101 Small Pleasures to enjoy everyday

I love this list of small pleasures, I found it when looking for things to put on my 100 Things to Do in 2010 which I started last March.  I will be posting my list on here soon, but for now look over this one.  It has some sweet things on it, good to have around for a bad day.

http://shine.yahoo.com/event/makeover/101-small-pleasures-you-can-enjoy-every-day-1125425/

Some of my favorites:

-Coloring (yes, grown-ups can do it, too)
-Crisp cotton sheets (Mmm, clean sheets are the best)
-A genuine compliment (giving or receiving)
-A handwritten letter (I love sending "snail mail" it is such a welcome surprise amidst all the junk and bills)
-A home cooked meal (Even better if you make it yourself, I find cooking to be relaxing and rewarding)
-A bubble bath (I suggest the addition of candles and a good book and you've got yourself a good evening)
-An afternoon nap (I could use one now)
-The wind in your hair (Driving with the windows down in great weather and listening to great music, singing at the top of my lungs)
-Treating the person behind you at the drive-thru (Selfess and sneaky)
-Puppies (Nothing is better than a puppy.  Nothing.  The loose puppy skin, the sweet puppy breath, the little puppy kisses, and the sleepy puppy cuddling. If I am having a bad day and I see a puppy, nothing else matters.)
-Root beer floats (A treat I rarely think of, but so easy and so fulfilling)
-Holding hands (My favorite, just feels good to have someone hold your hand)
-Fireflies (I really wish we had these here because seeing fireflies for the first time in Iowa as a teenager was one of the purest moments of absolute joy that I have ever experienced, complete with squeals and giggles)

Rainy Day

Today was a hazy, rainy, chilly day.  We put on our sweaters, grabbed our umbrellas and took a walk to the Hungarian Pastry to have some chocolate croissants.  It was a cool place; dark, quiet and artsy.  We stayed for a while and had some great conversation.  Afterwards we walked over to St John the Divine cathedral which was right around the corner, it was absolutely gorgeous.  The detail on the architecture is beautiful and it was so huge and spacious inside.

I got my mexican food fix at lunch today.  We did a lot of eating and sitting around haha.  It was also very good, I have been eating well here.  Looks like I'm bringing a little New York home with me in my love handles.

This evening we went to Stephanie's church, it is called Redeemer.  It was a nice church, but it was warm inside and rainy outside and I had to try very hard to keep my eyes open, but the cookies were delicious (:

We made our way to see Toy Story 3D afterwards, at the same theater that Carrie went on her first date with Burger in Sex and the City!  The movie was adorable, we had a lot of fun. 

Picked up some sushi, watched Seinfeld, and now headed to the market to pick up something for my sweet tooth.  Tomorrow is my last full day in New York!  It is a good thing I rested up today because I plan on doing a lot of walking tomorrow.

Chillin' at Central Park

Layed low today, didn't have any plans, so we spent a lot of time walking around some different neighborhoods.  I love walking through the city, there is so much to see and so many types of people.  I even found a sign that said: Keep Calm and Carry On...just like my tattoo!

We took a sheet and our books to Central Park and layed in the grass under a big tree on the Great Lawn.  The weather was amaaaaaaaaaaazing today.  Absolutely perfect.  It felt so nice to be outside, Steph's friend met up with us and we ended up sitting there for a couple hours just people watching and chatting.  It was a great way to spend the afternoon.

We went by Strawberry Fields on our way out of the park.  It was pretty cool to see it in real life.  Then we hit up Shake Shack for some yummy cheeseburgers!

InBetweens

Last night Steph and I got all dolled up to go out to the East Village!  We did a little toasting at the apartment before we hit the town, and it was instantly clear that it would be a good/crazy night. 

We went to a placed called Phebe's to meet up with her friends that were there.  They left pretty soon after we had arrived, so it was just the two of us but no worries, we made friends.

After our eventful night at Phebe's it was about 4:00am and we decided we were hungry.  So we put on the flip flops we had stowed in our purses (smart gals) and walked over to Tom's Restaurant, the Restaurant from Seinfeld.  It was insanely tasty and I am pretty sure it saved me from a massive hangover this morning.

Fun times last night and exactly my reasoning for staying in tonight and watching Harry Met Sally!

ChinaTown

Another wonderful day, of course.  I slept in until about noon, then Steph and I ate our leftover pasta from Carmine's for lunch while watching Sex and the City in the city!  For some reason, it made the show so much more fun (:

After that I ventured out to Central Park for a bit.  She lives a few blocks away so it take barely any time to walk there.  Central Park is gigantic and I had absolutely no idea where I was.  I found a nice garden and some lakes and chilled for a while then headed back to her apartment.  I am excited to explore more on Monday. 

We took the subway to China Town, which was...interesting.  It was like crossing into a different country.  Our mission was to find some cheap designer purses.  Let me tell you, it was no easy feat.  When you walk down the street little Asians are saying to you under their breath "You want bags? Coach, Gucci, Chanel..." Then if you stop and say yes they get very serious demanding that you follow them.  We tried this a few times, first time we followed the guy a couple blocks then he waved us away because he saw a cop.  Eventually we found this rocking little Asian lady with what looked like a crimped mullett.  She lead us beside a building where she pulled a laminated paper from her pants with pictures of purses on it...very strange.  We found some we liked, haggled for a long time, started walking away, haggled some more, and finally agreed on a price.  They disappeared, brought our bags out and we gave them the cash.  The whole experience was very secretive and felt a little like the Asian Mafia.  But it was a success!

We also stopped at a Donut shop called Donut Planet which was amazing.  Steph got a Peanut Butter donut filled with jelly and I got an amazing chocolate one.  They also had carrot cake and some other spectacular flavors. 

We also stopped at MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) which I loved.  It was a really nice musem and had some awesome exhibits.  If I have time I might go back.  But our stomachs were yelling at us and it was time to get some food.  Tried some Halal food...chicken and rice and some interesting sauce, it was delicious. 

Hitting the town tonight! Check ya later!

If I can make it here...

I feel kinda like a travel pro because I made it from LaGuardia airport to Manhattan taking a bus by myself like a big girl, it even went through Harlem, haha.  Met a nice Austrian man who was in Haiti for an NGO he is a representative for, he was really friendly.  Actually, most people were, it was nice. A couple people saw he had a map and asked him if he needed help finding anything.  I found the stop easily and was feeling pretty good. However, my travel savvy didn't seem so special when I met up with Stephanie; she walks around the city like she owns it!  Not to mention the fact that she probably saved my life like three times tonight by stopping me from walking into oncoming traffic.  

We started the evening off right when I arrived with a Coors Light toast then off to Broadway.  Steph got us tickets to see La Cage Aux Folles.  We were in the front row of the box seats and it was awesome.  The box seats made us feel a bit like Abraham Lincoln, I wish I would have remembered to pack my top hat.  The show was incredible.  A bunch of burlesque drag queens, Kelsey Grammar, and a hilarious actor named Douglas Hodge who had us giggling all night.  So much fun!

After the show we walked through Times Square which has changed a bit since I was here five years ago.  They now have part of Times Square blocked off from traffic so that pedestrians can just wander everywhere across the streets.  I think it is a great idea.  An ever better idea was the FOUR STORY Forever 21 that they have in Times Square now.  It was insane and overwhelming, and surprisingly I made it out with only one shirt! 

We stopped at Carmine's, a well-known Italian restaurant, for dinner at 11:30pm (only in New York) and the cook came and flirted with us which was pretty entertaining.  Steph said blondes are rare in  NYC so she expects us to get a lot of attention.  Haha, I guess I am okay with that.  The cook brought our meals out to us, meatballs and linguine, and afterwards came to offer us kisses, the Hershey's kind (:

Had a great first night in the city.  Looking forward to my first full day tomorrow!

Ready Freddy!

Vacation in 4 HOURS!  I can't wait!  I am going to New York to visit Stephanie.  I am so excited to go back.  I have only been once and I was not 21 yet and it was hot as hell.  Hopefully the weather will be nice for some lounging around in Central Park, and hopefully I can stagger around the streets in my heels at 4a.m. and buy a bagel to soak up some of the alcohol in my belly (:

Saw Machete last night.  It was a great movie, insanely violent but very entertaining and it certainly sent quite a message about immigration, especially considering the atmosphere in Arizona right now.  Michelle Rodriguez looked absolutely amazing, when did that happen?  Lindsay Lohan looked like an idiot.  Surprise, surprise.

Hurry up 5:00! I've got packing to do!

Going the Distance

Saw a movie last night with a cute boy.  Our choices were Machete and Going the Distance...tough choice actually.  But, I was in the modd for something light and we ended up seeing Going the Distance.  The cute boy probably helped but I really loved the movie.  Christina Applegate stole the show, she was so hilarious.  I have always liked her but I don't remember ever thinking she was that funny. Go see it!

I had a great weekend.  Spent some time with Ms. Stephanie who I will be visiting in New York City in 2+ days!  I am soooooo ready!  Also, spent a lot of time with the cute boy, met some awesome new people, went to Oregano's with my parents, saw my cousins, and got a little tipsy.  Not too shabby.

Tonight, I will pack and spend some time with Paully Bleaker! holla.