I'm an MBA Graduate!

I GOT MY DIPLOMA!!!  After spending the last 2.5 years getting my MBA, as of today, I am officially DONE!!!!  It's been a long, difficult journey, but it has been well worth it (hopefully)!

I couldn't have finished this degree without the support of my family, who have always been there for me, and have never doubted my dreams, no matter how crazy they might be.

But most of all, to the hubs, who taught me that even the largest task can be accomplished if it is done one step at a time.  So...

To my best friend and HUSBAND - T
I affectionately dedicate this degree.
For teaching me that great things are born from tiny sparks of inspiration.

Big lights will inspire you, let's hear it for NEW YORK

Our first full day in NYC was a packed day!

A trip to NY wouldn't be complete w/o BAGELS!

Gold painted car

I love this dedication

The MET

Temple of Dendur

A little Jackson Pollock & Andy Warhol

Onto Times Square for some-

Shake Shack definitely beats In-N-Out!!!

Ran into the Naked Cowboy

Empanada Mama, NY Times & Muji (my favorite store)

How to Succeed in Business (w/o Really Trying) - HILARIOUS!  And to top the night off-Halal Cart!

Welcome to the bright light...

T&I went to NYC last week to celebrate my graduation, bday (belated), and our 2-yr anniversary!

We've been eagerly awaiting this trip-and it was well worth it!!!!

The update on NYC will probably take a few posts, but here is the first installation of highlights from the trip:

Excitement on the plane! We even got a whole row to ourselves!

NYC here we come!!!

The first evening there, we decided to give a go at the metro system.  Since we don't have smart phones (cuz I'm too cheap), it made getting around the city that much more frustrating!  After a couple of wrong turns and heated words, we finally found-

Flatiron Building

Eataly

Madison Sq Park Eat!  Sept 23-Oct 21

Nunu homemade beer + Wafels & Dinges w/ peanut butter & whipped cream-to die for!

C&D

A couple weekends ago, our friends Caroline & David got married!

T had the privilege of being one of David's groomsmen...

I love going to weddings - it appeals to the romantic in me.  And now that I'm married, I find it a great reminder/time to reflect on the commitment I made to T 2 yrs ago. 

Caroline is a wedding planner by profession-AND an incredibly talented one at that!  So, needless to say, their wedding was MIND BLOWING.  Everything from venue, vows, decor down to every tiny detail made this night unbelievably memorable.  Since Caroline & David are close friends, we were planning on partying it up all night long.  Unfortunately, T ended up doing 8 shots + 3 drinks within the span of 2 hrs (thanks to the open bar) - making him pass out by 11 pm.

But here are some photos from the wedding:

Programs which doubled also as a fan!

View of the seats

Wedding party photos

 

Ceremony-GORGEOUS backdrop!! LOVED the C&D floral lettering!

Amazing venue!

Ice Sculpture (yes, C&D IS carved in!!), Cake, & Tea Ceremony

T&I

Partying it up!

David & Caroline did a handful of unique ideas for guests to play with, including a casino, lemonade bar, video booth (15 seconds to say something to the bride & groom), dessert bar, cappuccino bar, photo booth, flip booth (it's like a photo booth, but it creates a flip booklet - absolutely FUN and ORIGINAL!), annnddd...most importantly, FOOD TRUCKS (king taco & crepes for late night party-ers!)

Dessert Bar & Lemonade Bar

RIP Steve Jobs

Life is too short to wake up in the mornings with regrets.  So love the ones who treat you right, forget the ones who don’t.  Remember that everything happens for a reason.  If you get a chance take it, if it changes your life, then let it.  No one said it would be easy, they just promised it would be worth it.

-Steve Jobs

We Will Remember...

On Tuesday morning, September 11, 2001, I got ready for school as usual (I was still a senior in high school), when my uncle from Chicago called urging us to turn-on our tv.  The rest of the day was filled with surreal images that are forever emblazoned on our minds: planes careening into national landmarks and Pennsylvania fields; the Pentagon severely damaged; and two 220-story skyscrapers just vanishing from the skyline.

The last thought in my mind was that this would be a day that would go down in infamy.

None of us will ever forget that day and where we were when we first learned of the tragic events unfolding before our eyes.

Today, as we should, We Will Remember...

Fashion Week Kick-Off!

BCBG Max Azria

BCBG stayed true to its design aesthetic of clean & simple lines with color blocking - I loved their sexy leg slits in their dresses.  Their 31 piece collection had bursts of colors with tribal influence - Tangerine, Teal, Mustard & Yellow.  Their collection had an assortment of silk dresses, jumpsuits, and separates - they did an amazing navy jumper piece that I'd love to have!

Tadashi Shoji

Tadashi Shoji's collection was STUNNING.  I couldn't take my eyes off his show.  He is known for his ability to create pieces with simple elegance and their effortless ability to float across the runway.  The beginning of the show included literal flower-inspired pieces of fashion, and as the collection continued, it gradually became an abstract interpretation of flower-inspired fashion.

He was drawn to the tulip as his inspiration because it "is full of life, incessantly evolving and changing in shape."

Although I adore almost all of his pieces, I wasn't a big fan of the lacey confections that looked like old school wedding gowns - they just weren't fresh enough for me.  Here are just a few of my favorites!

 

Today: Tune-in for

Jason Wu, 1 p.m.
Billy Reid, 6 p.m. - The menswear upstart from Alabama is showing womenswear, too.
Suno, 8 p.m. - Inspired by Kenyan textiles, the young line jump started a new fascination with color.