The Visit to Columbia University

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Now I have to admit I didn’t know much about Columbia University but one thing I can say, it is beautiful! We took a quick tour while vacationing in New York. My friend Marc is an architect and he did some restoration work at the university in the last few years.

We grabbed some lunch in Harlem and headed to the university. Marc took us around the school and showed us some of the work he did. We ended up in the center of the university in front of the library. We sat down like the other students and ate our lunch while Marc talked about the history of the school and the courses. Marc attended Columbia during his college days also.

I was really impressed and at awe at how beautiful the school was. Then I realized that one of the Assistant United States Attorney’s I work with attended college there! I loved sitting there and looking at all the buildings. There was something majestic about those buildings nevertheless we enjoyed it! So, of course are my photos below. Thanks for reading!

Outside on the step looking around and eating lunch

Sitting out front of the Library of Columbia University




Inside the library. Can you see yourself giving a speech that will change lives?




Looking up in the library. Very majestic right?

Okay, this has nothing to do with Columbia but I had to add it.
It’s my photo of the Met Museum in New York.

Organizing the Fridge

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I love looking into a clean and organized refrigerator. It makes the whole kitchen feel complete and cooking much more enjoyable. I love cleaning and organizing but for some reason cleaning the fridge seems to be something I don’t enjoy as much. So I do daily cleanings and weekly cleanings to make sure that it does not get out of hand.

 Below is a go to list from Real Simple.com . It is very helpful and has great tips on keeping your fridge in order. It’s that time of year where we tend to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables so keeping your fridge in order is a wonderful thing to do. Enjoy!





Our fridge at home. I love my Samsung!



My favorite stainless steel cleaner. I use it on all my appliances.
Just spray it on your appliances and wipe down with a dry paper towel. 
Fantastic!


Our Visit to Rockefeller Center

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Visiting the Rockefeller Center was a challenge for me because I knew that my husband wanted to go to the top; I just didn’t want to join him! I am very afraid of heights but I knew that I needed to take advantage of this opportunity because who knows when it would come again.

So I knuckled up and said okay! I also wanted to be brave because my 9 year old daughter is frightened of heights too!  So we went in and I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised! Oh, it was high, terribly high but I am glad that I faced my fear and went to the top.

I did enjoy looking at all of New York! The views up there are one of a kind. If you are thinking of visiting New York definitely add the Rockefeller Center to your list! Here are some photos below of our visit. Also check out the Rockefeller Center tour and explore website. It could help you with making plans for your visit. Enjoy!

The outside of Rockefeller Center

The garden outside the building

As soon as you walk in you will see this painting. It is very interesting…

This giant chandelier is inside the center. It is gorgeous!

This is the view from the upper deck at the top floor.

Now this is from outside the building. This was scary but beautiful.
You can see Central Park from here!

Another view from outside on the upper deck. The Empire State Building. Wow….

Roasted Chicken- Simple & Delicious

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I have really fell in love with this recipe this year. It is so simple to make and has graced our dinner table so many times for the past few months!! Once I learned how to make it now I keep chicken and red potatoes in our fridge every week!

I do the following:

* Rise off my chicken and pat dry
* Season it with salt and pepper
* Spray my baking pan with Pam and pour a little olive oil into it
* Rise off my red potatoes and cut them into halves
* Place them into the pan and sprinkle them with salt, pepper and olive oil

* I then place my chicken on top of the potatoes or you can put the chicken into a separate pan
* Sprinkle some more salt, pepper and olive oil onto the chicken
* Bake at 400 degrees for about 45 -50 minutes

Let it cool off and serve with some vegetables and french bread. My family loves it. Below is a link to Ina Garten’s (The Barefoot Contessa) video for roasted chicken. Enjoy!

My roasted chicken


Perfect Roast Chicken-Food Network – YouTube

(click on the link to watch the video)

Goodwill Shopping in New York

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I had to visit a Goodwill store while vacationing in New York. So while my husband was at the Yankee’s game I went Goodwill shopping!

Let me start by saying I have never been in a Goodwill store that had security. This Goodwill store had a security guard at the front door! I was blown away! But once I started to look around I then realized why they did.

There were some nice things in this goodwill. It sure wasn’t like the goodwill stores we have back home! There were lots of designer clothes and shoes. There were rows of china and dishes. I was in heaven! Some of you know how I LOVE to shop at the Goodwill store, consignment stores and flea markets (see my blog entry here about that). I also love finding antiques and learning about them (see my blog entry here about vintage pieces).

So take at look below of all the goodwill shopping I did while on vacation and photos from a few other stores I visited. Thanks for reading!

Shelves and shelves of dishes and china

The teacups were so pretty




They had silver or silver plated teapots. I was not sure which it was but it was beautiful. 






So many clothes!





Look at this Jones New York coat for only $29.99. 
It was in excellent condition!

This was a great Anne Klein coat!

I couldn’t believe the price on this classic London Fog trench coat!
Only $19.99!




I loved this Calvin Klein coat!




But I ended up buying this LL Bean wool coat for only $12.99!
It is $249 online! Fantastic!





I purchased these crystal candle holders for about $4 each.
These shoes were another great find! I paid only $9.99 for them and they are 
about $200 online (see here). 



This photo was from the Homegoods store in New Jersey.
I loved these blue and white dishes. I purchased one of the ginger jars from this collection. 




I loved this polka dot teapot at the Homegoods store!
Very cute!

More dishes and I love the chandelier candle holder.
I also purchased these shoes from Ninewest for $22.
Here is the ginger jar from the blue and white collection and I loved this
white tea cup trimmed in gold. 


My Visit to Laduree in New York

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Laduree was at the top of my list of places that I wanted to see during our vacation in New York. It is located on Madison Avenue and I wasn’t sure if I was going to see it but I did. Madison Avenue is so fantastic!

There are so many great stores on that street! You could spend hours there but the only store I wanted to see was Laduree. When I walked into the store I was in awe. It was so beautiful and everything was just so lovely!

I just smiled the entire time I was there! It was an absolute delight! My husband was happy for me to. He knew that going to Laduree was something that I talked about often.  Especially, when he mentioned us going to New York for vacation. So take a look at my photos below and if you ever get a chance to visit New York take a visit to Laduree. You won’t be disappointed!  Lastly, read my blog entry from April about Laduree (see here). Enjoy!

Outside the store with my goodies!




This cabinet was filled with Laduree totes, gift bags and candles.
I purchased a black Laduree tote last year from Ebay. 






The window shelf completely decorated with treats! So beautiful!




The area upfront near the sales clerk. Look at all the delicious macroons!






They also sell perfume. 






I purchased a set of 6 marcoons. They were only $21. 
I got the rose, vanilla, pistachio, chocolate & lilly of the valley. 
They were excellent!

(all photos via Mrs. Shockley)

Using Cloth Napkins at Home

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I have been adding small but elegant lifestyle changes to my life. I have always loved using dishes instead of paper plates. I love drinking out of glasses instead of plastic cups. There is nothing wrong with using paper dishware but for me I just want to use my nice things everyday.

I hate the motto of “saving things” for later. Why? Later may never come. So why not use your beautiful dishes now. Why not drink out of glasses now? What is wrong with using nice things everyday? Since when are we not good enough?

Well, we are. So I have been using my things everyday. I have now moved onto napkins. I have been reading Style & Simplicity by Ted Kennedy Watson for the last few weeks. It is absolutely inspiring! In the chapter called “Dish Towels” he mentioned using good quality dish towels as napkins. I thought what a great idea! He mentioned that his favorite were Le Jacquard Francais dish towels from France.

I have been buying mine from the local flea market. They are wonderful. I have now placed them in a basket on the counter so that after I prepare our plates for dinner we get into the habit of grabbing a linen napkin instead of a paper towel. I love using them and so does my daughter.

My linen napkins at home; ready for dinner
Having dinner with cloth napkins. It’s a small but great luxury. 



I am now in the habit of using my beautiful vases for weekly fresh flowers. 
It’s nice having them at the table for dinner.