And Another...

Celebrity sighting today. I saw Kristin Chenoweth while I was out walking at lunch. Some of you may not know who she is, but she’s pretty much the Queen of Broadway (was the original Glinda the Good Witch in Wicked). She’s also started popping up on TV and in movies like Four Christmases. The new rumor is that Wicked is being made into a movie and she will again play Glinda. I really like her!

Latest Celeb Sighting

I saw Elizabeth Berkley walking down the street on Saturday.

Remember her from Saved by the Bell? Or perhaps Showgirls? I can't believe my roommates and I actually went to see that movie in college. I remember so well going to our favorite theatre...the one in Lacey Lakeview, just north of Waco. We loved their kids snack packs!

The Le Pliage bag by Longchamp

So, I’ve been wondering something and am hoping some of you blog readers can help me out. Has the Le Pliage bag by Longchamp taken your city by storm, too?These bags are EVERYwhere in Manhattan. I haven’t seen one bag become so popular like this in the 3 years I’ve lived here. I rarely walk down the street or ride a subway without seeing at least one girl nearby with one. It’s crazy! They come in all different colors and sizes, even different shapes. I just saw the backpack on someone for the first time on Friday.

I just don’t get why they are SO popular. Yes, they’re functional and kind of cute, but there’s really nothing special about them.

For a Longchamp purse, they’re very, very cheap, starting around $100 for the tiniest bag (which I’ve seen and it’s very, very small) and going up in price from there, according to size.

Is it just me or is that kind of expensive for a canvas tote? Yes, I know, it’s Longchamp, but still. I just don’t get it.

I will say, I do kind of want one. Seeing them everywhere, they've started to grow on me. I especially like the fact that they seem durable and come in colors that can withstand the grime and weather we encounter on a daily basis commuting here in NYC. But, I just won't pay that for a canvas bag. Ebay maybe?

Kristin's Wedding Day!

One of my most favorite people is getting married today! I am so excited for her and although I haven’t met the special guy, I know he must be super wonderful to be with a gal like Kristin! Oh, how I wish I could be there to celebrate!

Kristin & I worked together for a very, very short time at The Journey and then she moved back home to Ohio a year later. I always felt that our time together was cut too short – I still count her as one my favorites in NYC.
Kristin is one of the most Godly women I know and would probably give up just about anything to do/go where He calls. In fact, she and her new husband decided to for-go wedding presents and instead ask for donations to their favorite charities. So, here’s what I got Kristin & Gary for their big day:

Two Chickens

Backpack & School Supplies

One of Kristin’s favorite organizations is World Vision – many of you have probably heard of it. They provide aid to disadvantaged children all over the world. It’s a fantastic organization with a great reputation – so, if you’re looking for somewhere to give, this is a good place to check out! Due to Kristin & Gary’s selfless generosity, 2 families will get chickens which will provide them “with a lasting source of nutrition and income” through the eggs which can be eaten or sold for money. Another child will get a backpack and school supplies to provide him/her "not only with basic learning tools, but also with the added confidence he or she needs to be successful in school."

Congratulations, Kristin!! You are in my thoughts and prayers all day today! Have a great trip to Cali…I want to hear all about the wedding & trip when you return. Oh, and check your mail for a little something when you get back, too!

More Adventures with mom

So, mom was here in NYC from Thursday to Wednesday, minus the 2 days we spent in Connecticut. I worked while she was here so she had to go-it-alone during the days, but we had fun at night! Here are some things we did:

-- went to the Guggenheim. We had been before, but she wanted to go again. They are under a major change in exhibits, so it wasn't the best time to go. We were able to get through what little there was to see very quickly.
-- Explored the UES on foot for hours! We saw the reservoir, lots of celebrity homes, the 92nd Y (which is something I need to stay on top of...they have lots of cool speakers and events), and ate at the cutest restaurant - Square Meal. We just happened upon this restaurant, it was on a very, very quiet street with gorgeous homes (including Blythe Danner's). It was in the basement of a brownstone and was so clean and cute. It was full of older people who all probably lived right nearby...I felt like I had left Manhattan for dinner! The food was excellent!
--Dinner at Lombardi's Pizza. One of the best pizza restaurants in NYC. This one is in Little Italy. It's good, but I think I've decided that I'm partial to Grimaldi's in Brooklyn. Afterwards, we shared a dessert across the street at Rice to Riches. This place serves Rice Pudding in tons of different flavors with different toppings. We had the vanilla with graham crackers on top - so yummy!
-- WICKED! Mom finally got to see Wicked, the musical. She's been wanting to see it forever, but it is really hard to get tickets because it often sells out months in advance. We got lucky this time! I had already seen it in Dallas, but wanted to see it on Broadway. It was really good! Such a cute story!
-- Dinner at Carmine's - great family style Italian restaurant that we took mom to a few years ago when we came for her birthday before I moved up. Food is good, but you really need more than 2 people to go to that place - portions are enormous!!

It was so great to have my mom in town - can't wait for next time!

Answered Prayers

Do you remember back in February when I mentioned that my church was doing a series on Prayer throughout Lent? I also noted that the girls in my group sans boyfriends decided to commit to praying that we would each have at least 1 date during Lent. It may seem like a silly prayer, but I don’t think God thinks any of our wants are silly. I prayed hard during those weeks and prayed specifically that each of us would have 1 date that would either result in a renewed hope in His future plans for us or a relationship that would bring Glory to Him. You know what? He answered that silly prayer. Out of the 4 of us, there was really only 1 of us who I knew for sure would have a date during that time because she is one of those girls who ALWAYS has dates. The other three of us – not so much. So, to God be the glory that we all 4 had dates.

Lately, I’ve been really having a longing for a family. It’s something that’s always there to some degree, but lately it’s been stronger. I really feel blessed that 99% of the time I am content in my singleness. And I have been abundantly blessed by the number of amazing single friends I have who are my age and even older than me…both in Dallas and here. That certainly makes it easier. I truly believe that I have learned the “secret of being content” and I know it ain’t a husband or a baby (Philippians 4:12-13). But, I can’t deny that it is still something that I want.

Several years ago, I was in a Bible study and one of the girls told us that her mom had taught her to pray that God would take the desires of her heart away that were not in His will. So, for years, I’ve been praying that God would take away the desire to get married or have babies, if it wasn’t His plan. And, just now, I’ve realized that is the dumbest prayer ever!! Okay, that’s an exaggeration…it’s not a bad prayer. But, when I asked God for 1 date, He answered – oh, how I should be asking for much, much more!! I truly believe that He wants us to be honest and bold in our prayers and although He knows the depths of our hearts, He still loves for us communicate to Him the desires we have and I’ve been neglecting to do that.

There are many women in the Bible who struggled with infertility (Sarah, Elizabeth, Rachel, Rebekah and Hannah….I stole this list from kellyskornerblog.com). Did they ask God to take their desire for a baby away? No! They pleaded with God for a baby. And you know what, He answered their cries! So, I’m changing up my prayer plan. Lord, grant me a Godly husband and sweet babies!!

Kellyskorner has committed to praying for women who are struggling with fertility issues and ones who are single too. Check out her list here and start praying for these women! I’m having her add me to the list!

Connecticut

My mom and I discovered last fall that we just love Connecticut, so we rented a car last weekend and headed back up. We spent most of our time in Westport, but drove around to several different little towns shopping, driving through the beautiful neighborhoods & along the ocean, etc... It was a great time. It was my first time off the island of Manhattan in 3 months - that seems crazy to me! Manhattan has a lot of stuff packed in it, but the square mileage is actually pretty small, so it seems funny that the furthest I think I had gone in 3 months was to jury duty. Anyway, it was great to get away from the hustle & bustle! And the weather could not have been more perfect...sunny skies and almost 90 degrees - summer is here (or at least was here, it seems to have gone back in hiding this weekend).

Here are some things we did:

-- rented a small car, but they were out so we were upgraded, for free, to an SUV. I love me a Ford SUV, but thought it was hysterical that I drove this car all weekend- a Ford Flex

-- first stop = Greenwich. Super cute, ritzy town where we had lunch at a non-ritzy diner place. Wasn't quite what we expected, but the eavesdropping on the conversations of locals sitting around us made it worth it! We also went in our first Pierre Deux of the trip - one of our favorite store finds from mom's Cali days.

-- Checked into our hotel in Norwalk - nothing fancy, but they had warm cookies to greet us, which was a nice treat! There were some Geese hanging out front of the hotel.
-- Went to dinner at The Dressing Room - Paul Newman's restaurant. It was delicious! They are known for being organic and using only ingredients from the area. They recently changed their menu to "Small Bites", basically like tapas, so we got several things and shared. Most of it was really good. It's a cute restaurants and Joanne Woodward came in with one of her and Paul's daughters and some other people to eat.

-- Saw a play at the Westport Playhouse called "Around the World in 80 Days". I don't think either of us loved it, but it was okay - kind of a funny show. I overheard one man liken it to children's theatre for adults. It was opening night and afterwards they had a little reception that it seemed anyone could go to, so we went! Don't know if we were crashing or not. We just sat around a while people watching and stole a couple rice krispy treats before heading in for the night. -- Brunch at Chocopologie in Norwalk. I had read about this place as having a cute cafe for brunch, but also being very well known for their truffles - as noted by both Madonna and Oprah. It was in a sketchy area, but turned out so cute!! We just loved this place. The food was good and atmosphere was perfect. We got some truffles to go and they came in the cutest box, so I got some for a co-worker who had done a favor for me the week before.

We sat in the cute cafe part of the restaurant, but this little back hallway was lined with stools where you could eat and watch through windows overlooking the chocolate making area. It was so cute!

-- Went to our second Pierre Deux of the trip in Westport...among other stores

-- Drove all around the neighborhoods in the Westport area

Some of the homes face a street that runs alongside the ocean. Between the street and the ocean, the homes each have their own fenced in yard with cute lawn chairs...so nice!

The flowers were really in bloom. I just loved this tree!

-- came across Southport, which we loved. It is TINY...only a few shops, but we went in an antique shop where we met the cutest lady and I bought some awesome shutters to hang in my car (the Ford Flex came in handy here...wouldn't have been able to get them home in the smaller car).

-- drove through New Canaan, which I really loved last time, but seemed a little lacking this time-maybe because a lot of stores were closed on Sunday. The town itself is very cute, even the train station right on Main Street is adorable - looks right out of a movie!

-- when we realized we were very close to Bedford, NY, we decided to drive over there because mom knew that Martha Stewart has a house/farm there. We weren't prepared for this, so I started to google stuff on my phone. My phone isn't really meant for internet searching, so I didn't come up with much, but we did find out that a TON of celebs have homes in this town. We'll go back another time, better prepared. We did see Richard Gere's restaurant and Inn there, but the restaurant was closed because it was between lunch/dinner hours. Would be an awesome place to stay and/or eat some time.

-- on the way back into the city, we had planned ahead to make a stop at a Target. I wanted to walk up and down every aisle. It's not often I can get to a Target and never with a car - especially an SUV. We spent 2 hours there! I was afraid it was driving my mom crazy and she was getting bored, but she was very understanding. She said she used to do the same thing when we lived in CoMo (before it got a mall and Target and Sams) and would take trips to Dallas...she would stock up at Sams Club! I bought tons of stuff at Target....toiletries, clothes, a tall mirror, food, etc.... Two hours never went by more quickly.

-- our last stop was dinner at a Panera in the Bronx - yummo!

Such a great weekend with my mom!