Always, Misty: November 2011

11.12.2011

New York {Day 4}

It's always hard for me to leave when I'm on vacation, I start to dread it the night before, looking at my suitcase wondering how in the world I am going to fold all that stuff back up to fit; thinking of the reentry into "the real world" and the laundry. One great thing about our New York trip was that our flight home didn't leave until around six so we essentially had another whole day. That made the whole "going home to be responsible" thing not so bad.

When planning the trip, I asked Lee what one big thing did he want to do while we were there. He said he wanted to visit the American Museum of Natural History. {I mean we had practically been watching Night at the Museum on repeat with the boys so I could see the draw.} We packed our bags and gave them to the concierge at the hotel to hold for the day and decided to take our time and walk. It was 36 blocks. Like almost 2 miles. And that wouldn't have been so bad except we were walking to a museum in which we were going to be walking around for more hours....Suffice to say that by the time we hit the Hall of Asian Peoples I wanted to curl into the fetal position and take a nap right there on the floor. The newer

exhibits were really amazing, but others were really outdated and boring.

After the museum ~~that never ended~~ that was wonderful, our plan was to have a late lunch in Central Park at The Boathouse. So, you guessed it, we walked across the park. At first, this also seemed like a good idea, but GOOD LORD that is a wide park! Ha! All my northern girls who are reading this right now are dying laughing...and yes, we did have a map, but two inches looks like nothing until you start.

Strawberry Fields

After lunch, we picked up our bags and headed back to the Airport {not on foot} and came home. What I love about New York besides the food, shopping, and shows...it that you truly could go once a year for the rest of forever and never do the same thing twice. Just writing this post makes me want to go back so badly...maybe next year!

11.11.2011

New York {Day 3}

If you have read this blog for any amount of time, you will remember that Lee and I took a trip to New York in October of last year. It's something about this time of year that always makes me want to drop everything and run straight for the big city! Today while talking to my friend Caroline {who's planning a trip to NYC}, we laughed because I blogged about Days 1 and 2 last year, but never Days 3 and 4. She said, "I knew you went longer than just two days!" Ha! So I hope these pics will help Caroline get even more excited about her trip, and maybe, just maybe, they will satisfy my urge to head north in her suitcase.

This picture wasn't taken on day 3 or 4, I just love it and it makes me smile.

We started Day 3 of our trip with a visit to the Empire State building. Neither one of us had ever visited the ESB before...we waited in line what seemed like fo-ever, then got in an elevator that took us to the top. We were probably up there 30 minutes or so. I'm not sure it's something we'd do again {I've been told that the Top of the Rock @ Rockefeller Center is better}.

However, the view is amazing and I'm glad we can say we've done it.

Statue of Liberty in the distance

Brooklyn Bridge

Guess who?

View of Central Park

We didn't get an early start this day and the ESB took so much time, that we decided to leisurely walk back to our hotel and see what we could see. We walked past the New York City Public Library and hung out in Bryant Park a while. During the winter months, Bryant Park is tranformed into a skating rink; while we were there they were just beginning to prep the rink.

Bryant Park

Lee and I walked EVERYWHERE on this trip. We didn't take the subway once, and only took a few cabs. I know NYC is all about fashion, but I was a dork and wore comfortable shoes! Once we got back in the general vicinity of our hotel {we stayed in the Westin} we grabbed a burger at this place called the Shake Shack. They are all over New York and have a good burger...
more like Five Guys than McDonald's kinda food.
We went back to our room to stuff our faces, and change clothes for Wicked! I have wanted to see this show since forever and it did not disappoint.
And just for extra info, the other show that is a MUST if you've never seen it is Jersey Boys. I saw it in Chicago and let me tell you...AMAZING. I think Lee would love this show...maybe next time.
{I even bought the CD...shhhhhh}

Flowers near our hotel...could not get over how beautiful all the street stands were!

In the theater, right before the usher told me to put the camera away

After Wicked, we took a cab to dinner and passed by Radio City Music Hall

This is Lee very politely putting on his seatbelt after we realized the cabby was going to drive erratically....ha!

My friend Christi suggested we eat at Blue Water Grill in Union Square so we made reservations earlier in the day. The food was wonderful, although a year later I can't remember what I ordered exactly! I do remember the martinis being just what I needed after a long day of sight seeing!

I will be posting Day 4 tomorrow or Sunday! And by the way, I am extremely technologically challenged . My computer officially bit the dust so I've borrowed my Dad's computer. Such a pain. Need to update you on Baby Hampton!

11.02.2011

RIP Blackberry

I am burying my Blackberry today. It's over two years old and tired. But before I let it go, I had to get the pictures off of it and in doing so ran across a few hilarious/embarrassing/sweet pics that I had to share...here is a sampling of the 696 pictures that were on my BB. This means that I am getting a new phone and will once again feel like an idiot and not be able to operate the call waiting feature.... for some reason that one always gets me with a new phone.