This post is dedicated to 이 지현

Love, love, LOVE Nell!!  Soooo good!









Oh, and a big shout out to 지현! Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for being such an awesome friend and for introducing me to awesome music. Love you!

Did you know the Dutch explorer Peter Minuit landed on what is now Manhattan today in 1626?

One of my absolute favorite songs of all time...

Just can't help but feel happy after listening to it! :)

Did you know Nelson Mandela was elected President in South Africa today in 1994?

Awesome week.  Here's how it went down...

Monday:
Worked 7:30 AM to 10-ish PM.
My favorite pair of boots died a terrible death.  This was obviously not so awesome as I then had to walk 10 blocks in a downpour with no sole.  While pushing a stroller.

Finally watched Rushmore.  Next on the list:

Tuesday:
Worked 7:30 AM to 8:30-ish PM.
Ran today!  Taking up running might seriously have been the best thing to happen to me in a long time.  This begins week 8 of my 9 week program!  So close to finishing and then I will start training for a 10k!  :)
Caught a train to the UWS to watch Glee at Liz's apartment.
Sadly, not the best episode, but I suppose nothing they did this week could have compared to the Madonna episode.
Liz also introduced me to my new favorite snack/meal...

Tomato, basil and mozarella on a toasted baguette.  :)

Wednesday:
Worked 7:30 AM to 9-ish PM.
Caught a train (again) to the UWS for Brigham's birthday (Happy Birthday Brigham!  I know you're reading this).  So much fun!  And score! He gave me a book...

Thursday:
Worked 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
Went for another run :)
Last day of institute :(
I ADORED this class!  Brother Belnap was an amazing teacher and I loved learning about other religions.  I also met some really great people.

April, Kimmy and I rendezvous-ed for some ramen at Takumi.  My all-time favorite ramen shop in the city.

I am there once--if not twice (unless my mom is reading this)--a week.  So if you are ever craving ramen at any time, any day, call me.  I won't say no.

Friday:
Worked 7:30 AM to 7:30 PM.
Had the missionaries, Kimmy, and my new cute friends, Danielle and Jason over for dinner.  This turned out to be quite the labor-intensive project, but it turned out splendidly and therefore, was worth it!
On the menu:  Breaded porkchops and homemade applesauce, a medley of heirloom potatoes tossed with butter, parsley and garlic, snap peas sauteed with a splash of lemon juice, and a baguette.  For dessert we had a quadruple berry crisp and ice cream.  After dinner, Kimmy, Danielle and Jason and I hung out on the roof and checked out the gorgeous view.
Sadly, I totally spaced taking pictures :(
So here are some I stole from Danielle :)

Saturday:
Should've slept in, but I didn't.  Woke up at 8 and went for a run.  Met up with Kimmy around noon for massages in Chinatown and then a little Barrio Chino (I challenge you to find a better Mexican restaurant in the city).  She had the chili relleno, I had the bistec tortas and we split the chips and guac.  Delish!
Next up, we wandered all over NoLita.  Checked out Housing Works, a couple high-end boutiques, The Market, and popped into a gelato shop for a little bit of frozen heaven.

And then we joined a protest.

Si se puede!

Capped off the night at Sara's going away party.  It was like the who's who party of NYC Mormons.

I am really going to miss this girl!

Sunday:
Church = Lovely.
Sick = Not so lovely.
Kimmy invited Sarah B and I over for tacos and girl talk, which, unfortunately, we suck at.  So instead we talked politics, critiqued the city's education system and discussed money management (or lack thereof).  Cuz we're cool like that...

Watched the CES Fireside tonight.  Anyone else watch it online?  If you did, you might be as in love with this guy as I am...  Just as I was about to post the pics from paint, my stupid laptop shut itself off and therefore they are now no more.  Lame.  But if you watched it online, you know what I'm talking about.  The guy interpreting in ASL was marvelous!

Ooh!  And I just checked out via The Sartoralist:

<3<3<3

Photography Project: "A Moment in Time"

I found this article today --> http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/20/readers-9/ and I decided I am going to do it!  

The details:  

On Sunday, May 2, photographers around the world will help Lens (the NY Times Photography blog) create “A Moment in Time”; one single moment in the life of the planet.  That moment will be 15:00 hours in Coordinated Universal Time.  

For you East Coasters, this would be 11 a.m. and for the Utahns reading this, this would be 9 a.m..  So for anyone interested, start planning what "moment" you'd like to capture and then just make sure your camera is charged and ready to go Sunday morning.

Here are the details for sending in your photo:

You can submit your photo any time between 15:00 (U.T.C.) on Sunday, May 2, until 15:00 (U.T.C.) on Friday, May 7.  The pictures will be published up to 1000 pixels wide on the Web (that’s big), the larger your file, the better — up to a point. Don’t send anything larger than 5 MB. If you’re using an adjustable camera phone, be sure to set it for the largest file size possible.

If you do decide to do this, let me know! I'd love to see everyone's photos!

Did you know Robinson Crusoe was published today in 1719?

You know those weeks when you're just really frustrated and down on yourself because it seems like no matter how hard you try some things just won't go your way??  This was one of those weeks.   A lot of great things happened this week as well but I was really letting these disappointments get to me.  I hit the low point late Thursday night and had every intention of waking up Friday morning, getting the kids ready and taking them to school and then coming home to curl up in my bed and nap my break away.  Zero motivation to do anything.  Friday morning came, I woke up, got the kids ready, and like always, we were running a little late.  But as we were hurrying to school I happened to look up and I saw...

An airplane??  On top of a building in Lower Manhattan??  O says it's up there all the time and that I'd just never noticed it before.  I still thought it was pretty cool.

Then as I hurried L out of the stroller to drop him off at his school, I happened to look up again and I saw...

A garden on top of the roof next to the Montessori school.

Then I had this idea!  Instead of going home to take a nap, I went for a walk and I took a bunch of pictures.  The theme?  Looking up.

Here's to looking up!  :)

Did you know Massachusetts declared today "New Kids on the Block Day" in 1989?

Today I tagged along with Ellie and her co-workers to a New York Cares project in Brooklyn.  We weeded and prepped rows for planting at Red Hook Farm.

Here's Ellie hard at work.  She was a little sad that she wasn't able to hoe something but check out those dumping skills.

I worked the wheelbarrow.  So hardcore.

And look what was right across the street!  This is officially the closest I have ever been to an IKEA store. Some day I will actually venture inside.  Someone take me pretty please.

Did you know Shirley Temple was born today in 1928?

Our internet was down all day today so this will be a very short post.  Here are the spoils from a Monday night trip to Beacon's Closet with Liz...

I really need to learn how to sew.  I saw so many dresses that had so much potential to be cute if only I could fix them up a bit.  I may have to add that to my list of things to do.  Anyone want to give me some basic lessons??  :)

In other news... I was introduced to two new fashion blogs today: Copenhagen Street Style and Face Hunter.  I just spent the last 30 minutes perusing both and I'm already in love.  Yay for new blogs to stalk!

Did you know "Annie" opened on Broadway today in 1977?

Last night, I headed over to Sami's apartment for a girls night with Leslie, Sara, Jen and Katie.  We had a little cooking lesson (in which we made some delish sticky rice and mangoes) and then ended the evening chatting and watching Glee.

This is my go-to dish for potlucks and everyone LOVES it.  It is super simple to make so I thought I'd just post it on here and spread the love.  :)

Sticky Rice and Mangoes

What You Need:

2 Cups Sticky Rice >>Find this at a Chinese/Thai store<< 

2 1/2 Cups Water

1 Can Coconut Milk >>Do not shake it.  You want the creamy part to separate. Oh!  And don't get organic, because it won't separate<<

1 Cup Sugar

1 Tablespoon Salt

Mangoes >>As many as your heart and stomach desire<<

Directions:

1.  Cook the rice.

  > If you're using a rice cooker: Put the rice in the cooker and cover with the water.  Close the lid and turn  on.  Most rice cookers shut off when its finished, if yours doesn't, you'll just have to check it occasionally.  It usually takes around 20 minutes.

  > If you're using a pot on the stove: Put the rice in the pot and cover with water.  Turn on high heat until a it reaches a rolling boil.  Be sure to stir it occasionally to keep the rice from burning to the bottom.  Once boiling, cover with a tight lid (if your lid doesn't fit well, I suggest covering the pot with a sheet of tin foil and then placing the lid on top), and simmer on the lowest heat until all of the water is gone and the rice is tender.  Add more water as necessary.  Usually takes around 20 minutes.

2.  Make the sauce.

  > Carefully open the coconut milk and spoon out the cream into a microwave-safe bowl.

  > Measure exactly 1 cup of sugar and 1 tablespoon of salt (the secret of making the perfect bowl of sticky rice is this combo.  If you get the ratio off, it will either be too sweet or too salty.  You've been warned.  :)).

  > Add the sugar and salt into the bowl and stir well.

  >Cover and heat in microwave for 1 minute.

  > Pour over sticky rice and gently mix in just enough to cover all of the rice.  Be careful not to mash the rice.

3.  Prepare the mangoes.

  > Peel the mangoes with a sharp knife.

  > Cut the mangoes into bite-sized bits.  (For those unfamiliar with mangoes, there is a pit in the middle, just so ya know)

4.  Devour.

**Cute moment**

Dissatisfied with my choices of books to read for story time today, Miss C took it upon herself to pick some out on her own.

"Hmm... I haven't read Irvine Welsh in awhile..." 

 "Or perhaps I should dabble a little in Fear and Trembling today?  I better choose quickly before Sarah pulls out that Boohoo Baby drivel."

Did you know Hitler was born today in 1889?

Kimmy and I embraced our inner Japanese and checked out the cherry blossoms at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens on Saturday.