The Last Supper.

[Pizza and salad at La Crosta on 72nd before the storm started last night]

The wind and rain started up last night, with the worst of it supposed to be coming this morning between 8 a.m. and noon. So far... nada. It's definitely been raining since about 11 a.m. Saturday, but it seems like my neighborhood just isn't going to be hit that badly. We kept expecting to be woken up in the middle of the night, but we all slept right through.

Now we're up, watching the endless news and the idiot weather reporters out in the storm... waiting for something to happen. It's starting to look like it won't be that bad.

[Misko is taking it all in stride]

[Hammie is still nervous... hiding in my junk cabinet]

Prepping for Irene.

Well, here we are.

Prep started late last night with an emergency midnight snack. We had to get our strength up for all the work to be done today.

[Grilled cheese and fries from the Green Kitchen Diner]

All the grocery stores, Duane Reades, and hardware stores are completely out of chips, bread, water, and oh so many other essential items. And most of them have been closed for the last few hours. We are buckling down for Irene.

The worst part of today's prep work?

No coffee.

[Well, not really. We got coffee around the corner from the Green Bean Cafe around the corner.]

Gillian and Natalie are here, and we are settling in for at least the next 24 hours. We spent most of today making last minute trips to the grocery store for more bread (the only remaining options were English muffins, pita bread, or hamburger buns) and keeping our eyes out for potential hurricane boyfriends.

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]

More goodies.

I have an online shopping problem. When I don't leave my desk for lunch, I end up opening all those SALE ALERT! emails and buying things like these:

[Cole Haan Josephine Pump in Ironstone Suede, $119. I got it on sale earlier this week for $89... because I'm awesome]

[Cope Haan Tantivy Double Wrap Bracelet in Chestnut, $39.95. Again, I got it for $27 because I am so good at reading those sale emails]

[Michael Kors Double Breasted Hooded Trench Coat in black, $115 on sale at Lord & Taylor. The sale is still going on. 50% off rain coats! Go now!]

To be fair, I'm not just randomly buying things. I've been looking for a leather bracelet all summer, and I've been looking for a hooded trench coat for about 18 months... I even tried on this exact one from Michael Kors before, but decided to wait for it to go on sale!

And although gray pumps are a recent addition to my shopping list, I've definitely had my eye out for them lately. I have a pair of gray trousers for this fall and thought it would be fantastic to wear them with matching gray heels.

And yes, yes I am justifying my shopping habit here...

A nice way to spend the afternoon.

{snuggled up with Hammie and The Paris Wife}

Collecting.

Can't wait for this goody to arrive via UPS.

{Bedford 3-Drawer File Cabinet from Pottery Barn}

My very first piece of Pottery Barn furniture, compliments of Mom & Dad.

I've been looking for a file cabinet that is pretty enough to serve as a bedside-table. Since in my tiny NYC 1-BR, every single thing in my apartment has to serve double-duty. The foot stool that hides my free weights and exercise bands. The dresser that has a secret compartment/jewelry tray. The foot-stool as desk chair.

You know, one day I hope to have a full house full of {single-duty} Pottery Barn and West Elm classics and quirky {read: frivolous} Anthropologie settees and rugs... but until then, I will cherish my file cabinet.

Keep calm.

Check out this lovely that will soon be gracing my kitchen.

{From KeepCalmCollection on Etsy}

While I think the ascendant popularity of these British-inspired Keep Calm prints has made them slightly cheesy, I can't resist the internet design blog peer pressure... and the kitsch. I want one. I {will shortly} have one!

My oldest friend (we've known each other since kindergarten!), Krista, is coming to visit this weekend. I am trying to figure out what all we are going to do, looking for the perfect balance of touristy stuff, hanging out, good food, and beating the 98 degree high that is supposed to hit NYC on Friday and Saturday. I am so excited to see her and have a fantastic weekend, but I am dreading the heat. We may have to spend more time inside at extremely air-conditioned theaters and museums than I originally planned!

I'll have to take a break from my internet shopping to scour the internet for some indoor activities and make a plan for this weekend :-)