A Girl in the City

I've moved!

2010-01-03T00:06:00.000-05:00

Come check out my newly designed photo blog at www.jpinthecity.typepad.com.

Love At First Sight

2009-12-29T23:05:00.003-05:00

Please meet my soulmate, Betty. It was love at first sight. Santa brought her to me. I do feel as if I'm whole now.

Baby, It's Cold Outside

2009-12-29T22:56:00.004-05:00

So I don't think it got above 20 degrees today...so naturally, instead of doing the smart thing and curling up on the couch with a book and pot of coffee I thought it would be a FABULOUS day to go out adventuring. Yeah, I got about 3 blocks out and realized how stupid that was...but I pushed through it. I wound my way over to the west side and decided to stock up on a few craft projects for my next trip to Poughkeepsie to see my favorite family. I bought a few - ok - several things. But they were all so freaking cute I couldn't decide. So, as usual, I just bought them all. Yeah, I tend to go a bit overboard on basically everything...but I love it.

All I have to say is GOD BLESS the person that designed Uggs. I would not be alive had it not been for my fur (faux!) wrapped feet/legs today.

A new treasure from Brentwood....

2009-12-29T22:41:00.007-05:00

Every time I go home there's one place I HAVE to go - my friend's boutique...HOT PINK. I always find the most amazing gifts and fun, quirky things to put around the house/office. I even had a necklace from her shop on once when a celebrity asked me where she could find it. Yeah, I felt cool for sure. Well - this time I found something that I could not live without. It was love at first sight. For anyone who knows me, this is definitely out of my usual rotation of designs. I can't explain it, but something about this necklace was the perfect holiday affair for me to have.

Apologies on the less than stellar full view - I never realized how difficult shooting jewelry was!

Some Christmas Love

2009-12-29T22:38:00.003-05:00

I never know where to display my Christmas cards...so this year I decided to try something new. I love that every year my card list gets longer and longer as I make more and more friends.

A little orange in the big city - December 13, 2009

2009-12-29T22:13:00.006-05:00

So the Lady Vols came to town to play Rutgers in the Maggie Dixon Classic at MSG. I took a friend, my boss, and her daughter. We had a blast - especially after we got the seat upgrade. My Mom saw me on tv before I could call to tell her where I was sitting. Talk about having a few legends in the house. This was taken with the telephoto from our actual seats.........

and THIS was our upgrade. Yeah, I rocked it.
Do we think I was in Heaven?!?!

so it's been a while....

2009-12-08T21:59:00.021-05:00

But have no fear. I've been snapping. Not nearly as much as I would like to, but here are some of the best shots from the past few months.

He was worn out after our photo shoot.
Yeah, I LOVE my job.
Thanksgiving - Brooklyn style!
It was my first and last oyster shooter. I think it was the quail egg that was just a bit too much for me.
It was the most amazing thing - I couldn't eat enough of it.

It was sooooo good.
This is Kevin. He's from North Carolina.

left on a jet plane...and went to colorado

2009-07-10T00:20:00.009-04:00

Went to visit the fam for a few days out west. I had completely forgotten how much fun kids are to photograph, especially when they forget the camera is there. Of the 1000 or so shots I took over the 4 days, here are some of my absolute favorite.

oops

2009-06-30T00:30:00.003-04:00

this was completely accidental. i was snapping away at all the little things on my desk and i guess i didn't realize what i had snapped until i came up for air.

2009-06-30T00:19:00.004-04:00

finally bought a macro specific lens and am LOVING it. turned it on the mini magnets on the fridge today. everything looks so cool up close!

summer is in full swing

2009-06-30T00:12:00.002-04:00

the rain is FINALLY gone for a few days....and the sun has come out to play. all the colors of summer are in full bloom.

Cinqo De Mayo!!

2009-05-05T23:14:00.007-04:00

The glasses were kind of an accidental favorite shot. I was cleaning up after the party and realized I had been completely cleaning around the glasswear. I stepped back and looked and realized how cool this was. This single photo to me tells the story of our monthly dinner parties - friends getting together, sharing some food, and laughing until our sides hurt all in the name of love and friendship.

This was the INSIDE of the giant cookie!
And even though it wasn't the prettiest thing, it sure was tasty!
Finally....we got in front of the camera! For months I've been meaning to take a group shot, and I always thought about it AFTER everyone left. Thanks Marissa for reminding us!!

before and after

2009-05-04T22:13:00.005-04:00

OK - I got bored.....and then the make up came out......yeah.....a bit dramatic, but it's still fun to play dress up, right? A please ignore the need for a brow wax. :)

the giant flop

2009-05-04T22:11:00.002-04:00

This so did not turn out like the picture on the box - but cake is cake and my friends won't care so long as there's icy cold milk tomorrow night.

reflection

2009-05-04T22:10:00.001-04:00

I was trying to get a picture of the rain and instead got a ghostly image of the hand drill resting on the ledge. Kind of cool?

summer salads

2009-05-04T22:09:00.001-04:00

One of my favorite part of warm weather is the food....and specifically summer salads. I could literally spend the next 4 months eating only salads and be completely happy.

first bud of spring out my window

2009-05-04T22:08:00.000-04:00

texture

2009-05-04T22:07:00.002-04:00

Brother came to visit

2009-05-04T22:06:00.001-04:00

This was the night I totally smoked him in Mario Kart....oh yeah....his sister totally beat him not once but TWICE.

It's been a while.....

2009-05-04T22:05:00.002-04:00

ok, so life kind of got in the way....but I have been snapping pictures along the way....I just can't quite put a date with each of them...so we'll start back fresh.

4.7.09

2009-04-07T18:23:00.005-04:00

It came today!!! I want to buy a macro lense just to capture what this really looks like up close. These are not great, but you get the idea of how much SPARKLE there is!

4.6.09

2009-04-07T00:10:00.003-04:00

Anyone that knows me well knows that my quirk is that I move furniture...constantly. I don't like it sitting in the same pattern for a long time. My old roommate can attest to the fact that she would come home from work some nights and find the apartment was completely rearranged because I would have a moment of enlightenment. My genius finally struck today mid-workout (which is usually where I have them). I've been toying with the idea of flipping things for several weeks, I just wasn't sure how to actually make it work. But, alas, after an hour of huffing and puffing and trying to do it in a quiet manner, all I ended up doing was switching the bookcase and trunk/lamp positions and flipping the elliptical around so it faced the window.....I know, no major difference, but when you're confined to 400 square feet, what's a girl to do???

4.5.09

2009-04-07T00:09:00.004-04:00

It's almost time for someone to come hopping into town....

4.4.09

2009-04-07T00:08:00.002-04:00

Took this with my little point and shoot, but this was hilarious to me. I see this all the time and it makes me laugh so hard every time.

4.3.09

2009-04-06T23:55:00.004-04:00

What do you do when you have no storage space but love to decorate for the holidays??? Get multitasking decorations!

4.2.09

2009-04-04T01:06:00.004-04:00

Every night (almost) before I go to bed one of the last things to do is straighten up my desk. The greatest mystery is how by the time I leave the next morning - it's back to one scattered mess. Another of the mysteries of life.

4.1.09

2009-04-04T01:04:00.002-04:00

They are so small, but when they rest at the bottom of my bag they feel gigantic.

3.31.09

2009-04-04T01:00:00.003-04:00

An everyday object in every house in America. A simple design. An item we cannot survive without. Yet it's an item we all hate with every fiber of our being. Notice the phrase printed on the center of the bottom....."dream machine". Yeah, right........Sony's joke on America.

3.30.09

2009-03-30T13:14:00.002-04:00

Last of the goods to go out......spring cleaning is addicting!

3.29.09

2009-03-30T13:13:00.001-04:00

So I bought a pair - and yes, I feel totally bad ass when I wear them

3.28.09

2009-03-30T13:11:00.004-04:00

SPACE!

3.27.09

2009-03-30T13:11:00.002-04:00

Time to sell them.....love them, just no room.....

3.26.09

2009-03-30T13:10:00.005-04:00

you know you should do laundry when the hamper starts to lean.

3.25.09

2009-03-30T13:10:00.002-04:00

coolest day ever

3.24.09

2009-03-30T13:06:00.003-04:00

Who knew I had such an array of colors for outerwear?

3.23.09

2009-03-30T13:05:00.006-04:00

This was the only way to really see it......but if you look closely it's SNOWING!

3.22.09

2009-03-30T13:05:00.005-04:00

3.20.09

2009-03-30T13:04:00.005-04:00

Check out all that lovely space - the spring cleaning has begun!

3.21.09

2009-03-30T13:04:00.004-04:00

purge, purge, purge

3.19.09

2009-03-30T13:03:00.001-04:00

OBSESSED

3.18.09

2009-03-30T13:02:00.003-04:00

This map they use on the show always freaks me out.....and i don't know why.....

3.17.09

2009-03-30T13:00:00.003-04:00

ok, so i cheated, it's not a new photo, but i miss him...

3.16.09

2009-03-30T12:56:00.004-04:00

David contemplating our day spent shopping and eating in Little Italy. He had his first cannoli - his world was officially rocked.

3.15.09

2009-03-30T12:55:00.003-04:00

Went to see Will Ferrell - one of the best nights EVER.

3.14.09

2009-03-30T12:54:00.001-04:00

Baby Brother came to visit!!

3.13.09

2009-03-30T12:52:00.006-04:00

Friday the 13th and I decide to order chinese food......and have been really lucky with the fortune cookies lately. Let's just hope they come true!

3.12.09

2009-03-30T12:52:00.005-04:00

Just recently discovered that my bberry glows in the dark!!

3.11.09

2009-03-30T12:51:00.004-04:00

This works!! Totally masks the disgusting odor from the heat vent......life is much more pleasant in lavender and vanilla.

3.10.09

2009-03-30T12:47:00.002-04:00

My apt does this weird thing when the weather fluctuates - the heating system starts smelling like rotten eggs....yeah, totally not pleasant. this is my measly attempt to mask an odor......kind of not working.

3.9.09

2009-03-09T14:07:00.001-04:00

3.8.09

2009-03-09T14:02:00.006-04:00

3.7.09

2009-03-09T14:00:00.003-04:00

PINK!

3.6.09

2009-03-09T13:59:00.001-04:00

Snow go bye-bye :(

3.5.09

2009-03-09T13:56:00.002-04:00

3.4.09

2009-03-09T13:54:00.002-04:00

3.3.09

2009-03-03T14:00:00.003-05:00

New month = fresh start to the calendar.

3.2.09

2009-03-03T13:59:00.003-05:00

It snowed!!!!

3.1.09

2009-03-03T13:57:00.001-05:00

Snow is coming.....so I decided to go to the grocery store early and then just wait for the flakes to fall. I got the urge for a really hard workout today (and that doesn't come often, so when it does come, I take advantage of it). 821 calories in 61 minutes - and now I'm going to crawl to the shower.

2.28.09

2009-03-03T13:56:00.001-05:00

more purple - can you tell I'm kind of on a color thing right now???

2.27.09

2009-03-03T13:55:00.000-05:00

Spring must be around the corner - look at the great new colors for my closet!!

2.26.09

2009-03-03T13:54:00.003-05:00

Wanted a new look for spring, so I got purples and browns.

2.25.09

2009-03-03T13:52:00.003-05:00

It's that time of year again - some days you need a winter coat, others just a cute spring one.....so for now, they both hang by the front door.

2.24.09

2009-03-03T13:51:00.001-05:00

I'm back on a Broadway roll - I've seen all five of these things in the last 3 weeks. Yes, I have spent all my money on Broadway, but it's been so worth it. And the lead guy in South Pacific alone was worth the money - best looking 3 hours of my life!

2.23.09

2009-03-03T13:44:00.003-05:00

Mom came up for a few days!!! We went to check out Mood - from the best reality show on Bravo. Totally fun. The section of faux fur was hilarious. We even found camo fur. Wish I had remembered my camera.....could have taken some really funny photos...oh well.

2.22.09

2009-03-03T13:42:00.003-05:00

playing with the focus...

2.21.09

2009-03-03T13:41:00.001-05:00

I haven't slept well the last few nights, so I picked up a bottle of lavender spray and started spritzing the pillow at night before turning out the lights. Call me crazy, a placebo effect, whatever - but I swear I sleep better at night with this smell on my pillow.

2.20.09

2009-03-03T13:39:00.002-05:00

We're doing this thing at work about how salt is the new "thing that will kill you". It's sort of along the lines of what carbs/sugar were a few years ago. So I thought I'd play with salt + macro...

2.19.09

2009-03-03T13:38:00.001-05:00

life has been pretty hectic lately, and somehow this thing is still alive and well after ignoring it for a solid 2 weeks......one of the mysteries of life i guess.

2.18.09

2009-03-03T13:36:00.002-05:00

playing with macro

2.17.09

2009-02-17T13:31:00.004-05:00

So evidently red lipstick is making a comeback. I never knew how much fun it was to photograph!

2.16.09

2009-02-17T13:22:00.001-05:00

I find it hilarious that after I bought a takeout menu organizer to make takeout menus easier to organize, I still use seamless web....yeah, glad that $20 went to good use.

2.15.09

2009-02-17T13:21:00.002-05:00

So I decided to rearrange - I downsized the tv area and made it more efficient. I'm sure my neighbors loved me moving furniture at 11:30 at night, but I did it quietly!!

2.14.09

2009-02-17T13:20:00.000-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day!! This is the one day all chocolate calories are not counted.

2.13.09

2009-02-17T13:17:00.005-05:00

Friday the 13th - I'm such a wuss. I hate scary movies, so what's my idea of an ideal night for something like tonight? Experiment with the camera and shiny objects in my little aparment.

2.12.09

2009-02-17T13:17:00.002-05:00

I know it's not Valentine's Day yet, but we couldn't wait.

2.11.09

2009-02-17T13:14:00.003-05:00

You know it's going to be a bad day when you pull back the curtains first thing in the morning and find this.......excuse me while I go throw up now.

2.10.09

2009-02-17T13:13:00.004-05:00

Yeah, I totally went through almost an entire box of tissues in one weekend......

2.9.09

2009-02-17T13:13:00.002-05:00

My new obsession......BEST. SHOW. EVER.

2.8.09

2009-02-17T13:12:00.001-05:00

This has become my life/my weekend plans - an at home pharmacy and lots of hot tea.

2.7.09

2009-02-07T23:22:00.001-05:00

So as much as I avoided human contact and washed my hands until they were raw and sanitized everything I touched.....I still got sick :( Meet my two new best friends - generic nyquil and a lot of OJ.

2.6.09

2009-02-07T23:21:00.003-05:00

So much to watch, so little time. I'm feeling a cold coming on, so I'm thinking this might be a really good weekend to hide in my little apartment, clean out the DVR player, and sleeeeeeep.

2.5.09

2009-02-07T23:19:00.003-05:00

I just discovered this a week or so ago. It's not the greatest tasting tea, but fabulous just before bedtime. Several nights after a cup of it I look like the bear on the box - half alseep in my pj's on the couch.

2.4.09

2009-02-07T23:17:00.002-05:00

Really bad photo, but this is my new favorite thing. It's a FAUX fur blanket I got at pottery barn (otherwise known as the best overpriced store for home furnishings). I am finding excuses to sit on the my couch just to use it. It's literally as soft as an animal - but animal friendly as it's a FAKE!

2.3.09

2009-02-03T15:59:00.004-05:00

This is what it looked like outside today. So what did I do? I baked of course!!

I made a cake that takes 9 candy bars - yes, 9!!! Thank goodness for dinner parties so other people eat this and not me.

2.2.09

2009-02-03T15:42:00.003-05:00

Had dinner with a dear friend from way back when tonight. I love this photo that sits on my non-working fireplace mantle. It's our group of high school girls bible study from senior year in high school. This is a group of friends I know in my heart I will have until the day I die no matter what, and it's always good to catch up with one of them.

2.1.09

2009-02-01T21:09:00.003-05:00

Superbowl Sunday. I ate pizza and ice cream.....and am now regretting it. My tummy is not very happy. But at least there's football.

1.31.09

2009-02-01T21:07:00.003-05:00

Every home has that place where clutter gathers. Mine happens to be the kitchen table. It's the easiest place to put stuff and tell myself "I'll take care of that later tonight or first thing tomorrow". Jump ahead a week and this is what it morphs into. So what does tomorrow hold? CLEANING!

1.30.09

2009-02-01T21:06:00.002-05:00

I recently hung this in my bathroom. It's a quiet reminder that no matter what the day has been like, at night I'm always thankful for a loving family and a warm bed.

1.29.09

2009-01-30T00:21:00.003-05:00

It's not been a good day.....and on days like today I come back to my little hole in the wall, sit in the quiet of solitude, and have this little, slightly bent but wonderful little post it note my mom left me the last time she came to visit me. I love it. I know some might think it odd, but this little 2 x 2 piece of paper really helps on those nights when only your Mommy will do.

1.28.09

2009-01-30T00:16:00.004-05:00

It snowed again!! It was so pretty to look at, but like any kind of bad weather, it's only great when you can spend the day in bed with a book and the sweat pants. Oh well.....it was fun while it lasted.

1.27.09

2009-01-27T22:23:00.003-05:00

We have a pitch meeting in 2 days....I have some ideas, nothing supremely great unfortunately. So as I was swooning over Brandon Walsh and Dylan McKay, I flipped through all my magazines. Got a few ideas, but still need to let them marinate for a day or two. Hopefully genius will come in my dreams tonight.

1.26.09

2009-01-27T22:22:00.001-05:00

Oh how I love tv on dvd. This is how I spent my weekend - curled up on the couch with a pot of coffee and the alumni of West Beverly High. Should have gone out more, but it was just too cold.

1.25.09

2009-01-26T13:04:00.004-05:00

Please pardon the color issues, but I brought my nickname, Grace, to a whole new level. As I was working out Sunday afternoon I was using these resistant band things. Great change to the normal routine, but I discovered just how un-graceful I am. If you look closely there is an attachment that allows you to use it in a doorframe. Well, as I was doing my side raises, I found out what it is in that little attachment. It's a very hard ball of some kind. How did I find this out you may ask? Well.....I was minding my own business doing my last exercise and the thing wiggled loose from beneath my foot and smacked me clear in the middle of my head. After the stars subsided and the lump was raised, I started to laugh because only I would be able to accomplish such a thing. I'm just thankful it didn't happen in the middle of a crowded gym!

1.24.09

2009-01-26T13:00:00.004-05:00

OK, before anyone gets excited - THIS IS NOT A POLITICAL STATEMENT. I had to help out on a segment involving "Obama-mania" and this was one of the items I had to get. This is laughable b/c of the paint job (even kindergartners can color inside the lines!). But I digress b/c for a good part of Saturday afternoon I kept finding myself staring at the lava lamp bubbles. What is it about such a simple concept that can suck you into it? I don't know that I would call it a calming effect, but that's kind of what it was. Odd, yes, but for whatever reason it was the topic of conversation all day.

1.23.09

2009-01-24T01:59:00.003-05:00

as i perused the free table at work today i found a couple of books that i've been flirting with the idea of buying, but never could bring myself to buy b/c A. i knew i didn't have the time to get to them right away, and B. buying books at full price kind of makes me nauseous. if i just have the patience to wait a few months i can get them online used for half the price, if not more. of course, there's always the argument that when you look at my poor, overloaded bookshelf, there really isn't any room for any more! i really should start reading more.....and i thought 50 pages a day via the new york city bus system was knocking them out. guess not!

1.22.09

2009-01-24T01:57:00.000-05:00

so since the cable guy still hasn't come, i must revert back to the old way of watching tv - live!!! oh the horror! but i do have to admit, sitting on my little couch with my burrito for dinner, curled up under my blanket (which my mommy made, thank you very much!) and watching tv like i did way back when (oh i sound old) was kind of fun. with that being said - i don't know that i could do it week after week. i mean, as much as i love the office and 30 rock, could i really give up a social life to spend it each and every night with my remote??? thank goodness for hulu and itunes. how did we ever life without this great technology?

1.21.09

2009-01-24T01:54:00.002-05:00

this was the result of being extremely pissed off at whatever was attempting to invade my small apartment. i leave you alone, so why won't you leave me alone???? it's just not polite. so what do i do to defend and protect? i put on some hard core music (a la hard core workout playlist), grab my cup of spackle, a putty knife, and attack the wall without mercy. sure, it might be not so pretty, but the little bastard is so not getting in now!

1.20.09

2009-01-20T21:17:00.002-05:00

ok, last night was not good. i went to bed around 1 after staying up late reading, and i was rudely awoken around 215 by an odd noise. at first i thought someone has broken into my apartment, then i realized it was something just as bad - a mouse was attempting to break into my apartment. here's the odd part - it was via the brick wall. oh yes, he/she was burrowing through the brick and he/she made a gigantic mess.

after my freak out call to my best mouse plagued friend (b/c at 2 in the morning she was the only one that would sympathize and understand - love you!) and an hour hiding in the bathroom (yes, an hour!!) i came out, ran to the bed, plugged my fingers in my ears, and finally fell asleep.

now, before you pass judgement (although let's face it, you probably already have b/c i know i would have!) you must understand that this thing sounded like no ordinary house mouse. this thing sounds like one of those "new york city rats". you know, the ones that could rival a large house cat in size and stature? this should hopefully explain the cowering on the bathroom floor. ps, in case you haven't figured it out yet, i'm five years old. but i'm five years old with a college degree and something the size of a small piece of chicken scares the shit out of me. hey, everyone's allowed to be afraid of something, right?

anyhoo, so after a marathon session with the vaccum attempting to locate said forming hole in wall (which was successful, thank you very much) i took to my newly vaccumed brick wall with spackle and putty knife in hand. six patched "possible mouse holes" later i now feel better. i'm still contemplating ear plugs for this evening because my theory is that ignorance is bliss. call me crazy, but the next time the burrowing of an animal attempting to take over your small square of a home away from home wakes you up in the middle of the night you'll completely agree with me.

let's hope the sheer exhaustion of no sleep last night helps to keep me asleep tonight. finger's crossed!

1.19.09

2009-01-19T19:06:00.004-05:00

Marissa and I spent the day together. We went to Chinatown for a bit of fun and cheap retail therapy. As we're waiting on the train I realize it's snowing IN THE TRAIN STATION. Kind of weird, but I really enjoyed it. Can't really tell too well from the first photo. But then when we got back up town and came above ground the glorious Plaza was covered in snow. Thankfully without many tourists in the city right now things actually stay pretty and white for a day or so.

1.18.09

2009-01-19T19:04:00.003-05:00

This was me at 11:00 last night finally eating dinner. It was a fun day. Exhausting day, but totally grand. This is one of my favorite go to late night, I haven't eaten since 3pm, too tired to actually cook dinners. There's just something magical about velveeta and bread.