Sandy in NYC

Surprisingly Sunny Rainy Day

2011-05-17T23:23:00.000-04:00

Despite the dismal weather, my own gloomy feelings (because the constant grey skies makes me feel like a sloth) and the dreadful rainy/thunderstorm forecast for the next 4 days (it is currently day 4 of rainy weather) today was a nice surprise.

Let's get started.

This morning at 8pm I didn't have cash for my bi-weekly purchase of 2 apples but a kind sir who was in line in front of me was like "Just apples?" and put down the cash. It all happened so fast in the instant of me saying that he didn't have to and simultaneously scrambling in my mind to remember where exactly did I put my cash I think I forgot to say thank you. Which Lauren, who was standing right there, 'kindly' pointed out to me as we walked away... By the time I came to my senses the guy had walked away but thank you to you for helping out someone who believes in an apple a day.

Had an amazing opportunity to lunch in the Everyday with Rachael Ray test kitchen today. Every seat has a plastic bottle with a message in it. Guess what mine said "Congrats, you won!" WOOT WOOT. I know, ya'll are dying to hear what I won....a giftcard to Eataly! Perfect because I've been meaning to go there. Now I just have to decide if I want to go alone or with someone. I wanted to use it to take a class but Lauren was like "Are you sure you want to do that...ALONE?" Hmm.... I also got a fantastic lunchbox shaped like an artichoke, hahaha. I switch it out with my current one. But now Jackie has called dibs on my old one. Wow.

Buy yours here! They also have tomato and eggplant versions but I thought the artichoke had the most character.

I got to take a floral arrangement course. It was strangely relaxing and now I have a beautiful bouquet that decorates my desk area. And I realized I love love peonies, even if I don't know how to pronounce the name properly. hahahaha

I got skillz, no? You can see my co-worker's arrangement in the background.

I can't remember the name of this pink flower...it started with an R...

Lesson learned: no matter how crappy the weather can be, you can still have a nice day!

P.S. I apologize for my craptastic iPhone 3G pics. I actually bought a real camera but I find I look really Asian taking pics of everything with flash. At least this post had pics.

Things I'm Good At

2011-05-16T23:16:00.000-04:00

As promised, and to juxtapose my last post, here is a list of things I ace:

Shopping online

It's really sad when you have your credit card numbers memorized

Memorizing the most random facts
Being bossy
Not being patient

Aha, you caught me, this should go on the other list

Yoga
Talking
Asking questions
Baking

Okay, I don't know if I'm actually good at this but I can bake and I like to do it! Though I've kinda stopped

Reading recipes
Media planning
Keeping a beat
Driving

ahahahahahah, I know, I'm female...and an Asian

Telling you like it is
Confrontation
Problem solving
Picking the cutest yellow things
Sleeping
Eating
DANCING!

In other news, Jackie and I both used our hairdryers at the same time tonight. And we created a power short in our end of the apt. This wouldn't be a big deal except I can't find the power switch board which could be in the basement which I can't get to because our land lady is gone...thanks for coming back form China Jackie...

Things I'm Bad At

2011-05-15T21:42:00.001-04:00

This is a post about things/aspects in life with which I am not the brightest crayon in the box.

Seeing the latest and funniest viral videos in a timely fashion

Case and point: within the last few weeks I've seen for the first time Double Rainbow, honey badger, Friday by Rebecca Black
What I have seen are countless videos about small, cute baby animals sent to me by Lauren...daily...

Listening!

I think I'm good at this but not according to Lauren...and now Jackie...

Lauren: "What are you writing about?"
Me: "Things that I'm bad at."
Lauren: "Listening"
Jackie: "OH YEAH!"
Facepalm.

Making decisions

Big decisions: NBD
Small decision like what I should eat for lunch: no.

Kick-boxing conditioning/ab classes
Karaoke/singing the right words in a song

Case and point: My brothers' coined the term of "pulling a Sandy" in our household. That meant you sang the wrong words to a song. HAH.

Telling jokes

I always laugh in anticipation of the jokes

Rapping/Flowing

I wish I was Ludacris

Pretending that I can stand to be around someone
Texting
Admitting to being wrong!
Home decorating

Case and point: I've lived in my apt for 10 months and still don't have artwork up on the walls in my room.

Competitions

I'm sure there are a lot more but I won't get into that!
___________

Lauren: "Can you do a post about things you're good at but need to be worse at?"
Me: "....like what?"
Lauren: "Being bossy!"

Maybe next time kids.
___________

As to what's been up in my life, nothing too exciting. My mom came to visit. That was nice. I'm going home soon. YEAH ATX. I'm going to Thailand! I bought a Kindle for the 20hr plane ride. Excited.

I left my current book and detergent at the laundromat yesterday. I didn't realize until today and when I went back to get it, all my stuff was still there. So either One Hundred Years of Solitude is not a hot commodity or my neighborhood is honest. I can't decide.

Sorry, no pictures in this one. I'm getting lazy. True story.

It's supposed to rain all week and I am NOT excited.

Sensory Overload

2011-04-10T22:37:00.000-04:00

I'm going to try to post more. But until I get a decent camera it may all just be word posts. Which is hard since I'm such a visual person (like I say in every post).

Or I'll just look through my phone and see what random things I've captured and write about that. At least that's something right?

I don't know, it's like the older I get, the more I don't remember. I feel like I need to write down every fabulous experience I have because when I don't I just forget. I've gotten the opportunity to do many amazing things here in the city, partially from being in such a metropolis and partly from working in media (the bomb!). But maybe it's because I'm inundated by a profusion of sights, sounds and smells everyday that my mind has to optimize on what exactly to remember. About a month ago I recently read The Botany of Desire by Michael Pollan and there was an explanation in the marijuana chapter devoted to the brain and your neurons are constantly firing. In order to keep things flowing and going, the mind has to selectively choose what to remember and what to forget. They say that childbirth is so traumatizing, that the brain releases a chemical that helps the mother 'forget' what it was like in order to keep on reproducing. Obviously Pollan wrote all this in more accurate and pleasing prose than me.

But you get the idea.

Brunch at DiWine-Banana Bread French Toast (not mine of course!)

Lauren and I baked cupcakes for Jackie's birthday even though we couldn't eat them. Peanut-butter chocolate!

I made pho for this first time ever. Pho ga (chicken) yum!

L, J and I all got microzone treatments at Dermalogica

Drink at The Hurricane Club

I won the in-flight trivia game on my flight back from Vegas. Woot!

Random thoughts:

I eat healthy 5 days a week. On the weekends, when I'm not on a schedule I eat whatever, whenever
I want to go on a vacation alone
I eat an apple a day

This was a lame post. Sorry.

Back in NYC

2011-03-25T23:45:00.000-04:00

Since this blog is named Sandy In NYC I don't like to talk about my time in other cities. But since my last weekend in Vegas was sooo much fun I will share some tidbits.

Once Tommy sends me original pics of us, I can post some visuals. Until then a list:

Seeing my Dad, brother, cousins and aunt was really nice. I really miss my fam.
Mandatory visit to In-N-Out by taking a cab there and sneaking in a cab back (cabs in LAS aren't allowed to pick-up rides anywhere but designated taxi stations)
Lost $$$ in the casinos...watch Kevin lose even more
Kevin had a backpack with a built in speakers and jamming out to it in the airport, shuttle and hotel room
Staying at the Aria--lovely new hotel
Getting bottle service at Haze and watching B.O.B perform less than 5 ft away
Losing my wallet at PURE and having Tommy pull out his ID and saying that it was my wallet
Looking for my wallet in the bathroom with the attendant and getting a text from Kevin that said "I got it"
Watching my cousin get his dance on with older women
Experiencing a wonderful break from then ever-ending, cold, dreary NYC winter and laying out by the pool
Spotting my dad walking in the Bellagio with a whiskey in one hand and lit cigarette in the other because he was up from playing blackjack (he quit smoking 2 years ago...)
Seeing my aunt hovering her hand over Kevin's back in pure anxiety because he bet $$$ in roulette
Sitting at a table with all of my fam and gambling like it's going out of style
Getting all the way through security and to to the airline gate only to find out that I had showed up a day late for my flight. Waiting on standby for an hour before booking a hotel room, new flight and spending a night alone in Vegas. Oh, and calling in to work only to have my team be disappointed that I was taking an extra day because of a date mistake and not because I had gotten arrested or anything juicy and wild.

I know, I know, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. So think about what I am not telling you...hahaha, just kidding!

Baked

2011-03-13T22:56:00.000-04:00

I know I said I would post about Vivian and Mattie's visit. But I actually don't have any pictures. Since I'm a visual person, I feel that lack of pictures will not make an enjoyable post so I'll just sum up the visit into a brief, few sentences:

We had an itinerary that outlined the times and places we would eat at, every other activity was more or less on a whim. Vivian had this ridiculous cough and it was freezing cold so we had to bundle more than we had originally thought. But it was a great, relaxing time where we got to roam the city by day and settle around Glee episodes, making home-made oreos and eating take-out by night. Love.

Moving on. I have been hankering for cinnamon rolls. (Fun fact: when I was younger I had a cockatiel that I named Cinnemon. Yes, you read right, I didn't know how to spell cinnamon correctly at the age of 8. Well, I still spell it wrong all the time and have to catch myself constantly. This is coming from a girl who thought that San Diego was spelled Sandy-Ego. Talk about egos...Here is my defense to all this: English WAS my second language, bwahahahaha!)

Anyways, ~~cinnemon~~ cinnamon rolls require a lot of time. Which I don't have since I've given up baked sweets for Lent... Thus I'm making a King Cake for tomorrow in honor of Mardi Gras and to satiate my sweet, yeasty cinnemon-sugar craving.

However Joy the Baker has tempted me: Cinnamon Sugar Pull-Apart Bread

I cannot, absolutely cannot make that because I will eat it. No doubt. And because I don't have a loaf pan. But come Easter, nothing can stop me.

I could give up shopping on Amazon for Lent. Maybe...we'll see! Actually I gave up baked goods. Baked sweets to be precise.

I really want a Kindle.

I ate too much dinner. Well, I either at too much or too fast. Whatever the it was, my stomach is stuffed.

I'm going to Vegas on Thursday and I am EXTREMELY excited.

Sorry this post has no pictures. I might do a random picture post. Sometime...

Jackie's brother came into town this weekend to visit her and other peeps. Lauren's mom will be here this week, along with her two littlest siblings. Then the week after Jackie's cousin will be here. So many people.

And to all my friends and family who have not visited...ya'll are missing out!

Peace,

Sandy

Show me the love!

2011-02-24T23:29:00.000-05:00

Happy BELATED Valentine's Day! To commemorate I'm going to share one of my loves: baking.

A few weeks ago my roommates, Shelby and I took a cupcake class at Butter Lane. It was a Groupon okay? And I really like cupcakes.

And I also started this post on Valentines day. Hence the weird intro. But anyhow back to the story.

It was a class of 12. Teams of four. Guess who was in my group?

We made (as a class) vanilla, chocolate and banana cupcakes as well as vanilla, chocolate, cream cheese and peanut butter frosting (we voted on this and split the vanilla in half to get enough). My group was in charge of the banana cupcakes and cream cheese frosting. YUM.

I learned a lot about baking cake. Little, basic, scientific explanations about why it's important to cream together butter and sugar for so long. That there is reason to the order of adding wet and dry into the mix. Why you fold in banana last (because they are a gluten and over beating makes the cake tough and dry).

And let's just say I think our cakes turned out the best. Well-shaped and even. And our frosting was yum.

Winning cupcakes!

We learned how to frost the cupcakes Butter Lane style. Then there was a contest to see who could get it the most beautiful. I'll give you three guesses to who won...YAY ME! Too bad I left my prize, a gift of half a dozen cupcakes, in the kitchen when I rushed out after class. But we did not forget our cupcakes. It was free for all grab at the end, so the cupcakes I took home weren't necessarily all decorated by me...or the roommates. Or Shelby.

It was great fun and my love for baking has not decreased since then. Vivian and Mattie visited this weekend. We made homemade oreos. A post about their visit is forthcoming. I should definitely try to be more frequent than my current semi-monthly pace.

Snow Daze

2011-02-02T01:14:00.002-05:00

NY Public Libary on 5th Ave

I know I don't win for most original post title but it fits so well. Being from Texas, I never saw a lot of snow. Duh. I mean, when it "snowed" it was really icy rain and I remember waking up early to turn on the news, praying that school was cancelled. Since I've moved to the NE, I've realized that one, icy rain really is dangerous and two, snow in NYC is dirrrty.

Outdoor subway platform in my commute

It's been snowing, substantially, every week since Christmas. To me, this is what living up north is all about, to people who've lived in the city for the past 10 years, this is unusual. Apparently it doesn't snow all the time, like it has been. This year, it's been abundant. Blame it on global warming causing more severe storms. Who knows.

Walks to work can be fun.

Three scenarios when I wake up to a snowy day:

I wake up. I get dressed. I'm almost out the door and decide to look out the window. It's snowing. I sigh, exasperated, and tweak my outfit to work around my snowboots. The thing about snow is that it is silent! Unlike rain. But snow melts when it lands on your lashes and cheeks. I still haven't decided on whether I want to carry an umbrella out or not when it's snowing.
I wake up. I look out the window and the world is blanketed in snow. The sun is high and clear. Everything looks fresher, crisper, clearer. I bundle up excitedly and leave for work. Everything looks beautiful. Until later, when everyones tracks and the dirt of NYC taints the snow. And it's grimy and piled on the sides of the walkways. At least it hides the trash. But when it gets slushy and melty, it seems that all the corners are puddles of muddy slush. Bah!
I wake up. Because of a big storm anticipation,I call my work's hotline, even before I get out of bed, cross my fingers and hope that we get a snow day. That has yet to happen.


One of the neighbors has this snow plow machine that makes mountains!

Regardless of what seems like a list of inconveniences about snow, I rather enjoy it. It's nice to have a real winter. My favorite part is being able to see my breath so well.

What is all this snow good for? SKIING! My roommates and I (and Yesenia) signed up for a Texas Exes (Hook'Em!) day trip, ski at Windham Mountain, this past weekend. It was a great site. Lots of trails. The day was beautiful, clear and sunny skies. All lifts were open and trails freshly groomed. We had a blast even if we did have to wake up at 5am. It was a great day.

Taking a break to blow my nose!

About skiing. I've only skiied like once before. And I wasn't bad at it. I'm just...reckless. I guess you could say I started running before I learned to walk. Or walking before I learned to crawl. Regardless, I can balance, go fast and such but I cannot, for the life of me, stop aptly. Or at all... But I love skiing and can go on blue trails now. YAY! Anyways I want to make skiing a more constant thing in my life. I mean, if my brother can own a snowboard and live in Texas, I sure as hell can go skiing more than once a year.

Readysetgo! (Jackie wanted to snowboard)

And what else does snow entice one to do? Cook stews, soups and other hearty items of course! And what better way to make hot, delicious meals worthy of a snowy, freezing day than in a wonderful dutch oven. I decided to treat myself to this baby:

Staub. 5.5qt. Graphite

I am in bliss. I've wanted a dutch oven ever since I started reading Pioneer Woman and this desire burned even more when I became smitten with Smitten Kitchen. Braised meats? Deep, flavorful soups? SIGN ME UP!

Yes, I did get grey and not dijon. Why? I am lucky enough to have a friend who's mother works at William Sonoma. Thus I was limited to the colors they carried but I got half-off so I'm not complaining. Plus I think that grey compliments yellow rather nicely so I guess I'll just have a grey and yellow kitchen in the future. It's chic!

To all my readers: keep warm!

-Sandy

*Just wanted to say that many of the snow photos and all the skiing ones are courtesy of L!

New Year...no pictures

2011-01-12T23:08:00.000-05:00

So during my NYE deubachary I reset the passcode on my phone. And forgot it. And had to reset it.

As a result I lost all of my pictures. Or almost all of them. What I e-mailed myself before this all happened, apparently I was going to do a post about baked goods:

Simplest Apple Tart

Chris helped peel apples...I sliced them...

Simple Roast Chicken that I cannot stop making. Thank you Thomas Keller and thank you Mattie for making try this recipe.

World Peace Cookies

Wait, have I posted these before? Idk but they were good! I would do it again except I need more quality semisweet chocolate.

Speaking of, I'm really into quality ingredient nowadays. I recieved some vanilla bean paste for Christmas which I absolutely adore. And now that I've tasted the quality of Scharffen Berger, I do not know if I can ever go back to Nestle. Now that my sweets taste amazing (quality + my natural talent, harharhar) the only downside is that these ingredients are more expensive. Is it worth it? I'll let you know after I gain 5lbs. Or 10.

On the note of 10, we got 10" of snow last night. Let's just say that Lauren and I had the longest walk to work. Because we like jumping in snow drifts.

Sorry for the boring, albeit tasty, post. I hope it suffices until I feel motivated to upload more pictures. Because I do have some more. I'm just too lazy to get up and get my phone. Story of my life.

BTW, I am overjoyed at the amount of readers I have. I want to post more! Yay!

Raise your hand

2011-01-08T22:10:00.001-05:00

Or comment...if you still read my blog. I don't know if I should keep updating it!

Goodbye 2010

2010-12-31T17:39:00.000-05:00

Obligatory post about 2010.

Best moments:

-Jackie's birthday celebration at Hamilton Pool and West 6th. One of the most memorable days for many reasons: cacarones, learning that life is precious, good times with friends is one of the best things ever.

-Going to Vietnam for the first time, having my eyes opened and learning more about my culture. Appreciating my heritage.

-Getting a job and moving to NYC. One of the best and most bittersweet things I've done for myself. I miss home but I'd rather miss something then regret something.

Next post in 2011!

The Coming of Chris...tmas

2010-12-24T23:00:00.000-05:00

As most of ya'll know I will not be returning to Austin for the holidays. Woe. Originally, my family was to come up. But my dad is visiting one grandma and my mother has deemed NYC too cold for her. Alan will be coming the day after Christmast to visit. Kevin got a ski trip, so he won't be coming up...I think...

Dressed for company holiday party, haha

With my roommates back in Tejas, I will be spending the holiday weekend with Chris, mainly, with visits from Henry and possibly Simon. We will do nothing but watch March of the Penguins, Law & Order and eat. I will bake goodies galore. It will be glorious and as stress free as possible. Not because my roommates are gone, but because I will have time to do NOTHING! YAY!

Two notes: my reason for not updating in so long is that I've been swamped at work. Also, it's the holiday season so there have been many goodies at work...cookies, brownies and candy galore. And I bake alongside all of these free treats. What to do. What to do.

We got a Christmas tree!

With presents from best friends!

Delicious cookies and caramels from Mattie!!!

Moules Frites with Chris.

Had some people over to decorate sugar cookies

Opened one of my gifts halfway!

Had a lovely Christmas Eve lunch with Chris and Henry at Sho Shaun Hergatt. And then Henry came over for Christmas Eve dinner. We're watching re-runs of SNL. I'm waiting for midnight mass. I opened all my Christmas presents already...

I LOVE THEM! I thought this Christmas wasn't going to be too fabulous. But it has been. All my loved ones have sent me something and it means a lot since I can't be home to celebrate the season with them. And a common theme: everyone who is close to me has given me something food related from Trader Joes to bakeware to food itself. I am truly lucky to have such wonderful people in my life.

More pics to come!

Busy blues

2010-12-07T12:47:00.000-05:00

I'm home sick today. I kinda did it to myself because I went to work yesterday while under the weather. Why did I do that? Because I wanted to go to trapeze school. (this will be explained in my next post!) So here I am, at home, attempting to do some work while eating steel-cut oats and ice cream.

Been busy since I've come back. Gabby is in town! She's been here for the past weekend and will leave on Friday. It's her vacation. She actually left for Boston today though, to visit some family.

And since I owe ya'll a post but I am not feeling to well but have a best friend who's on vacation and has a blog of her own we'll just recap my weekend through her eyes.

Wintry Weather Weekend

Did I mentioned it's super cold here? Maybe not like Chicago but it's pretty blustery.

OH! And I will be on the CBS Early show this Thursday. Tune in. See if you can catch me decorating cookies!!! My network TV debut!!!

Back in the action

2010-12-01T00:03:00.000-05:00

I am now back after a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday week in Texas. Gawd, I miss Austin so much. It was wondrous, glorious and so much fun. Much needed.

I know I owe ya'll a long, overdue post but that will come later. For now, I have to say that I have the best roommates ever. Only we would go to the gym and walk on the treadmill just to watch the Victoria's Secret Fashion show. One: because though we now have a TV we don't have any channels. Two: Dancing on the treadmill is great. Three: Even is you're running hardcore, you'll still feel too fat for life while watching this show.

Lifting weights, trying to find the taco truck and watching our horoscopes on L's new Roku--great night.

Weekend in DC!

2010-11-15T22:13:00.000-05:00

Hippo in Smithsonian

YAY! I'm coming home so so so so soon. Get excited Austin! I am absolutely ecstatic!

Crochet of the coral reef in the Smithsonian

Can't believe my last post was November 1st. Time has really gone by. I've mentioned it before but when you're working all day, 5-days-a-week and you're just living for a weekend it all just whooshes by. I can't believe I've been here for 5 months already.

Sculpture Garden in DC

Of course my job doesn't help with this flyby sense. I'm constantly planning for the future. Deliverables are due by this date and that. We need to think about next fiscal year (which is April). Deadline is at Christmas. blahblahblah. At this rate my life is like an oilslick!

I went to DC last weekend to visit Mattie. I had a grand ol' time. Shop, ate and walked around Whole Foods for the first time since I moved. Gosh, I miss that place. I am determined to start going regularly despite my horrid first impression with the one in Union Square (abolutely ridiculous line, and all I wanted was a snack!).

The mess we made in the kitchen

Anyways, Mattie and I made a delicious dinner. It was the most simple and perfect roast chicken (which is now my go-to recipe for guests. I made it for Chris and my roommates last night--awesome). And vanilla roasted pears with REAL vanilla beans. It was so nice to go back to a 'normal' pace. Slower, unhurried and just about lounging around and doing nothing. We did get to go the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, which was nice.

Smitten Kitchen...vanilla roasted pears

Voila!

Apple A Day

2010-11-01T23:51:00.000-04:00

South Norwalk, CT

Apple picking. Apparently it's a big deal up here. And common. Of course, I had never heard of the past time being from Texas and all. But last week, I was lucky enough to get to go and catch the tail end of the season. It was glorious...to be able to ride a car through winding roads in the Conneticut countryside which were paved with autumn's gold and scarlet leaves. It's truly fall. The most beautiful fall I've ever seen. Shelby, Chris, Jackie, Lauren and I went to Blue Jay Orchards.

Once upon a time, in the beginning of my career, I co-founded the Apple-A-Day (henceforth known as AAD) with my supervisor. It was a joke between me and him. And we let others in on it. Then I started bringing in apples for each member. And each member started paying dues. And then I penned a weekly newsletter. And that newsletter became bi-weekly.

Yes. I created an club at work. What started out as fun, became a real thing. The simple concept of an apple a day (keeps the doctor away). I had an even dozen members, included myself. I had to cap membership since I did not want to be buried under bushels of apples, that I would have to lug to work everyday. But there were honorary members, those who knew of my faux passion for apples and those who enjoyed the quick wit and sarcasm I displayed in the newsletters.

However, I am sad to report, that with the end of apple season, and the turn of a new month, AAD is no more. Well, in the sense that I will not be personally placing an apple on each member's desk in the morning. And that dues will no longer be due. It might be the end of an era but there is always the future.

What to do with my apples? Well, I have been eating them...Jackie made applesauce. I made...nothing...so far.

But I have been on a baking bonanza.

Samplings of my shenanigans:

Easiest Banana Softserve

Brownie Roll-Out Cookies

Brownie bear...

Attempt at Baby Jesus Cake

Less than picture perfect snickerdoodles

Roasted Eggplant Soup

Sunshine likes to watch TV on the laptop too!

Cheers,

Sandy

Brotherly Love

2010-10-30T00:18:00.001-04:00

Taking a cue from Gabby I decided to capture the highlight of my day in a single pic:

I don't think anyone in the world can understand how happy my brothers make me.

And don't worry. A more in-depth post tomorrow!

Hufflepuff

2010-10-20T00:04:00.004-04:00

I visited Chris at Yale for the first time this weekend. It was a lovely trip, out of Manhatten on the North Railroad, going through Connecticut. The leaves are beginning to turn into warm golds, bright red and the sun sets a bit earlier, leaving a soft, hazy glow that wraps around everything. It is truly fall.

I've been wearing boots and trenches and scarves, not only because it's fashionable, but because I really need to as the weather turns crisp and brisk. It'll be my first real fall and I am enjoying every bit of it. I am not in Texas anymore. For real.

Yale is beautiful.

Every time I visit the older college campuses of America, especially up here, I can't help but sigh and wish that I realized the beauty of going to college not in Texas. Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed and am extremely grateful for my experiences and opportunities from school. But the beauty of UT does not strike me the way the old schools do. I wish I could be more articulate about my thoughts but my brain has become decidedly lazy. And that's a subject for another post.

Inside the courtyard of Timothy Dwight

Another view inside same courtyard.

Yale has a residential college system that is like the house system in Hogwarts. That's Harry Potter for those of ya'll who do not get the reference. (Read the series if you have not. Life changing.) And they all have a residential area, complete with a courtyard. You're put into a college as a freshman by random assignment. And each college has a master and it's own budget, yadayadayada. Read more about this here. I wish I had that. I also wish Harry Potter was real.

Chris and I got in a tiff because he said that if Harry Potter was real and I was at Hogwarts I would be a Hufflepuff. Which of course makes me huff. But I took this sorting hat quiz and it turns out I am...Not the biggest bummer in the world, at least I'm not a Slytherin.

The Halloween Holiday was in the air...

In other news I've been busy in the kitchen. Many treats to come. Nom nom nom.

SUNSHINE!

Hiatus

2010-10-15T00:22:00.000-04:00

I know, I know it's been three weeks since my last post. And due to high demand from my 'darling' readers.

A lot has happened. AdWeek, which was great. Long nights at work--not so great. But a thing to note is that I'm going to try and post more regularly. Like I said before, I get too wrapped up in trying to document EVERYTHING which makes me hesitant to post because I feel like it's going to be such a ordeal. Once I come to terms that I'm not going to be able to outline every single detail of my life online (not that I want to or should, I mean, I'm not the most important person in the world...or am I?), then I'll be able to post more regularly with random tidbits.

Anyways, onward and upward!

Vivian and Mattie came to visit this past weekend and it was amazing. I need to write a whole post about it this weekend but while I get that all together here are some bits and pieces to what's been going on.

Of course if I was going to have guests over, I needed respectable furniture, a sneak peek:

SEA OF SHOES

Okay, not really but it's my display and collection of shoes (not all of them, I have to admit) but I am missing the back of the bookcase. Why? Because I am looking for the perfect wallpaper/fabric for a DIY like this. But not necessarily that color or print.

Vivian's and my pisco drinks at Pio Pio , a most delicious Peruvian chicken place.

I really really really like drinks in coupe glasses. I am looking to get a set for myself. So retro but fun and more interesting than regular tumblers or even martini glasses.

Bisous Ciao-macaron heaven

Definitely more to say about macarons in another post.

Halloween spirit!

I haven't forgotten about my love for cupcakes. In fact, there was a week that I had one everyday because reps just kept bringing them in. NOM. This is large one from Crumbs.

Gratis

Imagine a Friday afternoon at work with you, seated at your desk, diligently typing away. And the mailroom guys come in pushing a cart loaded these babies shouting "Let's get chocolate wasted!" Everyone in the office got a bottle and a movie ticket. Because we just won a few little accounts like Diageo and Relativity Movies. Ah-may-zing.

I hope that suffices some readers' sandy-fix. Lol. I am SO hilarious.

Until next time,

-Sandy

Odds and Ends

2010-09-21T00:35:00.000-04:00

And SURPRISE! 2 posts in a day!

Just some photos of what's been happening the past few weeks sans Mattie's visit. I promise to buy a real camara just as soon as I buy furniture....so it's going to be a while....

I went to the Vera Wang store during Fashion's Night Out and saw Evan Lysacek and the designer herself (who was TEENY tiny and looked amazing for being 60).

Jackie got me this adorable apron for my birthday. It's almost too pretty to wear.

I baked these amazing dreamy cream scones which really were all that. I added orange zest to mine which made them extra nommy.

I also made crepes for the first time. They turned out very nice and I filled them with a homemade seafood filling or jam depending on my palate when I wanted to eat them.

I hope ya'll liked my back-to-back posts!

A visitor from below

2010-09-21T00:24:00.000-04:00

I realize it's been a while since I've written and I know every one of my readers (yes, all 4 of them) is dying to know what's been going on. Well, I've been extremely busy at work and when I'm not at work I'm either taking time to myself or immersing myself in my new hobby of cooking and baking.

Cooking and baking has always been a hobby for me but somehow, in the past 2 months, it's grown exponentially. Thanks to Gabby I am absolutely obsessed with smitten kitchen. The surprise me feature has me on my toes! I've e-mail myself about 2340842 million recipes to make so far.

This past weekend was very lovely. Mattie came to visit, arriving by Bolt Bus from DC. I wanted to take her to my favorite Hummus Place but it was closed...for Yom Kippur. A holiday that never even crossed my mind! I blame the fact that I grew up in Texas for this oversight.

Anyhow, our weekend was filled with beautiful weather, Subrina, arts and UT football. We ate bagels (YUM, however that is a box I should not have opened because now I want them AOTtime, my new favorite: everything bagel...!!!), had a picnic in Central Park, went to the Met, saw Easy A and ate thin crust pizza.

Oh wait...here is my weekend in pictures:

We had a delightful lunch at Nick's Pizza.

The Metropolitan Museum's current rooftop exhibit: Bambú. It was pretty awesome.

View of Central Park from the Met rooftop. Imagine the perfect weather that enveloped me as I took in this scene.

Right before Mattie left, we spontaneously stopped at Bouchon Bakery for macarons (we both got caramel, DELICIOUS). On a whim, we had looked it up after seeing a father and twins relish delicacies from this place during our picnic in Central Park.

All in all, I hope Mattie can agree that I am the hostess with the mostess. After this weekend I am determined to make macarons one day and I am in love with this fall weather. And I miss my friends and family from home even more now.

Crisp New Start!

2010-09-06T01:43:00.000-04:00

I hope to blog at least once a week. Here goes...

The end of summer has come. I always associate the end of summer with Labor Day weekend. My roommates still believe in not wearing white after...whatever.

I had a great summer. Got a job, graduated, chilled out, saw Vietnam, whirlwind move to NYC, started my job. My summer in NYC has been filled with Central Park, running, Amazon.com, buying furniture, a fascination with food blogs and baking.

It's funny. I've become more of a homebody/Suzy homemaker now that I have my "own" place. Being in NYC is fun but it hasn't been all the scene and be seen that I thought it would be. I've just come to a compromise that I'm going to be here for a while and so I have a lot of time to check out all the cool places and shops such as Momofuku's Milk Bar or Cafeteria. Oh...and I need the funds to be able to afford these things. Of course I would have more funds for these things if I wasn't so intent on building a storage of ingredients and arsenal of cooking utensils.

On to the pictures as we all know I'm a visual person.

Chris and I had my belated birthday dinner at Vesta in Astoria. It's a very small, intimate wine bar and trattoria. They have wine on tap (I got a crisp, refreshing riesling) and PEI mussels in the most DIVINE sauce. I had the most amazing thin crust, huge personal pan pizza that was topped with pancetta, arugula, apples, potatoes, carmelized onions and goat cheese. And the rest of their food is all about the local CSA. Love it love it love it. And for dessert we had a delectable house specialty: baby jesus cake. Some divine concoction that was a date cake with a caramel sauce accompanied with light, freshly-whipped cream.

Pics of the past week:


Jackie made a tres leches cake. Her first time!

My bruise from a memorable night. I took this picture today, this is after a week of healing.

Found my food processor on the 29th floor of my building. I work 16 floors from that. And I'm obsessed with making banana soft serve which is simply frozen banana!

A guy from my team who also eats healthy told me about this cereal or muesli. I love it and eat a serving with my yogurt every work morning! It's from the UK, like him.

Friday night dinner to start off the long weekend. Mad Men, wine, seared salmon. Lovely.

I got this in memory of a time at a wine bar I had with my friends. I drank the whole bottle...in one sitting.

Maybe ya'll will get a post tomorrow. I have nothing planned!

A composition of chaos

2010-08-27T10:27:00.004-04:00

Before my posts really get far and few between and before everyone has this big idea in their head that I live such a glamorous life, I've decided to share some details of the past few weeks, days, hours, minutes...

A usual lunch I bring. Not picture all are my cucumbers and carrots.

I found this delicious falafel place in west village called Taim. Definitely going again!

My sabich sandwich: sliced eggplant, fried to order, with an organic egg, parsley, hummus, israeli salad, marinated cabbage, tahini and amba sauces. It was serious so delicious, fresh and light.


It had an Austin-like vibe and super cute and small


Clockwise from top: Crab benedict, croque madame, BBQ pulled pork sandwich, skirt steak breakfast casserole

Roommates...

L made a carrot cake. We had a slice right away.

24 hrs later...this is why we wake up at 6:30am to work out

Sea of Shoes...I finally unpacked another box. All my other shoes are strewn haphazardly all over the apt. The kicker: I don't even wear my heels as much anymore.

Mattie got me the wonderful Molskine recipe journal. I love love love it and looking at recipes. Cannot wait to fill it with my most delicious finds!


Chris brought this back for me from Korea. His name is Sunshine.

This past Wednesday I went to a screening of Going the Distance. It was a nice night and fun movie to watch...though I wouldn't see it again or pay to see it, and came with a swag bag from which I love the vampire perfume item the most. NOT.

It was filled with random stuff though but my favorite is the nail polish. Or maybe the fake Spanx by Dr. 90210, lol. And yes, that is KY Yours+Mine personal lubricant...maybe I can sell it on the street?

My multicultural team is going to Hill Country BBQ for a taste of Texas. They have stuff like Longhorn Cheddar Mac and Cheese. I am excited!!! And hungry...

Roommate hang out this week. And definitely more baking. I ordered a food processor from Amazon (side note: I am obsessed with shopping on Amazon. I've place 10 orders in the last month. I am on an Amazon budget. No more for August. And then only one order a week starting in Sept.) that has not yet arrived. It better not be lost. I've been looking forward to this for the whole week! So many things to make.

The weather has been great, if not phenomenal. We had a cold front and I got to wear a scarf. Last night I actually wanted to wear my sweater while walking home. And this morning was absolutely beautiful! Loves it.

Also, I cannot wait for my friends to come visit. HINT HINT

Another weekend

2010-08-19T00:30:00.000-04:00

I'm going to try and post more than once a week. But until then, you'll just get a digestive of what I've done...mostly about the weekend.

I think my growing 'dread' towards blog posts is, while I really really want to do them, I also want to document everything! So my new game plan, before I get into an awful cycle of never posting, is to just post random things. You may not get all the details but it's better than nothing.

Last Friday was a work group outing to upstate NY for rafting and a pig roast. It was amazing. Can I just mention how wonderful the weather is up here? Fantastical. Of course my dad says that only way to maintain my love for the summers up here is to go back to Austin and remember what a real summer is.

Now...for a post in pictures:

Charter bus ride...2.5 hours...

Bus that took us to the drop off site for rafting

Views from the raft, on the Delaware river...I think this is NY

And this is Pennsylvania, but I may be wrong

Quaint town, so small there were no cell phone towers and consequently no cell service, just the way I like it

Bear...the most beautiful, friendly and fun golden retriever I've ever met

Our EVP's country house that hosted our lovely dinner picnic, it was GORGEOUS

There was even a port-a-potty for our convenience

100lb pig that had been roasting ALL day

Caterers from a local, gourmet restaurant

We relaxed...I gave Yesenia an Asian foot back-rub, hahah

The best meal I've had all summer probably. Slaw, roasted corn salad, cucumber salad, ROAST PIG, chick pea and beans, mac & cheese...I had shamelessly ate two loaded plates...

And we had s'mores for dessert!

NOM NOM NOM

Other miscellaneous items from last week:

Jackie came back from Europe and brought us macarons from the world-famous Ladurée, birthplace of the first double decker macarons

Vivian sent me an H&M gift card for my birthday, which I bought a 'much needed' new shirtdress, I love it.

I went to a private party featuring DJ Questlove (drummer from the Roots) and Janelle Monae

The beautiful building I work in

Lazy Days of Summer

2010-08-09T00:11:00.002-04:00

I am enjoying life post grad tremendously. It is great to just go to work, go home and not have anything pressing to do. Like, I can just leave all my work worries at work and spend time for myself on the weekends. Granted, I realize this is an easy rut to get stuck in. I suppose I will eventually join some organizations or extracurriculars. Or start studying for the GMAT. But for now, I will enjoy my hazy, lazy days of summer and adjust to life after school.

There just doesn't seem to be enough hours in a day to fully do everything you want. For example, I still need to buy furniture for my room because it still just a mattress on the floor...and boxes that are half-open and haphazardly strewn all over my room. And I just unpacked my stand mixer which means I'm itching to start baking. And I still need to sign up for a gym. And start reading books again instead of reading magazines such as Better Homes and Gardens and Whole Living.

This being said. I did none of the above this weekend. SURPRISE!

Friday night was spent cooking, eating, painting my nails and watching the final episodes of Mad Men season 1. I. am. so. wild.

Saturday we were supposed to go to the beach. L and I were suppose to meet some friends and coworkers at Penn Station and go to Long Beach (about an hour train ride). There is a LIRR deal that gets you a round-trip and beach admission for $19. We were supposed to be at Penn around 11:30am. It was 11:25 and we were still on the subway, halfway there, ticketless, and our couch was scheduled for delivery from 6pm-10pm. We promptly decided to got to Central Park instead and hopped off at the next stop. HAHAHA

It was a beautiful day. I actually laid out in the sun instead of the shade this time. And I was not burning/sweating to death.

Views from walking through the park.

Sheep's Meadow, I think. A lovely lawn and where we parked ourselves.

Good thing we came home early. Our couch arrived at 5pm. It came like this:

"Can we pay you to put it together?" "I don't even know what you guys ordered..."

Stupidly we asked if they (the delivery men) were going to put it together for us...of course not because it's from Ikrazy so it's all DIY. We opened all the boxes, in order to find instructions. We found it in the LAST box we opened and even then we couldn't find the instructions. Our place then looked like this:

We left it like this all night

We were hungry and frustrated so instead of putting the couch together, we decided to go out for dinner...and chose the farthest choice, Thai Son in Chinatown, to eat at. We also got bubble tea. Of course, instead of cleaning up our mess and assembling the couch we decided to go out. I ended the late night...or should I say early morning with a delicious taco al pastor that was just pork, very authentic. Best (and only) two dollars spent that night.

The new Best Wurst ya'll

The next morning we tackled the furniture. It took us 2 hours.

POWER TOOLS

Look at that sun kissed skin, courtesy of Central Park.

"Let's just arrange the cushions and make that our couch."

CLEAN ALL THINGS!

So close but we were crashing...

And in the after it was all done we took a 3 hour nap on our new couch.

So big, we fit perfectly.

By the way...I put a sorta-sneaky link to my new favorite blog. Everyone should at least read the post I linked to. It is me, to a T.

HOORAY FOR BIRTHDAYS

2010-08-05T23:22:00.001-04:00

Despite my initial feelings of gloom and homesickness about celebrating my birthday away from loved ones, I woke up on August 3rd...okay, I left work on August 2nd with a spring in my step. Lauren and I celebrated early with Coldstone (it's only 1 block down...the end of my semi-flat stomach) in my favorite combo--cake batter with a brownie mixed in. We walked...off our ice cream...and found a liquor store. Liquor is sooo cheap here ya'll. And they sold flasks! My ~~first~~ second gift!

My actual birthday in pictures:

My birthday OOTD. My shoes got lots of compliments.

My favorite flowers from my team. My 5lbs of strawberries from my favorite nerd. Oh! And that is Larry. We both have the same crappy desks. We bond over that.

So I planned to bring a sandwich for lunch. But lo and behold, I left my lunch meat out the night before. I made a big fuss to Lauren about it. When it was lunch time, my usual lunch crew came over. We always discuss where we're going to go, get food from there and meet at a outdoor, roof-top lounge down the street. For some reason, I couldn't find my cards (needed to access my office and the building) and kind of held up everyone. Andy, a supervisor on my multicultural team, was like, let's just go Sandy. So I just stopped fumbling and followed him. There is an entrance through the conference room so we walked in there and...

SURPRISE!

Baked by Melissa, two-bite cupcakes. L-R:Sundae, Cinnemon, Cookie Dough, Mint Chocolate, Red Velvet NOMNOMNOM

Yesenia had planned a birthday lunch for me with the rest of the multicultural team filled with sushi and cupcakes! It was a total surprise, because I hadn't made a big deal about my birthday. I mean, come on, at this point in the day I had not even picked a restaurant to eat at even though I invited some friends to dinner. It was truly touching and I had a great time at lunch.

Afterwork, I was craving a taste of Texas. So Yesenia, Yolanda and I went to El Rio Grande...a Tex-Mex restaurant where we munched on chips and ~~watery~~ queso while sipping the strongest margarita EVAR.

Dinner was at Fig & Olive, a lovely, modern restaurant suggested to me by my seasoned New Yorker friend Henry. It's concept is built around olive oil. They only cook with olive oil and serve contemporary Mediterrenean food. It was quite lovely.

PENNE FUNGHI TARTUFO-cremini mushroom, parmesan, black truffle paste, fresh parsley & scallion - Truffle Olive Oil

Fun

Laughs

Birthday wishes

It was a wonderful night. And it didn't stop there, I'm still getting presents in the mail. I am deeply grateful for the love I have from my friends and family. This birthday has been one of the most enjoyable and fun, which is not what I expected at all. In fact, I half expected to just get drunk and cry about not being with loved ones. Haha. Anyways, I hope you enjoyed my post with it's hipster-filtered photos (I used an app on my iPhone to change the appearance of the photos). Here's a little more just to end my post.

Thanks for the lemon Tommy and Thu. My favorite brand of candle. In my favorite color.

I don't think anything can express how much I love my mother.

War Zone

2010-08-02T00:27:00.000-04:00

A lot has happened in the past 2 days. Or at least that how I fell. I took a summer Friday yesterday (I get 2 because I started work in the middle of summer, but I love that we get summer Fridays!) to wait for my worldly possessions to arrive. My nine (avg 30lbs) boxes.

So of course I slept all morning and spent the afternoon cooking and giving myself a manicure. As soon as I'm about to apply the top coat on my last nail the UPS man rings the doorbell.

I then proceed to carry the boxes up 2 flights of stairs. I MADE IT!

I went to spin class at a gym, (I am still searching for all the trials I can get), and decided I would get snack so I stopped by Whole Foods in Union Square to see what it was like. Oh my word...I will probably never have time to just 'get a snack' from WF like I used to. The line was ridiculous! They had all 31 cash registers open and a long, long, winding line that wrapped to the end of the store. There was an automated voice that told you which register to go to next. Here in NYC, lines in the busy store end with a line ender who holds a sign for either '10 items or less' or 'end of line.' I browsed a bit and then walked out the door.

I went to a Cold War Kids concert sponsored by Heineken. It was really cool. Too bad I don't like to drink beer. They had food, silk screened t-shirts (you got to pick a design and color you wanted it in), interactive TVs that you could text messages to via your phone or the iPads they had available, Wii games and a ton of free Heineken. It was nice and the DJ played good music. I got a little tired by the end though. But it was like one of those parties that you hear about, that happen all of the time in NYC so it was cool to finally go to one. I also went to a Tito El Bambino event the next night. It was really interesting to see the different crowds for each performance.

Self-serve Heineken

And today my bed arrived!

Okay...so you may be wondering why I only have a mattress...and why my room looks like war zone.

The box frame does not fit up the stairs! They even put it up to the balcony on the second floor and it couldn't make it up the stairs. It is literally to big to fit up the space between the ceiling and the stairs. So I have to get a split box spring. Now, I know all the new bed styles are platform and don't require box springs but I prefer a high bed. However, my new mattress is extremely comfy and top of the line. I definitely sleep so much better.

Yesterday, I also went to Omonia Cafe with Lauren. It's a few blocks from my place and serves the greatest desserts and pastries. Definitely a neighborhood place, great for people watching, good for dates or chats with friends. I watched the World Cup final match there and it was fun. They have this great brunch special where you get to choose one item each from 4 seperate categories for only $12.95! I got herbal tea with honey, a bloody mary, homemade spinach pie and flan. YUM. Lauren got herbal tea, a screwdriver, burger and fries and strawberry shortcake. I'm taking everyone who visits me to this place because I think it's that much fun.

So now that all my stuff is here, I feel a bit more 'permanent' about living in NY. Before it was felt so temporary, like my internship last year, that I'm going to go home soon. But that's not the case and I have to wait until THANKSGIVING. There is definitely a lot of things to do and places to see. So that keeps me busy. In fact, I've only unpacked two boxes...

The weather here has been wonderful. Yesterday, Lauren and I went to Central Park to lay out (well, me in the shade, and L in the sun). Jackie went to the UK for vacation so it's just us two for now. Today we went to the new Target that has just been built in East Harlem. It was JUST like shopping at a real Target at home complete with one huge sales floor. But there is just sooooo many people here that there is always a traffic jam of carts. There's a complimentary Target shuttle that will take you from the subway station to the store. It's nice!

I took a picture of a Target shuttle while in a Target shuttle

Inside the shuttle was a running reel of Harlem life and neighborhood.

Of course we have to limit ourselves to only buy what we can carry home. But on the way back we saw the 6 train wrapped in Target advertising. It was really cool to see and we totally lit up when it arrived.

It's my party...

2010-07-29T23:20:00.000-04:00

Though I've been feeling sad about spending yet another birthday away from my loved ones, things are starting to look up. Today I came home to this:

Okay, so it didn't really look like that. It was actually in a USPS box with just my address on it. Gabby, don't think you can just not put your address on something and think that I would not recognize your handwriting.

Anyways, I decided I would be good and not open it until my actual birthday.

JUST KIDDING. I just wanted to pretend I had the patience. HAH!

I know you're dying to know what's inside, just as I was.

I'll add a lot of break so you have to scroll down all the way.

Keep scrolling...

Glitter gold TOMS!

Only a best friend would remember that one time you mentioned that you wanted these shoes when talking about her baby brother buying a pair for own best friend. I now declare TOMS shoes best friends shoes.

Now, if only I were going to work tomorrow. I want to wear them out!!!

iKrazy

2010-07-26T22:10:00.000-04:00

Yesterday my roommates and I decided to take a trip to Ikea. To finally furnish or attempt to furnish or at least make decisions as to what to do to fill up our space. Because really, 2 weeks with nothing but cardboard and boxes to act as your furniture doesn't really make coming home very comforting. Actually, that is a lie. We love our place and have already declared that we will be living here for at least 2 years.

However, we do need furniture. I mean, I'm still sleeping in an airbed. If I'm going to call NY my home, it needs to be a place where I can lounge. And we are all tired of lounging in a full sized bed.

So we spent about 8 hours going to, eating in, shopping around and coming home from Ikea. Or should I say...Ikrazy because that is how we felt at the end. The thing about Ikea is that you go through the whole freaking store carefully handpicking the items that will make your home. You have a 15 meatball meal with ligonberry jam, mashed potatoes and elderberry drink with your roommates. You layout your place and discuss the allocation of costs. And then you get down to the warehouse...to realize that not only do you have to pick up your own pieces but EVERYTHING YOU WANT IS OUT OF STOCK.

Then begins the delirium. Waiting in line to ask if they have it in the back, debating on whether you really need it or if you should pay the one-time flat fee to deliver only half of what you picked out or if you should just go home and come back another time when ALL the things you picked out are in stock.

Of course we spend some time looking through the as-is section to see if we could score deals. In the end we just picked some alternatives. Maybe they weren't as cute as our original picks but they at least served the same function. Because we'd be damned if we had to pay the delivery fee more than once.

We got some coffee/side tables, a COUCH, a rug, a dining table, a table for the kitchen and then some. Of course, after standing in line we had to have a snack of non-fat vanilla frozen yogurt or, if you are Jackie, you get a Pepsi with NO ICE...BECAUSE THEY ARE OUT OF THAT TOO. Then we decided to go back and get more tables. Get ready to leave, make it past the receipt checker, down the stairs only to realize the $8 table you're carrying has a DENT in it. So one has to go back and exchange it. And then see your roommates like this:

So yesterday night our place transformed..a bit. From this:

Literally cardboard and boxes ya'll.

Hard at work. Carrying those pieces through the subway was AWFUL.

!!!


Basked in sunlight.

There will be more. Our couch was special delivery so please stay tuned for the next 10-14 business days. GET EXCITED.

Working girl

2010-07-22T20:14:00.017-04:00

I've decided to show ya'll my commute to work!

I would post pics of the apt but it is BARE and I do not know if I feel like sharing until my bed gets here. We shall see.

~~So I wake up in the morning feeling like P.Diddy~~...just kidding.

Every morning I leave this cute apt:

Turn the corner and walk down Broadway, a main and busy street in Astoria. I love it:

I walk to the subway and wait for my train, outside of Manhatten most of the trains run above ground:

I get off my first train and then transfer to a train that comes, literally, into my building. Hello Manhatten! View from the platform:

The above ground trains move rather slowly compared to underground ones. I always pass this awesome building I named the graffiti building:

I think the building is so cool and I enjoy seeing it everyday. One day I'll visit.

The train then wooshes into Grand Central and I exit like this:

Yes, the 7 train is about 6 stories underground. I walk up the stairs usually because the escalators are so slow. And for the morning commute, both go up only.

I pass a Starbucks and YAY work!

I make my way to my tiny desk. Okay, so I don't have a cube yet...this is temporary, we're moving soon to the upper floor and this is what I got. But I also got the best computer. And see my Smuckers' jars? ACCOUNT REPRESENT:

And as a bonus, what I wore to work today:

Do I look like a seasoned New Yorker yet? The canvas tote I carry has my lunch in it. I prefer not to put food inside my baby aka my beautiful, yellow bag. Duh.

Resurrection

2010-07-18T18:55:00.002-04:00

I think it's the right time for me to bring back my blog. Why? Because I am now back in NYC...permanently.

I was blessed enough to graduate college and land a job in my dream city. Which also happens to be the dream city of millions of others. I am excited to report my adventures, musings and missteps to my...ahem..DEDICATED readers.

I live in Astoria, Queens. I love it here. I get low rent but a large apartment. Cozy cafes, bustling bars and small grocers line the streets along with all the other necessities such as laundromats and discount stores.

It's cute and homey. Our land lady/owner is a nice, first generation Italian named Ninfa. She has the cutest Italian accent and knows all the neighbors who are Italian as well. Joe and Lucy, our neighbors even grow grapes in their back yard. It's quite lovely.

My nabe also feels very safe. I have no qualms, yet, about walking home at night from the subway alone. We live pretty much in the heart of Astoria close to the main streets of Broadway and Steinway so there is always something to do.

So, I hope ya'll are ready for more posts. I want to be more prompt and informational than last summer. I know my friends and family would also love updates about my oh-so-glamorous life as a New Yorker.

Autumn in NYC!

2009-09-21T01:55:00.003-04:00

YAY! I'm taking a little trip to NYC this weekend. Why you may ask? To shop, eat, catch up with some friends and oh yeah...visit my boyfriend!

I have a list of things I need to do/redo once I land. Get excited!!!

The End of NYC

2009-08-23T14:05:00.002-04:00

So the end of my summer in the Big Apple ended about a week ago. There was so much that happened that I'm behind on posting. Who knows when I'm going to get to it as I have to move in to my apt before classes start on Wednesday. I have lots to do and as always, a lot of anxiety about it.

On another note, my dad took me to Vegas for my 21st birthday. I can honestly say it one of the best vacations I've been on, ranking up there with my trip to Boston with Mattie and NYC freshman spring break. I'm coming home with money in my pocket, more than I started with, and a developed taste for delicious foods (I love Vegas buffets). It was nice, relaxing and exciting because I've never been carded so much in my life.

So here's to VEGAS! Thanks Dad, you are awesome.

BIRTHDAY WEEEEEEEK!

2009-08-05T23:59:00.006-04:00

I had a great birthday. It was lovely and though I did wish for a second that I was in Austin to do my dirrrrrty 6th walk, I had a FABULOUS birthday! Recap was documented by the one and only Gabby. I'm so glad I could share it with my best friend. You can read and see pictures on her blog.

Highlights include all the interns (we have over 30) getting organized by Caitlyn (who sits in a cube next to me, loveherandHenry) to surprise me with a cake and candles and singing HAPPY BIRTHDAY! It was soooo nice and such a surprise. Unfortunately, this meant that I did not have a camera to take a picture of it. I feel so lucky to have such great interns to work with.

Speaking of interns, we had our internship project due today. Let me tell you, we worked all summer on this project, meeting at least 3 times a week. And I LOVE my team. When I say we had an AMAZING bond and fun times, I am not exaggerating. We had super funny moments and meetings yet all the while we worked diligently. So many jokes and good ideas and camaraderie. I can go on and on and on. Of course our group WON the intern project for our product so that just goes to show that we, kbdm\weitzen\nguyen\associate + partner worldwide group....& sons (yes, our agency name that rocked), are the bomb. I could seriously see myself working with my intern group for the rest of my advertising career.

Not ready, but we're so cute even though I look awkward:

Our internal group name was SANDY & Friends, yes, it speaks for itself (yes, the logo is an elephant spouting a rainbow, what what!):

And apparently I like to Hook'Em all the time...when I'm not in school thus have taught my group to bleed burnt orange:

I also received the best birthday gift today from Chris. It's perfect because I have only randomly, mentioned once that I wanted a white watch and he went and picked out one I would have for myself but would have never bought (if that makes sense). It is beautiful, was a TOTAL surprise and I love it.

One more thing!

2009-07-31T01:50:00.003-04:00

I also forgot to mention that I finished both my online courses 2 weeks ago and I feel AMAZING.

Cannot wait to go shopping tomorrow (because I don't have to work FRIDAYS!) and for Park Avenue Summer!

Other little tidbits: I am reading my second Gabriel García Márquez novel Love in the Time of Cholera because One Hundred Years of Solitude was wonderful. I really enjoy his style.

Summerrrrrrr

2009-07-31T01:45:00.001-04:00

I am going to lunch here for the end of NYC Restaurant Week

Isn't it perfect?!

You've Got Mail!

2009-07-26T17:30:00.003-04:00

Okay, I realize that the iPhone does not capture the beauty of food very well but I don't care. I lovelovelove remembering what I ate so I DGAF about my crappy pictures.

Last Sunday Yolanda and I had plans for brunch and sunning in Central Park. She kept talking about how we're going to Cafe Lalo, where, little did I know, You've Got Mail was filmed. Of course I HADN'T seen the movie (I mean come on, I saw Forrest Gump and Clueless my junior and senior years of highschool, respectively) but it was a delightful brunch/patisserie. NOM. So cute and French and most importantly DELICIOUS.

Outside:

Fresh orange juice and napkin, so you can get an idea of the aura:

My steamed eggs with BRIE and mixed mushrooms, Mediterranean salad (missing the potatoes, those came later):

Oh, and I watched the movie later on at night as it happened to the only movie Yolanda actually brought with her because...SURPRISE! It's her favorite movie. Betcha didn't see that one coming!

Butter

2009-07-26T17:23:00.003-04:00

Pictures from Butter. We sat on the first floor which is more restaurant than club. It was yummy of course.

Summer shrimp and pea raviolis:

Mussels, in a bed of spinach and everything fancy:

Oh, I also spilled one in my lap, where my napkin had slid down to my knees so I had oil/butter stains alllllll over for the REST OF THE DAY.

Raspberry caramel custard aka FLAN:

Carolina's cheese plate which was nomnomnom:

Vegas BABY!

2009-07-26T17:20:00.002-04:00

Soooooo, my amazingly awesome Dad is taking me to Vegas as a 21st birthday present after I get back from NYC. WOOT WOOT! I know. I have the best Dad in the world.

We're staying at the Wynn. AHHHHHHHHH! I AM SO EXCITED!!!

Long time, no blog!

2009-07-23T00:00:00.004-04:00

So I've decided to save all my food pictures of restaurant week so far and make a massive post. I still have a few more to go but this is what's up.

Some Tuesday ago, I went to Rouge Tomate on the UES. Contemporary American. It was beautifully decorated and designed. A very clean, crisp ambiance. The service was excellent. There was even a bathroom attendant!

Lame pic of the downstairs area:

I had a fancy ceviche, it was nomnomnom 5/5 on this one folks, done very rare, sashimi-like in texture!

Bershire Pork Loin, omg, they cooked the pork sooooooo WELL:

Coconut tapioca with mango, jellies and fancy foam, it was really good:

Okay...so I was going to do more but I am tired and will save that for laterrrrrrr. Next is Butter.

More lists of things to blog about:
where I eat lunch

This blog might as well be called Sandy's food in NYC. Yeah....

Restaurant Week NYC

2009-07-14T23:30:00.001-04:00

Today I went to my first restaurant for restaurant week. It was amazing. More to come.

Shakespeare in the Park

2009-07-11T17:11:00.004-04:00

So I woke up at 4 this morning (Along with Mary, Yolanda, and Anyi) in hopes of getting tickets for Shakespeare in the Park at the Delacorte Theater of Central Park. The play is Twelfth Night and has Anne Hathaway in it, her stage debut.

I was like, I must be crazy to get up this early considering they don't hand out tickets until 1pm.

No. I am not crazy. Those are the people who spent the night on the street, on Central Park West, sleeping on cobblestones with sleeping bags, tents, air beds etc. Wow. When we got there the line was already 12 blocks long. I could not believe it.

So we stayed in line until they opened the park at 6am. Where we were like 15 people from the supposed cut-off. Banking on people to leave the line we still stayed in line. We moved a little ways down but by this time we were tired and not to mention I was the only one who brought a towel so it was four girls sitting on one towel. Which looked so funny compared to everyone else who brought like extra large blankets and pillows.

It wasn't too bad waking up this morning. After we all got going it was like we were high on life or lack of sleep. It was nice and by the time we decided to eat brunch it was actually 7:00. Waking up early warps your sense of time for sure.

Decided to go to Tom's in the UWS/Morningside Heights. You know, the Seinfeld storefront. Then I took the girls on the tour of Columbia because I know it all so well. (harharhar)

Took a nap until 1 and we went to sushi. nom nom nom. On the way home we passed a dollar store and I got everyone to go in and of course we found a lot of basics for...$1 duh! I really like dollar stores now. There is one by Penn Station that my mom dubbed my favorite store because I'm always buying odds and ends from there. HAH!

Pics:

People sleeping, blurry because I didn't want to look conspicuous:

People debating on whether to get in line after the supposed cut-off:

Breakfast at Tom's, I love sausage and french toast:

Sushi lunch! Forgot I had this app on my phone that changes picture styles so I used it on the last image:

Chicken and Rice

2009-07-10T19:21:00.003-04:00

This is going to be a post about food.

So there's a Halal stand here that is only open from 7pm to 4 am. I'm going to say is it the equivalent of Dirty 6th's Best Wurst. Apparently at night, there are a bunch of drunk people scarfing down chicken and rice. I have yet to see this scene but I have been to the stand for dinner twice now. It is pretty good.

Pics of the line and food, mind you this is a street cart with people lined up for dinner:

I can't finish a whole one. So I get 2 meals in one!

There are soooo many good food places here. I can't even begin to post about all the different part of the city.

Gosh, there are so many posts I have to do. Maybe I'll do one laterrrr.

Happy 4th!!!

2009-07-06T00:41:00.013-04:00

This is going to be a long massive post. Because I have not had the time to post in a while. My mom and Alan have left and now I may have more time to update everyone more often.

I started the weekend with celebrating Yolanda's, another MAIPer, birthday! Happy Birthday Yolanda!!!

Then it was off to Beantown the next morning to visit Gaaaaaaaaaaaaabbbbbby.

She lives in Beacon Hill. It is a lovely, beautiful place. And at last minute, Jackie, another MAIPer and fellow Longhorn, decided to come to Boston too. She wanted to visit her friend from high school (Jackie went to International School in Hong Kong ya'll). But since it was last minute she couldn't ride the BOLT bus with me and took a Chinatown bus instead...good ol' Fung Wah!

Don't be fooled, the Asian buses are faster. Jackie and I left at the same time each way and she always made it there at least 30 mins faster.

Breakfast before the bus, Lemon Puff:

Also bought a bunch of croissants for snacks but surprisingly did not eat them!

Gabby's BEAUTIFUL neighborhood:

We ate lunch at Fill-A-Buster and then Gabs had to go to work. So I hung out with Jackie and her friend Andrew. Andrew is a European History and Art major at Suffolk University so he took us to the First Friday in SoWa. Basically an open studio day for a bunch of artists in one building. It was really cool to see all the different kinds of work from paintings to jewelry.

On the 4th Gabby and I went to a delicious brunch at the Paramount. It was heavenly:

We decided to be efficient and shared a spanish omelette and french toast with fruit so that we could both have something sweet and savory!

Then Gabby went to work and I had plans to go to the MFA but it was CLOSED for the 4th. Sad. But Andrew took us to the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) instead. Let me tell you, the building is beautiful. It's right on the harbor or whatever and is one of those modern glass structures so you can see the water in their special viewing areas.

Jackie and Andrew, no they are not holding hands!:

Harbor and views from the building:

There were really cool exhibits including one about Shepard Fairey who designed this world-famous image:

One of my favorite works, Cornelia Parker's Hanging Fire (Suspected Arson):

Sorry for the bad pics. I had to take them covertly.

Then onto Quincy Market for food from the Boston Chowda' Company. I know it's on my Facebook but this deserves another spotlight (WHY DON'T THEY MAKE LOBSTER ROLLS IN TEXAS?!?!):

Watched fireworks from Gabby's roof-top with her room mates (they are BUNDLES of energy! Super nice and hilarious) and their friends and other Globe interns. Read about it on Gabby's blog as I am too lazy to post pics to mine.

Highlights of the night include:
-tater tots
-salt on a wine stain
-potpurri-looking patriotic chips
-making patriotic nachos

I just needed to mention that they whole day I thought of how awesome it is that I was in BOSTON of all places to celebrate the 4th. I mean, it's where is all happened! It was lovely and Mattie's mom told me to throw a teabag into the harbor for good measure via Facebook!

And the weather was soooooo beautiful. Blue skies, bright sun and a lovely breeze. Perfect in the 70 degrees range. I don't even know what summer is like in Texas at this point. I have forgotten.

After the explosions in the sky (HAH) we went to a club in a hotel. People started going home but Gabby, Jackie and I were in the mood to DANCE our pants off so we cabbed it to a club called Gypsy. It was sooo much fun and all I need to say is Texas girls love to dance. We ran into quite some characters. Quotes from the night include: "We are all TAKEN!"
"No means NO! What don't you understand?!"
and my favorite, from Jackie, "We are not DRUNK enough to talk to YOU!"

Oh it was a lot of fun and to be honest, I had more fun going out in Boston than I have had in NYC so far. I don't know why but I will figure it out. Oh, and we've all decided to party it out together once we go back to the beloved dirty 6th in the ATX.

Lovely sleepy time in Gabby's broken bed. Woke up, packed and went to this:

nom nom nom dim sum.

I love Gabby.

That is all.

Get Excited

2009-06-30T23:34:00.004-04:00

I have reservations to Butter. Yes, like on Gossip Girl. I am stoked. And I don't even like GG THAT much but I heard the food at Butter is good. Plus, doesn't Butter just seem like a fun word to say?

In other news my mom and Alan are still here. My brother spent the whole day looking for Explosions in the Sky tickets for a benefit show that they have tonight in SummerStage @ Central Park. Even though he has tickets to see them in Austin on July 4th. My dad thinks Alan wants to be a rockstar.

My mom and I just hang out and eat and walk around usually the Herald Square Area. She's dying to go to Chinatown but the rain messed up those plans today. Speaking of, it was such a nice day until I got off of work and the sky was full of ominous, gray clouds and the streets were wet with muddy rainwater. GROSS. And I was wearing sandals. I know rain was in the forecast but I didn't really think it would rain...again. Oh well.

Hmmm, getting excited about the long weekend. Going to spend it with my boo, Gabby!!! Get excited Beantown.

Eh? Eh? Eh?

2009-06-27T23:52:00.010-04:00

Spent the day riding around in a tourist bus that was JUST like the Limbusine I rode to prom except it was like the baby version.

My mom booked us one of those touristy, all-day tours where we went to every attraction imaginable regarding Niagara Falls. Spent the day with a family from GERMANY. We did everything from Maid of the Mist to White River Walk. It is really beautiful up here and I got wet like 3895483 times and got about 362493 plastic ponchos and some sweet new shoes (pics to come) Spent most of the day in Canada. We got some amazing pictures but of course my mom did not bring a camera cord and I'm never going to by a card reader (let's face it, I'm like the laziest person ever) so all I have are iPhone pics that have nothing to do with the Falls so...yeahhhhh.

Pics from the trip:

Alan, while we were waiting for our room. Yes, wearing your favorite color runs in our family. Guess what his is?

Our room at the Crown Plaza, let me tell you they have EXCELLENT service:

Proof that the youngest child is always spoiled beyond belief, Alan-schmoozing for Exlosions in the Sky tickets even though he's going to see them in Austin July 4th:

New sandals, hahahahaha:

Oh! And where is the rest of my fam in all of this? Kevin is in Chicago playing PAAAAAINTBALL and my dad is like whatever about NY.

Bonus Work OOTD from Friday, yes, apparently still only wearing yellow, black, grey or white:

Other things I need to write about:
-Chicken and rice

Oh, and now my mom is brushing Alan's teeth because she's obsessed with teeth now and is convinced he doesn't now how to brush even though he is FIFTEEN! WHAT!

Whatcha doing? Nothin' chillin at the Holiday Iiiiiiiiiiinnnn....

2009-06-26T00:01:00.002-04:00

I'm at the Holiday In Express near JFK. My mom and Alan are here. We're going to Niagara Falls tomorrow morning. Woot.

Apparently they are staying here until next Thursday...which I did not know until now.

Stay tuned for pictures because my mom bought a sweet new camera...unless she didn't bring the connector cord.

Sleepy....

2009-06-23T00:05:00.003-04:00

Seriously, I know I need to get with it on this blog but I'm so tired from working and exploring everyday that I have fallen behind. I did a lot this past weekend and will probably make a post about it tomorrow.

But today I worked, swam and had an awful tummyache. Most likely because I snacked on junk the whole day...yeah, I ate way too much crap today for no reason except that I was hungry.

Also, wanted to go see Avenue Q through the dorm. Tickets are only $35 but they sold out. They are doing Wicked next month though so I am WAITING! Or maybe I'll just go one day by myself like Yolanda did today.I don't mind.

Blog posts to come:

What I did this past weekend
What my daily commute is
A series on the perks at work

Okay, really though this past weekend:

-went to Columbia and met Chris' friends which... Are all Korean. SURPRISE! (lol)
-went to Blockhead's which is like the NYC version of Trudy's but without the mexican martinis (sad, I know) yet good margaritas and "cleaner" Mexican food
-visited the Guggenheim, very nice, saw some Kandinskys, Cezanne, Seurat, a Polluck...really wanted to see their Rothko collection but it was not on display. I'm not too into architecture but there was, of cour, a lot of Frank Lloyd Wright's work which was very awesome to see.
-church, I go to church every Sunday
-laundry and chores...

Believe it or not I've only gone shopping once! Yeah, need to wait until I get paid...besides the rainy weather is not conducive to any social activity

Got a really cute voicemail from some of my Kenobi girls. I miss them a lot!!!

Hmmm, I guess that's all for now. I should post pics but I am too lazy and tired. So until next time!

Nails

2009-06-22T00:45:00.002-04:00

Just FYI, Natalie's Nails has a new location: St. George Dorms Room 356.

Guess what everyone was doing in my room tonight?

Here comes the sun...

2009-06-18T09:47:00.000-04:00

Okay, seriously, it's been raining every other day since I've been here. To the point where I had to call home and get my rainboots shipped to me. Which I'm so glad I did because it is rainy ALL THE TIME!

I'm not going to complain about the 60-70 degree F weather, it is really nice albeit cold when combined with the rain. But I am TIRED of the rain. It is really cramping my style...literally. I only brought like 2 pairs of work pants because I thought it was SUMMER here. So my dresses and skirts need to wait til it stops raining!!! GAH!

On another note went to happy hour (HH) with a bunch of McCann interns the other day. It was nice to meet all the other interns outside of work. We hardly ever see each other unless it's at intern lunch Wednesdays or if you sit next to people because the company is so large. There were 50 cent wings and I was so hungry but refused to pay half a dollar for a CHICKEN WING.

After HH I took a tour to Chikalicious Dessert Club even though it was late and I hadn't eaten dinner yet (GASP!) for 2 reasons: 1. It was one of my roommate's birthday and she didn't have any plans as we all had to work the next day plus she's been waiting on a package (filled with clothes) from home which has still not come in so she's pretty bummed and 2. I love cupcakes and have made it my goal to go to at least 12 cupcakeries while here...yeah.

So I made the trek around an East Village. Side note: I swear, buying the iPhone is the best imvestment I could have made especially living in NYC and exploring it. I use it all the time to find places to eat, subway stations and where to go in general. I've probably used it more in the past 12 days then I have all school year. It is sooooooo helpful.

The good part, cupcakes! HAPPY BIRTHDAY BARBARA!

Clockwise from the top: red velvet, triple chocolate, s'mores, caramel

The were delicious! I only had some of the s'more frosting and it is hard to describe, not actually fluff but more like marshmellow frosting fluff. DELISCIOUS.

Oh and bonus OOTD from yesterday, what I usually wear even though the office is generally more casual:

Katra

2009-06-15T00:34:00.000-04:00

Pics from Friday night. I think my expressions are weird but whatever. It was like one of those photographers that go to clubs blahblahblah.

Apparently I have a lot of school spirit when I'm not in Texas/at school:

photos courtesy of lastnightent.com

Pics from the weekend

2009-06-15T00:24:00.001-04:00

I like to think I look like a celebrity IN THIS PHOTO. Apparently, I only wear black, white, grey and yellow now. By apparently I mean, I do.

First "free" weekend

2009-06-14T01:04:00.000-04:00

Let's see...

Since my weekend officially starts Thursdays after work I need to recap the past 2 days.

Thursday after work I went to a happy hour with Carolina. She works at McCann with me and is in MAIP too. She's super nice and we're going to be really good friends. I can already tell. The Happy Hour was full of Gators, because that's where Carolina goes to school, UF. Yup, they have this gator chomp thing which is not as cool as the Hook'Em horns.

Friday...ahhh, I got to sleep in late while all the other interns had to go to work! Okay, I'm just really happy that I get to sleep in. I'll probably use my Fridays to go to museums and shopping as I hope it won't be as crowded as Saturdays. Moving forward, I went shopping!!! Took the subway to the H&M (DUH!) at 59th and Lexington. Bought a lot of cute clothes. Maybe I should take an OOTD, that's Outfit of the Day for those of you who don't know, pictures...yeah, maybe when I get a full-lenght mirror.

Speaking of outfits, I love having a job to get dressed up for. I actually get to wear pencil skirts, cardigans, belts, shift dresses etc. etc. as opposed to jeans and t-shirts though I could wear that if I wanted. Being in NYC has really given more opportunity to style and fashion, IMO because...IDK, everyone is dressed up. It's just different from Austin. That is all.

Friday night a whole large group of us (mostly Longhorns) went out to see the town. It is different from going out in Austin for sure.

Today (Saturday), woke up early to go the Snapple Big Apple Barbecue in Madison Square Garden Park. It's when a bunch of famous bbq-ers from around the country come and sell bbq. Of course, Austin (okay, Driftwood's) own SALT LICK was there!!! NOMNOMNOM. It was by far the longest line (the vendor next to it didn't even have a line and they were selling ribs!) and as you walked through the park a lot of what you heard was "Where is Salt Lick?" REPRESENT!!!

I don't have pictures at the moment but they will come. Salt Lick was selling beef brisket, sausage and coleslaw baskets. NOM.

Then I left the group early (everyone went shopping and stuff) to write my exam essay...so I got back to my place at 2...and started doing things for the essay at 5:30... OKAY. I just finally finished at...12:30 and didn't get to go out with some ot the girls. SAD. To be fair, I took a 2 hour nap before wasting my time but also took a break to order swimming stuff. I'm going to start swimming (we get a free membership to the gym next door and there's a lap pool in it!) as exercise because I think it'll be most effective for my health overall. I got:

Yes. I'm going to look sexy. I was on swim team once you know. Okay, it was like in middle school for 2.5 years but STILL!

I also had a roommate outing with just my roommates. We went to a cute little sushi place across the street and got this ginormous bento boxes for dinner. I actually have LEFTOVERS. Okay, to be fair I ate dumplings before I went but still. Good deal. I will post pics sometime in the future as I plan to frequent this place every week. Seriously. Ilovesushi.

I really wish I didn't have to take summer courses. REALLY WISH. But to be optimistic it will all be over in a few weeks and then I can enjoy the rest of summer with no ESSAYS.

New room! Well, sorta...

2009-06-10T23:59:00.001-04:00

I spent my whole evening with my roommates to accomplish this:

My "new" corner of the room:

So worth it.

Cubicle!

2009-06-09T23:57:00.000-04:00

Here are some photos of my cubicle! If you haven't deduced it yet, I'm working at McCann Erickson, NYC!

It's such a beautiful agency. And I feel so cool when I walk into the lobby in the morning and flash/scan my id in front of the security guards. There are 4 tough looking suits in the lobby at all time. I honestly feel super safe at my agency because you basically need to get on to every floor even after you're already in.

Pics:

My cubicle:

I got office supplies today! (don't get too excited Grabby)

Shwaaaaaag:

my work bag:

and FINALLY:

Sample of Agency work

2009-06-09T18:26:00.001-04:00

Huzzah! The Verizon Wireless team here developed a cool, multiplatform campaign to promote the client's prepaid calling plan. It's pretty nifty because it includes 99 cent taxi rides!

Read the article here:
http://www.adweek.com/aw/content_display/news/agency/e3ifa78c7375d32448354b294fee7884a9f

First Day of Work

2009-06-08T23:33:00.000-04:00

So I started off orientation today in the office of the American Association of Advertising Agencies aka the 4A's.

Did I mention it's in the Chrysler Building?

That's right, be jealous that I got to go into this fabulous Art Deco sculpture designed by William Van Alen (thanks ARH 303). It was awesome!

Afterwards, I went to orientation at my agency. It pretty much took all day and in the end I got to see my cubicle!

It's so nice, with a computer and everything was prepared. Props to a great internship program first impression.

Sorry I did not take any pictures as I do not know if I can blog about my agency yet.

After work, I got to go to a FABULOUS MAIP seminar in an awesome agency called JWT. It has a bar in it! And it's decor, lights and aura reminds me of PURE in Austin. There was so much food, I'm talking mini gourmet foods that are served at movie screenings and after-parties. Examples: baby back ribs, sushi, mini pulled pork burgers, mini veggie samosas, small kababs, mini lamb ribs etc. etc. I felt like a celeb...sorta.

Again, I did not take any pictures because I was gorging myself on food. DELICIOUS!

My Place!

2009-06-07T23:45:00.000-04:00

So I'm staying in Brooklyn Heights. It is really lovely here. Not super dirty like the City but more residential, quaint and cute. The subway is right on the block too so I literally have to walk 15 steps to get the entrance.

DISCLAIMER: Couldn't find the camera cord before I left so all the photos will be iPhone photos til I go get a card reader...

Pics of my place:

blurry pic of my bed/area

Roommates' beds:

Lovely view from our windows:

And our fridge that is stocked with lots of TRADER JOE'S goodies:

In other news, I also took a walk around the neighborhood and found some places I definitely want to visit such as Dashing Diva and Iron Chef Sushi!

It took a while...

2009-06-02T00:26:00.000-04:00

Today I decided to start packing for my summer in NYC. This is how far I've gotten:

1. Took clothes from my apt back home

2. Did 5 loads of laundry

3. Folded some clothes

I need to decide how much clothing I'm going to bring. I mean, I can always buy clothes in New York...

Fast forward to the day before I leave, the mess that was in my house:

Notice how I have two able-bodies brothers who did not help me.

On top of the $40 fee to check two bagsI had to pay an extra $50 for overweight luggage. One of my bags was actually 72 lbs and that would have been an extra $100, but I thought quickly and pulled a 4 lb textbook out.

Food on the day of travel:

Breakfast taco in Bergstrom

$6 Italian Panini sandwich on AA. Which kept me captive on the end of the runway, in the cabin for 1 hour...

In short, I left my house at 6:10 CST and arrived in NYC at 4:00 EST, a whole 1.5 hours after the planned time. Not to mention it took 1 hour to get to the place I'm staying. I WAS TIRED!

Cool Taxi TV with a map to show you where you are!

More on my dorm and stuff next time.