stunning.

makes me even more anxious to visit beautiful walt disney world (though these photos are of disneyland paris.)

we leave in a little over 2 weeks for wdw. perhaps sometime soon, i'll be visiting that the paris park, as well. :)

xoxo,
heather

love.

love.

it makes me miss my love and dc, even more.

xoxo,
heather

if i had a holiday party to go to this year, i would love to wear an outfit like this.

Holiday Party by Heather0526 featuring a statement necklace

Elizabeth and James Washed-satin bustier dress
$395 - net-a-porter.com
Satin dress »

Burberry Prorsum Zipped leather jacket
$1,498 - net-a-porter.com
Burberry Prorsum jackets »

charm
$325 - katespade.com
Kate spade shoes »

Poppy Occasion Sequin Pouch
$198 - coach.com
Sequined handbag »

Sequin Beaded Bow Statement Necklace
$175 - nordstrom.com
Statement necklace »

Kenneth Jay Lane Swarovski crystal-embellished leaf brooch
$170 - net-a-porter.com
Leaf jewelry »

SEPHORA by OPI Sparkle Me Silver Top Coat Sparkle Me Silver
$9 - sephora.com

Xmas Christmas Background Glas-Ornament-Set, 4-tlg. ab 24,95 € im...
25 EUR - impressionen.de

bourgeois bow holiday cards
$30 - katespade.com

Tis the Season — Kate Spade Bourgeois Bow Ring | Lovely Room
thelovelyroom.com
Kate Spade rings »

Gentle Romantic Icons: Champagne Icon
iconarchive.com

the more frustrated i become with certain situations, the more i feel like God is trying to teach me something in the midst of my frustration.

sometimes, i get so mad. and, then, i feel a gentle prodding reminding me that i don't know all of what people are really dealing with in their lives. my human nature is to get mad and 'fight' back. with words that can hurt. actions that can damage. not to mention, when i do react in a negative way, it gives me more stress. i don't think i need to tell you that with everything else i am juggling, i do not need any extra stress.

there is so much i don't talk about. things that are deeply personal and frankly, things that i can't change and i can't do without God. i mess up more times than i would like to admit. i am not the person i would like to be. but, i want to get there. and, i don't want to give up.

i say all this to say, if i know there is much i don't discuss, people that i encounter daily, have so much they leave unsaid too. things that are to painful to talk about. things that are tough. things that would break your heart.

everyone has something. no one is perfect. no one's life is perfect. everyone is hiding something that if we knew, we would have compassion even for our greatest enemies. life brings pain. no one leaves this life having never experienced something that broke their heart.

the more and more i feel like i am getting a lesson in learning that people project the hurt inside of them by the way they react and act, the more i am forced to deal with situations that i have been struggling with, head on. and, in certain situations, i see how i reacted in a certain way, because of the pain i have regarding certain things. it's hard. i don't want to think about them. i don't want to talk about them. i have trouble giving them and trusting God with them. who do i think i am? do i not accept the fact that God will work it out? one way or another, it will turn out just the way God planned it anyway and He really doesn't need my help. do i not believe that when i think i can never do something, God can do it? He can give me the strength to do things i feel incapable of doing and things i believe impossible.

i know this, even when i try to take my situations into my hands and end up making a bigger mess of them, GOD KNOWS WHAT HE IS DOING. i do not. i could not fathom the wonderful things God has in store, to engulf the pain, heartache and fear that i have, to be replaced with joy and blessings i can not imagine!

xoxo,
heather

lately, i've spent lots of time dreaming that i am somewhere else.

i daydream about our next assignment, possibly europe. i daydream about sitting outside a little bistro somewhere far, far away enjoying a nice hot beverage and a pastry. i just know i absolutely belong in europe :) but these days, i care less about where we are going and more about the fact we will be together again. i miss my best friend. i miss our stupid, silly little jokes, going grocery shopping together, watching tv and sitting on our separate couches on our laptops, but still being together.

i daydream about our trip to disney. planning it keeps me busy and gives me something to look forward to, aside from the obvious, which is getting to see my husband for a short while, before we are separated for the last half of his tour. thankfully, the time is passing quick enough, though i would be okay with it passing just a little bit faster. i am trying to take every day and find the good and enjoy them anyway. i don't want any of my days to be wasted.

i daydream of the home we left in dc. though we knew it was only temporary, when i think of it, it still feels like home. i miss it so much. it was the place that was our shared home. i miss our friends. i miss being regulars that were known by the wonderful staff and owners at murphy's. i miss taking the metro downtown with jason on the weekends. i miss sunday's at chesapeake and lunch at joe and natalie's. i miss the shopping! i know, i know, surprise, surprise. the closest h&m to me now is about 4 hours away, not exactly doable in a pinch for some new accessories or a shopping spree for the current season's clothing.

i just miss things right now. i try to focus on the good, but it doesn't change the fact that i feel like i am just in a place of transition, but, then, i guess we usually are, at least in this world. always waiting on the next thing, and when we get there, there is always something else we are awaiting.

in an effort to remember that, 'the grass is always greener,' and try to focus and enjoy the here and now, i bought this..i hope that when i wear it, and when i don't, it can be my motto and reminder that life is good, it's really good. :)

xoxo,
heather

it should come as no surprise that my love for kate spade and katie evans! goes hand in hand.

after all, she has some ingenious ideas. :)

xoxo,
heather

Friday Night Lights

Last night, was my High School's Homecoming. I haven't been to a Homecoming game for several years and since I was in town, I thought why not.

I met up with two of my favorite people and we headed off to the game.

I can't say I paid attention to the game, but I sure loved my company. :)

xoxo,
Heather

BINGO!

What better way to spend a Saturday evening than playing some BINGO with friends and family?

Oh yes, trying and buying popcorn to be consumed at BINGO before hand. And, going on a mini shopping excursion to the local dollar store.

After an exciting night at BINGO, where Kristen won 118 dollars, Mom, Mel and I had a late, late dinner at Denny's.

PERFECT.

xoxo,
Heather

Kate Spade Holiday 2010

Say hello to (some of) Kate Spade's Holiday 2010 collection, via their sneak peek.

All Typed Up
Clyde

$495

How fun is this bag?! It was actually the first thing I saw and went researching it, since I had never seen this bag until yesterday, and was surprised to find out it is from the Holiday 2010 collection. :)

Funfetti
Thermos
$30

I cannot wait until the collection is released to the public, because I am buying this happy little thermos. Perfect for toting hot beverages and soups when it FINALLY gets cold here. :)

Photos and info via.

xoxo,
Heather

Human..

My new favorite song.
I love the beat.
I love the music.
More than anything, I love the message.

It is on Natalie Grant's new CD, Love Revolution.

Here are the lyrics..

Every life has a choice
To rise up to fill the void
Every heart has a mission
And we are called to be human

We gotta do better than this cuz we only got
One chance to make a difference
We gotta do better than this cuz we only got
One life that we've been given
A little love, a little kindness
A little light in this time of darkness
It'll be what makes us different
It'll be what makes us human
I'm human, you're human, we are human

We are marked with His image
And we are scarred with indifference
Maybe now we should listen
Hear the cry of God's children

We gotta do better than this cuz we only got
One chance to make a difference
We gotta do better than this cuz we only got
One life that we've been given
A little love, a little kindess
A little light in this time of darkness
It'll be what makes the difference
It'll be what makes us human
I'm human, you're human, we are
We are human
I'm human, you're human, we are
We are human

Gotta do better than this cuz I only got
One chance to make a difference
Gotta do better than this cuz I'm only
Just one

I'm human, you're human, we are
We are human
We are human

It'll be what makes the difference
It'll be what makes us human

xoxo,
Heather

A Gift of Flowers..

I got a lovely gift of flowers from my best friend today. Aren't they so happy and cheery? I love them!

xoxo,
Heather

Why couldn't this have been on the subway car we were riding in while in NYC? (Make sure to watch the video at the end of the post. :))

Oh wait, we had the pleasure of seeing a 20 something-Chinese-man who walked his plastic dinosaur up and down the pole, while making strange noises and laughing evil-ly.

Ah, makes me miss NYC even more.

xoxo,
Heather

LOVE.

Click here.
Then, go to behind the scenes for the fun little video that I adore!


I love, love, love this. :)

xoxo,
Heather

Daylight Donuts

Yum. I have craved Daylight Donuts for 3+ years. Krispy Kreme can't compete! :) Sometimes, it's good to be home for a (long) while.

xoxo,
Heather

Adventures and Events..

So, the past couple of weeks have been eventful.

We officially PCS-ed out of Andrews and no longer live in DC.

We learned what it means to try and get a hot shower in a 'green hotel.' Let's just say, you apparently don't get one.

We tried to start the car to leave DC and found out to be able to start the car, we needed a brand new battery. This, we found out the day we were driving back to Texas.

Jane, our GPS, took us the scenic route back to Texas from DC.

We finally arrived at my house in Texas. Still unpacking boxes and finding things. Fun.

I started working last week. I am loving it. Though, I do believe all the crazies came out to play and visit my work, TODAY.

AND, Jason leaves next week. I will miss him, but I am ready to get our time apart done with and get to our next base. :)

xoxo,
Heather

Good-bye, Farewell, until we meet again..

Today, we are leaving DC.

It has been an amazing 3 years.

We are sad to leave, but excited for what is to come.

Thank you friends!

We'll miss you.

Good-bye!

xoxo,
Heather

Our Farewell Evening..

Cynthia Rowley dress, Charlotte Russe pumps.

Jason and my friends from DC threw us a fabulous going-away at Murphy's. It was, as always, awesome food and music. And, tonight, wonderful friends as well.

Rocky, our favorite musician and friend at Murphy's was there with his wife as well, and even played songs that Jason and I love.

Lester, Murphy's chef, made a dessert especially for us and our guests, per our request. Irish whiskey cake. It was delicious.

And, Dave, our favorite server was able to wait on us.

And, we said our good-byes to Murphy's staff as well.

I am really going to miss that place and all the wonderful people there..

We feel so blessed to have made so many wonderful friends here and though it is so hard to say good-bye, it's a part of the life that we have chosen.

Thank you to everyone who came to wish us well and we missed all of you would couldn't make it!

xoxo,
Heather

You Scream, I Scream..

This is my new kitchen gadget! And, I cannot wait to get to Texas and use it!

Wanna know the best part? It is automatic! No ice or salt needed! Yay!

We bought it and shipped it with all my stuff to Texas this past week, so we haven't even gotten to open it up and test it out yet.

I have some great ideas for this little baby, already! I'll be sure to share them all with you when the time comes..

Until then, I'll be screaming for ICE CREAM!

xoxo,
Heather

Virginia Beach.

Ah. I wish I was back at the beach. Jason and I took a little trip to visit some of our wonderful family in Virginia Beach this weekend.

We played lots of cards, had great conversation, had entirely too much food (most of it being seafood), we visited the Outer Banks, shopped, hung out at the beach, scoped out the Boardwalk Art Festival at Virginia Beach.

I had Ben and Jerry's for the first time from one of their stores. I opted for their Coconut Seven Layer Bar, that is only available in their 'Scoop Shops.' It was fantastic. It was a coconut ice cream with coconuts and fudge flakes, walnuts, and swirls of graham crackers and butterscotch. [description via.]

Jason and I spent a day at the beach and ate at our favorite restaurant on the beach. I got their amazing open faced grilled tuna sandwich that is topped with brie (my favorite!) and pickled cucumbers. I also tried their carrot soup. It was really tasty, as well.

Connie took us to the Outer Banks. Jason and I are now planning to take a trip there sometime. However, for now, we are planning and laying out our trip to Ireland during his mid-tour. We are so excited! Jason has found a castle for us to stay in while we are there. More on that later.

While in the Outer Banks, we had breakfast at Jolly Roger's, which was insane! And, then lunch at Mulligan's. We saw the dunes, shopped, walked to the beach, and just enjoyed the area for the day, then drove back over to Virginia Beach for dinner and farewell's to everyone.

It was a wonderful weekend with wonderful people and we can't wait until we can get back again.

xoxo,
Heather

Reflections of this day..

Today was pretty eventful.

The squadron summer picnic was today and we said good-bye to some wonderful people. It definitely hit close to home for me. I was fighting back tears, knowing in a very short time, we will be saying our good-byes. The closer we get to leaving day, I get a little more sad. I know that it's a part of the life Jason and I have chosen, but it is still hard to do the things being a part of the military requires of you. I do know that for the next year, I am really going to miss being in a place where I am surrounded by our Air Force family. I am very nervous and anxious about going back to a place that hasn't been my home in a while. Though I love it, I have changed, and I am a different person than I used to be. And, I am afraid I don't 'fit,' anymore.

I have gotten so used to certain things, it is definitely going to take some getting used to not having those things. I also know, though, my moving to Texas will bring me nearer to wonderful friends and family, that will be there for me this year. And, many of those people have already been such a help and blessing.


I also have tons to look forward to this year.


Jason and I are planning a trip to Ireland during his mid-tour.

I am going to go back to work! Yay!

Quality time with friends and family.

Women of Faith conference.

And, I am really excited to move into and decorate a new house.

I am very thankful that I have a wonderful husband that is supportive and that helps me make decisions that are best for our family. Even when we are apart, we know that God knows what he is doing and we trust in that and in Him. We know He will take care of us. Please pray for each of us in the next few weeks to have the strength to say good-byes and for everything to go smoothly with our transition and move. And, pray for each of us in the next year.

Be watching your mail, as well. We sent out moving announcements with our new contact information. Let us know if you need that and for some reason, your announcement doesn't get to ya.

xoxo,
Heather

New York State of Mind..

My love affair with New York began with two of my all time favorite movies, 'Serendipity' and my favorite Christmas movie, 'Home Alone 2, Lost in New York.'

I experienced all that New York City is for the first time, two winters ago. Amid the cold, windy weather, I was mesmerized. (It was snowing and well below freezing.) Husband and I did not let the weather slow us down.

We enjoyed dim sum in Chinatown.

We had cannoli and pasta in Little Italy.

We took the elevator (almost) to the top of the Empire State Building.

We learned about rent-controlled apartments, how Brooke Astor and Jackie Kennedy saved many historic New York City buildings, including Grand Central Terminal, and about the original Macy's and Gimbels's buildings.

We stared in awe at the Rockefeller Christmas Tree and it's Swarovski star tree topper.

We loved trying to take in every single detail in the Holiday windows of the department stores.

We took the Staten Island Ferry in and out of the city each day and still were amazed by the sight of the city skyline each morning and night.

We consumed two Magnolia Bakery cupcakes, EACH, for breakfast one morning.

We toured NBC studios and sat in the SNL studio.

We watched the New Year's Eve fireworks from Staten Island, in the car, instead of in Times Square with no restrooms, seats or warmth. We liked our plan better. :) Then, we went back to our room for New York pizza, antipasto salad, and our Chinese baked goodies we brought from Chinatown.

We visited Tiffany & Co and I got a lovely souvenir from the famous jeweler.

We watched the Yankees play in 'the house that Babe built,' one September before the Yankees moved into their new stadium.'

Then, this March, we experienced our first Broadway show, on Broadway, 'The Lion King.' Words cannot express how cool that was!

We walked the Brooklyn Bridge.

Our cabbie took us into Harlem, instead of to Kate Spade. All's well that ends well, I still got a new bag, when we finally made it there.

We had cupcakes for breakfast again, this time from Crumbs.

We had frrrozen hot chocolate at Serendipity3. Ah-mazing.

And, best of all, we shared our last trip with our friend, Chris.

New York, I love you! You inspire me. You make me want to remember that everyday is a day to dress up and face the day.

New York City Map poster.
(This poster is also going to be front and center in my new living room, pulling my blacks, whites, pinks and greens together. Photos to follow, when I get settled in, of course.)

xoxo,
Heather

Sundaes and Sundays.

Friday night was the last Spouses' group get together for myself and Natalie. We had everyone over to Jason and I's house (for a little while longer, anyway), and I baked some little box cupcakes (I know, gasp! I am trying to get rid of some of this stuff, though. I haven't baked from a box in probably 2 years!) and made some almond tea to sip on. When the girls arrived, we played a little Scattergories, which made for lots of laughs and then made sundaes. It was so nice to relax and be kids for a little while! I am really going to miss this wonderful group of ladies. It took a while to get to know everyone and now that I have, I get sad thinking of leaving. I know that it is better to have met people so wonderful that you are sad to leave, instead of not. I feel blessed to have made some really sweet friends.

Jason's Mom, Donna, came in Friday, during the wee hours to spend the weekend with us.

Jason and I had a little moving sale this weekend. We planned to have a two-day sale. We advertised in the Post online and in print. We made about a hundred dollars the first day, and decided to donate what all was left. I don't like sitting around waiting, it drives me crazy (which explains so much!) I am sure, since I haven't gone through the office yet, there will be much more to go. I have been holding on to too much stuff and I don't want it moving to our next base or cluttering my small, but very cute home for the next year, either. :)

So, instead, on Sunday, we got to go to church and spend the day at IKEA, buying things for my new place. We also ate at the little cafe there. I enjoyed the Swedish meatballs. I think I will write a separate post about my buys. ;)

xoxo,
Heather

MOVING.

Today, as I took Dublin for his daily walk, I looked up to see an Air Force jet fly overhead. I am going to miss that. It is such an amazing thing to live so close to a base where Air Force One flies overhead. Or the Air Force helicopters. Or, like today, the jets.

3 years ago, we moved to DC, and I didn't want to come. I cried. I was convinced I would be miserable and it was 'too dangerous' here. In fact, I also cried the entire first week we lived here. If I could have made an almost 24 drive back home by myself, there are many times I might have done just that.

What a blessing coming here turned out to be. One day I will learn to stop being Heather and thinking and trying to rationalize and plan everything and just realize God knows exactly what he is doing.

This summer, Jason and I are PCSing from Andrews. From our first home together as a married couple. A place where we have loved and lost, made so many memories and made friends who became family. We leave here within the month and I move back to Texas for a while. Jason will be there helping me settle in and spending more time with me, before he boards a plane bound for South Korea.

I haven't yet written about any of this, because to be honest, until a couple of weeks ago, I was unsure of where I was going to be. His tour is unaccompanied. Yes, I could have gone and we could have afforded to pay out of pocket for me to do that, however, we weren't comfortable with all the what-ifs and me having to be solely dependent on him, which we both felt would put too much stress on each of us. So, we made the decision that was best for US, which was for me to go back to Texas, get a place there and prepare for our next assignment. (Crossing our fingers for Europe. We are okay with pretty much anywhere, though. I can't believe I finally actually feel that way! It's what you make it.) I wasn't sure if I would just stay here and avoid the hassle of moving and prolong the inevitable, which is saying good-bye to one family in particular that I just can't imagine not being able to see and spend time with. A family who have become our family. That is the hardest part. However, being an Air Force family requires sacrifice and doing things that you aren't particularly fond of doing, or going to a place you didn't choose.

I have lost sleep. I have tossed and turned. I have fretted. I was sure I wouldn't have a place to live. The funny thing is, even when I don't see what God's working on, it always works out. I almost settled so many times with a place without a backyard, which was my biggest hope for wherever I lived in Texas, so that Dublin would still have a place to play. I called about places I didn't really want, because I thought something would be better than nothing. Wouldn't you know, every time, something happened and it didn't come through.

I prayed that we would know we had a place before we went down to Texas this May, so we could see it in person, when we visited and enjoy the rest of our visit. We found a place with everything we wanted and called about it a DAY before we left to go down South. A DAY! I think God laughs at me and my fretting. It always ends up working out. And, usually, better than I 'planned.' I have a place. AND, I have a backyard. I have 2 bedrooms, so I can have guests. I have a lovely living room that I have already bought decor for at IKEA.

No, the situation is not ideal. And, yes, I will miss husband. But, we knew what we signed on for and we are happy to do what needs to be done. Life is what you make it, and we choose to make it work. :)

xoxo,
Heather

I promise I am still alive and I plan to continue blogging.

It might not happen this evening, as I drank maybe a teeny bit too much Sangria in celebration of Cinco de Mayo.

I plan to blog about what is going on with J and I. I will blog about our trip to NYC and all of the stuff in between.

I promise.

We'll catch up soon, friends. :)

xoxo,
Heather

Better than a Hallelujah.

God loves a lullaby
In a mothers tears in the dead of night
Better than a Hallelujah sometimes.
God loves the drunkards cry,
The soldiers plea not to let him die
Better than a Hallelujah sometimes.

We pour out our miseries
God just hears a melody
Beautiful the mess we are
The honest cries of breaking hearts
Are better than a Hallelujah.

The woman holding on for life,
The dying man giving up the fight
Are better than a Hallelujah sometimes
The tears of shame for what's been done,
The silence when the words won't come
Are better than a Hallelujah sometimes.

Better than a church bell ringing,
Better than a choir singing out, singing out.

I heard this song on the radio today and it really touched me. God loves us when we are happy, but what an amazing thought to know that He loves us when we are sad, disappointed, or angry as well.

I love that God likes the honesty of those other emotions. Sure, He loves to see us happy, but on this Earth, we will never be truly and fully happy. I love that we can be honest with God with whatever emotions we are experiencing. He understands. We live in a broken world and God hurts when we hurt. He doesn't create our pain, but He wants to hold us when we hurt. He wants to mend our brokenness. In our brokenness, He is complete. I pray for God to find me in my brokenness and find in Him that completeness.

In our other emotions besides the happy, feel good ones, we are ourselves, the version of ourselves we don't like. The one we don't like other people to see. The weak. The angry. The bitter parts of us. God loves it when we are upfront and honest about those feelings. When we give them to Him, that's when we can begin to heal.

Be honest with God about where you are. He loves it when you are.

[If you want to listen to this song, it is by Amy Grant.]

xoxo,
Heather

Hats!

How fun are these hats?! They are part of the new Eugenia Kim for Target collection.

Never heard of Eugenia?


Per Wikipedia:
Eugenia Kim is a New York accessories designer best known for her line of hats. Her hat collection began with orders for her own cloche hat made in millinery class at Parsons School of Design.

She opened her first retail store in the East Village of downtown New York. Her line of hats can be found in over 100 boutiques around the world, as well as in department stores such as Bloomingdales and Barneys New York.

Eugenia Kim won the Perry Ellis Award for Accessories Design from the Council of Fashion Designers of America after launching a shoe line in 2004.

You can get any of the hats above, along with the remainder of the collection at Target!

PS. I am the proud new owner of the black pretty with the black rhinestone strands band. :)

xoxo,

Heather

A Memorable Saturday..

Sigh.

So, let me tell you about today.

First of all, I have been dog sitting two extra dogs this week, battling a cold, and without my sweet hubby, as he is at a training.

So, today was the first real day out I was going to have after doing things around the house and taking care of dogs and myself..

I was not completely sure where I was going, but I had directions, so I felt pretty confident. (J took the GPS with him, since he needed it to get around where he is right now.) I started driving in the general direction of where I needed to go, and looking out for the road I needed to turn onto. And, I kept driving. I eventually went so far, I almost had to pay a toll, and then I KNEW I was too far gone. I wish I could tell you this was as far as I went and then I found where I needed to be. NOPE. I drove over an hour to get to a destination that should normally take about 30-45. Yup.

I had someone 'steal' a bag by using the 'buy it now' feature from me on eBay. So sad.

AND, had someone I was being sarcastic to, think I was being sweet. I think that's a first. :)

Despite all of this, and everything else this not so fabulous week brought with it, I am really happy and have so many more things to smile about. I am enjoying living here for the time we have left. I am spending time with friends who have become more like family. And, tomorrow, I am going to a church I am dearly going to miss when I leave here. And, I pray God meets me there.

AND, I am enjoying chocolate from Vosges, which I have wanted to do for over 5 years. I love Whole Foods.

I hope your Saturday was memorable, but in a good way! :)

xoxo,
Heather

What I Love Right Now..

Here are some things I am loving right now, most of which will get me through a summer partly spent in DC and partly spent in Texas.

[Image courtesy Stylehive]

Maxi dresses. They are perfect for a slightly chilly summer night. And, if you get the right cut and fabric, they are really great for camouflaging areas that you might be trying to hide, that more skimpy summer options only amplify.



[Essie]

Essie nail polish in Punchy Pink. I fell in love with this bright pink color in Kate Spade's fall and spring ads. Of course, I never shy away from BRIGHTS, especially in shades of pink.


[Nordstrom]

Fun, funky, colorful scarves to add a punch of color to any outfit. I love pairing a fun scarf with a t-shirt and jeans and adding a hat to the mix.

[Lose It app for the iPhone]

This app lets you track your daily exercise and food. You can set a weight loss goal and time limit and it will set you up with a certain number of calories you can eat each day to reach your goal. I love it. It keeps me accountable for what I am eating. Also, it shows you how many calories you are actually burning depending on what exercise you are doing.



[kate spade]
Kate Spade's Belvedere Mini McGuire bag

How perfect is this bag for the summertime? It is a fun spin on red, white and blue. I love it!

xoxo,
Heather

Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts.
Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth.
--Mark Twain

I recently stumbled upon this quote, and I think it perfectly describes how I feel about living in a place so different than where I spent most of my life. And, also how I feel about moving where the military sends us.

Growing up in a small town, it was not uncommon for people to be those things listed on the first line of this quote.

I do think that you have to see the world to learn to fully appreciate other cultures, especially. Not to say that people from my hometown don't appreciate other cultures, do not get me wrong.

I love to visit places and just people watch. Since I love fashion, I love to see what people wear in certain places and how styles vary from place to place.

I love to try to local foods that places are known for and places the locals like to go.

I love traveling and it's a good thing, because that tends to be the norm in the military. ;)

I am so blessed to have seen what I have already seen in my 24 years. Living in Washington DC, Jason and I have been able to experience so many different cultural festivals and experience things and places I could never have dreamed of. I know DC is only the beginning of the wonderful adventure we have in store as a military family and I so look forward to what is ahead.

And, soon, I will let you all in on a little news that Jason and I are waiting a little longer to share.

PS: I'm not pregnant.

xoxo,
Heather

Life is too short.

Life is too short to keep people in your life that do not have your best interests at heart. Too short for people who cannot grow up enough to understand that sometimes people need to go their separate ways for the good of all involved. Too short to keep people around who only bring you down.

In the last few years, I have changed, for the better. I am by no means perfect, but I choose not to waste the short amount of time that I am blessed to be on this Earth, being miserable.

I do not expect people to always understand or agree with the decisions I make, but I don't feel that anyone needs to understand. I make decisions that I feel are best for me and my little family. That is what matters to me.

I do not intentionally set out to hurt people with the things I do or say and if they have, I do apologize for that. I do hope if I have, you will tell me. I truly believe unless you are aware of something you are doing that is hurting other people, you cannot fix the problem.

Life is just too short to waste time being angry or upset. So, I choose not to let things other people do bring me down. There is far too much good in this life to waste it by not appreciating all the wonderful things God has given me.

Life is just too short.

NYC, Day 2

We started out our day with a bang, or rather, a dang good breakfast! We had Belgian waffles from the Wafels and Dinges truck.


[wafels and dinges truck]


[wafel]


[wafel with maple syrup and walnuts]

After breakfast, we made a little gift shop pit stop at the NBC store and a photo op in Rockefeller Plaza.


[myself in rockefeller plaza]


[rockefeller plaza]

We walked down 5th Avenue, making stops in Tiffany's, Henri Bendel and Juicy Couture.


[tiffany's]

We had lunch at a little hole in the wall on the back side of the Plaza Hotel. And I had a Brie sandwich featuring bacon. :)


[brie and bacon sandwich]

Since we were so close to the Plaza, we decided we would stop in and be mesmerized by the splendor that is the Plaza.


[the plaza's rolls royce]

Next stop? FAO Schwarz, only the best toy store, EVER! We spent a considerable amount of time just taking it all in.


[fao toy soldier]


[myself and chris with a giant puppy!]


[jason and clifford, the big red dog]

And now, for the excitement of the day. You know, with me, there is always something. Since we were already on 5th Ave, I wanted to visit the flagship Kate Spade store. We tried hailing a cab in front of FAO, but the cabbies would not (or could not) take us to Kate Spade, because of the direction we needed to go on 5th Ave. So..we walked over one street, and found a taker! We told him both the address and place. IE: 135 5th Ave, Kate Spade. So, we get in, after he nods and speaks something barely understandable, that yes, he knows where it is and he will in fact take us there. We start driving. A few blocks up, everything is still looking good. Several more, it's getting a little sketchy, and I start thinking that the general area did not look like a place that an upscale store like Kate Spade would be. A few more blocks, and it was downright scary. Then, I notice, he is taking us to where 135th CROSSES 5th Ave. AFTER we specified that we were not going to where the streets cross, but to the address. So, I lean over to Jason and tell him that is what the cabbie is doing. So, Jason tells him that he is not taking us to the right place. He drives a couple MORE blocks until he comprehends what Jason just said. He gets himself in a tizzy because we are way far away from where we wanted to be.

OH--by the way, we were in the middle of HARLEM.

So, then, to remedy the situation, he drives us up to the 6 Subway Station, and tells us we can take it back up. To which I replied, 'we are NOT getting out of this car here, you can take us right back to where you picked us up.' So, we start going in the ACTUAL direction of Kate Spade, and he finds another empty cab to take us to Kate Spade instead. All this AFTER he argues with Jason about not telling him the right place and so on, which we did. Anyway, we made it to Kate Spade and to make EVERYTHING right and our troubles worthwhile, I just had to buy myself a new purse. :)


[kate spade]


[kate spade]


[kate spade's fun pinwheels]


[kate spade's pinwheels]


[kate spade]
[my new kate spade belvedere mini mcguire, via katespade.com]

After our first, and only, might I add, cab ride in NYC, we WALKED back up toward the Empire State Building and took the subway to Chinatown. We strolled through Chinatown into Little Italy, searching for a place to have dinner. We decided on Il Palazzo. I think it was a fantastic choice! I had ravioli that were to die for! Dessert? Even better! I ordered zabaglione, which is an Italian dessert made with eggs yolks, sugar and sweet wine. We got to watch my dessert being prepared.



[zabaglione being prepared]


[zabaglione with fresh strawberries]

xoxo,
Heather