Tidbits

I have a friend at work who periodically asks for a new blizzle. I am sure he asks only when he is bored during the day and can't find anything else to do, but he did ask this week, so I figure it's time to give him something! Since I can't think of anything really great that I need to tell you about, I have thought of a few sorta great things.

First, Josh and I just got back from celebrating our first anniversary in NYC. We had a blast, and every time we go (we've only been twice), we talk about moving there for a year or two. Anyone who knows our families, also knows that they might freak out if we actually did this. Anyway, we started our vacation at the Pod Hotel, but after one night in the bunk beds and TINY community bathroom, we decided we had to go, and we didn't care where. So, we plopped ourselves down on the curb on the edge of central park and used our phones to connect with Priceline, and within minutes, we had a new hotel. BTW, if you've never used Priceline before, it's really kinda fun. You tell them the area you want to stay in, the quality (star level) you are looking for, and your maximum price. Oh and your credit card number. Then, if it can find a room for you at that price, you are locked in. Scary and fun at the same time. Anyway, we ended up getting a room at the Hudson hotel, which was great, albeit the size of a cruiseship cabin/bathroom. But hey, it was NYC, so it worked, and I highly recommend the hotel for the price! 

We did some really fun things while we were there, and if anyone is ever going to NYC, I would be happy to share some things I've learned. For instance, we EASILY got tickets to the David Letterman show and we were in the audience the night Dolly Parton was there. It was an absolute blast and I highly recommend that you do it the next time you are there. Also, you have to visit P.J. Clarke's for a cheeseburger and onion strings; one of each is enough to share, and follow that up with a walk right down the street to Dylan's Candy Bar for some Crispery rice krispie treats (previous post). Oh yeah, I almost forgot to mention that we had multiple celebrity sightings, in addition to Letterman and Dolly Parton, we also saw William H. Macy and Felicity Huffman and Ed Norton and Woody Harrelson sat right behind us at the theater. Mr. Norton was kicking my seat.

In other news, Josh and I are seriously thinking of adopting a dog. I have always wanted one but been afraid of how Birdie would react (after the devastating Huntleigh incident of 2003), so when my wonderful brothers kept the cats and forced them to play with their new puppy, Duff, I saw that Birdie may not react the way I imagined and it may be possible to add a dog to our family. So, after many many hours of looking at different breeds and many, many lengthy conversations, I think we have finally agreed on a mini goldendoodle. If you don't know what that is, google it.....they are soooo cute! I have found a breeder in Oklahoma, but a new puppy costs $750, and I have always preached for adopting from a shelter to give an innocent animal a a chance. So, my dilemma is, do we pay the money to get the dog we really want from a breeder? I'll let you know. 

Last, Josh and I had planned a fun date last night, but when I ended up taking call for the night AND doing an after-hours admission, our plans went down the drain. So, we made use of the little time we did have and tried out a different restaurant in town- Juanita's. It was freshly prepared authentic Mexican food, and it was excellent! Some of the best guacamole I've ever had! The service was slow but very friendly, so overall, I would recommend the place....we will be back! And if you live in the area, you should try it too!

Start Spreadin' the News

I have the sweetest husband in the world! I was in-between meetings at work today and he told me that he put something in my office that I needed to see immediately, so I hurried back to my desk to find....wait for it....I know you're gonna be jealous! In my chair was an envelope containing my travel itinerary for my surprise anniversary trip to NYC!!! Yep, he is taking me to NYC for 6 days and 5 nights and all of the fabulous shopping and eating we can do! How lucky am I? 

Sold!

I have now sold all of the jewelry!  Thanks to everyone for your support!

Jewelry!

I've already sold several necklaces and bracelets, but still have a few left to sell. So, I thought I would post some pictures here of what's left for those of you who have asked. Please let me know if you are interested, and remember that all of the money I raise goes to the Breast Cancer 3-Day, which benefits Susan G. Komen and the National Philanthropic Trust!

The above necklace is a grayish color with pink and purple accents. The beads are very large when compared with the other necklaces as you can see in the second picture. It is a medium length and will go around only once.

The three above are also medium length and will go around once. The necklace pictured on the left is orange. Very cute! They are also $20.

 

This last one is the long length and is $30. It will go around the neck at least two times. For more information about the necklaces, please check out 31bits.com.....such a great cause from both sides! Thanks everyone for your support!

P.S. I only have one bracelet left! 

31 Bits

There's a link below to a blog called Wallycado. I read it regularly not only because the writer is a good friend, but also because the author and I are just different enough from each other that I feel I can learn about something new and interesting every time I visit her blog. Every time she posts, she writes what she calls her "points of grace," which is a list of the things that made her happy that day/week, and that list always leads me to a new recipe, a new band, or a new website that I wouldn't have otherwise heard of. 

This week, from Wallycado, I learned of a company called 31 Bits Jewelry, a company created by a group of young women to provide aid to the people of Uganda. Because Uganda is plagued by poverty, poor sanitation, poor healthcare, and a lack of jobs and education, the women of 31 Bits have joined together with several Ugandan women with a vision of hope. The goal of 31 Bits is to help these women get out of poverty, get their children a proper education and provide food and healthcare for their families, and they hope to accomplish this by selling the beautiful jewelry that these Ugandan women are creating.

Upon reading about this plan and the short stories of the Ugandan women who are involved, I decided that I also wanted to get involved. I figured that by buying this jewelry, I could support 31 bits. Then, by selling it, I could support Susan G. Komen and the National Philanthropic Trust (through the 3Day), making it a win-win situation for everyone. The girls at 31 Bits agreed, and they sent me some bracelets and necklaces to sell. So, please check out their website at 31bits.com and let me know what you think. Consider buying a bracelet for $10 or a necklace from me for $20 or $30 (depending on the length). Remember Mother's Day is coming up, and this is a purchase you can feel GREAT about!