{City Girl} Knows

wish list

2012-01-26T16:41:00.002-05:00

This time of year is when I typically indulge in a few things on my wish list and fashion some new wants… since non-typical decisions have been made for this year, I need to be more cautious in my frivolous spending… so I thought I’d share a couple things that I would be buying if I could… but I really should not… not right now.

Anything you are craving to call yours?

:: images above collaged from Cupcakes and Cashmere and Bijulesterie ::

"I don't want to make money, I just want to be wonderful."

{marilyn monroe}

january new things

2012-01-23T11:11:00.004-05:00

Lots of news to share… this month is setting the tone for how the rest of this year is going to feel… I think… with this whole something new each month, I start with January… and that being… I quit my job. Now when I first say that, it sounds so spur-of-the-moment and maybe not well thought out but I assure you, it has been… well planned. Sometimes I have to remind myself that too but I am so ready and so excited for new things to come. Sometimes, in a job, you have to decide to move on and be ready to find the next great thing. I am ready. February 10th will be my last day and then guess what? Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras. Then some relaxing, more blogging and some travelling and then some new job finding. Sometimes you just have to take time to regroup, be a better you and find something new.

In other news, I started an Instagram! However, I don’t actually have an i-phone so I’m loading them to my i-pad and updating from there. I don’t entirely get it all yet but it’s fun and I love editing my pictures in these tones… so um, follow me? @islandialane …is that how it works? Also I’ve been decorating my new apt {new since June 2011} finally. Painting some, getting things framed, getting the right furniture and setting up my closet. Trying to make it all fit in my simple little studio. Maybe a home post coming on soon... I’ve never done one of those, another something new and something fun.
Here’s to a happy week!

“Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes.

Don't resist them - that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality.

Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.”

{lao tzu}

winter windows

2012-01-10T17:09:00.001-05:00

December Bergdorf Windows, NYC

“I'm lucky to not have a real job,

to be able to express myself, be creative and be relevant.”

{gwen stefani}

pictures of you

2012-01-05T13:35:00.000-05:00

A few dreamy shots from the Diana mini – goodness, how I love her. I like to call her little Roxie D. If we can name our cars, we can surely name our cameras.

Love what you do

and you will never work a day in your life.

too much rock for one hand

2012-01-03T10:42:00.000-05:00

2011, hello, I loved you, bye bye :: 2012, why hello there :: the past year was filled with highlights but I am ready for a New Year and now 2012 is here! I’m not usually one for the typical resolutions like be more fit, read more books, drink less wine… so this year I’ve decided to do something new each month that I typically wouldn’t do or maybe even something I thought I’d never do. Sky Diving? Speed Dating? Another Tattoo? Kind of along the lines of what would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail or no fear or just plain, trying to achieve greatness. Cheesy much? Maybe. But that’s me and this year feels like it’s time for all those things. Anything you can suggest that you thought you’d never do?

Except first, some Christmas moments to look back on – it was a good one this year.

Now cheers to a New Year!!

Matt Damon’s character in We Bought a Zoo:

“All it takes is 20 seconds of insane courage and great things will happen.

I promise.”

{benjamin mee}

birthdays go like this

2011-12-23T10:34:00.000-05:00

Christmas is coming up and I'm just getting to the final Birthday Post! So the day went like this... sleeping in, meeting up with a friend, opening presents, going for brunch at The Smith Midtown, shopping a little, getting manicures in hot pink glitter, meeting friends at Blackstones, dancing at Opal then finishing the night at Jamesons and some pizza after. You should know by now, I love a good night of bar hopping! Along with phone pictures and digital camera pictures I, of course, had to indulge in one film camera. Courtesy of the Urban Outfitters Happy F**king Birthday camera! Highly recommend these, they are so fun to see what comes out {and a few more from the photo booth}.

And this is how we do.

"I love people who make me laugh.

I honestly think it's the thing I like most, to laugh.

It cures a multitude of ills. It's probably the most important thing in a person."

{audrey hepburn}

you are my weekend {by evo}

2011-12-20T12:33:00.002-05:00

This weekend was… filled with brunching and so many bellinis, walking all over the city, early and late night bar drinking, dropping off toys for tots, shopping, early holiday gifting, and napping. I enjoyed every bit of it but man, I sure am ready for things to slow down a bit. Oh and btw, it’s officially winter here, this weekend was freezing!

"sometimes you really do need to get a good look at things."

{marcel the shell}

christmas at tiffany's

2011-12-16T11:17:00.000-05:00

Where has this month gone? Holiday season havoc. That’s what it’s all about right now. Still need to finish sharing stories about my party {and so many other things} but first I wanted to share little pieces of NYC that make me happy during this season… the holiday windows! These are the amazing ones at Tiffany’s right now. Oh how a girl dares to dream.

“…the only thing that does any good is to jump in a cab and go to Tiffany's.

Calms me down right away.

The quietness and the proud look of it; nothing very bad could happen to you there. If I could find a real-life place that'd make me feel like Tiffany's,

then - then I'd buy some furniture and give the cat a name!”

{holly golightly}

{all about} the birthday girl

2011-12-05T14:48:00.001-05:00

This was my Birthday according to phones and a photo booth. More snapshots and details coming soon but today, since I ~~played hooky~~ took a vacation day on Friday, I am too busy to recap it all. Hope you all had a very happy weekend too!

And the below sums up today better than any quote I could think of. I just didn't want my weekend to end.

cake and more cake

2011-12-02T11:00:00.001-05:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to me!! That’s right, it’s my BIRTHDAY and I am so eager to let the drinking begin. Oh the reasons to celebrate. Little story for the day… so, last year I decided to try my first Birthday give-away and can I tell you, in true me fashion, I have yet to mail out the winners little box of goodies! ::so sorry:: I am often delayed, late and I procrastinate like crazy but I never forget… so that little box of goodies will be in the mail soon, I promise. And promises mean the world to me. With that, this year I decided… since I like the whole good to get but great to gift… I will send out a favorite little something to the first three people that wish me Happy Birthday by commenting below! You know like a top three thing. Now the rest of you tell me something great that happened for your Birthday this year. I love reading happy little stories. I’m stoked for my 32nd year… kinda feels like I’ve been building and working towards some new things in my life and good things are going to happen this next year. It just feels right. Lastly, I’m going to donate to a favorite charity ::still deciding:: $10 for each person that comments on this post. Creating some good ol’ celebration cheer, that’s what it’s all about.

Have an amazing weekend! Party Pictures coming soon…

::Random NYC B-day SnapShots::

"As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands,

one for helping yourself, the other for helping others. "

{audrey hepburn}

happy happy joy joy

2011-11-30T15:29:00.003-05:00

I’m simply happy today. Maybe because the weather has been so nice here lately, maybe because I was up making rice krispie treats at 1 o’clock in the morning last night, maybe because I found some good shopping deals last week and am almost done with my Christmas Shopping or maybe… because Friday is my BIRTHDAY!! That’s right, my BIRTHDAY is coming up and I love BIRTHDAYS! They make me so ecstatic! All the memories to be made and laughs to be had. And lately drinks with friends has been far and few between so more than anything I’m just excited to catch up with everyone and see all those faces that I’ve been missing. Here a few favorite B-day moments of years past…

::16th, getting my first car... doesn't it suite my wardrobe even back then::

::27th, last bday celebration in MIA, 3.5 weeks later I moved to NYC::

::29th, cheers to some bowling in NYC::

::dirty 30, and so it begins::

“It takes a long time to grow young.”

{pablo picasso}

you are my {holiday} weekend

2011-11-29T10:39:00.001-05:00

::currently my weekends have been::

mornings on the monkey bars

brunch in bed

beaujolais in november

foster the people, torches :: over and over and over

loving the record warm weather in nyc

hair changes… coming soon

finding de la vega musings on the sidewalk

fresh flowers in my windowsill

“I’m sorry, did you say tall glass of wine?

Yes, please.”

{zoe hart}

what is with today {today}

2011-11-22T18:13:00.001-05:00

This week. Woe is me, is what keeps ringing in my head and it’s only Tuesday. I rarely talk about work around here because this is my outlet of all things creative that I enjoy but I thought I’d share a glimpse of my day-to-day today. “What’s with today, today?” as Lucas would say. As for me, I work in the world of Finance as a Personal/Executive Assistant. Meetings, Travel, Lunches, Going to the Apple Store, Picking up Dry-cleaning and all that jazz. Girl Friday with a title, as I like to think sometimes. There are occasional perks but man oh man, on days like these it is hard to remember them. I love my job though and so the day moves on.

Last week I went to a screening of Another Happy Day. It was a great movie, real and emotional yet not that touching… it was hard to pinpoint a descriptive for the movie but if you watch it maybe you’ll get what I mean and I do recommend it. Q&A with the writer/director, Sam Levinson and actor, Ezra Miller following the movie. Also before all that I tried my first vegan cheese plate with chocolates and wine. Chocolates, amazing. Vegan cheese, eh. But Cocoa V was such a cute little spot, I’ll def be back to try more of their vegan sweet treats.

Q&A Movie Fun Facts

::Sam Levinson took three weeks to write the script::

::and he watched Fox News almost the entire time, while writing::

::only took 23 days to film::

::the writer of 3 songs in the movie was at the screening with his Mom, from Baltimore::

::Ezra Miller was 17 when filming the movie and the whiskey he was shooting was watered down apple juice::

::Sam Levinson loves to drop some f*bombs like I've never known::

vampire red and sparkle

2011-11-18T12:30:00.000-05:00

With thoughts of Twilight in my head, last night I did my nails again… the only thing missing is a little glitter but I wanted to keep it to the sheer, sparkly pink and vampire red colors and I don’t have glitter in either of those. Maybe it’s time to go nail shopping again! And guess what tonight is!! Breaking Dawn, Part One :: that’s right, I will be there on opening night right after work with all the crazy, fanatic girls. I might be in my 30’s but we all need to let out our inner 13 year old every now and then. And you ask what I’m doing after. Well my grown up self will be ready for a drink. That’s right :: there will definitely be drinks after, I’ll need something to balance all those teenage girl hormones in the air. Anyone else as excited as I am to see Bella and Edward stare at each other for hours?

this am, leaves on the ground, gloves on the hand :: it's getting colder around here

“About three things I was absolutely positive:

First, Edward was a vampire.

Second, there was a part of him-and I didn't know how dominant that part might be-that thirsted for my blood.

And third, I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him.”

{isabella swan}

wanted {island time}

2011-11-16T12:11:00.000-05:00

The first year that I genuinely felt the definition of a vacation was in 2008. I have traveled and love discovering new places. I’ve been to islands, cities and small towns. On most vacations, I go-go-go because I like to see it all. Then in April 2008 after living in NYC for just over a year, I went with a couple girlfriends to Turks & Caicos to visit an old friend, who was chefing on a private island down there, Ambergris Cay. Amazing. I relaxed like I had not in a long time, maybe not ever. So many stars in the sky, you almost couldn’t see the darkness. Awake with the sun, nothing to do during the days but lay around, walk the island, drink homemade rum punch, eat the food that you caught and just enjoy the day. I never knew how important these moments were until I lived in NYC. The lifestyle is so very different in the City than anywhere else in America. Vacation is a necessity, I would perish here without one {or three}. And so this trip began the tradition of my spring island getaway. I’m already dreaming of where to go this year. It will be my 5th vacation season! The other previous trips :: 2009, St. Thomas :: 2010, Aruba :: 2011, Jamaica... any recommendations for 2012?

Turks and Caicos, 2008

:: this was the plane to get there from the main island, you should see the airport::

“Guess why I smile a lot. Uh, because it’s worth it.”

{marcel the shell}

you are my weekend

2011-11-14T13:52:00.000-05:00

NYC

Terminal 5, Friday Night

Wandering around the City with my Dad, Saturday

My homemade vegan mac ‘n cheese with spices and wine, Sunday

Simple, happy little weekend. I’ve been too busy to think of much more. Also last night I watched Little Monsters. Didn’t remember it being so taboo when I was 9 but it kinda is when watching it now. Kids pulling pranks, saying dirty words and sneaking out at night! Anyone else remember that movie?

wine and zen time

2011-11-08T15:06:00.000-05:00

Easy Night Out :: Dinner at Franchia, Vegan Café {so delish and yes, even that chocolate pudding is vegan}. Then walking around the Bryant Park Holiday Market. The feeling of the Holiday spirit is already in the air! Peppermint Mochas, Nutella Crepes and Fresh Kettle Corn, oh my! Sometimes all you need is a catch up dinner with a bottle of wine and some great giggling moments with a friend that you don’t get to see enough.

And one thing I will admit to liking about the change of weather, is that it’s time to bring out the boots! Current transition weather wearing boots :: Rachel by Rachel Roy. omgosh, so adore her shoes. My wardrobe contains a lot of Rachel Roy stuff now that I think about it.

HAPPY TUESDAY!

serious shoes

2011-11-03T10:10:00.006-04:00

Barneys Windows :: NYC

Christian Louboutin's shoes are without fail some of the most divine things I've ever seen. Last night I walked by these in the window. Regular readers should know my love of store windows, especially here in NYC; they always seem to have the most amazing merchandising, whether that is even the point or not is uncertain. Windows here are more about the artistic value. Not that these shoes are everyday wearable but they sure are pretty to look at and swoon over.
What do you think?

"The core of my work is dedicated not to pleasing women

but to pleasing men."

{christian louboutin}

day of the dead

2011-11-01T12:07:00.004-04:00

Last night I was attempting to make it to the Annual NYC Halloween Parade in the West Village but between finishing work and not really being able to pull together a last minute costume that I was feeling, I didn't make it out. I ended up playing with makeup in compliment to Dia de los Muertos. Last year I saw numerous blogs post about it and found it interesting to look up more. I know the idea of it but not what it fully encompasses. Yesterday I asked my co-worker what he thought if people dressed as this for a Halloween costume and he only said, “it’s a day to remember and put out favorite things for them but in Los Angeles they all paint their faces.” Interesting response but I get it. Maybe it's taking away part of a tradition or culture? Before recently I didn’t know much about this Holiday but then I found this blog post and loved how she explained it. What a great way to remember people that were in your life. I have more than a few people to think of on this day but I will remember the happy thoughts about them. Do you know much about this Holiday? Ok to use this as a Halloween costume?
I will add though, it sure was fun doing my makeup!

"I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today.
I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn't arrived yet.
I have just one day, today, and I'm going to be happy in it."

{groucho marx}

the smith {the new one}

2011-10-31T14:22:00.002-04:00

First I will start with :: I didn’t dress up this weekend or even do one thing that was Halloween related. But today is officially HALLOWEEN so no telling what’s in store for tonight!

Friday night consisted of bar hoping that included sundaes {with a martini for me} and pizza to end to the night at 4am. I was so excited to finally check out The {new} Smith on 51st and 2nd. The original is down in the East Village and without fail, it is always packed. With this one only being open for two weeks I was surprised when I walked in and they felt so on as if they’d been open for years. So kudos to them and I cannot wait to go back. They are known for their comfort food, a great late night snack and their brunch. Even better, they kept the tradition and added a b&w photo booth in the unisex bathroom. Adore.

Then late Saturday I woke up to the below… though it doesn’t look like much, I was not thrilled. Too much, too soon I guess I’d say. I’m getting used to going out in the snow more each year but getting dressed in costume to go out in the snow, I just wasn’t feeling it. So I stayed in, cozied up and watched some {so bad they are good} made for TV movies. Sometimes I ~~want~~ need to indulge my inner-tween and watch some ABC Family Originals. Yep, it was that kind of night.
And how about your Halloween? Do tell!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

sparkle of emotion

2011-10-28T10:35:00.002-04:00

Last night I started going through my ~~massive~~ stash of makeup, looking for items that may inspire for some Halloween fun… and I ended up doing this {see pictures below} instead. Cheesy, right? But I thought it was amusing. Then today I woke up to weather in the 30’s! Huh? The 30’s people, is freezing and it is October. I spoke too soon. I am no longer enjoying Fall in the City. Can you tell which emotion evokes how I feel about tomorrow? Weather Report for Saturday in NYC :: Windy. Rain… mixing with snow in the afternoon. High 43F. Winds NE at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 90%. It’s Halloween weekend, what am I supposed to do with that? At least it’s Friday.

Happy Friday people! I am excited about that much.
wow, that's a lot of me... sorry but I was just entertaining myself on a rainy night.

the city is at war {cobra style}

2011-10-27T18:22:00.004-04:00

Thursday thoughts :: Funny thing, I thought I posted about going to see Cobra Starship {again, huge fan} and Gym Class Heroes {who are more awesome than I ever knew} in September, yet I cannot find a post where I mentioned it :: brain cloud :: That feeling just goes along with what this week has encompassed. Oh and last night, someone accidentally rang my doorbell at 4:15am. Living in a studio in NYC, those buzzers can be so loud and so not cool when I’m in a deep sleep from the week that it has been. I’m saying it was an accident because they didn’t buzz again and of course I didn’t open the door to check either. I live 4 floors up from the ground so at least drunken passerby’s noise doesn’t bother me most of the time. Ready for Friday and I am in need of a Friday Night. ASAP. One more day. One more day. But until then I’m looking back and remembering how awesome these guys are.
Gabe Saporta :: you rock and kinda make my day more swell {along with all of your musical-crew}.

Terminal 5, NYC

“I will never sing perfectly, but I will always be awesome.

Even when I f**k up. I’m awesome because

I am not afraid to fall nor ashamed to stumble.

Because I never wanted to be beautiful, and I never pretended to be.”

{gabe saporta}

little details

2011-10-26T11:39:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I was looking through some old snapshots from the Nikon D-40 and thought I’d share a few that feel a little re-inspired. Thinking I need a bit of new inspiration. The fall in NYC this year so far has been great, like we are having a real fall. Last year it was as if we skipped the in between seasons. This year I’m enjoying it. Anything old or new inspiring you?

1 :: book stack, costume jewels & cupcake prosecco

2 :: details of a painting, Fine Arts Museum in Montreal

3 :: Grandmamma icing her {famous-in-the-family} coconut layer cake

tourist in my city

2011-10-25T11:18:00.001-04:00

Recently I made my first trip over to Roosevelt Island. The small thin strip of land that lays btwn mid/upper Manhattan and Queens. I always thought it was purely residential {and mostly is} but they also have a cute little walk around the island with site-seeing things, a .25 bus to take you around if you’re tired of walking and a very small area with 2-3 restaurants and a Starbucks. In a way, it felt like we were in an alt-reality, maybe something like The Truman Show. Slightly not so Manhattan but you knew the big city was right next door. Then it was back to the city to explore a little for the day {it feels so good to be a tourist when you’re not supposed to be}. First we needed food and made a stop at a little random Italian spot in the West Village; it was good because we were hungry but not much more than that to talk about. We made our next stop at Carrie’s steps – after seeing Mayra {Life is Bananas} stop by there on her visit to NYC, made me realize I can’t believe I’ve never been! Then after all that – it was time for some sweet treats… or rather cupcakes and beer. Hello, Sweet Revenge, oh how I love you and I cannot wait to go back to you. Happy little day to be a tourist.

Any favorite things you like to do in your city?

Happy Tuesday!

in two months

2011-10-20T14:38:00.001-04:00

In two months, it will be incredibly cold and many of my favorite NYC places will be covered with snow and ice. Today though, it is sunny and bright outside so I took a walk through a darling bit of Central Park for my lunch break. With all the trees, changing leaves {slightly} and sunshine :: makes it feel a little more like home. Here are some shots that will look very different in two months time.

::and a little sparkle on my feet to brighten the week::

On the Road:

“…I was going home in October. Everyone goes home in October.”

{jack kerouac}

minty glittery

2011-10-19T14:30:00.001-04:00

Definitely obsessing over all the fun nail art that is out and about lately. So last night I decided to try a little glitter for myself. I’m just pretending it’s still summer using light colors and going against the dreariness that has become NYC today. And yes, I use a magazine to balance all my stuff on my lap while I paint my nails so I can watch TV. I’m too lazy to sit at a table. That’s just how I do. Now I need an excuse of something to do in front of the TV tonight so I can watch Revenge :: might be a little obsessed with that show too but for good reason. Go watch it, if you haven’t yet!

Wearing :: Sephora by O.P.I Nail Glitter in Gunmetal and Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Nail Color in Mint Sorbet. Only complaint, the glitter lost a lot of the sparkle when coated with a clear top coat as instructed. But without it, didn't seem too much would stay on. More tricks to try next time!

sake, sake {sake bomb}

2011-10-18T17:24:00.000-04:00

So many new moments and new people have ventured into my life this year. One being the people responsible for my Saturday and Saturday night. A new coworker and now good friend, is who arranged all of Saturday and when we first met, it was one of those moments where it’s like “but I’ve known you all along, right?” Her hubby is one part of Evens+Odds Creative and they recently started a blog and you know me and blog sharing… I just get so excited to see new blogs out there. So go check them out :: they are one family-bunch of creative!

On with the weekend and more new moments :: Saturday was enough to fill the whole weekend :: in Brooklyn by 9:30am to paint school murals for NYCares Day and then back to the city and down to the East Village for 2 hours of unlimited Sushi and Sake Bombs. That alone should explain how the rest of the night went. And when I say unlimited, I mean :: can we have another pitcher of beer? Sure. Can we have another {re-used yellowtail} bottle of sake? Sure. And so the night goes. It’s kind of ‘anything-goes’ after that. One last bar stop and I can’t say I remember much past a point but I think I was home and crashed right around midnight-ish. But still so much fun so… until the next one!

"Buy the ticket, take the ride."

{hunter s. thompson}

grape stomp, say what

2011-10-14T17:28:00.000-04:00

Happy Friday! Continuing on with the past week celebrating… I forgot to mention that for my 30th B-day {two years ago in December} I did a wine tour of the Hudson Valley and it was a blast! Three wineries, B-day cake in the wine cellar, wine tasting galore and karaoke on the bus. Yep I said it, karaoke on the bus. So this year when my friend, Tiffany, started asking about it, I said :: it was awesome and so a Birthday Saturday was planned! Here I come again, The Little Wine Bus! Only difference is that October is Grape Stomping Season so guess what we did… stomped some grapes! It felt a little weird and kinda like we were standing in vats of grape jam. For this trip we did two wineries, including the oldest in the country. There was live music and grand views. We laid down a blanket and enjoyed the day with bottles, burgers and cheese, more than we thought possible.

::not sure what my bangs are doing but it's almost halloween, so we'll go with 'I'm pebbles inspired'::

"Age is just a number.

It's totally irrelevant unless, of course,

you happen to be a bottle of wine."

{joan collins}

a week ago yo

2011-10-13T14:49:00.000-04:00

This whirlwind of a time {that started last Monday} officially kicked off when Michelle got into town last Thursday as a surprise to the Birthday Girl. And what a time it was to surprise her… kept changing her plans on me, telling me she’s not coming into the city, you name it {even had to get her fam involved!} Granted we/she had been partying almost every single day since she arrived. And that’s how you celebrate your 29+1, almost two weeks of everyday partying.
How it was supposed to happen: Tiffany meet me out and surprise, we’re all here!
How it actually happened: Tiffany’s cousin telling her :: hey, I have this promoter friend at Haven tonight – come out. Tiff’s aunt :: it’s your B-day week and you have friends to visit, you should go out, I’ll give you a ride into the city {her aunt lives in the Bronx}. Us {Michelle, Hillary and me} :: at the Carriage House, waiting :: then to Neely’s, waiting :: then to Sin Bin, waiting… finally we see the car pull up outside so Michelle runs and hides, Tiff comes in talking about how we’re going to meet Jenny at Haven and on and on {Michelle still hiding} and we’re like ok :: random couple walk by slowly and stand sort of close to Tiff, you see her glance over like who are these people, you could tell her space was invaded but she looks back to me and Hill and keeps talking, then the random couple part and Michelle goes, “did you order a baby guinness?” Tiffany didn’t know what to do, huge surprise {and not to mention that whole past week, she was on and on about how Michelle couldn’t make it and she couldn’t believe it}. It was close to perfect. Classic. And cut... now the celebrating begins.

13 Going on 30:

“I'll have a Pina Colada, not virgin.

Wanna see my ID? Totally have it!”

{jenna}

aka Jennifer Garner’s character

five hour energy weekend

2011-10-12T12:42:00.000-04:00

As the post title leads, I definitely could’ve used some of that this past week/weekend. It was a whirlwind of birthday fun, wine touring, brunching, dancing and of course, drinking. Let me start with Monday night at Bowery Ballroom. I went to see The Lemonheads and totally {almost} felt like I was in high school all over again. Great show and The Shining Twins opened for them; who I kinda adore. It was a great night with delish NY Pizza to end the night! More on the weekend fun as this week moves on – can’t wait to share all the amusing details – maybe just talking about them will make me think I’m still at play and not sitting at my desk. Happy Hump Day!

The first shot is The Shining Twins then waiting on The Lemonheads to play {which it did feel like forever in between sets} and Evan Dando did some solo stuff and the girls came up to join them for a couple songs and they pulled a girl up onto the stage to sing along for their cover of Mrs. Robinson - just all so great together. So many musings that I could go on and on about...

"My high-school dream was to be in a band,

pay my rent and eat - and I've been able to do that for 20 years.

So I'm completely content.

{evan dando}

those creative apples

2011-10-06T16:14:00.006-04:00

Happy Friday Eve!!

It is absolutely gorgeous in the City today and I couldn't resist walking out to take some snapshots of my favorite windows. By the way, the clothes are so divine right now. They make me wanna sing, "how much is that clothing in the window." Now I can't stop humming.

::Bergdorf Windows, October 2011::

::Apple Store in front of my work, 5th Ave, NYC::

Commencement Address at Stanford:

"you can't connect the dots looking forward;
you can only connect them looking backwards.

So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future.

You have to trust in something - your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever.

This approach has never let me down, and it has
made all the difference in my life."

{steve jobs}

details of today

2011-10-05T14:32:00.000-04:00

gold to me, lyrics:

“some shine when the day is new / oh but

fade when the day is through / not you, no

you look like gold”

{ben harper}

night {lights} in nyc

2011-10-04T12:42:00.001-04:00

Dinner last night at Diablo Royale :: food great, drinks ok, service slow. It was with a smile but definitely super slow. Only a place to go when you have a plate full of patience. I probably would’ve had another drink or two {they would’ve had a higher tab i.e. more sales/bigger tip} and not even noticed, if only they would’ve come by to ask if I wanted another drink… I would def go again but probably only for happy hour at the bar. After I walked along West 4th and through Washington Sq Park. It was serene and peaceful at night. Almost perfect.

"kill all my demons,

and my angels might die too."

{tennessee williams}

{three} levels of fun

2011-10-03T14:36:00.001-04:00

Friday night. Matt Nathanson and Vanessa Carlton. Terminal 5, NYC.

Terminal 5 is one of my favorite venues in the City, in case you haven’t already read that a time or two. It’s the old Club Exit as Vanessa Carlton talked about during her set, as in back in the day when she ran around with glo-sticks and did drugs. She opened for Matt Nathanson on Friday, it was fun listening to her new music {didn’t really prefer the crowd at this show though, very weird energy}. As for Matt, he was just great. I saw him a couple years back for Central Park Summer Stage and totally forgot that he is such a great story-teller on stage. Those are my favorite types of musicians, the ones that like to make a connection, make you laugh. And also he is the most hip-swaying, booty-shaking white boy I’ve ever seen on stage with a guitar. He jams with that guitar of his. Maybe I’d say he was like Elvis if it were the 50’s. You’ll get it if you ever see him live and that I do recommend. Check out a favorite of mine from his new album. Faster.

paraphrasing Mr. Nathanson talking about love~dating~etc:

“you know that person you’re dating that none of your friends like

and know he’s not good for you and you say but
'you don’t know him like I do'

– it’s like them saying, see that burning building, don’t go in there
and you say, but I’m cold – this song is about that”

last {thursday} night

2011-09-30T13:34:00.000-04:00

Another reason from last week that had me ~~wasting away~~ sleeping all day Saturday was Girl’s Night Out. A co-worker is getting married on Saturday so last Thursday we took advantage and all the girls took her out after work!

~Where~

Aspen Social Club :: Times Square:: Pulse :: The Mean Fiddler

On being a real party girl:

“That depends. You’ve got to define ‘party girl.’

If you mean I’m a walking good time, then hells yeah.

But I’m not wasted and stumbling out of clubs

and getting DUIs. I’m not that kind of party girl.

I may be blonde and fun as balls,

but I’m not a moron.”

{ke$ha}

fishnets {or} snake skin

2011-09-29T12:44:00.000-04:00

Sharing a little of my nail art this week. I decided to finally try out the stick-on ones from Sally Hansen and can I tell you? I LOVE them! I’ve used the OPI for Sephora also and they are great but Sally Hansen has so many designs and you can buy them almost anywhere now. Took me about 30 minutes while watching The Playboy Club the other night {which turned out to be a pretty decent show but not as good as Revenge}. I like to mix up a solid color with the print too. Also realized how awkward it is to take pictures of your hands, little goal :: to work on this. Any tricks for better angles?

“It ain't what they call you,

it's what you answer to.”

{w. c. fields}

snow cones-and-acid drops

2011-09-28T11:15:00.001-04:00

Last Friday was a friend’s Birthday that we celebrated with lunch and a movie then into a night of drinking , eating, dancing and rum snow cones. Yes, my friends :: rum snow cones, in a bar, kinda genius if you ask me. I must explain first though, I was so tired on this night because of the night before {which I will get to tomorrow}. I guess I’m backtracking a little here, just go with it. And with that in mind – these pics are less of the idea of trying to look nice and take good pics but more just taking them to make sure we remember these little moments and maybe not look too drunkie and in my case, trying to look less hungover yet continuing to drinking. Yea, that still happens sometimes.

1 - Ember Room :: 2 - Traffic :: 3 - 6 Reunion

"your list of people is my list of people"

{vanessa malcolm}

the roots of a youth

2011-09-26T10:29:00.002-04:00

Around this time of year is when the movie world tends to start showing off their big guns in terms of good movies. Recently I’ve seen The Help, The Debt, Drive and The Warrior. All recommended to see if you haven’t and all for different reasons of course. And last night I saw a screening of 50/50 at the MoMa with the writer Q&A to follow. A movie about a boy in his 20’s who gets cancer. Will Reiser {the writer} was diagnosed with cancer when he was 25. The perspective of this movie was more real than most movies I see or feel today. It was normal-everyday, it was sad and it was laugh-out-loud funny, literally. Seth Rogen added the perfect comedic balance to the movie. I think and I hope we all have a friend like that. They might, on the surface, be a little selfish but deep down they really are only thinking of you and trying to deal. I could go through each great casting but I won’t – I’ll leave that for you to discover for yourself and they’re all that good. Really. Even the soundtrack is great.

Q&A Movie Fun Facts

:: Seth Rogen is a friend of the writer and was there for Will beating out cancer::

::originally the movie was titled, I'm With Cancer but they went with 50/50 suggested by Bryce Dallas Howard::

::Will's favorite scene ~ when Kyle, Seth's character confronts Adam's GF where half is scripted and half is his own improv::

::the first doctor scene "was sort of a f**k you to a certain Doctor" said Will::

you'll get it when you see it

{image found here}

“50/50? If you were a casino game,

you’d have the best odds.”

{kyle}

aka Seth Rogen’s charater in 50/50

graffiti me up {in color}

2011-09-21T10:47:00.001-04:00

Some of you that have read my blog for awhile, should know my love of graffiti. When people paint up scribbles and such, yea, not really art so much but what most people do on the street, really is art and I can never get enough of it. Graffiti, no matter how similar, will always be new to the eyes. Here are more snapshots from my Montreal trip and only a little of the graffiti that city really has. Just walking down the street, it is everywhere. It truly is the city of graffiti. I thought I lucked out in Iceland, wrong. Thought it might be Barcelona or maybe Paris, wrong again. Canada is where it’s at.

“Some people become cops because they want

to make the world a better place.

Some people become vandals because they want

to make the world a better looking place.”

{banksy}

sunshine and kiddo time

2011-09-19T11:14:00.000-04:00

Sunday was a perfect {although windy} day in the park for my favorite 2 year old and some sweets aka Birthday cupcakes, rice krispie treats and cotton candy. With a little more shade though, it would’ve been for nicer pictures but I will take sun over chilly any day. It seems the fall is already setting in for us over here. Also in all fairness, my friends have some of the cutest kids ever, just sayin.

Photos taken by me in Weehawken, New Jersey.

::The Birthday Boy::

“When kids hit one year old,

it's like hanging out with a miniature drunk.

You have to hold onto them. They bump into things.

They laugh and cry. They urinate. They vomit.”

{johnny depp}

you, me {and two guitars}

2011-09-16T15:02:00.002-04:00

This week I finally got to see Bryan Greenberg play a little of his music and a few fun {some of my favs} covers. He’s played in NYC multiple times but for some reason or another, I was never able to make a show. Also with him, was Julia Sinclair. She was awesome, def a new fan. Wednesday night they played at the Canal Room, which also happened to be my first show there. It was a great little venue and I discovered this hole-in-the-wall place next door, Nancy Whiskey. That place smelled of a drunken night waiting to happen and I mean that in the most hot mess kinda way possible.

“He loved her more than anything,

even his own life. I think that's what love is.

Anything else is just, a distraction.”

{daniel seaver}

aka Bryan Greenberg in The Good Guy

what's good {is at the zoo}

2011-09-14T12:56:00.001-04:00

Last night I went with some friends to the Central Park Zoo for Family Night. It was a complete kiddie affair. The kiddos got a little nervous of the lemurs but no crying fits occurred and we, the adults, freaked out in the Tropic Zone where the birds get to fly all around, above and beside you… yea, we almost ran out when it sounded like a ~~cat~~ bird fight, for real. Also sometimes I have this moral issue about zoos; I can never decide if I’m ok with them or not. Sometimes the animals just look so unhappy, but I guess who’s to say… what do you think? Zoos… yah or nay? But the Zoo at Twilight? Definitely a must do.

“Clearly, then, the city is not a concrete jungle,

it is a human zoo.”

{desmond morris}

time warp {travel ahead}

2011-09-12T12:32:00.000-04:00

The weekend was perfectly lazy and exactly what I ~~needed~~ wanted. I decided to clean up some of my mem cards and photo folders and stumbled across these pics from my Cali trip earlier this year. It kinda makes me wanna go somewhere, like now… I think it’s time for the trip planning process to begin! Though I have no fall/winter trips planned as of it; even just thinking about it feels nice, doesn’t it?

“Too often travel, instead of broadening the mind,

merely lengthens the conversation.”

{elizabeth drew}

heels on the sidewalk

2011-09-09T15:23:00.005-04:00

I’m sure everyone knows what last night was, right? It was Fashion’s Night Out!! Always a blast but this year for me, it was less about the celebs and more about the champagne. It seems almost every store had some this year… here are a few of my highlights.

Oh and Happy {oh my gosh so happy} Friday!! Have a fabulous weekend everyone.

:: Ann Taylor hearts Natasha Bedingfield ::

:: Becka Diamond, you kinda rock ::

all photos taken by me last night throughout midtown Manhattan.

Check out my past years here and here.

“Party people / Now I want you to grab your bottles /

Put them up in the air // Now shake, shake,

shake that bottle then make it {pop}”

{lmfao}

champagne showers

no amount of whiskey, no wine {nothing else will do}

2011-09-06T15:15:00.004-04:00

“when you look at a cupcake, you've got to smile.”

{anne byrn}

a couple weeks of a little live music love and a cupcake for good measure

New York City, August-and-September, 2011

LMFAO :: Ke$ha :: Mallary Hope :: Darius Rucker :: The Weepies

“she's got that little red rose on her big toe / tattooed in Myrtle Beach /

went to Mardi Gras with her mother-in-law / got a suitcase full of beads //

she's walked on fire, and jumped out of planes for fun /

but lovin me is the craziest thing that she's ever done”

{darius rucker}

the craziest thing

we walked this city

2011-09-01T14:30:00.002-04:00

This long weekend getaway that was supposed to be a couple days of play turned into crazy. All because of this little recent force from nature called Irene that many of us experienced and thankfully it wasn’t as bad as it could’ve been in most places. Some things I learned :: Canada does not show or keep up to date news of the U.S. nor do we keep up to date news of Canada. Anyone know why this is? It was such a surreal experience and I almost still feel as though it was all a bad dream. I just kept thinking :: dude, this would never happen in Europe… unfortunately.

We took the train up on Thursday, it was awesome. Caught up on some easy blog reading and TV show watching {thankyouverymuch awesome new iPad}. We packed up a bag of cheese, crackers, hummus, fruit and veggies with two bottles of wine. 11 hours didn’t feel like 11 hours – it felt like hours of chatting and seeing pretty river/lake views of hills and mountains and all that good under-the-bridge graffiti. Then it was a good two days in Montreal. Then Sunday came when we were supposed to catch the train back home. That didn’t happen. All trains, planes and autos were cancelled. With no hotel to stay in and tropical storm force winds and rain outside – it was a day I’d rather not recollect. It was interesting the occurrence of unfortunate events that followed. And then a taxi, an airport, a bus, a hotel, a bus station, another hotel, a bus, the other bus and another bus, then finally a taxi home from Chinatown. It might be a while before I attempt another Canada trip. Despite all that, here are a few of the highlights…

:: a little rose for me & a big-ass bloody mary for my mom::

::Jean Paul, I'm so in love with you::

::so it's in a museum, can I still have this bag please::

::Avenue Duluth-and-Chinatown in Montreal::

"I think the way people dress today is a form of artistic expression.

Saint Laurent, for example, has made great art.

Art lies in the way the whole outfit is put together.

Take Jean Paul Gaultier. What he does is really art."

{andy warhol}

8/25-31 :: montreal and {a little} more

2011-08-31T13:26:00.002-04:00

My August break is coming to an end though the usual working August break that I’m used to getting never even really started. Here are a few of the Evo phone pics from Montreal and more to round up the last of The August Break. Hope you all enjoyed it! This month has been fun, taking pictures everyday! Maybe I’ll print them into a book now, just to flip through and remember each day. That is if I get through September… as the working season begins again. Can’t wait to share more about Montreal too and more stories to share!

Hope you all enjoy these last few days of the Summer sun and fun! Any plans for the upcoming long weekend?
I’m ready to just relax and enjoy the last few quiet days of the city.

"It is a place not to be forgotten

or mixed up in the mind with other places,

or altered for a moment in the crowd of scenes

a traveler can recall."

{charles dickens}

On Montreal

8/24 - last night, walking down a {village} street

2011-08-24T10:26:00.000-04:00

8/23 - red 58 {after the shake}

2011-08-24T10:25:00.002-04:00

As the title leads and I’m sure you’ve heard it a million and one times over by now… NYC felt the earthquake from VA yesterday afternoon. I’m not poking fun or making it any less or more serious than it was or wasn’t but that was such a surreal experience for me. Many people thought it was nothing but for someone who knows a hurricane well but doesn’t know an earthquake at all, it was pretty wild to feel the stable and sturdy structure that is called my work building, sway. It was almost as though I was suddenly hungover or still drunk. We evacuated the building without knowing yet what had happened and fortunately my work allowed us to go home. I know a lot of people were asked to go back to work because here, in NYC, nothing really happened and I get that. But I sure was a happy camper when I was not asked to be in the building again {at least for the rest of yesterday}. When you truly aren’t sure what Mother Nature has in store, do you really want to be in a building that is 40+ stories high? Yea, me either. So the pic is of where I ended up after the quake… having happy hour before happy hour even started!

In other news, I’m taking a real August Break! Heading to Montreal on Thursday so I won’t be posting for a few days but I’ll be back with pics and stories next week ~ can’t wait to share! It's always exciting to visit a new place for the first time, isn't it?
Hope you all are enjoying your August as much as I am!

8/22 - peanut butter and honey {honey}

2011-08-22T12:07:00.000-04:00

8/21 - sunday drinkin {in harlem}

2011-08-22T09:51:00.000-04:00

8/20 - I got a dollar {3 times} hey hey hey hey

2011-08-22T09:49:00.001-04:00

8/19 - a {favorite} piece of new york city

2011-08-19T13:58:00.000-04:00

8/18 - sweet treats and a {weekend} sneak peek

2011-08-18T14:12:00.001-04:00

8/17 - {sunny} view from a bridge

2011-08-17T11:26:00.002-04:00

8/16 - shiny shoe {in}

2011-08-16T12:17:00.001-04:00

8/15 - pretty {me up in feathers} please

2011-08-15T13:01:00.000-04:00

8/14 - cloudy skies with {a chance of} rain

2011-08-15T12:59:00.000-04:00

8/13 - saturday {snacking}

2011-08-15T12:57:00.000-04:00

8/12 - blue {smurf} kinda day

2011-08-12T13:54:00.000-04:00

8/11 - {falling for} bloomingdales on lex for fall

2011-08-11T09:18:00.003-04:00

8/10 - good girl-bad boy {dancin'} on my fridge

2011-08-10T11:51:00.002-04:00

8/9 - sequins on {the street} at 8 am

2011-08-09T11:20:00.002-04:00

8/8 - {polaroids} from the park

2011-08-08T13:03:00.000-04:00

8/7 - just a little {slide} on the side

2011-08-08T13:01:00.001-04:00

8/6 - little {skull} necklace

2011-08-08T12:52:00.000-04:00

8/5 - the morning tone {from my phone}

2011-08-05T10:23:00.001-04:00

8/4 - the new {bird's-eye} view

2011-08-04T11:00:00.001-04:00

8/3 - my summertime shoes {got no blues}

2011-08-03T11:06:00.001-04:00

8/2 - reading last night {savage beauty}

2011-08-02T09:43:00.001-04:00

8/1 - my desk {from LA & Anthro}

2011-08-01T17:17:00.003-04:00

Taking the August Break (maybe a little challenge for me though) via Susannah Conway. After today, for the month of August, I will post a picture only, every day, no words other than the post title to explain and I’ll be taking the snapshot with my Evo ~~camera~~ phone – something new, something fun – just the way to end the summer homerun. Enjoy!

"Ah, summer,

what power you have to make us suffer and like it."

{russell baker}

it don't last forever {we'll make this last forever}

2011-07-29T13:21:00.001-04:00

Happy, oh so Happy Friday

“If something is good, you must torture it mercilessly

until it is either dead or great.”

{gabe saporta}

who {the f**k} is jeff hyde

2011-07-27T11:39:00.004-04:00

Eric Church

Bowery Ballroom, NYC

Celebrating the release of his new album, CHIEF – Church introduced each new song along with his band and collaborators – awesome show, if you ask me. Wish I could do it all over again tonight. Adore him and his band. Answer to post title: EC band member, guitar/banjo player and songwriter.

“. . . brimming with blow-ups, kiss-offs and a few salty tears between the sneers…

Church knows how to tell a story.”

{washington post}

{sign reads: bucket list ~ take a shot with Eric Church: done and done for that kid}

“If you listen to this,

you'll find out who I am.”

{eric church}

whatever happened to {friday} night

2011-07-26T15:03:00.004-04:00

Snapshots from the Night, NYC

Friend’s Birthday Night Out = Dinner at Butter – Drinks at Ainsworth – RHPS at midnight

And sad to say… I wouldn’t enthusiastically recommend any of these spots for a must do or must see… that’s rare for me but we still, of course, made it silly and fun!

“People are surprised at how down-to-earth I am.

I like to stay home on Friday nights and listen to

'The Art of Happiness' by the Dalai Lama.”

{carmen electra}

almost clutch

2011-07-21T15:40:00.001-04:00

Coney Island & Midtown Manhattan

I finally got around to developing some old film that's been sitting in a box for almost a year...

here's a little of what my Diana gave back to me.

So that's what summer in NYC feels like?... why, yes - yes, it does.

"If a girl looks swell when she meets you,

who gives a damn if she's late? Nobody."

{j. d. salinger}

table for two and only you

2011-07-19T12:44:00.000-04:00

East 60's, NYC

Finally getting back into some darkroom work - thought I'd share my first contact sheet {in awhile, that is} and one print I've done so far. Kinda feels like an old school New York or maybe it feels like I was off somewhere for the weekend. Either way, I'm a little in love with the simplicity of it.

"In the early days

I had a very black-and-white view of everything."

{cat stevens}

analogue wannabe {nyc}

2011-07-13T15:59:00.002-04:00

So I finally got a new ~~camera~~ phone... went for a walk on my lunch break...
and here's a little of what it can do... I'm sure you'll be seeing more. I didn't think I could be so in love with a phone though I might start referring to it as my new camera...

Lunch Break

Central Park & Grand Army Plaza, NYC

“The New York I knew no longer exists. ...

Looking back on the past,

I can see that these photographs are facts,

but not necessarily true. ...

The present always surpasses the past,

and the future will not care about today.”

{ai weiwei}

2008

swoon-worthy sunsets-and-fiery fireworks

2011-07-05T13:34:00.001-04:00

July 4th

Fireworks from 53rd Street Rooftop over the Hudson, NYC

Great night ended with peach vodka spiked icy pops… but I sure could so use some more sleep.

“You may be a redneck if...

your lifetime goal is to own a fireworks stand.”

{jeff foxworthy}

side note: The above may not be a lifetime goal and I don’t claim to be a redneck - but, growing up in South Carolina, I can imagine it… and the fun part would be just so I could answer "but why..." with "so I can light ‘em off any time I want” said in Jake Perry’s voice ala Sweet Home Alabama of course ;-)

Hope you all had a fabulous fourth!!

and all you need is what you got

2011-06-21T16:56:00.001-04:00

Where: Our Lady of Grace Church, Hoboken, New Jersey

Why: friends getting married

“I could never be a country person,

sitting around trees trying to write a song.

I would rather be in the middle of society,

whether it's growing or crumbling.”

{ric ocasek}

run for the the money {mile}

2011-06-16T11:26:00.002-04:00

This week, Tuesday was Museum Mile. It rained. I only took two pictures. We walked in The Jewish Museum. It’s my new favorite Manhattan building. We saw the art collection of the Cone Sisters. Matisse. Gauguin. Picasso. Cezanne. And so many more. It was a great day.

the above chalk drawings by the one and only De La Vega {love}

snapshots by me

“You don't have to answer… if the question isn't clear…

I may not know where I am… but I’m glad it’s here.”

{ben harper}

she's my little whiskey {and tequila} girl

2011-05-24T13:40:00.004-04:00

Happy ~~monday~~ Tuesday... this is a good week to come. It’s still raining a bit or maybe everything just still feels damp but the air feels warm and though I haven’t been that great with taking snapshots lately, I had a fun-filled weekend of firsts {but still took no pictures}… so I’m going to flashback to Coachella and share a few of those instaxs and photo booth shots that I love to take! Enjoy and I hope everyone else had a wonderful weekend!!

Palm Springs, Coachella, Santa Monica, California, April 2011

“Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing,

there is a field. I will meet you there.”

{rumi}

the {pink} sheep of the family

2011-05-13T15:34:00.000-04:00

One thing I love about working in the office late, is that when I leave and it's dark outside... I, at least, get to walk by the Bergdorf windows and admire all the goodies in such amazing light and sparkle; and right now they, of course, have A.McQ in conjunction with his exhibit at the MET. Oh so divine, I must say. Here's my vision of the window viewing. Happy Friday!

"I think there is beauty in everything.

What 'normal' people would perceive as ugly,

I can usually see something of beauty in it."

{alexander mcqueen}

-ShowStudio interview, 2009-

{never} always

2011-05-09T17:02:00.000-04:00

"Never let go of that fiery sadness called desire."

{patti smith }

bye bye blondie, hola ombre

2011-05-05T14:46:00.000-04:00

Parlor. Awesome. That's all I need to say. If you are in NYC and you need a new do – this is the spot for you. I can send you as a referral if you are in want of a new summer style, email me and I’ll let them know I’m sending you over {plus you get a little discount, that never hurts}.

all the same angle shots but you get the point... more hair pics to come soon!

Now I’m thinking about where I’m going tonight to have me a margarita or three ~ happy cinco de mayo! Any drinking plans for tonight?

“Do what you will, this world's

a fiction and is made up of contradiction. “

{william blake}

fair changes, hair changes

2011-05-04T12:29:00.000-04:00

I have decided in the matter of my hair that half a year of blonde as been half too long of having to upkeep the roots so tonight I am going to {finally, as some people add} get my hair done by some of those professionals we like to call stylists. I cannot wait. A friend recommended Parlor in the East Village because she’s been a client/fan for years and I got my first glimpse into their world last night when I attended their Earth Month Client Appreciation Day – we got updos, mini massages and our makeup done – and best of all they had homemade eats and wine – their little get up was definitely divine. And after, of course we decided to grab a bite at Carreras because I didn’t want my princess hair and smoky eyes to go to straight home to bed!

{although, I kinda-sorta forgot to take a picture of me for all to see… but here’s some of the other stuff}

"Women wish to be loved without a why or a wherefore;

not because they are pretty, or good, or well-bred, or graceful, or intelligent,

but because they are themselves."

{henri frederic amiel}

for a first, worth it for free

2011-04-29T19:40:00.001-04:00

Last night I got to go to my first Yankees Game!! I love going to almost any kinda' sporting event... there's beer and cheesy songs that I haven't heard in forever, those two things make me happy {especially after this week I've had}. And also what better way to experience the game than in suite style with tickets for Admins Day!

{note: it was a gift to a co-worker and I got to tag along -- thanks Jenn}

{Swisher had his first home run of the season, I'm his newest fan}
GREAT GAME

~Happy {very happy} Friday ~~ hope you have an amazing weekend~

“If you didn't love that game,

you don't love baseball.”

{nick swisher}

beautiful babies and girlie girls

2011-04-27T15:50:00.000-04:00

About two months ago I went out to Queens to visit some friends and take some photos of their little ones; with three cameras in tow, here’s a few of what came out...

{though I still have to get the film ones developed, I’m so lazy with that!}

"Keep smiling, because life is a beautiful thing

and there's so much to smile about."

{marilyn monroe}

a beautiful mess

2011-04-26T11:10:00.002-04:00

Maybe it’s the weather today in NYC {finally feeling the warm air} but I am inspired to blog again… and lately, I’ve found myself wondering why I even stopped blogging in the first place. My friends have asked, “Why did you stop? When are you going to start again? We miss reading the quotes and seeing your pictures. That was my escape for a few hours when I had time to catch up and take some me-time during the day”…. and really, I’m not sure why I wanted the break. It was my me-time out of the day also. I thought I needed new inspiration. Or maybe just a break. But a break from what?... It’s only my day to day thoughts and ideas.

A few weeks before the New Year a friend asked me, “Why do you blog? Do you really get anything out of it?” My first thought was not really but it’s fun, it’s an outlet and it’s for me. And then he said, “but who reads it, why do they want to read about your life?” And then I thought about it – I don’t know; why do I do this? Is it supposed to have a purpose? No doubt, I feel I have made a few blogging connections and I hope/think that they enjoy reading my thoughts as much as I enjoy reading theirs and then there are people in my daily life that read it and I hope they find some inspiration along the way too. So then I thought, is it supposed to be more? Do I start a new blog with an intention in mind? A new name? We all come across people that have turned their blogging into a lifestyle and I think that’s amazing and it has given them many opportunities that possibly would otherwise, not exist. But for me, really I have come to find that I blog for me. That is simply the only true answer. I post pictures, I write, I share the places I’ve been and that curbs my wanderlust. It’s my release, time to myself during the day to put my thoughts together. And I have missed it… so with all that… I’m here and ready to be inspired by all of you all over again.

All together, we’re a beautiful mess {of inspiration}.

I’ve been thinking of how to get back into but what better way than to just dive right in! I am happy today!

::highlights of 2011 so far, that I have missed sharing::

2 trips to South Carolina {home for me} ~ a trip to Cali and going to Coachella ~ going blonder and blonder ~ wearing feathers in my hair ~ last minute overnight trip to Jamaica, literally ~ being so beyond stressed at work ~ concerts: Chromeo, Eric Church {again}, Joshua Radin and Rebelution ~ lots of snow ~ puppy-sitting for a little French bull-dog, who would just melt your heart~ my first trip to the NY Botanical Gardens

Can't wait to share more...

Anything grand stand out in 2011 so far for you? I hope so.

“to their glittering future”

{the romantics}

always take a chance

2010-12-31T13:45:00.003-05:00

Dear 2010,

you have had a few ups and many downs and for that I am happy to say goodbye. I travelled alot and loved a little, I definitely danced and sipped champagne along the way, I took more photographs, wrote more letters and got back to being me. I'm taking a break for awhile to find what I want this next year to be; so to 2011, I can't wait for all that you have in store and all that I can make of you. Cheers to another year and a new year with lots of laughter, bubbles and love at first sight.

Lots of love and happy thoughts, Islandia
p.s. this song just kinda makes me happy, enjoy
oh and I so want the shoes in the video, don't you agree?

wish you were here

2010-12-23T15:48:00.000-05:00

Wishing everyone warm thoughts from NYC. Have a wonderful Holiday weekend!

"Dress shabbily and they remember the dress;

dress impeccably and they remember the woman."

{coco chanel}

winter sparkle

2010-12-17T10:14:00.000-05:00

Thinking: I really want to be down with some Christmas cheer but this year, it just doesn’t seem like it’s happening… A few recent random inspirations trying to take me there.

All images found on we heart it. Anything special that fills you with a little Holiday spirit?

"Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face."

{victor hugo}

win, win

2010-12-15T14:19:00.003-05:00

Tonight: my work Holiday party. Friday night: friend’s 2nd Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Party.
Saturday: my Mom gets here {and I’m so excited}. Sunday: the Girls Holiday Dinner.

And all I want to do is catch up on my snapshot taking and movie watching...

Does it feel like a whirlwind for everyone else right now too? All I know is, it sure does for me.

{snapshot by me from macy's thanksgiving day parade, nyc 2010}

Excited to announce my Giveaway Winner: Mara from M Loves M.

Email me your mailing address when you can!

*used random.org to pull numbers to match the names of the comments*

eg tala ekki islensku

2010-12-13T16:51:00.001-05:00

Translation: I don’t speak Icelandic.

Weekend getaway: Reyjavik, Iceland.

So awesome.

I simply fell in love with this little country {about the size of Kentucky}. Iceland had never been on the top of my list of places to visit but I’m so glad I did and now I say, it should be on the top of everyone's list. Cannot wait to go again. {sorry for so many random snapshots, I just couldn't decide what to post}.

"more is more, less is a bore"

{icelandic magazine article}