This weekend I had the privilege of participating in two very different shopping sprees. Gina was in Connecticut for her spring break, so I was more than happy to leave the city to visit her. After sleeping/watching Twilight in the bed until noon on Saturday, we got ready and went to Wal-Mart. Now, I haven't been to a Wal-Mart (or a Target, for that matter) in over three months, so needless to say, I was excited. I can honestly say that I have NEVER used the word excited when referring to a trip to Wal-Mart, until I moved here. It's just so nice to be able to get everything in one place, and to also not pay an arm and a leg for it. I believe there were tears of joy streaming down my face at the sight of a box fan. I have been searching diligently for one ever since I moved here (to drown out the street noise), to no avail. I was running through the aisles, screaming "Gina, I found a box fan! I FOUND A BOX FAN!" God bless the people who invented those, and also Wal-Mart who made them only $14. On the way back to the city on the train, I cannot tell you how many comments I got for having it in the seat next to me. My only response was "I live on 3rd avenue." Enough said.
I have two friends who work in the accounting department at Dolce & Gabanna, and last week they sent me an invitation to their annual sample sale. This has been a New York experience that I have had on my "to do" list for quite a while, so I thought I would check it out. I had no idea what to expect, and honestly never even thought I would have the strength or ability to crack open my wallet at something like that. For those of you who have never been to one, it would remind you of black Friday at Target. There are racks of random clothes, shoes, bags and other accessories scattered recklessly around the space, and people who don't think twice about body slamming you to get to their favorite items in their size. It also reminded me of the sterling silver floor at Tiffanys. VERY different vibe from the clientele than on the diamond floor, by the way.
After trying on a hand full of items in the communal dressing room (yikes! I forgot to shave), I actually found some things that I liked and could afford. The discounts ranged from 60-90%, depending on the year the collection came out. 2008 collections were 90% off!!! The most expensive thing I picked up (and immediately put back) was a dress for $7,000. Normally, I wouldn't have even considered the possibility of paying close to $200 for three items. But thanks to my accountant mother, I received my tax refund over the weekend. I ended up coming away with some fabulous purple heels, some even more fabulous black strappy/ribbony sandals and the cutest skirt I have ever seen. So what if I can't afford groceries for a month! At least I will look good, and the skirt will fit perfectly after all the weight I will lose! (Kidding)
I just want to close by saying that I have the best parents in the world. I came home yesterday to a package from them, which contained two boxes of my favorite cereal that I can't find here (thanks dad!), little Debbie cakes from mama Debbie (thanks mom!), peanut M&M's and some mail. Aside from the box fan, it was my favorite thing I got all weekend!
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Sunday, March 20, 2011
The Perfect Day
I have always considered myself a "city" girl. The country has historically made me bored and restless. However, today I was desperate to get out of the city! I just couldn't handle the noise or the mosh-pit walk to the subway anymore. So, I went to a town that had one stoplight. I thought Henderson, TN was the only place on earth in such a condition, but I was wrong.
Cold Spring, NY is only one hour from Grand Central Station, and is listed as one of the best day trips to take out of the city. I should hug whoever wrote that. I'm sure it is partly because you can get there, and get around there, without a car. Cold Spring is a village in the town of Philipstown in Putnam County, NY (copied straight from Wikipedia). It is home to almost 2,000 people, and after today, you may add me to that list.
When I arrived this morning, I immediately found some antique shops to look around in. I landed some great finds for the family, and spent at least an hour in one shop in particular. I even considered buying a skull for my dad. Some of you may think that is a bizarre, but it was a replica from a battle my grandfather was in during World War II. After hours (literally) of antiquing, I decided to check out the rest of the town.
I started at the Julia Butterfield Memorial Library, which was incredibly well maintained. There was a young girl receiving a tutoring session from a man who could've been her grandfather. He was making jokes about geometry (which I didn't even think was possible), and she seemed embarrassed. He seemed kind, and as much as I wanted to eavesdrop on more of his routine, I decided to check out the librarian. True to form, she was an older woman who had read every book in that place. As I was browsing through a pile of books on sale for $1, she proceeded to tell me everything she thought was wrong about all of them. Really her objections amounted to her disapproval on how the female characters were written. In at least 15 books!
Next I headed towards the farmers market, but never actually made it there. I got stopped by an eight year old boy who was participating in his family's yard sale. He had created these puppets made out of mittens, and each one had a different "character", as he called it. He had used felt to create all sorts of faces, clothes and props to go with the mitten. After asking about all thirty of them, I finally decided on Gene Simmons from KISS. He just kept thanking me over and over again, and it took me back to the summers where we charged $10 for a glass of lemonade outside of my grandparents house. I am a proud supporter of the youth entrepreneurs of America!
By this time it was 2:30 and I still hadn't eaten lunch. I had researched the Hudson House (& Inn) and headed back down towards the river to check out their menu. As luck would have it, they were having their "Restaurant Week." Many places do this in the city, but only in February. Restaurants will deeply discount certain items on the menu in order to encourage those who wouldn't normally eat there (due to cost) to try them out. For $20 at lunch at the Hudson House, I got homemade rolls with strawberry butter, vegetable spring rolls, a cajun chicken sandwich with fries and slaw, and New York cheesecake for dessert! And YES, I ate it all!
Thankfully I had worn yoga pants with some give, so I didn't have to pay too dearly for stuffing myself with food. But I did think a hike would do me good, so I headed to a section of the Hudson Highlands State Park called Little Stony Point. There are a few miles of hiking trails there that run right along the Hudson, and provide some spectacular views of nearby towns, the mountains and the water. One of my favorite parts of the day, by far!
By the time I got back to the town, it was nearly 5:30. In an effort to prolong having to head back, I remembered seeing a sign for a jazz concert at the local Presbyterian church, so I went. There were only 30 people there (all over 60), but I thoroughly enjoyed the music. Apparently every third Saturday of the month, they feature a different artist or group in this performance that is open to the community. I definitely plan on becoming a regular.
Cold Spring is the epitome of small town America, and reminded me of the Christmas village my mom puts up in our house every December. The people were so kind, and I felt like I was home. I can't wait to come back in the summer and kayak across the river to check out some of that West Point goodness!
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Two Random Sightings
Just yesterday afternoon, I was walking with a coworker up 6th avenue to a client's office when we passed a few people carrying shopping bags. Naturally, I wasn't paying any attention. This just goes to show that I should always be aware of my surroundings and camera ready in the city, because we had just passed Geoffrey Rush. Fortunately I had just seen the Kings Speech, so I was well aware of who he was. He has also been in Pirates of the Caribbean and a handful of other great movies. No one was bothering him, he was in a shopping zone, and we just went along on our merry way. What a great way to end the work week!
I had a second sighting at the gym this week. Not of a movie or rock star, but a homeless man. Apparently my gym has decided to provide at least one bike every night from 6-9 to this one lone soul. He is there every time I go in, and simply sits on the bike staring at the television with his mouth hanging wide open. He prefers the 6:00 news followed by anything that is playing on the sports network. He keeps his luggage next to him, and wears the same flannel shirt every night. While incredibly unusual, I find it sweet and accommodating that he is there. And he never gives me dirty looks for panting and border line passing out on the treadmill next to him.
Last weekend I had the privilege of seeing a new part of the city that isn't frequented by tourists. The Cloisters is a conglomeration of several European abbeys pieced together, and is used as a Medieval art museum. It is located in Fort Tryon Park along the Hudson River, which is all the way uptown in the 200s. It's a very peaceful place with some spectacular views. I even saw some flowers blooming!
Today was a great day. I had my first solo performance for a project that I auditioned for a few weeks ago called The Meltdown. The actual play only cast six women I believe, but I was asked to perform a monologue (which I got to write) that will be played at the beginning of each show (which will tour six cities). They shot my segment in a studio near Madison Square Garden, and I got great reactions from the director and producer. I won them over with a Charlie Sheen reference that I felt was appropriate. I'm looking forward to seeing the final product!
I had a second sighting at the gym this week. Not of a movie or rock star, but a homeless man. Apparently my gym has decided to provide at least one bike every night from 6-9 to this one lone soul. He is there every time I go in, and simply sits on the bike staring at the television with his mouth hanging wide open. He prefers the 6:00 news followed by anything that is playing on the sports network. He keeps his luggage next to him, and wears the same flannel shirt every night. While incredibly unusual, I find it sweet and accommodating that he is there. And he never gives me dirty looks for panting and border line passing out on the treadmill next to him.
Last weekend I had the privilege of seeing a new part of the city that isn't frequented by tourists. The Cloisters is a conglomeration of several European abbeys pieced together, and is used as a Medieval art museum. It is located in Fort Tryon Park along the Hudson River, which is all the way uptown in the 200s. It's a very peaceful place with some spectacular views. I even saw some flowers blooming!
Today was a great day. I had my first solo performance for a project that I auditioned for a few weeks ago called The Meltdown. The actual play only cast six women I believe, but I was asked to perform a monologue (which I got to write) that will be played at the beginning of each show (which will tour six cities). They shot my segment in a studio near Madison Square Garden, and I got great reactions from the director and producer. I won them over with a Charlie Sheen reference that I felt was appropriate. I'm looking forward to seeing the final product!
Sunday, March 6, 2011
The Daniel Fast
When an old coworker emailed me with her latest news and updates, she mentioned that she had just completed a process she referred to as The Daniel Fast. I had never heard of such a thing, but she spoke so highly of the end result that I decided to research it.
The Daniel Fast is a 21 day spiritual and physical fast, in which one basically assumes a vegan diet with some modifications. Nothing to drink but water. That meant no coffee for me for 3 weeks! Also no meat, no bread, and no sugar. My roommate and I both decided we needed some time set aside in our lives to reflect, pray, be still and make some changes in our hearts on a few matters. So we embarked on this journey together! I also made a choice to deactivate facebook during this time, as well.
This is day 15 for me, and what a life changing experience it has been. In the beginning, we had perceived it as being a very feasible thing to do. Three weeks is such a short time in hindsight! But unfortunately it has not been as easy as that. I had no idea how much of a dependency I had on certain things. How much I relied on food, drink or social media for my happiness, and how I sought fulfillment in so many of these things. The benefits were threefold: physical, mental and spiritual.
So far I have lost six pounds. Bare in mind, we did not do this for the weight loss. That has just been a perk (especially since I need to fit into a bridesmaids dress in a few weeks). My energy levels have been extremely high and my sleep habits are better than ever. It is easier to work out, and all I want to do is organize everything in sight!
I am, by nature, an anxious person. I have a tremor in my hands that I have had as long as I can remember. It flares up when I am nervous. But throughout this period, it has disappeared. I haven't gotten as uptight about things as I normally do. My mind has never been clearer, and I recognize things about myself and my world that I never noticed before.
Spiritually, this has been quite a journey. I must admit that I have not prayed or read as much as I intended to when we started. Although I got rid of one distraction (FB), I replaced it with A LOT of television programs. The true purpose of this time has been lost many a night, when I get sucked in to the Bachelor or American Idol. However, I hope to change that for this final week.
As I mentioned before, I picked an issue in my life I wanted to pray about and wished to receive an answer to after this period was over. Interestingly enough, on the first day of the fast, I encountered satan at his finest. I was presented with an opportunity that I consider to be exactly the opposite of what I was trying to achieve...a stumbling block to my success. He definitely knew which heart strings to pull at, and he was playing tug of war with the Lord for sure.
Another blessing from this time has been my realization that I have not reflected Christ in certain ways to the people around me. It is natural to want to be accepted by those in your environment, and New York is definitely a different animal when it comes to what is considered socially acceptable. I am called to be like Christ, and sometimes Christ was different. A lot of times He was. Being different for three weeks has been a challenge, but has reminded me that this is who I am. It is who I am supposed to be. And what a great wake up call it has been.
I recommend the Daniel Fast to anyone who wants any of the three benefits I mentioned before, but especially if you want all of them. There are cookbooks, devotionals, and a blog available to participants. I only share my experience with it because I am thankful that someone shared theirs with me.
The Daniel Fast is a 21 day spiritual and physical fast, in which one basically assumes a vegan diet with some modifications. Nothing to drink but water. That meant no coffee for me for 3 weeks! Also no meat, no bread, and no sugar. My roommate and I both decided we needed some time set aside in our lives to reflect, pray, be still and make some changes in our hearts on a few matters. So we embarked on this journey together! I also made a choice to deactivate facebook during this time, as well.
This is day 15 for me, and what a life changing experience it has been. In the beginning, we had perceived it as being a very feasible thing to do. Three weeks is such a short time in hindsight! But unfortunately it has not been as easy as that. I had no idea how much of a dependency I had on certain things. How much I relied on food, drink or social media for my happiness, and how I sought fulfillment in so many of these things. The benefits were threefold: physical, mental and spiritual.
So far I have lost six pounds. Bare in mind, we did not do this for the weight loss. That has just been a perk (especially since I need to fit into a bridesmaids dress in a few weeks). My energy levels have been extremely high and my sleep habits are better than ever. It is easier to work out, and all I want to do is organize everything in sight!
I am, by nature, an anxious person. I have a tremor in my hands that I have had as long as I can remember. It flares up when I am nervous. But throughout this period, it has disappeared. I haven't gotten as uptight about things as I normally do. My mind has never been clearer, and I recognize things about myself and my world that I never noticed before.
Spiritually, this has been quite a journey. I must admit that I have not prayed or read as much as I intended to when we started. Although I got rid of one distraction (FB), I replaced it with A LOT of television programs. The true purpose of this time has been lost many a night, when I get sucked in to the Bachelor or American Idol. However, I hope to change that for this final week.
As I mentioned before, I picked an issue in my life I wanted to pray about and wished to receive an answer to after this period was over. Interestingly enough, on the first day of the fast, I encountered satan at his finest. I was presented with an opportunity that I consider to be exactly the opposite of what I was trying to achieve...a stumbling block to my success. He definitely knew which heart strings to pull at, and he was playing tug of war with the Lord for sure.
Another blessing from this time has been my realization that I have not reflected Christ in certain ways to the people around me. It is natural to want to be accepted by those in your environment, and New York is definitely a different animal when it comes to what is considered socially acceptable. I am called to be like Christ, and sometimes Christ was different. A lot of times He was. Being different for three weeks has been a challenge, but has reminded me that this is who I am. It is who I am supposed to be. And what a great wake up call it has been.
I recommend the Daniel Fast to anyone who wants any of the three benefits I mentioned before, but especially if you want all of them. There are cookbooks, devotionals, and a blog available to participants. I only share my experience with it because I am thankful that someone shared theirs with me.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
6 Months!!!
Next week will mark my six month anniversary in New York! I still can't believe that I live here. When you get into a routine, it is very easy to forget such a privilege. My roommate suggested that I take time to be a tourist, which puts my new reality into perspective. So this past week I decided to treat myself to a little reminder.
Thursday night we went to see American Idiot, which is a Broadway play featuring music from Green Day, and also (until tonight), their lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong. It was like being at a concert, and we sat four rows from the front!!! Amazing time. I'm excited to see the Allman Brothers this month at the legendary Beacon Theatre and Amos Lee in April.
Saturday was just one of those days when you feel like exploring solo. I went to see my traditional Saturday morning movie, The Kings Speech. Anything before noon is considered a matinee, and is only $6. AMC theater in Kips Bay is now my new favorite place to be at 11 a.m. on Saturday. After the movie, I wandered over to 5th avenue to do some incredibly unnecessary shopping. But I am a sucker for a deal, and came away with a few items for under $50!
I haven't seen the Flatiron building since I moved here, so that was my next stop. It's located on 23rd and Madison, right next to Madison Square Park, the original Shake Shack and the cutest little dog park you've ever seen. I love to watch dogs. They are so funny and carefree, and the more I am around them, the more I want one. As much as I would love to wait until I have a yard for them to play in, they make the most excellent company in this city. I think people here are more affected by watching dogs than children. They basically are their children, complete with entire wardrobes and carriages to be toted around in.
As I headed back to 3rd avenue to take the bus up, I passed through Gramercy Park. I think I have officially found my favorite place in New York. The homes were gorgeous, the park was well tended and there were a plethora of cafes and shops that reminded me of Europe. It's also where the birthplace of Theodore Roosevelt is located. All in all, a fabulous day!
I am really excited to see what the next six months will bring, especially since it will be warm weather again. I can't wait to go to the beach, hear free concerts in the park and not have to wear five layers of clothing everywhere I go!
Thursday night we went to see American Idiot, which is a Broadway play featuring music from Green Day, and also (until tonight), their lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong. It was like being at a concert, and we sat four rows from the front!!! Amazing time. I'm excited to see the Allman Brothers this month at the legendary Beacon Theatre and Amos Lee in April.
Saturday was just one of those days when you feel like exploring solo. I went to see my traditional Saturday morning movie, The Kings Speech. Anything before noon is considered a matinee, and is only $6. AMC theater in Kips Bay is now my new favorite place to be at 11 a.m. on Saturday. After the movie, I wandered over to 5th avenue to do some incredibly unnecessary shopping. But I am a sucker for a deal, and came away with a few items for under $50!
I haven't seen the Flatiron building since I moved here, so that was my next stop. It's located on 23rd and Madison, right next to Madison Square Park, the original Shake Shack and the cutest little dog park you've ever seen. I love to watch dogs. They are so funny and carefree, and the more I am around them, the more I want one. As much as I would love to wait until I have a yard for them to play in, they make the most excellent company in this city. I think people here are more affected by watching dogs than children. They basically are their children, complete with entire wardrobes and carriages to be toted around in.
As I headed back to 3rd avenue to take the bus up, I passed through Gramercy Park. I think I have officially found my favorite place in New York. The homes were gorgeous, the park was well tended and there were a plethora of cafes and shops that reminded me of Europe. It's also where the birthplace of Theodore Roosevelt is located. All in all, a fabulous day!
I am really excited to see what the next six months will bring, especially since it will be warm weather again. I can't wait to go to the beach, hear free concerts in the park and not have to wear five layers of clothing everywhere I go!
Friday, February 18, 2011
I am becoming my mother...
Because I look forward to spending Friday night in the peace and quiet of my home, instead of out and about in this crazy city. Last weekend was a bit hectic, so I am definitely in recovery. I was able to work three shows at Fashion Week, and enjoyed one of them immensely! I was asked not to disclose which shows I worked, but the clothes were unbelievable! I also worked the VIP section for one show and saw Kim Kardashian, Sophia Bush (One Tree Hill), some guy from Ugly Betty, one of the Real Housewives of NY (the one with the nasty husband), and a random rapper. Definitely a very cool experience.
I have two auditions coming up in the next few days for plays in the city. One would be a traveling production, and the other is local. Excited and nervous for both. It's been a LONG time since I've done any real acting, and I'm a bit rusty. Very thankful for the opportunity to try, though.
Today we had 65 degree weather!!!!! So, of course I wore open toed shoes. If my legs would've been tan, I would've worn a sundress. Are you kidding me?! We won't have an opportunity like this again until May. I've been told it's not uncommon to have snow in April, so I want to maximize open toe time as much as possible. But when I walked into work, people just laughed at me and said that I was very "southern." What the heck does that even mean? Don't these people expose their feet??? Another coworker commented on the excessive length of my toes. Regardless, I proudly sported those beauties all around that office. Not ashamed.
I have two auditions coming up in the next few days for plays in the city. One would be a traveling production, and the other is local. Excited and nervous for both. It's been a LONG time since I've done any real acting, and I'm a bit rusty. Very thankful for the opportunity to try, though.
Today we had 65 degree weather!!!!! So, of course I wore open toed shoes. If my legs would've been tan, I would've worn a sundress. Are you kidding me?! We won't have an opportunity like this again until May. I've been told it's not uncommon to have snow in April, so I want to maximize open toe time as much as possible. But when I walked into work, people just laughed at me and said that I was very "southern." What the heck does that even mean? Don't these people expose their feet??? Another coworker commented on the excessive length of my toes. Regardless, I proudly sported those beauties all around that office. Not ashamed.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
February Fun
Only in Manhattan can you go to the grocery store and pay $12 for 1 lb of Velveeta, and proceed to the flower market across the street and pay the exact same amount for two dozen gorgeous roses. I just don't get it. I find myself frequently surprised by the cost of things, whether it be pricey or cheap. I wonder what I could get for Shanes barbque up here. Or better yet, open a Waffle House. In the last two days, I have heard three different people say that the restaurant they miss the most from home is good ole WH. I would give my left arm for an Allstar right about now.
I am excited for February in the city! I've been told it is the most challenging month to live here, because it feels as if winter is never going to end. So in an effort to prevent hibernation and zero social contact, I have planned something for every weekend in the month.
This weekend I volunteered at KEEN through New York Cares. The purpose of the program is to work with special needs children through various activities to enhance social and functional skill sets. I was partnered up with the cutest eight year old girl who wiped the floor with me in puppet design. I beat her down in bowling though, so no harm done. I enjoyed the entire afternoon, and met a lot of really great people (also my new place for meeting men-I mean, if you are going to spend your entire Saturday afternoon playing with children voluntarily, I think you may be worth me putting on make up and not wearing my fat pants).
Next weekend is FASHION WEEK! Thanks to my friend Rich, I am working two different shifts on Friday and Saturday, and will have the chance to be around some of the most beautiful people and clothes in the world. I do plan to come prepared with bags of candy and large quantities of baked goods, because models are people too. They need to eat. And I need them to gain weight.
The following weekend I have my first legitimate audition for an actual play that has toured previously, and been made into a DVD. I have already had an audio audition, and got a call back, so the accent must not be an issue! I also am planning to submit for a role in Snow White, which will be an off Broadway production in the spring.
I'm hoping the end of February will bring a road trip to Vermont. I have always wanted to see the state in the winter, and am working on getting a group together. I do miss my road trips. I get a little stir crazy if I have to stay in the same place for weeks on end (no matter where it is). I think I will always have the nomadic gene, because the thought of settling down somewhere for the rest of my life really gives me a panic attack. No clue why. I guess I am a peacock, and you've got to let me fly!
I am excited for February in the city! I've been told it is the most challenging month to live here, because it feels as if winter is never going to end. So in an effort to prevent hibernation and zero social contact, I have planned something for every weekend in the month.
This weekend I volunteered at KEEN through New York Cares. The purpose of the program is to work with special needs children through various activities to enhance social and functional skill sets. I was partnered up with the cutest eight year old girl who wiped the floor with me in puppet design. I beat her down in bowling though, so no harm done. I enjoyed the entire afternoon, and met a lot of really great people (also my new place for meeting men-I mean, if you are going to spend your entire Saturday afternoon playing with children voluntarily, I think you may be worth me putting on make up and not wearing my fat pants).
Next weekend is FASHION WEEK! Thanks to my friend Rich, I am working two different shifts on Friday and Saturday, and will have the chance to be around some of the most beautiful people and clothes in the world. I do plan to come prepared with bags of candy and large quantities of baked goods, because models are people too. They need to eat. And I need them to gain weight.
The following weekend I have my first legitimate audition for an actual play that has toured previously, and been made into a DVD. I have already had an audio audition, and got a call back, so the accent must not be an issue! I also am planning to submit for a role in Snow White, which will be an off Broadway production in the spring.
I'm hoping the end of February will bring a road trip to Vermont. I have always wanted to see the state in the winter, and am working on getting a group together. I do miss my road trips. I get a little stir crazy if I have to stay in the same place for weeks on end (no matter where it is). I think I will always have the nomadic gene, because the thought of settling down somewhere for the rest of my life really gives me a panic attack. No clue why. I guess I am a peacock, and you've got to let me fly!
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