{ mi vida en fotos }

{ the perfect song }

2011-12-16T14:45:00.000-05:00

I tried to explain to BF last night how I could listen to the same song on repeat...for hours.

Sometimes I hear things or see things that make me stop and think or not think...

it's like the world has stopped and all I can hear is the perfect melody

I'm wrapped up in a moment when everything couldn't be more supreme.

beauty does that to me.

to me I imagine it feels like what it must be like to be in the center of a 20 foot wave

It's my kind of adrenaline.

I need to make a soundtrack to my life...

Sometimes I hear things and it's as if it was written just for me

at that precise moment in my life when it's the only song that could ever fit

I hope your repeat button is used frequently.

.........................................................................

are the wonders of my world, are the wonders of my world

are the wonders of this world, are the wonders of my world

{ a RI thanksgiving }

2011-11-29T15:53:00.001-05:00

my family has always lived kind of far apart

but not this year...

my sis & her hubby are just a train ride away now, in gorgeous wakefield, RI

where the trees are plentiful & you can always find the coast.

My kind of place...
Sometimes we get fancy but this year was hoodies and jeans and longs walks on the beach...

I hope your Thanksgiving was as wonderful as mine.

{ pooh said }

2011-11-07T21:50:00.001-05:00

{ let the pirates go first }

2011-10-17T16:10:00.000-04:00

I'm pretty sure I'm a real New Yorker now...

I was on my way to work this morning...the usual apartment to subway to work

and on my way out of the subway, there was a gaggle of pirates, yes

real pirates, blocking the stairs that I needed to walk up to get out.

I started to walk through them when some guy yelled at me and told me that

I needed to wait for the pirates. What??? I was rushed as I usually am in the

mornings and just wanted to get to work. 20 hot pirates and all I could think

about was getting to work??? What's wrong with me? Am I turning into the girl that doesn't

stop to smell the pirates??? I won't be doing that anytime soon, but next time, I'll let the pirates go first.

{ always... }

2011-10-12T22:01:00.001-04:00

always a good idea...always.

{ perfectly still & calm }

2011-09-02T10:46:00.001-04:00

I woke up this morning to the sun peering through the shades and

only the sounds of a few cars on the road...ahh, life outside New York City.

Sometimes I forget how still and calm the rest of the world is.

I love mornings when you wake up and realize you don't have to get out of bed

because you took the day off.

It felt somewhat like that the morning after Irene...

church was cancelled and the city was eerily quiet.

Too quiet for the city that never sleeps but sleep is a good thing

and I'm ready for a few days of new england gorgeousness.

I've got my camera & white jeans all packed and ready....

happy labor day weekend city lovers!

{ vegas on the rocks }

2011-08-08T12:23:00.002-04:00

I never thought I'd say that I miss Vegas but I miss Vegas...

the last time I was there, I was moving from the west coast and didn't know when I'd be back

so almost six years later, I saw a whole new side of Vegas that I'd never seen before...
there's something magical and normal (not my normal) about the suburbs

like anywhere, it's really about the people you're with and my people are the best

but in Vegas there are cute neighborhoods and great local restaurants

and you can have turtles named beastie in your backyard

and there is lots of space and if you feel like putting on your heels you can head down to the lights

it's like a little mini everything...more like a fabrication of everything

but there are still shows { Celine! } and restaurants and all of that stuff...

and when you really need to get away from the city lights you can take a little drive...

red rock canyon is GORGEOUS...I'm definitely not going to let another six years go by.

{ snowballs for dinner }

2011-08-03T12:28:00.000-04:00

temp and I met for a walk after work for some storytelling & exploring...

one of my favorite things to do in the city.

Christopher was where we started because it's always a good place to begin

we sat in a little park with a fountain and then made our way to a much bigger fountain

and maybe temp decided it was the night to dance in the fountain and then we walked some more

and came across this lovely little shop called Imperial Woodpecker Snowballs

and it was oh so perfect and oh so lovely and we sat and ate snowballs for dinner...so delicious!

The sky was getting dark so we decided to make our way home and outside the subway

it was downpouring and we forgot our umbrellas but sometimes it's fun to just go for it

so we ran as fast as we could...screaming through the rain and still got drenched but it was worth it.

{ so much love new york }

2011-07-28T00:29:00.000-04:00

I love new york but sometimes I wonder why I live here....but just when I'm having one of those moments when I've had it with the crowds and the smells and the stairs and the cockroaches...new york reminds me how much I love it. I get to watch movies with Marilyn Monroe in Bryant Park and take the ferry across to Staten Island to see Lady Liberty anytime I want and watch the sunset along the river, and eat the best tacos I've ever had and I get to explore new neighborhoods and go to the MOMA after work and then and go to a baseball game at a cool stadium with fireworks and shake shack and I get to be a New Yorker and go to brunch and governors island to ride bikes and relax and I get to hang out on the Brooklyn Bridge and then walk to Brooklyn and eat the most amazing ice cream sandwich ever and I get to look up and realize I'm at the base of the Brooklyn Bridge, at a hip hop festival and then Busta Rhymes shows up unexpectedly and then Kanye...yes, THAT Kanye...and I sort of feel like I'm in a dream but it's too real and feels too good to be a dream and I realize that I LIVE here. This is my LIFE and it feels oh so good. So much love New York, so much LOVE. And the thing is, the story doesn't end here...there was Williamsburg and the perfect time of day and the best street music and dinner at an outdoor garden with my favorites and then ice cream and a birthday barbeque on my roof and whiffle ball along the river and then........................

my life is so good, and yes, I'm grateful, and yes I know how lucky I am.

{ coming to america }

2011-07-07T15:12:00.003-04:00

I had everything I could have ever wished for this year on the Fourth of July...

well, except for fireworks but I don't think there's anything else that I missed.
country music and friends and the pool and fruit salad and whiffle ball and brunch and bikes and baseball and corn on the cob, a BBQ and a cute crab shack on the river and traffic and heat and flags and pancakes and ice cream and sparklers and the real deal washington DC monuments...it felt so good to be in America.

I was in Australia once for the Fourth and they had a Yankee Day celebration complete

with fried chicken, corn on the cob and apple pie...it was a lovely night but nothing feels better than
being home, seeing the stars & stripes that I love and listening to Lee Greenwood on the radio.

{ lobster rolls }

2011-05-19T09:59:00.001-04:00

For some time now, I've had this vision of eating lobster by the sea in Maine...

The funny thing is, I really don't love lobster. It all just seemed so perfect in my mind.

So northeastern, so nautical, so me...

I was supposed to be exploring Amish country this weekend but

a cheap ticket and a last minute change of plans and I was going to have my lobster.

The lobster...well, I could probably never eat lobster again and be happy

but Maine was gorgeous and rustic and serene and oh so beautiful

just as beautiful as the Maine you see in pictures

we had our cute little (freeeezing!) cottage by the sea and walked the coast

and it sort of felt like our own little freezing summer camp but the cold was worth it.

we roadtripped up to Acadia and took as many pictures as our cards could hold and

stopped off on the road every single time we saw something that needed our cameras attention

(that's the beauty of roadtripping with friends who love their cameras as much as I love mine)

we saw donkeys and cool road signs and swamps and coastline and I had the best

coconut ice cream I've ever had...and the worst buffet I think I've ever had to pay for

and when it was time to come back to our freezing cottage, Josh made us a fire

so that we were nice and cozy and we roasted marshmallows, just because.

The Amish can wait. Maine was pretty much just as perfect as I had pictured it.

{ london calling }

2011-05-13T15:54:00.006-04:00

fourty two hours in London

the most beautiful and sunny weekend that they've had in a long time
Thank you London for letting me fall in love with you!

FRIDAY morning we arrived not too early and made our way to Julie & Simon's lovely flat

where I took a nap (red eyes don't make me happy but it was a bit more entertaining as the girl

next to me was a roller derby star...for real...funny as I had just watched Whip It two nights before).

I woke up from my beauty sleep and we made our way to lunch....yummy crepes and a gorgeous
stroll through Hyde Park. Played in the Princess Diana memorial fountains with Julie's son Mason and then made our way to Covent Garden for strolling and a walk on the Thames and Trafalgar Square and the

National Gallery and dinner at Jamies Italian...yes, THAT Jamie. Phew! I was tired. SATURDAY Woke up not too early, plans for a run never happened...beauty sleep was more important, but had a lovely breakfast in Hampstead (my new favorite! place in London), followed by a gorgeous walk around the Hemp...

and cartwheels...then off to Borough Market...delicious!...got talked into buying like 10 pounds of the most delicous cinnamon dusted chocolate almonds and then made our way to the Tate...sunflower seeds...that's all I can say...unbelievable! Strolled over to St. Pauls and caught the last fifteen minutes of mass and then off to

a Chocolate festival...quick dinner then made our way over to a I'm not sure exactly what to call it performance at the Shunt...so exhausted but so happy from a perfect day of exploring...had a cup of K's new herbal tea...girl talk and then zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. SUNDAY Church of course...love loved the chapel

then back to Hyde Park for more sunshine and strolling...crossaints at the Orangery and then a valiant effort to rent the Barclays bikes but it wasn't meant to be...and that was okay because the sun was out, and we were in London! Sadly, it was time to head back across the pond but London treated us well and

I'll definitely be back. Next time, I'm going to give myself more time to breathe....

{ moma free fridays }

2011-03-28T17:31:00.003-04:00

E was in town and what better way to spend a Friday evening then walking around the MOMA for free.

It was packed but not much in NYC isn't packed. It was a perfect night of walking & talking amongst
Rothko, Still, Guston, my always favorite Pollock & counter space: modern kitchens. Thank you NYC.

{ magic }

2011-03-22T15:31:00.000-04:00

{ nyc ballet }

2011-02-23T23:55:00.003-05:00

oh. my. beautiful.

k and I went to the NYC ballet last night

glass pieces

seriously...amazing.

even our twenty dollar cheap seats in the back were perfect.

{ images found via oberon, the winger, & the ny times }

{ sunsets & beaches }

2011-02-18T23:32:00.001-05:00

i could never get sick of watching the sun set...
some of my favorite moments so far in life have been at the beach
eating sunday dinners at sunset beach in hawaii
sunset runs at hukilau or to the hb pier
and our annual sunset bbq in north carolina
nothing makes me happier and more relaxed than the beach
even a freezing winter evening at riverias in san clemente was magical...

{ love day }

2011-02-14T12:05:00.002-05:00

valentines day is my third favorite holiday

right behind Thanksgiving and Christmas

not for heart shaped chocolates and flowers and valentines lovers

but for love , i love love

there is so much love in my life and i love to celebrate it.

{ oh martha...}

2011-02-10T15:35:00.001-05:00

Is food the new fashion?

Like the classic little black dress, good food and entertaining keep evolving, but never go out of style.

Martha Stewart

I couldn't agree more Martha...

LOVED this article.

I like many things but there is nothing more fun and rewarding

than sitting around the dinner table with good friends and good food. Nothing.

I grew up in the kitchen and around the dinner table and at small soirees in my parents home

and I'm forever grateful for the skills my parents taught me.

food in my home meant laughter and fun and friends and work and celebrations

and creativity and service and deliciousness and all around happiness.

So let good food and entertaining continue...

{ photo courtesy of cupcakes & cashmere }

{ homework & train rides }

2011-02-02T16:48:00.002-05:00

winter train rides to long island are the perfect time to think...

{ sundance, barns & mad libs }

2011-02-01T21:02:00.006-05:00

the more I head to Utah for weekend trips, the more I fall in love with it...being from Colorado, I always think Colorado is better but Utah is slowly beginning to win my heart...kk and I decided we needed a weekend escape to the sundance film fest and the weekend went a little something like this...

friday: oh hey hot guy on the plane sitting next to us reading GQ, picked up at SLC airport
by the lovely lindsay, yummy thai dinner and two random friend spottings...oh utah...drove straight up to park city to walk the sundance strip...too much of a scene for me, we walked and talked and froze and got hit on by 19 year olds and a 50 year old with the scariest sausage fingers ever that I really hope I can erase from my memory...chai and girl talk and finally home at I don't even remember what time because it was way way too late for even us city girls. saturday: sleep, slept in way too late but we needed it and it was nice to sleep in for once, then up to SLC to see a sundance film, er, try to see a sundance film, then shopping and walking, SLC can thank me for the $10 I didn't mean to donate to their parking system, Olive Garden bread sticks and bottomless salad because that's what you do when chain restaurants are plentiful, more chai and then off to a party in a barn with hay and bonfires and old friends and new friends that we hope we'll be seeing more of. sunday: church twice because once sometimes isn't enough and then it was time for games and cookies because it was freezing out and it was time we stayed home for once to catch up on our beauty sleep... zzzzzzzzzz. monday: kneaders for brunch because when you're in Provo, it's the thing to do and it's the perfect place to catch up with friends you don't see enough of, then we drove up to midway because we heard about these fantastic ice castles and needed to go see the magic for ourselves, so we explored and froze and drove and then made a little stop in park city for lunch and then back to SLC to spend some time at temple square, met the cutest sister, started talking and of course we have friends in common from laie so we stayed to chat... after the temple, it was date time...I met the sweetest guy at the barn who offered to cook me dinner (a man that can cook? yes please!), and it was the perfect ending to an amazing weekend that I didn't want to end...yes I had fun on the date (seriously impressed!) until I had to speed off to the airport to take the red eye home but the flight went fast...it's always more fun traveling with a friend and we maybe did madlibs almost the whole way home...my stomach hurt from laughing too much and I was beyond exhausted but it was worth every second. UT friends, thank you for showing us a very good time...I will be back soon...and that's a promise!

{ freezing in new york }

2011-01-27T15:31:00.002-05:00

times square 1.27.11

dear anyone who cares to listen to me complain,

I'm freeeeeeezing!

new york is cold and there's way too much snow for me.

Don't get me wrong, I love the snow.

I love snowcapped mountains and sitting inside on a snowy night cozy by a fire

and snowball fights and sledding on snow and skiing on snow and shaved ice snow and

snow patrol and snow bird and snow white and snow days

but NEW YORK snow makes me grumpy

it looks pretty when you're up on the 21st floor

and you feel like you're in a snow globe

but on the streets it turns to slush, mush, shush...blah.

It's not the pretty, flakey, powdery snow of your dreams

Life is good, I really shouldn't complain

but I'm freeeezing and my skin misses the sunshine

I'm about as white as snow now

and although white is supposed to be the new tan.

I need some sunshine...just a little sun kiss.

love,

freezing in new york

photo may appear worse than it really was...

I just want all my eighty degrees and sunny west coast friends to feel sorry for me.

{ subway confessions }

2011-01-09T17:33:00.005-05:00

I don't often talk to strangers on the subway

I'm sure half the people on the train are perfectly normal

but it's NYC, there are crazies here

so I'm usually found riding with my ear phones in or a book in my hands

Friday night though I was coming back from PBR

(professional bull riders-the greatest show & the hottest guys at madison square garden)

and waiting at 96th street with my roommate for the subway

and this woman just started talking to us

first things out of her mouth were...

so, I work at a bank and we were robbed today

what?!?
she just started talking, like we were old friends
and showed us her bank badge, so we wouldn't think she was crazy
she needed a friend, just someone to talk to and I'm glad we were there for her
bank robbery though, what?
scary.
she was crying.
The good thing I told her was that the chances of this ever happening to her again are SLIM!
I hope she had someone to go home to and a good friend to call.
ahh, only in New York City.

{ the c states }

2011-01-05T12:31:00.002-05:00

c is for chocolate and cheese...two of my favorites

and colorado & california...my other homes

this holiday couldn't have been more perfect
five days in beautiful sunny colorado
and five days in beautiful (less sunny though!) california
I got to relax and eat the finest home cooking
and watch lots of movies and sit still for awhile
and talk and walk and hike and watch the clearest sunset at calafia
and see my favorites that I don't get to see enough of
there was even an all day excursion to disneyland
running into a friend from hawaii at my moms gym of all places...
what the random?!?
an east coast west coast reunion
toasting to the new year on a gorgeous yacht in newport harbor
and an unexpected reunion with my freshman year crush
life in the c states was perfect
i am lucky & blessed.

{ image courtesy of khm }

{ christmas oh ten }

2010-12-24T23:05:00.004-05:00

two thousand and ten truly was another amazing year

merry merry christmas everyone!

{ dyker lights }

2010-12-21T23:22:00.002-05:00

dyker heights, um, I mean dyker lights!

it was a last minute trip and there were too many of us but we packed

ourselves in nice and cozy into Dozier's Soob and made our way to the lights!

It was freezing but well worth the trek because it felt like Christmas there...

{ resolutions oh ten }

2010-12-20T15:35:00.004-05:00

every year my new years resolutions go something like this

eat better, workout more, spend less, save more

blah, blah, blah...

it's a constant battle

so this year, I decided those items are getting checked off my list forever.

because they are things I should be doing on a daily basis, all year long anyways

so this year my resolutions are going to be different...

I'm putting people on my new years resolutions
I want to see you all more and not just for 5 minutes at a party or on Facebook...

we all get so busy but I'm going to try and call more and text less

(although if you have heytell, you'll be getting heytells because heytell is by far my favorite app of 2010)

I'd much rather hear your sweet voices
and it's way more fun than trying to text and walk at the same time, which I do all too frequently.
Multitasking is my thing but I don't think I'll ever master texting and walking at the same time
it's tricky...I maybe walked into something in the lobby of a hotel the other morning
while trying to master both simultaneously...haha.

{ image found via elements magazine }

{ bergdorf oh ten }

2010-12-20T00:17:00.000-05:00

bergdorf never ever fails to impress...

{ hudson skate party }

2010-12-18T13:06:00.004-05:00

I was proud of myself tonight...

i pulled the mormon card, almost literally

and got my friend into a club

even though she didn't have her id

the hudson hotel opened it's basement

to a slew of roller skaters

and we were some of them

so random, but a fun night out

and yes, we walked to 7-11 in times square for slurpees afterwards

who does that?!? apparently we do.

{ wedding stache }

2010-12-10T11:57:00.001-05:00

mustaches look good on us!

happy wedding day abby & travis!

{ twenty nine degrees }

2010-12-09T13:57:00.002-05:00

my phone says it's 29 degrees right now

but it feels like ten

it's freeeeeeeeeezing

I'm getting wimpy again

the cold was fun for awhile but I'm over it

please take me anywhere where I don't have to wear my big, puffy

down filled sleeping bag that some call a jacket

{ images courtesy of vincent laforet }

{ still looking for rad }

2010-12-08T16:13:00.003-05:00

my colleagues constantly tease me about the guys I date...

they're convinced I'm going to marry a guy named Rad from California.

mostly because for one reason or another, I don't often date guys in NYC.

It's not that I don't like NYers...

I just always find great guys in California or somewhere out west

( The left coast will always have a part of my heart I guess )

and they think that I only date guys with not so normal names...

I love the Johns and Bens and Mikes of the world

but I guess I'm still looking for Rad.

If you know him, feel free to introduce us.

{ photo courtesy of rebecca lynn church - circa 2000 }

{ all my friends are blonde... }

2010-12-05T13:11:00.003-05:00

not true but I had a funny conversation with my roommate about that on the subway
this morning. She ran into some friends of mine the day before and met another
friend of mine who she figured was my friend because she was cute & blonde.

{ a walk in cpk }

2010-12-03T16:06:00.002-05:00

sometimes I feel like I'm living in the perfect movie

an early morning meeting for a run turned into

a fall walk in central park...because it was too beautiful to run

it wasn't a day to miss the details:

fall leaves and sunshine and blue skies and music on the mall

and being so happy we did cartwheels in the leaves

just like we did when we were kids

we can run any day...today was a day for walking

{ gobble gobble! }

2010-11-29T13:01:00.004-05:00

THANKSGIVING is my favorite holiday...

there is nothing better than sitting around a dinner table in the perfect setting
with people you love and amazing food

throw a beach in there and I'm in heaven, seriously...this THANKSGIVING was perfect.

macy's parade

thanks to some friends who got up at 5am, I got to show up right before the parade for front row seats!
and always my favorite, nautical mickey!

indian feather place settings

my favorite new THANKSGIVING tradition

all the fixings

H even baked homemade bread for her stuffing, who does that???
and A's cranberry sauce was the best EVER

hosting with my NYC besties

love you H & A...Martha, we're your new competition!

fancy indian names & edible turkeys

we gave everyone a special indian name for the evening that we had to address each other by

the guys were chiefs and the ladies, princesses obviously

chief balding eagle was present, and chief loose arrow, and chief clowning face,
and doctor quinn medicine whoa-man and princess singing turkey hawk and princess she plays
all the time and princess salmon swimming up a rippling stream, and princess tiger lily,
and princess dancing snowgoose, and princess white rice, and princess butterfly sitting on a flower.

all the beautiful people were there
but sadly, we forgot to take a group photo, I was too busy eating...
so was chief doctor quinn medicine whoa-man
who devoured an entire edible turkey in one bite...impressive!

food comas

enough said but it was well worth it

gratitude
I'm so very lucky & I'm so very thankful
I have the best friends in the world
more than a roof over my head
and I live in one of the greatest cities on this planet.
words cannot express how grateful I am for my life
and all the beautiful people that I'm proud to call family.

{ pie revival }

2010-11-18T17:29:00.002-05:00

Yesterday, A told me a dream she had about our Thanksgiving dinner

she dreamed that H made the entire meal by herself and that she was so exhausted

that she fell over and died!
but not to worry, we were able to revive her by feeding her pie.
This will not be a true story, but it is a true dream.

Is there anything pie can't do?

Well, it won't make you skinny but it can pretty much do everything else.

I'm so excited for Thanksgiving this year and yes, I'm in charge of the pie.

{ image courtesy of recipecurio }

{ aloha andy }

2010-11-15T16:53:00.006-05:00

I miss saying aloha on a daily basis.

Thoughts of Hawaii have been on my mind a lot lately after hearing about the death of Andy Irons

I've been recalling many days spent on the beach watching him at Pipe.

I didn't know Andy personally but have always been in awe of the awesomeness of the surf
and his surfing prowess.
I never was great at surfing, but I'm obsessed with watching.
Taking pictures of the waves is actually what got me back into photography again.

Walking down the crowded, billboard invested streets of Times Square every day,
Hawaii seems like a dream, but it's not.
Once upon a time, the first thing I saw each and every morning was the ocean
and I got to breathe in the sweet plumeria air.

Hawaii is too much a part of who I am to ever forget.

the spirit of aloha is real

and those of you who know what I'm talking about, know how very real it is.
It sounds cheesy, but it's not cheesy at all.

as I watched flowers showering down on thousands in the water who came
to pay their respects for Andy,
I was pulled back to my aloha days and the spirit I felt there.

I have a hard time relaxing but take me to the beach and I could sit for hours, just staring at the waves.
As I watched everyone pounding the water in memory of Andy, I was overwhelmed

overwhelmed by the death of such a great athlete not much older than me
and overwhelmed with the spirit of the islands
and the great community there that I used to be a part of.
life was so much simpler there
we never watched tv and the tallest buildings around were not more than 2 stories
life revolved around the ocean and enjoying the islands to the fullest
and that we did.
we spent time talking instead of trying to find the next big thing
and more time listening...to each other and to the waves crash against the shore
and late at night when the lights went out and the moon was full,
we were out enjoying the warm hawaiian waters.
The moment I'm around anyone from Hawaii, it's all we can talk about
and I know it will always be that way.
Once Hawaii gets to you, you'll never be able to really let it go.
aloha a hui hou

{ photos courtesy of Jack English & Transworld Surf, & this video of the memorial }

{ apples }

2010-11-12T14:56:00.003-05:00

{ thanks a! }

{ urban body }

2010-11-09T11:24:00.004-05:00

living in a big city means living in small spaces, well, unless you've got millions to spare

so we make due with what we have

it's a new goal of ours to workout every morning and what better voice
to wake up to than P90x's very own Tony Horton.

Our first attempt was made in the living room, until our angry neighbors started banging on the ceiling

Seriously? I've lived here for almost 3+ years now and with all the parties and late

nights and friends and midnight dance fests, we've never had one complaint.
Until, we try to workout in the morning...argh! I guess our dear neighbor is out of a coma now.

So, day two, we took it to the roof...literally.

{ the perfect urban body workout }

It was really, until another angry neighbor let us know that we had woken him up.

Woops! Sorry neighbor!

Tomorrow we'll just have to take it to the VIP roof,
the one above my bedroom that we have to climb up a ladder to get to.

Sometimes you have to do what you have to do with the space that you have

and I'm okay with that, because it makes for a good story
and working out amongst the buildings of the NYC skyline is a cool way to start our day.

{ halloweeeen! }

2010-11-05T14:00:00.003-04:00

I LOVE holidays but Halloween night has never been a favorite

mostly because I am never in love with my costume

I'm creative and am always coming up with ideas for everyone else

but unfortunately I'm the queen of procrastination and leave mine until the last minute

thus, the reason I'm never that thrilled with my Halloween night attire.

I'm always just throwing something together at the last minute,

which for my everyday life is perfectly acceptable, but Halloween,

is time for face paint and wigs and spandex and vintage tennis racquets.

I really wanted to buy these vintage his and hers tennis racquets on etsy, so I did

and we planned our costumes around them...nothing too fancy but I was in costume

and I was comfortable for a night of party hopping and dancing and Halloween cheer

and an impromptu tennis match up on 110th at two in the morning. HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

{ SF 13.2 }

2010-11-05T13:59:00.007-04:00

13.2 miles really isn't that far

but when you've been sick and didn't have time to train

it's a bit daunting, but I did it, for the third time.

I was anything but speedy but it was my favorite run ever.

I was so happy to be in San Francisco with friends I don't see enough of

and in true me fashion, I ran into a friend from the islands I hadn't seen in almost 10 years.

The course couldn't have been more perfect.

Thru the city streets, past the piers, roundabout in the presidio

and downhill past the cliff house...my favorite spot in the city

with views of the Golden Gate most of the way.

There will definitely be a next year, because I've got a time to improve

and anything that gets me back to San Francisco is a very good thing.

THANKS to all my favorite San Franciscans for the perfect weekend away.

I'll be back soon, I promise.

{ apples on the hudson }

2010-10-31T23:11:00.001-04:00

we arrived at grand central station after church on sunday

and hopped on a train headed to croton falls

to pick apples at outhouse orchards...

the ride up the hudson was filled with girl talk and naps

and beautiful fall leaves

it was the perfect halloween afternoon.

{ nyc vows }

2010-10-22T19:34:00.001-04:00

new york city friends,

I'm back

I know I've been gone for awhile

and life has been crazy but I've vowed to stay put

and slow life down, at least until Christmas.

So, let's play...I've missed you!

{ saturdays warrior }

2010-10-14T23:56:00.001-04:00

saturdays warrior - simmons style

From the genius of ryan simmons at a upstairs theatre on the upper west side

there was magic on stage and it involved flying babies and flashlights & lots of

white and battery powered candles and aliens and swords and who can

forget the monkey and the infamous rustin reidhead. My stomach hurt from laughing

and I was beyond entertained -- twas a very very good night. Maybe one of these

days I'll give in and see the movie version but we all know it couldn't top this...

and it was for a good cause...win - win. I like it.

{ get well flowers }

2010-10-14T00:50:00.001-04:00

I've been bedridden for days with an awful flu that I wouldn't wish on anyone!

don't feel too sorry for me though...

tim riggins and friday night lights kept me entertained for days

and I got flowers and soup and cute cards and text messages and...

it was just the flu...I wasn't even close to dying even though I thought I was

but I was so well taken care of...my mom would be happy

how did a girl get so lucky?

LOVEyouALL!

{ sixty four cents }

2010-10-11T23:17:00.024-04:00

5 years ago I moved to NEW YORK, with sixty four cents in my pocket...

My California favorites gave it to me when I packed up and moved to the big city.

I really did put it in my pocket because who gets to say they moved here with sixty four cents...I do.

It's amazing to think how much has happened in the last five years...I'm in awe.

In awe of my life and all that I have and the people that have come my way.

I miss California daily but had I never made the jump to this coast,

I wouldn't have all that I have now and I'm forever grateful for those who pushed me out here.

Who knows how much longer I'll be here but NEW YORK and I have had a good time

thanks to all my NEW YORK favorites who have made that happen...I LOVE you!

{ big texas }

2010-10-06T23:02:00.002-04:00

a weekend in dallas texas: my first visit

Our flight was delayed but it was okay because I had my camera
and we filmed commercials in the airport, just because. The camera
loves Andrea. Southern charm is no joke and stepping off the plane
the charm was there from the moment we landed until we, almost tearfully,
got to the airport to begin our trek back home. Friday was a perfect
day off. We started things right with lunch, then a visit to the famed
Northpark Mall. Texans know how to shop. Wow. I was impressed.
The mallgoers were decked out in their finest red and orange tees
ready for the Texas-OU game that evening at the Texas State Fair
which of course we attended because Texas is not Texas without a little fried
Oreos? Pizza? PB&J? Coke? Pepperoni Pizza? Butter?
Fried butter? Really? What the...???
Still feeling the prior nights fried fiesta, Saturday was spent in down dog at yoga
then in the steam room and pool where the Texas sunshine couldn't have been more perfect.
Texas is a winner. I'll be back but no more fried Frito pies for me.

{ banana peel }

2010-09-23T13:00:00.002-04:00

I just realized where the huge bruise on my leg came from...

On Sunday, they provided lunch for us after sacrament...

so I'm standing there, talking my life away as usual, trying to eat my salad

and all of a sudden I feel this massive force come towards me from behind

salad goes everywhere...I laugh...and brush it off gracefully...

( luckily I held my own and remained standing )

I then tried to piece together what in the world just happened

it goes something like this:

guy is walking, guy slips on banana peel, guy runs into me

guy gets embarrassed and runs away.

whoever you are mister banana peel slipper,

it's okay...it provided great afternoon entertainment

and my bruise will go away...soon hopefully!

{ subway surfing }

2010-09-22T15:20:00.002-04:00

I was never much of a surfer...even back in my hawaii days...

I always called myself a paddler...I'd go out with everyone and just sit
on my board, letting everyone else take the waves. I'm obsessed with surfing

but I'm much happier watching from my board or even better, on the beach

with my camera in hand, snapping away. In NYC though, I call myself a surfer...

a subway surfer that is. You have to when the trains get packed. It's either surf it

or get close and personal with a random stranger and in this case, I'd much rather surf.

Here's Mr. Robinson showing us how it's done...not bad for his first time.

{ the mormon bachelorette }

2010-09-07T11:55:00.027-04:00

single life can be fun...really fun.

but it can also be frustrating...really frustrating.

there are a ton of great guys out there

but sometimes the duds tend to get in the way

so two of my loveliest friends decided to

put a little twist on dating life

being single is a reality after all so why not

take a cue from reality, well tv reality

and make something happen...
The Mormon Bachelorette

follow Aubrey on her journey in finding Mr. Right...

{ love me }

2010-09-03T22:51:00.001-04:00

sometimes all you need is a little

LOVE

as pablo picasso once said:

love is the greatest refreshment in life

I would agree.

{ serious in september }

2010-09-01T14:21:00.008-04:00

if I were a newspaper my headline this month would read

june, july & august have been filled with nothing but

sunshine & friends & road trips & jet planes

& dinners & late nights & bikes & weddings

& goodbyes & hellos & all kinds of other wonderful things

but it's time to get serious...at least a bit serious.

I have a race to train for and ideas in my head

and it's time to slow things down a bit

and stop talking and start doing

so as the days get shorter and things slow down a bit around here

I'll be getting serious in september and I'm excited about it.

{ living the dream }

2010-08-28T17:53:00.002-04:00

do you ever have moments when you look around and wonder what in the world

you're doing and how you got there and want to just run away from it all?

A few weeks ago I was having one of those moments...

I felt like I was living in an episode of the office, except it wasn't funny, at all.

Don't feel sorry for me though...life is good.

I was on the phone with my sister last night and I asked her how things were going

{ living the dream }

was what she said...funny as that was my first response

just a few hours earlier when asked the very same question.

We really are so blessed and life couldn't be better in the whole scheme of things.

We really are living the dream and yes, I know how lucky I am.

{ snooki }

2010-08-23T17:54:00.004-04:00

I love the fact that I have family in jersey

it's always a good time, especially when my family is in town
we ate we drank and ate some more and when it rained
we had an all morning father of the bride movie festival
we definitely spent time on the jersey shore though under the jersey sun
and my cousin my uncle and I spent a morning
biking & running & biking some more all along the jersey shore
my uncle put it well...nothing quite fits in jersey, yet somehow it all fits
there was even a snooki sighting by the wisconsin cousins on their last day
thank you jersey for everything you are...we had a great time.
love,
fern & co.

p.s. I'm getting good at taking iphone pictures while biking...

{ pepperoni rolls }

2010-08-16T16:43:00.008-04:00

it was a seven hour drive to west virginia

but there was plenty of conversation flowing and

background music to get us safely & enjoyably there...

upon arrival there were hugs and welcomes and

a late night walk down to the dock

to watch the meteors stream across the sky

it made me miss the stars but I got my fix...

morning greeted us with perfect glassy water

on cheat lake and sweet west virginia air...

we got the boat fired up and hit the water

speaking of hitting it I got up on the wakeboard

for the very first time and loved every second...

after plenty of lake time we took a little tennis break

and the scenic route up to coopers rock

then it was back to the lake for one last evening ride...

the malones treated us like royalty

and I loved spending time with some of my favorite DCers...

driving through the lincoln tunnel on the way home

I realized I missed out on a west virginia specialty, pepperoni rolls...

next time west virginia, next time.

{ hamptons life }

2010-08-06T16:07:00.002-04:00

every friday my colleagues head to the hamptons

where city life meets the beach

people are less buttoned up

but still very well soled.

it always sounded like a great place to be
and now I get it
I could get used to this life
some of the best beaches on the east coast
and for a relatively small piece of land
there are drives that go on for miles
and great homes tucked away in the forest
with the beach just a short distance away
perfection.
our day was spent on the shore
and night the perfect birthday dinner party
not much makes me happier than the

beach, friends and good food.

thanks for the graphic calypso...always a favorite.

{ bang bang }

2010-08-05T03:22:00.002-04:00

I walked into the whittemore house tonight to get my hair done

and upon entering my two favorite always absolutely adorable

stylists both told me in unison that I should cut bangs.

so I said yes.

how could I say no to that?

I haven't had bangs since middle school when I had the whole

sky high pyramid bang thing going on.

I'm not sure how to fix them yet but change is good...

so bring on the bangs!

{ the panthers }

2010-08-03T22:12:00.002-04:00

a good friend (who's been in the city for quite awhile now)

told me I need to get a bike...because it adds such a newness to the city...

why didn't I do this before?!?

Hot summer nights are meant for cruising around with your friends,

with the wind in your hair and nothing to worry about other than

watching out for those crazy cabbies so they don't hit you. We've been asked

twice now if we're in a bike gang...why, yes we are and we call ourselves the panthers.

all are welcome...with or without a helmut,

but Adam always wears his...he believes in safety first!

{ rocky mountain high }

2010-08-02T21:07:00.002-04:00

i love colorado

i can't claim that i was born there,

but I spent 17 years of my life there, so it will always feel like home.

there is nothing like breathing in fresh mountain air

so I was excited when Fernholz & Co. decided to take our

little family reunion to estes park!

i was in heaven

family, stripes, my camera, blue skies

and a short hike to our rock in emerald lake

I couldn't be happier.

{ birthday fireworks }

2010-08-01T22:07:00.005-04:00

every time I walk through central park

I fall in love with New York all over again

this night was no exception

except this time we were on bike, not on foot

and it was magical

there were fireman, and friends & birthday fireworks

for three of my favorite people
twas the perfect summer night.

{ hot denver nights }

2010-08-01T21:57:00.004-04:00

there's nothing better than arriving home...

(the home I grew up in)

from a long flight and waiting for you in the driveway

is a fun and ridiculously good looking friend

with a motorcycle built for two

waiting to take you on an all night ride

through the town you grew up in

...it was the perfect summer night.

{ roof garden }

2010-07-27T13:01:00.001-04:00

I've never had much of a green thumb...

back in California I had visions of a lovely rooftop garden

but my plants always withered away shortly after purchase

that was until my lovely AP biology teacher roommate

brought them back to life. THANKS S!

Living in NYC, I crave green.

Green grass, green rolling hills, green vegetables, anything green.

so H and I decided we'd make a rooftop garden attempt

One quick trip to Home Depot

and we had our seeds, soil and cute gardening gloves.

We planted, and watered

and then I got busy but I watered when I could

and then I got busier and kind of forgot about our garden

but last night we decided to garden again and...

there was a garden! on our rooftop! success!

We did it! Our garden certainly could have used a little more love

but what love we did give it paid off!

mixed greens, cabbage, beans & cute little carrots.

we harvested, chopped, cooked

& had a lovely rooftop garden feast.

I'm truly amazed what a little seed, sun and some water can do.

There will definitely be a next time & you're all invited for the feast!

{ borg night finale }

2010-07-25T01:29:00.001-04:00

yes the borg wall is still up

mostly because I've been too busy to take it down

but since it's still up, I thought I'd share a few

of my favorites from borgs last night photo shoot

it was quite the affair.

{ adeline adeline }

2010-07-23T13:13:00.001-04:00

a good friend earlier this summer told me I needed to experience NYC by bike...

She was right. There is nothing better than cruising around with your favorites

with the wind in your hair & the river to your side on the perfect summer night.

The only thing missing was a helmet. So we took a trip to the most perfect

little bike shop adeline adeline because safety is first but looking cute is important too!

{ intrepid }

2010-07-21T00:01:00.004-04:00

summer is magical in new york

where else could you watch ghostbusters on the deck of the USS Intrepid

on the perfect summer night?

only in new york baby, only in new york.

{ obsession }

2010-07-20T23:02:00.002-04:00

i can't get enough of this song

if a guy sang this to me

I'd probably marry him

even if he told me he wrote it himself

i'm a little obsessed right now.
please listen...all the way through.
I think it's worth it.

{ f is for family }

2010-07-18T01:50:00.002-04:00

F is for family....

we had a little family reunion in the mountains

and my favorite part was sitting around looking at old photos

hearing stories about my grandfather and the brothers

it was everything I could want in a reunion

and as my family says, it's always happy hour somewhere...

they certainly always know how to the get party started...

my grandfather with a keg, so typical, so Fernholz.

{ martha }

2010-07-08T00:16:00.001-04:00

the one thing I love most about about NYC is the people

I have friends doing all kinds of interesting and brilliant things

this of course happens on the left coast too but more so in NYC

like friends who grace the pages of marthastewart online! hah!

nice pic brit! oh and { CONGRATULATIONS } on your engagement!

I can't wait to see Greg in this picture instead of the random sir below!

{ photo from martha stewart }

{ polo & the prince }

2010-07-02T18:12:00.002-04:00

one of the many perks of living in the big apple...

free polo matches on governors island

lovely people, lovely friends

& prince harry...yes, THAT prince harry.

it was quite the perfect day

but those lovely people & my lovely friends

were sweating like waterfalls

cause it was hot

real hot

& humid

welcome to big apple summers...

{ block r.i. }

2010-06-28T13:12:00.002-04:00

Block Island, Rhode Island

it was a not so short car trip and then ferry ride to get there

but it is all about who you're with anyways

so with some of my favorites

we made our way to block

and got plenty of sunshine

and cruised around with our gang of mopeds

visited lighthouses

enjoyed the coastline

watched Adam get attacked by seagulls

took a much needed nap on the beach

and finished the day with some lobster & fish tacos.

east coast perfection.

life is good.

{ at the carwash }

2010-06-26T02:01:00.005-04:00

the carwash is the best 5 minute relaxation break ever...

seriously, I highly recommend you try this...

{ sunroof not required but it enhances the experience }

upon entering the carwash, put your seat back in the full downright position,

turn the music up (journeys faithfully highly recommended)

grab a friend to share the experience with

then sit back, relax and enjoy the show.

It will change your life...enjoy!

{ new york moments }

2010-06-16T13:27:00.002-04:00

NEW YORK and I have an abusive relationship

and sometimes I just want out...
the subway is crowded, it always smells, it's expensive

it's loud, it's dirty, and it's just plain hard to live here

but then I have one of those NEW YORK moments

and I'm reminded how much I love it here...

some favorites from Cali were in town and we took

a little walk through Central Park before dinner
the birds were chirping, there was music in the air
and I'd begun to think I'd stepped onto the set of a dream.
oh NEW YORK...will I ever be able to leave you?

{ duck oh ten }

2010-06-09T21:24:00.007-04:00

...another magical year at duck

i might say even the best one yet

to me there is nothing better then

good friends...good food...and the beach

it's the only place where I really truly relax

and that I did...well, my style.

i'm losing my voice from laughing too much

and talking the night away...

my butt is sore from dancing too much

& my stomach hurts from late night food fests

but there is a glow on my skin...

kodak moments on my camera

and memories that will last a lifetime..
late night shenanigans.
hammocks & stars.
ten year anniversaries.
beach cruising.
walks & talks.
hot tub karaoke dedication.
moonlight dancing.
favorites & loves.

i'm having serious withdrawals...

{ dandelions }

2010-06-04T14:21:00.003-04:00

this used to be so easy...

why are things always so much harder & more complicated the older we get?

life is still good though...

if you remember to take the time

to stop & look around

because there is so much beauty around us.

{ baby landon }

2010-05-28T18:33:00.005-04:00

a year ago to the day my good friend was with us,

heading to the beaches of NC to mingle with the singles
and now she's got a great mister and this sweet baby boy.
it's amazing what can happen in a year...
...can't wait for our photoshoot this weekend baby Landon!

{ juli perry }

2010-05-25T20:22:00.001-04:00

we didn't know how long she would hang on
but she did...
ever so gracefully
and boldly
and honorably
and beautifully
the timing is never convenient but I wouldn't have
missed this for anything.
I had to be there.
I needed to be there.
the entire flight over, every time I closed my eyes
her face popped into my mind
but there were no tears
only smiles
because you can't not smile with Juli around
thank you for being a fighter
and for staying around long enough to teach us
that we can always try a little harder
laugh a little louder
be a little nicer
and live every day the best way we can
because that's the only way to live
you will be greatly missed
but your spirit
will never be forgotten
thanks for inspiring us all...
we love you.

{ spoiled }

2010-05-21T13:43:00.016-04:00

I'm spoiled.

...this has been quite the week.

I was sick on MONDAY but it's okay because

I spent hours in beautiful central park over the weekend

then on TUESDAY I went to the greatest show that I've been to

in a very long time...Mumford & Sons

WEDNESDAY a friend treated us to free tickets to American Idiot

and THURSDAY we had the most perfect night at Yankee stadium

I feel spoiled and blessed...and now it's the weekend

i love my life.

{ attack of the scalper }

2010-05-20T15:42:00.006-04:00

I made my way to webster hall...a favorite venue in the city

to meet some friends to see Mumford & Sons play

we had an extra ticket because someone bailed

no big deal, this happens all the time but what happened next,

I'm going to forever call...Attach of the Scalper.

We looked around to see if someone needed a ticket...

our price = face value, that's all we needed

and we looked over and saw a couple about to get played

by a scalper

so my friends (not me...this will be important later)

tried to motion them to buy our tickets and save $10

we get our money back they get a ticket at face value

good, right?

bad idea

said scalper wasn't too thrilled about a little competition

he came storming over to me (guess I got singled out on this one)

told me to stay the &*!#! away from his customers

and almost tried stabbing me with his umbrella

awesome.

you might not believe what I did next but I yelled.

it comes out when it needs to

I know, I know, I live in NYC and I probably should

be a little more careful but I had my friends to back me up

and the big bouncer at Webster so it was cool

(don't worry mom!)

we left the scalper on the street to terrorize someone else

while we went inside and enjoyed what I have to say

was one of the greatest shows I've ever been to

bands dream about playing New York City

and I'm glad I could be a part of that dream

....................................................................

the scalper told me his wife would be waiting for me

around the corner when the show got out...

she wasn't

but joe walked me to the subway just in case.

the end.

{ borg night }

2010-05-14T16:58:00.115-04:00

it's no secret that I love to throw parties

so when a favorite roommate decided it was time to move back west

I went into party planning mode

borg and I have lived together for I think almost three years now

a long long time for this transient city

and we've seen each other through so many good & bad times

from drastic hair style changes to impromptu dance parties

to crazy freak sort of tornado storms that destroyed my

two day old patio furniture that I have to note:

borg tried to save but when the winds were about to carry her

away to neverland, she decided it was time to let it go.

that's roommate love for you...

BORG is a staple in this city so her going away could be no small fete

so we started the countdown for her departure by having

BORG nights...every Tuesday night in April.

anyone was welcome, as long as they were a friend of BORG

or future friend of BORG because well,

anyone that meets this lovely lady, will want to be her friend.

BORG night one started off with a trip down to Peanut Butter & Co.

{ I recommend ordering the Elvis - delicious! }

and dining with our takeout at Washington Square Park

always a great spot on the perfect spring night

in true BORG fashion...friends were made:

two young twins, twirling to the violin

and a few innocent bystanders on the 1 train

who didn't know they were going to be a part

of the BORG dance party

which ended on the stoop of our apartment

BORG night two began at one of my favorite spots in the city the Brooklyn Bridge

{ ever since Newsies and Spot...Brooklyn has had a place in my heart }

we walked, we talked

we photographed

and we ate

Grimaldi's of course...but we went local style

and called ahead for takeout because who needs to wait in line

for an hour for pizza when you can eat on the dock

overlooking this beautiful city that we call home

BORG night three was home, on our rooftop
{ s'mores & borg }
the reason I'm okay walking up 5 flights of stairs
it's quiet and spacious and perfect for friends
and a night of camping out...manhattan style
the only thing missing was a moonlight serenade

but we had everything else we needed

good friends & good food
and most of the time...that's all you need.

BORG night four at the abbey pub
{ who knew there was free karaoke a short block from our apartment }
the bar was woody & cozy...perfect for a night of
"don't stop believing...."
we rocked, we talked, we sang
made some fans
cute & scruffy with perfect british accents
and we ended Tuesday BORG nights on a high note.

{ visible }

2010-04-29T13:59:00.001-04:00

remember when you made me promise not to go invisible?

well, I'm here. where are you?

{ jersey runs }

2010-04-25T14:16:00.001-04:00

There are many annual "must dos" since moving to NYC and the Jersey Shore relay is a favorite must. From an outsiders perspective it might sound like torture....getting up at 5am and jumping in a car to then drive two hours into jersey (a taste of life as a bridge & tunneler) to run. For those non-runners out there this might sound like crazy talk but it really is one of my favorite things to do here on a spring Saturday. We had five teams this year and as always, a great day along the shore. We were a little late making it to the starting line but not to worry, the guys on our team were speedy gonzalez and caught up to the rest of our competition in no time. There are many things about Jersey that I don't love but the Jersey Shore...what's not to love?!?

{ slippers }

2010-04-09T18:13:00.002-04:00

I used to exclusively wear flip flops, or slippers as we called

them in hawaii...then I moved to california and to new york

where slippers aren't exactly kosher everywhere you go.

I miss them but it's spring and sunny and time for them

to once again become a wardrobe staple...

I couldn't be more excited...enjoy the weekend!

{ to my friends }

2010-04-08T18:47:00.003-04:00

{ sister love }

2010-04-08T00:27:00.003-04:00

Although she hates the city, my little sis made her way out of the fresh mountain air to

come visit me this past weekend. She was the perfect visitor...just wanted to hang out with

me and didn't care about filling her scrapbook with New York tourist moments so...

we did NYC...my way. Walked around the west village until the sun set and found the

perfect corner bistro for dinner with joele...a central park picnic by the pond...saw performance

art at moma that none of us will ever get...and a drive and hike up the delaware water gap.

The city was perfect this weekend! My family doesn't love my camera like my friends do...

I attempted to get a pic of Kells and I and all I got was goofy smile face but

goofy smile face always makes me laugh so I'm okay with that.

{ easter eggs }

2010-04-05T00:06:00.001-04:00

this easter could not have been more perfect...

morning red bull shots with the boys...

brunch as good as any city favorite...

conference & jelly beans

and football & eggs decorated and hidden

more words of wisdom & inspiration

and good good friends that just make me smile

dinner and the loveliest patio party

spring is here, easter was perfect

and I couldn't be happier...

{ only in nyc }

2010-03-31T19:06:00.002-04:00

I look out my twentyfirstfloor office window and what do I see?

a rooftop photo shoot...sans clothing...and it was freezing outside!

luckily they gave him a blanket to warm up with between shots.

...only in new york city!

(you can look close...it's okay...it's G rated)

{ back to the district }

2010-03-29T00:31:00.006-04:00

we arrived at dr. greens master suite in arlington and he'd even left us a sticky note letting

us know which remote turned the fireplace on...the weekend was already off to a good start...

chats with jeff and a little guitar serenade...then off to bed but not before saying hi to our

fellow new yorkers also down for the weekend...woke up to adams famous chili...and brian our

new friend at enterprise hooked us up with a free upgrade and gas...I love being a girl...

with car we were off to the temple to take pictures of the newlyweds who were oh so lovely...

then on to whoknowswhere virginia for some fresh air, birthday cake and a little afternoon rural adventure...

took way too many scenic routes back but it was worth it as it always is because

that's where the fun is and all you really need sometimes is a car...a radio...a camera and good company...

put on our party dresses and made it to part of the wedding reception...sparklers & happiness and

good good friends...woke up to orange juice in fancy glasses...and the first toaster strudel I've seen

since the nineties...DC always treats us like queens and we'll be back soon I'm sure.