Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 Fifth Ave., New York

Hello, World!

Catchy. After checking out my stats I almost fell off my chair, either due to excitement or that I am yanning so hard I could be on the floor any minute.

Just under 500 views. Is this thing broken? People actually read what I am writing? Hats off to you and me. I must admit I have been back and forth about this blog thing several of times.

Meine Freunde in Deutschland, hallo! Pumped to see you on my map. This stat feature has my mind a ticking.

Miss Tegan, thank you for publicly believing in my dreams.

(Screen pan)

Digital journalism... I suggest you do some research if you don't believe it works. Those people do still exist.

Mom, intellectuals, and future paycheck signers say hello. I'm interested in finding out how you got here and what will make you comeback.

Let's catch up.

Yours Truly,

Danielle

Summer in the City 2

Contrary to what my hometown friends believe, or wish to believe, my life is far from that of our beloved Carrie Bradshaw. I am fully aware I am not the first New York based writer to state the obvious.

At this point life is a better image of a Tale of Two Cities, not to be confused with my summers spent in the Twin Cities of course.

The sun continually rises and my mobile GPS informs me I am in New York.

The city is alive and I'm waking up - sometimes still on the wrong side of the bed. This summer, more than ever, I confirm the importance of getting out. Out of bed, out of the day-to-day grind, and out on the town.

I write, I design, and now I draw.

I completed my first continuing education course at the Fashion Institute of Technology, Beginning Fashion Drawing with Steven Broadway.

A few things I learned/were reiterated from previous life occurrences:

• Pencils- even the recommended Prismacolor Professional Series- do not always come pre-sharpened.
• Showing off your artwork in front of those who have been doing it longer/could be viewed as more talented than you is difficult no matter at what age.
• Well dressed people get more attention (yet this is still opinion based) FYI: I was not voted best dressed in high school, no hard feelings. Rocking it in the office these days.
• Showing up a day before you are supposed to be somewhere is always better than the day after.
• Look for inspiration in everything. Smiling on the inside is bliss.

Sunburst Espresso Bar

206 3rd Ave (at 18th St)

Manhattan Lady

Eight months and four moves later, I am officially a lady of Manhattan. January 15th I took a one way flight from Minneapolis to New York with a carryon and less than three hundred dollars in my checking account.

Easy, no. Rewarding, yet to be determined.

In college I dreamed of my first big purchase after landing my first job following graduation. A pair of Jimmy Choos, a Burberry Trench, Channel Shades, I'm really not too picky. Reality, after six months of working full-time I have purchased my first bed. Foam floor mattress, to a limp futon in Brooklyn, and now my full sized plush Sealy in Manhattan.

Upper East Side, no thank you to the crosstown commute. West 4th street, a bit out of our price range. Gramercy, within walking distance of Union Square and Madison Square Park, yes please. So, it's a fifth floor walkup and I have yet to find a solution to my no closet dilemma.

The beauty of being young in Manhattan.

1 Year Reunion

It has been over one year since I graduated from the University of Iowa. I've now lived in 2 different states (Minnesota and New York) and have worked 4 new jobs and one internship.

My goal was to be living in New York City working for a magazine within one year of graduation. I'm living in New York and completed an internship at Twin Cities Statement magazine in Minneapolis, in terms of the current economy - I like to think I am doing quite well.

I was able to go home for my brother's high school graduation this month and made a point to meet up with two of my best friends from college. Ashley was kind enough to host Jordan and I at her and her boyfriend's apartment in West Des Moines, IA. One night was not nearly enough to catch up on everything we have experienced since our days on Dodge St. in Iowa City, but it was time I will treasure until I get to see them again.

Upon graduation I purchased these Irish Claddagh rings as a sign of "Love, Friendship & Loyalty." Pssh - to be honest I would have bought these girls Tiffany's if my bank account would have afforded. None the less the rings were relatively inexpensive and something that would remind us of one another.

When I gave the rings to them, we all had our hearts to ourselves and I remember laughing saying Ashley would be the first to get married. (As she's the one who always said she would probably never get married.) Lone behold we're back together and Ashley now has turned her heart away. So happy for her!

Not sure if there is wedding bells in the near future, but funny how quickly things change in one year! Hopefully it's not another year before we're again in each other's company. I'm predicting as NYC trip needs to happen in the near future!

Dinner parties: No age requirement

I've always thought the idea of a dinner party sounded fun, but thought they were a bit out of my league at the moment. Who would I invite? What would I cook? Where would I have it? Aren't dinner parties for people with fancy apartments and a long list of important attendees?

The important attendees I had no problem finding, my two favorite New Yorkers Robyn and Kate, of course! The fancy apartment was not needed. Thankfully my Brooklyn apartment has a bit of space and a beautiful Gerber Daisy, I picked up at CVS on my way home, served as the perfect centerpiece.

I had of course planned on having dinner fully prepared before my guests arrived, but the final shopping for fresh produce took a bit longer than planned. When Kate showed up I had just began the Sangria!

Thankfully Kate has wonderful chopping skills and was more than willing to help out! When Robyn arrived I put her straight to work on her infamous taco dip!

While I was a bit disappointed in not having the dinner fully prepared, the chance to cook together turned into a fun experience in itself. The Black Bean and Pineapple Tacos were a hit, I believe Robyn has even began making them herself!

I suggest you give them a try!

Black Bean and Pineapple Tacos

1 can black beans, rinsed and drained

1 large onion, chopped

1 med sweet red pepper, chopped

1 tbsp olive oil

1 fresh pineapple, cut (substitute with 1 can unsweetened pineapple)

1 jar 16oz salsa

1/4 cup minced fresh cilantro

10 tortillas

Fixings

shredded lettuce

sliced avocado

chopped tomatoes

sour cream

Enjoy!

Like Mother... Like Daughter

Riding down the escalator, while at Macy’s today, I looked into the mirror and saw a tall, leopard print wearing woman with stained red lips... If you know my mother, you know this description fits her to a T. Though it wasn't my mother's reflection I was looking at, it was mine.

As I get older I more frequently catch myself having a "Mom moment." As I continue to have these such "moments" (i.e. finger snapping while on the dance floor, finding more than one leopard print item in my closet, and wearing lipstick.) I instantly freak out - I like to think I have a bit better rhythm than she does.

Why is it we never want to grow up to be like our parents? They don't think the $200 pair of shoes we need are a necessity, they know nothing good goes on past curfew, or a car that runs gets you from point A to point B the same as a new one. If only I knew as much as I thought I did! But now that I'm older and wiser, somethings never change (!), I aspire to have have her qualities.

Her Beauty.

I don't know many mothers her age, (creeping past a wise 50), who are as healthy and beautiful as she is. When people ask if we are sisters it isn’t too far off! Not to mention she fits into clothes I grew out of in high school!

Her strength.

After being on my own for 4 months now, (with a bit of her financial support), I have realized life isn’t always glamorous. How she survived a divorce, closing of her business, all while trying to make mortgage payments and care for 4 young children – I have a lot to learn. And she tells me I’m brave for moving to NYC – I wonder where I get my courage from!?

Her style.

If I said I developed my love for beautiful things myself, I would be lying. After growing up in her clothing store (almost literally, I remember throwing fits if I was not allowed to spend all day there with her.) She always taught me not to care about what other people think, wear what you love – as long as you look fabulous! Even if it means wearing leopard print 350 days a year. She gets really wild, not wearing a print in her case, the other 14 days of the year.

Her forgiveness and understanding.

We all make mistakes, she will be the first to admit, but no matter the difficulties we may face she always reminds me to count my blessings. Even after I drove my 1990 Lincoln through the backside of the garage, which I eventually confessed to, she reminds me we must be thankful for our safety and well being. Material and money can be replaced, but we cannot be.

As many times I may have told her she was the worst mom in the world, I think we both know that is far from the truth. If I could take back the stress I caused her growing up, I would. After all she couldn’t have been that bad, I mean, look at me.

Happy Mother’s Day, Mom!

All my love,

Danielle