This week in New York...

This week I...

Hosted a potluck dinner.
Saw a man dressed up as a giant bong handing out flyers on the street.
Became obsessed with LOST.
Went to yoga to the people twice in 36 hours.
Talked to Nate via satellite phone.
Picked out paint and painted two walls in our apartment a beautiful rust color.
Saw a man asleep standing up on the subway.
Paid 3 different bills and realized I have 9 credit cards.
Applied to approximately 35 jobs on craiglist.
Scheduled/went on 3 interviews.
Met my aunt and uncle visiting from Texas and went for Thai food.

It was a good week. :)

Jews know how to party.

This past Sunday evening I had the privilege of attending my dear friend David's little sister's bat mitzvah. And from the second I entered the door of the synagogue I was awe struck. One- by the complete lavishness of the party, two- by the food! AMAZING AMAZING food! Everywhere! And drinks! and Three- by the willingness all of the wonderful wonderful Jewish people had to celebrate! We must have danced 4 hours straight, and eaten a weeks worth of food. I must admit I felt like the red headed step child who had just been invited into a palace. It was incredible. It was such a joyous celebration and I felt so lucky to be able to be part of it.

Beginnings

So as of three days before classes, I decided to do what I never thought I'd do- take an academic semester! dunn dunn dunn! That means no studio, no friday classes, and four whole classes of academics. Basically I am a "normal" college student for one semester. I hadn't planned on taking one at all, but after having a change in priorities this summer I had to go with my gut and take some time away from acting. I am loving it! I'm taking two psychology classes, a theatre studies, and the best of all Ancient Indian Literature- which is all the wonderful philosophy I touched upon in yoga training! I have a lot more time for myself, a lot more time to go to yoga, I may even have time to read a book during the school year! It was definitely the right decision for where I am right now. Also a decision that will guarantee some savings since I'm now planning on graduating next December, a semester early. Even more exciting news...as of today I am officially a psych double major!

Now that I have more time on my hands, I, along with my lovely roommate Ashley, have been able to hone our culinary skills (on a budget of course!). We have created a new cooking style- it's called "throw as many ingredients into a dish as possible and cook!" It was doubtful as first but is turning out amazing. In the last week we have made paella, home made pizza, and tacos. I love cooking. I also love eating Veniero's bakery which is only a few blocks away but I won't get into that.

Here's some pictures of our glorious dishes! (And one of my very hairy roommate, Fish, getting a bath!)

Dumpter Diving...My New Favorite Sport.

Being back in New York, I have reached a new found low, discovered a love, and found some great stuff! The answer: Dumpster Diving (and I thought living next to a dump was a bad thing!) My introduction to the sport began last Saturday evening after helping my roommate, Ashley, move in. We discovered two incredibly nice, relatively new tables thrown out on the side of the street next to the dumpster! Now, after being on my own, seeing the price of furniture, and working my butt off moving I was appalled at how someone could throw something perfectly good out in the trash. Now, the normal Nicole would never say the following, but the new and improved, poor out of her mind in money Nicole would- "let's bring them upstairs, sell them on craigslist, and take the money!" And sell we did. Not only did we sell, we funded a brand new dvd player and toaster oven for our apartment! Times are tough, but we're pulling through.

Last night we dove again. We found this pretty nice vintage looking dresser. It's classic, real wood, pull out drawers (without those modern roll out things). It's nice, so nice that I have decided to add it to my pleathora of mixed furniture and am keeping it for myself. I am slowly becomeing more and more like my cheap boyfriend, but it's not all bad, at least I know my future is bright!

This is my recent find next to my beautifully cheap craigslist desk!