30th Birthday in New York City - Recap Day 1 & 2

I just wanted to burst out in to song with Frank Sinatra's New York, New York song...

Start spreading the news
I am leaving today
I want to be a part of it
New York, New York

Ok, at the risk of sounding cheesy we were all very excited to get to spend time as a family together for an entire weekend! Although our flight going out was delayed, once we got on the plane and got going we seemed to get there pretty quick, thanks to a direct flight.

Once we got in and got the rental car we all just wanted some food and to crash. We ran over to eat at Applebees and then went back to the hotel and got settled in for the night... I know pretty lame not to do anything fun the first day... but traveling really wears you out!

Ok, so Friday.. our first real day there. First thing we went to visit the corporate/home office for where the hubby works (he works from home in Texas but this is their corporate office). They just moved into a new building.... as with moving in anywhere there are growing pains and changes... Who would have thought you had to have a certificate of occupancy before you could fix a roof (at least I think I caught that correctly)?!? I mean wouldn't the city want the occupants to be able to fix the roof before they move in? Anyways, they are working on it, and despite the tarps and buckets to catch the water... the building was renovated beautifully!

I LOVED the color scheme... if I thought the hubby would let me paint green and grey stripes on a wall of our house (guest room maybe), I would probably try it. But lets just say, we arent' the most skilled painters, so it probably won't happen (unless my sister wants to come over and try horizontal stripes for me). They had a very bright and open feel to the place. The break room was AWESOME... just awesome... pretty sure the kiddo would have been content staying in there all day! I also finally got to meet most of the people I knew he has worked with for all these years. Everyone was really sweet and I was glad I finally got to put names with their faces!

After leaving the office we went over to the LIRR train station and started our first day in the city!





We took the LIRR into Penn Station and then walked out of Penn Station towards Time Square. One thing that I'll never get over is how tall some of the buildings are. I mean they are just TALL!



We were already hungry since it was around lunch time, and found Hard Rock right there in the square and ate at Hard Rock and took our picture under the sign when we finished.



After lunch it felt like we went everywhere under the sun...

The Hershey Store:


The MnM Store:
Of course there was an Elvis MnM...


Then the massive walls of MnM's... and so you know... I didn't buy any chocolate or other sweet item in either one of these stores... Impressive I know!




Toys R Us (the first time):







(Now that's a barbie dream house!!! Look at those rails!)


(if the munchkin played with Barbie's more I would have totally gotten her this)


(Laci with King Candy)


(OMG if you liked Peeps... this was the place to be!)


(They had an entire Wonka corner... and for those of you that know me or have read my blog enough... you know that the munchkins 5th bd party was all about Wonka)

Build a Bear (you know because she doesn't already have enough stuffed animals in her closet)

(We did put our foot down and made her get an NY outfit for the darn thing... she named him Beary - real original I know...)

American Girl - I guess we forgot to take pictures in there...

Rockefeller Center




The Lego Store

(Hubby wouldn't even smile for the picture because I said no to him getting the lego R2D2...)

Before you go and think I am a mean wife... it was $200.00. So I took a picture of it completed for him...



(Lego Rockefeller Center)

This Lego Sign was amazing... it was all little people...


This dragon was incredible.. it weaved throughout the store...


Ok... so once we were done there, we bought tickets to the musical we saw on Sunday, and then headed back to Penn Station to catch our train back to our hotel area... We got SO incredibly lucky and caught the train one minute before it was leaving otherwise we would have had to wait an hour for the next one.

So day one was a MAJOR success! We had fun and were exhausted.... I would say with good reason!

Hugs and until next time~
Julie

South Hill Designs

Maybe it was because I turned 30... maybe it was because I wanted something new... I don't know... but before I left for NY... which I have SO many things to share about the amazing trip we had (need to get the pics off the camera)!!! But before I left I started thinking about these beautiful lockets I have seen and heard about! Here is the one I loved and created to wear for myself... I love photography and this was perfect!



Well I don't know what got into me, but I am glad it wouldn't go away... I can proudly say I am now a South Hill Designs Independent Artist and am thrilled at the opportunity to get to share in something that is amazing as well as party with friends! In the interest of keeping things a little more separate, I have a separate website and blog for this... it is Tell Life's Story. There is truly something that is perfect for everyone...



Everyone has their own story to tell and the wonderful thing about South Hill Designs is that we have the opportunity to help each person whether they are your children, family, or friends, yourself or a co-worker… tell their own unique story. The amazing stories about their lives from their family to work or to interests and hobbies – they can all be combined into one wonderful story.



The best thing about doing this is that I get to not only use South Hill Designs to tell different stories from my life but that I get to help others “Tell Life’s Story”. These life lockets are not only beautiful but they can be personized not just once but daily with different charms to go with sporting events, casual days at the office, or even elegent evenings out on the town.


If you are interested at all in South Hill Designs I would love to answer any questions you may have for purchasing, fundrasing, hosting a social (facebook, catalog, or in person). If you would just like to go see what is available... feel free to shop here or if you would like to get design ideas go here.

I am super excited about this and look forward to sharing more about this as I grow.

Hugs and I will tell you about my amazing trip to New York soon!
Julie

30 is the new 20 right?

I hear that saying all the time. I wonder who came up with it and why... Maybe because at 30 you feel like more of an adult? Maybe because we are more stable financially at 30? Maybe because you mature more at 30? I don't know... But what I do know is that, I made it.... all the way to 30 that is, ok well officially tomorrow on June 15th, but what's one day right?!

Fortunately for me, the hubby's company opened up a new office and decided to bring the whole family up to NYC area for the weekend... It just happens to coincide with my 30th birthday weekend. :) No complaints here! This will be a much more fun way to spend the weekend than at cheer class for the munchkin and hanging out at home. Hoping to have a very memorable weekend!

So of course I had to make a shirt to wear, because if it were up to some folks I know it would have been one of those shirts that said something like "Over the Hill" of "Dirty 30" or something else that just isn't quite my personality.

Although I didn't want one of those shirts I thought this one was pretty awesome:

I have no idea what it says, but I am telling myself that it says something along the lines of "Yes I am 30" "Yes I am awesome", "Yes I still look good at 30", "Yes you wish you looked this good at 30"... I don't know things like that. :) 

So I wanted something that was ME. I am going to go with Nailed It!!!

Here is what I came up with using the same bleach method from the other day:

Here it is up close after I added some bling... It is hard to see because I didn't add a ton, but it had to have bling... I mean... I am a self professed bling gal!


So if you are in NYC Saturday and happen to see me out of the million or so people I imagine walk around there on a daily basis... wish me a Happy Birthday and tell me where we should go visit and what we should be seeing...

On the agenda is a possible show, Carriage Ride, Central Park, the Eloise Store in the Plaza, a Harbor Tour around Liberty Island, and of course Time Square Stores... :) Just going to wing it and live in the moment! We should have a blast and I can't wait!!! I will share when I get back sometime next week!

Feel free to leave me some bloggy comment love! I <3 it="" p="">
Hugs~
Julie