A Face Lift

Warmer weather always revitalizes me. Each Spring, reality slaps me in the face and I am reminded that I will be in a bathing suit at some point over the next few months and I start paying more attention to my health. This year, I am more in the spirit of rejuvenation than ever. The Fall and Winter were long months for My Hero and I. We rarely saw each other due to our jobs, we had a death in the family, I suffered through a nearly intolerable work situation, which brought on a sudden and severe rash and lots of hair loss, which was then slowly remedied when the "intolerable situation" quit, which then brought on an even heavier work load at the office and longer hours. Despite the fact that I have a nearly non-existent social life to speak of at the moment, my paychecks are nicer since I am now getting paid for the hours I put in and I have actually seen My Hero more in the past few weeks than usual. Life is turning around because I decided it has to. It just has to.

It's no surprise that I L-O-V-E informercials. (Hi, my name is Belle and I love informercials). I probably need to join a support group. I watch the same infomercials over and over because I too think that the products will make my life easier, better, more efficient or skinnier, prettier, smarter. To go along with my Spring/Summer revitalization, I caved in a purchased INSANITY. (Of course, this thrifty Southerner found it for a good price). This is the most intense and difficult workout series I have EVER done. I LOVE IT! It's not for the faint of heart. My Hero and I are nearly half way through the program (yep, I convinced him to do it with me) and we are dog-tired, but we keep on going because we are seeing the fruits of our labor. (Pictures to come in a later post when we are finished with the program...maybe).

Speaking of fruit, we also recently acquired the NutriBullet to aid in our Spring revitalization. I have become a juicing and smoothy queen! I LOVE this product too! My Hero gave it to me recently for our 9th wedding anniversary (HAHAHAHA! I love that man! This is honestly what I wanted!). Fresh, raw, juiced veggies have never tasted so good. (Hint: The NutriBullet is carried at most Bed Bath & Beyond stores. Use a 20% off coupon that store sends in the mail to save big bucks. It's much cheaper than purchasing the NutriBullet online). My Hero isn't quite onboard with the juicing, but he's coming around...maybe. I can honestly say that I have been sleeping better after a week of drinking a juice each morning.

Finally, I have revived my blog. The face lift was much needed. It's still a work in progress, but it will get there. Thanks to all of my readers who noticed that my posts had been dwindling. I'm back.

Happy Father's Day

What a better way to say Happy Father's Day than to show off my Father-in-Law's recent (and first) trip to NYC. I'm the first one to tell anyone that I am so blessed and fortunate to have the BEST father-in-law on the planet. My husband (a.k.a. My Hero) was able to take a few days off from work and traverse this concrete jungle with him. I headed off to work and my two country boys headed off in the city to play.

They saw the Park and the Plaza

The ice skating rink at Rockefeller Center

Hopped on the subway

Took a glimpse at Lady Liberty

Strolled across the Brooklyn Bridge

Cheered at a Mets game on Opening Day

Saw the house that Babe Ruth built...well, the new house

...and saw the entire city from a bird's eye view...

before heading into the center of the city that never sleeps (Time's Square)

Ketchup

I am WAY behind on updating my blog about my life...life got in the way and I was too busy to even provide a blurb. So sorry. Let's ketchup (catch-up...get it???)

So here's a quick summary of what we've been up to.

1) We played flag-football on a co-ed social league. So much fun! Thank goodness for a mild winter! The picture below was taken on our first game (also on my birthday). I thought the snow would set the tone for the remainder of the season, but apparently the snow came and went this winter and that was all she wrote.

2) We went to a Knicks game to experience "Linsanity" first hand. I really enjoy basketball, but My Hero got into this particular game WAY more than I did. Thank you, Mr. Modell, for sharing your tickets with us. We will be more than happy to fill your seats anytime.

3) We finally had a delayed Valentine's Dinner Date. We went to the King Cole Bar inside the St. Regis Hotel for appetizers, then for cheap bar food at a southern joint nearby. (The famous King Cole mural is behind us in the first picture)

4) Finally, I enjoyed a fabulous bachelorette weekend to celebrate the upcoming nuptials for my dear friend, Sunshine. We had a fun-filled evening out on the town in Charlotte. I promised to show only the best pictures of Sunshine. The other pictures will go to the highest bidder! (I swear I'm not wearing the same dress as my Valentine's Date Night...I live in NYC...I have a lot of black duds).

Bigger Bling or Bust

Apparently, wearing a wedding ring is not enough to state that I am married in NYC. While I am genuinely flattered to be hit on, I don't think that my ring is shabby, much less invisible, but there is a shocking number of grown men and boys in this city who just don't care that I am wearing it or choose not to see it. I told My Hero that I need a bigger ring...or Kryptonite to keep the scuzzoes away. He politely laughed at my little joke. I think he was flattered a little as well. I'm holding out for the Taylor-Burton diamond. 69.42 carats of perfectly faceted bling! A girl can dream, right?

Caught

So here's the thing...I think the people at my favorite Chinese restaurant are catching on...My Hero and I work a great deal of opposite hours and, since I don't cook, I frequent the Chinese restaurant across the street from my apartment. You really can't beat a gallon (exag) of wonton soup for $3.75! Or the humongous chicken w/ veggie combo for $8.95.

This is a ton of food, which I don't devour in one sitting (glutton), so I make it look like I am getting food for 2 by grabbing 2 sets of chopsticks as I walk out the door. I think the people in the place have caught my sent. They never see My Hero...only me...did I mention I'm in there a lot...I'm beginning to appear like a dateless, hopeless girl who eats by herself...a lot. I didn't want to give them the benefit of the doubt so I made My Hero make an appearance with me a few nights ago. I think I bought myself some time. I threw them off the trail for now.

A Celebration

NYC birthday parties have yet to disappoint. This weekend's celebration took the cake by far as we rose a glass and ate our way through numerous HOMEMADE tapas dishes. I have yet to live it up with the Puerto Rican crowd, but this weekend was a lovely introduction. The jury is still out on the verdict deciding if I can hang with them or not. I left around 3AM and the party was still going! WOW!

My dear friend, Jen, invited her friends to her apartment to ring in another year of her wonderful life while her boyfriend, who is also coincidentally a chef, prepared plates possibly created in heaven's kitchen. My mouth waters thinking of the delicious creations I can barely pronounce. I hope to be invited to more events with this crowd in order that my vocabulary and taste buds evolve with the new friendships initiated this weekend.

A few images of the food and festivities follow.

(The Birthday Girl & The Chef)

(Tomatoes & goat cheese on fresh bread. Homemade plantain chips and guacamole behind)

(My "Fabulous" friend Drazen and I strike a fierce pose)

(Drazen got caught wearing the Birthday Girl's sash and tiara)

Ballz!

A whole restaurant dedicated to MEATBALLS! Delicious! We ventured out with a few friends to The Meatball Shop recently on a rainy evening in the city. These Southerners were seeking comfort food in this Yankee town and we found it.

The menu has numerous options and daily specials which are sure to please nearly any carnivore's palette. The location we went to had communal seating which can be kind of awkward initially since you may be seated next to complete strangers. Thankfully, we were seated at the end of the long center table so this seating situation wasn't too painful.

We ended the evening on a sweet note with one of the recommended ice cream cookie sandwiches. Delicious! We will definitely be back in the near future!

Shine On

It's no mistake that I have a passion for jewelry...afterall, diamonds may not be my best friend, but sparkle is my favorite color. I am lusting after the following pieces for the new year. Is it wrong to put jewelry on my "Goal List" for 2012? I think not.

Of course, we must begin with a Tiffany piece. This is a pendant from Paloma Picasso's Graffiti collection. The words "Love" are delicately set in rose gold with round brilliant diamonds.

Next we move on to a classic Southern girls piece. TO. DIE. FOR. Monogram earrings from Max and Chloe are a must to make this girl's wardrobe clean and polished on any given day. They come in either yellow gold, white gold or rose gold.

Twenty Twelve!

A grand night on the town it was not. Instead, My Hero and I staid in and enjoyed some rare quality time together...and a New York pie. We ran outside at the strike of midnight to see the fireworks and wish our neighbors a happy new year. Bring it on 2012! This is gonna be a great year.