24th BDAY

For my birthday this year, my mom flew all the way from Utah to New York to celebrate with me. She decorated my room with streamers and balloons. I was totally surprised when I got home from work. 

My work bought me a whole box of Billy's cupcakes and gave me a cute card filled with written happy birthday wishes.

After work,  I went out to dinner with my mom and close friends. We went to one of my favorite restaurants here in the city, Delicatessen.  It has THE BEST Ruben Macarooni and Cheese!!!

Balthazar 
Soho

The first night my mom was in town we went to dinner at Balthazar, it is a french brasserie up the street from my work. The salmon we ordered was the best salmon I have ever had. 

February is the worst month to be in NYC. It snows all the time and it is freezing cold. There isn't a whole lot to do here in the winter besides going to broadways and eating lots of good food. On Saturday my mom and I went to the Broadway Kinky Boots (my third time seeing it) and afterwords we went out for Thai food at Soho Thai. I really liked the Shrimp Tom Yum soup and Pad See Ew with chicken. I love Asian food so much and New York has tons of yummy Chinese and Thai restaurants.

Le Pain Quotidian

Sunday morning my mom and I went to her favorite restaurant, Le Pain Quotidian. This restaurant is tasty and healthy.  I ordered the Kale, Onion and Gruyere Frittata to eat and the mint lemonade to drink. After brunch my mom and I went to the New York City ballet's production of Romeo and Juliet. On our way home from the ballet, we stopped by Levains Bakery on the Upper West Side for a chocolate chip cookie. In an attempt to burn off the days meals we walked twenty blocks to the nearest train station. Even in the winter, walking the streets of Manhattan is a fun past time. The city never ceases to amaze me. I always find it interesting and I continue to be fascinated by it.

Way Back When......

Every once in a while, more often than not, I go through past pictures in my iPhoto library. Taking constant pictures is a digital journal and I highly recommend capturing as many moments of life as possible. You don't realize how many things you forget! Even going through my college photo albums, I still wish I would have taken more pictures. 

My favorite photos or videos are the random ones that were spontaneously taken. Those are the moments that make me laugh the most when I think back on them. I can't believe I am already reminiscing on my "college days", it makes me feel older than I want to be. 

My best friend Julie and I will always snap chat old videos and pictures to each other. It is the funniest thing and we both get such a kick out of it. We are living far far away from each other these days. She is married and living with her hubby in Logan, Utah. Me on the other hand, well the marriage thing, I am working on...  haha but I am living in New York and creating the most wonderful memories here in the city. 

One of my favorite years in college was my Junior year. Julie, Whitney and I had such a great roommate dynamic. We were all friends and we all hung out on a constant basis. I still keep in touch with both of them. The friends I made in college have remained my best friends for life. My 5 years at Utah State were the years I made the most long lasting and closest friendships.  

Alice and Wonderland Photo Shoot

My blonde days.......

Good times at the supermarket... 

Julie & BJ

Typical day...

21st birthday (3 years ago.....time flies)

Every stage in life is wonderful. Pictures are a testament that for me at least, I always remember the good times over the bad. Keeping record of the past whether through pictures, journal writing or a blog helps me understand the present. In life we are going to go through our happiest moments and our saddest moments, but I think in the end we will appreciate them both.