Cribs: NYC apartment edition.

I was looking back over old blog posts, mainly the ones from when I was moving in and setting up at my apartment. I realized I never posted any pictures of my room. That was the last thing to come together for me because E and I both put the emphasis on the common areas first. I still have some finishing touches to do on my room, specifically in the decoration department. You have to excuse the mess. I am in general a super clean person, but sometimes that has to fall to the side. Cleaning is at the top of the list of "get your shit together Sunday" as soon as my Policy paper is finished. Anyways here we go:

This is what my room looks like if you're standing over by the door. Now, let the tour REALLY begin....


"...and here's where the magic happens..." You know how everyone says that on Cribs?? whatever. My bed fits perfectly in this one corner of the room. My bed frame itself is a platform bed with 4 drawers and a cabinet for extra space. I haven't figured out a nightstand yet. I'm thinking of a corner shelf thing that would just fit into the wall on the side of the bed that meets the wall. We'll see.


Since floor space is hard to come by and NYC apartments are awesome about the tall ceilings and doors, I made it a point to build up. Behind my room door is where all my shoes are (seasonal, of course. The others are stored in a bin in the cabinet under my bed) That amazing shoe rack came from Bed Bath and Beyond. Such a clutch buy.
I have 3 windows in my room. only 1 us used for actual light. The other 2 make for great storage for some of my boots.
See those silly snow boots there? I bought those when I was still living in NC. a complete impulse buy because, obviously I didn't need them there. Apparently they are going to save my life up here when the snow ans slush take over the roads and sidewalks. Pretty happy to have them now, not sure how to wear them though....

My desk area. I adore it. Something about desk space is important. I go to the library a lot, but it's also good to have a work area at home that's conducive to getting it done. I used a set of plastic drawers to make for extra drawer space and it fits nicely under the desk.

And I got this little light weight metal and glass book shelf to hold the overflow desk and bookshelf stuff.

The living room set I bought when I was living in Durham came with E and I, but the arm chair didn't fit in out living room properly, so it found a home in my room. Unfortunately it ends up looking like that, covered in my school bag, purse, clothes I decided against wearing, etc. But I'm working on making a habit of NOT dumping everything there!


The closet is at the back of the room (across from the bookshelf) My hanging cothes go in there, and the jeans are folded at the top, along with hand bags and my luggage. I fold a good portion of my clothes, so all tees, tanks, gym stuff, undergarments, sock, tights, are either in the drawers under my bed, or in the wooden cabinet (seen in 1st picture)


The top shelf in the cabinet holds my jewelery. it's funny I have so much stuff because I pretty much only wear the same few pieces. At some point I stopped wearing dangle earrings (when my hair was at its shortest) but I think they will make a comeback sometime soon.



So, thats the room! I love it, and I can't wait to finish decorating and getting all the pictures in frames/art from home on the wall.

Mid term madness

I mentioned earlier that it's midterm time at Columbia. We don't have tests here, exactly... more papers, lab packets, and all around a ton of stuff due. I'm a little pressed, not gonna lie because my school work is one thing, and my work at CAB is overwhelming too. On Tuesday Doug was like "Oh, hay, could you just write me up a reflection of[this meeting he took me too]? you know, 3-4 pages, whatever." Hum... sure Doug. Can't wait to just reflect for 3-4 pages. So, here I am, Thursday night, 9:45. I need to be up at 5:30 and I also need to email Doug my reflection and my process recording before 8am. Can someone PLEASE remind we why I decided to go to grad school? and a hard grad school at that?! Haha, Nah, I wouldn't have it any other way. I am actually overjoyed with where my life is at the moment. I so HAPPY right now. My friends, new and old, are great people, I adore NY and CUSSW. I have a supportive family with parents and siblings who make my world go around. So, as much as a joke and go on and on in my monotone way, bitching and moaning about the weather, the dirt, other people, whatever--- at the end of the day, my gratitude for my life and the blessing I receive every day grows and grows.

In keeping in step with the self-reflective nature of my program and with how my life is shaping up as 2009 draws to an end (Um, it's almost November?) I want to make it a point to consider these kinds of things more....the "who am I?" and "Where am I going" questions that float around in my head from time to time.


As for the outfit, the rain cleared, the sun shone. There is a nice fall breeze in the air and my boots are broken in, and I am having a good time trying out color (SM, are you proud?)



Blouse-- Liz Claiborne
Cardigan-- American Apparel
Jeans--Joes
Boots-- Sam Edelman

Who Will Stop the Rain?

It's been raining on and off since Friday. That's a lot of rain seeing as today is Wednesday. Now, in general I don't have a problem with rain. I always feel bad for the plants and animals when it doesn't rain.... but now, I just feel bad for myself, haha. New York sorta sucks when it's raining because it's still sort or gross. Like mud on stuff, wet seats, wet trash. just wet. Not to be a debbie downer, I still adore it here and, I mean, each place has there thing... at home sometimes it so hot and humid I remember feeling like there was no way to even go to my car. Anyways, things are very hectic for me, as I'm sure they are for everyone else, but I have some posts drafted and I work on them from time to time, so look forward to that. I'm got some stories... hahaha.

Oh, and let me let you in on a secret. I'm sorta short, but only because I have short legs. the drawbacks? I look like a little kid splashing around in the insanely tall rain boots. The benefits? I regularly buy shirts in an XL, belt them and, ta-da! it's a tunic (or a dress in the summer and I'm skankin.) I had to exchange some impulse buys at Old Navy and had a lil somethin to burn. I saw the white shirt I'm wearing today on the sale rack for $6.00. In my real size it was a cute long blouse for like, over jeans, but with leggings, sorry, you need to cover your booty (unless you're a model or somehow have overcome the overwhelming "i'm naked!" feeling you get when you first try out leggings-for-pants). So this shirt in an XL made for the perfect booty curtain!

Just thought I'd drop that lil life lesson on ya, keep the knowledge flowin. hahaha.

Tunic-- Old Navy
Belt-- Forever 21
Boyfriend Cardigan-- H&M
Leggings-- American Apparel
Rain Boots-- Hunter

I got 99 problems

It's mid-term time.
I'm so freakin sleepy all the time.
I have papers that I keep hoping will write themselves.
My caseload just doubled at CAB.
I can't stop working on my farmville.
Or watching Dexter.
I'm ready to graduate.


and blah blah blah.

....but a bitch ain't one.

Miss you too, G.

I was checking my all-but-abandoned Tumblr today and came across this. As confusing as everything in life can get, one of the constants I can rely on are my good friends. I'm so ready to go home and see everyone.... I can't wait!

E's birthday and the pictures to prove it.

My sister, E turned 27 on Tuesday. She's also in the SSW, and so we're both super busy. I decided to throw E a surprise birthday party last Saturday. What I decided to do was enlist my friend Morg, and E's friend Bekah to help me pull it off. Morgan helped me plan and came early to help me set up, and Bekah occupied E long enough to surprise her. Here are some pictures.

Here is the kitchen counter as I was setting up. A little bit of food, and the blender is pulled out because I decided to blend up some dank margies.
The amazing flowers my family sent E. I helped my Mom pick them out and the Florist, located in Harlem, hooked it up.
E came back from dinner in Little Italy around 11:0pm. This is when she first turned the lights on.
And Here is the Birthday girl when everyone jumped up and surprised her!

We had an amazing night, 12 or so girls came over, we hung out (until my crazy effing neighbor came up here, tryin to buck.... she was out of line) Then we went to this local spot called Moca Lounge. We got in there, promptly got a booth and some guy pourin up mad shots. The DJ must have known we were coming because he played club banger after club banger, like all the best of the southern rap. At one point they were playin Damn! by young bloodz.

Imagine this scene: 12 girls wildin out at this like sit down sort of lounge.... The song breaks and there is a part where the lyrics go "Don't start no Shit, won't be no Shit!!" and that repeats for a bunch of counts. So we're there, getting redic. and next thing you know, it's Knuck time. Like, somehow these female bouncers tried to flex on us, told us to stop missbehaving... next thing... we're in the street. And here is a tiny bit of the evidence, post removal. They don't even tell the full story, but all I can say is the next morning we were all sorry for partying, E had an amazing birthday, and we probably can't show our faces at the neighborhood spot for a little while....

It's 3am. Yup. I have a beer in the street. Nope, it's not legal here.

It's effing cold here.

New York, I respect you. You and your beast weather. Ya'll, it's cold here. The wind is howling, the rain is cold and falling, and I'm struggling. I have had my friend Kelly, who is from Wisconsin, as well as the banker give me many lessons in appropriate layering... and I'm working on it. it's all trial and error. So, today:

Got the Knee Socks goin on.....
Tank,+ Long-Sleeved Tee
Throw a button down on top...
Some Jeans......
Final Outfit.

Plus Scarf, gloves, and Jacket... I should survive the day. (I hope)

Tank-- Old Navy

Gray Tee-- Target

Button up--- H&M

Zip-Up-- The Gap

Jeans---Seven for all Mankind

Socks---Rocawear

Shoes---Clarks