I am Thankful for...

For Thanksgiving this year, I decided to spend my time in the city.  Kelly had told me that she was going to be in the city, along with Nicola and Zach, and that they would love to do Thanksgiving all together.  We each took different parts of the dinner and came up with a wonderful, memorable feast.

The day took place in Kelly’s friend’s apartment in Queens.  Kelly decided to take charge of the turkey.  She took the recipe from Food & Wine.com and roasted it with Rosemary, thyme,       carrots, potatoes, and chicken broth.  AMAZING!!!! She did a fantastic job and we each have       leftovers for turkey sandwhiches and turkey soup later this winter.  I was in charge of sides; I chose to make homemade stuffing, sweet potato cassarole, and scalloped corn.  Everyone really enjoyed the food and with stuffing, you could make 3 pans of it and there will still be hardly any leftover.  Nicola and Zach brought the table decorations and desserts! She baked pumpkin cheesecake ramekins that were delicious! I most definitely couldn’t make those!  After a day full of Beverly Hills 90210 re-runs and football, tons of food, great wine, and priceless memories we each were very excited to spend the day together.  We may not have been with our families for this blessed holiday, but I can say that if I had to spend it with people other than my own family, these three people are the lucky ones I would choose.   

Thank you to all three of them.  Without you guys I wouldn't be where I am today.  Thanks again!     

You Got Me

I came across this little gem of a song while working....enjoy!

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2 things

I would have to say that the two interesting things I notice on the daily would be the shoes that people wear and the apartments they live in. 

One of my favorite things to do is get myself lost in a really cool neighborhood.  Two years ago, when I was at FIT, I loved to go to the West Village or Greenwich Village and get lost between Jane St. or Hudson.  I would find the cutest boutiques and see some of the coolest apartments. 

The best is at night when everyone has their lights on and you can see how people decorate and make use of the space they have available to them.  I have stated before that I love Sundays in New York, and for another reason seeing that on Sunday I go to church in the evening.  On my walk to and from the subway I just look at the apartments and think about how everyone is preparing for their workweek ahead of them.  What do other people think about?  What are their Sunday night routines? 

One of my friends likes to find a quote that she can use throughout the week to keep her going.  She finds inspiring quotes and tries to live by them.  Some of her favorites are from Ivanka Trump.  As an influential and powerful woman in business, she has overcome so much.  I recently just got done reading her book, "The Trump Card."  A book all about her life and the obstacles she has had to overcome.  

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, but everyone has a story.  They're all different in their own way.  

Pondering

Today, I spent the day in Starbucks and for any of you that know me, you know that if I’m discovering a new neighborhood or in need of some good thinking, that’s my location of choice.  There is a really cute Starbucks really close to my apt and after ordering my Holiday treat: PSL, the thought process began. 

As I sat there, I was facing the window and was able to get in some prime people-watching time.  Families would be walking and their kids would be riding their bikes in front while the parents would trail briskly behind them. It made me start to miss my own family.  I think it’s so interesting to think about how no matter whom we come across in our daily lives, everyone has a family.  We all come from somewhere.  Some have drama; some don’t.  Some families are big; others are small.  But in the end, each one of us has a mother and a father who love us so much more than we could ever imagine.  It’s so comforting to know that you can always come home if you ever need to.  My own family has reminded me of this time and time again.  As much as I love New York, I am so excited to go home for Christmas, where I will get to spend a blissful 4 days with my family and friends! The time will come and go quicker than I want it to, but I know it will be a great reminder of how big my support system really is.

As Dorothy clicked her heels and stated, “There’s no place like home,” I too am clicking my heels and anxiously awaiting the moment when I get to walk into the house give my mom a huge hug and take a nap on the couch while watching re-runs of “Keeping Up With The Kardashians.”

<3 Blair

It’s really funny to me when I look at my iPod ready to change it to the next song because 9x out of 10 I usually end up back to the same songs. 

Top 5 of my default tunes:

1.  80s pop

2.  Anything 90s

3. Madonna

4. Show tunes

5.  Billy Joel

New Beginnings

So November 1st, I finally found my own place and moved to Queens.  I am so excited because I am now the proud owner of a set of keys to an apartment that I can actually call my own.  After four years of living in a dorm room or sorority house I was ready to find a place that allowed me to have an entire room dedicated to me, with a door that I could shut if I wanted to.  I signed a lease, put down way too much money for deposits and first month's rent, and was on my way to becoming what one calls “an adult.”  I know I’ve said it before, but it’s still crazy to me when I look back on everything that has happened in the past two months of my life, let alone what my thoughts were upon moving to NYC. First off, I never thought I’d actually be living in Queens.  I used to be so opposed to living anywhere but the city, but knowing what I could spend on rent and what my monthly expenses would be, I knew I needed to find an alternate area.

I specifically moved to Astoria, which is a more residential area than I would normally like, but it’s safe, easy, and quiet. Yesterday I had the opportunity to go running again.  I went to the park and came across a peaceful area by the water that I could run past.  There were lots of families out on the playground with their kids.  Over and over again I am noticing that Astoria is more of a family neighborhood, than anything else.  There isn’t much interruption or tons of people, so taking walks on the sidewalk are a little less chaotic than they would be in the city. 

I found a gym one subway stop away from mine that I can go to.  They offer a really great Pilates class that I have recently started attending.  The gym is only a few blocks from the subway station so it’s convenient.  I also have access to the gym close to my office so I can go workout after a long day at the office.  

My roommate is a girl that I work with and we've been getting along really well.  She's from Florida and works in the Kids department on the same floor that I do.  She and I have had lots of fun trying to get our new home decorated and put together.

After moving into the home, we each have been sleeping on an air mattress, which isn't the most attractive bedding or comfortable, for that matter.  

In two weeks my bed is supposed to arrive.  Soo excited.  My new life is coming together, slowly but surely.  

moving on up...

So I moved to Queens November 1st. Pictures and story to come!

This is the reason as to why I haven't been blogging lately.  No internet access at home yet.  Coming this weekend!!!!

-Blair