know she will be right behind me trying to do the pat, pat, pat.

On the other hand, Lucy has been chasing Puss all over the place. It is a constant Tom & Jerry zone up in our house. I will be on the phone and have to put the phone down to break up the wrestling match which has broken out on my living room floor. They only play, Puss provokes Lucy and Lucy chases her. It is an equal match despite the size difference. I would say Lucy is like Andre the Giant and Puss more like a Hulk Hogan, although they were different sizes, it was always a good match (I have an older brother so needless to say I watched many episodes of Saturday morning WWF growing up, not to mention I was also caught up in a couple of headlocks which he liked to bust out when I was telling on him). Despite their constant chaos, they still love eachother.
Here are some pics of my crazies when they are not busting out WWF moves.

Savings.... shmavings...

They call it Daylight Savings time... but I am not saving anything, especially sleep. How is it that my body is so out of whack by just an hour? I don't get it. I have already been tired enough as it is and we had to go ahead and move things forward a week earlier than normal? Ugh. I've got the Monday blues. Weekends are too short. I have been way too tired to get anything done, although yesterday I did wash my car since it was filthy from sitting at the airport.

Our neighbors were having their 7,458 party of the year yesterday. Cars were driving up and people were piling out in droves. For all the people, I actually could not hear them that much, which was nice. I saw them carrying in cases of Heineken. I think that is their favorite drink of choice because whenever their garage door is open they have cases and cases stacked up. Never do I see them mix in Corona, Newcastle, Fosters or anything else. You can tell I am not familiar with beer. I don't drink it, simply hate it. The only one I think is tolerable (but not enjoyable) is a Corona with a lime. Beer makes me feel so bloated plus it tastes so rank to me. I drink wine or champagne, period. Maybe an occasional bellini. Very picky when it comes to alchoholic beverages.

I started getting sick last week and started feeling better yesterday. Woke up this a.m. and I felt like crap-ola all over again. Going to get my priorities taken care of today at work and then head home around lunch time. Enough Monday ramblings for me.

Throw Back Thursday

Back in the day (i.e. high school) I had the crappiest and cheesiest cell phone ever. It was right when cell phones were becoming more popular. Most of my friends had one but they only used them when they needed a ride some place or there was an emergency. They were black and bulky. It was way before special cases and text messaging. We only used the damn phone when we needed to just get er done.

Keeping in line with the car I was driving at the time, here, I had the ultimate Zack Morris phone. It was a Motorola, it was gray and when completely unfolded and flipped out it probably stretched about 16 inches long. No joke. It was not as bad as the phone shown, but it was bad. I think it weighed close to 8 lbs. It was not discrete and I was always told that the phone belonged in Save by the Bell or Miami Vice. So glad technology has improved since then. Also so glad my company pays for my super snazzy Blackberry. Without it I would be lost...or my life would be much simpler.

Papparazzi

Since the hubbs was sick on Saturday in Sedona we have only sparse pictures and a brief clip of DJ Diamond at REDS singing to "Baby Got Back". Needless to say, I did get some good photos of the lovely scenery and some ducks. Oh yeah, I did have enough time to back our rental car into a an invisble post in the freaking parking lot. It would not have been a successful trip unless I did something completely useless. Good thing it was a business trip!

Awesome view, but still clutching my Blackberry

Striking a pose at the creek behind our hotel.

Some ducks

I'm Bringing Cooking Back

I am running out of ideas for dinner recipes. I usually am on top of my game by preparing my weekly meal list on the weekend when I do my grocery shopping. Now my planning is nonexistent mostly from the lack of recipes I am finding. I have been scouring Food Network, Epicurious, etc. and nothing sounds good or sounds like too much of pain in the ass. I get home around 5:30-6 and the last thing I want to do is make a grand feast. I want to just grab a hunk of cheese and a loaf of bread go to bed and call it a night. Hey, at least I am getting two food groups.

I need suggestions. I am in a rut and keep making the same things or just simply making sandwhiches. Hubbs is not complaining (who by the way does.not.cook.what.so.ever). He will eat anything and does not care if it is gourmet or healthy. I care about the healthy part.

My Bottom Line: I am tired of strolling through Safeway with a blank look on my face.

Housekeeping

My mom stayed at our house while were gone in AZ (to watch our kitty and pooch). When I walked in last night our house was spotless (mopped floors and everything), she had bought me more sponges, made me deviled eggs, cleaned my grapes, did my ironing, cleaned out the kitty litter box (I know), bought me kleenex boxes for pretty much every room (I have never have kleenex, and it drives her nuts). The carpet was vacuumed and she even got out my Easter decorations and bought us Easter candy! I keep the house pretty clean (she taught me well) but I should of known that when she sees an unorganized linen closet, it was down hill from there!

She also left us a brand new scale which was waiting for us in our master bathroom. Is that a hint, mom? The last one we had was circa 1985 from grandparent's home and was always 10 lbs. too heavy. Needless to say, I said she could stay at our house whenever she wanted to, even when we were there. So relieved I don't have to clean the house when I get home tonight. I am so lucky.

Celebrities, Where art thou?

Back from Sedona. Tired. Hubbs' luggage was lost on the way back but we finally retrieved it from the next flight. Hubbs also got the freaking flu yesterday. Go figure. Oh well. It was a great weekend, regardless.
At Friday night dinner we were at a nice restaurant with a group of about 25 and I noticed a couple and a toddler walk in. The lady was holding the todder... when I went to look at her face I noticed it was Kimberly Williams (of Father of the Bride and Life According to Jim) walking next to her man Brad Paisley! I did a quick smile like we were friends and they continued their way across the restaurant. I then brought those next to me into a close huddle and pointed them out (real smooth). Everyone did not know who she was (which I was shocked because both Father of the Bride movies are the best).

I seem to be quite the hawk eye. When I was in New York in January, Hulk Hogan walked into my hotel lobby when I was checking in. Then another time in New York I saw George Lucas and Claire Danes at Nobu (they were not together). I am on a roll and can not wait to see who I will see next. Maybe Tom Brady (so hot). Then again if I saw him I just might not be on the flight home. Just kidding.
Enough celebrity talk and lusting. I really am not that consumed. It is only when I am around them that I get excited (or randomly thinking about a Patriot quarterback).

Throw Back Thursday

Today I met one of our reps in Scottsdale who drove a black and tinted out brand new Ford Mustang. It looked just like the car on the new Night Rider show which aired a couple of weekends ago (yes, I actually watched it).

Seeing that car got me thinking back to the original Night Rider starring The Hoff, before he was The Hoff. My older brother loved that show. What kind of car was the first one, I think it was a Thunderbird? But I must say Magnum P.I. had a way better coolness factor and the car was better and the theme song was awesome. All I know is that Night Rider was up there with Love Boat in the cheese factor. If a car was really that smart, why would someone like the Hoff need to even in star in such show? Maybe for the sex appeal? Yuck, can not believe I just said that.

I do not plan on watching anymore of the new Night Rider episodes, however, I will not forget how proud that rep. was when I told him I felt like I was in that famous car today. I did apologize when I started referring to him as Hoff.

Greetings from Sedona

Arrived in Sedona this afternoon. Fell asleep in the car while the hubs drove the two hour drive from Scottsdale. The scenery up here is fricking amazing. There is supposed to be something about a vortex? I can not figure it out. Anyhoo, already taken some cool pics but for some reason my lap top is not allowing me to transfer photos so I will have to download them when I return on Sunday.

There are tons of little souvenir shops, I keep trying to convince hubs to buy a cowboy hat but he is not going for it. He is not exactly the cowboy looking type. My hair smells like smoke from the various bbq joints around town. It is so gross. I smell like you do after a weekend in Vegas. Hopefully we will get to a movie tomorrow. I am scouting for any celebrities, however they are probably still nursing their hangovers from the Oscars.

More news tomorrow...

Packing, Shmacking....

I have the hardest time packing. No matter how much I plan out my outfits I always pack too much and feel like I don't have many options when I arrive. How come I can not think clearly when I am packing? Why do I always end up with too many pants and not that many shirts? I would think that after all of my travels I would have a good method for packing. I know a lot of my co-workers have a system where they only bring two pairs of pants, two pairs of shoes and more shirts and one or two jacket/blazers and can always shove everything into a carry on. I always have that goal in mind when I begin but I quickly fill up my full size suitcase. And why does it seem like men have it so much easier? No one notices when they repeat their pants a second day in a row.
Ugh!!!!!

My bottom line: Does anyone have suggestions because what I am doing is clearly not working?

Two Tickets to Paradise

Finally! The hubs and I are taking a trip together! The last time we both flew anywhere together was two years ago to Jacksonville, FL for his brother's college graduation, not exactly romantic or exotic. We have done a lot of work travel separately so this is much needed.

On Wednesday night we are flying to Phoenix where we are going to stay in Scottsdale for a night. I have to do some work for a couple hours in the morning and then we will drive up to Sedona on Thursday afternoon. One of our wineries is the wine sponsor for the Sedona Film Festival so we get to stay at a super nice resort for three nights, host a bunch of guests at dinners and get all access passes to the film festival. I have never been to Sedona but have been to Scottsdale and Tucson many times. I heard that Sedona, which the locals call "Red Rock Country", is breathtaking.

"gonna go pack my bags because we are leaving in 'two' nights"... I love Eddie Money even when I edit the lyrics.

Birthday Wishes

In just under a month I will be turning the big 2-6. Usually birthdays are not a big deal for me. I like things low-key (which I am sure is obvious). My dad's birthday is 4 days before me so we usually combine our birthdays together for one family dinner. It typically falls on St. Patty's Day so my mom makes up a full scale St. Patty's Day meal. So good. Nothing gets me drooling like crispy potato pancakes.

The hubbs usually asks for what I want and I say, "nothing" but secretly hoping he will get inspired and go on a shopping spree to spoil me. Does not happen, but he always gets me something very nice.

I have been catching myself surfing the net looking for things I can ask for from the hubbs and the family. For the past couple of birthdays, I have been getting house stuff but I am kind of over that whole thing. I am not trying to sound spoiled (which I definetly am not). I want something for me... not something for the dining room wall or for mowing the lawn (okay that was a bit exaggerated). People usually ask me what I want but I feel weird about giving them my list, but I think that is the way I am gonna roll from now on. I know I appreciate it when someone is direct with me on what they want. This goes for Christmas too. I know I may be too old to actually ask for things, but the reality is, my family is going to continue getting me gifts so they might as well be what I was wishing for, right? So in no particular order, here are some items which have tickled my fancy.

J.Crew Sweater Dress

Kate Spade purse

Tiffany & Co necklace

Cozy GAP sweater for Spring

Coach purse

Throw Back Thursday

When I was 16 my dad brought me home an '88 Ford Tempo. He was so proud and was worried that I was gonna feel spoiled with his purchase. Right. Exactly what I was feeling. Especially when it started and the fan belt let a horrifying screaching noise and people looked around for a horse in pain.

The car's driver was not supposed to be a young high schooled girl, but a 80 something woman who frequented BINGO night. I especially felt spoiled when all of my friends were driving around their brand new honda civics (which actually started) or something nice that their parents passed onto them.

Needless to say, the car was a piece. It got so unreliable that I eventually started driving my mom's car which I ended up totalling when an asshole plowed into me in a nasty, nasty hit and run accident when I was 18. I think we ended up dumping the 'ol Tempo on some lucky family and I remember my dad giving them the pitch that is was a great "reliable family truckster". Right again, dad.

So in honor of my first car, here is a lovely picture of the same one (just imagine it in white). I can still picture myself driving from party to party with a bunch of my friends piled in it. I shared some good times with that car. What a gem.

Oldies but Goodies

I have a crap load of pictures on our computer. Here are some oldie but goody pictures I found laying around. Proof that I am neither 1) photogenic or 2) camera friendly. I had to throw in some pet pictures. I have tons of those.



Saddled up to the bar in Jamaica. I must be buzzed since my flip flop is barely on my foot and my eyes are looking heavy. Bartender, where did you go?

Umm...the camera is over here...

Where did my champagne flute go? Did I just get married?

My kitty Patty Pickles. She could do Hallmark cards or something.

Sleepy, Sleepy

I am exhausted. I was unable to focus today and almost started nodding off when I was meeting with my boss. I am sure that would of gone over really well. I don't know why I am so tired lately. I have not been doing anything different. I get about 8 hours of sleep each night and can barely get my ass out of bed after the 5th snoozer.

I even went on to Webmd today and punched in "exhaustion" in the search bar. The only crap that came up was something about heat exhaustion (which is clearly not the case). That got me far. I have a mild ear infection brewing too... yuck. Since I was so sleepy I decided that maybe a trip to the gym would get me re-energized. While I was there I felt great, as soon as I got in my car I was ready for sleepy time all over again. WTF?

I know I am grumbling, but I feel I am pretty tuned into my body so when stuff like this pops up, I want to know why and how to stop it.

My Bottom Line: I am going to bed.

Tag- I'm It!

Oh boy! I have been tagged by Linz! I copied her rules because since she is a teacher, she makes them sound very clear.

A) Each player answers the questions about themselves. B) At the end of the post, the player then tags 2 people and posts their names, then goes to their blog and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

10 years ago:
I was a junior in high school, my hair was naturally blonde and I was a lifeguard at a local lake. I wanted to be a meteorologist or a journalist. I was starting to think about where I wanted to go to college. I was really into school spirit and participated in our Student Government class with pride. We also got to go off campus during 4th period and fool around. I drove a white Ford Tempo with the Ford sign ripped off. It was also known as the "pimp mobile". My curfew was 11:30 and I lived the furthest away from all of my friends so I had to leave parties extra early.

5 Things that were (are) on my “to-do” list for today:

• Go grocery shopping (a gal's gotta eat, right?)
• Pay bills (negative)
• Wash my car (did not)
• Do laundry (affirmative)
• Make banana bread (made two loaves)

I Enjoy:

• Reading
• Spending time with my family and friends
• Shopping (particularily purses)
• Writing
• Watching movies
• Doing pilates
• Eating
• Cooking
• Reading celebrity gossip on the internet

What would I do if I suddenly became a MILLIONAIRE?:

• Pay off our house
• Pay off anything else
• Go on a shopping spree in New York City
• Buy second home in NYC/Hawaii
• Travel A LOT more
• Revisit Jamaica as our honeymoon there was cut short by a frickin' hurricane
• Donate tons to the ASPCA and the Humane Society
• Buy a Lexus RX300-Hybrid
• Cut back my work hours so I can actively volunteer
• Have a personal chef on call for the nights I don't fee like making a feast

5 Jobs that I have had:

• Snack bar clerk
• Lifeguard
• Sales Associate at the GAP
• Administrative Assistant
• Executive Assistant for the Prez at wine company

5 Things People Don’t know about me:

• I was in a nasty car accident when I was 18
• I don't like baths and only take them when I am sick
• Both of my thumbs are double jointed
• I push the snooze button at least 5 times (no joke) each morning
• I am obsessed with weather. I regularily watch The Weather Channel

That was fun! Even though I sound very boring.

I now tag Christy and Jen.

Working Hard for the Money

I had to work on a Saturday, of a 3 day weekend. Boo. Let me just say I was not thrilled. I had to represent some of our wineries at a huge wine tasting event in SF. It was freezing and I was constantly bombarded with the most drunk of people.

I mean, the tickets cost $50, I would think that would set the bar a little higher fortthe kind of crowd. Now granted, there were plenty of constrained people, but by the last hour I saw nothing but slurring 20 somethings with dark red stains around their mouth.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy me a glass (or three) of wine. But when you go to those kind of events where there are 100's of wineries, you must sip and spit or else you will be tanked after the first row. I am past the point of public intoxication, i.e. college, but apparently there are still 100's of people who don't care less about marching up to your booth and grabbing a bottle and start chugging it.. This is not Oktoberfest people! This is the civilized wine industry!

Enough of my raving. Just glad it is Sunday and I don't have to have my butt back in my office until Tuesday.

Random Thought

I am so supertitious. I blame bad luck on a possible umbrella opening indoors, accidentally walking under a ladder or a black cat darting in front of me. I have no idea how I became this way. All I know I that I am constantly knocking on wood, making others knock on wood and throwing salt over my shoulder. I know, a bit over the top.

Oh Cupid...

Happy Valentine's Day everyone. Today was a good V-Day. I brought dark chocolate cupcakes into work and dressed a bit nicer than I usually do. It is a holiday after all. I love Valentine's Day although I think it is a bit over glorified.

I am so lucky to be married to my husband. Not only does he put up with my whining, sacrasm and smart ass talk, he sends me roses, takes me out to a nice dinner and writes me cute stuff in a card. I know some people have crazy Valentine's Days full of exotic weekends, loads of jewelry and everything else. But that is not who we are. We are simple. We wind up on the couch watching tv and heading to bed. I am good with that, in fact that is what I choose to do.

Sometimes people think we don't do much, they are right, we don't. We find the joy out of the simple things in life. We work hard and rest hard. I don't think there is anything wrong with that. As long as you are happy, which we are.

I hope everyone else spends Valentine's Day just the way they like to and not feel pressured to go above and beyond what they were planning on doing or could afford.

My bottom line: Valentine's Day is just another day, feel free to spend it the way you want to. I just prefer to spend it curled up on the couch munching on chocolate.

The Showdown: Cashmere Mafia vs. Lipstick Jungle

I am a fan of the books by Candace Bushnell (a la Sex in the City). Back in the summer, when I heard that Darren Starr (the producer of SITC) had created another similiar show for regular cable about four power women of NY, I knew I would be watching.

Fast forward to the beginning of January. Cashmere Mafia began. I instantly became addicted (cheesy one liners and all). The pilot episode was the so corny, but I quickly warmed up to each character and started rooting for them each week.

Fast forward to last Wednesday, Lipstick Jungle began. This one is put out by Candace Bushnell and follows three women (who are....wait... you guessed it... all powerful and in the top of their fields living in NY). Now I know pilot's are usually sloppy, but I was expecting more from the latter. Considering there was already a book written for it (which I read). I don't know, maybe it was something about the story lines , it just not as addicting as Cashmere Mafia. Plus the fashion is way better in Mafia. I heard the stylist on Mafia is the sameone from SITC.

Although right now I feel like Cashmere Mafia is about to win via knockout, I am still going to give Lipstick Jungle a chance just for the sheer pleasure of watching two very similiar but different shows at the same time. After this week's LJ, I should be able to get a better idea on how even the match-up will go week by week. But for now, I can not wait to watch both this week!

My bottom line: Both are like eating kentucky fried chicken, you know you should stop but it just tastes so good!

New York, New York!

I mentioned awhile back (about a blog ago) that I love New York. Just thought I would share why.

Don't know what actual event triggered my on going lust for NYC. Maybe it was when I was a kid and I watched Ghostebusters (one of my favorite movies) for the first time. I loved the scene where they all are running out of the NY Public Library after they see the first ghost. Or when Rick Moranis' character is getting chased by that crazy dog thing and is trying to get let into Tavern on the Green and everyone ignored him.

Either way, from a young age I wanted to visit. It was not until fall of '06 when I got the chance to go by myself for work. I only had two nights and I knew I must take full advantage of every second I had to spare. The first night we ate at Nobu and I saw George Lucas and Claire Daines. It was a group of 7 or so and we ordered bottle after bottle of wine and dined on such great sushi. Talk about a great first night! Then in May of '07 I got another chance to go, this time staying for 5 nights! We went to the 21 Club, the Top of Rockefeller Center, walked through Berdorf's and drooled over the shoes, ate at the Oyster Bar in Grand Central and had a blast. Of course, those things were outside of our meeting time.

Then I went back in October with my mom for a girls trip. We hit up all of the tourist spots and had a blast again. Then! I went last month for work again.

As you can see I have been quite a bit within the last year and I am thrilled. I love New York. I love the smells, the food, the people everywhere, the tall buildings (so cliche), the many languages being spoken, the energy and of course the shopping.

I love just wandering around on my own, trying to fit in and act like a real New Yorker. I love the people watching. I love it all. I know why people who live there are so proud of the city they live. I would be too. I hope to be visit there soon! Maybe during Fashion Week?

Skanky Navy

Yesterday was a fabulous day. It reached about 72 degrees. Yes! 72! We usually get a warm spell some time in February only to get crushed when the rain returns for another three months. Anyways, the parks were full in our neighborhood. People had dusted off their summer shorts and were showing off some extremely white legs. I however, still through on my winter clothes knowing this was only a tease and not to get comfortable.

I decided to do what is typical for a nice day, go shopping. Actually, it was a regular run to Target and Trader Joe's with a quick stop by Old Navy. I had the intention on picking on some basic tees. Walked around and found my way in the back of the store where the pajamas are located. then I noticed all of the lacy panties on one table circa Victoria's Secret angel line. I did a double take and thought to myself "since when did Old Navy get into the lingerie business?" I then noticed on the same table a bunch of bottles of massage oil. Massage oil at Old Navy? The land of perfomance fleece, polos and flip flops? I was widely confused and decided I would only be buying those kind of things (which I don't) from a respected massage oil retailer, are there even any?

Just a random thought.

Fashion Fiend

Only a couple weeks into blogging and I am already slacking. Been caught up with some personal items which I will fail to mention as they are unpleasant and not interesting. I have also been consumed with the 2008 Mercedes Benz Fall Fashion Week in New York.

Let me start of by saying that I love fashion, New York and pop culture so New York fashion week(s) is my favorite time of year (aside from major holidays). Daily I am reading my Glamour blogs, New York Post fashion week coverage, In Style Coverage, etc. I love it all. I think it really started last May when I was in New York for work, I stayed at the Bryant Park Hotel. Fashion week is always held in Bryant Park so the hotel I stayed at is the closest one to the madness. I did not stay there when the week was going on, but my tv had a channel which showed all of the designer's shows from the previous fashion week. The hotel revolves around the fashion elite. I became enthralled with watching the shows on that special "fashion channel".

While I love fashion, I am not the most trendy. I tend to choose classic pieces and dress the outfit with cute and different shoes, belts, scarves, etc. I love a great bag, especially Kate Spade.

Someday I will attend Fashion Week as a spectator. Don't exactly know how I could get in unless it had something to do with my work. I have brought up the idea before and it was not rejected (which is always a good sign). Anyhoo, until then I will continue to salivate as I look at pictures of some shows like Diane von Furstenberg, Tory Burch, Max Azria (see photo), Michael Kors and Marc Jacobs. I will visualize what I would be wearing to such events and who I would like to see in the front row. Would I be able to go to any of the after parties? I guess it would depend on who I knew. Until then, I will wish and keeping studying the pages of my magazines.