Remembering 9/11

The Freedom Tower at night.

Today is my week-aversary with New York City. (I didn't even do the week or month-aversary thing with my boyfriend, but THIS IS A BIG DEAL.) As much as I want to post about how amazing my apartment is or how much fun my roommate, Marla, and I are already having, I think, as a new New Yorker and proud American, it is important to recognize 9/11 first.

My mom helped me move up last Thursday and left on Monday. The whole time she was here we were busy unpacking, waiting for deliveries and buying things for my apartment. We even took an adventure to the Target in Harlem. But mom insisted that we would make time to visit the 9/11 Memorial.

Mom and I made our reservations to visit the Memorial on Sept. 9, two days before Sept. 11. We decided to go later in the day, and I highly suggest going in the evening around sunset so you can see the memorial during the day and at night when all the lights come on. The site is so calming and powerful at the same time. I love to look at the pools while the water and the victims' names are illuminated. When we were leaving a woman told us the waterfalls were like all of our tears and represent how we will always remember those who were lost. I thought that was a pretty cool way to look at it.

One of the pools. My photos don't do them justice, because they are breathtaking. 

The museum is still under construction, but it will be awesome once it's finished. 

The park area surrounding the pools is so soothing and peaceful.

(Source: Associated Press)The Survivor Tree in Spring. 

I wish I had gotten a better picture of the Survivor Tree, which was planted as part of the original design of the World Trade Center. It survived both attacks and was found alive under the rubble of three buildings.

The Freedom Tower at Dusk. 
The over-all feeling I got from visiting the 9/11 Memorial was peace. If you visit you'll do a lot of reflecting and thinking. It's not at all a touristy place. It's somewhere every New Yorker and visitor should go at least once.

My experience with 9/11
I remember exactly where I was when the first tower was attacked. I was in 6th grade at St. Juliana's Catholic School. I was in Mrs. Halem's math class. A teacher came in and whispered something in Mrs. Halem's ear and she immediately started to cry. For the rest of the afternoon I watched the news with my class until my mom came early to pick me up. When my dad came home from work, he took one look at the TV and immediately started sobbing. The only other times I had seen him cry before that day were when my sister was born and when our dog died. My dad was born in New York, and has a special bond with the city.

I am happy to live in New York. Thrilled, actually. I feel safe, protected even. The other day something fell out of my pocket and a man stopped to tell me. A woman fainted near my apartment and a crowd of people stopped to make sure she was ok. Everyone in my neighborhood is so welcoming and friendly. Don't listen to any stereotypes you hear. New York is a city of kind people, perhaps bonded by what happened on September 11, 2001.

going places

It's officially official! I'm moving to New York City! Until now, I have been pretty vague about my New York plans because I'm a firm believer in not counting my chickens until they're hatched (excuse the cliche!) But the lease has been signed and it's really happening! My life-long dream of moving to New York is finally coming true! My roommate Marla and I are moving into our amazing apartment on the Upper West Side next week! I am so thrilled to be moving, I can hardly contain myself! There's so much to do before we move and not much time. Ahhhhhh!

Stay tuned for updates, apartment decorating posts, posts about my new neighborhood and other New York adventures! I can hardly wait!

etsy explorations: mad about macaroons

Last summer, I tried my very first french macarons at the Bastille Day Festival in New York City. They were from Macaron Cafe. One was vanilla flavored and the other was rose. My life was instantly changed and macarons are now a staple in my diet.

Some of the mouth-watering flavors at Macron Cafe. Did you know that most macrons are gluten free?!

If I want delicious macarons in Kansas City, there are two places that, in my opinion, serve the best: Andre's (try the vanilla, or pumpkin in the fall) and Natasha's (the Mexican chocolate is to die for!)

Not only are macaroons delicious, but they are also beautiful works of edible art. Here are some not-so-edible macaroon trinkets to celebrate your macaroon obsession, minus the calories!

Keep Calm Macaroon print by Esquize.

This is a pretty good motto to have. If you're having a stressful moment, pop a macaroon and you'll instantly feel fabulous. 

Earrings by Pei Li.

These earrings are a subtle way to tell the world that you have macaroons on your mind. All day. Every day.

Eiffel Tower coin purse by qiqikoko.

This macaroon coin purse is so sweet and French!

Soaps by Aubrey Elizabeth Apothecary. 

These lovely macaroon soaps are scented so they look and smell like the real thing. I probably wouldn't taste one, though! 

Macaroons are heavenly, but they are notoriously expensive because they are very difficult to make and super trendy right now. I've always wanted to try to make them, but haven't been brave enough to try it yet. Here's a handy tool and a recipe for anyone who wants to try it. Let me know how it goes!

Have you ever made French macaroons? If so, comment about your experience or link me the recipe, please! 

cheesy corn dog muffins: how to win over the hearts of your siblings

A delicious cheesy corn dog muffin!

Last night Mom, Dad and Gama went to a 5 course meal cooking demonstration as an early present for Gama's birthday! That meant I was in charge of cooking dinner for two picky teenagers, Gene and Chessie. 

My parents are what you'd call a power couple. They're both super busy with work, so we ate dinner out a lot this summer. Well the kids and I were absolutely sick of it, so mom woke up extra early before church on Sunday, fired up the crock pot and made her famous beef stew. I told my family that since I was home all week, I'd make sure they had home cooked meals every day and they LAUGHED! No one had faith in my cooking. How rude!

Well last night Gene and Chessie were stuck with me! So they had to experience my cooking. I decided to get creative and make something they would love. And I wowed the judges!

The inside of this tasty treat!

Cheesy Corn Dog Muffins 

(makes 12 muffins)

This recipe is very liberal. You don't have to add cheese, or you can use different kinds of cheese, cut the hot dogs however you want, and so on. It's up to you! Here's how I did it. My goal was to make the muffins extra cheesy, because who doesn't love cheese?!

Ingredients:

One block of sharp cheddar cheese

One bag of shredded sharp cheddar cheese (or shred your own)

2 boxes prepared Jiffy corn muffin mix (as in, with the eggs and milk added, etc)

Cupcake paper (Last time I made these I didn't use the paper and they totally fell apart, so I highly recommend using paper!)

One package of Nathan's hot dogs (we used the bigger than bun kind)

Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Chop half the cheese block into small cubes.

3. Prepare corn muffin mix in a mixing bowl.

4. Add cubed cheese and a handful of shredded cheese to mix. Stir.

5. Check cheese-to-batter ratio. Add more cheese if needed.

6. Chop hot dogs into fourths.

7. Fill muffin tray with cupcake paper.

8. Use a spoon to fill each cupcake paper about half way with batter.

9. Add three pieces of hot dog to each cup.

10. Fill in the rest of the cups with batter, covering the hot dogs.

11. Bake for 15 to 20 mins. Let cool and enjoy!

This recipe is easy and doesn't take much time to prepare. It's a good one for kids to try, too! Even our dogs wanted to get in on the action.

Scruffy (left) and Peachy (right) anxiously watch as they wait for me to drop a piece of cheese. 

I served the muffins with baked beans and mac and cheese. The kids loved them and I got rave reviews like, "I think you're a better cook than mom!"

Of course I can cook, guys! I had to feed myself somehow while I was away at school!

It was nice to surprise my family, and I even packed leftovers for the kids' lunches for the next day! I'll admit, I'm a pretty awesome sister. :)

rock chalk, forever a jayhawk

 Today is the first day of classes at my alma mater, The University of Kansas.

 First of all, I would like to take a moment to point out this helpful campus pronunciation guide to all new students. You'll thank me when you ask where Budig is.

 It's the first day in four years that classes are starting without me being there. When I was a student, I remember telling grads how lucky they were to be done with school. But they all told me that they really missed it, and some day I would miss it too. Of course, they were right.

 It's nice to not have to buy books, or have test anxiety, or wake up for early morning classes after late-night studying, but I do miss the feeling of walking on the beautiful KU campus, running into friend after friend and saying hello. I miss talking to roommates and professors and sorority sisters.

It's definitely a strange adjustment. I still have quite a few friends in school, and because they are busy starting classes, I feel like I should be doing the same. I have little moments of anxiety because I haven't bought any books yet and I don't know where my classes are. I guess it just comes with the time of year.

 I also have friends who are starting jobs and internships right now. It's weird to think of them surrounded by adults in the workforce. We're still just kids! Remember how last year we all felt so grown up? Today I imagine some of my friends at work, and I feel like they're just kids playing dress up.

This state of limbo I'm in right now is confusing. I don't have a job, and I'm not in school either. Right now, I'm arranging my life so it's move-ready. I've been organizing my things, eliminating things I don't use or need anymore and trying to discover the next step. Until then, I'm just waiting for this new chapter of my life to start.

sweet 16: sugar cube corsage diy

This summer my beautiful little sister turned into an even more beautiful young lady (tear!) Francesca turned 16!

Chessie at her birthday tea party at the Intercontinental Hotel in Kansas City!

For my 16th birthday my aunt, grandma, mom and sister set up a special day for me. We got all dressed up and had a fabulous time at high tea at the Ritz-Carlton in Palm Beach, Fla. It was a fun outing of first class service, delicious tea sandwiches and girl talk. So of course, I had to keep the tradition going for Chessie.

Mom suggested the Oak Room at the Intercontinental Hotel by the Plaza in Kansas City. They have a few tea options, one of which is a Champagne tea complete with decadent strawberries soaked in some kind of liquor. But since Chessie and her guest of honor are not quite 21 yet, they were served Champagne glasses of Sprite so we could toast the birthday girl!

One of my most favorite memories of my Sweet 16 is the sugar cube corsage my aunt made for me. My great-grandma called her up and told her she had to make one, because that's what they did when she turned 16. A vintage-inspired crafting opportunity? Sign me up!

If I was going to make high tea a Sweet 16 tradition, I absolutely had to include this personal and adorable element for my sister! And luckily, we still had sugar cubes left over from my Sweet 16 (ew.)

Super-easy Sugar Cube Corsage DIY

Chessie's sugar cube corsage!

Materials

Scissors
Curling ribbon in your Sweet 16 sweetie's favorite colors (we used pink and yellow)
16 sugar cubes
Safety pin
hair tie, scrunchie or corsage bracelet

Steps

1. Cut 16 pieces of curling ribbon at varying lengths.
2. Tie a piece of ribbon around each sugar cube and curl both ends of ribbon.
3. Gather one strand of each ribbon-sugar cube combo and attach with a safety pin.
4. Attach the safety pin through a hair tie to go around wrist.
5. Have a happy Sweet 16!

Tips for tying cubes

You can tie the ribbon around the cube two ways. Either tie one knot around the ribbon, then double knot it for a simple look, or tie the ribbon around the cube in one direction, then tie and double knot the ribbon in the opposite direction like you would do with a present. The second look will keep the sugar cubes from falling out while the birthday girl is celebrating her big day.

This craft is seriously so easy! It took me about 15 minutes to make. Some people like to get crazy with their corsages and add Life Savers and other candies or silk flowers. I say do whatever reflects your Sweet Sixteenie best.

Chessie and I being fabulous at the Intercontinental. 

Make a wish! Our server gave Chessie a trick candle that would not stay blown out. Too funny!

Delicious tea sandwiches, scones and tarts! The food was wonderful.

Happy (belated) Sweet 16, Sis! Love you!

FREEDOM...

Ready to walk down the hill and graduate!

It's official! I am done with college and am the proud owner of a BS in Journalism! I guess that make me a pretty legit journalistic authority, right? Right, let's go with that.

It's officially summer. Actually, since I'm not going back to school EVER AGAIN (at least for a while...I think...) can I still call this summer? I'm unemployed, other than my retail job at Bloom on Mass. St, so am I on a potentially everlasting summer until I find a real job? And is it even really summer yet, or is it still spring? BRB Let me check...

Ok, I guess it technically isn't summer, almanac/nature-wise. So am I on summer vacation? Not quite sure. But what ever this free time is classified as, it does mean no excuses to abandon the ol' blog and share my life with the world wide web. LUCKY YOU.

Coming up on alexlovesny.blogspot.com...

• Graduation coverage: Relive the magical day with me.
• I had a pretty adorable grad party. There will be pics and easy DIY projects... 
• Other posts about fun things (I know, the specific-ness is killing me, too.) But in all seriousness.
•  I have recently become obsessed with making wedding boards on Pinterest, then got blocked for posting too many pins (ha) so if I am welcomed back into the Pinterest world, I'll have some goodies like that! 

Ah, blogging. It's good to be back. Happy "summer," everyone. And for those of us who are joining the world of freedom before entering real-life responsibilities, best of luck. Enjoy it while it lasts because for many of us, this is our last proverbial summer ever.

Also...FIRST POST OF 2012 #it'smay #almostjune