A&J Take Manhattan: A Many Pictures Post

While I was on the East Coast, I decided to take a short trip to New York to see my good friend Jenny. {If you're new to this blog, or haven't been paying attention, Jenny and I met during our study abroad in London, and have been friends ever since.} 

I flew in Wednesday morning and flew out Friday afternoon. It was a quick trip, but we did tons of stuff. I am so happy I decided to fly up and see Jenny before leaving for Korea. 

Here is what we did: 

We took a walk in Central Park 

{Cleopatra's Needle- the other one is in London} 

We went to the Met- mainly to get out of the heat. 

{"The Engagement Ball" This used to be an apartment window}

{I don't remember what this is called, but it reminded me of Jud.} 

{Beautiful English Tea Set. Matt this is what I want for my birthday.} 

{Monet "Bridge Over a Pond of Water Lilies"}

{Monet "Water Lilies"} 

{Monet "The Houses of Parliament"} 

{Pissarro "Effect of Sunlight"}

{Japanese Tourists} 

{Van Gogh "Wheat Field with Cyprus"} 

{Van Gogh "Cypresses"} 

Wednesday night we had a picnic and watched Argo at the Chelsea Piers. {PS. The sandwich I had was the best I've had in a long time.} 

Ate New York style pizza 

Went to Serendipity and got the Frozzen Hot Chocolate 

Took the Subway 

Went to Times Square {Thanks Jenny for making the trip} 

Stopped at Herald Square 

Of course we hit up a few cupcake shops and ended the trip cuddling in bed watching Death at a Funeral. {The British version} 

Thanks Jenny for the wonderful trip. I had a great time and can't wait to see you in Korea... you are coming right? 

Cara Box Exchange #1

Last month, I was reading one of my favorite blogs Friday We're In Love, and I came across this wonderful thing called a Cara Box Exchange. 

This exchange is put together by Wifessionals, and it is awesome. Basically, every month you get matched up with two different women and you exchange Cara packages. Every month is a different theme and you put together a package relating to the theme and what your partner would like to receive. 

Kaitlyn, the author of Wifessionals, says: Awesome things in the mail + Meeting new women + Encouragement = Cara Box

And it really is an amazing experience. 

This month I got to meet two amazing bloggers: Rita from Champagne-n-Pizza and Dwan from Momma DJane. 

The theme this month was Regional. I was assigned to give Mrs. Rita package and you can click here to see what I sent her. I had such a blast reading her blog and e-mailing back-in-forth this last month. She is really an awesome, awesome person, and she shares the greatest stories! 

Mrs. Dwan sent a Cara box to me, and I LOVE it! It was filled with stuff I love and can use. 

Here's what I got: 

 {Photo Album and a Travel Hair Styling Kit... LOVE LOVE LOVE}

{Texas Pen and Notecards to stay in touch while in Korea, Texas playing cards to keep busy on the plane, an American Flag, Chapstick!, and a handwritten note.}

Dwan really took the time to read through my blog to see what I would really enjoy, and she hit the mark. 

This was such an amazing experience, and I could not be happier with my first Cara Box Exchange. 

Dwan and Rita are seriously two awesome ladies! 

If you are interested in June's Cara Exchange click the link and sign up. It really is awesome. 

So, Should I Prepare a Speech? : Liebster Award

I was nominated for a..... Liebster Award! 

What? You've never heard of it? Well, color me surprised! So I'll explain. 

The Liebster Award is given to bloggers with less than 200 followers. {Which I think is great cause I actually meet this requirement.} The definition of Liebster is  sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing, and welcome. This award is meant to build your blogging community, and I love that! 

I was nominated by my friend Rita over at Champagne n Pizza. I met Mrs. Rita earlier this month when we were matched for a Cara Box (which is a whole different post.) But this lady and her blog are awesome. If I ever find myself in Texas, although I'm not sure why I'd be there, I will look this lady up! 

I am so happy and shocked about being nominated! I think the last time I was nominated for something was in 8th grade when I was 'Most Likely to Succeed'... So, thanks a bunch Rita! 

Here are the Rules: 

After being nominated, you should- 

Acknowledge the blog that nominated you via post.Write 11 random facts about yourself.Answer the 11 questions the nominating blogger created.List 11 bloggers with less than 200 followers that you believe deserve some recognition.Post 11 questions for them to answer.Notify all the bloggers you've selected that they've been nominated.You CANNOT nominate the blog who nominated you.

So here we go! 

11 Random Facts About Me: 

1. I still sleep with a blanket that I got when I was 8. Her name is Babushka. I take her almost everywhere, and she is the first thing I pack when going on a trip. 
2. I am addicted to chapstick. I have it with me at all times. I also lose chapstick all the time. 
3. I once stole a Hansen poster because my mom wouldn't buy the magazine for me. 
4. I watch the show Friends on TBS and Nick at Night, even though I owe all ten seasons on DVD. 
5. I could watch a Harry Potter marathon every weekend... and I could easily be convinced to watch a Twilight marathon. 
6. I could spend a whole weekend just reading. 
7. I often talk to myself and to the t.v. {This gets worse when I am by myself for long periods of time.}
8. Lizards creep me out. 
9. I love blog stalking. I do it everyday. 
10. I drink 3 + liters of water everyday. Matt says it's cause white people need more water. {He's half Asian and hates drinking water.} 
11. I teach 7th grade Hawaiian and Pacific history.... and I am 100% Caucasian. 

Answer the 11 questions the nominating blogger created: 

1. How'd you decide to name your blog?

I think it was pretty random. I like to read and I was sharing everything on our blog, so I put the two together. 

2. What is your favorite thing to do when you get home

Read and go on a walk with my hubby. 

3. First word that comes to mind in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1... go!

Castle. 

4. Never have you ever...

Gone skinny-dipping. 

5. Weirdest place you've... eaten.

Above a crypt in London. 

6. Favorite food to eat?  (You must eat it tonight now.)

Turkey Sandwich (boring but so so yummy) 

7. What will you name your first child or next animal (if you don't want a kid)?

Girl: Temperance Kitty Boy: Perseus Tetsuo 

Dog: Bones, or Thor 

8. Hot button issue:  gifboom or A Beautiful Mess.  Which app do you like more?  (If you don't have either, feel free to download them and thank me for letting you know about them.  Now that you have them, what do you think?)

Hmmm... they were both new, but I'm going with A Beautiful Mess 

9. If you were to take me on a blate (blate= blogger date), where would we go?

Go to a Thrift Store- pick clothes for the other person and then go around town in the said Thrift Shop clothes. 

10. What is the most interesting thing you know about Texas?

Mmmm... it's the lone star state? 

11. How excited are you that I nominated you for this award?

SOOOOOOOO Excited! 

My 11 Nominees: 

My Baby Birds 

Gray & Company 

Crafty Craziness 

Buckmaster Disaster

The Golden Grahams  

Emma & Eva 

ID Mommy 

Pan y Colada 

That Hooah Life 

Health, Love, & the Pursuit of Happiness 

My Cup of Sparkle 

11 Questions for my Nominees to Answer: 

1. If you won the lottery how would you spend it? 

2. If a movie was made about you, who would be cast to be you? 

3. What time in history would you have liked to be born in and why? 

4. What would the title of your biography be? 

5. What's your dream job? 

6. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? 

7. Are you a night owl or early bird? 

8. What book are you currently reading? 

9. What's the most adventurous thing you have ever done? 

10. Best date you've ever been on? 

11. Favorite thing about blogging? 

And that's that! Again I am so thankful to Rita for doing this. It's so much fun! 

Happy Hump Day!

A Very Graham Weekend and Other Festivities

This past weekend was busy, busy, busy! 

Friday night Matt and I met up with Obachan and the Grahams to celebrate Chinese New Years. 

We ate dinner at this place called The Lucky Noodle. {Well, they ate and I picked at my nice for a while.}

Then the Lion Dancing started and it was pretty cool to watch. I am glad we went down to see it. But the firecrackers were really loud and it got really smoky. But it was fun, and Matt was happy I came this year. 

{Feeding the Lion}  

 {Little Lion Dancers}

After the festivities, Matt and I went to see the movie Warm Bodies. It was really good and worth the cost of the tickets, and the concession since I needed a snack after not eating Chinese. 

On Saturday we met up with Josh and Ari (Matt's Graham cousins) for lunch at The Hard Rock Cafe. We wanted to treat them because they have chauffeured us around a lot in the last couple of months. It was good spending time with them. You would think we would see them all the time since they are our upstairs neighbors, but we really don't. It was good food and good company. 

Sunday we had to go to Kaneohe so I could pick up my lacrosse equipment. {Yup, you heard me- lacrosse! I am coaching again this year. This year I am coaching the Mililani High School team.} 

Anyway, while we were in Kaneohe we stopped by my cousin's house. We ended up watching the Super Bowl with them and having a lot of fun. They had a lot of food, and I got to roll sushi again. 

{My sushi fail.}

 {Poor Matt- he had to eat the messed up sushi.} 

{Our Super Bowl cupcakes} 

Sunday Night- we had dinner with our new friends Kea and Kai'anui Graham (Josh's cousins on his dad's side), and Janelle and John Gomez. 

It was a good weekend. I am glad we got out and did a bunch of stuff this weekend.