Friday, July 31, 2009

Expat Wife does NYC - Day 2

Day 2 was a day of pampering and luxury. We started things out at one of my favorite place, Le Pain Qouqidan (or something like that). Good thing Summer loves it too! Then we met up with all the bridesmaids and mothers for pampering mani/pedis at Dashing Divas. Side note on that, my nail polish has never lasted longer - I don't know what they put in it to make it last so long!



Here Jami and the two Katies relax during their divalicious pedicures!!! Highly recommended!

While drying, Dinah came in and had just been to a place where she got her eyebrows threaded. Always one to try something new (just reference the cannibal fish blog). . . we scooted on over to try this wonderful alternative to waxing. Again, highly recommended!
Now that the pampering and beauty regimen was complete, Summer and I could focus our energies on other, just as important matters - no we weren't hungry yet. BUT we were invited to a swanky to-do for an upper eastsider's birthday (neither of us actually knew him, but were invited my an acquaintance) but had nothing to wear!!!! So, shopping was on the docket.
We found appropriate outfits and ran back up to 161st street to grab our belongings, makeup, and pj's. Summer's teaching friend, Rachel, was the one who had invited us to this shindig and she was picking us up (in her car that she has in the city!!!) to go get ready at her apartment (which happens to be in the same building as Ed Westwick from GOSSIP GIRL!!!!!!!!!!) Sorry, I'm a huge fan!




We were looking hot and headed out for dinner (at 10ish) at Bar Pitti. Now for those of you who aren't in the know, like I was before I went to Bar Pitti, it is a place to see and be seen. Beyonce, Jay Z, Seal, etc all eat here. There are no reservations, not even a list to put your name down on. You stand out front and the owner comes out and scans the crowd, then he decides who comes in to eat and when. We were looking good so we got in in about 10 minutes. I'd like to thank my new bra from Linda's for helping with that situation - the girls looked great!

As we are walking in, we notice this scarily thin blond woman walking away from us. We all comment on how she should order the fattiest thing on the menu. Ha ha ha . . . When we get seated, we are near her table. Summer looks over and says "Isn't that Ann Coulter?". Now, I don't care your stance on politics, my mother taught me it isn't nice to discuss them, and still won't tell me who she votes for to this day. But, you have to admit, for a girl from Texas, seeing anyone recognizable, even Ann Coulter, is a huge deal!!!!




DISCLAIMER: Sorry there are no pictures of any of the celebrity sitings as Rachel was a little embarrassed when Summer and I whipped out our phones to text everyone we knew - I can only imagine if I whipped out my camera.




So, then a gorgeous blond girl walks in carrying a little dog. No, it wasn't Paris Hilton, it was the model Agnes Deyn.
If you don't know who she is here is a little info:
I'm sure there were plenty of other celebs there, but they were going incognito and I didn't recognize them. Despite it being a hot spot, Bar Pitti actually had wonderful food (you know how I love to eat!). The mozzerella ball ap is fabulous! If this had completed my day of pampering and luxury, I could have died a happy woman . . . but no, it continues!!!!
So off we tromp thru the West Village to the Birthday Party at Casa La Femme on Charles Street. This place was amazing. First off, it has real grass as it's floor!!! Yep, and the bartender told me that they replace it every week (not very "green" but definitely chic).
It was too dark to get any good pics of the decor so here is the website :

Pretty swanky! I have this bad habit that I picked up while working at Design Associates, we take pictures of things that strike us as interesting, no matter where we are to show the other designers as inspiration. This is the light fixture in one of the bathrooms - love it!!!

So, after I picked my jaw up off the floor, I met the birthday boy, David, who gave me a VIP card. This little card gave me more power than I should be in control of, an open bar on his tab!!! So, it would be rude not to partake - so we partook!

I met all of his friends and soon realized that I was in the real-life Gossip Girl. I met a guy named Charlie, who is Chuck Bass (sorry if you don't watch the show, you will be lost for the next little while). There was a Georgina there too. I caught her in the bathroom speaking with a horrible fake British accent to someone on the phone and then 10 minutes later she was chatting to me in a nasal new york snob, no hint of British!
It was so surreal that I didn't even really realize what I was witnessing until the next day. My one night of membership in that oh so sought after society was truly amazing. And not entirely without true character, not just characters.

Meet my new best friends, Eric and Christine. Summer and I chatted with them for a long time and found them funny, charming, and interesting.



Sadly, that part of the evening had to end, but that doesn't mean I'm still not making friends! While casing the lobby of Rachel's building hoping to catch Ed on his way back in (yes I am shameless), I made friends with Jerry the doorman.

Love ya Jerry!!!!


Stay tuned for Day 3 - it just gets better and better!

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Expat Wife does NYC - Day 1



One of my sorority sisters from college, Jami Stig, had the most amazing wedding in New York City last weekend. The ceremony, the reception, it was all "Jami and Joe", but the best part was getting the chance to see all my friends and hangout in NYC.

I flew in on Wednesday and went straight to Summer's apartment in Washington Heights. Summer is my former boss' daughter, a kindergarten teacher, and an amazing opera singer. If you need an opera singer for anything, let me know and I will get you two in touch. We chatted, ate, and drank wine - just catching up.

This was a wonderful start, relaxing. Because the rest of the weekend was non-stop!
First stop in NYC . . . Bra shopping with Linda the Bra Lady.
Dinah, Summer, and I all got some great new bras thanks to Linda's Ladies. If you are ever in New York you have to go there, it's on Lexington. It is so true that most women are wearing the wrong size, and these experts will have your girls looking good!

Bra shopping makes a girl hungry. So, Dinah took us to one of her and Jami's favorite places for Aerapas. If you don't know what these are, you're not alone. They are corn cakes filled with all sorts of goodies. This one is chicken, avocado, and Chimichiri (I totally spelled that wrong). It's in the East Village and so close to a great cupcake shop!


Butter Lane has the tastiest cupcakes I have ever eaten. I highly recommend the Chocolate with Peanut Butter icing and the Espresso Cupcake.

Just when you thought all we were gonna do is eat our way thru the city - we decided to mix it up a bit and go shopping. We hit Fab 208, an absolutely mah-velous re-purposed vintage store that Dinah turned me onto. The owners are inked and fabulous! On official Maid of Honor duties we accompanied Dinah in picking up the veil from the veil maker (yes her entire store was veils and headpieces!!!). We tried them all on and had a grand ole time. Next stop, Cloak and Dagger where we met the designer and chatted fashion thru a rainstorm.

Once the rain subsided we headed up to the hotel to drop off Jami's veil and Summer went home to rest and relax. Dinah and I then ventured on to torture small dogs.Meet Darcy.
This picture says it all. My apologies to Linda, Darcy's mom. In our defense, she did seem very interested in that strapless bra!

Well it had been almost an hour since we ate . . .

So on to Lombardi's for
THE BEST PIZZA EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have to admit something embarrassing, I watch Gossip Girl. Not only do I watch it, I love it! So on the show the are always going to this place called Pinkberry. It just so happens there is one near Lombardi's so of course we had to eat again.

Mmmmmmm FroYo!

We hopped into a taxi and hot-footed it to Jersey Boys where we met up with Jami, aka Mrs. Andosca, and some of the wedding party, family, and friends. Living overseas I am constantly reminded of what a small world it really is. To prove me right once again, my friend from waaaaayyy back, Heather Ferguson, happens to be in Jersey Boys!!! Heather reminded me of her first role in a play. It was as a squirrel in Snow White. Her oldest sister Jenna played the lead role and I was the evil queen Brangomare (yeah, I bet none of you knew what her real name was!). I think I was 14 or 15 when we did that show and Heather is one year younger. I guess I really can say, "I knew her when . . . "


If you haven't seen or heard of Jersey Boys, I'm sorry. It was a spectacular evening. The show is the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Season, complete with all the hits that you know and love. I told my father, this is one Broadway show he could even stay awake through (if you know him, you know that means a lot).

Hanging out at the stage door with Heather was only made more exciting by the first real-life street fight I have ever seen that happened mere feet from us. It was so enjoyable to watch, mostly because they were drunk imbeciles, but also because even after the cops came and the "Perps" ran for it, they circled around the block for more. After an hour or so of that repetition, I finally grabbed a cab back to "The Heights" to rest and prepare for another day in New York!

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Homecoming!!!!

I stepped off the airplane and ran straight to Mi Tierra's for some Margaritas and Mexican food!!

Monday, July 6, 2009

Lily Lady Day Spring Spa

Could we BE any more relaxed????
Early Bird Specials were our favorite. Now that both Donna and Angela are back in the states, somehow I will have to muddle through without them. How will I manage?

Mahjong

In a little town in China, cut-throat competition is a way of life.

People spend hours practicing each day - with only one goal, to be the best!

That little town is TEDA



And that competition. . . is MAHJONG!
(Or for those Canadians out there Mahrjong)



Cannibal Fish

While the boys were off playing golf, we ladies decided to try something a little different. These fish eat the dead skin off of your body. It feels like a million little suction cups tickling your feet, knees, hands, wherever you have dry skin (and believe me, you have dry skin everywhere !!!)


This is another one of the hot springs at the "spa" we went to. We don't know why it's green, we hope it is aloe or green tea, so we'll just pretend that's what it is.