Winterfest

As part of the Social Concerns Committee at church, I helped with the Holiday Winterfest. At this event, we invited various vendors to sell their fair-trade goods. We also invted the community to consider doing some Christmas shopping from these vendors. "Fair trade" means that the product was made by someone who was paid fairly for it. Out idea was, "What would Jesus want us to buy?" or "How can we buy some gifts that help others?" So there were scarves and purses from a co-op of women in rural Mexico and ornaments from Peru and baskets from Vietnam, along with fair trade coffee, tea and chocolate. It was a fun event (read: too much work!) and we were able to pick up a few gifts for those on our list.

Oh Christmas Tree!

We put up the tree a few weeks ago and did a little bit of decorating. When I say a "little bit of decorating" I mean it. And I don't mean "... and we'll finish decorating soon!" I just don't own Christmas decor. I never seem to be stable at Christmas. Last year I was planning my wedding. The year before that I was having a breakdown and was in the process of moving in with my parents. The year before that was my best attempt but it was really my first Christmas in my own place and I was broke and busy.

So we have a tiny tree and a few random ornaments. My friend Ashley donated a few more. Maybe I'll shop the after-Christmas sales and pick up just a few more festive items.

NYC Photos

If I Make it Here . . .

. . . I'll make it ANYWHERE! It's up to you, New York . . . Neeeew Yoooork!!!

(Sorry Aunt Barbara. I know you hate that song!)

The Monroys Take Manhattan!

>

Thursday: Thanksgiving day! Well, we spent it on a plane/in airports/in a car. When we got to our hotel at 11:00 PM we wandered our neighborhood for a bit and then found a diner where we got a roast chicken dinner with mashed potatoes, broccoli and stuffing. So we had a Thanksgiving after all!

>

Friday: We had bagels for breakfast then we went to Times Square - which we didn't really like. It felt more like Vegas. Then we walked to Rockefellar Center, which was also busy (HELLO! Black Friday?) but beautiful. We went on a tour of NBC. Then we headed to the West Village and wandered around before having dinner at a cute little Italian place called Po. I LOOOVED the West Village. Later that night we got dessert with my college BFF Monica. She lives in Boston but came to NYC to hang out with us!>.

>

Saturday: We went to Chelsea with Monica and shopped at vintage stalls. Then we went to Lombardi's for pizza - supposedly they are the original pizzeria in the US. Later we saw an improv tournament at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater.

>

Sunday: Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, then we saw a bit of the financial district and got Chinese food. At night we went to Gramercy Tavern for super-late dinner that was amazing.

>

Monday: We slept in, since we had been staying up until 2:00 AM every night. It was raining but we shlepped to the Lower East Side for Katz's Deli and had yummy pastrami. After a nap (me) and homework (Aaron), we grabbed a slice of pizza and saw The Toxic Avenger musical. It was off-broadway and it was really fun! For American Idol fans out there, Dianna Degarmo played the blind librarian and was great.

Tuesday: We were going to go to the Moma . . . but it was closed! I was soooo sad. We went to the American Folk Art Museum next door which was awesome. We got Gray's Papaya for lunch and Magnolia cupcakes/banana pudding for dessert before taking a long walk through Central Park. Then, sadly, it was time to go home!

>

Overall, it was a great trip! New York did not disapoint. I can't wait to go back. Next time, I'll want to go in the spring so I can actually tolerate being outside more.

Fashionista . . . for a night

My girlfriend Mande took me to a fashion show thing in Hollywood last weekend. Yes, I sound super-cool, I know. It really wasn't anything to write home about. But it is something to write on your blog about! Mande knew someone who could "get us on the list" but as it turns out, pretty much anyone could get on the list.

"Going out" in LA is highly overated. First you spend hours stressing about what to wear, wondering if people will spot you for the nerd that you are. Then you sit in traffic and then you get lost. Then you spend hours looking for parking. You pay $15 - 20 for parking. You walk half a mile to the venue. You wait in line. Even if it is the "on the list" line, you wait awhile. This is usually when the heels start to seriously hurt. You finally get in and wait in a 15 minute line at the bar . . . to buy a $10 vodka tonic. Then you lose your friends and spend 10 minutes texting one another as a search and rescue mission.

where r u?

in potty line

wheres that? i need 2 go 2

next to vip . . . creepy guy hitting on me! help!

More waiting in line for the bathroom line. All three girls go in together which means people will proceed to pound on the door because you're taking too long. Then you either dance a bit or wait for the concert to start, or, in this case, wait 45 minutes for fashion show to start. At this point, your feet are without a doubt numb.

We ended up watching just one designer's line and half a song from Da Twin Rappers before deciding to get out of the chaos and get a burger or something.

Needless to say, it was the first time I actually saw a real, in-person fashion show, so that was cool. It wasn't fancy like on Project Runway/Rachel Zoe. We were all standing on the floor under the runway. We could the models undies! Yikes! Also, the models were a little scary.

The best part, of course, was getting to wear one of my vintage hats. I got several compliments on it. Next time, I'm just gonna put a cute hat on and stay home to watch a Netflix.

Poor Grandma

Okay, I was on the AMAZING AwkwardFamilyPhotos.com and I seriously injured myself in two places laughing so hard. Aaron didn't quite see the humor, but I had tears streaming down my face and I think I pulled a muscle in my neck, along with both sides of my jaw hurting. Whoever said laughter is the best medicine did not realize how hazardous it can be.

Note how she is actually POSING for the picture, with sort of a passive-agressive smile. Hysterical. A few captions (some are my own original thoughts, some inspired by comments on the site):

1. The really creepy part is that Grandma is dead. And boy is she pissed about the hot young new grandma.

2. One word: Agoraphobia.

3. "Dad, I don't want to hurt Mom's feelings, but I'd like a picture of just the two of us."

4. Who let Aunt Bertha out of the basement?

5. "I'm not gonna be ignored, Dan!"

6. Poor Aunt Hilda has Swine Flu and has been quarentined

7. "I never miss a photo op!"

8. "Step right up and get your picture with an old guy! Wait behind the door until your number is called."

9. The Grandma is actually just a cardboard cutout, like that guy in Three Men and a Baby that everyone said was a ghost.

10. The family prefers not to discuss Nana's house arrest. It's a delicate subject.

End of Summer Picnic

Aaron and I packed a picnic recently and headed to our favorite park. That's all.