Fab Friday Faves 10.31.14 Happy Halloween!

Yello, Happy Halloween Boo,  to all of you today!  I actually love Halloween.  I am probably one of the biggest horror movie fans there is and I love dressing up and decorating.  Unfortunately, this year, I never got in to the spirit all, I bought some pumpkins and gourds but that's about it!  We live in a small apartment, and I can't imagine we will get any trick or treaters as there are no kids on our floor, so I didn't really feel like it was worth it.  We also don't have anyone to go out with tonight to dress up with so that took away the need to dress up even though there are a million things going on in NYC.  In any case, I will be Halloweening in spirit, and you can bet that I'll be having a horror movie marathon again tonight like I have been the whole week.  Everyone have fun and be safe tonight!  Eat lots of candy for me (and if you are generous you could send me some!)

1.  Wednesday was International Cat Day, and anyone that knows me knows I LOVE cats, especially my fur babies Jinx in Smudge.  In honor of the day I bought these adorable PJs and underwear at Forever 21.  The jammies were 12.50 for the set and the panties were 3.00.  So cute, and of course, here are my babies!  Love this picture of them taken by the talented (and my sister in law) Vanessa Budreau.

2. Last Saturday, Josh and I went out to the NJ country and did a few things including apple picking at Valley Crest Farms near Lebanon, NJ.  This place was gorgeous!  Not only do that apple picking (and peaches, raspberries, blackberries etc earlier in the season), in the summer they have every vegetable you could think of that they grow right there.  It is also a riding stable, learn to wood carve with a chain saw booth as well as other activities year round and has the most incredible view.

3. This morning, Nicole and I were walking to SOHO through Washington Square Park and look who we ran into, the Silver Fox himself, Anderson Cooper.  He is so talented and cute!  I managed to snap a picture and ask him how he was, but never asked for a picture with him dammit!  Still, we were a bit starstruck and it was a great celeb sighting!

4. Another beautiful autumn photo from our trip to the country.  A lot of places were almost passed their prime as far as the pretty colored leaves go, but man, a few places were still breathtaking!  I come from the prairie without many trees, and the trees we do have are evergreens or Poplars (only turn yellow) so I am still enthralled with the true beauty or the season.

5. Pretty much right outside my door is a great restaurant called the Skylark on the Hudson and tucked in the corner of the Skylark is a small Kobrick Coffee shop.  I've never really payed too much attention, but a couple weeks ago they set out their sign for their Autumn drinks.  Finally this week I tried their Pumpkin Pie Latte and it was one of the best lattes I have ever had!  Super impressed and I will be going back soon to try the Jack 'O Latte!

Today I am linking up with:

Nicole @ Adventures of a Wild Sunflower

Lauren @ Style Elixir

Lauren @ The Lauren Elizabeth

Clare @ Fitting it all In

Jennie @ The Diary of A Real Housewife

Amy @ The Farmers Wife

Christina @ Carolina Charm

Miranda's NYC Trip Last Day- Lady Liberty

On Miranda's last day, we had booked tickets to go to the Statue of Liberty.  So, bright and early, we took the light rail as far as it would take us, then walked to Liberty State park to wait for the ferry to the island.  After airport like security, we boarded the boat, first stop Ellis Island.  Ellis Island is the first place that most of the immigrants (about 12 million) coming to America had to stop from 1892-1924.  All immigrants went through an extensive inspection process from everything to lice to serious mental disorder.  

The view of Ellis Island and Lady Liberty from the ferry stop.

This is the main room that all immigrants would have walked into when they first arrived.  Pretty intimidating!

The step by step guide through the inspection process.

The view from the ferry as we approached.

We're here!  It was my first time out to the statue as well so it was exciting for me too.

Miranda had booked a ticket to g pall the way to the top, but she got the last spot so Josh and I got ours to go to the pedestal.  Still an epic view of Manhattan (and about 15 flights of stairs less to climb)

Josh and I took advantage of our extra time to hang out and get some more pictures.

There is also a really cool museum with lots of interesting history and cool facts.

Me with a replica of the head.

And her foot.

And in the gift shop with a rocking' hat.

On our way back to Jersey, after getting off the ferry in Battery park, we had t walk through wall street to get back to the path stop.  Just a couple pictures of the view.

Well thats it!  2 weeks of fun, adventure and exhausting days!  I guess my blogs will be back to normal now so check back soon for my everyday life once again. xox

Fab Friday Faves 10.24.14

Good morning and happy Friday darlings!  I don't have much time to chat today because we are finally going to have a nice, sunny, warm day!  The last two have been utterly miserable, a Nor'Easter rolled in with crazy wind and rain and was awful!  Actually, the last three days really have been super quiet.  The weekend and Monday were great (see probably my next post on Monday) but I'm getting cabin fever, so Nicole and I are headed over to Hoboken in a few hours to spend her birthday gift card and get some much needed sunshine.  Everybody have a fantastic weekend and please be safe!~

 1.  I'm sure everyone that is reading this has heard about the recent tragedy in Ottawa.  Such an unnecessary, tragic and senseless act that has really made the idea of terrorism hit home for a lot of Canadians.  I am a very proud Canadian and am disgusted, as I am when it happens to the US, that people that are so eager to enjoy the freedoms and perks of living in our countries, can do something to try to destroy them and strike fear in the people that love and respect what the countries stand for.  I have a lot more to say on this topic, but what I do want to say has no place on a post that is supposed to be fun and happy.  Be strong Canada, terrorism can never take our sense of security and spirit.  I am a proud Canadian and my number one Friday Favorite is this amazing country and the what it stands for.

2.  On Friday, josh and I went to Madison Square Garden to see one of my childhood crushes, Dwight Yoakam and one of the best country singers of today, Eric Church.  This was an amazing concert and the atmosphere was so fun and intense.  Both artists as well as their opener Brandy Clark, put on one hell of a show.  If you get the chance, check out the Outsiders tour!

3. On Sunday, we just had to go down to the lower east side of Manhattan for Pickle Day.  A ton of Pickle Makers and food vendors set up with everything you could imagine made with some sort of pickled item.  It was so much fun and, as a huge pickle fan I loved everything!  Pictured are Josh and I with the Dill Pickle Cupcake and the Maple Bacon cupcake from Sweet Buttons.  They were both amazing, and you would have to try them to understand.  Just fantastic.  This is an annual event, so if you get a chance next year, check it out.

4. This Forever 21 southwest print scarf is a steal for $14.80 and so warm and cozy and cute.  I'm just waiting for some colder (but not rainy) weather so I can actually comfortably wear it out!

5.  On Monday, Nicole and I wandered into our favorite area of Manhattan, Soho, to check out the Birchbox store.  We are both obsessed with Birchbox so we were like two giggly school girls while we were there.  We both custom built our own sample boxes and got a couple other things for good measure.  So much fun!


Today I'm Linking up with:

Lauren @ The Lauren Elizabeth
Lauren @ Style Elixir
Karli @ September Farm
Clare @ Fitting It All In
Jenny @ The Diary of a Real Housewife
Nicole @ Adventures of a Wild Sunflower

Miranda's NYC trip Day 10 & 11- Birthday, Global Citizen Festival & Broadway

Miranda had planned her trip to NYC specifically to celebrate her birthday, as she did when she came to Peru.  It happened to to fall on the Saturday of the Global Citizen Festival so we had a majorly packed day.  We started the day with some birthday cheesecake and a trip to Central Park before the festival started.

In long standing Central Park tourist tradition, we had to do the carriage ride through the park.  Ridiculously over priced, but pretty awesome, and it is a great way to see most of the landmarks.

As we were finishing up our ride, eagle eye Miranda looks across the street toward NY Sports Club, a ritzy gym outside the park.  She said "man, that guy looks like Mr. Big."  I didn't have my glasses so I couldn't really tell, so as soon as we got out of the carriage we had to go across the street for a closer  look.  Sure enough it was Chris Noth aka Mr. Big from Sex and the City and The Goodwife.  It was probably the BEST person we could have seen on this trip since we did the SATC and both of us are in love with the show (and him).  We just creeped on him for a bit, but didn't want to bother him as he was on the phone.  We should have.

We went to Tavern on the Green in Central Park for lunch, which was amazing, before heading over to the line for The Global Citizen Festival.  The festival, held yearly is a huge concert, with over 60, 000 people in Central Park to raise awareness for things such as poverty, education and health conditions in 3rd world an developing countries.  To get tickets we actually had to do online missions in order to get points to have a chance to enter to be in the draw for tickets.  Miranda and I both tried and tried, and finally I got drawn for tickets a month before and she got drawn a couple weeks before.  We were in line for like 3 hours before we even got in, which honestly soured our moods a little bit.  But, how could we be too grumpy with the realization that in a few hours we would be seeing, FUN, Tiesto, the Roots, Alicia Keys, Carrie Underwood, No Doubt, Sting, and Jay-Z?  Not to mention a ton of celebrities (Jessica Alba and Hugh Jackman to name a few) and a ton of Prime Ministers, Presidents and dignitaries from around the world.  Oh and some Sesame Street characters as well.  We actually got pretty much the front spot of our quadrant, which still seemed far away, but in reality was over half way to the front.

I actually ended up getting in a heated argument with a tall guy that decided to get there at the last minute and then barge up in front of us.  He put me in a bad mood for the entire show, but he was a huge loser and the girl he was with had no interest in him so that made me feel better.  

Alicia Keys:

Central Park from above (photo courtesy Global Citizen):

Carrie Underwood:

(photo courtesy Global Citizen)

No Doubt reunion (photo courtesy Global Citizen):

No Doubt with Sting (photo courtesy Global Citizen):

Narendra Modi, Prime minister of India with Elmo and Ray a from Sesame Street (photo courtesy Global Citizen)

Beyonce also made a surprise appearance with Jay-Z.  Amazing!

(photo courtesy Global Citizen)

(photo courtesy Global Citizen)

The shows were amazing and I know I will never be able to see anything like this again.  Even though it was 10 hours of standing with no bathroom and no water it was a fantastic experience.

Sunday, we were moving a little slow from our very long day before, but the three of us made our way into the city around noon to catch the start of the Bears game at one of my favorite bars in the City Stout.  Just before half time, Miranda and I had to leave to go to Aladdin on Broadway.  We were super pumped for the show but I don't think either of us were anticipating how breathtaking the show would be.

I know I have already blogged about the show, but WOW is still all I have to say.  SEE THIS SHOW if you have the chance.  I cried and I'm not a crier.  There was magic and the characters were honestly exactly like in the movie, minus a few changes they had to make (no Abu the monkey, Raja the Tiger and Iago the parrot was actually a small annoying man, but he played the part perfectly).  

We had another great weekend!  Only one more chapter in Miranda's trip adventures to go!  See you all soon!