February Photo Challenge: WHO'S IN!?!?

Hello! It's February 1st 2012. What?! I'm sure we are all saying that! January went by so fast. I have a few things I'm looking forward to this month. It should be a fun month!

This Friday night, Tim & I are going to my work friend's show at Rockwood Music Hall. I've never seen her perform live but I've listened to some of her youtube videos and this girl has a great voice. I'm excited to see her rock out live on stage. If you're in the New York area, why don't you stop by! It's free!! :)

On Saturday night, Tim is reviewing the play MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE at The Gallery Players in Brooklyn for the New York Innovative Theatre Awards......which means we received free tickets. Yay!! We never pass up free tickets to theater :) I saw a show there last season and they put on some pretty good stuff. I've never seen this show but the music & lyrics are by the same people that did SEUSSICAL and RAGTIME, so it should be interesting.

On Sunday, I am getting re-certified in CPR since I am trying to get some extra hours babysitting at night and on the weekends. I thought it would be a good idea because it's been about 3 years since I've been certified. I've been babysitting for a set of 5 week old twins this past week and I'm hoping to pick up some more families too. Then the Super Bowl.... still trying to figure out the plan, but I think Tim's friends are having a party, so that should be a lot of fun too!

The rest of February is setting up to be great at well. Tim and I have tickets to see MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG at the New York City Center on February 14th. I'm so excited about that! It's a 7pm show, so I think we'll grab dinner around the theater and then enjoy the show.

And last but not least...... if anyone is interested in this challenge.... let me know. I'm going to try it! Every 10 days, I will post the pictures here! :)

xoxo
Jamie

My New Obsession: Pinterest

I had no idea what Pinterest was or even how to use it this time last week.... and now I'm obsessed. Basically, it is a website where you topic boards, when you find something you like/find interesting, you "pin" it to one of your topic boards. Seems simple enough, right? It is! You can follow your friends or just random people to get ideas. When I signed up, it automatically found all my facebook friends who also have Pinterest and had me follow their "pins".

You can make a board any topic you want. I currently have these boards: Jamie Loves, Food Ideas, Crafty, Knitting/Crochet, Working on My Fitness, and I Love Green! I've found some awesome and fun things. One of my friends told me that she's been on Pinterest for a while and that her Mom saw things she had "pinned" and she got a few of those things for Christmas. What an interesting concept, eh? Kind of cool


Anyways, if you are on Pinterest or are interested in finding out more... here's my profile:
www.pinterest.com/jamchee79

xxoo

The Nominations Are In!!

I've always been obsessed with The Academy Awards. Not as much as The Tony Awards, but pretty close. Yesterday the nominations for the Oscars were announced. I always try to see all of the movies nominated for Best Picture. And now since Tim & I started dating, we are on this mission together! Out of the 9 films nominated, I've seen 4 and Tim has seen 5. Here's a re-cap of what we have seen so far.....

THE ARTIST

THE ARTIST is an amazing film for many reasons. First off, it's a silent film. Yes, I said silent film. Tim and I saw it a few weeks ago. I wasn't sure what to expect when we sat down but the music and acting swept me away. I was so enthralled with it that I caught myself holding my breath at the end. I really enjoyed it and I plan to buy it when it comes to DVD.

THE DESCENDANTS

THE DESCENDANTS was very entertaining. Sad but funny throughout the whole film. George Clooney was great in this too. He will probably win an Oscar for it. I enjoyed this film even though it was slow in parts.

THE HELP

THE HELP was a lot of fun. My best friend Adam and I saw it when he was in town a few months ago. It's really funny but also very inspiring. Hard to believe people lived like that in the south at one time. I enjoyed this movie also. I heard the book is great too. I'd like to read it eventually.

WAR HORSE

WAR HORSE is an epic Steven Spielberg movie. I saw the stage version of WAR HORSE at Lincoln Center a few months ago and balled my eyes out. It's an amazing story about a horse's journey throughout years at war. When I watched it on the big screen, I didn't get as emotional as I did when I saw it on stage. Maybe it's because I knew what was coming, or maybe it's because the stage is just more intimate. All I know is that Tim and I were making fun because it was just kind of creepy how obsessed characters were with this horse. All in all a good movie, but I liked the stage version much more.

The rest are movies we need to see before February 26th. 

Tim has seen MIDNIGHT IN PARIS, but said he really enjoyed it and would see it again. I'm excited to see it. I've heard great things.

I am currently reading EXTREMELY LOUD & INCREDIBLY CLOSE. I wanted to read it before I saw the movie. I am anxious to see it! The book is great!

HUGO, we hear, must be seen in 3D. It looks really fun too. Even though I am not a fan of 3D movies, this one could be the exception. Plus, it's a Martin Scorsese kid's movie?? I'm intrigued!!

MONEY BALL starring Brad Pitt & Jonah Hill... plus they are both nominated. Jonah Hill is nominated for an Academy Award. That is a sentence I never thought I'd type. I am interested in seeing this movie because a) I heard good things about it, b) I like Philip Seymour Hoffman and c) I need to see this Jonah Hill acting. I feel like he finally took a role that wasn't the same role over and over and/or wasn't goofy, therefore people now "think he can act". No, he just isn't playing the same character he always plays. We'll see this movie and decide, I guess.

TREE OF LIFE.... I haven't really heard anything about this movie. I didn't even know Brad Pitt and Jessica Chastain were in this movie. Did anyone see this?? I have no idea what it is about but I will see it so I can round out my opinion for BEST FILM.

So there you go.... Have you seen any of these movies?? Are you a fan of the Oscars?? Now, to have an Oscar party or not to have an Oscar party! Ummmmmmm..


xoxox

Delaware: The First State

This past weekend Tim and I went to visit his friends, Mike and Kim, in Delaware. Tim went to high school with these friends in DE, so I knew I'd get to hear some good stories. We left Penn Station on Saturday morning at 9am. We took the NJ Transit out to Trenton, NJ, then Kim picked us up. It is about a 90 minute drive to their house. I wanted Kim & Tim to be able to catch up, so I sat in the back. Whoa, that was a dumb idea. I forgot how car sick I get in the back seat, especially now, since I am hardly ever in a car anymore. Luckily, we stopped for gas and snacks right before I felt super sick. The rest of the way, I sat in the front.

Mike and Kim live in a great neighborhood. I met Justin and Quin, their kids. We had lunch and relaxed with the family. Around 8pm, we went to dinner at a steak restaurant called FIREBIRDS. It's Mike and Kim's favorite restaurant. They've been going there for years. Kim & I ordered these amazing pineapple martinis. We all ordered steaks. I had a peppercorn one! I was so delicious. I couldn't eat the whole thing, so I ended up having it for lunch the next day too.

After dinner, we went back to Mike and Kim's and played some board games with them and also Tim's friend Craig. We all had a blast. Tim made me his signature drink, a Seven & Seven. I had a few of them actually. We had a fun time & didn't wake up with a head ache! :)

On Sunday morning, we woke up and played with baby Quin. He just turned 1 yr old on Christmas Day. He's a cutie for sure! Kim made us bacon & french toast with texas toast!! It was yummmmy! I thought Tim was going to pee his pants he was so excited about the french toast. It's his absolute favorite... well, that and pancakes/waffles! :)

That afternoon, we all took naps and were completely lazy. It was wonderful! After that, Kim and I went grocery shopping for dinner. She drove me through the town. The University of Delaware is located there and it reminded me a lot of my college town of Bowling Green, Ohio.

That night was TACO NIGHT and the guys did the cooking. Well, Mike cooked and Tim watched while he drank his Jack & Coke. I could hear Mike giving him instructions from the living room. It was funny. After dinner, we all watched the Golden Globes and relaxed. It was really nice.

Monday morning we woke up to Kim making pancake cupcakes. Pancake Cupcakes? What are they, you ask? Well, it's pancake mix with cooked bacon bits & eggs put into a cupcake pan. They look and tasted delicious. And so easy to make!!

I also tried something called SCRAPPLE, yes SCRAPPLE. Yea, I never heard of it either. It's a east coast thing. The week before we went to DE, Tim sent me the Wikipedia link explaining SCRAPPLE. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrapple   And this is the picture I took of it frying in the pan.....

Tim had me try it with ketchup & Mike had me try it with syrup.  It tasted like burnt sausage, which essentially what it is. Lol. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't the best breakfast food ever! So I guess it's the equivalent of Ohio's SKYLINE CHILI. You rave about Skyline to out-of-towners, then they try it and they are like.... "eh". Those who live in Ohio, know what I mean! :) 

Mike drove us back to the Trenton train station so we could grab the 2pm train. Check out what street the train station is located.....

Kinda cool, eh?? :)

Our train ride on the way back to NYC was nice. I slept a little on Tim's shoulder while he listened to music on my ipod. I'm not sure what he listened to though since most of the ipod is loaded with musical theater recordings. Ha! Ha! It was nice to get away from the city for a few days but it is also nice to be back into the swing of things. 

 

Thanks to Mike, Kim, Justin & Quin for hosting us for the weekend. Love you guys! :)

2012 Resolutions

1) Save at least $20 per week

2) Call Grandma at least once a month

3) Write a blog at least once a month

4) Work out at least 3 times a week

5) Read more books

6) Healthier eating

Welcome 2012!

I am currently sitting at ABC on a Saturday night at 9pm because I'm working for the New Hampshire Republican Debate. Even though I am working on the first Saturday night of 2012, I am hoping to be doing a lot of these after hour events since it's an election year. I'll work as much as they need me.

Give me experience!!! Give me work!!! Give it to me 2012!!!

The first week of 2012 has been really nice. Tim and I went to his apartment in Astoria on Sunday Jan 1st and hang out then went to my friend Justin's New Year's Day party. Justin only lived 2 blocks away from Tim, so it was really nice to not have to travel too far.We had a fun time eating a yummy dinner and playing games.  On Monday Jan 2, Tim and I didn't have to work, so we were lazy all afternoon, then went to see the George Clooney movie THE DESCENDANTS. It was good, sad but good.

Wednesday night was a good bye party for my friend Blake. He has been a fantastic friend for the past 2 years. He's a radio DJ and he was offered a full time job in Houston, Texas. I know, he's going to be soooooooo far away, but this is an amazing opportunity for him. He is an incredible talent and an incredible person and I know we will always be friends. I wish him nothing but the best!!

Next weekend, Tim and I are going to Delaware to visit his best friend Mike and his wife Kim. I met them when they came into the city to see Tim's Christmas show. They are super fun and awesome and I can not wait to spend the weekend with them. They have 2 kids too. The youngest just turned 1yr old so that should be a lot of fun! :) I'll write about that next week! :)

Until then.... xoxo 

Happy New Years Friends!

Hello Friends,
I know it's been 2 months since I've blogged. Mainly because this blog was about the horrible dates I've experienced in NYC and now I'm in a relationship and nothing bad is happening. :) But I thought I'd update to let you know I'm still alive and well.

Tim and I are still together & it's be amazing. We have spent every weekend together ....and I'm not annoyed with him at all. What does that mean?? HAHA!

We've spent both of our birthdays together. He bought us tickets to see "MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG" that is having a limited run at the New York City Center.... but here's the cutest part. He bought them for Feb 14th. This is awesome because: 1) he bought them for waaaaaaaaaay in the future and 2) The tix are for Valentine's Day and I haven't had a date on Valentine's Day in I don't even know how long! He also got me 2 Broadway posters that I've been searching for and couldn't seem to find. On our 2nd date, I was looking for them at the Broadway Flea Market and he remembered. :)

Also, for my birthday, my Mom came to visit for the whole weekend. She met Tim on the first night. She was very impressed by him. She kept telling me how much she liked him and that we seem head over heels for each other. (which is very true!) We had such a fun weekend. It was so much fun to introduce her to all my friends at my birthday party too. I think she had a blast!!

Mom & I

Tim and I

Tim was in a hilarious Christmas play this month, THE ASPHALT CHRISTMAS. It was great. He was great! The show received a lot of awesome reviews. I saw it 3 times. I hung out with him and his cast mates after shows. It was so much fun! Seven of my friends saw the show too. They all really like Tim and wanted to support him. It was so nice to have them see the show. I really appreciated it.

My hot boyfriend in his pin stripped suit in THE ASPHALT CHRISTMAS

We just celebrated Christmas together too. He went to visit his parents in Maryland over the weekend but came back on Christmas night to spend it with me. He asked me if I wanted to go with him for Christmas but unfortunately, I had to work at the theater. I would have loved to go. We got each other pretty good gifts I think. I got him a really nice messenger bag, a bath robe with his name embroidered on it, 3 ties and 2 packs of socks. He was so excited about the socks that I should of just bought him $150 worth of socks. HA! Tim gave me the best Christmas present ever! He gave me some slippers, lotions, The Muppet Movie soundtrack and this......

A MUPPET!!!!!

He made it for me online. He said he was on the website for 45 minutes picking out all the pieces. He gave it green eyes and brown hair for me. He also said that online it's called the "Broadway" outfit... which of course I LOVE!! We named her Dixie. We believe she's a bit of a drama queen, but who wouldn't be with a name like that?? :)

Now Gonzo has a girlfriend! 

We are hosting a New Years Eve party this weekend at my apartment. We bought all sorts of finger foods and a few bottles of champagne. I also bought some fun NYE hats and tiaras too. It should be a good time. We invited 5 of Tim's friends and 5 of my friends. It will be fun to get two different groups of friends together. We think everyone will get a long great. :)

All in all, the last 3 months have been completely wonderful. We are planning a visit to Delaware to visit Tim's best friend Mike and his wife Kim in January. Also, I asked Tim if he would be interested in coming to Ohio with me in March for Kathy & Chad's baby shower and he said, "I'd love to, count me in." :) So we are planning a trip to Ohio Thursday March 22nd to Monday March 26th.

I feel as if 2012 is going to be my most favorite year to date, so I've decided to start blogging again. This time, about happy things and New Yorky things. I hope you will continue to read it.

Have a fabulous New Years.

xoxox