Where I Live

Okay, I promised some people this post ages ago! Pictures of where I live...my little, tiny studio on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. I thought I'd drag it out and give it to you "room" by "room". The suspense might make it more fun. I've actually had fun taking pictures of my apartment - it makes me look at things and remember how special some of the things I own are, so I'll have fun sharing some of the little things, too. And, this will buy me some time to possibly get my kitchen fixed up, which has been an on going battle ever since I moved in (it's a long story).  We'll begin with my entryway, what else!  So, let's get started!

Welcome!  Please, step inside!

This is as you walk in my front door.

If you were to walk straight back, you

would enter the kitchen.  You'll notice the

opening on the left - that's the main living

area, my "bedroom" and "living room".

As you enter the apartment, just to the

right is the bathroom.

The mirror on the wall at the back of my

entry way came from Reggie Land & Co.  He's

a favorite of many women in my family.  This

is the only piece I personally own - Beth gave it to me

for my birthday a couple of years ago.  I love it!

I've found hooks to be a necessity in these

small NYC apartments.  I'm not a huge fan

of hanging stuff out for all to see, but with

the super limited amounts of closet space,

you just have to make due!  On one

side of my entryway, I have hooks for keys

and hooks for my bags and purse.  The key

hook I got in Cape Cod a couple of summers

ago.  I bought the larger hook thing at

Target in the spring and filled it with

some pictures I took in Greece last summer.

On the other side of my entryway is a painting
mom bought me for Christmas one year at a
cute store in La Jolla when my parents were
living out there.  I believe we picked this out

on my very last trip to visit just before they
moved back to Texas.  I have another picture
we bought at the same store that you'll see
when we get to my kitchen.  The wreath I got
at Wisteria, my favorite decorating warehouse
in Dallas.  I had planned for it to go on the
outside of my door, but haven't figured out a
way to get it to hang there...the door is
basically metal.  So, I need a special wreath
hook, but am not sure I'd like that either.  For
now, I kind of like it on the inside anyway.

Another hook!!  This one I bought at an

antique store in Amarillo while visiting my

cousins & aunt/uncle.  I use it to hang my

coats and scarves in the winter.  Also pictured

is my intercom thing.  I love that I can talk to

people who buzz my apartment or let

them in without having to open my door.

This is the rug in my entryway.

I brought it back from Greece!

Thanks for stopping by!  Next time, I'll take you into my bedroom!

September in NYC

I have not done a very job of updating my blog this month!  And I realize that my New York blog has been less New York and more trips away lately.  I promise, no more trips for a while...except home for the holidays!  I've been very busy this month and have had lots of fun.  Here is what I've been up to this September:

-- Mindy is back! She was gone all summer working at the camp of the family she nanny'd for last year. She's back here permanently. Yeah! We've gone for a couple of LONGGG walks through the park and around the Upper West Side. She's living in my 'hood now...less than a mile north of me. We hope to make walking a regular thing.

-- I met Shera for dinner at a Tapas restaurant, Boqueria, one night. So yummy! I saw her a few times when she moved here in July, but then we both got busy with travels, so it was good to see her again and catch-up.

-- Sarah's going away party - sad! I wish she was sticking around, but at least she's moving to Dallas where I'll be sure to see her sometime! An old co-worker of hers hosted the party and she basically lives across the street from me! Easy commute for me, for sure! Their apartment was so nice - a remodeled 2-bedroom with nice kitchen and great living area, and best of all, a huge garden/patio out back. She and her husband are expecting their first baby and have just turned the 2nd bedroom into a nursery. It was all so nice! We had wine & cheese and sat around mingling all night. It was perfect weather, so we got to enjoy their backyard.

Jen, Malika, Erin, Sarah, Alicia, Deneen, and I

-- Kids Club! This was probably my favorite Saturday at Kids Club yet. The weather was gorgeous, we had a great turn-out of kids, a really fun group of volunteers helping, fun games, and great lesson. It was loads of fun and neat to watch these kids grow and learn.

-- Football! I love college football season. I got together with the OU alum, including my OU friends, Sarah (the pres) and Shera, and our non-OU friends Jen & Mallika at the OU watch-party. I didn't really care about that game, especially since OU destroyed the other team...it wasn't really a game at all. I did enjoy the atmosphere, hanging out with my friends, and watching for the scores of other games.

-- Dinner w/ Lucy. She's been wanting to try a restaurant, Apiary, in her neighborhood (Union Square meets East Village). I didn't know anything about the restaurant, but Lucy's got good taste. It was wonderful! I had a really good Greek salad and some of the best Risotto I've ever had. I told Lucy that it was the kind of meal I'd have trouble not ordering next time I go back - it was too good! Afterwards, she talked me into going to the Momofuko Bakery to split a dessert. I've been wanting to try one of the Momofuko restaurants and didn't know they had a bakery. It was PACKED and so fun. You just wait in line and then they have a bunch of long, tall tables where you can stand and eat your dessert. We split a piece of chocolate chip cake that was really good, but they had a bunch of other stuff I want to try sometime!

-- Picnic in the park! I met Lucy one Sunday afternoon to picnic and enjoy the awesome sunshie we've been having. The weather had gotten very fall-like, but there was one full week that was much warmer with blue skies. I was so glad to get a little more warmth since we hardly had a summer this year. It's been great and has revived my soul, making me feel a little more prepared to head into the 09/10 winter season.

- Dinner @ Joy's. Joy has been living in a studio in Queens for a while now, but just moved into a 1 bedroom in her building. It's huge! I was slightly jealous. It's quite cheap as well...recession is definitely allowing many of my friends to move to bigger and better places. I kind of wished I had looked into moving this summer, but I really didn't have time for that and I really like my apartment now. It's just still too expensive, even with the price reduction I got! Anyway, Joy made awesome burrito fixin's and Rice Pudding for dessert. It was all delicious and it was great to catch up with her since I don't see her much anymore.

- Girlie brunch at my apartment with the Community Group girls. I used to love to entertain in my apartment in Dallas, but I haven't done it at all since moving to NYC. Luckily, I have been able to put my gift of hospitality to good use with all the out-of-town visitors I've had. But, I need to start having my friends here over more often. People just don't do that much here - probably due to the small spaces we all live in. I decided to go against the grain and do it anyway! It was great. I attempted to make homemade quiche for the first time...even made the crust from scratch! It was actually pretty easy and turned out yummy. I also made my favorite brunch item - Creme Brulee French toast - and my staple, fruit salad. Because it was Sarah's last weekend in the city and it was Kim's birthday, I also made party favor cookies. I made a them in the shapes of hands waving good-bye to Sarah and cupcakes for Kim's birthday, wrapped them in cellophane and handed them out as the girls left. It was a fun Saturday morning!

My first attempt at Quiche!

Creme Brulee French Toast...yum.

Pretty Fruit Salad

Cookies!

Robyn, Erin, Sarah, Erin, me, Kim, and Hillery

Sweet Kim brought me these cute flowers!

- Showtime/Metropolitan House penthouse in Tribecca. The TV station and magazine teamed up to decorate an enormous penthouse in Tribecca. Joy found out it was free to tour for a couple of days (normally $20)! I met her down there to take the tour and it was awesome. Each room was decorated in the theme of one of the Showtime shows. Since I don't have Showtime, I didn't really get all that, but it was still really cool to tour the apartment. It felt like a house and I was totally lost in there. I especially loved all the outdoor patios and beautiful views of the rivers and downtown. Very cool.

I could definitely get comfortable here!

- Fall For Dance Festival at New York City Center. Lucy got cheapo tickets to this dance festival and I tagged along. We got to see four different dance companies perform. Two of them were just plain weird and two were pretty good. I enjoyed it...especially considering it was only $10! My favorite one was a group from Brazil (shout-out to Jessica!). Theirs was a little more circus-like with weird contortions of their bodies, but their music was really cool and dancing was good as well. Afterwards, we went next door where they were having drinks and different restaurants were there with their food. The dancers all came over after the show and were mingling. We were starving and got amazing Lamb Sandwiches for just $6!

- I taught S.S. for the first time with my new group of kiddos for this year. Let's just say it is going to be a challenge. I had fun, but we've got a couple of kids who are pretty out-of-control. It will be interesting and I'm really going to have to show up with my game-face on each week to keep up with them. We have three regular kids in my class, but we've had visitors the past two weeks and are praying that God continues to grow the Elementary-aged ministry in our church. (On a side-note, I am personally praying that He grows the 30+ single men's ministry....seriously. Where are the men who are supposed to be leaders in our churches and families? I am tired of seeing my friends settle for less and refuse to do so myself).

So, that pretty much sums up my September in NYC. Check back soon!

DC...Take Five

Okay, so some people have gotten the idea that I had a BAD trip to Seattle! It wasn't bad, I just didn't fall in love with Seattle. I had a great time and enjoyed almost everything we did. Ivar's was the only thing I hated and after doing some further research, it sounds like they have declined over the past year or so...not sure if there was a change in management or what. Anyway, I liked Seattle, had a great time with my friends, and really loved some of our excursions like the Ice Cream Cruise, Bainbridge Island, Pike's Place Market tour, and Ballard neighborhood, to name a few! Also, as I said, even if I discover I don't LOVE a city, I still have a blast exploring a new place, no matter where it is. Case in point, I headed back to DC last weekend. Now, we all know how much I dislike DC. However, when I have friends or family who are going to be there, I enjoy going to see them and I even enjoy finding new things to do there.

My dad had a weekend long meeting there and my mom tagged along so I went down to play with her. I got in late Friday night on the bus and hit the hay. Saturday morning, my mom and I got up and met an old friend of mine, Christy, for brunch. I knew Christy at church in Dallas, but didn't know her too well. She just moved to DC a few months ago and we've been chatting online a bit about living on the East coast. So, when I found out I'd be in DC, I invited her to meet up with us. We had so much fun. Christy is really enjoyable to talk to and very funny. My mom loved her! We went back to a place I'd been to with my sister last fall that is a cute cafe at the back of a bookstore in Dupont Circle. It was yummy, but mostly just a fun time.

After brunch, my mom and I headed towards the mall area. We explored the Willard Hotel and walked around the White House. We were very thirsty and happened upon the very cool Washington Hotel and noticed it had a restaurant on the roof. We went up and had cokes and split a chocolate cake...not great, but the views from up there were totally worth it!

Washington Monument

Jefferson Memorial and way up in the hills is

Arlington Cemetery

After our refreshment break, we went to the Smithsonian American History museum. I hadn't been to this one since I was 9-years-old because it was under renovations for a very long time. I enjoyed it all, but we mainly went to see Julia Child's kitchen. Quite appropriate since we both just finished reading "Julie & Julia" (but both disliked the book).

Silly, but this Dumbo car from an old Disney ride

was my favorite thing.  So cute!

I remember seeing Dorothy's red slippers

when I visited DC in 4th grade.

Oscar!

Jerry Seinfeld's shirt

Abe Lincoln's hat

The lunch counter where black boys in North Carolina

had a sit-in to fight for their equal rights

Julia's Kitchen

If you blow this up, you may be able to see

that she outlined every one of her pots with pencil so

that she would know which pot went in each spot.

For dinner, we went to this old,
famous chili place. It was delish!

Sunday morning, we woke up and went to brunch. We had planned to go to the Willard Hotel, but ended up at Old Ebbitt Grill and loved it. Great food, fun atmosphere, lots of history. Afterwards, we went to see the front of the White House and walked in an art museum over there.

Then, it was time for me to head back to NYC. It was a quick trip, but great to see my mom. Poor dad was in meetings for 13 hours on Saturday and from 8-2:30 on Sunday, so I hardly got to see him. I do wish I had gotten a picture of him, though. He has lost a lot of weight and looks SO good! He says he's only lost 1/2 the weight he intends to, but I'm afraid if he loses that much more he'll begin to look like a frail, little man :). I'm proud of him and really think he's looking good!

Saturday/Sunday in Seattle

We started out Saturday by doing the Underground Seattle tour. This was a tour that I was told by so, so many people that we just had to do it. Everyone seems to rave about it. The four of us actually weren't super impressed by the tour, however, the story of the old underground city was interesting. I think what we most enjoyed was that it put us in an area known as Pioneer Square and we probably wouldn't have gone there otherwise. It was a very cute area with neat buildings, pretty flower baskets everywhere, and a cute bakery where we got to go for lunch after the tour.

Our tour started off in an old Saloon

Cute Building where our tour started

Walking up above, we passed over several

of these skylights for the underground below

Looking up through the same skylight from below

Underground Seattle

More cute buildings with their flowers baskets hanging out front

I just love ivy covered buildings!

Another ivy covered building where we ate lunch!

Grand Central Bakery

The girls waiting for lunch

From lunch, we headed on to the Washington State Ferry terminal and caught a ferry to Bainbridge Island. We loved this excursion! The ferry ride was fun with great views of Seattle and also cute little beach houses as we past little islands. The trip only took about 30 minutes.

Pretty beach houses on the island

Overboard!

On the way back to Seattle, we saw a

bride & groom on the ferry! AND....

the sunset....AND....

a rainbow!

Downtown Seattle from the water...so pretty

I love this photo!  The city almost looks fake behind us.

Once to Bainbridge, we caught a taxi to The Bloedel Reserve. We loved this! It is an old mansion and huge property that were owned by a wealthy family. Their land is now a reserve with a 2-mile walking path through it. It was so neat! And great to be exploring in the beautiful outdoors.

We first walked through a meadow and past the barns

Andi hanging in the barn

Loved all the trails!

SO green!

Swan Lake

Pretty from the back...

pretty from the front!

Feng Shui?

I wish I could have hung out under that Weeping Willow

for a while.  Reminds me of my childhood on Kohler Circle.

Seriously, SO green!

Ducks or Geese?  We should probably know that by our age.

Hydrangeas!

The Bloedel's House

Peek-a-Boo!

Looking out from in

We were so pumped to see the waterfall!

And slightly disappointed this was all there was to it.

There were some CrAzY trees out there

Look at the roots on the thing!

Peek-a-Boo!

Cute Andi, posing.

The Zen Garden

Can you say GREEN?

I could have sat on the side of the reflecting pool for hours....

if only they weren't running us out of there!

Andi & Jenninfer reflecting

Bainbridge Island Taxi!

After the nature reserve, we shopped a bit in the town of Bainbridge...super cute! I love that kind of shopping. I bought a small, decorative pillow I really liked for 50% off and only $30. I never see cute pillows for that cheap! We also got ice cream at a place that is highly regarded in Bainbridge. It was a cute ice cream shop and quite yummy!

One or more of these hands may belong to a lady who

may or may not have once participated in a scandalous

group of women known as the Blue Rose Bandits.

Cute Ice Cream Shop!

Back in Seattle, we scoped out restaurants for dinner. We started at a Tapas restaurant, but ended up just having drinks there (I'll just say we had some picky eaters with us...I can't believe I've actually gotten to Saturday night without mentioning that)! We ended up at an Italian restaurant I had read about that was pretty good. Again, we were exhausted and ready to head home after dinner!

Our walk to dinner included passing

through the market at night

Andi and I got up early Sunday morning to hike the hills of Queen Anne. The views up there are great and it's such a cute neighborhood.

This is to give you an idea of just how

steep the hills were.

Andi & the City

Once we got back to the hotel, it started raining, which kind of put a damper on the start of the day. I prayed really hard for it to stop so we could enjoy our last day in Seattle and it did!! So, we went on the Ice Cream Cruise on Lake Union. This was so cute and really fun!

Our Boat Captain

Andi and Worley braved the cold and got ice

cream.  I opted for hot chocolate!

We loved seeing all the cute boat houses on Lake Union!!!

The Sleepless in Seattle boat house!

More Boat Houses

An antique Washington State Ferry.  Looks much

like the one we took to Bainbridge, just older!

Two other antique boats that were used for lobster

(or was it crab or salmon or something?) catching

A sea plane flying past the Space Needle

I thought the church up in the hills was neat looking

From Lake Union, we headed out to Ballard, which was another neighborhood I wanted to explore. It was great!! We found a place to get lunch and really enjoyed the shopping here!! I didn't buy much at all, but there were so many stores I enjoyed browsing around in. We also found another Cupcake Royale...yum!

I made my friends walk a few blocks out of the way so I could see Mars Hill Church.  One of the lead pastors there is Marc Driscoll...you may have heard of him before.  He also started a church planting organization called Act 29...my church is an Acts 29 plant!  We didn't attend a service at Mars Hill because I knew Driscoll wasn't there that day.  It was still fun to see...we went inside and used the bathrooms and looked around.

Not true!  But, funny!  This was from the place where we ate lunch in Ballard.

One store in Ballard had some little Kewpie dolls and they all had funny outfits.  The owner got so excited when I told her it was my high school mascot and went to the back and brought out a HUGE bag full of them.  I had fun sorting through them all.

Crazy art in Ballard

Cupcake Royale!  Andi & Jennifer tried some pure sugar cane soda.

After experiencing Ballard, we went to see the Locks and Salmon thingy. Basically, it's a place where they move boats from the ocean to the Lake using an elevator type system (the ocean is below the lake due to a dam). Also, they try to help the salmon get back into the ocean, so there is a lot of salmon to see there! They were huge!

A boat going through the locks

If you look close, or click and blow up this pic, you'll see

a salmon jumping in the air!  There were TONS of them.

Lots of salmon making their way through the locks

Salmon Tail sculptures

Fall foilage, already??

From the Locks, we ventured through Magnolia...a neighborhood we had heard was really nice. It was definitely nice with larger homes with ocean views, but we didn't find anything else too spectacular there. So, we headed back towards Queen Anne, got some pizza slices and FINALLY enjoyed some coffee shop time at a place called Cafe Lladro...I mean we were in Seattle! I don't drink coffee, so I got an Almond Steamer...maybe the best one I've ever had! We played a couple of games of cards and then headed back to the hotel for one more night before our early flights.

Footpath to Magnolia

yum.

It was a great trip! I'm not dying to go back to Seattle, but do have some interest in some of the outdoor activities we didn't get to do like kayaking and hiking. Maybe someday I'll go back!