Helping Hands

Mormon Helping Hands :: Hurricane Sandy :: Rockaways, NY from Joshua Brown on Vimeo.

Josh Brown is a true talent and this is his work.

visit the Helping Hands facebook page

art for a good cause

Check out these posters you can buy to support Hurricane Sandy victims.  One of our friends designed one and I think it is quite cute.  I'll have to buy one and maybe another one or two...

Other ways you can help and donate.

Organize your own coat drive through New York Cares
Donate to your local Deseret Industries
Check out NYC SERVICE for other ways to help from near and far.

coat drive : update

I'm pretty much obsessed with my little (not little at all, actually) coat drive.

It started as a serious desire to help a week ago today.  (I wanted to rent an apartment for a month and bring my mom out to babysit just so I could go to the areas that are in need and help non stop.  Unfortunately, that just isn't in the cards for me right now.)  It has spread to many different organizations and groups.  I am so grateful that so many have rallied with me in this cause.  I am so lucky to have been able to start the ball rolling to collect warm coats for my neighbors back "at home".

There is a sweet story about one of the coats donated.  The son of Zack's co-worker wrote a note and left it in a pocket of the jacket he donated.
It said that the coat was his favorite coat but that he was giving it away because he knew some other child needed it more than he did.

I too thought of writing a note but didn't.  I regret it now.  This is what I would have said.
"This coat is very special to me because it was from my husband when we were dating.  We lived in NYC and I didn't have a warm coat for the winter, only this light weight one that I layered over everything.  He gave this to me one day and it kept me very happy and warm.  He has since given me other coats and I knew someone could get better use of this coat.  I am happy that I could give it to you."

This is a great post from the New York Cares website where I am sending the coats. 

 VETERANS DAY PARADE NOVEMBER 11 WILL BE A RALLY FOR STORM VICTIMS, COLLECTING COATS FOR NEW YORK CARES 
Read the entire post here.


The final count for the first shipment...  
235

Can you believe it?!!!  I thought my goal of 100 coats in a week would take a miracle.  I am pleasantly surprised and so humbled by the response to support my idea and mostly those in need. 

Stay warm, NYC!

coat drive

After living in NYC for so many years and then not being there to help after Hurricane Sandy, I felt terribly sad.  I wanted to help so badly.  I actually prayed to know how I could help.  I was searching online for ways I could help other than monetarily when I came across the New York Cares website.  This organization is no stranger to me.  Zack and I both volunteered with the organization several times.  I knew what I could do to help once I read the following quote.

"In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, New Yorkers are in need of warm coats more than ever this winter. To meet demand we need to collect 200,000 coats, but, due to the urgency created by Hurricane Sandy, we desperately need 50,000 coats this week!"

 So, organize a coat drive I did!

beauty at the wall

   

beauty at the wall :: a series of beauty, art and urban nature, as I like to call it

walls don't only contain and limit us, they also move and inspire us

a little remembering

 
We spent our evening yesterday at the 9.11 memorial in lower Manhattan.  We got tickets weeks ago and have been looking forward to it since. (See the bottom of the post for how to get tickets to the 9/11 memorial last minute if they are not available from the 9/11 Memorial, website.)  It was definitely no disappointment.  It was beautiful despite all the construction.  Maybe it is just me but I felt a reverence there I imagine because it is a burial ground of so many.  We were really glad we went.  It was a nice little family outing.

//  If you want to visit the 9/11 memorial you have to get tickets in advance.  Its better to get them weeks even months in advance.  There is no stand-by line or anything like it.  However, there is another way to get tickets if you don't have them.  If you didn't get tickets to the 9/11 Memorial Site, you can still get them the day of your visit at the 9/11 Memorial Preview site at 20 Vesey St. (between Church Street and Broadway).  They start handing out a limited amount at 9AM so you'll want to get there early.  I don't know how many they hand out, so get there early!

Spending the afternoon in Central Park

This weekend we spent some time strolling among the leaves and trees of Central Park.  It was beautiful and there was something refreshing about the tall trees shading us on our way.  I was very happy this day.  New York is not my favorite place on the earth but moments like these in places like these make it all better, at least for a moment.

Here's the loot.  We have little acorns in our park but these are rather mature and big ones.  I was in heaven picking up all that I could see.  I had to let so many go!  Now I have tons of leaves, acorns, and pine cones that I need to do something with.  I have some ideas so, lets see how they work out.  I love Autumn!

NYC Fashion District

 

Probably my favorite thing I've done while my boys are away is that I went to the Fashion District, finally.  I had specific fabric colors and types in mind and I wanted specific trims too.  I knew I would be tempted with all of the options in all of the stores so I was glad when I was a very focused shopper.  I ended up getting great deals, too.   And while I didn't go shopping for neons, spandex, or sequins like you see above, I did enjoy all of it and more on my adventure.

 

I never knew where to shop for fabric in New York City, but now I do.  My friend met up with me to  shop around.  She showed me her favorite trim shops and we were both successful in our hunt.  Here are some of my new favorite fabric shops in the fashion district NYC:  Daytona 39th St., Mood 37th St., the fabric store right under the Beckenstein's Men's Fabric sign 39th St.,  all the trim shops on 38th St. btwn 8th & 7th Avenues, Joyce 38th btwn 6th Ave. & Bway, M&J Trimming 1008 6th Ave., Purl Soho 459 Broome St. There are many more but these were ones that I found good deals and exactly what I was looking for. 

//  I found everything I was looking for and now, I can't wait to get sewing!

lovely humid Saturday

It was a good day, after that little morning treat we found in Odin's crib.  We went to Crafts on Columbus which is next weekend too.  My favorite item were these hats.  We ate at Sarabeth's and I devoured the lemon ricotta pancakes which are my favorite.  Then we ventured down towards the new Century 21.  We didn't last long there since it was the first weekend it was open to the public and rightfully so the crowds were insane.  We walked a bit more taking pictures of some of our favorite NYC sites and then called it a day.

Needless to say, I was eager to get home!  I've been battling a little cold the last couple of days.  Let's just say, those few hours that I have energy, I forget completely that I felt bad.  I get a lot done and then it hits me again in the evening.  That cycle is no good and really annoying.  Because I was drained this evening, I missed out on visiting an old friend and participating in a much anticipated (by me) broadcast.  Its a good thing I can watch and read it later.  Here are some highlights.

//  Here's to a good rest of the weekend!  (And to a swift and full recovery for me and you others out there not feeling the best.) 

beauty at the wall :: a new series

beauty at the wall :: a series of beauty, art and urban nature, as I like to call it

walls don't only contain and limit us, they also move and inspire us

While I miss the natural beauty of mountains, endless sky, green and wildlife at a moment's glance, I have had to find beauty in the jungle around me.  Since I can't live on a farm and work the land, this New York City has become my Cityland.  And, this land has much beauty to offer in its old buildings, streets, shops, and age old cultures that walk around in the form of its people.  I have decided rather than wish I could see and photograph God's beauty, I will enjoy every bit of the rather breathtaking beauty of Man's nature.  This series will be all about this beauty that is ever changing, and never the same again.  I think it qualifies as natural beauty, don't you?  Sure, much is caused on purpose by man but much is cause by time and circumstance.   This beauty speaks to me in the same way that those majestic bits of earth can.  beauty at the wall is beauty to us all, just open your eyes and enjoy!

This bit of beautiful wall was found in my neighborhood.  

Grand Central Station

Our friend is seeing the entire city it seems on this visit.  We decided that it would be a good idea to go to Grand Central Station during rush hour.  It was busy as expected.  Zack shot this photo of us standing still amidst the bustling crowd.  Can you find us?  There were so many armed officials standing guard.  But, in such a large place, I felt as though their small-bodied-in-comparison-protection was not as comforting at that scale.  Nevertheless, I was glad to see them there.

This picture will remind me of a good evening, exploring the city.  I am happy to have this image to add to my New York City book.  This place is wild and one of a kind!

a good night at bubby's

 

This was a good night.  We ate at Bubby's in Tribeca.  There was great food, great company, other loud kids there to drown out the loudness of our Odin boy and entertain him, and in a great part of the city.  Nothing beats spending good time with good people.  It had been too long since we saw them last so, it was great to catch up.  Hopefully we can see them again soon!  wink, wink

summer streets

 

 

We rode our bikes all morning.  Summer Streets was today.  Zack got a new bike and now he can carry the baby.  I liked that.  The streets were closed off to traffic on Park Avenue so we rode all along. 

 

 We rode down to Soho to Burton where they were having a big 2012 season launch party.  O Baby and I waited outside sipping on our blue snow cones from Burton while Zack perused the store.  Watching my little son struggling to get every last ice crystal from the bottom of the cup was my favorite part of the day.  That cute little blue nose...  ah cute.

Then we met up with my sisters.  My sister is here visiting with her daughter for 2 weeks!  We ate at Joy Burger in the Village.  They are the best burger in New York, if you ask me.  Best burger for the price, at least.  The fried zucchini sticks are awesome with that awesome green herbs dipping sauce.  

 

We made a stop over at the antiques flea market on 25th street (btwn 5th and 6th Ave) before going to the play at the playground in Madison Square park.  (That is a really good playground, btw.)  We were all getting tired and the baby was soaking wet so we decided to go home.  But, not before wrapping the baby in a plastic bag and his burp cloth.  It was a site with his little nipples exposed and his first little cape on his shoulders.  It was a really fun day and it was great to be with my family!

our little naked biker boy, hehe