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.

top ten

Blues for supper? I was looking through some old pictures and found this gem, it reminds me of going crabbing at money bayou and lazy summer days in Florida. Those memories brought on this post from the GRITS guide to life book (which was a gift from my dear friend, a Georgia GRITS, Cason.)

You might be a Yankee if... (excerpt from GRITS guide to life)
(I added a few side notes that seem appropriate as of late)

1. you don't know what a Moon Pie is (or a tomato sandwich, the other AMPR intern and I walked through the greenmarket at Union Sq. and I bought fresh home grown tomatoes and said I was craving a tomato sandwich. She didn't know what it was, and said "that must be a southern sandwich!"
2. you eat fried chicken with a knife and fork (I haven't seen much of the good stuff in NYC, which I probably wouldn't buy any. The best place to eat a chicken leg is out on St. Joe Bay!)
3.you've ever been to a zoo that featured a cow & chicken
4. you don't see anything wrong with putting a sweater on a dog (or for that matter shoes, a rain coat, or a doggie water bottle/fanny pack...)
5. 2 generations of your family have been kicked out of prep school, well, you're a yankee if 2 generations of your family have even been to prep school
6. you've never planned a vacation around a gun & knife show
7. you think more $ should go to important scientific research at your university than the salary of the head football coach (one of the ladies on the July 4th hike was an FSU alum! (go noles!) But, she asked me if coach bowden was still there... and then said, "geez, he was OLD when I was there!... so, we still love Bobby!
8. you don't have doilies
9. you get freaked out when people on the street talk to you
10. none of your fur coats are homemade

independence day

There have been a lot of great days while I've been here, but today really was the best day!

I went on a day-hike with Outdoor Bound to a New Jersey state park. We hiked a 6-mi. trail up to a gorgeous overlook and glacier pond, Terrace Pond. The hike was "intensity level 3" - I wasn't sure exactly what that entailed. However, it was intense, that's for sure. I have been on hike/walks before... but this was a true hike! We drove out of the City for about an hour and started at the trail head. We followed the yellow trail for a while and then crossed over to the blue. It was a great way to spend July 4th, I loved breathing the fresh air and getting out of the City for a while. Just fabulous!

Once I got home I had to scrub my tennis shoes, we got into a few mud holes... and my shoes were not looking too pretty. I got ready to meet Stephanie and her Aunt for fireworks over on the West side. We walked down to Riverside park and found the perfect place to watch the Macy's firework spectacular. It's known as the "biggest firework display in America," and that it was!!! I'm so glad I was able to spend July 4th in NYC!

a good diet coke & a delish magnolia cupcake.

tonight at Carnegie Deli Stephanie and I had the best diet coke. If your a fan you know that every fountain diet coke is not the same. (it's either strong or really weak...) Well, it was so good that I slurped it down, and asked for a refill. I had a sneaky suspicion that they didn't have a "free refill" policy because the waiter never showed back up with one. So, I asked if they had free refills... nope, but the waitor brought me one on the house! You know, now that I'm 21 - people are buying me drinks left and right ;-)

We also stopped by a SATC haunt, Magnolia Bakery, to get after dinner dessert. It was splendid, the cupcakes brought up the topic of our jobs at Tasty Pastry in Tallahassee, so we sat and talked in Rockefeller Plaza.

A beautiful nyc night, Coca-Cola and cupcakes, what more could two southern girls ask for?


until tmrw,
emily

"Don't be afraid to laugh out loud but if you can't control yourself after a minute, leave the room!" excerpt from GRITS guide to life.

Work lately has just been getting crazier everyday. Sometimes I almost have to laugh at some of the things that go on. Well, as they say you have to laugh to keep from crying. Here are a couple of episodes that actually make me laugh, even though in the moment it makes you crazy! I guess this is how 9 to 5's are...

Episode 1 @ alice marshall: we cannot turn on the air conditioner. No matter if it's hot as blue blazes outside, we are "conservators of energy." I'm all about turning the lights off when you leave a room... reduce, reuse, recycle. But, c'mon the City gets hot! Granted it's a concrete jungle so around 2pm the sun is heating things up. Lyndl (our bookkeeper, who is also the owner's mom) is the keeper of the A/C key... so, I'm thinking about ways to convince her to give us a break, but I'm afraid I don't have much say... I'm gonna have to open a pure lemonade stand in that place! yowza.

Episode 2 @ alice marshall: yesterday I had to make deliveries. So, my first question after being handed 10 bags (each with coffee table books about one of our clients in them), was "so, what's the plan of attack?" I guess they assumed I knew how this was going to go... but, suprise!! I actually was praying they'd hand me a GPS to help navigate. Anyways, I get started out on the adventure. The stops were NYtimes, Conde Nast Publications, Elle Magazine, Wall Street Journal, Hearst Publications... I was hoping to get to see how the other side lives on my trip. That didn't happen. All of the buildings have a "messenger center" that collects incoming packages and mail... hmmm. So, no run-ins with any celebs or what not. It also downpoured while I was gone, I'm talking my j.crew "tissue weight" shirt wasn't appropriate. :/

hopefully July's weather is going to be phenomenal, no rain and plenty of City sun (with a chance of air conditioning)! keep your fingers crossed on that one.

In other news: My cousin Ashley and her husband Giles are welcoming a little baby into our family in February, congrats to you both! Sending all my love to Kentucky!


good night,
em

photos from the weekend <3

Serendipity menu

street vendors by the MET

1920s Police Department in the Village

local

Once a GRITS has been in one place for a while we have to start making it "homey" to survive. So, I'm working on it. With being a "local" comes knowing the secret places that tourists don't know about... (yet I'm still very much a tourist).

Some of the local "to dos" in the City have been plain delightful. I've seen some awesome things lately... here are few highlights!


Chinatown's Pearl River Market. It's the closest thing I've seen to a Wal-Mart since I've been here. From tea sets to gymnastic shoes, and shampoo to hanging lanterns... they have it. Here I bought a surge protector to hold all of the electronics it takes for a GRITS girl... I've been having a light flickering problem on my side of the house :/

The Chat & Chew. Near Union Square is a scrumptious little place with a menu that is real "home cooking!" Thank goodness for some comfort food. The Maryland crab cake I had definitely rivaled some of Florida's best...


thanks for reading everyone,
xoxo
emily

rainy days in the City

I haven't written all week, so here's a round-up of what's been going on in the Big Apple. It's been raining all week, so I'm a little waterlogged. My Columbia rain coat has come in handy...

In other news, momma is here visiting! It's so nice to have familiarity and a chance to show her what I've been doing. We have been tourists this weekend, Times Square, Carnegie Deli, Central Park... it's been lovely. Yesterday, we decided on seeing a broadway show to get out of the thunderstorms. We waited in the TKTS line (to get 1/2 price tickets), and we met the First Lady of Delaware. No kidding. She was in front of us buying tickets for her family (the gov. of Delaware was in attendance with his fanny pack)... How crazy is that. She didn't tell us directly that they were the state's first family, but she mentioned it and I Googled it.

We saw CHICAGO: The Musical, which was fabulous. The music was great and the actress that played Roxie Hart was the best.

Now we're both calling our dads for Father's Day. Paw Paw tells me, "Why don't you get on that plane with your Mom and go home, and make me happy!" ... I told him to call Alice Marshall and see what she says about it. Dad opened his gift from me this morning, a fishing shirt with the seminole logo on it. Here's a pic of Dad and I cleaning strawberries before I left. Happy Father's Day Daddy!!!


xoxo,
em

GRITS goes for a run...

Going for walks in the Park or running through my neighborhood has been delightful. It's so nice to clear my mind and take in the sights around the Upper East Side. Usually consisting of a lot of fancy dogs, Nannies and baby strollers, yellow cabs everywhere, and the occasional doorman who always smiles as a jog by.

Running in the City is different than running in the country. I used to run Country Club road back home. If you're not familiar with it, it's long and the same scenery the entire way (pavement and pine trees). Of course, nature is more than beautiful but sometimes not so motivating to keep a steady pace. Well, in NYC it's another story. It's all about pace!!!

1) I'm not the only runner, so you have to keep moving...
2) The city streets feel like a video game, it's a mission to leave and make it back home. I love that feeling, it makes you want to keep going!!
3) Stopping by the grocery to get milk on the way home from a run is so convenient, everything is so close together!

photo: these are the trails along the Jackie O. reservoir that I love
highlight of the day: getting a new project at work. I'm working with our pro-bono client, The New York Center for Children... advocacy PR may be an option!!

love,
emily

new york in numbers

4 blocks to the 4-5-6 train
1 10-spot for chinese delivery from Sunny Chinese Cuisine... delicious.
5 blocks to Central Park
19 days spent in the City, so far
1 time I got off at the wrong subway stop in Spanish Harlem
2 band aids on my heels (trying to prevent blisters from all of this walking)
2 times I've done laundry in the cellar, you have to lock 2 doors behind you... is it unsafe to be down there, or what?
1 time I tripped up the subway steps...
1 time I acted like it didn't happen
1 caffe latte flavored tasti-d-lite
1 hour for my lunch break and,
1 20 dollar bill for lunch at City Bakery... you pay by the weight of the food you choose... I guess you either need to eat only light, leafy things or don't show up too hungry. hmm?
1 afternoon spent with Steph, my favorite FSU New Yorker!
1 good conversation with my co-workers at Alice's birthday party this afternoon
1 of my kitties (Sophie Ann) was lost at the Bayou, but she came back after a 4-day hiatus... I love her and I'm thankful for her safe return.

xoxo,
em

"GRITS are given a free pass to get their fingers dirty on a good piece of barbeque..." -Fannie Flagg, author of Fried Green Tomatoes

Big Apple Barbeque Block Party and my hair still smells like a fire pit. Stephanie and I went to Madison Square Park to see what it was all about. Well, A LOT of people like barbeque in Manhattan, I'm guessing there were about 1,000 people there. Because barbeque is sort of confined to the South I wasn't sure what it was going to be like or how it would taste, but it was delicious! There were BBQ places there from all over the country (including the barbeque/coleslaw sandwiches from Memphis). The blues music and Sperry deck shoes gave me that summertime feeling...

We continued on an adventure, walking towards Chelsea. We ran into a Tasti-d-lite along the way and stopped in for the peanut butter and coffee combo.

In Chelsea there is a Goodwill boutique. Yes, boutique and Goodwill in the same sentence. I had read in the New York Times about this being a "recessionistas" dream store... well, we checked it out. I found a bit of Ann Taylor LOFT stuff in there. Except, one problem it all had SAMPLE stamped on it! So, I bought the 10 dollar dress with hopes that Tide-to-Go can help me out. If not, I'll just have to wear a cardigan with it. There's always more than one way to skin cat, Ann Taylor.

Highlight of the Day: steph and I laughing over a cab driver winking at us as he zipped by...
Highlight of the YEAR: Kenny Chesney at the Leon County Civic Center, and I just bought tickets!

park hyatt party

last night I really felt like I was living the New York life. Alice Marshall PR had a party for one of our clients, Park Hyatt International. Yeah, it was hootsie tootsie. (that's for you momma)

After work I made a quick change in the bathroom and came out with the signature new york look of all black... then I rushed down to the street to grab a cab (I was in too big of a hurry to take the subway) Once I got in and slammed the door I took a deep breath. The back window was down and I took in all the fresh air I could. This was definitely a moment that will define this summer in New York.

I took an elevator up to a space AMPR had rented in Midtown, The Core Club. It was beautifully designed with an outside terrace and an antique bar. Fabulous. Amongst the crowd were tippy-top people from Hyatt and plenty of New York media. Some of my fave magazines had their editors/writers there: Budget Travel, Country Living and OK! Magazine.

One of my jobs was to pass out the gift bags as people left. Well, there was a little problem... we had a series of party crashers who, of course, wanted the goodies too! It was supposedly my job to keep them from getting one. Well, it's not an easy task trying to advert theivery, eek. So, it was pretty much free Park Hyatt stuff for everyone!

check out pictures from the event here!

xoxo,
em

"you've got to continue to grow, or you're just like last night's cornbread - stale and dry." Miss Loretta Lynn, Kentucky GRITS

My desire for this summer is to grow: in the public relations field and personally. Well, If you've talked to me lately, you all know I'm growing as a person. I mean if walking to the Subway in pouring down rain, and then getting yelled at for touching someone with your umbrella isn't enough to grow, I don't know what is. My skin is getting thicker all the time... maybe this is a good thing!
However, I'm a little disappointed with my internship lately. I haven't really been able to get my hands dirty with writing or pitching media. I'm getting a little antsy. So, tonight I'm trying to get a new game plan together and figure out what I can do to get the ball rolling on some real PR experience! Like Loretta says, "You've got to continue to grow..."

highlight of the day: going for a run around my neighborhood after work and ending up smack in the middle of an Arts street festival... I just kept running but the scenery was beautiful!

picture: my street in the Upper East Side = love

a pearl girl's playlist

I'm living on the first floor (and right behind the trash cans) so, sometimes it can be a bit noisy. But, this playlist has been perfect to shut out some of the street noise. Some new and some old... enjoy!

1. summer nights - rascal flatts
2. more than it seems - citizen cope
3. small town usa - justin moore
4. ants marching - dmb
5. such great heights - iron & wine
6. it's amazing - jem
7. stranded on a sandbar - jimmy buffett
8. up on the roof - james taylor
9. california - kenny chesney
10. closer to love - mat kearney
11. summergirls - lfo
12. tell me why - taylor swift
13. electric feel - mgmt
14. madly - tristan prettyman
15. working 9 til 5 - dolly

#15 is especially to honor Ms. Dolly Parton, a Tennessee GRITS, who composed the music for the Tony-nominated production, 9 to 5, on Broadway! I'm saving my pennies to go see it!

xoxo,
emily

sweet tea suprise

My first week at Alice Marshall PR was successful!
So, I have a list of "things I want to do while I'm in the City"... well, I checked off quite a few this weekend...

1. I spent the best $12 today on 2 doz. beautiful hot pink roses. Buying a bouquet from a sidewalk flower shoppe is on the List so, I couldn't resist! They're sitting on my dresser and I can't quit smiling when I see them.
2. A new Yankees cap, check! I have some back home, but I didn't bring one so that I could buy one instead! I'll wear it soon and take a pic to post!
3. A new favorite of mine, going for walks around the Jackie O. Reservoir in Central Park. I checked it off the list and I know I will be going back as soon as I can! It was absolutely beautiful this weekend (after a few days of gloomy weather) so, it felt so nice to breathe in some fresh air.
4. Tasti-D-Lite ice cream treat. This little guilt-free ice cream place got it's fame from Carrie & Charlotte on SATC, so of course, I wanted to see what the craze was all about. I can't say enough about how awesome it tasted!!! I had the oreos n' cream soft serve, it reminded me of a Wendy's Frosty... simple delightful! If anyone wants to come visit me, I'll treat you.

To round-up the weekend my roommate, Paula, and I walked down a couple of blocks to a street fair. We had a great time. The fair went for about 20 blocks, so we did plenty of walking! I tried pad thai, for the first time. Very good! Also, when I thought there was no southern hospitality in the City, I found some! A live band playing Sweet Home Alabama and an ice-cold SWEET TEA... it was good sweet tea too! Sweet enough to cure my craving.

Also, major highlight of the weekend: I talked to my entire family on Skype tonight! Dad, Mom, Suzie, Daniel & Danielle ... it was the best!

A Pearl of Wisdom

"It's been said that love makes the world go round. That may be true, but friendship keeps the world on its axis!"

A call from Allie and an email from my sister, Suzanah, have really kept me going today. I know that the support from my family and friends is a must-have for this summer. Thank you all for your encouragement this past week. It really means the world to me! xoxo

So, here's one of the first pictures of me in the City... I'm at the observatory in the Empire State Building. Behind me you can see Central Park, which I'm thinking my apartment is somewhere at the top right of the Park. From way up there it seems like you can put your finger on it but in real life it is about 60 blocks from my apartment in the Upper East Side.

The internship has been going great so far. One of the most interesting things about the office is that there are 4 different offices in one! For example, you go in our door and then in the back there is a group of architects, one office has an accountant and there's one random desk out in the middle that has a freelance PR lady at it... not including Alice Marshall's staff. Space is not very plentiful up here! ha.

emily

it's the simple things in life...

that are the best.

Today I got off at my subway stop that leads to work, and the best thing was going on. An all-organic "green market" right at Union Square. It was beautiful. Plenty of flowers, fresh breads, honey... on and on. I was looking for some breakfast so, I bought a whole wheat honey-blueberry muffin. It was probably the best muffin I've had.

Seeing this today made me appreciate the culture in NYC. I've always heard that you could "feel the pulse of the city"... well, this little Green Market made me feel that "pulse." It was charming and truly a glimpse of something different than what's in Times Square, it's one thing that makes this place special.

Even more special is my summer roommate, Paula. She is a lovely Finnish girl who is so spirited and full of life. I am thankful to have her company when I'm at home. We sat tonight and talked about the gloomy weather outside today and she asked, "how I was liking my bedroom?" and she told me "that she promises to install the air conditioning soon!" Tonight is the first night since I've been here that I really don't need it... it's a cool 56 degrees out tonight. Is it really 56 in June? As a Florida GRITS I'm definitely not used to this!

now off to get some shut eye,

emily

"my family directly and my people indirectly have given me the kind of strength that enables me to go anywhere" -Maya Angelou, Mississippi GRITS

A picture from 5th avenue, The Empire State Bldg is fabulous.

I am ecstatic to have had a successful subway trip to and from work. I ate breakfast and lunch by myself, I did fine. I got to work an hour early (accidentally) but, I just kept walking until it was time to turn around and go to the office. I misunderstood and then understood instructions from one of the PR execs. I went out for dinner with Stephanie and found a new subway entrance for the 6 train. I'm sitting in an apartment that wasn't mine a day ago, but now it is.

As I am learning about NYC, I am equally learning about myself. Today's experiences taught me "why" I am capable to take on this summer. What is it that "enables me to go anywhere?" This summer my faith lies in my almighty God. I know that my tools have been sharpened and now is the time to put them to use. Today I kept reminding myself that, although unknown to me at times, I have been prepared for this adventure. Whether it be from my parents' teaching or from life experiences... I am ready.

I was realllyyy ready tonight for dinner, so it was off to Dojo with Stephanie. I walked there after work and we both had their "Union Sq" sandwich. It was delish and the company was even better! Stephanie is interning at Country Living magazine (hearst publications) for the summer and we enjoyed sharing our days with each other. One of my favorite things: good conversation.

Until tomorrow,
emily

when a southern girl has nothing else, she still has her manners...

For my first day I stuck with the standards that would get me through the day. A kind smile and good manners always seem to work wonders. I toured the office and met everyone I'll be working with, Cate, Mary Jane, Alice, Janet, Tim and the list goes on. Awkward moments came and went; I could feel the "new girl" jitters. Still keeping my chin up, I organized my desk; which really is a dream desk. It sits by the window over looking 5th Avenue. Across the street I can see the magnificent architecture of years gone by and a few pigeons every once in a while. It was a great day and I keep reminding myself that I will soon be comfortable and AMPR will feel more like home. It just takes a little time...

In other news: I'm excited to start my first blog! I have been encouraged by each of you and I can't wait to share my thoughts on this summer in NYC with you!


emily