Shut'er Down

After having many starts and stops with this blog, it's time to bring her to a close. My husband and I were fortunate enough to move back to our beloved South last August and I've been enjoying life and actually having a life to enjoy. This blog holds a special place in my heart as the time spent writing it was an irreplaceable chapter that I will always reflect fondly upon, but I can say with all confidence, I am glad it is over. I took the memories and everlasting friendships with me when I left. I also took home some gorgeous baubles from my previous job. I had breakfast at Tiffany's. I learned that diamonds are forever, but they didn't turn out to be this girl's best friend. The gold will shine on, but the silver will eventually tarnish. Baubles will always make me happy, but somedays biscuits make me happier. Please join me over at my new blog - Biscuits and Baubles

(Taken on my last day in NYC - August 2012)

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.

Nailed It

It's no surprise that I love glitter. Afterall, sparkle is my favorite color so why wouldn't I don my nails with a golden glow? It makes sitting at the computer and typing all day much more enjoyable.

The glow eventually wears off and removing the sparkle from my nails has proven to be a bit tricky in the past, so I decided to let the professionals do it. While at the salon, I realized I couldn't go cold turkey to plain-jane nails, so I opted for a bright geranium hue to get me through Christmas. Now, you must also understand that I RARELY paint my fingernails so this is a real treat.

The salon was really busy the night I decided to go. I waited patiently and apparently, unbeknownst to me, untwisted the bottle top to the color I selected. A wet sensation came over my hands a few minutes later...yep, I had nail polish on my hands...not my nails. I discretely cleaned off my hands with only those sitting next to me noticing my nail salon faux pax. The woman next to me got a kick out of my clumsiness. Glad I could make someone's day.

Eventually sitting down in the chair to be pampered, the nail tech noticed my new nail color selection no longer on my hands, but in MY HAIR!!! Color streaking is a popular trend right now, but it's just not for me. I've spent months trying to find the perfect shade of blonde so I was a little distressed, but couldn't do anything but laugh. Everyone in the salon was laughing with (or at) me as the nail tech used nail polish remover on my tresses. I think I'll stick to pedicures from now on.

Christmas Cheer 2011

Merry Christmas to ALL from New York City!

What a wide ranging Christmas this year has turned out to be. Thank goodness for technology or I might not have realized how our time was spent. Through camera phones, FaceTime (rest in peace, Steve Jobs) via iPhone, and Skype, we were able to spend a short time with our family although we are hundreds of miles apart. It somehow made our holiday away from family bearable.

Rockzilla got in the spirit earlier than we did this year. Santa dropped off this cute coat to keep my little elf warm. His enthusiasm helped prepare us for the holiday.

As we headed out to do some Christmas shopping, we ran into Teresa Giudice from The Housewives of New Jersey near Times Square. If you're not familiar with this woman, she's known to be quite the table flipper with a fiery, Italian temper. She was "gracious" enough to take a couple seconds out of her day for My Hero to grab a quick shot.

During one of our shopping adventures, I managed to find this coveted plaid skirt at one of New York's finest thrift stores to wear to my office holiday party. I felt like I walked out of Tommy Hilfiger ad, pictured here with my dear friend, Nicole.

Instead of spending time with family to open gifts this year, packages arrived via mail. My Hero and I felt like 5 year olds when we received the packages. It's so exciting to get surprises delivered in the mail!

Sunshine surprised me with this cute Pantone coffee mug and much needed Bed Bath & Beyond coupons. My morning cup-o-joe tastes WAY better now.

Thoughts of Sunshine inspired me to whip up a batch of her delicious smores cookies in my New York easy-bake oven. My co-workers indulged and they were gone in less than 1 hour of being unveiled.

Christmas Eve arrived and My Hero left for work. Ugh. This girl found refuge in a little retail therapy in SoHo. I hadn't intended to purchase anything, but I found this fabulous Cavalli dress in a thrift store for a mere $48!!! I was sure Santa meant for this to be in my stocking.

My Hero and I headed into midtown Christmas Day to enjoy the sites which we haven't had a chance to see this year. The tree was there, the skating rink was there, the big balls were there. Tourists were there. We were too! Merry Christmas, New York!

MWAH to all and to all a good night!

Gagalicious

Welcome to Gaga's Workshop located on the 5th Floor of Barney's NYC. It truly is a wonderland of all things Lady Gaga for Christmas and for all of her Little Monsters. It includes cookies decorated in her likeness, jewelry, a small array of clothing with studs a-la-Gaga, and, of course, little stuffed monsters.

(Entrance to Gaga's Workshop)

(Monster Gaga hovering over the jewelry)

(Paws up Little Monsters)

Don't Go Chasin' Waterfalls

...especially if they appear in your bathroom at 4:00AM and coming from the ceiling! Yep, this is what my husband discovered a couple mornings ago. The water was plunging through the ceiling like Niagara Falls. One hour later, two ruined beach towels, a smelly monogrammed shower curtain, an irate super and several woken neighbors, the water finally stopped and the ceiling caved in. The silver lining = I don't have to find someone to fix it OR pay for it! I love NYC living!

Dame of a Day

In the words of the recent Elizabeth Taylor, "Big girls need big diamonds." Since I can't have humongous diamonds (right now), I recently enjoyed a fabulous afternoon at Christie's Auction House with my girlfriends soaking in some of most fabulous jewels from Ms. Taylor's extraordinary collection. Our eyes skated over the ice rink otherwise known as the Krupp Diamond, swam with the Tiffany Dolphin brooch, and twinkled with surprise and delight from the beautiful array of colors from her many other pieces. We were also given a tour through several hundred feet of mannequins lavishly draped in her pieces ranging from Versace, Pucci, Chanel, and Ungaro to name a few.

Truly an amazing day for any girl who loves jewelry, fashion and things larger than life just as Ms. Taylor.