On Being Nina

exciting

2012-01-11T18:37:00.000-05:00

I swear, this photo is as exciting as my life gets these days. I haven't had much time for anything other than work. I'm not complaining or anything, but I guess I just don't have anything interesting to share other than our cat sleeping beside me while I work. I hope to get my head above the water soon and be back to blogging regularly here.

Happy New Year!

2012-01-05T19:45:00.000-05:00

I took a little extra time off from this blog over the holidays. So first off, Happy New Year! I had a really awesome weekend away with a group of friends in Hunter Mountain. It was exactly what I needed, hanging out, watching movies, playing board games, snowboarding, cooking, and snuggling by the fire. It was definitely a perfect mix of fun and R&R that I needed.

This year I've been struggling to come up with some resolutions. I guess that's I good thing right? I've never been happier in my life and in my career. I'm looking forward to so many exciting things this year with Love Toast and I'm also moving in with my boyfriend (ahh!). So I guess one of the things I definitely want to work on this year is organizing. It's on my resolution list every year. I'm hoping moving into a bigger space will help. My other big thing that I need to work on is taking the time to hang out with my friends. I've been terrible with time management and therefore I've been spending my nights stressing out over deadlines. Whelp. So organizing and hanging with friends- those sound like easy enough resolutions, right?

gifts

2011-12-26T09:30:00.000-05:00

I spent Christmas weekend with my boyfriend's hilarious family. I'm always a little sad that I don't get to see my own family but I'm pretty used to it by now. My brother and sister in law sent the most awesome box of gifts. Actually, my friends, boyfriend, and his family all got me the most wonderful gifts. I just wanted to make a pile of it all and then curl up in bed with it. Hope you all had a lovely Christmas with your loved ones!

PS I also spent a few hours on Christmas Eve painting these to fill all of our orders.

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-23T10:46:00.000-05:00

I can't believe it's Christmas weekend already. Where has the time go? I've been so consumed with Love Toast that I haven't been able to post here much. I'll be back after the holidays though. What are you guys up to this weekend? I'll be spending it with my boyfriend's family stuffing myself with yummy fried fish.

Happy Holidays!

His & Hers coffee mugs

2011-12-19T21:59:00.000-05:00

I just learned today that these mugs that I hand-painted for a Love Toast photo shoot was re-posted on Tumblr over 31,000 times! Holy moly! In just the past week that I posted the image I've received so many emails asking me where to purchase these mugs. We've been in the process of designing an online shop to go along with our blog. Hopefully I can share that info with you guys very soon! I'm so excited to be a mug making machine! : )

i love you more than...

2011-12-16T14:18:00.000-05:00

I stumbled upon this plate at Urban Outfitters when I was Christmas shopping. My boyfriend always says, "I love you more than..." to me and "french fries" has been one of them. Gave me a good laugh.

kitty keycover

2011-12-15T08:00:00.000-05:00

A friend gave this to me as a gift the other day. Isn't it so cute? The "I-saw-this-and-I-thought-of-you" gifts are always the best!

dry shampoo

2011-12-14T11:11:00.000-05:00

The past week, when I was pulling super late hours trying to finish everything in time for the Love Toast launch, my BFF told me I've been "walking around looking like a homeless person." I looked the way I was feeling, extremely exhausted, with bags under my eyes and terrible skin. I haven't had time for much else and couldn't even think about squeezing in a shower. Sad, right? On Monday, I stopped by Lush for a gift for my friend and spotted their No Drought dry shampoo on the shelves. I must've looked like an addict when I went up to the counter. I was shaking, could barely speak, and said, "I..I need this." So this is my solution for being too busy to shower. Dry Shampoo.

celebration

2011-12-13T19:07:00.000-05:00

For the past few months, I've been so consumed with working on Love Toast. After the launch yesterday I was finally able to have a nice night out for dinner with my boyfriend. He's been so supportive (proofreading my writing) and understanding (when I'm too busy to hang out), I feel like I owe him so much more than a dinner. We went to this fun little Indian restaurant, Panna II, in East Village. The restaurant is covered in these hanging lights. I thought I was going to have a bad headache at first, but my eyes adjusted and the place just felt so festive. It was a perfect celebration. : )

Introducing Love Toast!

2011-12-12T10:42:00.000-05:00

Oh gosh, where have I been? The past few months I've been consumed with my new project, Love Toast, that I've been working on with my best friend. Love Toast is a new wedding blog featuring distinctive weddings and sharing interviews and tips from industry insiders. Please take a moment to check it out and let us know what you think! Cheers!

life sized to-do list

2011-12-08T09:58:00.000-05:00

We stayed at the studio until 1:30 am last night trying to get all of the last minute things ready for the launch of our new site, Love Toast. It's overwhelming but we're coming along slowly but surely!

crafting party

2011-12-06T23:03:00.000-05:00

I had so much fun last week staying up into the late hours crafting for our holiday photo shoot. My best friend and I felt like we got a flash forward look into our senior citizen years and, I must say, I think it's gonna be pretty rad. I can't wait to share the post with you on Love Toast on Monday!

serious and silly

2011-12-05T08:38:00.001-05:00

I came across these photos from my brother's wedding the other day and it made me laugh. Our mom hates it when we make silly faces in pictures. We make her very proud. : )

(photos taken by Kate Connolly)

Happy December!

2011-12-01T16:35:00.000-05:00

After working on a holiday shoot yesterday and then coming home to watch the Rockefeller tree lighting last night, I am officially in the Christmas spirit. I may even be moved to go out and buy the Bieber Christmas album! (Was anyone else uncomfortable watching his music video with Mariah Carey)?

Happy December!

Thanksgiving continued...

2011-12-01T15:55:00.000-05:00

I know it's December today but I still wanted to share the photos from Thanksgiving last week. This Thanksgiving was extra special for so many reasons. It was my sister-in-law's first time hosting, it was the first one my boyfriend was spending with my family, it's one of the few that I spend with my brother, and we had planned a very special surprise for him.

My brother and his wife did an amazing job hosting. Dinner was absolutely wonderful and the table set-up was so beautifully done.

Before dinner, we went around saying what we were thankful for. It was my first time doing this at dinner and made it so much more special. It was so incredibly touching to hear what everyone was personally thankful for and made me that much more appreciative of everything we have in our lives.

Next was time for my surprise. Since I could not attend my big brother's Bronze Star ceremony the following week, we decided to throw him a ceremony of our own. Just as he was about to take a bite of his dinner, I had the sound of trumpets blaring from an app on my phone as a cue that the ceremony was starting. It was so hilarious to see my brother look at me as if he was going to kill me for having my phone go off during dinner. (He was holding the carving knife as well).

The look on his face was absolutely priceless when my boyfriend came in to present his award as President Obama, donning the mask and all. That made the silliness of it all so worth it.

My boyfriend downloaded an app where you can record your message and have it play back in Obama's voice. I'm still laughing just thinking about it.

He presented him with our homemade versions of the Bronze Star and Purple Heart medal and a bottle of Thai whiskey. (I'm sure this is customary).

God, I love this guy so much and I'm so grateful to have him as my big brother. I am so proud of his strength and valor.

I also stitched him a little Purple Heart pillow and pinned his medals to it. My brother told me that the Purple Heart started as a quilt that people would stitch to comfort the families of the injured soldier, so it was actually sorta fitting that I made him the pillow.

He always has been and always will be my hero.

giving thanks

2011-11-28T09:48:00.000-05:00

I wanted to post this on Thanksgiving but I didn't get the chance to. I have so much to be grateful for this year. First off, I am so incredibly thankful that my brother is alive and well. I am thankful for my family and now my new in laws. I am thankful for my kind and loving boyfriend who is always so patient with me and never stops making me laugh. I am thankful for such wonderful friends who always support me. Lastly, I am so thankful for my career and all the exciting new side projects I have been working on that keep me so inspired. I am a very lucky girl.

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday weekend. xo

bye y'all!

2011-11-22T17:27:00.000-05:00

My boyfriend and I are making the 9 hour drive tonight down to North Carolina to spend Thanksgiving with my brother and his wife. I've only spent about 4 Thanksgivings with my brother so it's pretty darn special!

pics from my weekend

2011-11-21T10:00:00.000-05:00

Lots of eating, drinking, and dancing (not pictured). On Saturday night, on our way to a post party, we walked past Katz's deli and my boyfriend and I both shamefully admitted that we had never been. The line was always just too long for me. But luckily that was where everyone wanted to eat at 2 AM. Hooray! I must say their pastrami sandwich definitely lives up to its reputation. It's fantastic! Earlier in the day, the taping of Pilot X was more fun than I ever expected. I was called up to be the Sound Tech and I think I've found my calling. I didn't stop laughing the entire time. Later that evening, before the Hot Rod Circuit show at Williamsburg Music Hall, we went for Vietnamese food and then to a bar that served huge 34 oz beers in styrofoam cups for $4! I'd say it was a perfect weekend.

have a fun weekend!

2011-11-18T09:00:00.002-05:00

What are you guys up to this weekend? I have a crazy (but seriously fun) few days ahead of me. Tonight I'm attending a wedding with my boyfriend. I won't know anyone there so I plan on boozing and dancing the night away (which wouldn't be different from any other wedding). Tomorrow we are going to a pilot taping of a friend's new show called Pilot X. Later in the evening we are headed to Brooklyn to see Hot Rod Circuit, and then back to Manhattan for the post party for Pilot X. Eeeeeeee I'm so excited!

midday pick-me-up

2011-11-17T17:18:00.000-05:00

While working from home this afternoon I hit a midday slump. I decided to watch a little tv while eating my lunch. Then I saw a commercial for Starbucks advertising buy one get one free coffee. I sure needed a pick me up. And two is even better than one. I walked to Starbucks in the rain, unshowered and displaying VPL (no shame- ok, a lotta shame). I ordered a double of my favorite Peppermint Mocha. Something about those red cups just make me so happy. Effective marketing, Starbucks.

On my way back I caught a glimpse of Tracy Morgan shooting 30 Rock on Steinway St in Astoria. (Yeah, Queens!) He was hugging fans and posing for photos. I would've gotten in line for a hug (almost as effective as caffeine for a pick me up) but I had my hands full with the coffee (and I was very ashamed of my VPL).

coffee mugs

2011-11-17T13:00:00.000-05:00

I'm not sure when my obsession with coffee mugs began but I guess I've become a bit of a collector. I don't know why but they just make me so happy. Maybe it's correlated with the fact that coffee makes me happy. I should've been a scientist. Urban Outfitters has a bunch of these flared coffee mugs that I'm in love with.

Bike, Dog, Beautiful.

baby's 1st birthday

2011-11-17T09:00:00.001-05:00

A few weekends ago, during that freak fall snowstorm, my boyfriend and I drove up to Massachusetts for his cousin's 1st birthday. We were hoping for a beautiful fall foliage drive but got snow instead. Not that it mattered because I was asleep for the entire drive. We were going to drive back that evening to attend a Halloween party but, because of the heavy snowfall and dangerous road conditions, we decided to stay the night. My boyfriend was worried that I would be upset about missing a costume party but I honestly couldn't have picked a better setting to be stranded. The house was full of food, candy, cake, and booze for the party so we stayed up late into the night finishing it all while playing with all of his little cousin's toys and games. In all of my years of partying, who knew a baby's first birthday party would be one of the most fun?

long jane pajamas

2011-11-16T14:53:00.000-05:00

It's cold, dark, and rainy here in NYC, and on top of that my allergies are unrelenting today. I had to drag myself out the door to work on some projects at a cafe. But when I opened my front door, I saw that my thermal long jane pajama order had arrived. I put them on immediately and they're just as cosy as they look. So today I'm going to stay in my pajamas and work from home. : )

sweater leggings

2011-11-15T20:55:00.002-05:00

The temperatures dropped a bit this past weekend. (Anything below 70 degrees and I'm freezing)! As much as I hate the cold, I do love snuggly clothes. Madewell came out with their holiday catalog today and I am obsessed with the Polka Dot Leggings and Fair Isle Sweater Leggings. Wouldn't these be perfect for lounging around on a Winter day?

PS- I've worn the same clothes for the past 3 days and I'm OK with that. Gotta love the life of a freelancer. :)

have a great weekend!

2011-11-11T09:01:00.000-05:00

Happy Veterans' Day! I just wanted to say a big (HUGE) thanks to all of those who serve our country.

What are you guys up to this weekend? I'm shooting two weddings this weekend and hoping to find time on Sunday to unwind and have a beer.

Have a great weekend!

finding a work space

2011-11-10T09:19:00.000-05:00

Source: starsmasquerading.tumblr.com via Nina on Pinterest

I mainly work from home during the week and I have the bad habit of crawling back into bed when I'm feeling overwhelmed by the mountain of work that I have to finish. It's extremely counterproductive and adds to my stress later, but for the moment the world just seems like a safer place under my covers. I was talking to one of my best friends who also works from home and she says she has the exact same problem, and the same temporary snuggly solution. We were glad to find out we weren't alone in our stress relieving tactic but decided we needed a better plan. Like maybe actually working on what needs to be done and it seems our "home office" is just not going to cut it.

We decided to meet at Queens Kickshaw, a local coffee and grilled cheese (and craft beer) joint that has free wifi, tons of communal seats, and a super friendly staff. I had an awesome El Salvadorian coffee, chedder and mozz grilled cheese with tomato soup, and later a brownie when I needed a pick me up. Oh, and I was extremely productive. Hooray for solutions! : )

personal demons

2011-11-09T16:39:00.001-05:00

"There is nothing to fear except the power you give to your own demons." -Sally Gardner

I think one of my personal demons is comparing myself to other people. Yesterday I got myself down because I learned that a former colleague got a position that I would’ve been up for, had I not left the company. I know, I feel silly even typing this. It’s crazy because I’m happier than I’ve ever been with my career and I know for a fact that I wouldn’t be happy with my former postion, and yet, I still felt the nagging “coulda, woulda, shouldas.” Do you guys ever feel like this? I wanted to snap out of it because I knew that feeling envious of something I don’t want is pretty ridiculous. So what did I do? I looked up pictures of puppies to take my mind off things. (OK, also pretty ridiculous).

weekend

2011-11-07T11:34:00.000-05:00

Our anniversary was absolutely perfect. Despite having turned the clocks back, we were still feeling pretty tired so we decided to have a relaxing afternoon lounging around and watching a movie. We watched The Kids Are All Right, which I enjoyed (perhaps only because of Mark Ruffalo) but my boyfriend says he "poops on the movie." (His maturity is one of the things I love about him). Later we got dressed and did some window shopping in Brooklyn before we headed to dinner at Frankies (also in Brooklyn). We shared a bottle of Gaglioppo and some antipasti, and for the main course my boyfriend ordered the cavatelli (fantastic) while I had the sweet sausage with polenta (also fantastic). For dessert we shared the tiramisu, which we regretted not ordering one each. After dinner we came home to watch Dexter before going to bed. I couldn't have asked for a more perfect day, or a more perfect person to spend it with. : )

cheers!

2011-11-06T09:00:00.002-05:00

Today is our anniversary! It's so funny, a few months before I met my boyfriend I was so fed up with dating all the wrong guys. I drew a cartoon picture of my "dream man" with a list all of the qualities that I was looking for and said I refused to date anyone who didn't meet the criteria. My best friend laughed at me and said I was chasing a "pipe dream" and "there's no perfect man." But just a few months later I met my boyfriend who turned out to have all the checks on my list, even down to his beard and glasses. After I described him to another friend she said, "Give me a pen, I'm drawing one too." : )

"I'd cut up my heart for you to wear if you wanted it." -Margaret Mitchell, Gone With The Wind

(This photo was taken by Kate Connolly at my brother's rehearsal dinner).

have a lovely weekend!

2011-11-04T09:00:00.001-04:00

What you guys up to this weekend? I'm so excited to celebrate my one year anniversary with my boyfriend on Sunday. I'm not sure what we'll do, but anything would be just perfect. With that, I will leave you with this quote:

"Let us be grateful to people who make us happy. They are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom." - Marcel Proust

Legendary champagne brunch

2011-11-03T20:17:00.000-04:00

I think I dodged catastrophe and my external hard drive was saved. So I can get back to posting some photos. We went to the "Legendary Champagne Brunch" two Sundays ago which was beyond anything I could've imagined. I was told that "they just keep bringing food out" and that I was going to be "so full that it hurts" and that I "wouldn't think about food again for at least a week." Sure, sure I can comprehend what being stuffed feels like. I mean, I have attended Italian Thanksgivings before. But I was not prepared for what I was about to experience. They only do one seating at 1PM and after that the waiter literally brings one course after another, along with never letting your champagne glass go empty. We counted and it turned out to be 20 courses (!). We started off with a piece of bagel with lox, pumpkin bread, fruit, caesar salad, eggs benedict, and then went full speed ahead with mushroom risotto, ham, apple fritters, lamb, steak, chicken, scallops, and coconut shrimp. I'm certain there was a lot more but that is as far as I can remember as I started getting delirious and losing oxygen. (It was a fancy place so we got all dressed up for brunch, although we've been told that people show up in pajama pants. The nerve!)

I asked everyone to make a face for how they felt after their 20 course meal. I think mine wins.

After we had our 20th course and thought it was all over, they brought over a tray of 6 desserts. There was creme brulee, raspberry and mango sorbet, chocolate burrito, chocolate cake, cheesecake, and pecan pie. I don't know how we did it but we licked the plates clean and asked for a second chocolate burrito!

The best part of the entire afternoon, aside from the delicious meal, was that at the very end, our friend knocked over his glass of champagne and the drink splashed onto a lady at the next table. We apologized profusely, and she was very understanding, but we could not stop laughing when he said to her, "I'm so sorry but I was just in such shock when I saw this bill that I threw my hands up." How could you not forgive someone for that?

Brunch is seriously one of the best things on earth.

upcoming project: photo shoot

2011-11-02T15:30:00.000-04:00

While my hard drive is down I can at least update you guys with images I have in my phone. Last Tuesday I spent the night at my best friend's apartment so that we could prepare the props and get up early the following morning for a photo shoot. The shoot is for an upcoming project that I'm really excited about. (Details soon!)

We stayed up late eating pizza, drinking wine, and painting, gluing, and even toasting our cute little props. I was thoroughly enjoying myself, I don't think slumber parties and crafting will ever get old for me, but my sleep deprived best friend couldn't wait to finish so that we could go to bed. I wanted so badly to keep the beach cruiser, pictured below.

Our photographers were so much fun to work with and at one point they hopped on the other's shoulder to get the shot. Now that's commitment! They called it the "totem pole." We had such a blast working on this shoot and really lucked out with the awesome fall weather.

More images soon!

Be back soon!

2011-11-02T11:16:00.000-04:00

Sorry for the disappearance! I had gone out of town but didn't expect to be away for the whole week. And now that I'm back to work my external hard drive (might have) crashed. I'm crossing my fingers and hoping it's just resting. Be back soon!

dogs

2011-10-25T09:00:00.000-04:00

Once we figure out our living situation, we would love to get two dogs and name them Sausage and Tuk Tuk. My boyfriend wants a dachshund (who will be Sausage), and I just love french bulldogs. We would probably end up adopting so it would be more of a personality test than a looks call, but maybe we could at least narrow it down to a big or small dog. Do you guys have a pet? Would you prefer a big or small dog?

stinky Mondays

2011-10-24T09:00:00.001-04:00

Apparently my little niece, Ella, makes this face all the time. It's the same face that I make every Monday morning. : ) I feel you, Ella.

have a good weekend!

2011-10-21T09:00:00.001-04:00

It's supposed to be another gorgeous fall weekend. What are you guys up to? I'm hoping to go to a haunted house tonight, working tomorrow, and am extremely excited for the "Legendary Champagne Brunch" at Restaurant X on Sunday. Have a wonderful weekend!

gifts from India

2011-10-20T15:00:00.000-04:00

One of my best friends who trained in India this summer to become a yoga instructor came over yesterday afternoon to give me a private yoga lesson. I've tried yoga a few times before but never really got into it because I felt like I didn't know what I was doing and therefore wasn't getting the benefits of the practice. Also, I hate attending classes by myself, so having a private session in my living room on a rainy day was the perfect solution. I was blown away by how much better yoga felt when I had someone showing me the correct form. I actually felt my muscles working and then felt each muscle relax during the breathing exercise. By the end of the class I felt calmer and therefore more in control of myself. (And that's just one class!) I really loved at the end when she said to, "Say thanks for taking an hour for yourself." I had always viewed exercise as a time consuming chore, but considering it "an hour for myself" and my body really changes how I feel about exercise. I beat up my body with work and never take the time to take care of myself. Changing my mindset helps me to see yoga as an hour of loving and appreciating my body, instead of a burden.

As if the private lesson wasn't a gift enough already, she also brought me some little treasures from India. I got these recycled paper bookmarks with the most beautiful designs. I absolutely love them and needed it because I usually just use scraps of paper or receipts as a bookmark. She also got me a precious little notebook ("because I'm always writing things down") and the book, Life of Pi, by Yann Martel, that was printed in India. The greatest part about the book was that I had read it years ago, but I borrowed the book from a friend and wanted my own copy, but never got around to buying it. Also, when I last read it, the last page of the book was actually missing. I can't wait, after so many years, to find out how the book ended.

cats

2011-10-20T09:00:00.000-04:00

While we were talking about the things we wanted and didn't want in our new apartment my boyfriend said to me, "Our new place is not going to have a kitty litter." I asked him why, worried that we hadn't been keeping the litter area clean, and he answered, "Because our new place won't have a cat." Haha. My boyfriend is more of a dog person, and I'm actually extremely allergic to cats, but I suffer for this angelic ball of fluff. I can't imagine a life where I'm not sneezing constantly, my eyes aren't watery, and my skin isn't red and itchy. Hmm- that sounds kinda nice.

home

2011-10-19T10:30:00.000-04:00

My boyfriend and I had the exciting "living together" talk last weekend. We had always talked about it as "one day" and "in the future," but this time we got down to the logistics of where and when. It wouldn't be anytime soon, but I like that we can talk about it now and I can daydream of our home together. Our biggest question is where we should move. He needs easy access to Manhattan and I need access to New Jersey, so we're debating between New York and New Jersey. And after we decide that, we're debating between Queens or Brooklyn, or across the river in NJ like Hoboken, Jersey City, or Edgewater. We love living in NYC, but we're both so tired of paying so much for a tiny apartment...and we wouldn't miss the smells. I never imagined leaving the city, but the thought of not living like a college student is really enticing. What do you guys think?

Fall bike ride

2011-10-18T22:38:00.000-04:00

This past weekend I worked a 14 hour day on both Friday and Saturday. I could barely move my legs on Sunday morning. I rode the train back to NYC on Sunday and didn't want to waste any more of the beautiful day traveling, so we decided to go for a bike ride instead of driving upstate for Oktoberfest. We normally ride along the river in Queens but my boyfriend wanted to try a different route. He suggested we ride to Flushing Meadows Park instead. We rode along Roosevelt Ave for most of the way which made me extremely cranky. I didn't want to spend the gorgeous fall day riding underneath a subway track with tons of cars cutting me off and having to stop at every light. Once I got to the park though, and I was fed, I was much happier and really glad my boyfriend suggested we check out a new area. We picked up some corn and chorizo from a street vendor and visited the Queens Zoo, which is in the park. It was such a perfect sunny afternoon spent strolling around looking at animals that don't normally live in the city. After the park, we rode to Woodside to meet some friends for Thai food, then biked home. We biked a total of 12 miles on Sunday. So much for resting my feet. My legs were throbbing on Monday morning, but it was worth it.

Halloween

2011-10-17T09:00:00.001-04:00

Halloween is exactly 2 weeks away. Do you guys know what you're going to be? I'm debating being this cute dinosaur again. (It was sold out last year).

have a good weekend!

2011-10-14T09:00:00.001-04:00

What are you guys up to this weekend? I'm shooting a wedding today and tomorrow and hoping to enjoy Oktoberfest in upstate NY on Sunday.

Hemingway love

2011-10-13T14:20:00.000-04:00

I just finished reading The Paris Wife by Paula McLain last week and found it so interesting to read about Ernest Hemingway from the perspective of his first wife. I was so caught up in the story of their life in Paris in the 1920's and couldn't wait to devour more Hemingway so I ordered A Moveable Feast and The Sun Also Rises, which were both mentioned in The Paris Wife. I'm really enjoying A Moveable Feast right now. Have you guys read any of these books? Are you a Hemingway fan?

Hemingway and his first wife, Hadley. Aren't their matching boots and socks cute?

Apple Picking & Wine Tasting

2011-10-12T09:00:00.001-04:00

Two weekends ago, we drove up to Warwick, NY to go wine tasting and apple picking. Can you think of a more perfect way to spend a sunny fall day? The Warwick Winery had a tasting for just $5. We really liked every wine and cider that we tried. Could you tell? The vineyard also had an apple orchard on the property so we went for a booze filled, apple picking adventure afterwards. No one could believe that this was the first time I've gone apple picking. Oh how I've missed out all of these years!

Thailand: Week 1: Bangkok

2011-10-11T16:13:00.000-04:00

Phewf! This took me long enough, didn't it? I'm almost up to date with all of my projects so I'm hoping I can go through some of my pictures from Thailand to give you guys a recap.

We landed in Bangkok and spent our first week in the city. I wanted to make sure my boyfriend got to see everything, so on our first morning we got up early and headed to the temples. My mum and her boyfriend took us around so it was like a little sightseeing double date.

We started with The Grand Palace and The Emerald Buddha Temple, then Wat Pho (The Reclining Buddha Temple- or relaxing Buddha as my boyfriend liked to call it), and then took a little boat across the Chao Phraya River to Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn). We climbed up the extremely steep and narrow steps up the side of the temple to see beautiful views of the city from the top. I was so scared of falling forward on my way down that I scooted down on my bum, clutching the railing.

After a hot afternoon of visiting temples (there's barely an shade at the temples and you have to wear proper clothing that covers your arms and legs) we decided to cool off by taking a boat down to the famous Oriental Hotel for a cocktail. We were still jetlagged (and exhausted from walking around in the heat) so we tucked ourselves in right after dinner.

sick days

2011-10-05T10:13:00.000-04:00

I'm sorry I haven't been posting. After a weekend of no sleep and a full day of drinking, I've fallen ill again. I've got some great photos from a lovely day of wine tasting and apple picking and cannot wait to share. -As soon as I'm able to get out of bed.

Happy Humpday!

(This photo was taken in Otego, NY)

have a good weekend!

2011-09-30T09:00:00.001-04:00

Look at those eyes. My niece is begging to be spoiled rotten.

What are you guys up to this weekend? I'm shooting a wedding today and tomorrow, and planning to go apple picking and wine tasting on Sunday. Oh, and finishing the weekend with the season premiere of Dexter. Who's excited?

what to do?

2011-09-29T09:00:00.002-04:00

It's gonna be a gray and rainy day here in NYC. What should I do? Go to a movie? (I still haven't seen The Help). Get some Thai noodle soup? Or stay in bed and watch movies?

(Photo was taken on a rainy day in Krabi, Thailand).

Update: We decided on options B and C. We went and got Senleg Tom Yum noodle soup at Sripraphai, the best (and my favorite) Thai restaurant in NYC. Afterwards, we picked up some Cheap Red Wine (love the label), came home, and watched It's Kinda A Funny Story from Netflix. The movie was just kinda OK. My boyfriend described it as, "It's like somebody shit in the cupcake mix," and said, "Let's put it in the mail so that it never comes back." He should be a movie critic.

wedding hair

2011-09-28T09:00:00.001-04:00

I'm usually terrible with my hair and typically wear it down, but by the end of the night it always ends up in a sloppy bun. Same old same old. I wanted to do something different for the wedding this past weekend and decided to try out this DIY wedding hair tutorial. My pictures aren't so great (since I was alone in my room) but I assure you I got so many compliments on my hair that night. The best part is that it's quite easy to do.

My boyfriend was laughing at me because I hadn't looked in the mirror yet and forgot to pin the ends back in this photo (below). This will be a 'do for another day. Japanimation convention perhaps? : )

wisconsin weekend

2011-09-27T15:15:00.003-04:00

My boyfriend and I flew to Green Bay, Wisconsin last Thursday for a rehearsal dinner followed by the wedding on Friday. It was my first time there and while we didn't have much time to explore the area, we had a blast. Apparently we saw all that we had to see in Green Bay at the famed Lambeau Field (home of the Green Bay Packers). The stadium of the publicly owned team was the pride of the town. Everyone there wanted to talk football but all I really cared about was how I could get more cheese curds into my belly. I ordered everything with cheddar for 3 days straight.

(Oh, and we had a fantastic time at the wedding).

Here are the very few photos I took from the weekend.

cute USB hub

2011-09-27T12:19:00.001-04:00

Yet another steal from Bangkok- I got this adorable penguin USB hub for $8. Now I could have my printer, external hard drive, flash drive, and card reader plugged in all at once. Hooray for productivity!

Happy Birthday, Brother!

2011-09-23T10:00:00.001-04:00

Just wanted to wish my big brother a very happy birthday. He's an incredible person who I continue to look up to and love, regardless of his smelly butt.

and we're off again!

2011-09-22T10:00:00.001-04:00

My boyfriend and I are flying to Wisconsin today for his cousin's wedding this weekend. He's the best man so now it's his turn to stay up in the hotel writing his speech while I come up with different variations of inappropriate things to say. (He did this to me 3 weeks ago while I was writing my MOH speech). I'm so excited to drink, dance, and eat lots of cheese!

(I bought this luggage tag in Thailand for $1.50)!

at risk books

2011-09-21T10:00:00.001-04:00

This image from Random House made me chuckle. I had to post this for my best friend who detests the show and refuses to watch. I respect her standards and ability to not get sucked in to watching train wrecks.

I have not been as strong.

little babies

2011-09-20T17:51:00.000-04:00

My sister sent me this photo of my niece and nephew during bath time. Isn't it precious? I can't believe how much they look alike.

weekend update

2011-09-20T17:39:00.000-04:00

I had busy weekend- Mum was heading back to Thailand so we drove to Jersey to join her for dinner (crabs and lobster, yum!) and say bye. Friday night, we hung out with friends, catching up over ice cream cake, wine, and vodka. My BFF and I shot a beautiful (and breezy!) beach wedding on Saturday in Long Branch, NJ. (We saw actor Chazz Palminteri at the hotel). Then went on to have a very productive work meeting at a local dive over sweet tea vodka on the rocks.

On Sunday, I took a train to Secaucus where my boyfriend scooped me up and headed over to Piermont, NY to spend the day exploring the town. It was my first time there and I absolutely fell in love with it. We got some ice cream (cake batter with sprinkles) and walked along the Hudson, enjoying the fall weather. We were admiring the beautiful homes there and imagined how wonderful it would be to move there. I already made up my routine there from the cute coffee shop where I would write, the yoga studio where I would finally work out, the quant library where I would owe tons in late fees, and the scenic route where I would bike everyday. Doesn't that sound perfect?

heart shaped eggs

2011-09-16T10:04:00.001-04:00

These heart shaped eggs don't taste any different but they just made me so happy. Throw in some hotdogs, french fries, pineapples, croissant, and coffee and it's a guaranteed good day. One of things I love about being on holiday is that there's always time for a leisurely breakfast.

PS. Have a great weekend!

blingy souvenirs

2011-09-15T14:08:00.000-04:00

I picked up these awesome rings (owl, bicycle) and bracelet (deer) on the last day of my trip. I usually prefer silver but I fell in love instantly with the brassy bling.

broke-ass wedding gift

2011-09-14T21:31:00.000-04:00

What happens when you are getting married and you have a little sister who is perpetually poor? You get marshmallows as a wedding gift.

(Rocky Mountain Chocolates had these adorable Bride and Groom caramel apples but I couldn't afford to get both so I went with the equally cute mallows).

wicker lights

2011-09-14T20:56:00.000-04:00

I said I wouldn't purchase any more home decor until I had a place on my own but I just couldn't resist these wicker string lights from JJ Market in Bangkok. I think string lights make any space feel cosier (dare I say magical?). And the best part? They were only $4. Yeah!

have a good weekend!

2011-09-09T14:05:00.000-04:00

Well, I haven't really accomplished much this week, especially from being sick and not being fully adjusted yet. The cooler weather and the rain also didn't help much. I wanted to stay in bed, order takeout, and watch Breaking Bad forever and ever. The sun is finally out again today so I'm thinking a bike ride will be the remedy I need to get me out of this funk. Perhaps it'll cheer me up and help me fall in love with this city all over again. Enjoy your weekend!

(views from and of Gantry Park, LIC- one of my favorite places in the city).

celebrating love

2011-09-09T13:44:00.001-04:00

I was hoping to share some photos from my trip to Thailand but I realised I had uploaded all of the pics to my boyfriend's computer. Perhaps I'll tell you about my brother's wedding this past weekend instead, though I didn't take many photos. I left it up to the lovely Kate Connolly to do so, so hopefully I could share those with you soon.

As I've said before, I had one day from returning from Thailand to pack and get back on the plane to North Carolina. We checked into a hotel in Downtown Raleigh and everything we needed from the reception to ceremony, and bars and restaurants were within walking distance. I've always loved staying in hotels ever since I was a kid and I must say, I didn't miss my cluttered bedroom.

They had a traditional Buddhist ceremony at the temple early Friday morning just with the immediate family and my aunties. As the maid of honor, Mum insisted that I wear a traditional Thai dress. After I tried the dress on I was no longer complaining. I was absolutely in love with it. I had to keep being reminded by my boyfriend that it wasn't my wedding.

I was feeling guilty over the summer for not being around and available to help out with the details of the wedding. I sure hope I was able to make up for it the morning of. So many small details go into a wedding that you forget about, until your cell phone is ringing non stop and 10 different people need your 2 hands. I was definitely sweating it. I have never been the responsible one in my family, the one people count on, and I just didn't want to disappoint as expected. My poor boyfriend, I had to delegate duties and had him running all over the place helping me out. He did it all with a smile and even had time to pour me a glass of champagne and tell me to calm down.

The entire ceremony and reception went off without a hitch and was absolutely beautiful. There wasn't a dry eye in the room. It was so small and intimate that I think everyone felt like they played a part in their day. I was definitely honored to to have had such a huge role. As maid of honor, I was told by friends (very last minute) that I needed to make a speech. I completely cracked under pressure and was up until 1 AM the night before the wedding trying to write something meaningful. I had a lot of help from my best friend who hears one every weekend, and my boyfriend who knows how to light a fire under my ass when it need it. We stayed up drinking champagne and eating gummy bears and looking up some terrible wedding speeches and quotes online. I still hadn't written anything usable but we at least came up with a formula 'cause we all know I need some sort of structure to hold me down. After giving me all their advice and tips, they stressed the last part (*DON'T OFFEND) and went off to bed.

Everyone says the best speeches are the ones that come from the heart and after watching them through their emotional ceremony, it came to me, and I scribbled feverishly during the cocktail hour. I am happy with what I came up with, though there will never be enough words to describe how much I love my brother and how much his happiness means to me.

The rest of the day was for celebrating the happy couple and love and celebrate we did. (It's not a party without a photo booth!)

A good party always ends with me incapable of walking on my own.

Hello again!

2011-09-07T21:38:00.000-04:00

I can't believe five weeks have gone by already. I thought I would have some time to update in between but I didn't have any free time to myself. I'm finally back in my apartment in Astoria. On our way back from Bangkok we had stops in Tokyo and Chicago. After we landed in NYC, we went straight to NJ to see my boyfriend's family. We had a day to catch up, do laundry, and then repack our bags for a trip to North Carolina. Yes, I was in 5 cities in 4 days.

I always feel a little disoriented when I return. It's a mixture or jetlag and culture shock. On top of that I feel like so much has changed in such a short amount of time. New storefronts and eateries have popped up on my street, and even my apartment feels different with things being rearranged. I also always get the post holiday blues. You would think I'd come back refreshed after so much time away but I always feel a little down about having to go back to reality. You mean I can't just travel around the world attending weddings forever?

I'm not sure where to begin with the holiday recap but I hope I can sort through the pics quickly, get organised, and get back to blogging. How was the rest of everyone's summer? Oh how I've missed you!

Packed!

2011-07-31T18:54:00.000-04:00

I've accomplished the impossible! Last night I was close to tears because my room wasn't packed and emptied out for my subletter, and I could barely zip any of my 3 suitcases. I was so overwhelmed and extremely hungover which didn't help the situation. How did I handle the stress? I piled everything into the corner of the room and watched a movie with my roommate.

I woke up early this morning and finally got everything done. All of the bags are under 50 pounds, I'm packed for North Carolina when I return, and emptied out all of my storage space. I've never seen my bedroom so clean and clutter free, and look so much bigger. Too bad it doesn't look like this all the time.

So I'm all set and ready to take off tomorrow afternoon! I'm so looking forward to spending a month away with my family. Bon voyage!

Picture Perfect

2011-07-27T08:53:00.000-04:00

I loved the old photos of my mum looking pretty and poised in her pose but I equally adored the ones where she wasn't quite ready for the shot. I almost feel like I'm in the moment with her and can hear her saying to her photographer, "You have to hold down the button," or, "Hold on, the wind is blowing my hair." And yet, she still looks perfect.

Pretty in Midi

2011-07-26T12:47:00.000-04:00

While packing up my stuff I came across these photos of my mum and I just couldn't stop looking at them. They were taken inside the classroom and outside the school she taught at. They look like Sartorialist street style photos taken circa the '70's. I'm in love with her midi skirt, open toe heels, and of course, her smile. Doesn't she look so timeless?

Pre-trip Diary: Reading List

2011-07-26T11:11:00.000-04:00

On my last trip to Thailand, about two years ago, I packed five books. I finished two during the 21 hour journey and the other three in two days of being in the countryside with my mum. I like to keep my books too, so by the end of the three month trip I was toting a really heavy backpack. I've been toying with the idea of putting books on my iPad but I still having warmed up to the idea of e-books. What will I read on the beach where the sand is so fine and sticks to absolutely everything? What will I do when I run out of batteries and there's no socket? I decided to compromise a little bit since I definitely don't want to be stuck at my grandma's house without a book. I bought some paperbacks for the beach, and added books to my e-library for the times where I don't have to worry about sand or water getting into my iPad.

I've been having to restrain myself from reading the books that I bought before the trip, but I caved and read two already. I saw a movie preview for The Help by Kathryn Stockett and couldn't wait any longer. It's a beautifully written book, told in 3 different voices, of life in Mississippi during the 50's. I hope the movie is just as good. I also finished Girl In Translation by Jean Kwok. I just wanted to hug this book. It's been moved into my top five all time favorites list. I've never read a book that I could relate to more about being an Asian immigrant in the US. Kwok touches on how immigrant children have to grow up quickly and take on adult responsibilities because their parents don't speak the language, and the sacrifices that a parent makes to give their child a better life. I highly recommend both.

So the rest of my reading list includes two paperbacks and three e-books.

Super Sad True Love Story by Gary Shteyngart
History of Love by Nicole Krauss
Bossy Pants by Tina Key
Before I Go To Sleep by S.J. Watson
The Paris Wife by Paula Mclain

I figure I could always download more while I'm there if needed. Have you guys read any of these? Do you have any other recommendations? I am so looking forward to lazy beach days, curled up in a hammock with a book.

Pre-trip Diary: Subletting

2011-07-22T09:40:00.001-04:00

My pre-trip to-do list has been so long, and as I get closer to my departure date it feels like more "things to do" keep popping up. I guess life doesn't stop for you when you want to take a month long holiday, huh? I've been tackling the list pretty well, saving, figuring out bills, packing my apartment, and so on. Everything had been going as planned so far, and just when I thought it was smooth sailing (or flying) from here, my subletter changed her mind on the apartment. There's never a shortage of people who need apartments in NYC so I wasn't panicking, but I did want to have everything sorted out sooner than later.

I have so much to cram in to the next few days and now I'm squeezing in sorting through craigslist ads and showing the apartment. My boyfriend makes fun of me because I get attached to the people I've met and really do want to help everyone find a place, which probably makes the search process much more time consuming than it has to be. I guess I've just been in their shoes before and know how tough it is to find a good, affordable living situation in New York. I feel like I'm a pro at craigslist by now. It's crazy the lengths we go to to live in this frustratingly lovable city.

Last night, after I was done showing the apartment, I rented a Zipcar and took the things I had packed to my storage space in Jersey. By the time I got there it was 9:30 PM and already dark out. I never realized how creepy a storage space can be late at night with nobody else there. I kept getting flashes of Dexter and other scary movie scenes, and braced myself for a murderer who was dumping a body or looking for a fresh kill. I have an active imagination. After I was done with that dusty, sweaty job, I drove over to a clothing drop box to donate some clothes that I was finally able to part with. That was another scary setting. The parking lot was empty and pitch black and I imagined the people who could be rifling through a clothing drop box late at night. Just as I parked I saw some headlights coming towards me. Who else would decide to donate clothes at this hour, I wondered. A large pick-up truck pulled up next to me and four shirtless boys, who didn't look old enough to drive, hopped out. I waited in my car for a minute, sure that they were about to beat me with bats and stick me up for my worn t-shirts and old slutty dresses. Coincidentally, to my relief, they too were just dropping off old clothes, never even looking my way. How anti-climatic.

So that was one more exciting thing crossed off my to-do list. I just showed the apartment to the last person today and hopefully will be making a decision tonight and getting that out of the way. The last guy had his mom with him and she was just the sweetest lady ever and I almost want to rent the place to him just because of his mom. There I go getting all personal with my decision again. Anyway, we're hoping to pick someone tonight so wish me luck!

*Update: Found a sublet! Ended up going with the guy who came with his mom. She sent me the sweetest note thanking me for helping him set off on his "new adventure." Aww.

I'm coming home

2011-07-19T13:01:00.000-04:00

Probably the biggest news that I have so far is that, in less than two weeks, I'll be leaving for sunny Thailand. I have some family business to take care of and I haven't been back for two years, haven't seen my mum in over a year so I figured I'm just going to make a holiday out of it. I'm looking forward to the trip and having some time away. I have been working my tail off these past few months and haven't had much time to enjoy the summer. The next two weeks are going to be madness, packing up my apartment to sublet, packing my bags for Thailand, packing for North Carolina (which is where I'm headed a day after I return), and seeing friends, all in between the double work load I've taken on. (My life seems pretty boring when all I've been talking about is work, packing, and my neighbor's dog's poo). Anyway, it will all be worth it though when I step foot off that plane and get to exhale and say, "It's so good to be home."

This is my grandmother's house, which is where I'm headed shortly after I arrive.

This is the view from the backyard. I'm looking forward to the peaceful mornings sitting on the deck with a book and Thai coffee and just staring out to the mountains.

Only 13 more days!

funny notes

2011-07-14T20:52:00.000-04:00

For the Fourth of July my roommates and I were having friends over for a BBQ on our rooftop. When we got up there to set up, we saw a shitload of dog poo. There were piles of it all over the roof. We didn't know what to do because we felt it shouldn't be our job to clean up after someone else's pet, but we also couldn't just leave it because it's going to get dark and our friends surely wouldn't be happy about stepping in poo. At first, we decided to sweep it all in to a corner, but since the poo had been up there for some time it was very dry and would crumble into tiny pieces and we were essentially just spreading a dusty layer of poo across our roof. I had no choice but to scoop it all up and dispose of it in a plastic bag. But I still felt like our neighbor shouldn't be able to get away with such inconsiderate behavior. We knew there was only one apartment in our four apartment building that has a dog so it wasn't too difficult make an assumption.

I thought of so many things I could write to my neighbor in a note but I had been drinking a bit and wasn't sure if I could articulate well. I decided on a simple note with an innocent question: Does this belong to your dog? Very diplomatic and civilised compared to other variations I composed in my head.

I saw this funny note below on a site filled with more hilarious notes to neighbors.

PS: I was quite surprised by how satisfying it felt to leave a bag of dog poo with a note in front of a neighbor's door. You should try it some time!

I'm back!

2011-07-12T09:07:00.001-04:00

I can't believe it's been over a month since I last posted. I've been working on changing my website ninachristensen.com from a personal blog to a professional website, and I'll be back to this blog (On Being Nina) for all of the blogging. It's been kinda nice to take a break from the blog but I've been up to so many exciting things this past few months and can't wait to start sharing. I'm going to be tinkering around some more on this blog before I get all the customization done but I'm excited to start blogging again.

What have you guys been up to? How's your summer going so far?

making changes again

2011-06-06T03:59:00.003-04:00

Hello! Sorry I've sorta disappeared again. I'm in the middle of making some more changes to my blogs...hopefully it'll be an improvement!

Hope you've had a wonderful weekend! Be back soon!

some of my posts

2011-05-27T17:25:00.000-04:00

Well it seems that I'm back to posting just once a week. Sigh. Where does the time go? I'm just always too tired by the time I get home from work.

Last Sunday, I celebrated another birthday. I really didn't have the energy this year to make a big deal out of it. All I wanted to do was relax, eat some good food, and drink all day which is what I ended up doing. I didn't want to deal with the headache of hosting and planning things...so I just left it as whoever wanted to join me could join me. I ended up going to brunch with a small group of close friends and we stayed there drinking for 7 hours! The pictures below are lovely flowers that I got for my birthday, a fried ice cream dessert with a birthday candle, and one of my besties giving me a b-day hug.

Here are some of my posts from this week:

Olivier Zahm shares his secrets of photographing beautiful women.

Lenny Kravitz joins the cast of The Hunger Games.

Dita Von Teese glams it up when she shops.

Get a $500 bar tab on us!

90's Chanel Bag giveaway.

Check out the evolution of graffiti art in this MOCA exhibit.

Eep! Celebs in peekaboo spanx!

Phewf, am I ever so glad we have a long weekend. What are you guys up to? I'm going to be shooting a wedding with my favorite boss, my BFF, and then enjoying a day off lounging around on the beach in Jersey.

And of course, remembering those who've lost their lives for our country. A big thank you to those who serve!

some of my posts

2011-05-20T03:19:00.001-04:00

Hello! Well it looks like it has finally stopped raining, although the forecast says it's going to start up again. This past Sunday, I went to my boyfriend's sister's graduation at Rutgers, my alma mater. It was the first year that they held the commencement in the stadium and it was the largest graduation class with 12,000 students. (You can imagine how many proud family and friends were in the stands!) The traffic getting there was unreal, we had to listen to part of the commencement speech from the radio on the highway.

I was also out of town for a few days and I can't even describe how lovely it was to be so disconnected from the world without cell phone service or internet. Hopefully I can find time to post pictures after the weekend.

I didn't work much this week but here are my few posts from last week and this week.

We're hoping Arnold and Maria can work it out.

Rolling Stone holds a contest for its cover photo, the first time an unsigned musical act will grace its covers.

I dug around some scary department stores for cheap scores.

More trees please.

Are you free this Saturday? Enter for this rare chance to appear in a video and record cover for Steel Train!

Jennifer Lawrence plays Katniss Everdeen in the upcoming Hunger Games.

I'm dying for a pair of these Grey Ant Status Sunglasses.

What are you guys up to this weekend? It's birthday weekend for me and all I can think is that I need to find time to do laundry. (Sigh). Tonight I'm gonna go out with my girlfriends for the first time in months. What to wear? Where to go?

last minute plans

2011-05-19T04:57:00.000-04:00

Tonight as I was walking to the subway after work I got a call from my good friend. We were catching up for a few minutes before she was going to see a show by herself. Her friend had cancelled last minute. I wanted to offer to go with her but I was literally standing next to the subway and had so much to do when I got home. But I thought about it for a few more minutes...I never go out anymore, I've been such a bad friend to everyone, and what I needed to do could be put off for a few more hours...and I was in desperate need of a cocktail after a tough day at work...so I agreed to meet her.

We walked down towards St. Marks and I stumbled upon this tiny little take out store that sells octopus balls. My boyfriend and I always pass it when it's closed and keep saying we wanted to try it out. It was delicious! Unfortunately, I spilled the sauce on my jeans and smelled squid-y all night.

Afterwards, we headed over to Webster Hall to see Brett Dennen. We both had never heard of him before but she had free tickets that she didn't want to waste. I was pleasantly surprised and really enjoyed the band. We just wished we knew the words so that we could sing along like everyone else.

I never want to go out anymore because I don't have the money or time, but I must admit it was so nice to hang out and see my girlfriend. I guess the trick is to catch me before I get on the subway!

weekend

2011-05-13T04:01:00.000-04:00

I can't believe we're almost halfway through May already. You guys probably know how crazy I usually get during May and claim the entire month as my birthday month. Many of you are probably relieved that I haven't done that this month. Honestly, I haven't even had time to think about my birthday. All I want is a few days off work just to sleep and do absolutely nothing. Exciting, right? I also feel bad planning anything since I haven't been around for the past week months. Does that make sense?

Anyway, I'm finally able to take a few days off so I'm heading out of town for a few days this Sunday. I'm so looking forward to a mini break and to not think about anything work related. Phew. Hope you guys enjoy your weekend!

(PS: I think this image is from English Muse?)

weird food party

2011-05-10T16:47:00.000-04:00

This Saturday, I went with my boyfriend to a weird food party where each guest brings one food item that isn't your typical meat and potatoes (or chicken). I've always been an adventurous eater, ever since I was a little kid, so I was looking forward to seeing what was on the menu. They had durian and mangosteen (which I've eaten a lot in Thailand), rabbit, escargot, pate, octopus, soft shell crab, pig's tongue and feet, and bone marrow. I've been wanting to try bone marrow for a long time and I had pictured something bloodier. It turned out to be quite delicious. (It looks like sushi in the photo but tastes nothing like it!) I enjoyed trying everything, especially the escargot, but I must say, my least favorite was the pig's tongue which was a bit too chewy for my liking. I had to pass on the pig's feet for fear of that same hard, chewiness. I think the flavors would have been much more enjoyable if it wasn't such a random smorgasbord of a menu, but the party was definitely a great way to try a bit of everything.

Dear Mama

2011-05-08T16:12:00.000-04:00

Happy Mother's Day to my mum, the kindest, most patient and selfless person I know. I don't tell her enough how much I appreciate and love her. And much love to all the other mums out there, you're doing a wonderful job!

some of my posts

2011-05-06T15:45:00.000-04:00

Hello darlings. TGIF! Here are some of my posts this week:

My new favorite color: Hot Pink!

Club Monaco does Modern Bohemia in their fall lookbook.

Stand out vintage finds at Pink Clouds.

Treat your mom to something nice from Circle and Square.

Nicole Richie promotes her new collections at Nordstrom.

Can you believe that I used to only wear black clothes?

Jennifer Chun makes preppy tomboy style look so good. I love the red tights!

Armani Exchange's sizzlin' summer ad campaign.

What are you guys up to this weekend? It's actually my 6 month anniversary with my boyfriend so we're planning on going to a nice dinner tonight. I won't get to see my mom this Mother's Day but it's also my boyfriend's law school graduation so at least I'll be with his family. Have a great weekend!

Cinco de Mayo

2011-05-05T15:23:00.000-04:00

This year's Cinco de Mayo was much more low key than the years past. While I was at work I remembered that I had a bottle of Patron Anejo and some taco mix at home. I decided to stay in with the BF and make chicken burritos, nachos, and margaritas. So good! We were passed out by 9 PM.

Hats off

2011-05-02T04:47:00.001-04:00

Regardless of what your political views are, yesterday was a day that would go down in history. After nearly 10 years, our military has found and killed Osama Bin Laden. This means so many different things to different people, as you could see from the cheers and tears at Ground Zero, and around the world. Whether or not you support the war, or the actions of our government, I still believe that those who serve our country deserve a lot of respect. It is a mission that they have been given orders to follow through and I'm sure after all of these years and many lives lost, they could feel that all of their hard work has been for something. I am bursting with pride for my brother and all of those who serve our country. Hats off to you guys.

(My friend had this Mark Twain quote as her status: ‎"I've never wished a man dead, but I have read some obituaries with great pleasure." - Mark Twain

some of my posts

2011-04-30T18:36:00.000-04:00

Hello! Here are some of my posts from this week.

Taylor Swift bought a charming home in the hills.

While the artist formerly known as Rachel created a duplex in West Village.

Pretty summer dresses for every event.

Who knew? Sandblasted jeans are harmful to garment workers.

What happens when two awesome brands unite.

Some morning news.

Chicest new baby on the block.

Party pics from Madewell's Fifth Ave store opening.

Phewf! It's been another crazy busy week. I was originally supposed to work another wedding tomorrow but the plans have changed. I've had the day off (a first in a while) and I feel guilty that I'm not working. Isn't that strange? I'm driving down to Philly tonight to meet up with my girlfriends to do an early celebration of our birthdays since we're all too busy to see each other next month. Tomorrow, we plan on having brunch, attending a festival, and perhaps stopping by for some outlet shopping on our way back. What are you guys up to? It's really starting to feel like Spring, isn't it?

PS: Did any of you guys set your alarms to watch the Royal Wedding? I thought it was absolutely beautiful. I expect all of my guests to wear fancy hats to my wedding. : )

I'm with the press

2011-04-29T18:29:00.000-04:00

Last night I covered an event at Barneys. I haven't done one of these in a while so I was a bit nervous. What do I wear? What do I say? The party was an intimate event in the penthouse with lots of champagne and yummy finger food. It's always funny attending these things as press though because you definitely have to be on your best behavior. I'm pleased to say that I was. I sipped on water in my wine glass. My, how I've grown up!

I was sad to realize my camera was out of batteries so I was only able to take a few bad photos before it died. Among the guests were Michelle Williams, Joana Newsome, Busy Phillips, Lake Bell, Harvey Weinstein, and Jennifer Carpenter. I lingered around hoping Dexter would come but no such luck. I probably would have said something stupid anyway.

weekend

2011-04-26T18:04:00.000-04:00

I'm making a huge effort to post my weekend updates well before the following weekend. I'd say Tuesday is a big step up! We didn't get around to dyeing Easter eggs this past weekend, we just couldn't find the energy. I ended up staying in on Friday night and breaking plans to do the same thing Saturday night and was asleep by 11PM (even after drinking a Red Bull).

Sunday morning, we went to our new local favorite, Queens Comfort, for a Southern style brunch. I ordered poached eggs over a plate of disco tots covered in cheese and bacon. It was sinfully delicious but thankfully I didn't finish the entire plate. (I ordered the homemade doughnut to go since I was so full).

Later that afternoon we drove to Jersey for Easter dinner. It was such a gorgeous Spring day and we got to sit outside on the deck facing the lake while we waited for dinner to be served. It was the first time that I had celebrated Easter, and while I'm still a little lost on the religious part of the holiday, if I'm fed all that yummy food again, I want an invite every year! I had meat and cheese for hors d'oeuvres, pasta and lamb kebabs for dinner, and canollis, cupcakes, jellybeans and chocolate for dessert. Next time though, I would eat about three fewer fistfuls of jellybeans and would have shoved them in my pocket for later instead. Oh the tummy ache that night!

There was so much traffic on our way back, it took an extra two hours to get back into the city. Again, I was exhausted (are you tired of hearing me say this yet?) and was asleep the moment my head hit the pillow.

Tomorrow evening I'm scheduled to interview actress, Michelle Williams, at an event so guess where I'm off to right now? Bed!

some of my posts

2011-04-22T05:40:00.000-04:00

Hey, hey, it's finally Friday! Good Friday to be exact.

Here are a few posts I worked on this week:

V-MODA Antitheft Headphones. Well, theft deterring that is.

Do these undies promote abstinence?

I wrote some of the questions for an interview with swedish musician, Oh Land! She's actually a new fave of mine.

Pre-game for Easter with an all day Grilled Cheese fest. Yum!

Mandy Moore's sassy new hair color. Do you guys prefer her as a blonde, brunette, or red head?

Oh, and more photos of my adorable niece and nephew.

What are you guys doing this holiday weekend? The BF and I are thinking about dyeing Easter eggs tonight (and of course eating them all). Happy Easter!

precious

2011-04-22T03:57:00.000-04:00

And now to interrupt you with some cuteness...

A sweet moment of my nephew and niece having a snuggle. I just want to squeeze them!

catching up

2011-04-22T03:53:00.000-04:00

This week, I kept putting off posting saying "I'll get to it later" and "later" turned into Friday. I know I need to managed my time better, I just need to figure out how. Last weekend was wonderful. I stayed in on Friday night, making a cheap meal and watching Californication. My plans changed a bit on Saturday, my boyfriend's show was cancelled, so I stayed at his parents' place on Saturday night. We had a crazy storm that night where the rain just didn't stop, so we decided to order chinese and just watch Netflix. Sometimes those are the best kinda nights.

Sunday, I woke up early to drive to Warren, New Jersey to work a wedding with my BFF. The rain had stopped and it was a gorgeous, sunny Spring day. I've worked with Kate before but it was my first time working as a second shooter. I had such a great time working and was reminded why I took up photography in the first place. I'm extremely excited to work with her again.

I've had a jam packed week of work and on Wednesday I had to take a day off to go to the doctor. I had ben trying to get an appointment for a while and wanted to get a check up and see if everything was functioning properly, since I'm always sick and have been for most of Winter. I spent almost two hours there and basically got no answers. After that I had to rush to the DMV to get a new license since my old one expires in May. That was another two and a half hours and a huge frustration. But I will finally have a New York driver's license. After that I was ready for a drink. I had dinner plans at the Palm Too with some old friends, Bob and Tanya. We had our own private room (so that Bob could watch the Rangers), wine and martinis, steak, chicken parmigiana, linguini with clams, shrimp and crab cocktail, sauteed spinach, chocolate cake, and key lime pie. It was definitely an indulgent feast and I loved every second of it.

(This is a caricature of Bob's coworker at Palm Too. He finally got his portrait done because of all the Mad Men lunches he took there. Haha I love that).

Last night after work, I met up with Miss Brit whom I haven't seen in ages. I was starving and exhausted which made me feel like a sack of no fun but it was wonderful to see her. I'm usually so tired after work that I want to go straight home and I feel guilty that I haven't seen many of my friends in a long time. But there is a light at the end of the tunnel and I foresee some free time in the future, so beware, I will be nagging everyone to party again. : )

Woof, so that was a summary of my weekend and week.

some of my posts

2011-04-15T04:43:00.000-04:00

This week I covered a few posts for LA, which is a bit more celebrity driven.

Try out Emma Stone's electric pink lips this Spring.

Tori Spelling's villa is on sale. Care to put in a bid?

New hair care line that protects hair against UV rays and pollution.

Gwyneth Paltrow's health and fitness routine. That body isn't just magically fit.

Some link love this week.

And the new hairstyle I'll be rocking all Summer.

What are you guys up to this weekend? Tonight, I'm planning to stay in, cook dinner, and watch Tangled (again, I'm such a rockstar). Tomorrow, my boyfriend's playing a show in Long Island, and on Sunday I'll be shooting a wedding with my BFF.

Happy Songkran!

2011-04-13T17:04:00.000-04:00

Today is Songkran, which is the Thai New Year. It's usually a 3 day celebration where people douse each other with water, essentially having a water fight, to "cleanse" each other for the new year. Sadly, I had no such celebrations here in NY, far away from my Thai family and friends. But today was a rainy day which kinda made me smile, in a way I was having my own Songkran in the city. I couldn't do much to celebrate anyway because I'm sick (AGAIN!) so I just said a Buddhist prayer for my family and friends, wishing everyone all the best for the new year.

maid of (dis)honor

2011-04-12T18:18:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I was asked to be the Maid of Honor in a family wedding. I was definitely taken by surprise (I mean, who would trust me with such a big responsibility? Surely I'm more qualified to throw rose petals.) but I'm beyond excited. It's going to be my first time being a maid of honor and I sure hope I make a good one. (You'll be happy to know I've learned it's frowned upon to show up to a bridal shower drunk. I won't be doing that again!)

Coincidentally, I just saw the trailer for Judd Apatow's new movie, Bridesmaids, and I CANNOT wait to see it! The main character, Annie, who's broke and life is a mess, learns that she's going to have to pull it together and be the maid of honor in her best friend's wedding. (Hmm, who does that sound like?) The hilarious interaction between the 5 bridesmaids, who are as different as can be, brought back so many memories of weddings past. One of my favorite lines, thus far, from the trailer is when a male friend says to Annie, "You are the maid of dishonor." Too funny. (Hopefully no one would say this to me).

weekend

2011-04-11T04:41:00.000-04:00

Where does the time go? It's Monday already? My Friday night was extremely exciting. I did my taxes (it's kinda depressing how little I made last year), filled out paperwork for a new license and passport, ate some ice cream, and watched a TV with my roommate. I'm a rockstar.

After work on Saturday, I went to meet up with my boyfriend's friends at McGee's Pub. We tried to pick a location that was an easy compromise for everyone who was coming from Queens, Brooklyn, and Washington Heights and were able to settle on Midtown West. We didn't even know it when we picked the bar but McGee's this the NY bar that was the inpiration for McLaren's Pub on the show, How I Met Your Mother. We thought that was pretty cool and had a fun time trying to figure out who was the Ted Mosby and the Barney out of the group.

I worked again on Sunday, watched some baseball, made a Taco Bell run for dinner, and laid in bed watching Californication. I'd say that's a pretty good finish to a low-key weekend. (And I've gotten through Week 1 without a day off. 3 more to go!) What did you guys do?

some of my posts

2011-04-08T04:33:00.000-04:00

In case you missed them, here are some of my posts from this week:

Evil Eye Pendant

Proenza Schouler Look-Alike Bracelets So cute!

I took this Street Style shot. What do you think of her look?

Plus my own Street Style. I think my head looks huge!

And if you haven't already visited, stop by my other blog, Mi Piace, and say hello!

Hope you guys have a wonderful weekend! Tonight I'm going to be doing my taxes and filling out applications for a new driver's license and passport. It doesn't get any more exciting than that!

Book of Mormon

2011-04-07T04:01:00.000-04:00

Last night my boyfriend and I went to see Book of Mormon, a Broadway musical written by Trey Parker and Matt Stone of South Park. I had heard good reviews but I still couldn't grasp what a musical by the writers of South Park would entail... and I kinda liked that I went into it unknowingly. I don't think I could do the show justice by describing it. I did not stop laughing the entire time. It was brilliantly absurd. After seeing the show, I thought, "Yup, that's a musical by the South Park guys." Aside from the hilarious writing, I LOVED the dance moves. I bookmarked a few in my head for the next time I'm out. : )

After the show, we grabbed some burgers and beers back in Astoria. (You don't stay in Times Square longer than needed). It was such a lovely way to end a perfect evening. I definitely needed a fun, stress-free night out.

shameless self promotion

2011-04-01T05:14:00.000-04:00

I've been a busy little bee this week. Check out some of my posts on Refinery29:

Alice Ritter's Fall '11 Lookbook

Shopping Roundup: Spring Undies

Versatile Guitar Strap

Miu Miu Minibags

A Model's Breast Cancer Story

Lindsay Lohan's Predictability

And a story I pitched to Time Out New York on my friend, Guil's, style:

Most Stylish New Yorkers: Guil Castellane

Oh, and also some recent posts on my new blog, Mi Piace.

Have a wonderful April weekend!

hang on, keep going

2011-03-31T18:00:00.000-04:00

I know I'm supposed to feel relaxed and refreshed after a short holiday but I was feeling so stressed yesterday. Maybe it was the fact that I had to snap back into reality. My schedule lately has been so jam packed that I'm just feeling overwhelmed. I came home from work last night (after my first day back, mind you) and needed to let out a good cry. I wasn't even sure what I was crying about. I'm tired? Confused? Worried?

I've been blindly navigating myself through life and I feel like most of my decisions are made with as much thought as flipping a coin. But later I always worry, did I do the right thing? I worry, with all this time I'm putting into work, that I'm only able to stay afloat, only moving laterally with no time to make efforts to move ahead. Does that make sense?

So after my big cry I felt pretty silly because, like I said, I wasn't really sure what I was crying about. I went to bed, got up, went to work, and did it all over again. And you know what? Today was a much better day. I've been told many times before, during my reoccurring freak out moments, to breathe and just take it one day at a time. But isn't it funny, when you're given this advice, it seems impossible because it's just too simple of a solution.But then, when you actually follow the advice, it seems like the most natural act and you take credit for handling it all on your own. At least, that's the pattern for me.

Today, I discovered An Awesome Book, and while it's written for children I thought it's so fitting for how I'm feeling. It's a book that tells children to dream big, as big as they can imagine, and not be limited by everyday desires. It's funny how our young minds used to think anything was possible and now we usually think up all the reasons why these dreams aren't possible. I think I'm actually going to buy the book because, although the message seems so simple, it's easily forgotten.

Utah Diary

2011-03-30T12:20:00.000-04:00

How do I sum up an awesome 5 days in Park City, Utah? With pictures of course! I took over 500 photos but I'll spare you unless, of course, you're my facebook friend.

We got in Thursday evening and had a low key night of beers, wine, and appetizers so that we could rest up and wake early for snowboarding the next day.

Friday morning, we geared up and headed to Park City. It was snowing a bit in the morning which made it hard to see and sometimes it was pelting our faces which hurt a bit (and made our faces red later), but it cleared up by the end of the day.

Friday evening, we got dressed at headed to Star Bar, an old favorite of ours for the dollar drinks (say what?) and shameless dancing.

We ran into a Polar Bear (who's also a bachelor!) on our way to the next bar.

Saturday morning we needed to rally, shake off our hangovers, get dressed in costumes and head to the Canyons for a Pond Skimming contest. We had no idea what Pond Skimming is and none of us bothered to ask. We figured if we got to be in costumes and hang on the mountain it's gotta be a good time. (I love any excuse to bring out my Party Penguin costume). We were dancing around the house while getting dressed and realized it wasn't even 10AM yet. We are rockstars.

It's always a party when there's a Penguin and Pirate around. Is it weird that I really wish my BFF would wear a beard all the time?

Going bananas! Costumes seriously make me so happy.

Spectators lined up to watch the Pond Skimming (which we learned is people dressed up in random costumes barreling down the mountain on skis and snowboards, trying to "skim" across the pond at the bottom of the hill. Best costume and ability to cross the pond wins prizes).

The gang.

We were absolutely wiped after the Pond Skimming and headed home for a nap which turned into staying in. Our friend Shiv made an awesome chicken dinner with rice and collard greens and we were content eating that and going to bed.

Sunday, we got up for another day of snowboarding on a different mountain, the Canyons. This one didn't have as many Green trails so I (the most inexperienced one) was stuck trying to get down a lot of Blues. I did OK by my standards but I was absolutely exhausted at the end.

Sunday night was our last night out since some of the girls were leaving on Monday. We went to O'Shucks for burgers and beers. Shucks is also another one of our favorite bars, found accidentally last year when we were just looking for a place that didn't have a crowd. It's a low key dive bar where people can play arcade games or eat peanuts and throw the shells on the floor. We decide, like last year, to have a dance party instead. Shucks is not a dancing bar by any means which is why we chose to do so there, we were deprived of attention as children.

After Shucks, we followed some new friends to Cicero's. We heard mixed reviews on it but were promised a dance party. Oh did we get one. The DJ was playing house music and everyone was going wild to it. I definitely never expected to be at what was essentially a rave until last call. Oh, Utah, how I love you.

We spent Monday walking around town and buying souvenirs since some of the girls were leaving that afternoon and my flight was early the following morning. I'm neglecting so many awesome details of this trip by just posting a photo diary but I don't have the energy and I hate to torture you with all the inside jokes. I've known many of these girls since middle school and high school and if you asked me then if I thought we'd be traveling together and sitting around the table talking about our changing, near 30, bodies, I'd have said no. I am so blessed to have them in my life for the talks, laughs, and endless adventures.

PS: Thank you, Jen, for being the most gracious host ever and putting up with our noise and mess!

PPS: Carebears, we thought of you the entire time and you were missed (tons!).

Utah bound

2011-03-23T16:24:00.000-04:00

Miei amici,

Tomorrow, I'm off to Utah again for a snowboarding trip with my girlfriends. Our weather has been so up and down here and I'm ready for some warm weather, but I'm also looking forward to snow, riding, hot tubs, hot springs, hot cocoa, martinis, dancing, and just hanging out with the girls.

I've packed every single one of these.

St Patrick's Day

2011-03-18T16:56:00.000-04:00

I'm not much of a holiday person and St. Patrick's Day is up there on my "Least Favorite" list. I would've gone about my day thinking it was just another Thursday had it not been for the sea of people wearing kelly green. Just like New Years, people think they have a day pass to drink as much as they can get their lips on and act like Spring Breakers. Do I sound like a wet blanket? I feel like one.

Anyway, this year I didn't make any special plans. One of my BF's was in town for work and we made loose plans to meet up for dinner. Then my other friends from Jersey said they wanted to meet up for the night as well. We had drinks in NOHO and then wandered around looking for a place to eat that didn't feature corned beef hash. We happily agreed on burritos and margaritas. Dinner was a riot and we decided to cut ourselves off when Romy kicked the table, spilling all the drinks (but mine). Because I made fun of her for it, she tickled me so that I was unable to swallow my drink and ended up spitting it out. Time to leave when you're having tickle fights and spitting up in the restaurant.

We wanted to continue on to a bar but we couldn't find a "quiet place where we could talk" on this stupid holiday. So we cabbed it back to my friend's hotel and had a slumber party. My friends are always so generous when they're in town for business, letting me stay in their room, pretending I'm on holiday. I said to them, "One day it'll be my own hotel room and I won't be drunk all the time."

I woke up with a massive hangover the following morning and my friends already left for work. I showered and gathered my things but as I was leaving I thought, "I'm running low on soap." So I grabbed some soap. Then I thought, "I always need travel sized toiletries." So I grabbed the shampoo. My friend also left behind a copy of Elle. I figured, I hadn't read it yet, I might as well take it. Then I eyed the toilet paper. I mean, it's not cheap and we go through it so fast. So I took those. As I left the room, I thought, "I am such a scrub." At least I'm not too proud, right?

I had to go to work and didn't have time to stop home for a change of clothes. I figured it was fine, nobody at work ever notices what I wear. But then I realized my friend also left her kelly green "Kiss Me I'm Irish" shirt. She bought it but never wore it. I contemplated wearing it to work, so that I was in fresh clothes, but then I debated- Which is worse? Wearing the same clothes to work two days in a row? Or wearing an obvious St. Patrick's Day shirt, the day after? I decided to leave the shirt behind, in place of where the coffee maker was. Think they'd notice?

TOMS shoes

2011-03-17T04:09:00.000-04:00

I covered a story yesterday about TOMS shoes founder Blake Mycoskie's announcement to expand to more than just shoes. I can't believe I had never known about TOMS shoes' One for One model; for every shoe sold, one is donated to a child in need. Imagine what the world could accomplish if this was every business's model.

I wanna get these canvas classics for my summer bike rides.

graphic designer

2011-03-17T03:39:00.000-04:00

We interrupt our regularly scheduled broadcast...

Last month I was a little stressed out about what to do with my blog. I was using a host that was way out of my budget and debated just scrapping the whole site. Then I was referred to Tionne, an NY based graphic designer, to figure out my options. I just wanted to say that I'd recommend him to anyone. He helped transfer my old posts to a new host, added new custom touches, and was incredibly helpful with all of my tech challenged questions. His prices are super reasonable and he keeps you posted the entire time on how the work is coming along. Once I figure out what I want to do with this site, I'll be going back to him again for a new design.

If you're in need of a new header or site design, or any graphic design work, I'd definitely check out Tionne here.

And he consults via email so if you live far away you can still work with him. I never had to pick up a phone or get on the subway. Perfect for my hermit tendencies!