it's officially official!

yes, it's official--i have a new job!! today marks my one week "anniversary" if you will.  it has been kind of a whirlwind experience but i couldn't be more excited!  i happened upon a job on craigslist one day, applied for it, interviewed, and boom!  i put my 2 weeks notice in at chilton and i was off on my next adventure!

let me explain a little considering this is my second job here in just 5 short months.  i now work for a brand design agency as their business development manager.  that's right everyone, i actually went to school for business development!! who knew in today's world and economy, people still took jobs that were relevant to them!? well, maybe i screwed up some pretty concrete statistics, but i don't care! it's a great job with great people and i am so excited to be here.  also, i get a lunch break!! yes, that's right, i didn't get a lunch break at my other job.  so, i break free from my office for about an hour for lunch and i act like a little kid in a candy store!  here are some pictures of my wonderful view while i eat lunch each day.

Oh, hello Flatiron!

The lovely Madison Square Park.

And of course, the large-and-in-charge
Empire State Building!

so, if you ever need any branding done for your company, check us out!!

fun on a sunday!

Since Hannah always has so many visitors in town and i, well, don't (ahem out of town blog readers...), i always enjoy tagging along on their adventures.  luckily, today's adventure was one i actually wanted to do myself!  we ventured over to the east side, pretty early for a sunday, and climbed up the famous Metropolitan Museum of Art steps, destined for the Alexander McQueen Exhibit on display there this summer.  unfortunately photography was prohibited in the exhibit, but in order to get the full experience, you need to see it for yourself anyway!  if i had to sum it up in a few words, i'd have to say it was disturbed, tragic, and brilliant.  i'll also say this--i was really happy to get back to a happy summer Sunday when we finished.

after my ritzy morning, i felt "New York" inspired.  by that, i mean i just went home and did laundry while watching New York movies :)  every time i am out and about in this city and it makes me so overly happy that i live here, i like to go home and watch movies that are filmed here in the city.  one of my go-to New York movies is "you've got mail."  i could seriously watch that movie everyday! i don't even know why!  i guess because it shows New York charm at its best and, because it's filmed right here on the upper west side!  want to know where that Starbucks is?  oh, it's on the corner of my street!  the Starbucks i go to! i've sat in the seat that Meg Ryan sat in!

okay, enough with that.  my second New York movie was "big daddy."  yes, i know, it's definitely on the other end of the spectrum from "you've got mail," but it's a classic!  

i finished up my Sunday baking, one of my favorite things to do.  i made cookies for the first time in 5 months and actually felt okay doing it in a kitchen the size of a half bathroom!  oh, and they were delicious :)

happy sunday fun-day!

it was something right out of a Shakespeare play.

After I finished my typical Saturday (laying out in Central Park), I ventured up to the Castle I lay in front of every weekend.  It's funny to see a castle in the middle of Central Park, but there it is!

As I was venturing around Shakespeare Garden, I stumbled upon a wedding!  It was the perfect afternoon for a wedding, and Shakespeare Garden was the perfect little spot tucked away in New York City.  There were only 15 or so guests at the wedding, including the wedding party.  Out of respect, I didn't take a picture but you can see where they were married, with a perfect backdrop of flowers and trees.

Doesn't it look like something right out of one of Shakespeare's Plays??  Add a wedding and you've got yourself a fairy tale!

The Great Lawn where I spend most of my
Saturdays.

Happy Saturday!

jewelry is FUN.

I had to share this with the blogger world!  My good friend Melissa has started designing her own jewelry and it is FABULOUS!  She makes everything by hand and it's all made to order.  From earrings to necklaces to freakin' amazing bracelets, you'll definitely find something!  So, check out her awesome Etsy page and start placing those orders!  Also, check her out on Facebook under "M.E.R Jewelry."

Let me know if you want to order something and I can help you out!! 

Happy accessorizing!

buy me some peanuts and crackerjacks...

...I don't care if I never get back!

I can now say I've been to a Yankee game!  AND, I got to go to a major rival series game!  We went to the Yankees vs. Red Sox game on Wednesday--in the 100+ degree heat and all!  The beers were $9, the food was at least $10, but the experience was unbeatable!

Our seats were amazing, on the bleachers in left field.  We may not have seen the action from the baseline, but we did see our fair share of baseball backsides :)

Unfortunately, the Yankees lost--all three games.  However, it was an atmosphere I've never experienced.  Go Yankees!!

the subway.

For the past few weeks, while riding the subway, I've found myself thinking I'm at an amusement park.  Has that thought ever crossed your mind?  You know, especially when there is construction and you're stopped underground; they have all the construction lights on and it's like you're sitting in a mine on a tour!  Once, I was riding the B downtown and there were flashing lights as we were speeding through the tunnels--scary amusement park ride? I think so!

Today, to top it all off, while we were delayed underground the train driver said "We are currently being held up because there is another train directly in front of us.  Please be patient and we should be moving shortly."  This reminded me so much of being on a roller coaster!  So, when you find yourself frustrated on the subway, considering almost all of them are under construction at some point, just think of it as a ride at an amusement park and maybe it will make it a little better!!

Just take a look--this looks exactly
like a park map!

have you ever...?

No, this isn't one of those "have you ever..." where you  embarrass yourself and end up knowing things about people you didn't actually want to know :)

Have you ever...

...Laid out in Central Park in a bathing suit??  I did for the first time last weekend and I have to admit, I wasn't okay with it.  Growing up on the North Carolina coast and being within an hour drive of water my whole life has spoiled me just a little.  Maybe I am a water snob, or maybe it's just the fact that, while I lay out, I can also watch runners, performers, sports, and all those odd people that make the city so unique--maybe that's what makes laying out in Central Park a bit peculiar.  But, that city skyline isn't too bad, either...

Okay so maybe there's no skyline in this picture, but it's nice not to have it around
sometimes and just enjoy nature in a city filled with bricks and mortar.

...watched the sunset over the New Jersey skyline and Hudson River??

...seen something this cute walking home from work?? I had the pleasure of walking behind them for a few blocks, courtesy of the 1 train only running express.  So, I took a walk up the Upper West Side and ran into these guys!  There were 4 (a little tyke in the stroller) dressed exactly the same!  At one point, they were so happy about something, the two on the right were holding hands and skipping down the sidewalk.  It's little kids like this that can cheer you right on up!

Last but not least-have you ever...


...gotten your laundry done this well??  As I was unpacking it, I was amazed at every fold.  How on earth do they do it?!

...so if you "haven't ever" on any of these, it means you probably need to take a trip to the big apple.  It's gorgeous in the summer!!