Flat Stanley

If you haven't heard of Flat Stanley, well, it's about time you do.

"Flat Stanley is a 1964 children's book written by Jeff Brown and illustrated by Tomi Ungerer. It is the first in a series of books featuring Stanley Lambchop, a completely flat boy."

"Stanley Lambchop and his younger brother Arthur are given a big bulletin board by their Dad for displaying pictures and posters. He hangs it on the wall over Stanley's bed. During the night the board falls from the wall, flattening Stanley in his sleep. He survives and makes the best of his altered state, and soon he is entering locked rooms by sliding under the door, and playing with his younger brother by being used as a kite. Stanley even helps catch some art museum thieves by posing as a painting on the wall. But one special advantage is that Flat Stanley can now visit his friends by being mailed in an envelope. Eventually Arthur reverts Stanley to his proper shape using an air pump used for footballs."

And this brings me to how I met Flat Stanley. I have been working at the publishing company that produces Flat Stanley, so over the past few weeks I have become well acquainted with Stanley. While visiting Arkansas earlier in March I ran into a long-time family friend, MC. Her daughter, Mary Jamison is in 1st grade. MC asked if I would be willing to help participate in Mary Jamison's class project on geography. Anything for this family!

Tuesday I received an adorable, handwritten letter from Mary Jamison along with Flat Stanley and a letter from her teacher. She had done her part by sending everything to me, so now it was my turn. The letter from her teacher explained that I needed to take Flat Stanley, which Mary Jamison had so beautifully colored, to interesting places unique to my city and take pictures with him. After work yesterday, I took a picture outside of my office, which is also where Flat Stanley is made! First place, check.

After meeting Casey for our usual Friday after work drink, we walked a few blocks to Times Square. It was so, so windy! I can't tell you how many times I was chasing after Stanley as he whipped through the wind and floated away from me. Thankfully, all appendages are still intact. For my final location I went to Central Park today and attempted to take a picture of me with Stanley. I was flying solo for this one and the wind was in full force!

Now, I'll print the pictures and drop them in the mail for Mary Jamison and her classmates to enjoy! I really hope you like the way it all turned out Mary Jamison! Thanks for letting me help you with your project, and I hope you learned more about New York City!

Stanley at HarperCollins on Fifth Avenue

Stanley in the heart of New York City, Times Square.

Me and Stanley in Central Park, right outside Sheeps Meadow (unfortunately the lawn is still closed for winter so I had to stand outside the gate).

Background info and synopsis of the children's book series is provided by Wikipedia and HarperCollins Publishing.

one day i might even have stairs

And if I do, I hope I can find wallpaper as bright and cute as this geo-pattern. And sometime between now and then, I'm going to keep my eye out for a cute vase-inspired side table that I can lacquer red. Seeing that most of the accent walls, stairs and adjacent hallways are white, the bold pops of color are more than a topic of conversation, they're envy worthy.

Picture borrowed from --- oops, i can't remember, sorry!

As I've shown you before, the wall above my bed as become a catch all for artwork, frames and other mixed media. I love this idea, and have for several months now. One thing I keep getting caught up on is whether or not to have matching, or at least the same color frames. Right now, I don't have the luxury of going out and buying numerous matching frames, as most of mine have been picked up off the street before the trash man gets to them. Some are great, but some are in desperate need of a new paint job.

In the picture below, Young House Love did a beautiful job filling their space. Maybe when I move, this will be my first DIY project! Can you tell I'm getting anxious to move? AH! A little over 4 months and I'll have a few extra square feet --- well, I sure to hope so!

Photo borrowed by Young House Love

silence is powerful

cupcakes and champagne

Well, the first party went off without a hitch! As you know I was in Arkansas last weekend and was able to make it to my sister, Mickey's, first wedding party. It was the perfect pink mix of friends, family, and enough sugar to suffice any sweet tooth.

Mickey's boss and owner of Molly's Paperie did it up right for "Little Miss Mickey," as the cocktail napkins suggested. The Amy Atlas inspired table of sweets was nearly to beautiful to touch but after a glass of pink champagne and a delicious grapefruit margarita, the iced sugar cookies disappeared.

Catering to Mickey, "the non-chocolate lover," Molly served individual apple and cherry pies, red velvet, strawberry and vanilla cupcakes all iced with buttercream frosting. Pettifors were also present, along with a miniature cake piped to match the invitation. Multiple paper lanterns were hung from the ceiling and added the right amount of whimsy. Adorning the room were also apothecary jars filled with tangerine jelly belly's and cherry twizzlers.

What? I didn't mention cookies in the mix? No, Molly didn't forget that essential confection!

Enough with telling you about it, now I just have to show you!

The future bride and the Maid of Honor (MOH)

Three generations of fabulousness! Both grandmothers of the bride, mother of the bride, the bride to be, and me, the MOH

The guest of honor and the two incredible hostesses!

Thanks Molly and Junnie for planning and hosting such a wonderful party.

jet setter

A few people have told me that you can tell when I'm really busy and when I'm not, due to the amount of posts I produce. Well, it is pretty true. The past several days have been busy to say the least. I didn't even get home from the gym till nearly 10:00pm last night.

I made it into the office by 8:30 this morning and then after a 50 minute cab ride due to traffic, which should have taken 25, I finally made it to the airport. It took 5 times longer to get to the airport than it did to check-in and go through security.

As I travel down south for a long weekend, I would be like to tell you I'm going to help with wedding plans (for my sister), go to her first party and venture over to Hot Springs to go to the horse races, but honestly, that is just a facade, but of course all those things will actually happen. However, my real reason of going to Arkansas is to be close to not one, but two Target stores!

The "about" section of my professional Web site mentions my personal style:

"My fashion sense is a mix of Marc Jacobs and Target Designer Collaborations.

Fact: you never have to sacrifice comfort to have great style."

And guess what! Sunday, March 13, Target releases it's Go International Designer Collective: Five Years of Designer Fashion Together One Time at Prices Divine.

Don't be surprised if am banging down the door when I get out of church on Sunday. My one hope is that they get at least half of the full collection so that I can pursue multiple divine work-appropriate dresses! If not, well, my credit card might just be maxed out by mid-day Sunday.

*Picture borrowed from Classic Case

tweet tweet

No ipod was needed this morning. I am so thankful that I am able to walk to work. The past couple of days I have taken the subway in them morning and walked home, but when I stepped foot out of my building today, you couldn't have paid me to take the subway. Sunny skies, brisk cool air and the birds, oh the birds were singing beautifully. God's handy work in those seven days was on display this morning. Thank you Jesus for creating trees and flowers. The glimmer of green in Central park is yet another sign that Spring is definitely around the corner.

I know I take for granted the convenience of this city, but it is just another thing I am thankful for.

After a beautiful 25 minute walk to the office, I know today is going to be a great day! I hope the weather is as beautiful where you are as it is in New York.

the three musketeers

I never thought I could shop myself sick, but I nearly did this past weekend. A z-pac came in handy when I was feeling under the weather, but no sinus infection could keep me down when it comes to company. Mickey and mom finally arrived Friday afternoon. I was already at our first appointment for bridesmaids dresses while a friend who lives across the street walked over to give Mick and mom keys so they could drop their stuff of at my apartment. They jumped in a cab quickly after and met up with me. First goal of the weekend accomplished-- find bridesmaid dresses. What to do next? Celebrate the three musketeers reunion of course! The temperature literally went from 54 to 35 during our short walk from the dress shop to the W hotel. Grabbing drinks and catching up, we all finally slowed down, relaxed and began making plans for the weekend. The night ended at Bar Americain. Champagne cocktails, tuna tartar, steak and an apple tart hit the spot.

Usually, when my mom comes to visit, it is all about me. And I don't mean this in a vain way, but 90% of the time I haven't seen my family in a while so we shop and eat out and fix odds & ins in my apartment. This trip was ALL for the bride! I had found several things for her in past few weeks so I wanted to take her all around to try on clothes and get a few things for parties, the wedding weekend and the honeymoon. Saturday we checked off goal number two of the weekend-- shoes for the wedding dress (along with many, many other shopping necessities).

My goal of the weekend was also accomplished-- find a dress for Mickey's first wedding shower! (PS I'l be home next weekend).

To make a LONG story a little shorter, we covered a lot of ground while mom and Mickey were in town. I started a new job on Monday so I couldn't hang out with them before they left, but I was able to meet them near my office for lunch. They made it home safe late Monday night. This was actually our first mini vacation with just the three of us. There wasn't a five star hotel attached but the hospitality at "hotel Searcy" was undeniably the best in New York! Wish you were here!

After dinner Friday night we found our initials! Well, till August 27th at least!

Mom, Mick and I outside Rosa Mexicano after having delicious pomegranate margaritas and fresh guacamole. Mickey would have stayed there and had more guac for dinner if we didn't already have reservations.