Update on the insanity

Aside from my relationship status, a lot has changed in the last 30 days! So a quick run down on the insanity seems to be in order.

First of all, I am now a master of journalism! And I will only be addressed as such. Kidding, kidding. But I did finish my graduate program in mid-December and can (finally) check that dream off of my bucket list (yes, I have a bucket list and yes, getting a master's degree in journalism is on there). During the ceremony, I walked through the doors and immediately spotted my parents with Jared. It all felt so much more significant than a piece of paper and a new line on the resume. When I was living at my parent's house a few years ago, I would wake up early, say good morning to my dad as he read the news in his office and head to the basement, where my mom had set up a study area to cram for the GRE. Even when I was accepted and had moved to New York, she would listen to me vent and even sometimes cry from graduate school exhaustion. And Jared, oh Jared. At one point last winter the poor guy was giving me pep talks on an hourly basis. We both still talk about a night in March when he called me from the Wall Street subway stop to find I was having a breakdown, and the sweet man gave me some serious tough love. That guy won't let me get away with doubting myself. Graduate school was the hardest thing I have ever done. But I did it! With a lot of help, I did it.



And I have a job! Four days after walking across the stage to get my degree, I started working as an associate editor for TODAY.com. The job is better than anything I hoped for moving to New York, so I'm still pinching myself. Follow me on Twitter to see what I'm working on there.

And yes, I sing this song to myself daily as I walk to 30 Rock.

Cheese Wedding Cake

Jared and I have barely dipped our toes into planning our wedding...But I spotted this stroke of genius earlier today before work. A cheese wedding cake!



Would you do something like this? While I would go for this any day,  Jared and I are thinking of ordering our guests our favorite red velvet cheesecakes from here. During our first year in NYC, we would use any excuse to stop by and pick one up to share.

Links For Your Weekend

This is me this morning, laying in the back of a BMW SUV with a sofa behind me, cushions and art work on top of me and my feet wedged between the door and the seat. All before 10 a.m. folks. Gotta love buying things off of Craigslist!

A few links to kick off your weekend. Take a read, then go soak up this crisp fall air!

Tips for running a marathon. (I'm almost done qualifying for the NYC 2014 marathon!)

This is happening.

Take 40 percent off at Loft today!

A Dairy Queen rockstar.

Is fall cleaning the new spring cleaning?

Best Subway Performance

Subway music can be...well...less than stellar. But these guys blew me and everyone else away when they busted out in Miley Cyrus' "Wrecking Ball." I wanted to miss my train and stick around to hear more! Keep an eye out for them on the platform at Bedford Avenue.

Smorgasburg

Jared and I made our way to Smorgasburg in Brooklyn over the weekend. It's essentially a giant food festival and I'll tell you what, New Yorkers know their food. After we stuffed ourselves with grilled cheese, barbecue sandwiches and ice cream, we sprawled out on the grass and stared at the Manhattan skyline. Go. Do. And grab a mint ice cream sandwich on your way out for good luck.





^^^ Jman took the responsibility of choosing food very seriously. We had to take one lap to soak in all of the choices. Then discuss. Then buy food and eat it quickly so we can make another round for more. His message to you: Skip the pigs in a blanket. ^^^

The Sphere At The World Trade Center

Another little NYC tip, fitting for this day...

Sitting in the outdoor plaza in between the twin towers was a bronze, 25-foot statue known as the Sphere. The German statue symbolized world peace through world trade and rotated as it sat in the center of a ring of fountains that became a popular lunch spot for trade center workers.

Then the world changed and buildings came crashing down on this symbolic piece. But like this country of ours, it prevailed. Quite damaged, but still standing.



Next time you're in Manhattan and visiting the World Trade Center site, walk a few blocks south to Battery Park. There, you'll find the Sphere sitting in sight of its old home.

Next to the statue, a plaque reads:

""For three decades, this sculpture stood in the plaza of the World Trade Center. Entitled "The Sphere", it was conceived by artist Fritz Koenig as a symbol of world peace. It was damaged during the tragic events of 11 September 2001, but endures as an icon of hope and the indestructible spirit of this country. The Sphere was placed here on 11 March 2002 as a temporary memorial to all who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center."

(Photos: Google Image)

The Rooftop at the Met

A little tip for those visiting New York City: The view from the rooftop at The Metropolitan Museum of Art is a must. Fifth floor. Make sure you have a camera on you and plenty of time to gaze a the tree tops and marvel at the surrounding buildings.

Another little tip: The $25 admission fee is a suggested donation. What you actually pay is up to y-o-u.

The Last While Via iPhone

Oh summertime in NYC, how I'll miss you!

Baseball In The Park

One of my favorite discoveries this summer is the baseball fields in Central Park. They are always packed with games, making them a great option when you can't head to Yankee Stadium. Jared and I have made it a tradition to pack up our dinner and have Sunday night picnics by the fields for a little b-ball action.

^^^NYC's heat wave was no joke.^^^

The Last While Via iPhone Pics

Weekend + Link Love

I've had friends and family visiting the city over the last week so it's been a busy few days!  I think I'm on a steady diet of Patsy's Pizza and Shake Shack (two must-haves for any city visitors). I'll be participating in the Solstice in Times Square today, a yoga event that takes place smack dab in the middle of Midtown. I think it'll be good to do a little yoga and be still for a while, although Times Square and zen don't exactly mix. I hope you have a enjoyable weekend! Here's a little list of links that caught my eye this week...

A very touching tribute from Stephen Colbert to his mother.

Former ABC Bachelorette Jillian Harris launched a vintage goods site.

DIY barrettes.

One of my favorite home stores, Alice Lane Home Collection, is having a tent sale.

How one woman visits Paris on the cheap.

Apparently this is the best lobster roll truck in NYC. Have you tried it?

I wrote this post on 11 unique summer camps for kids.

And this one on 9 family-friendly summer movies.

The 4-minute workout.

Lonny breaks down what to say on your wedding invite.

Mara Kofoed is hosting a natural beauty night in Brooklyn.

Could you live in a 400-square-foot apartment like this couple?

Check out this J. Crew sample sale if you're in town. I scored a cute skirt at a serious discount!

NYC Rain Survival Kit

one. two. three. four. five.

My editor sent us all home yesterday at 4:30 because a rain storm was on its way. Sounds a little silly, but New York City rain is a bit on the crazy side. It's nothing like the drizzles we'd get in Denver when I was growing up. When it rains here, it almost seems as if someone is standing above you with a bucket of water overturned.

After a year of city living, I've learned a sturdy dome umbrella and trusty rain boots are some of the most essential NYC accessories, along with a few other cozies to sulk in under the blankets (I'm so late on the "Downton Abbey" boat but I am hooked! Mr. Bates, you handsome devil!).

A Date

Photo from here.

Today is my last day in the city before heading home for Christmas.

I'm not quite ready to leave yet. I know I've done a view odes to New York during the holidays but wow, there is really nothing like it.

I'll be finishing up holiday shopping in Chinatown and the Upper West Side. Tonight, I have a date with the man who's holding my heart these days. He asked that we deliver a turkey dinner to a family in need rather than see "A Christmas Story" on Broadway.

Yes, my dear, we can do that.

Handmade Ornaments

Photo from here. 

The New York City streets are lined with Christmas trees. No tree lots here. I'd trade the usual smell of exhaust and garbage for the smell of pine any day! I did a little write up on the BEST handmade ornaments this season has to offer for Gallant & Jones. You can see what I found here. 

Writing that post and smelling the trees makes me miss having a tree of my own. This is the first Christmas in years that I haven't had one. Somewhere in the attic in Denver is a small collection of ornaments I shared with my ex. I can't wait to iron out the wrinkles in my favorite tree skirt and hang those ornaments once again. I was worried when I packed them away last year that using them again would be too painful. Now? I can't wait. They are, after all, a part of my story. 

Park Avenue Armory

On Saturday, my girlfriend Kelsea invited me to walk through the park to the Upper East Side and check out the Park Avenue Armory's current exhibit, The Event of a Thread by Ann Hamilton. I couldn't turn it down.

The Park Avenue Armory hosts unconventional art and design in its 55,000 square foot hall. The Hamilton exhibit was SO much fun. The hall is divided in half by a gorgeous silk curtain. On each side of the curtain, there are a series of swings for guests to swing on. As each swing moves, the curtain sways. Several attendees would lay down beneath the curtain to watch it flutter as everyone else would swing.

It was totally worth putting off studying for my law & ethics final exam.

Well & Good NYC Event

I spent Thursday evening at the Holiday Beauty Soiree put on by ABC Home and WellandGoodNYC.com. Several local business owners, including Tracie Martyn, a celebrity facialist, offered free services and showcased their product lines. 

I was excited to finally check out ABC Home as I had heard so much about it. It lived up to all the hype. I'm still dreaming of the grey tufted sofa in the basement....

This place setting by Jan Burtz is perfection. 

This book title made me pause for a moment. Who would you be without your story? 

Something to think about.

Thank you ABC Home and WellAndGoodNYC.com for hosting! Such a beautiful evening.

How New York City Does The Holidays

Typically, I'm the girl who is playing her Pandora holiday station well before Thanksgiving. This holiday season, however, has been different. WHEN DID THE CHRISTMAS GET HERE?! I have been so busy with school that I haven't been able to pay two seconds of my time to the magic that is the holiday season. Over the past weekend, I was determined to fix this.

I dashed down to Rockefeller Plaza Friday night to meet the boy and gander at the tree, along with hundreds of tourists. Everyone was so thrilled to be there. It was beautiful.

On Saturday night, I went to my church's Christmas concert. Oh. My. Goodness. Seeing that I live in Manhattan, the concert was comprised of Broadway stars, Juilliard-trained vocalists and even Desirae Brown-Luch of The Five Browns, who played Ave Maria with her husband on the violin. I'm not sure church concerts will ever top Saturday night. Magnolia Bakery's hot chocolate preceded the concert, Cafe Lalo followed it. I love New York.

Now it's back into the madness of graduate school. Only two more weeks left in the semester! Oh my gosh. Only two more weeks left in the semester?!?! Cue panic.

Back From Sandy

Headed out for a few more Diet Cokes before Sandy hit.

Hi folks.

So we were hit by a hurricane.

While I came out relatively unscathed on the Upper West Side, most of the city wasn't so lucky.

I ventured down to Lower Manhattan the day after Sandy came and went. You can see a few of my photos from the adventure here. From what I understand, Staten Island and portions of Queens are in shambles.

Today, my life returns to (somewhat) normal as I head back into the classroom for the first time in 10 days. For many, however, normal isn't coming back for a long while, if ever.

Yesterday, Mayor Bloomberg said money is most needed in recovery efforts as so many New Yorkers have stepped up with food and clothing donations. Even if it's only a few bucks, it helps. You can donate here.

Jimmy Fallon

Last fall, when everything seemed so despairing, Jimmy Fallon kept me laughing.

Every day at work, I would turn to an episode from Hulu while typing away. I'd try and hold in my laughs but I have no doubt that surrounding cubes could hear me cracking up. This clip will always be a favorite.

Yesterday, I dashed over from school to watch a taping of the show. It felt so surreal! At the end, I was able to shake his hand while inside I wanted to shout "THANK YOU for keeping me laughing during those months!"

My love affair with this city and all it holds continues....