ollie's adventures in NY

i returned from my [much needed] vacation to Manhattan a few weeks ago.  how was it, you ask?  it was the experience of a lifetime.  one of my friends from high school goes to NYC and she stays in New York during the summer to take a few credits and intern.  i was lucky enough to visit her and experience NYC like a real new yorker [minus having my iphone in my hands at all times to use google maps].  here's my travel log for your entertainment.


day 1 - june 25 [monday]
my flight was originally supposed to have left a 1:45 pm by of course something went wrong.  the window seal next to the pilot was having issues so they had to make sure the cabin was pressurized properly.  it ended up not being safe so a whole new plane from NY was coming for us.  at this time, i was supposed to land in NY at 2 am - and since i was staying with a friend, i didn't think showing up at her apartment at 3 am would be a great way to start my vacation.  long story short, i ended up being able to get on a 9 pm red eye that got to NY at 6 am.
day 2 - june 26 [tuesday]
my dear friend, christina, had to go to work from 9-9. so what was a tired tourist in NY supposed to do?  take a nap, of course.  then i walked around her area.  she lives in east village and there are some pretty cool shops around there.  after indulging in an incredible vegan lunch accompanied by some amazing vegan ice cream, i made my way back to her apartment for nap #2.  hey, it's my vacation and i'll do what i want.  christina got off work at 9 and we went to S'Mac for dinner - a cool macaroni and cheese place that makes bunches of varieties of mac and cheese.  they even had GF/DF macaroni and cheese, which was perfect for me.  we walked around the city and she showed me where she goes to school and works.  we ran into some incredibly crazy people- including, but not limited to, a drunk girl with crazy hair who wanted to initiate a fight because we wouldn't help her, a guy [probably on drugs[ who was pretending to be a velociraptor and got way too up in christina's business, and a plethora of homeless people.  we went back to the apartment and watched Chopped.  epic day.
day 3 - june 27 [wednesday]
got up at 11. met christina at her school [she had to take a final].  we walked from east village to chelsea marketplace and then along the hudson river and somehow ended up in chinatown. it was just a really fun and casual day.  in chelsea marketplace we found a pop shop art festival and bought some cute things.  we had another great lunch [christina said new yorkers don't kid around about food] and relaxed in her apartment for a few hours before dinner.  it was super hot and humid, so the heat took a lot out of us!  we dressed up really cute and went out for dinner at this posh place called beauty and essex.  her friends, grace and gabriel, joined us and i LOVE them.  

day 4 - june 28 [thursday]

slept til 11. again. it was super hot. again. duh. when i got to NY on tuesday christina had a little itinerary waiting for me with cool neighborhoods to walk around, cute shops, good food, safety tips, etc., so today i walked around the east village and went to some of those cute little boutiques.  one shop was half trinkets and clothes and i wanted to buy EVERYTHING.  for those of you who know my love for [useless] trinkets, you probably understand.  you might even share the same love for them. because who does't want a mini plunger to hold up your iphone? or a deck of cards in a cassette case?  anyways, NY is gorgeous. i kept taking pictures of the landscape and buildings and christina was like "don't you want to be in the pictures?" and i jokingly said that i'd draw myself in if i ever felt the urge.  christina interned today so i met her at her work and we got dinner at this amazing mexican food place and then went to this comedy club to watch some stand up.  for those of you who know my love for 30 rock, judah friedlander [who plays frank] concluded the show.  i was so excited- it was a little ridiculous.  at the end of the show i got a picture with him [he said he liked my old school disposable camera] and then we walked over to another comedy club called UCB, which is the comedy club established by amy poheler.  jim parsons from the big bang theory was there with some actor from mad men who's name i forgot.  so it was a fun night of comedy.
day 5 - june 29 [friday] 
woke up and got dressed.  went exploring around the east village.  the good thing about NY is that it's like impossible to get bored - there's always something to do.  i walked along broadway and went shopping.  i got a cute dress and some shirts.  more boutique shopping and exploring.  picked up christina and went to dinner.  those of you who know me know that i am a foodie.  i appreciate food as much as the ex fat girl.  i am not joking when i saw that this meal was in the top 5 best meals i've ever ate.  oh my gosh.  i got this flank steak with balsamic sauce and these perfectly crunch fingerling potatoes with some sautéed spinach [with pine nuts, raisins, garbanzo beans, in a vinegar-y sauce] and christina and i shared this saffron tomato rice that i'm still drooling over.  it's called Boqueria and if you are ever in manhattan i command you to go to that restaurant. after dinner we went to watch some 30 rock cast members and writers do improv.  it was hysterical!!! it was only 45 minutes long, so that was kind of a bummer.  i wish it was a little bit longer.
day 6 - june 30 [saturday] 
today we explored brooklyn.  there's this little food market called schmorgesburg [i apologize if i completely butchered the spelling] with a bunch of different vendors who sell everything from beer cookies to loaded has browns to asian cuisine to bbq.  epic.  i got these has browns with scrambled eggs and pork. #winning. we saw Oprah's bff gail at the market too.  we sat in a little park overlooking the brooklyn bridge and enjoyed the shade.  then we shopped in some cute little stores. i got this dress and christina got an old school night gown - the one with lace and it's all frilly.  when we got back to the apartment she put it on and kept twirling around and saying "i'm a cupcake. i'm a lemon drop."  haha after a subway ride back to her apartment and 2 downton abbey episodes later, we went to dinner at this amazing raw/vegan place.  then we walked to the flat iron building and took pictures.  amazing end to an amazing vacation with an amazing friend.


disclaimers:
[1] i apologize if i misspelled anything. my fingers are tired.


and that's my vacation.  definitely a wonderful adventure.


xoxo ollie the new yorker

happy mothers day to my sueeeee

happy mothers day to my ollie. 
my chauffeur for 16 years. 
my personal chef. 
my shoulder to cry on. 
my snuggle buddy. 
my shopping partner. 
the second, and only, member of my book club. 
my nurse when i'm sick and afflicted. 
my appointment schedular. 
my homework helper. 
my birthday perfectionist.
my crafting specialist.
my paper proofreader.
my professional packer.
my laundry do-er.
my hair brusher.
my bank account.
my fashion savvy, technologically retarded, perfect mom.
my biggest cheerleader.
my best friend.

i love you the millionest.


xx ollie

ruby's tics

preface: my squeaking tic is back.  


let it be known that i babysit for the cutest kids in the world -- leo, ruby, and miles.  they are absolutely precious in every single way possible.  


so today while ruby and i were coloring she started to squeak, just like i do.  it usually happened right after i would tic.  here is the conversation that occurred between myself and ruby, the 4 year old.


R: why do you go like this [she proceeds to squeak and blink her eyes, like i do]
A: well, ruby, i have something wrong with me.  i've told you that before.
*we continue to color in silence.  and then ruby squeaks*
A: ruby, why are you squeaking?
R: you do it.
A: well do you think it's funny? or cool?
R: i think it's cool.
A: are you trying to be like me?
R: yes.
* conversation over.


[1] oh, the innocence of a four year old.
[2] who knew tics could be so cool that others want to have them?


xx squeaking ollie

jean vests and stripes

suzy got my this wonderful jean vest for easters.

casual outfit for work

 new striped shirt and $30 shoes from tj maxx

oh, what a beaut.

i think i'm in love with my jean vest.  and striped shirts.  and looking absolutely adorable.  hi ollie.

xx fashionable ollie who loves her jean vests and stripes

summer 2012 playlist

it's summer. which means it's time for a new mix CD to be played nonstop in my car while i drive aimlessly from point a to point b to point c back to point a. just incase you were wondering [which i know you were], here's what's on my summer 2012 'nonstop epicness to jam out to while having a great summer' playlist.

atlas hands by benjamin francis leftwich

autum by big scary

blackout by breathe carolina

blood by the middle east

free fallin' by john mayer

half of my heart by justin and michael

i know i know i know by tegan and sarah

imitation of life by R.E.M.

new slang by the shins

pursuit of happiness [steve aoki remix] by kid cudi

rainbow by jack johnson

the road by matt costa

saviour by lights

sky [feat. ingrid michaelson] by joshua radin

slow dancing in a burning room by justin and michael

sunshine by matt costa

verona by geographer


now, i must warn you -- these are some pretty stellar songs.  i wouldn't even be offended if you took this playlist and burned your own 'summer 2012 nonstop epicness to jam out to while having a great summer' cd.  hell, i'd be outright flattered.


happy listening & happy summer.


xoxo ollie the music lover

summer 2012

     so it's summer.  has been for 2 weeks.  school is done, stress is gone [mostly], and life is good!
     i was supposed to go to europe with my school for a humanities tour but due to medical reasons i had to withdraw.  it's okay, though, because my body comes first and i'm doing everything in my power to make it all better.  because i didn't go on the trip, i'm home a month earlier than i would have been.  what am i doing with my time?  working, of course!  i am fortunate enough to have my [perfect] job back at buena vista hospice care!  i am working in payroll and doing little bits and pieces of other work here and there.  i can't even begin to tell you how thrilled i am!  
     however, none of my friends are home.  and most of them aren't coming home, either.  my three best friends are staying up at school [1 in idaho, 1 in utah, and 1 in new york] and i'm all by my lonesome with a car, a job, and the beach 15 minutes away.  how will i survive!?
here's how [and why] i'm going to have a great summer:
[1] mom and i have decided to make a bucket list of movies that we're going to watch this summer.  the theme is "sports triumphs" and we're going to pick a few movies from every sport and watch happy movies about the underdogs overcoming hardship and persecution to ultimately win!  i'm super excited.
[2] camp. DUH.
[3] my missionaries start to come home!  first one comes home in 2 1/2 weeks!!! i am STOKED.
[4] i'm making my way through the '100 books you should read before you die' list.
[5] i have started going to fitness classes at j raw fitness.  i took a STEP class last thursday and it was the best decision i've ever made.
[6] mom and i are also going to relive some of our favorite childhood outings, like going to the natural history museum and science center.  i think we also might hit up the santa barbara zoo!
[7] vacations to new york, north carolina, and montana?  yes please!
[8] i'm going to take up sewing.  first accomplishment?  make a huge rag quilt so i can bundle myself up when i go back to the frozen tundra of rexico.
[9] family vacation.  destination TBD.
[10] read the entire book of mormon AND doctrine and covenants [cover to cover].
     sound like a spectacular summer?  i think so too.  ladies and gentlefolk, john wooden had it right when he said, "things turn out best for people who make the best of the way things turn out."  let's incorporate that beautiful motto into our everyday lives and realize that things may not work out the way that we had planned, but they will ultimately work out the way that they should.


happy summer 2012.  


xoxo ollie pop.

happy birthday to my little millie

today is my little sister's birthday.  although, she is hardly "little" anymore.  it's weird to think that mahterian daughter #3 is 17.  in honor of her birthday, i figured it would be perfect to list 17 reasons why i love my julia, aka millie.


[1] she is drop dead GORGEOUS.

[2] she is always super concerned about sanitation and cleanliness.

[3] she is incredibly stylish.  

[4] she is a soccer goddess. [she's the one with the bun on the far left]

[5] she's like eliza thornberry and can talk to animals.

[6] she wears my mom's old songleader uniform to school on game days.

[7] she can do whatever she sets her mind to.

[8] she always has the best halloween costumes.

[9] she has beautiful teeth.

[10] she's the only girl i know who still wears those old school roller skates.

[11] she can impersonate kristen wiig almost better than kristen wiig herself.

[12] she isn't afraid to let her true self show.

[13] did i mention her impeccable style?

[14] she is one of those people who can pull off the socks with sandals look

[15] she's a gleek and proud of it

[16] she can eat food more sexual than anyone i know.

[17] she has big hopes and dreams for her future career.

happy 17th, sister. i love you to the moon and back.

xoxo ollie