Happy Halloweekend!

I l.o.v.e. Halloween (more fondly known as "Halloweekend" ever since my days as a TCU sorority girl... but that's quite another story, I suppose). I guess my love for this holiday should come as no surprise - I mean, who am I to pass on a chance to play a lovely game of Dress-Up and Make Believe??

As much as I would love to kick off Halloweekend by wearing my costumes to the office, I'm just not sure Rosalie (circa '08... oh yes. Yes, I did.) or Hermione (coming '09.... oh yes. Yes, I am.) would be welcome in the working mortal/Muggle world of NYC. Next best thing though?? Year Two of J's and my trusty Target Sparkly Pumpkin shirts from our moms, of course!

I don't think I could sum up our silliness much better than Jamie just did, so with that, I give you PTTP's first Guest Bloggy feature (and really, I wouldn't have it any other way than for the first edition to be from my dear LulledByTheTrain :) ):

Happy Halloween

“Clothes make a statement. Costumes tell a story.”

-Mason Cooley

(Not sure if sparkly pumpkin Target shirts from moms fall under "clothing" or "costume," but B and I are clearly making a statement and telling a story. A really riveting, childlike story involving Harry Potter, Theta Mix, awkwardness, WeeMees, blogs and pumpkin spice lattes.)

(*Please note: My curly-ish hair situation is in preparation for Hermione's first appearance tonight. xoxo)

I think it's worth noting...

... that I ate octopus tonight. For the first time. Ever.

I had exactly two bites of said octopus, actually.

More than one bite... because it was rather delicious.

But less than three bites... because then I started thinking about it too much.

And I had to stop. But still...

I ate octopus tonight.

I'm in a glass case of emotion.

My heart is very very happy for a dear friend of mine right now.

It really is.

Girl Scout's Promise and all that.

But maybe, just maybe, I'm the teensy tinsiest bit sad.

Just a bit though.

Ok, I suppose it's a rather big bit...

You know, as far as bits go.

But even still, it doesn't outweigh the happiness I have for her.

Honestly, I would really like to lock my friend up and throw away the key...

But I won't.

Because of that whole very happy heart thing.

Also, I suppose it's illegal.

Le sigh.

For the Birthday Girl

I'd like to wish the very happiest of birthdays to one of the most loving, selfless, gracious, strong women I know...

... my mom :)

A few weeks ago, the birthday girl came to NYC and was my very first visitor in our brand new apartment - nothing like having your mother stay with you for a few days to get a few of those "finishing touches" in place! Mom and I had a beautifully New Yorky Fall weekend of playing around the city. We roamed everywhere from Central Park to Brooklyn, giggling the entire way... 

Strolling along the High Line

Empire State Building from the High Line

West 14th Street from the High Line 

The High Line's old railroad tracks

Indian Summer

Central Park = Love

One of the year's first sightings of the leaves changing in the Park!

Walking the Brooklyn Bridge

My mom and my city... i.e. happiness

Piglet sidled up next to Pooh from behind. 

"Pooh," he whispered.

"Yes, Piglet?"

"Nothing," said Piglet, taking Pooh's paw. "I just wanted to be sure of you."

-A.A. Milne, The House at Pooh Corner

Happy Birthday, Mommy! I'll love you forever.

Seriously, Universe?!

As though I needed any other reason to love:

A. Harry Potter/Daniel Radcliffe, or

B. The West Village...

... Now Dan goes and buys a drool-worthy place in one of my dream neighborhoods??! Yes, it's true - read all about it here. I mean, doesn't it seem pretty clear that the Universe is trying its hardest to bring us together?

Call me Professor Trelawney, but I think I foresee my Autumn to be filled with maybe a few more strolls through the colorful tree-lined streets of the Village this year than in the past...

Fried.

Wearing a cute new dress and belt. But no tights. Feel like I could be in Mad Men. But it's freezing. Because it's October. Just finished presenting a major project to the client. Yay, but my brain is fried.

If you need me, I may or may not be snuggled under a deliciously soft pink blanket I keep in my office for just such emergencies.

Not even kind of kidding.

I'm so grown-up.

Kites, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness

As many of you might recall, NYC lost a couple of its really good ones this past Spring. I pretty much started a countdown to Kristen and/or Alyssa's return the second their planes took off.

So when Alyssa told me a couple months ago that she: A. got a great new job (wee!), and B. wanted one of her first big splurges to be a trip back to the City, well, let's just say there was much skipping and squealing down Third Avenue that day. And the best part? She was coming in for the weekend of Megan's Half Marathon in Philly! This clearly meant only one thing, two syllables:

Road. Trip.

By the time our double decker bus rolled out of Penn Station at 9:15 the Saturday morning before last, Meg had an entourage of 8 of us girls. We were ready for a touristy-and-fun-filled trip to the City of Brotherly Love, armed with Pumpkin Spice Starbucks and maybe just a bit too much luggage for an overnight trip. As we flipped through our NY Mag's, Glamour's, and In Style Weddings' (ok, I guess that was just Amy...) we tallied up our collective goals for the trip:

• Carbing up with Megan Cheering Megan on, obviously!
• Pictures. Lots. Of. Pictures.
• The Liberty Bell (more specifically, "Kiting" it with Tracey and/or Amy, my fellow Thetas on the trip. Kidding. But not.)
• Reid Rosenthal (See him? Hug him? Marry him? All of the above him?)
• Running up the Rocky steps, even though I'm pretty sure none of us have seen any of the movies... meh.
• Philly Cheesesteaks? For sure. Cheez Whiz? Undecided.
• Avoiding any and all people dressed in costumes
• Brunchy brunch brunch

I'm happy to report that in our 29 or so hours in Philadelphia, we successfully checked just about everything off our lists, and then some. These photos can't possibly do all of the giggles and delicious calories justice, but here's a peek at one of the best weekends ever:

Oh, well hello there, Reid. Thanks for welcoming us to Philly... Alyssa and I will now fight for your affections.

Despite our best efforts, we hadn't been wandering historical Philly for more than 20 minutes when we ran into our first Costume Situation. Sorry Meg. We tried.

Oh yes. Yes, we did. Theta Love.

I really do love history.

"Hey guys. Give me your best Patriotic Pose..."

I may or may not have Googled "Chick-fil-A, Philadelphia" within 10 minutes of checking-in to our hotel... NYC doesn't know what it's missing.

Cheers to Meg! Sure, she may have been in bed at this point, but it's the thought that counts.

Check out those pink (Meg) and blue (Stephanie) shorts go!

The Cheering Section

Theta Love for Megan! (p.s. two Kites in one trip?! Oh, I'm a happy girl.)

Meow (Video to come... Get excited.)

xoxo