Have a Beautiful Tuesday!

All month long, Shutter Sisters have been capturing Beautiful moments through the wonderful One Word Project. Here's my last contribution to this month's theme. Check out some of the other beautiful images here, here, here, and here.

April's theme is Hope. I have a great first picture that I will be sharing tomorrow to kick off the month!

Happy 16th Court

Just a special birthday shout-out to one of my younger brothers. He's 16 today!!

Here he is in Moab, Utah with the La Sal Mountains in the background. We'd gone on a hike up behind our grandparents' house, and I'd ended up venturing further with two of my brothers. At one point, the two of them were scaring me as they tried break the ice in a small (but deep) pool carved between the red rock... Ben was letting Court scoot out on the ice, but of course, big brother was holding on tight to little brother's hand, just in case.

Here is one of my other favorite pictures of him. I got my very first digital camera during my sophomore year of college. I happened to get it the end of May on the day I was heading back to my hometown for beginning-of-summer picnic. Courtney joined me for this picnic, and he quickly became the subject of my first digital photo shoot! I'd post the other pictures, but they incriminate him for picking peoples' wishes out of the fountain (wishes = coins)... But I'm sure I would never have let him keep those coins... Maybe when he threw them back in, he gave the wishes a double chance of coming true! :) This brother of mine makes me laugh.

I talked to him for quite a while last night on the phone. I miss that kid like crazy. I've never been so far away from him for so long. The other night, I was looking back over pictures of our past, looking for the best birthday pictures to post of him... I was reminded of his weekend trips to visit me in college. He was always trying to find a way to come and stay. He'd play games with my friends (a fun night of monopoly with Cherish and Lauren, a few rounds of random games with our crazy group of college friends). I've got a great picture of him throwing fireworks at some of our guy friends during a July 4th picnic Seth and I put together in the park one summer. They'd laugh and take it. Oh and my favorite, pictures taken before the digital (and left at my parents' home) of him being held down and tickled by Seth and Melissa, my best friend, during the weekend visit when he very first met Seth.

I don't remember all of my life, of course, who really remembers those faded moments of childhood? I don't have children of my own to remember all the memories of their lives... But Court's life, I remember. I remember when we found out Mom was pregnant. I remember being in 2nd grade when I got the news. I remember pushing him in his stroller through the gymnasium of the elementary school one afternoon after school. I remember how cute he was, how annoying he was, but how he was always my little brother, someone I have always been proud of, protective of, and loved.

He spent years playing soccer, achieved a championship at an international soccer tournament with his 3 v. 3 soccer team. He's wrestled for years now, too. And this year, he got 2nd in state, securing himself a seat for nationals his senior year. He's got a lot of people who are so proud of his accomplishments...

Last year, I worked in our hometown as a teacher at a local elementary school. I put him to work a few times, helping with the after school program, moving boxes in and out of my classroom, decorating our halls for a special celebration for our students. It was nice, though. Some days, after school, when I was still working with students, he'd come walking by the playground yelling out a hello with a wave. It was nice to see him so often, something I really miss.

So, Court, here's to the 16th birthday! You are an amazing brother and friend!! Oh, and enjoy the traditional birthday dinner... Please let them do the cake thing, even though we all know it's coming!

Reading List

In January, I posted about some books on my reading list for the year. Thought I'd come to you with an update on how I'm reading and where my book path is headed. Sunday morning, I was awake at 8:00 a.m. looking through Melissa's blog, linked from a comment she had left on mine. I ran across her entry about being well-read. She explained how she was joining the challenge to become 1% more well-read by reading 10 books out of the list of 1,001 books to read before you die.

I became curious. What books were on this list? Any books that I have read or already plan to read? So, as I searched through this list (all the while my husband was whining for me to stop making so much computer noise and come back to bed because it was just too early for a Sunday morning!) There were 7 books on the list that I have read. Jane Eyre being the one I just now finally finished (even if it took me a couple months... not a fast read compared to modern chick-lit!). I'm almost 1% well-read, and now on my way towards increasing my well-read status!

So here's my list, so far, of a few books I'd like to read before I die (in no particular order). Oh, and some of these books aren't on the 1,001 well-read book list... Some of them are Lost inspired!! And some are just randomly inspired!!

1. The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells (mentioned in Blue Balliett's book The Wright 3)
2. The Awakening by Kate Chopin
3. Through the Looking Glass, and What Alice Found There by Lewis Carroll
4. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
5. Walden by Henry David Thoreau (remember having to read some Thoreau in high school and not really enjoying... maybe I'll try again)
6. Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë -- STARTING
7. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë -- DONE!!
8. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
9. Emma by Jane Austen (bought this book in college at a used bookstore, but never read it...)
10. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
11. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
12. Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
13. Wizard of Oz sequels by L. Frank Baum
14. Watership Down by Richard Adams (started this one for a summer college class, but had so many books to read for my two English classes that summer, that I didn't quite finish)
15. Everyone Is Beautiful by Katherine Center (inspired by Shutter Sisters this month)
16. Possessing the Secret of Joy by Alice Walker
17. The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien
18. Of Love and Shadows by Isabel Allende
19. Interview With the Vampire by Anne Rice
20. Lord of the Flies by William Golding
21. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
22. Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
23. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
24. The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
25. 1984 by George Orwell (also started this one in college, slowly worked my way through most of it, but never finished)
26. The Great Expectations of School by Dan Brown
27. Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

For more posts on reading, check out the following:
A Year of Reading

Changes

The Change of the season bring the beauty of the magnolia.

Farrah Braniff shared inspiration at Shutter Sisters today, as she shared her experience with changes in life experiences. She posed the question What have you seen through your lens that has changed your heart?

It made me start thinking. I've definitely experienced a life change in this last year. (...hence the original purpose of me starting this blog.) Marrying my best friend and moving to New York City from my small-town Midwest life was a scary and huge life changing experience. Upon arriving in the city, I felt the inspiration of the city pushing me to see life differently than I had previously. My eyes have looked through a camera since I was a young child capturing my summer visits to Dad's, when he lived in Alaska. But now, I was starting see more, to really look for the moment to capture from behind my camera.

My husband and I will not live here forever, so I began to capture all the moments, just the way they seem to appear to me as I experience and observe. I want to remember what changed me, what inspired me, what I can take with me when I leave and head off into the sunset for my next life changing adventure. (All you mamas with babies out there are giving me a small case of baby-fever as you discuss how your children changed your lives and post beautiful pictures of their sweet faces! Check out some here.)

A year ago, I didn't know what it would be like to live the life I am living now. What would a daily routine be like? How would fill my weekends and breaks with the city at my fingertips? What new experiences would I enjoy? What would I grow to love and someday miss when I move on? How could I expand my life experiences and my thoughts of the world around me? So as I sit here and ponder these questions about my life changes, I am inspired to grasp a hold of my chance to make more life changes, to fully take in the experience we currently have at our fingertips.

So today, I'm setting a few goals for myself, as a photographer and as a member of my Brooklyn community... to be inspired, to grow, to embrace the change in my life, to capture, to share. Thank you Farrah and Shutter Sisters, always inspiring.

Self Portrait Saturday

Self portrait. Love green grass.

Join in with Her Space My Space His Space.

No Rain Saturday

Woke up thinking the day would be rained out, but I was very sweetly surprised with no rain, a few moments of blue skies, an outside brunch (even if it was a bit chilly), a quick visit with my favorite nephew, and a wonderful walk though the botanical garden (thanks to my sweet sister-in-law for sharing a pass!)

Park Slope - 5th Avenue. Sadly the blue skies only stayed around for a while. The clouds came in and created an overcast afternoon.

A visit to Phoenix, the bat.

Signs of spring from the Brooklyn Botanical Garden.

Flare Friday Flowers

Happy Friday! I've been needing this day to come all week :) I'm looking forward to the forecasted 60 degree and sunny weather we are to have today... And I'm hurrying home after work so I can get out and enjoy it for a few moments!

This picture was added to the flickr group for Flare Friday. Check out all the wonderful flare here.

City Rooster

Hearing a rooster isn't so weird when you are on a farm... Growing up, I heard the rooster at my great-grandparents' farm many times over. But... Hearing a rooster cock-a-doodling the morning away is weird when you work in the City.

I didn't think much of it the first time I heard it, as I worked away before starting work the other morning. I did think about it when I heard it again and realized it wasn't necessarily a normal morning noise for my current location.

This picture was taken a couple weekends ago at the Park Slope Flea Market.

Accidental Photo

I was trying to focus on the rock blurred in the foreground.
The camera was not supposed to be pointing so far up.
I didn't have my eye down to the camera.
This picture was an accident.
I like it.

Flowers, Dumbo Style

Wall Flowers in Dumbo, Brooklyn.

I am...

I am very excited for Spring! This post is for Inspire Me Thursday, and I couldn't quite focus on what I am... Right now, I am just overly excited to see the signs of nature coming back to life. I walk looking up at the trees, glancing down into the flower beds every so often in the hopes of seeing a new Spring bloom. I can't stop looking, imagining, dreaming. Soon it will be here, and I will be happy!

I know it's Spring, somewhere, even if it's not quite turning here. I see the pictures throughout the blogs I follow and the flickr pictures posted (like here, here, and here). We have only small signs. This lovely tree, an avenue up, is one of the first to start shooing winter away and making way for Spring.


I first saw these beauties on Saturday, but the sun was falling behind the buildings and the natural light wasn't there to really make my pictures great. I watched for the sun to get in the perfect position and share the natural lighting for a few pictures. Oh and be on the watch for this flowering tree again later this week. I have a great Flare Friday shot!

Postcards of the Weekend

Sending postcards to himself saying 'Wish you were here' so when he gets back home he doesn't forget...
--StoryPeople

Here's me sending myself a postcard to remind myself of the wonderful weekend I had. Mr. and I spent a lot of time just being together (after he finally got over his sickness and fever). I also had an amazing time with Seth's family (sans Seth). How lucky am I to have such an amazing family of in-laws :) Seth wasn't feeling so ill this morning, so we tried brunch again at A.O.C. and he made it all the way through! A friend showed up with his sister (to share the wonderful french toast with her taste buds) and joined us. Love the idea of running into friends in our still somewhat new home. It was also wonderful to share our meal over great conversation :) After brunch I wondered through a green boutique I've always wanted to check out, and then up the street to find the pink flowering tree I've been watching for the past few days. On the way I found a few great books that I want to use for a collage project. Love the stoops in our neighborhood!

This photo post was inspired by a flickr group called "Theme of the Week" where a challenge was posted to find a picture and a quote that go together using the StoryPeople website. This is the first time I've actually taken the time to look through the quotes and align with a picture. It's been fun, and hopefully there will be more to come!!

Saturday with the Boy in the Alligator Hat

Seth spent the day sick laying in the living room. I spent the day doing what he really would have rather been doing, hanging out with his family. First, brunch at A.O.C. (was really happy when they agreed to walk down to meet us there, as I woke up craving it.) Then, through Dumbo and across the Brooklyn Bridge, a must for any visitor to NYC! Here are some pictures from the day. Loved the way they turned out after a bit of processing and playing.

Williamsburg Bridge in the background.

P is the reason I got some of the cool shots I did. He grabbed hold of my hand and tagged me along behind him as we climbed over the rocks to a small beach I hadn't yet visited.

Under the Manhattan Bridge. Lovely.

I love this shot. This is about when he informed his mama that the rock he wanted to take with him happened to be the rock he was standing on. :) I ended up with the tiny rock he picked instead, but I placed it in a safe place so it could be returned to its owner.

Meet Winston (I think that's his name). He was waiting outside the chocolate store. Isn't he the cutest?

Famous Dumbo chocolate store. I didn't let myself get a treat, but I regretted it later. Sweet Phoenix shared a bit of the chocolate from ostrich-sized chocolate egg. It was amazing. I might have to go back soon and get some for myself. (...and it definitely has left me craving chocolate all evening!)

Love Dumbo. Love Dumbo. Love Dumbo. Am excited about plans to return next weekend for the flea market (must check to make sure it's still in the Dumbo location next weekend).

Breathtaking bridge. I greet it every morning from the Manhattan Bridge. Wonderful to see it up close in the middle of a sunny day.

A moment on the bridge.

Lines of the bridge.

Hello City. I have taken shot a hundred times over, but I cannot resist when I am standing with it before me again!

Check out some of my other posts with Dumbo and the Brooklyn Bridge:
Bridge of my Heart
Telescope from New York City to London
Tour Guiding
I Get By With a Little Help from my Friends

First Broadway Show

Friday night was my first Broadway experience. I enjoyed it completely. Sadly, Seth couldn't join. Instead he was home suffering through a fever. Sometime later this spring, when he's feeling better, we'll have to go to another show!

Friday Fill-In: The Fifth

And...here we go!

1. Why do we have to go to work?

2. Keeping my Metro card in the same safe place at all times and swiping it as I enter subways and busses are now habits.

3. I have a terrible pining for spring break (13 school days).

4. I had never heard the phrase "coming at you sideways" and it really makes me laugh at how serious my elementary-aged students are when they say it (in their world, you do NOT want someone to come at you sideways).

5. I made a mess of the stove, just the way I always do.

6. How was I to know when I didn't.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to going to my first Broadway show, tomorrow my plans include spending time with Seth's family at brunch, Dumbo, and across the Brooklyn Bridge and Sunday, I want to relax and enjoy the day with my husband (and maybe make it somewhere to get some pictures of spring)!

Looking for Spring

Seth's oldest brother and sister-in-law are in visiting. As I headed up to meet them at his other brother's place early last evening, I took my camera in search for spring.

I wasn't surprised to see signs of spring in the trees. I was surprised to see the flowers! I've been looking up so much that I forgot to look down. (Not that there are a bunch of flowers when I look down... mostly cement.) It was so nice to get my camera out and snap a few pictures as I wondered my way up to meet the rest of the family. The weather was perfect, the sunlight was still shining between the buildings.

I was completely excited to see our nephew. It's been a while! He's so amazing and wonderful... and Smart! We shared quite the conversation at the restaurant. And he wanted to see the photos on my "new camera". I think I'll show him all my photos... as I flipped through them he responded to many of them with "Love it! Love it!" Just what this aspiring photographer wants to hear! Someone who appreciates a photo :)

Dinner was wonderful (Thanks B & M!!) and of course our time with Seth's family was amazing, as it always is. I know Seth was very happy! He definitely misses the family time when everyone is together (not that we had everyone here... still missing half of them, but it is the closest thing we've had in a while.)

Aisha in the City

My wonderful friend Aisha came to the city last weekend, and through my complete exhaustion from the weekend and the lack of internet, I am just now posting pictures. We hung out Friday night for a while (Oren Lavie show). The picture above was taken Saturday night on the Upper East Side at a Wine Bar we met up at. She introduced me to a few of her friends, and I hope we'll get to meet up with them again soon (and I may have a photo "job" opportunity with them...!) On Sunday, Aisha joined us in Brooklyn for a couple hours in the afternoon.

I had a most amazing time with her. We headed up to the Flea Market, 2 avenues up. Her and I searched through piles of jewelry, looked at so many random pieces of furniture and other random items. It was so nice having someone to search through all the items in the flea market, admiring and discussing. I didn't think we'd spend that much time there, so Seth was stuck waiting for us while we enjoyed every inch of the Flea Market, only being rushed along at the end because it was closing down.

We were very happy with our finds. Between the two of us, we got 11 pieces of jewelry that we are going to fashion into necklace pieces. I just need to get a few parts and a chain or two to go with the pieces. I am also a proud owner of my first apron! It was made by Moni Briones (check out her website here at www.sewmoni.com).

Here I am acting like I'm putting it to use! This is definitely a good idea for me... ask Seth, I'm Very messy!After the Flea Market, we headed across the street for a sweet trip to Sweet Melissa's. I enjoyed this wonderful cheese cake. Chocolate espresso cheesecake with a raspberry syrup. Divine!

Love the Park Slope Flea Market. Check out more posts... Reflection of the Day and Finds at the Flea Market. Oh, and I took another great reflection picture at the flea market. I'll try to get that posted here in the next few days!!

Hopeful

Spring weather is here today! Wonderful warm weather... and I keep watching the trees; they are getting so close to waking up. In my excitement of green and life, I'm posting a picture I took during February's visit to the Botanical Garden.

Modest Mouse Concert

Last night was the night of the Modest Mouse concert. A little while back, I posted about the wonderful surprise tickets that came in the mail from my stepmom. The weekend was eventful, so this concert was definitely a nice wrap-up to the weekend. Below is a video of a moment during my Favorite song (as mentioned in the post about the tickets here.)

There were a couple bands that opened for Modest Mouse. First was Tab the Band, a band from Massachusetts. They only played a few songs. You can hear them here. Second was my favorite out of the openers, Japanese Motors, a band from California that can be heard here. I need to see about getting them added to my playlist. I especially like how much the lead singer got into the show! The last band to play before Modest Mouse was Mimicking Birds. Seth really enjoyed their music, heard here.

This concert made Seth and I realize that we were getting a little old! I liked the venue. It was smaller than most I've been to. I thought I liked the standing area for general admission, but I didn't end up enjoying the standing as much by the end... and Seth's back was hurting pretty bad. We ended up towards the back (as you can see in the picture at the top - which I'm very happy with!) but it was still a good spot. O and the young people who are at these concerts can be a bit over the top... We observed an interesting (& funny) experience with a girl having "blackout rage" (as she coined it) and then apologizing within moments of threatening to fight everyone while yelling obscenities, and Seth spotted a miserable young soul suffering in the bathroom stall, x marks on his hands marking his underage status, despite it all.

From the Living Room Friday Night

Friday night at the Living Room, we met up with Aisha and some other friends to watch Oren Lavie's show. I'm buying the CD soon, when I get the time to sit down and order it online. Here's a quick clip from the show and my favorite song! I'll be watching for him to come back to NY for a show, and I think I want to check out the Living Room again soon for other live shows (and get a table next time!)



Friday night was another adventure. I had a friend in town and Seth had a friend from high school come in his girlfriend after attending a concert in Jersey (Britney Spears??). We hung out in the Lower East Side and East Village for a while. Then got picked up by Seth's friends on the way from Jersey and gave them directions back to Park Slope... which was an experience in itself, considering that Seth and I don't normally ride in cars or have any experience driving places in the city... other than cab rides, which are usually taken late at night when we are in a whole other state of mind. We made a few extra turns and headed in the wrong direction a few moments, but we did make it home with relatively no major issues. Crazy to think Seth and I are starting to gain some direction in this huge city.

Oren Lavie Tonight

Recently found this when I stumbled upon a link to this video from another blog. Oren Lavie. I'm in love.

And tonight, I'm going to see him with Seth, Aisha, and a few other friends!

Check out more here. And here. And here. I'll come back with a report to let you know if it's as amazing as I hope! I've only listened to My Morning Elegance 727 times in the past few days! Can't wait to hear it live :)

Friday Fill-In: The Fourth

And...here we go!

1. When I look to the left, I see a small pile of clothes.

2. The living room window is the room that has the best view in my home. (Can see the Chrysler Building!!)

3. Let it work the way it works?

4. MoMA done dirt cheap! (still in love with last week's trip for FREE FRIDAY!)

5. Voting is a responsibility that all qualified citizens must share.

6. If you have any advice on photography feel free to send it my way.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to a music show on the Lower East Side (Oren Lavie, video here!) with a friend from out of town, tomorrow my plans include hopefully hanging out with Aisha again and Sunday, I want to /will be attending the MODEST MOUSE Concert!!!!!

Join Friday Fill-Ins HERE!!

A Shadow in the Reflection

Here I stand with Alissa. A break at the MoMA. You can see us stand still as others pass us by. Sometimes I feel like I need a moment just to stop. Stand still. Breathe. Today is one of those days.

If My Apartment Were Big Enough...

A chandelier of dishes. Another piece from last weekend's trip to the MoMA. Have a few more I'll post throughout the rest of this week, and then I'll find something new!

I'm starting to think that this is a great use for our dishes... considering that Seth and I both have a strong aversion for doing dishes. I wish I took after my mother in the way she does dishes. They are always done every night, even when all her children were still living at home piling them into the sink. Plus, she had No dishwasher!! The horror! Seth and I are just two, and we still cannot get our dishes done, AND we have a dishwasher! Sadly, the dishes have been the reason I haven't made dinner the last two nights.

I actually put dinner on Seth tonight... could have done it myself, considering I was home an hour earlier than usual. I actually thought he was going to go to the grocery store, get food, and come home to cook (that's what I do... and grocery store stops are a couple times a week since I have to be able to carry everything I buy from the store to my 3rd floor walk-up). Of course, I haven't completely learned yet, but men do Not think and work as women do... Leave this man to his own devices, and I'm eating Phad Thai while he enjoys his chicken fried rice and spring rolls... And since I put him in charge, he doesn't even have to get Thai approved (he'd eat it everyday if I let him!)

One of the reasons I made Seth take care of dinner tonight was my being on the phone with a good friend from home. I'm so lucky to have such great friends. I spent hours (2 and a half to be exact) on the phone talking to Paula, catching up, going on as if we didn't live states apart, as if we were hanging out in the same room, as if we hadn't had as much time between our last conversation and now. Sunday I was greeted by a weekend call from Lauren. And Saturday night, Seth and I enjoyed a phone call from a few good friends who were enjoying a K-State Fake Patty's celebration (and telling people they smelled like cheese... yah, we're not sure what that means?)

Last summer, when I first moved to NYC, I posted about my homesickness and how I missed our friends. A lot. (Post here.) Sadly, I still feel homesick. I still completely miss our friends. I thought maybe by now, 9 months later, I'd be feeling a little better... and maybe I am a little... but I still have the void in my life, the lack of our friends. We have friends here, and we've met a lot of great people... but I am beginning to realize and trying to accept the fact that it won't be the same. But how can it? How can I possibly find people to replace the amazing friends I have? I cannot. It's impossible. My friends are too good to make it possible. (That can't be so terrible, right?)

Despite how lucky I am, I have been feeling a bit down on the friend front here in NY. I'm working on not feeling so sad about it. I'm going to work on accepting the fact that I cannot replace my friends from my former life (the Midwest). I'm going to try not to get down on myself about the friend scene here. I'm going to remind myself that even if I don't remember, it took a while (maybe?) to build those friendships. I'm going to dream of the possibility that every single one of my good friends will consider moving to where ever Seth and I decide to live (you still have the chance to move to NY before we head off on our next adventure... destination unknown). I'm going to be thankful that I have such good friendships with such amazing people. I'm going to smile because I must have good friends if I'm having trouble finding people to fill their shoes. I'm going to send all my friends letters thanking them for being such wonderful people.

Last, I'm going to enjoy the friends we've made here so far and continue to be patient because the best of friends are not grown over night!

Robert Rauschenberg

A few more pieces from the MoMA. I really liked the collage-like art of this artist.

Factum I

Bed

Other MoMA pictures here and here and here.

Taking in a Monet

Another picture from the MoMA. This Monet was absolutely breathtaking. You really do need to take a seat and just take it all in. Since it was my first time at the museum, and I wanted to see as much as possible, I didn't take too long in this room. But next time, it will be on my list of pieces to really take in. I will be on that bench just as these two were Friday afternoon.

Check out my other MoMA posts here and here. Still have more to share. Keep watching throughout this week!

Fake Patty's Day

Saturday, about 12:15 p.m. Seth and I are getting ready to go to brunch after a slow morning of waking up (attended a party thrown by two friends Friday night!) Original plan was to try a new brunch place I've been reading about online, but plans changed to instead meet up with a few friends at Sheep Station, an Australian place on 4th Ave and Douglass. Our brunch consisted of a PBR for Seth and Bloody Marys for the rest of us, a side of gherkins and olives, a couple burgers with beets, fried egg, pineapple, and a couple grilled chicken sandwiches covered with a great curry mayo.

Upon finishing brunch, we decided to head to Hoboken, New Jersey for the St. Patrick's Day celebration. This would be our first time on the PATH train and our first time in Hoboken. S and I were both excited to have some fake green celebrating, thinking it might make us forget how sad we were to be missing out on our college town's Fake Patty's Day celebration that was taking place (where many of our friends were enjoying the taste of green beer).

Hoboken was packed with green people. We missed the parade, and we had no desire to join the lines of people who were waiting in lines to get into bars that were overcrowded and packed. After hanging out in at an apartment party for a while, we decided we'd had enough of New Jersey and were ready to go home to our beloved city... so off we trekked towards the train. On the way, we stopped to re-energize ourselves with Dunkin' Donut Iced Coffees, listened to a group of children rocking it out on a street corner (3 of which were under the age of 10, I'm sure), and saw an amazing sunset.

(Something I often miss as it goes down behind the city)

Upon seeing the crowds heading under ground, we convinced ourselves a taxi might be a better idea... and upon seeing a line half way down the block waiting for taxis, we convinced ourselves that we'd find another way... Eventually we found a taxi and returned to Manhattan.

Dinner on the Lower East Side, sushi (thanks to the girls for assuring Seth he'd like it and helping him pick out the best rolls) and wine (love BYOB!) Our original plan to leave the group and head back to Brooklyn after dinner was pushed out after a few glasses of wine and we headed to Kate's Joint for Happy Hour.

Here are a few shots of the bathroom at Kate's.

A message in the middle says, Stop writing on walls and start a revolution.

After Kate's, we headed to a birthday celebration at another bar in the area. We found a spot in the back of the bar to hang out. Met a guy who informed Seth and I we didn't look like people from the Midwest and more like people from Brooklyn.

Also, enjoyed clicking a few shots of the bar bathroom mirror...

A few more drinks, some very interesting conversations, and a delicious cupcake later, we hailed a cab and headed back to Park Slope. I love the idea of hailing cabs and driving through the city night across the Brooklyn Bridge with the city shining in the background.

The rest of our night (at least until the 4 a.m. closing) was spent at LoKi, a bar on our block. We finally all crawled home to our beds, dreaming happy dreams about the warm weather we had Saturday and the many adventures we had experienced.

Wall of Warhol

Andy Warhol at MoMA.

I've previously posted and seen some of his work at the Met. Find it here. Watch for more pictures from MoMA throughout the week. I loved it so much, I think I might want to go back again Soon (maybe this next Friday?)

MoMA Art

I love New York City! AND I love the MoMA (Museum of Modern Art). MoMA + Friday after work = FREE! Here I am with Alissa as we enjoy this beautiful piece of art :) More pictures to come for those of you who are missing out on seeing the art with your own eyes.

This was my first visit. I think I might have to go back again. Soon.

Inspire Me Thursday: Bamboo

Bamboo found at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden. Posted for the Inspire Me Thursday Challenge.

Friday Fill-In: The Third

And...here we go!

1. Helping someone with directions in the subway was my last random act of kindness.

2. Another place would have more square footage and cheaper rent, but our tiny apartment in Brooklyn makes us happy despite it all.

3. Be sensitive in matters of the heart.

4. Coffee, tea or or a nice glass of wine.

5. Right before Seth and I were married, Indi, my puppy, and I took separate paths.

6. Our alarm clock reminds me that there is another day of work, no matter how many times my dreams make me think it's Saturday.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to MOMA with Alissa and maybe a party at a friend's, tomorrow my plans include brunch and an adventure with Mr. and Sunday, I want to sleep in and give Mr. his day of nothingness!

Hope you all have an amazing Friday, AND a wonderful weekend!

Join in the fun - Friday Fill-In here!

Caught the Sun Shining

Loved the way the sun brightened this downtown building as the sun went down this afternoon.