Let Texas fill my soul

I am going to TEXAS for the next 5 days!

I have work conference in Dallas next week, so I persuaded Lauren to accompany me on my first ever venture to this great state that I have been hearing so much about from my New York friends. We are flying into Dallas tonight, then waking up bright and early tomorrow and driving to Austin, where we will tailgate with Lauren's UT friends for the day and explore Austin for the night. On Sunday, we'll make our way back from Austin to Dallas.

I AM SO EXCITED!

Last night I made a playlist entitled "How I imagine Texas." It's full of country music... George Strait ("Amarillo by Morning," "Blue Clear Sky"), Dixie Chicks ("Cowboy Take Me Away," "Wide Open Spaces,") Little Texas ("God Blessed Texas") and, most importantly, Pat Green...

My state of mind:
I woke up this morning with Texas on my mind...

Where we will be driving:
So we were southbound 35
We were headed down the road
Hit the border by the morning
Let Texas fill my soul

And, most importantly, the song that sums it all up (including where we will be eating Mexican on Saturday night):
Baby's just a little bit tired of the city
Billboards and bull**** got her down
Seem like you need a little hill country
A little back roads driving, little bit of the old top down...

Yeah, everybody gotta get away sometime
Forget about yourself for a while
We'll go down to El Arroyo have some tacos and beer, yeah and let ourselves go
OK, alright, just might try to get it right tonight,
OK, alright, carry on

Carry on! And Hook 'em Horns!

Weekend Update

First off, on the note of actual Weekend Update - of the SNL variety - please tell me you watched on Thursday night. My favorite, as always, was "Really!?! with Seth and Amy."

"So guys, if you're gonna go after people, maybe pick better targets. No one is impressed when you take your stands against 19-year old girls, tiny Asian ladies or the first black president. Who are you going to go after next, baby koalas?" - Seth and Amy to Kanye West, Serena Williams and Joe Wilson

(click thru for video)

But anyhow, as for my weekend update? Friday night, roommate Hannah and I were exhausted after a loooooooong week. (I know it may sound spoiled, but after two 4-day weeks in a row, 5 days just seemed unbearable, didn't they?) We stayed home, made our favorite salad, along with homemade Arnold Palmers with fresh mint, and watched "Imitation of Life," a 1950's classic that had our mascara streaming down our face.

Yesterday, Saturday, I set my alarm to go off promptly in time for GameDay. I ran down to Dunkin Donuts for a big cup of coffee, and snuggled in my bed with the windows open to watch fall's finest TV show. The weather this weekend was stunning, absolutely stunning, so afterwards I set out on the town. I went to brunch in the East Village at Prune with Mai-Lise and Sarah, and it was one of my favorite places I've been in New York...on adorable downtown block, tiny charming space, and delicious breakfast food to boot. M-L and Sarah got a really fancy Bloody Mary that was quite tasty as well! Afterwards, the three of us wandered through the East Village. There was a block party, featuring sidewalk sales, pick-up dodge ball and a - no lie - "meat pie eating contest." We also perused thrift stores and found some stellar deals! Our day ended with a trip to the Georgia bar to watch the Dawgs play. It was a scary match at times, but between the victory, good friends and, of course, wings, it was a great evening.

And after a lovely morning at Gallery Church, followed by an afternoon in a coffee shop writing a speech (more on that later), I am now settled in at home, anxiously awaiting the Emmy's. Because - yippee!!!! - I LOVE AWARD SHOWS! :)

I hope you had a great weekend, too!

Ready to flip!

What I'm excited about on this rainy day...

... not to mention SNL Weekend Update Thursday and new show Community!

This is the Church

on sunday, june 18, 2006, i moved to new york.

on monday, june 19, i started my first job here.

on saturday, june 24, i moved into my apartment.

on sunday, june 25, i first visited the gallery church.

it wasn't my plan. to be perfectly honest, i thought all along i would go to redeemer. but,

on sunday, august 6, 2006, i decided i was in. i emailed todd and asked if i could lead a gallery church growth community. he said yes.

--------------------------------------------------

what followed was one of the richest times in my new york experience to date. singing on the worship team with brett and cynthia. learning under the teaching of aaron and stan. meeting at rustin high school. falling in love with my small group that met every wednesday night at the starbucks at 81st and 2nd. eating at boston market each week after church. i was new to the city, but gallery church - even in its infancy - made it feel like home.

--------------------------------------------------

but in may 2008, i got tired. so i quit. it made sense at the time...every other church in new york seemed to have that one thing i thought i was missing. [insert more people. cute boys. tim keller. anonymity.] the thing that i felt God needed me to find.

turns out, God just needed me to find my way back to gallery. to Him. this time, with a clearer focus and renewed energy.

so in september 2008, i came back. started singing on the worship team again, this time with paul. joined a new community group that encouraged my soul every wednesday night once again. got to know new friends and old ones for a second time around. reminded myself why this church had held a special place in my heart from the jump.

and on september 15, 2009, i sat in a church meeting for 4 hours. i took in the gorgeous SALT space that God has provided. i voted on the church's first official bylaws. i ate the most delicious corn casserole i've ever had. and i looked around at the faces of the people who made this city my home.

the people who invited me to watch grey's anatomy with them when i had no other friends.

the people who greeted me with southern accents.

the people who said, 'we've missed you, and we're glad you're here.'

the people who challenged me to display the greatness of God to the world.

the people who were the hands and feet of Jesus to me when i was a stranger in a foreign land.

the people who were my family when my family was very far away.

and now it's all very clear. it was never my plan to begin with. i didn't find my way to gallery church. i didn't pick it. i didn't just wind up there because i had a friend who had a friend. it was God's plan all along. it's where He meant for me to be then, and where he means for me to be today, september 15, 2009.

Andy, you are my love

This weekend, my mom's aunt and cousin were in town to go to the US Open. On Friday night, the three of us went to dinner. As we ate, they told me about striking up a conversation with a nice man at the Open. The man said that some of the players, including Andy Roddick and Maria Sharapova, like to go to a place called Campanella on 71st St during the Open. They asked if I had heard of it, and I had not.

After dinner, we were feeling adventurous, so we decided to check out Campanella. Since we didn't know where on 71st St it was, we employed my iPhone to look it up... but we got no results. Determined to find it, though, Joy suggested, "Maybe it's spelled like champagne?" I tried again with Campagnela, and again got no results. However, I did get a Google "Did you mean Campagnola?" Yes! Yes! And Campagnola was, in fact, on 74th St and 1st Ave, which seemed to make sense given our initial instruction.

So, at 9pm on a Friday night, we hopped in a cab and headed to Campagnola. I'll be honest - my expectations were low. I thought to myself, "There's no way we'll see anyone!" although I was more than willing to go on an adventure to check it out.

We walked in (it's a charming little neighborhood Italian restaurant, by the way) and perched ourselves at the bar, and I decided to do a loop to scope it out. I walked straight back, looking all around, and, lo and behold, who do I see but Andy Roddick! He was seated at a large round table with wife Brooklyn Decker, his coach, and friends. I did a double-take and then a triple-take, and could not believe our luck! I rushed back up front to tell Aunt Nita and Joy. I don't think they believed me at first, but once they both did their loops, they did.

About a half hour later, Andy and his entourage left the restaurant... to cheers, photos, and shouts of "See you in the Finals, Andy!" Joy and I didn't have the nerve to say anything, but my aunt told Brooklyn, "You are a beautiful girl." And to Andy? "Andy, you are my love."

Andy lost the next day, so I suppose our sighting/our love was not good luck. But you better believe I'll be eating dinner at Campagnola every August from now on!

Quote of the day

“It is the southern part of me which is most quintessentially and fiercely alive.”

Pat Conroy, The Prince of Tides

Fall Fashion

I am by no means the most fashionable of the fashionable. I do, however, I like to steal from my roommates' closets; I read every fashion magazine - particularly in September; and I live in New York City. I figure that all has to count for something.

So, here is my take on some of the top wearable trends for fall 2009, brought to you courtesy of my noodlings with polyvore.com, a super addicting site...

(click image to enlarge)

1. Plaid. Think plaid shirts, but with a feminine edge (e.g., ruffles).
2. Leather. Fitted jackets, skirts, accessories.
3. Skinny jeans. Dark wash, gray wash...tucked into boots or with heels!
4. Opaque tights and leggings.
5. Metallics. Shimmery shoes add pizazz to any outfit!
6. Neon. Oh yes. The '80's are BACK.
7. Cozy cardigans and knits. Perfect for layering or with a belt.
8. Cowboy boots. As with plaid, western chic is in.
9. Pencil skirts. A great way to venture into the leather frontier!
10. Gray. Jeans, sweaters, dresses. The new neutral.
11. Boyfriend blazer. Oversized or shrunken. Even with '80's shoulder pads!
12. Layers. Start with dress. Add cardigan + belt + scarf + tights + boots. Repeat.

What about you? What are you most excited to wear this fall? Any trends I forgot? If you were to purchase one piece to update your wardrobe, what would it be?

Fall is on the way!

© Bo Zaunders/Corbis


My calendar is flipped to September.

I'm drinking my first Pumpkin Spice Latte of the season. Mmmmmmm.

I'm wearing white jeans one last time before Labor Day.

It was 65 degrees when I left my apartment this morning.

September issues are bursting with fashion.

Football starts on Saturday. Go Dawgs!

I slept last night with my window open and no AC.


Fall is on the way!