Friday's five things: Hurricane Irene edition.

In case you haven't heard...

[Hurricane Irene's predicted path... right through Manhattan]

This big ol' Hurricane Irene is supposed to barrel up the Eastern seaboard and right through New York City as a Category 2 or Category 1. While I'm a little scared, I'm not sure how much is media hype. I am on a pretty dense block and out of the flood zone, so I think I should be fine... But still, I think my friends are going to come over and we'll hunker down through the storm together.

[With a stockpile of beer]

[And tuna... and applesauce... and other "non-perishables"... like Twinkies]

I'm planning to post pics/blog throughout the storm as long as we have power and internet... Stay tuned for tomorrow night as we watch movies, read all the magazines in my apartment, play cards, and make tuna sandwiches... It sounds like it will start Saturday around midnight and we will get the worst of it on Sunday, maybe even into Monday morning.

[I'll be reading Wither by Lauren DeStefano this weekend]

As for today, I'm excited to finally pick up my custom frames from Michaels. I will have completed apartment pics soon! I am finishing up my shopping for the storm today and having a "last supper" at Chipotle. One last indulgence before being stuck inside all weekend! Although, we may order/pick up pizza tomorrow night if we can before the storm hits... We'll see.

[Oh yeah, I bought my first flashlight yesterday. Get ready for a strenuous weekend, Brookstone Twist Light, get ready]

A nice way to spend the afternoon.

{snuggled up with Hammie and The Paris Wife}

Packing for the weekend.

I'm headed home to Minnesota next weekend for a few days at the lake. Here are a few picks for the perfectly packed weekend. The key is a few great pieces that can be remixed for different activities.

For the plane:

[flip flops//jeans//striped tank//cute ring//carry-on bag]

Add a classic black v-neck cardi to this combo, and I'll be all set for the plane. Some people prefer to wear something with socks through security for when they make you take off your shoes, but lately, I've noticed that they don't make you take off flip flops or basic sandals if there's no metal. I'll be crossing my fingers that I can get away without walking barefoot on the airport floor! Best to keep jewelry simple this day for the same reason - don't want to be taking off necklaces, etc. to go through security.

For the drive out to the lake/drinks on the patio Friday afternoon:

[pink tank//pleated jean shorts//army jacket//gold necklace//gold espadrilles]

A simple but fun look for the 90 minute drive to my family's lake house in Western Minnesota. Jean shorts and a tank make up the base so I'm ready to peel away the layers and hit the lake the minute I'm out of the car!

For a day on the lake:

[polka dot bikini//chambray shirtdress//braided leather belt//sun hat]

A light cover-up in case it gets chilly while cruising the lake. Flip flops are a must if we end up heading into town for drinks at the local watering hole. A floppy sun hat is essential to protect from UV rays... and to hide my eyes for a quick nap.

For dinner in town Saturday night:

[pink maxi dress]

A remix of the weekend's accessories with a pretty pink maxi dress from Michael Stars. This dress is really neat - it actually converts into a maxi skirt or a halter dress too! Great for a weekend when it's important to pack light.

And I'll round out the suitcase with leggings (for working out & for bedtime), Minnesota Twins t-shirt for bedtime, running shoes, a plain white tee (to remix with the Michael Stars skirt), sunglasses, black cardigan, black clutch, and Michael Kors watch.

Epic summer tk.

I'm getting so excited for this summer. The Summer Friday schedule was just released at work (which, of course, just happens to work in my favor this year after the chaos that I walked into last year), and I am busy planning the next month/entire summer full of fun activities. Here's how the calendar looks so far:

5/7 - Kentucky Derby (actual plans tk, but no doubt it will be something fun)

5/17 - seeing HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING on Broadway, starring Daniel Radcliffe

5/18 - Theory sample sale at Clothingline

5/21-22 - the Taste of Nolita, including samples from 7 restaurants and drink specials at a few bars

5/23 - Young to Publishing Group happy hour to kick off BookExpo America at The Frying Pan

5/26 - my parents arrive for Memorial Day Weekend; we're seeing SPIDERMAN: TURN OFF THE DARK on Broadway that evening

5/27-30 - tourisming, good meals, brunch, family time, etc. with my parents & bro

6/23-26 - home to Minnesota for a weekend at the lake

7/4 - 4th of July at Coney Island, including the Nathan's hot dog eating contest. I must see this once in my life.

7/15 - Harry Potter 7 Part 2

7/22-24 - visit D.C.? Maybe?

8/?? - one week during the month of August will be the Central Park Film Festival, which I thoroughly enjoyed last year and CAN NOT wait for this year. I want to try and go to at least 2 or 3 of the movies this year!

9/2-5 - Minnesota for Labor Day weekend, which may just have to include a trip to the Minnesota State Fair

And lots more tk. These are just the bare bones of the fabulosity that is summer in NYC and Minnesota.

What are you looking forward to this summer??

Friday's five things.

So, I still need to post my spring break breakdown... but I have not been at home on my computer for more than 53 seconds straight in the last 2 weeks. I picked up a third class (1.5 credits for 7 weeks) for the second part of this semester which started after break, and I am so freaking busy now!

For now, here are 5 fun things that will hopefully help me make it through the next couple weeks until summer!

1. Cole Haan Air Tali Rain Ballet flat in Sunflower Patent, $138 from Colehaan.com. These bright and cheery goodies will be so perfect for the spring showers when it is too hot to wear my Hunters. I can't afford them at full price, but you can bet I'm counting down until they go on sale... something to look forward to!

2. Snapfish photo books are 50% with the code 11BOOKSBD - just in time for me to make a beautiful new photo book of my trip!

3. NYU is hosting a gala tonight for all Masters, law, medical, MBA, etc. graduate students. With free drinks and hors d'oeuvres. And law students. I'm going with a few friends and need to head home after work to decide what to wear! (Possibly green silk dress... possibly black New Year's Eve dress... unsure.)

4. Reese's peanut butter eggs are officially on the shelves. These are my favorite part of every holiday. They have about 2 times the amount of peanut butter as a normal Reese's cup. And are my biggest weakness right now. (Pssst! Mom! These are the ones I'm talking about!)

5. I plan on finishing Jane Eyre this weekend (the book) so that I can complete the Goodreads Jane Eyre Challenge and see Jane Eyre (the movie) before April 15th.

TGIF, everyone!

Friday's... one thing.

I'm not dead. I'm just exhausted and sick of winter.

Remember how I thought things would calm down once school started and I got back in a routine? Nope, no chance of that! Because with the start of school again came 3 snow/icestorms back to back to back! So my entire life has been thrown up in the air for the last couple weeks. Yuck.

I'm so sick of salt ruining my boots and shoes and pants-hems.

I'm so sleepy from all the cloudy, dark days.

I'm so done with winter.

So what do I love today?

Just Stella. That is all I want tonight.

I have a pretty decent weekend ahead and will hopefully be able to recharge a little and actually get around to cleaning my closet (as I've been trying to do for the last 3 weeks...): grad program happy hour tonight on the LES, brunch tomorrow @ Northern Spy Food Co on Ave. B which I've heard is absolutely amazing, and I'm hosting a little Super Bowl evening on Sunday, complete with turkey chili, pigs-in-a-blanket, classic nachos, and some more Stella Artois, of course.

Have a good weekend everybody! Thanks for sticking with me in this, the winter of my discontent... haha.. get it?

(Why doesn't everybody make literary puns? It makes life so much better!)