in the search for butter, the bayou, and a break.

The water is rejuvinating, swimming with a school of fish showering about 20 feet away is exciting, eating scallops after a boat ride is lovely. Ahhh, to be back in The Sunshine State.

Spending the summer in New York City only makes me appreciate the differences (and the greatness) in both the city and the country. I've been here for a little more than a week and New York City seems a million miles away in my mind, although I was practically just there. The summer in the City was amazing and one that changed me a little, for the good I think. It made me excited for my senior year at Florida State, it encouraged me for what life will be like after graduation, and reminded me that I'm capable. I'm so thankful for the experience. (Thanks to Momma & Daddy for taking a chance on me this summer!)

A little GRITS scenario that wouldn't have existed in NYC, but makes Port St. Joe a little more unique: We were making pancakes at the house last night, but didn't have any butter. And our pancake making skills desperately needed the butter to cover up some of the burnt after taste. Well, it takes us 4 stops to find it... FOUR stops. First we try Moore's grab-&-go, then we try Triple Tails ... clearly there is no butter at Simmons Bayou. We venture uptown and stop at the Junior Store, no luck. Dad was trying to avoid the Piggly Wiggly, simply because he'd already been in there twice that day which narrowed our options. Finally the Dollar General comes through with their extensive dairy section (we found out). As I know, sometimes the wide open spaces don't have butter less than a block away.

I'm heading to the beach for a little while to soak in some much needed sunshine!! Thanks everyone for keeping up with my GRITS blog over the summer, I have indeed loved seeing the comments and have found so much support through all of you.

All my love,
Emily

packin up

I'm about to hit the hay, I'm getting up early (4am) to head back home. This has been an absolute whirlwind, and I know I cannot write a decent post when I'm this tired. However, I will when I get to Port St. Joe, after I give hugs to my family and smell the salty air once more!

Home is a name, a word, it is a strong one; stronger than a magician ever spoke, or spirit ever answered to, in the strongest conjuration. ~Charles Dickens

I have appreciated all of your support more than I can express; the encouraging emails, comments, and phone calls have been so special to me. thank you.

Love,
emily

Friends Matter...

"they are the butter that makes our GRITS so savory - and the pepper that gives them kick. They are the heirloom china that makes our parties so much fun. They are sweeter than a Southern accent and more refreshing than iced tea on a sunny veranda. They are the jokes that make us laugh until we cry, and the music that stirs our hearts." -grits guide to life: friends are forevah.

Allie came to visit this past weekend and it was a highlight of my summer here, no doubt. It was an awesome weekend just spent talking and walking (we did plenty of walking).
We learned that in the City if you get a bit lost... you just keep walking and surely you are bound to come across something that looks familiar. That happened plenty of times. We took the subway from the Union Sq. area up to the American Natural History Museum (Allie hadn't seen the big T-rex and I wanted a refresher). Anyways, we left there and decided to walk home via central park. (we saved big bucks on not taking cabs this weekend!) It was a long walk and we even resorted to playing "car games" it was so long. Movie quotes and song chorus trivia. Allie's good at that game.

Trivia: I said "are we going right or left???" and Al says, "right like we're goin' right or right like we're goin left?" can you guess what movie this line is from?

or this one: "But, Clinton'd kill me if I spent $30 bucks on a sweater thing. That Jaclyn Smith knows what she's doin'..."

xoxo, em
p.s. this is my last week in NYC, time really does fly by.

Well, I declare! If it ain't Dr. Phil himself.

it's the little things that lift your spirits...

• Being starstruck by Dr. Phil on the sidewalk, I could've touched him I was that close! ha.
• Starbuck samples on the street corners, a little frappuccino for the road never hurt nobody!
• Mix CDs from Chinatown. $4 for 1hour of Michael medleys, not too shabby.
• Skype session with my Aunt Mindye, Uncle Rick, Cooper, and Brent... and Duke (their Puggle puppy).
• Watching movies and t.v. shows filmed in NYC and recognizing stuff, it's so fun!
• I noticed Tallahassee was named the #1 U.S. kayaking destination by Sky Magazine. Who's ready for an adventure?
• Talking to Allie like 4 nights in a row (she's visiting tomorrow and I couldn't be more excited!)
• After work dinner party at Le Petit Abeille
• I convinced Shanna at AMPR to buy a pair of Minnetonkas and she loves them!
• Accidently taking my dry cleaning to an "organic cleaners" and it costing an arm & a leg! Well, that's okay because thankfully I had the money to pay for it and I helped mother earth.
• AMPR's clients won 10+ Travel + Leisure World's Best 2009 Awards! Hot Dog!
• Went to see 9 to 5: The Musical. Dolly doesn't dissapoint, the music was fabulous!
• Being "off the radar" for 4 hours and having 8 missed calls. Mom I love you for calling 8 times in a row. <3

good night from the big apple,
em

levi's and moccasins...

Being that it's Friday, it gave me an excuse to take "dress-down Fridays" seriously. So, I did just that. A pair of my favorite Levi's jeans (that I'm pretty sure I've had since maybe high school-ish), a pale pink boy shirt, and my tan mocc-ies (as Allie calls them!).

a little background on the moccasins: I've been desperately needing a new pair of Minnetonkas... my first pair I wore to death. So, I stopped after work this past week at Shoe Mania in Union Square. They were having what I know of as a fire sale. Means they want to get rid of it, and they'll take anything if you'll just take it! So, jackpot on the Minnetonka selection! I bought 2 pair, one tan and one black. They are going to be perfect for this fall in Tallahassee, I mean I'm pretty sure Chief Osceola wears moccasins...

Anyways, I'm thankful that it is Friday... and ready for an adventurous weekend. I'm marking off my summer checklist as I get closer to heading back to Dixie.

News Flash about my dear friend, roommate, and a Georgia GRITS: Cason got engaged this past week! She and Bradley are the best match I could think of, congratulations to you both! I'm excited to share the next year with Cas, I'm sure we'll do plenty of talking about her signature colors.

Truvy: What are you colors, Shelby?
Shelby: My colors are "blush" and "bashful."
M'Lynn: Her colors are pink and pink.
Shelby: My colors are "blush" and "bashful" Mama!

have a great weekend y'all and if you're in PSJ, eat a sweet bay scallop for me!
xoxo,
em

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch

I can't get over this book. It's one of those that I've read over half of it in less than one day. Sitting in Central Park on a gorgeous NY day was the perfect way to read The Last Lecture. It goes through the story of a college professor battling pancreatic cancer. However, it doesn't showcase his death, instead his journey through LIFE! It is a beautiful story of celebration and his intense love for life.

On his attempt at becoming a Disney Imagineer:
"I ended up being allowed to take that sabbatical, and it was a fantasy come true. In fact, I have a confession. This is exactly how geeky I am: Soon after I arrived in California, I hopped into my convertible and drove over to Imagineering headquarters. It was a hot summer night, and I had the soundtrack to Disney's The Lion King blasting on my stereo. Tears actually began streaming down my face as a I drove past the building. Here I was, the grown-up version of that wide-eyed eight-year-old at Disneyland. I had finally arrived. I was an Imagineer!"

I hope you all can check this out! It's well worth it!

love,
em

6 weeks down

Yesterday and today it has started to hit me that I'm living in the biggest city in America, over 8 million people call it home. Everyone just goes about their days and sometimes it doesn't feel so big. The best small town feel came at these places for me:


Starbucks on 3rd Avenue: I had an assignment for my online marketing class due and I needed to get to a quiet study spot. It felt like I was in Tallahassee waiting on Allie to show up for a procrastination talk session. But, instead I'm in NYC! Sometimes it feels so nice to have the familiar mixed with the unfamiliar, an iced latte with a window seat in the "city that never sleeps" nice combo!

TJMaxx: If you don't already know, this is by far my favorite shopping destination! Well, bad news bears for saving money, there is a TJMaxx less than a block from my office. So, last night called for a little after work retail therapy. Seven Jeans for 20 bucks, who can resist?

Nannies in Madison Square Park: I wish it was my "nanny," but until I can see her in August... the Nannies here will have to work. I eat lunch in a beautiful park near work, and I always pick a seat near a baby stroller and Nanny... strategy is: they love to talk! So, it's great company and I get to learn a little about their lives. Lovely women who sincerely devote their time to others, makes for good conversation.

xoxo,
em

side note: since MJ's death inspired me to make a few iTunes purchases to help get him out of debt: P.Y.T. (pretty young thing) from his Essential MJ album.