America The Story of Us Premieres THIS Sunday!

After months and months (and months) of working on the exciting media campaign for HISTORY's America The Story of Us... the time is finally here! The campaign has been going so well (check out an AdWeek article about it here and see a really cool video of the transformation of Grand Central in NYC, Union Station in DC, and the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in CA here. Pictures below :) ).

The Main Concourse of Grand Central Station, NYC

Union Station, Washington DC

Photo Credit: Matt Garbow

Union Station, Washington DC

Photo Credit: Matt Garbow :)

And now the premiere is this Sunday at 9pm on HISTORY... And y'all, I can't wait!

If you know me at all, you know I'm the first to admit to (and embrace) my inner nerd... But honestly, I'd be excited for this premiere regardless because it really is going to tell and depict America's history like we've never seen it before. It's a brand new look at the lesser known events and people who impacted the forming of a nation in a big way. Complete with tons of CGI and reenactments, HISTORY is really going to bring the story to life. You can see for yourself in the trailer below:

You don't even have to take my word for it - the series has been getting a ton of great press, from The New York Times to USA Today to a really great segment on The Today Show last week:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

President Obama is even introducing the first night of the six-part special event... I mean, how amazing is that?? You can see it here.

All this to say: Hope y'all tune in for the premiere and enjoy! America The Story of Us on HISTORY this Sunday April 25th at 9pm/8pm Central. :)

In case you need me in the middle of the night...

... there's a good chance I'll be on E. 37th Street between Second and Third Aves from 11:30pm until 2:00am.

What's that? Why, pray tell, would I not be snuggled safe in my bed? What could possibly get me to wander the corners of Murray Hill during the wee hours of a Monday evening?? Well, I'm glad you asked... because I have a very logical explanation for my questionable nocturnal behavior:

Elephants.

Elephants walking through Manhattan.

That's right, friends! The circus is coming to town - my town! And cute little elephants, ponies, heffalumps, and the whole gang will be on parade from the Queens-Midtown Tunnel right on across 34th Street to MSG.

Sometimes I shudder at how much I hear this overused phrase in this crazy city, but in this case, I think I'm allowed to make an exception: Only. In. New York.

You. Are. Welcome.

The first, of what we can hope assume will be many, full length trailer for Eclipse.

Le. Sigh.

Oh hello, Outlook Reminders...

Thanks so much for filling my morning with sunshine:

After buying our tickets a month and a half ago, the Texas Independence Day concert is finally just around the corner! Only 5 days until a fab night with all of my Texas/NYC Loves (in case you hadn't noticed, there are quite a few of us)... Featuring pretty much my dream TX Country lineup: Reckless Kelly, Pat Green, Eli Young Band and Roger Creager!! Between those performances, and the many, many cowboys who are sure to dust off their very best boots and Levi's for the occasion, I'd say we're in for a pretty swoon-filled evening.

And "ATLANTA with the girls!!! Weeeeeee!!"... well, that pretty much speaks for itself. Just 10 short days - approximately 240 hours - until LJ, Angie and I are reunited with Miss Jamie in the ATL. There are no words to even pseudo-describe how happy the anticipation for this trip makes my heart. Can. Not. Wait.

Oh, and that silly Time Sheet reminder, you ask? Please just disregard. It's raining on my parade. And the particularly nasty "4 hours overdue" note...? We'll just go ahead and chalk it up as a tribute to the aforementioned trip to see Jamie, Queen of Overdue Time Sheets. :)

The Time Has Come...

New Moon!!! Official release!! TONIGHT!! At Midnight!! Ahhhhhhhh!!!

Ok, sorry. I promise to stop with the tone it down on the exclamation points. I started this post by babbling on about my love for all things Twilight/Robert Pattinson (Team Edward! Wee!), but goodness knows I've done that a time or three already. I think y'all get the picture by now. And if you don't, luckily my Twi-geeky friends have all been on top of their game this week, gushing about their excitement (Well done, ladies).

Oh, and p.s. who here thinks I should get a gold star (or twelve) for not taking today off of work to stalk innocently wander the streets of NYC in hopes of "bumping" into Rob?? I mean, he's here. In. The. City. For the NYC Premiere. And I'm... In. My. Office. Yeah, that took some serious restraint. Sigh.

Regardless though...

I get to see New Moon!! So soon!! Because it's finally premiering!!! TONIGHT!! Can. Not. Wait.

Sorry... I just couldn't resist. :)

"Unless the debate is about whether or not it's ever too late for a second chance, I'm not interested."

Not all friendships have to suffer when it comes to talking politics. No, many agree to sometimes disagree on certain issues. Others find common ground through intelligent and respectful discussion. Then there are those who take it a few steps further... say, by making cute puppets of candidates. Or maybe, I don't know... bonding over the reenactment of a particularly hilarious clip on a late night satirical political pundit tv show... in their cubicles... at work... Just a couple of possibilities, I suppose.

After I watched Stephen Colbert call for the suspension of the Presidential Debate right before the Election last year, I came into work the next day still in a fit of giggles. Much to my excitement, Jamie found Colbert's reasoning just as silly and fabulous as I did. After replaying the below clip many, many times, Jamie took to her chair and did the most perfect impersonation of what happens around 02:52...

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
"Nights in Rodanthe" Premiere
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor U.S. Speedskating

I won't ever hear Gavin Rossdale crooning "Love Remains the Same" again without picturing Jamie gleefully spinning around on her office chair, with her head thrown back, arms open wide, exclaiming "Ohhh... Oh! I LOVE LOVING!!" Yes, my readers. That is the picture of true friendship.

And tomorrow night, be sure to set your DVRs, because J and I have VIP tickets to the taping of The Colbert Report! I can pretty much guarantee you'll be able to pick our uncontrollable and constant laughter out of the crowd. I really can't think of a more perfect way to commemorate her last week in NYC...

... Oh and that song! Jimmy Jamie, that theme song! Give me another taste!!

Fear the Frog!

I had a delightful brunch with the members of Apostles Church this morning, so I just finished watching College GameDay on my DVR (That's right - I recorded ESPN. Just call me Sporty Spice :) ). And no surprise here: they unanimously picked TCU over Utah for the big win tonight!! Get ready for some Horned Frog Football, y'all!

Pretty Pretty Purple Campus :)

Go Frogs!

"They've earned that #4 BCS ranking. They are daring to dream here about very, very big things."

-Chris Fowler, ESPN College GameDay

NaBloPoMo

After hearing from a few of my bloggy friends that November has come to be known as the national daily blogging month, I decided to do some research. One quick Google search later, and I discovered that this nerdy exciting rumor was not only true, but that it's actually quite official: National Blog Posting Month, i.e. NaBloPoMo. Look! They have a web site and a bloggy social network of sorts and everything!

The site states the rules quite simply: "Post every day for a month. That's all you have to do." Fun, right?! Since my unintentional sabbatical this summer, I haven't been blogging nearly as much as I'd like, so this sounds like just the motivation I've been needing. Not to mention, I'm sure I'll discover lots of new bloggies to add to my Google Reader (because goodness knows my current subscription level of 114 isn't enough... meep.). And I get to have this super cute badge you'll notice to the left :) 

So with that, get excited for what will (hopefully) be 30 straight days of PTTP updates... Random thoughts, thoughtful thoughts, pictures, videos, quotes... Who knows what could be in store! 

xoxo

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...

I Want to Go to There. Now.

Happy happy Friday! Universal Orlando revealed more details this week about the opening of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter... Oh. Yes. Needless to say, I may have spent the last few days geeking out watching the below video of 3-D renderings of the theme park on repeat...

Weeee!!! Now if only I had a magic wand so that I could make Spring 2010 get here immediately... Kidding. Kind of.

City Skyline to Big Sky

I'm having a hard time believing that by the time today ends, my view will have gone from this...

... to this...

Sigh. They don't call it the "Treasure State" for nothing.

I'm headed back to my roots for the first time in about 5 years to celebrate my Grammy's 79th birthday! A long weekend full of love and laughter with my family, surrounded by some of the most breathtaking land on this earth... Can't. Wait.

"I am in love with Montana... Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans."

-John Steinbeck

A Glorious Reunion

Dearest Seattle,

I know it's been almost 3 whole years since I've been back, and you must know how sorry I am for this neglect. You know I love you and think the world of you! I still don't even consider naming a place other than you when I'm asked where I'm from... You and I - we have more happy memories than I can even begin to name.

And guess what? In exactly one week, I'll be on a plane headed your way for a reunion unlike any other! 10 whole days of us together, me back in the beautiful Northwest. Can you hardly stand it?? I'm so giddy, I don't even mind if it rains a time or two...

So get excited, my friend. Please prepare The Pink Door, Snoqualmie Falls, Triple X Root Beer, Pike Place Market, the Space Needle, and eeeverywhere in between... Because you and I both know that it's been far far too long. See you soon!

xoxo,

me

"It doesn't matter where you are, doesn't matter where you go
If it's a million miles away or just a mile up the road
Take it in, take it with you when you go
Who says you can't go home?"

-Sugarland & Bon Jovi

Literature At Its Finest

Will anyone judge me if I admit that I'm totally planning on reading Lauren Conrad's new novel L.A. Candy? Because I kiiind of am... Just as soon as I'm finished re-reading Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince (before the movie comes out on July 15th!!). Oh, and probably after The Time Traveler's Wife. Because Kristen will hurt me if I don't finish that by the time she's back in NYC. And because the trailer alone makes my heart do somersaults.

All this to say: I heart summer reading.

Oh, and p.s. Get excited for a ridiculously gushy post about Laura and JJ's fantastically romantic and perfect wedding in Phoenix this past weekend. I haven't downloaded the 200ish pictures that I took yet, and Laura/it was all so beautiful that I have to make sure there's proper photographic aid to help do everything justice. But for now, let me just sum the weekend up with: Awwwww!! :)

With All Your Heart

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,' declares the LORD."

-Jeremiah 29:11-14

MTV Wins At Life Tonight

After the debacle/foolishness that was the last MTV Music Awards, thank GOODNESS MTV is seeming to redeem itself with the Movie Awards tonight. I'm still watching on my DVR, but after I rewound the World Premiere of the New Moon trailer several times, I noticed Ryan Seacrest posted it on Twitter!!

... Wait. I'm sorry. Did that last sentence REALLY just happen? Rewinding for New Moon? Ryan Seacrest? Twitter?? Who am I??...

Sigh. Ok. Aaanyways, I couldn't wait any longer to share this fabulousness. Between Rob in his dreamy suit and a shirtless Taylor who is apparently all grown up, I dare you to watch just once... :)

It's Not a Video, But...

... this new blog is so amazing that I think it's worth Happy Friday! Happy Video(ish)! status:

Awkward Family Photos

Seriously, out of control funny. My section of cubicles is just a bunch of uncontrollable giggles right now because we can't stop scrolling... 

The majority of the photos are just good clean fun, however I apologize in advance (Mom :) ) for any PG-13 pictures and/or comments - silly user submitted content can get a little risque at times.

And thanks to my lovely friend Christine for the fabulous find, all the way from Dallas! AND she'll be invading NYC in just two weeks!! Perhaps we'll take some Awkward Fam Photos of our own while she's here... Ahhhh Juice in the City, Part II... Can. Not. Wait!

How Many Days Until July 17??

84. Yep. Just 84 short days until the long-awaited July 17th premiere of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince!! And considering I'll probably nerd out and go to the Midnight Showing Thursday night/Friday morning with Lauren and my other wizard-loving friends, I suppose we could knock it down to 83... Can. Not. WAIT!

So for your Happy Friday! Happy Video! viewing pleasure, I give you the latest and greatest trailer that was released last week. This one steers clear of all of the gloom and doom in the sixth book and instead focuses on the romantic (read as: teenage angsty) storylines in the Best. Series. Ever... Yesssss!

"[This movie is] about sex, potions and rock 'n' roll... It's a wonderfully fun, slightly rebellious, quite naughty stage of teenage life." -Half-Blood Prince director David Yates... o.m.goodness.

Well, hello Monday! Thank you for making all of my wildest dreams come true:

Here's the thing about cupcakes: I love them. And not just because they're all sorts of "trendy" these days. No, they've held a special place in my treats-loving heart for quite some time.

My happy memories of these precious desserts go way, way back. I still remember the birthday when my mom surprised me by turning my favorite cake (Rainbow Chip, even to this day. Yes, I'm still five years old and proud of it, thank you very much!) into the birthday treat of the year when she baked ice cream cone cupcakes for each of my classmates. I was totally the coolest first grader after that... well, at least until someone brought in a puppy for Show and Tell, I suppose.

And don't even get me started about my very first Magnolia experience on my very first trip to NYC about three years ago (awww!). If I hadn't already been set on moving to the City at that point, goodness knows this little taste of heaven we had on the SATC Tour would've been the tipping point:

Really, I could go on and on about these muffin-shaped, frosting-smothered treats (and let's be honest. I probably will in the future...) but for now, let's just all take a moment and thank our lucky stars for the gloriousness that will be CupcakeCamp NYC. Let the countdown to a cupcake-induced coma begin... Sigh. Can't wait!

Daddy's Girl

I don't take the decision of assigning people to my speed dial lightly. I mean, it's just cruel to ask a girl to choose just nine people who she most often needs to contact at just the press of a button! And considering research shows it takes 21-30 days to form a habit (thank you, Google), who wants to go to all of the trouble of getting used to a new person in one of those coveted spots only to switch them out after a few months?

All this to say: I rarely put boys on my speed dial. And when I do, it's because I expect him to hold that rather significant place for awhile...

Which is why it is no small feat that there is one boy - just one - who has managed to hold the #1 spot on my cell for the last eight or so years... my dad :) And guess what?? In just four short days, he'll be in NYC! Yayyy!

Granted this visit means that you'll find me in a mad cleaning frenzy for the next couple of days (You know, for how often I never have a thing to wear, I don't know how I manage to build up so much laundry every week...), but it'll be worth it for a long weekend filled with fun, frolic and red wine with the #1 man in my life... and on my speed dial.

"The only man a girl can trust is her daddy." -Frenchy in Grease