MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR

Our Christmas and New Year's were pleasantly sweet and simple this year. We stayed home in New York and just sipped on coffee with a few friends. Much rest and relaxation is needed this time of year when you work and live in NYC.

I've decided to enter the New Year remembering the good times of 2010 and praying that 2011 will only be better! So to say "So Long!" to last year, I've compiled a Top 10 List of 2010.

10. I lost a tooth this summer! So embarrassingly awful! I bit down on some pizza and one of my front crown caps broke off. It was terrible, but thankfully the lovely Karen (adopted NYC Aunt) helped me get it fixed within a day!

9. We made our first Thanksgiving Turkey ever! This year was our first time to host Thanksgiving at our place. We had several friends over and made a killer turkey…thanks to Matt and his cooking abilities!

8. My brother, Ryan, and his wife, Kristin, moved to Lancaster, PA! It's nice having family so close.

7. Matt made a trip to Italy for 2 weeks this summer. He loved every minute of it. We're hoping to go together sometime this year.

6. Matt's sister, Ashley, is pregnant with a baby girl named Cambelle...due in March!

5. I started a new job in the financial district in NYC this past June! I absolutely love it. Designing is what I was made to do and I'm thankful to have a job that allows me to do just that! AND....because I found a full time job, Matt was able to quit his job and focus on music!!

4. The book So Long Insecurity crept it's way into my life twice this year. I read it first along with Beth Moore's blog community. Then, after a women's retreat this fall, I read it again while helping lead a book reading group. It's an amazing book and I encourage every single woman to read it...and then read it again....and then give it to a friend to read.

3. Our dogs are finally home! They stayed in Texas with family for the first year we were here in NYC. We were finally able to bring them up a few months ago! Luciano and Nico are the joys of my heart. I am so glad that our little family is back together again.

2. While we haven't really been able to travel home to Texas much, our families have been great to come see us several times this year. Matt and I are both blessed with great parents and siblings. We've gotten to see them all at least once or twice this past year. Skype is great, but nothing beats spending time together, laughing, crying, hugging, snuggling, etc in person.

1. We are continually blessed with the wonderful people in our lives…..family, friends, neighbors, co-workers…..We wouldn't be where we are today without your love and support. Thank you for a wonderful 2010!

NEW DESIGNS COMING YOUR WAY

So much has happened since I posted last February. I'm terrible at keeping this updated. There's really so much I could share about my personal life and my design life! Since the personal stuff could just go on and on and on...I figured I would let you in on a few designs I've done over the last several months.

It has been a busy wedding season! A lot of wonderful people asked me to design wedding invtations, shower invitations, thank you notes and programs. And of course, I just can't say no. Each project is always so different and fun. I love the end result of being able to make the bride completely and utterly happy! So here are just a few I wanted to share with you. Enjoy!

WHAT I NOW KNOW ABOUT NYC

Now that we've been in New York City for almost six months (hard to believe!), I've learned so much about this great place. It's not as big and bad as it sounds. Some people view NYC as scary, like I did. Some view it as the land of opportunity. To some, a vacation and others it's home and always will be. There are a lot of stereotypes about NYC and while most of them are probably true, a few of them aren't. So here's my list of "The Things I've Learned" while living in this wonderful place.

1. Even though Manhattan is crammed with buildings, people and craziness, it is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. Seeing the Statue of Liberty up close and from a distance, the long stretch of Central Park in the middle of everything, the gorgeous cathedrals, all of the history within just a few miles, the decorations at Christmas...all of it just breath-taking.

2. New Yorkers are not "mean" people. Sure so people talk at you or down to you, but it's mostly a show. People like to portray a sense of confidence and security here. People are always nice to give directions or answer questions. And some people are just anxious to get home and will run you over in doing so. But I've been there and know that feeling. After walking, riding the subway, dealing with the masses and working all day....I am beat by the end of it! And they aren't blowing you off in passing, they're watching out for dog poop on the sidewalk ;)

3. There are too many languages here to count. Just walking down the street by my house I'll hear Italian, Greek, Chinese and Spanish. And that's just walking 10 blocks to the subway.

4. You really see all sorts of fashion on the street. People dress in all sorts of things. Lots of weirdos, but there's also lots of high fashion, normal clothes, work out clothes, lounge clothes, work clothes, walking the dog clothes, "going out tonight" clothes, site-seeing clothes. So now since I've seen it all, I'm a lot less worried about how I look. Seems kind of backwards.

5. There are so many transplants in NYC. Most of the people I've met aren't from here. They are transplants. They grew up somewhere else and moved here on a whim! The church we've been going to has a lot of native Texans, more specifically A&M graduates. Kind of weird, but it's a little like home! There are a people who have lived here all of there life though, and they're the ones with the heavy NY accents.

6. There are cowboys in NY. We have a dear friend named Ray who is known to us as the "Long Island Cowboy." Every time I see him, he's wearing boots and a hat and driving his truck. He owns a couple of horses and enjoys hunting. He is anxious to get to our family ranch in Texas. Ok really, He really might be one of the only cowboys here...everyone else I've talked to about hunting looks at me like I'm the one who killed Bambi.

7. People have asked me, "Have you lost weight from walking everywhere?"  My answer is "No" because on the way to the subway I pass 2 pizzerias and 4 bagel shops. The food is amazing here. Fresh and real. We eat all fresh veggies now....none of that canned crap.

8. Yes, I was a tourist when I first moved here, but now I just get annoyed with them. You can always point them out...they are usually wearing comfy clothes and fanny packs. And walking slow and looking up. And yes, if they look lost I try to help ;) but for the most part people are always trying to get around them. We don't go to Times Square anymore because it's just tourist...all tourists! And we didn't leave our house in December because that's the worst month of the year....leading up to #9.

9. Christmas time really is magical here. And the whole world must know it, because you can't even walk down the street it's so crowded. The festivities start Dec. 1. Every street is lined with lights and decorations. People flock to the Big Tree at Rockefeller Center. Every store and office building puts up a giant tree in their entry way. The window displays are just incredible by themselves. Grand Central has a light/music display on it's ceiling. There are a few companies that put light/music displays on the side of their buildings. Every part of the city loves to celebrate the Christmas season...even little dogs have their Christmas sweaters on.

10. God lives in NYC, too. While living here we've had experiences and encounters that have God's name written all over them. He loves this city. He loves the people in it. Last Sunday we left church singing a great song. The chorus goes like this: As we walk the city we will love...we'll speak love. Sometimes life here can be hectic and stressful, but I just think of this song and focus my thoughts on God and the people He loves. We are here by His hand, so I will love this city and love the people in it.

Like Candy Much?

A few days ago, my friend Heather and I were walking around NYC after eating pizza and a trip to Bloomingdale's. We happened to stumble upon the most wonderful place ever created by human hands. Dylan's Candy Bar! (angel's singing!) It is three floors of Heavenly goodness. If you have a sweet tooth like I do, you'd be rejoicing with the angels like me! I was really like a little kid in a candy store.

Just picture something like Willy Wonka's candy factory....all of the candy you can imagine. Walls and walls of chocolate, white chocolate, lollie pops, gummies, jelly bellies, gum balls, tubes of sugar, ice cream, anything and everything "candy" under the sun is in this store. Apparently, lots of famous people visit this store. There's a wall full of little plastic containers filled with all sorts of things. Celebrities come in and pick out their favorite treat and then sign a container! Pretty neat!

Heather and I just split a chocolate candy bar, but I guarantee you that I will be in that store at least once a week from here on out. They have little mini paint buckets that you can fill up with whatever you want. A great little Christmas gift! or just a nice treat for myself :)

If anyone is close by, check out Dylan's Candy Bar near 59th & Lexington, across the street from Bloomingdale's. If you come visit, we're totally going. No one should leave NYC without visiting this place.

Not a Tourist Anymore

My husband and I have been in New York for a little over two weeks now. Being a native Texan, it's still hard for me to believe that we actually live here. We aren't wandering around like tourists anymore! Well, for the most part.

I have really grown to love our apartment in Astoria (Queens). We live just off of the East River and have a great view of the Hellgate and Triborough bridges from our back porch. Just a couple of blocks away is Astoria Park. Every time I walk down there it is filled with tons of people just enjoying the outdoors; people running, biking, playing on the playground, walking their dogs, playing tennis. (Our dogs are still in Texas and I am aching for them to come run in the park with me!) It is so refreshing and relaxing to be out there and take it all in, especially after being in the city all day. The photos shown here are views from the park. Just breath taking, isn't it?

Probably the biggest change for me is just getting used to walking everywhere. I come from a place where we drive cars 24/7, even if our destination is just down the street. Around here it's not uncommon to get asked if you even own a car. Of course, the subway is the main source of transportation in New York. I have learned to wear comfortable shoes, even if they are ugly, and pack my high heals in my bag. My first day was ruined with blistered heals and toes!

Since I have been wearing business clothes every time I go into the city, I guess I look like I live here. I have already had so many people ask me for directions and to take their pictures! I feel like asking the same thing back sometimes! Just from getting on and off the subway I have past Time Square, the Empire State Building, the World Trade Center site, and several other famous areas that people might only get to see once in a life time. I haven't even been to these places on purpose yet!...just in passing. I love that I live here and can visit these places any time I want!

I think everyone should experience New York City at some point in their lives, even if it's just to visit. There is so much to see and experience here. I can't wait to go to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, see the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center and go ice skating in Central Park. I know winter here will be quite a shock for me, but I am ready to take it on! (And ready to buy that new winter wardrobe!) New York has been good to us so far. I am anxious to see how this adventure will play out for us in the future.

If you ever come visit, know that you have a place to stay. But don't expect your own room, a blow-up mattress will have to do! We'll be sure you get to experience NY to the fullest!