Must see...

I don't know how it took me so long to post about this! A while ago I saw Crazy Stupid Love. Being as how I did not have t.v. or internet at the time, I had no idea what this movie was about. Let me just tell you... WOW! I LOVED this movie so freaking much I cannot even handle it! I think Lis explained this movie the best, "I have never been more attracted to mens clothing." haha. It's true! Ryan Gosling is outrageously well dressed in the movie and just so suave, adorable and hilarious all at the same time! I like that it is not just a classic rom-com. It's a story of love, life and giving in to discovering parts of yourself you never knew existed. I will definitely be buying this the second it comes out!

Is It Really Fall?!?

Wow, how is it already September? I mean, come on! I had such big plans for this summer: the Jersey Shore, DC trip, Rockland Lake and camping to name a few. Ugh... none of those were accomplished. The weeks just got away from me. I found myself continually saying "It's ok, I'll do it next weekend." That weekend turns into 2 weekends from now, yada yada, you never do it. Story of my life. One fantastic thing about New York? A long Fall. In Alaska, Fall literally lasts about 2 weeks and its nothing exciting or that pretty. Mainly yellow leaves, real cold and then all you have to look forward to is snow. Well, welcome to an East Coast Fall: red/orange/yellow leaves, crisp 70 degree weather, maybe a little 60s or 80s mixed in as well, several weeks long, no snow expected until November or December (Booya!), perfect hiking and camping weather and you've got the perfect Fall!!! I'm excited to not suffocate from humidity when I walk out of my house, but I really would have been happier going into Fall with a better tan...oh well. Here's to a crisp, glorious Fall filled with camping and lots of hiking!

Vino: My dear, dear friend...

Wine is quite possibly one of the greatest pleasures of all time. I used to drink it mass amounts (probably a little too much) but I was in my early 20s when my drinking physlosphy was: I can handle anything. Needless to say, vino has made a comeback in a big way. I forgot what it was like to come home and pour a glass of wine, sit and relax, do what I do! For instance, I am drinking a glass of wine writing this post, obviously... I don't like white wine, it is too sweet. I love Cab Sauv, Pinot Noir and Malbec the most, but Black Box Merlot is glorious! My mom got me hooked on Black Box, not your average boxed wine I tell you! Just wanted to express my love of vino, now go get yourself a glass!!

Some fun tidbits...

I mean, come on! How precious are the Foo Fighters?!?

Well, Vicky B. finally went and did it! She had herself a precious baby girl and I could not be more stoked for her. I mean seriously, how precious is that little girls fashion sense going to be? And now their family truly is going to be the most adorable/attractive family on the planet! Can't I just meet Vicky B. already?

What the beep happened to John Mayer? He dropped off the face of the Earth after he was "addicted to tweeting" and Jen Aniston dumped him scrubby bum. He looked heinous in the last pic I saw of him. John, you are a musical genius, get your act together!

Dear Lost, can't you come back to me?!

Kelly Cutrone inspires me like crazy. You know who she is, she's the crazy boss PR lady from The Hills. Well, I am reading her first book and I am obsessed with it! Talk about getting what you want in life and not taking no for an answer. Some of her life choices are wackadoo, but I she has a really good voice when reading the book and I now know by Whitney Port loves her so... haha

Foo Fighters, I better get to see you at Madison Square Garden! If you have not seen it yet, you better sit your ass down and watch VH1 Rock Doc:Foo Fighters. It is spectacular. Foo, I love you, you are way too precious!

That is my random pop culture ramble for the day. Until next time...

Back to civilization...

When I lived in Alaska I was obsessed with my shows. I would dvr everything and anything. I loved tv. When I moved to New York, I did not want the added expense of internet and cable and I survived for 2 years without both, which is an accomplishment, and actually not very difficult. I got used to it. But, I definitely did miss boring nights with nothing else on but Cheaters... If I needed the internet I would venture to Starbucks and if I absolutely had to watch a show, I would just watch it on hulu. It worked for me.

Last night I came home to a wonderful surprise. Cable, internet and they threw in free dvr! Yahtzee!! I just really do not want to get sucked into tv again, but I am mostly excited about having football Sundays back! Now when people say, "Did you see ____ last night" I don't have to embarrassingly tell them "I don't have tv". It's the little things in life... Things are looking up, they truly are!

Free time? Wait, that exists?

Looks like I will be back in the blogosphere more often:) I no longer have my second job and seem to find myself with some crazy free time. What does that mean? More blogging and getting my life back in order!! I have begun to totally re-organize my life. Literally, financially and emotionally. My apartment is under a huge organizational transformation and it feels wonderful!! One of my closets is totally organized and I have gotten rid of 4 garbage bags full of clothes, shoes, handbags and unused kitchen gadgets. Whoa, do I feel liberated!!!! I am really excited and feel that things are really going to just fall in place. I do not need to be worrying about anything else than what I cannot do in one day and things that do not effect me. It is time to get a grip on reality and live my life the way it should be lived.

My cross-country move from Alaska to New York has been difficult, a huge struggle, but overall, wonderful. I love my life here in New York and I love all the choices that surround me and the crazy insane amount of people everywhere always chasing something better. The energy is just unreal. Nothing will ever compare to my life in Alaska, and my life will never be as it was. My life changed forever when I moved and it was all for the better. I have learned so much about myself and other people and the effect that things and people have on my life. The power of friendship and love is one great beast:)

Until I find another second job, if I so desire... here's to dominating my free time with awesomely productive and fun things!

iPhone, when did you take over my life?

I did it... I broke down and got the iPhone about a month ago, but I didn't even want to! My LG Vue was slowly breaking and I was due for an upgrade and the iPhone was the only logical choice here. I was thinking the iPhone 4, but did not want to spend the money and was really only considering it because of the "self pic" feature, as we all know I LOVE self pics! But, I stuck to the iPhone 3 something rather for $50 and I am golden! And of course immediately bought a leopard print cover:) I always told myself I would never get an iPhone because that was "too much going on in the palm of my hand". Well, I was right! Too many addictive things going on in this phone, that I am constantly checking my FB and the weather, checking out music, taking pics with instagram and hipstamatic, Living Social, writing this blog post, you name it!! This phone actually makes me want to spend MORE money with all the things I find playing around when I am bored. That is NOT a good thing!

I do not have Internet at my apartment, so this phone rules my world! Thank you iPhone for being a huge distraction in my life and also being really helpful:)

Come on!

I have soooo much to blog about a ton of half-written blog posts and I just cannot get motivated to finish them! COME ON!!! Ok, that was nice, I think I'm ready now:)

Just Call Me Susie Homemaker...

Well, I am finally doing it... Domesticating myself! I bought a crock-pot, I've been cooking alot, I have turned into a real homebody, I want to start to sew and re-learn knitting. I am pretty excited about all of these things and I'm feeling really motivated and encouraged:) My family basically thinks I am retarded in the domestic department, and I will admit I kind of am. I am not the best cook in the world, but I think that is only because I don't have that great of an imagination when it comes to cooking, and it is hard to get motivated to cook an involved meal for 1. I will tell you one thing, I am real good at cooking Mexican food:) haha. I am a nacho connoisseur and could eat them every day of my life. Does that count as cooking?!

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I am not big on baking either, but I can make a mean Zucchini bread. Maybe I should get some tips from my sister Hillary who is a baking maniac and whip up something fantastic! Wow, when I talk about making all of these things, I get a little nervous! But, I am totally up for the challenge and to learn new things and hobbies! Who knows, maybe be I will totally dominate ?! One can dream, right?

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I need all the encouragement I can get! Here's to becoming a domestic goddess!!!

Let's Pretend for a Minute...

Disney Movies...Creepy or awesome? Well, most are creepy and downright scary, but there are a select few that are magical, such as Robin Hood (ultimate fave!), Fox and the Hound and Beauty and the Beast. Let's discuss the scary ones: Little Mermaid, Sleeping Beauty, Fantasia (ok, that movie is just a joke how scary it is). These are kids movies, right? Not so sure.

I got a text from my sister Hillary a few months ago "I couldn't get Cinderella, it's in the vault" My response: "Vault?! Like the creepy Disney vault?" That's the one! We were discussing what princessy things were were getting our niece Jane for her third birthday. Jane loves Disney princesses right now and, strangely, is not scared of Beauty and the Beast?!?! Back to the vault...I imagine it being the scariest place on Earth. This is NOT a theoretical vault, this bitch is real! Imagine all the movies they made but noone ever saw...As much as I love Disneyland and some Disney movies...it is creepster town. And I really do not think it appropriate to bring some movies out of the vault every 5 years and charge $26 for them. Not that I am in the habit of buying Disney movies, but that just seems ridic to spend that on a cartoon, or any movie, really. Oh well...

Disney Vault...I am not impressed and you scare me.

I Love You Beautiful Mother Dear...

My mom came to visit me in New York for 10 days the end of Jan./Beg. of Feb. I have not seen her since July and that was waaaay too long! She was only with me in Nyack for a total of 2.5 days, but thankfully, I was able to take some time off of work and go upstate with her for a 4 day weekend with my G-parents:) I enjoyed every minute of our time together and needless to say... I miss her more than I ever thought possible. Oh great, I just started to cry. When I dropped her off at JFK Airport to head back to AK, my heart broke and I sat in my car for 15 minutes literally balling my eyes out. I am surprised I stayed on the road on my way home, I was a basket case.

My mom drove me from my first out-of-state living adventure in Minneapolis to Nyack in September 2009 and she fell in love with Nyack and really liked NYC, which I think was a surprise to both of us. We were not able to spend alot of time in the city this trip, but next time she visits, I have big plans! But, we were still able to do alot and get some much needed mom-daughter time in:) We spent a day in Nyack shopping and walking around to all the boutiques, she met all of my co-workers at the lawfirm and at Nordstrom (and my East-Coast mom, Marion!!), went into the city to see our friend James and his showroom and of course, my mom could not leave without cleaning my apartment! I just adore her!

The most common phrase said when I introduced my mom to people, "You two look so much alike". I'll take it:) My mom is so wonderful. My mom really brings our family together, either with amazing meals, or beegaritas (yum-o!!) and just being an awesome, supportive, kicking ass and taking names Mom/Grandma. I am alot like her, we don't take alot of crap, so you better look out, haha! My mom has always been tough love and that is why I think my sisters and brother and I are so strong and the people we are today.

After my mom I said to myself, "what have I done? Why do I live so far away from my family?!" But I quickly got a grip and remembered that moving to NY was the best decision I ever made and without the support of my mom and the rest of my family, I would not be able to survive here. I LOVE my life in NY! I just wish I had unlimited air miles to go to AK about 5 times a year:( One can dream, right? My mom now says she wants to visit NY a couple times a year to see me and my grandparents and I am TOTALLY ok with that:) Thanks mom, for visiting me in NY and making my life so much better:)

Holiday Season...Done.

Most adorable couple in front of the Bergdorf Goodman windows.

Eugene and I and the TREE!

A Little holiday fun with Becca and Alakai.

Gram and Gramp!!

New Headband from Kim:) Love it!

Walt, Sharlee, Emily and Sadie.

Eugene and I at my G-parents.

Why am I soooo lame at updated my blog lately!?! Well, it could be a myriad of reasons; One being that I have been working like a maniac the past 2 months. I work a full time job at the law firm, then work about 3 nights a week and every Saturday at Nordstrom. Needless to say, I am a walking zombie most of the time, but I think I have learned to thrive on little sleep. I just do what I have to do and work my ass off, that is the story of my life. Second might be that I have been lazy. I feel overwhelmed at how much I have to write about! Grip gotten...let's do this!

The holidays came and went and they were delightful! I spent Christmas Eve and Christmas morning with my Grandparents upstate and my boyfriend, Eugene, of about 8 months met them for the first time and he was a hit:) I will get back to Eugene later... My grandparents mean sooo much to me. I wish I could just live with them, they are so fantastic! Eugene and I then headed up to Vermont to spend the rest of the holiday weekend with my Uncle Walt and Aunt Sharlee and their girls. I spent Christmas with them last year and this was no different! Wonderful food, tons of booze, old movies and a fantastic time with my amazing family and Eugene!!

We then got stuck in the "Blizzard on 2010" as it was called in NYC. We decided not to chance it and stayed at my G-parents on Sunday night to wake up to a foot of snow! Can you say snow day?! After shoveling our cars out and helping with the paths, we were on our way back to the city. It was such a fantastic Christmas weekend. It is always hard being away from my family for any event or holiday, but at least I am with people that I love and people that love me and it I feel very fortunate for that:)

I said last Christmas and will say it again. Christmas in NYC is the most magical thing on Earth! I am sharing some pics of Christmastime in the city and hope you enjoy them. That handsome black man is my boyfriend Eugene who adores me and I adore him:) Life is beautiful!

Snowy/Salty Roads

If you have not heard on the news lately, the East Coast has been dominated by snow lately and let me just say... enough already. I know I am from Alaska and I am supposed to love the snow, but let me clarify something. I do love the snow, but I don't like walking in it everywhere I go. This was my problem in Alaska. I hate having to trudge through snow, but I am totally fine driving to it, or it even being in my yard and mountains. And I love skiing. There are a few differences with Alaska and New York winters. Alaska is dry NY is humid. Therefore, when it is 20 degrees here, it often feels like zero degrees. It is a cold that I cannot even describe except to say it is cold to the bone! It is completely different than AK. And the wind comes off the Hudson and through the valley and is absolutely ridiculous. Winter in the city it crazy cold! The wind just whips through the buildings and your face almost falls off.

Another difference: Salt v. gravel. I personally hate salt on the roads. I mean really, do I need the bottom of my work pants all covered in a white salt stain? NO. Do I need my car to be covered in a massive film of salt making it look like a cocaine wagon? NO. Do I need my already rust prone Suby to rust out because I cannot keep washing the salt off my car every two days? Def. NO! Stupid. In Alaska they used sand/gravel and it did its job. Tires grip, don't have stained pants, yada yada. Problem with gravel? My windshield was DOMINATED on a regular basis. And when I say dominated, I mean to the point where my NY friends were seriously afraid that my windshield would implode on me while driving. haha. Well, that did not happen because I got pulled over and this adorable cop made me fix it:)


Let me make something really clear. Snow plowers in NY are the WORST! I am beginning to think that I could do a better job. Every plow driver should probably go to Alaska to be trained. The time it takes to clear snow and the serious lack of skill to get the snow actually OUT of the road is ridiculous. This has been a big problem in NYC and in Nyack. Nyack is alot like the city, in that everything is really close together, right on the Hudson and there is nowhere to put the snow, so they kind of just push it around. Ridic. My driveway has not been plowed since Christmas. Nice, really nice. Guess this is just something I am going to have to get used to.

My Aunt Sharlee said to me a couple weeks ago when I was telling her that I had virtually no snow gear here, it was all in Alaska, "We have winter on the East Coast too!" Boy, do we ever! But, at least it does not last 6 months and we have real hot summers! I can live with that:) Now it is supposed to snow again on Tuesday for the 4th time in 3 weeks. Awesome.

I'm embarassed...

Well, the deed is done. I purchased a Jessica Simpson handbag on Saturday. Needless to say, it was an embarrassing moment in my life. There are some celebrity related situations which I refuse to engage in. The ultimate: Liking Angelina Jolie...that will never happen. 2) Buying ANYTHING from Jessica Simpson's fashion line. And if purchased on accident, return it. This is not because I think it is a horrible line, I just think she is horrible. But, I found this amazing handbag that is so adorbs, so me, and functional. BOOYA!! Against my better judgment, I bought the bag...Many people have informed me that in her shoe line is incredible. I refuse to believe that and if see a cute shoe with her name on the insole, I promptly put the shoe down as quickly as I picked it up. I draw the line at handbags, my foot is down...

B-Star, I Fracking Love You!!

If I ever thought I was nerdy before, this really seals the deal! Balltlestar Gallactica, you rule my world! I have fallen in love with this little gem of science fiction. There are so many amazing things about this show, I don't even know where to start! First of all, this is a Canadian show and, if you did not already know, I LOVE Canada...alot. Second, the special effects are quite amazing, especially considering it is only a t.v. show. Third, there are some hotties with naughty bodies, and let's get real, who doesn't like a man in uniform kicking Cylon ass? Fourth, Edward James Olmos and Mary McDonnell are spectacular actors and I am obsessed with them! I must give a shout out to my old friend, David Harper, for making me reluctantly start to watch this show on dvd before I moved from Alaska. I watched the first season and loved it, then forgot about it for a year and a half and BAM, my Uncle Walt started watching it and I got hooked...again. We are on Season 3 and it is blowing my franking mind!!

There are a few small, yet awesome, things about this show. I noticed right away that any square or rectangular item (ie. paper, picture frames) no longer have corners. NOTHING has corners!! Are they kidding me?! Also, pretty much the only swear word on the show is "frack". Can you say hilarious ! Walt and I still think it is hilarious, and that is because we are real nerdy... Also, this show has very religious undertones. They pray to Gods, but their enemies (the Cylons) pray to God, it is very interesting watching all of this unfold and them always arguing over what they believe in and what is true. Everything the Cylons are doing is because they believe it is God's will... all very interesting between the humans and Cylons.

In a nut shell...The Cylons (robots) were created by humans, then they turned against their creators and destroyed the human race, all but about 45,000 people. So, Cpt. Adama is leading all of these people through space in search of Earth! Of course they encounter the stupid Cylons all the time and have some kick ass battles. New Cylons are revealed every so often and they are always someone "human" that no one ever thought would be a Cylon. It is nutso!! Basically, you just need to watch this show. Especially if you love Star Trek: The Next Generation as much as I do! So Say We All...

P.S. Did I mention that I am a nerdy nerd?