"I think this steak is marinated in butter it's so good!"

I apologize for being MIA for the last week or so, I'm in slight morning for Conan's departure from late night (you think I'm kidding?). I have though, been packing my light work weeks with fun and exciting activities, such as celebrating Charlotte's amazing Restaurant Week by biting into a delicious steak at Ruth's Chris with these fine and well dressed people...


Charlotte Restaurant week is a strange combination of ingenious and economically brilliant. It is a single week during the year show casing some of the city's best restaurants that may not ordinarily be as accessible. Basically you can go anywhere and enjoy three courses for $30. So of course this fine, dapper, and fun group of people decided to go to Ruth's Chris, a place we usually wouldn't be able to go to on our small budgets. The evening was great, the steak even better, and the chocolate cake? Sinful. I wish my budget allowed for me to explore the other fabulous participating restaurants, maybe next year?
On an amazing side note...
This is one of my oldest, dearest, and bestest friends in the whole wide world, Miss Kelly. We've known each other since we used to spend our childhood summer days at the neighborhood pool, and I can't imagine not knowing each other until we're old and grey. In fact we've even joked about keeping up our crazy antics while we're rolling around in the nursing home. So without further ado I must announce her enagement to her beloved Aaron. Aaron likes to joke, "I liked it so I put a ring on it." I couldn't be happier for these, and words cannot even begin to describe how amazing these two are together, and what pleasure I take in being able to watch their beautiful day. Congrats Kel and Aaron!

Story time with Em..

If you know me personally, you know I'm a bit troubled in the story department. I believe I have these fantastic stories, yet I tell them in such a horrible fashion. I even took three semesters of storytelling in college, and while I can tell a fictional children's story like the best of them, I cannot tell a real to life, series of events, type of story to save my life. But alas, today I will try my darnedest. Please forgive me ahead of time.

During my recent trip to New York City (didn't see the extensive pictures and play by play? Well by all means please check it out) we decided to cut corners and never once rode in a taxi. Instead we rode in the fantastic New York City subway, on buses, and yes, my least favorite but also most scenic, by foot. I did travel with a true New Yorker after all, and sadly she did not believe in the Carrie Bradshaw approach to NYC travel.

I didn't mind riding the subway so much. In fact, it was kind of amusing most of the time, as I got to do one of my favorite personal pastimes and hobbies, people watch. I like to consider myself an observer, and I can't help but watch the people and events around me. During one of our lovely subway rides, my beloved Cameron and I sat speechless, too exhausted from our day of travel around the city. The trains doors open and in walks a rather tall Ukrainian woman and her rather small two, maybe three year old son. The two hugged the center pole as the train jolted forward.

Across from this mother and son duo sat a middle aged woman with her head resting against the glass train window, her eyes shut from the exhaustion of her day. The small and cute two year old boy? He begins to bark, yes, bark at the sleeping woman. I immediately turn to Cameron, a grin upon my face, wearing the expression of, "What the heck?" "I think he's trying to wake her," Cameron responds. Right, with a bark.

The boy then turns his attention to the pole that has been holding him up for the short minutes he's been on the train (that and the strong grip his mother has on the hood of his coat.) He eyes his new friend with curiosity, rubbing his cheek on the germ infested beam. Then his intensity on the shiny, silver, and seemingly disgusting pole grows. He isn't going to do what I think he's going to do, is he? No he won't, will he?

Cameron and I look at each other, knowing good and well what the other person is thinking. Then, the unthinkable happens. This young child sticks out his tongue and licks that New York City subway train pole. A rupture of laughter erupts from our bellies, a dark glare of protection from his mother follows soon after.

Thank you kid for our laughter that day, we probably needed it. But gross.

"You're a cheap date!"

I'm having one of those days, err maybe weeks (it may be Tuesday but so far, not so good), that has caused me to question if I am on the loam of a quarter life crisis. Details might induce an unnecessary amount of tears (tears of frustration, overwhelming emotion, anxiety, you name it) and I like to make this blog cheerful, yet honest. So, in desperate need of a good laugh, I remembered my new favorite Sonic commercial (who doesn't love a good Sonic commercial). This commercial makes me chuckle (did I just say chuckle?) quite a few times, and hopefully no matter the day you've had, you too will "chuckle" aloud with me. Enjoy!

Remember this post? About my never ending love for Anthropology but my disdain for their exuberant prices? Well sister christian here hopped on down to the store and scored herself a much desired and oh so charming set of dessert plates for $7.95 a plate.

I love when good old Anthro and I can come to a sort of agreement on things...now must I wait another six months until they next time they decide to be "generous?"

New York, I love you...

WARNING-this post comes with an insane amount of pictures. I realize that I could easily sum up my amazing trip to New York in a few short words and pictures, but that wouldn't make you green with envy, now would it?

Like so much in my life I've been entirely too busy (or lazy) to create a post on my fantastic trip to my beloved, New York. My love for this little slice of heaven on earth grows deeper and deeper by the second, and my absence from the blog world can only be excused by fantasy's of living in my city of love. A mere week and half ago, a small group of my gal friends and I road tripped it up to the blistering cold and snow to have an utter blast in any way possible. Our time in the city can be best explained as a non stop food fest, where a majority of our time was spent either eating, in search of food, or planning our day around food. Throw in some excellent theater, window gazing, stirring clear of tourist traps, and discovering what snow in NYC really looks like (I got many a strange look for squealing with my southern drawl, "Eww y'all! I just stepped all in the yelleer snow!"

Here our some of my favorite highlights from my unforgettable trip:

Our time in the city began with a stroll down Fifth Avenue where we gawked and oohed and awed at the splendor of the season, including the dancing snowflakes outside Saks...
...my friend and travel buddy Joanie and I looked at each other wide-eyed, jaws dropped, screaming, "It's Christmas!" when we saw and heard the snowflakes dancing to a great version of carol of the bells. We also enjoyed seeing all the cool window displays...
...and other novelties the city had to remind us of the splendor of the season...

...including, yep, you guessed, good old 30 Rock and the Rockafeller Plaza Christmas Tree.

...how stinkin cool is that? It's size is surpisingly smaller than I had imagined, but it didn't take away from the awe factor and the magical effect it had on me. Almost similiar to this tree that we happened upon as we strolled back from Serendepity in search of yet another place to eat (I told you we ate a lot)...

One of my favorite days in the city can be described by my dear friend and favorite former New Yorker Cameron, as the day we got cold, searched for food, ate, warmed up, and repeated, oh about four or five times during that day. Look at this picture, could you not sense how cold we were?

This was also the day that New York got its first "blizzard" of the year, as it snowed inches and inches to our pure and udder delight. Look at how beautiful New York is when it snows..

...isn't that cool? I was a bit afraid of the snow (I loathe winter weather like many loathe a certain Vampire series) as my cute but unpractical boots had me slipping and sliding like the best of them. However I quickly fell in love...

..see? Who couldn't love a nice snowfall in NYC? I even paid my friend Joanie a whole dollar to get down on the filthy streets of the West Village and make a snow angel...

...she gladly accepted that dollar with pride. One of the best parts of visiting New York is checking out all the wonderful plays, including Chicago, The Understudy, and In The Heights (I won front row lottery, yay!). I even got a picture with Justin Kirk of The Understudy (Uncle Andy of Weeds)...

Meet one of my beloved travel buddies and former New Yorker Miss Cameron...
...I visited Cameron a handful of times while she lived in the City for nearly three years, sharing a multitude of memories with her, and having the pleasure of adding more and more to the pile. Cameron served as our tour guide for the week, refusing to give into my tourist ways (she did however enjoy the colorful M&M's from the touristy M&M store I bought). I did protest and to much avail she finally gave in and let me capture this wonderful shot of the two of us in Times Square...

...which I'm glad I did my arm twisting because I was able to capture this wonderful picture...
...and of course I was able to give my true love a kiss..

...don't worry Mark-Paul, you are loved equally as much. One of my favorite parts of visiting New York is stopping by Alice's Tea Cup
...a small, little tea room modeled after my beloved Alice In Wonderland and her infamous tea date with the mad hatter. Cameron and I shared the Christmas Tea and scones, but felt rushed beyond measure because we had just won lottery tickets to sit in the front row for the awesomeness that was In The Heights.

Sadly this was the last photo taken during our amazing time in the city. So much was left uncaputured from simple rides on the train, our visit to Philly and Milford, Connetict both, and time we just got lost relishing in the awe and wonder that truly is New York. I cannot wait for the day when I can pack up my bags and take on the city full force as a resident, but that is another story for another day.

Hello lovaahhh...

Have I ever mentioned my love and lust for the girls of Sex and The City? It shall come as no surprise then for my excitement over the freshly released trailer. Keep those squeals to a minimum please ladies, the high pitched decibels are a bit much.


Sex and the City 2 in HD

Trailer Park | MySpace Video

Happy New Year! I had a fabulous New Years, staying up into the wee early hours with some of my best friends pictured below..


Aren't we a fine and dapper looking group of ladies and gents? We said our good byes to 2009 much in the way that we spent the year, in the company of amazing friends, laughing, sipping, and enjoying the non stop dance parties that always ensue with this group of gals. Some of my favorite moments from the night are highlighted below for your enjoyment.

Our evening started by literally jumping into the new year...

...and managing to break away from our dreadful and undoubtedly frustrating game of Battle of the Sexes to pour some champagne and ring in the new year in style...

...of course we had to stop our endless amounts of dancing for a photo opportunity.


My New Years Eve was wonderful, a perfect way to end a great year. I can't wait to see the fun and merriment that 2010 brings.