new york city: day two

Oh, Sunday. I think you were my favorite.

Day two in New York City was Ahh-mazing with a capital A. I spent the whole day in Manhattan, and when I say the whole day, I mean from sun up to sun down, walking and skipping from place to place.

I started out early with a walk to find coffee. Remember, I had my own keys and I could do as I pleased, so I left the apartment on the Upper East Side with my yoga pants on and a neon yellow t-shirt. I walked wherever I felt like walking really, and you better believe there was a bounce in my pony tail…

GOOD MORNING, NEW YORK CITY!

The weather forecast said rain, but I only saw sunshine. Happiness!

As I walked along I couldn’t help but notice all the tulips. I spotted colored tulips galore, and then when I got to Park Ave there was just a sea of yellow tulips at each intersection. Gorgeous springtime yellow! Oh, I loved it.

The architecture in Manhattan is so beautiful. I kept trying to imagine the families that live in these buildings and apartments, both today and in the past. I passed by so many different homes, juggling between taking pictures and just enjoying the walk.

Sometimes it’s exhausting to be a blogger.

At one point, I turned the corner to head across to the park and I just caught myself directly in front the the Guggenheim.

!!!!!!

This is one of my favorite parts about wandering around a city. The discovering of significant places out of the blue? This has happened to me before. I just stop in my tracks and just stare wide-eyed for a minute, amazed and speechless. I always take a deep breath and stand still for a minute, and then of course, I start snapping pictures. Naturally.

I am 25% wanna-be New Yorker, and 75% TOTAL TOURIST.

No shame.

I tried to cross into the park after this, but couldn’t get past all the women running in the half-marathon that morning. I contemplated for about 10 minutes whether to try to run across or not, but ultimately decided not too. Knowing me I’d probably trip or something. I always struggle most in the worst situations.

I do love a good marathon, though, so I was glad to stand there and watch for a bit. I always get the shivers. I myself can just barely run one mile, so the idea of 13 is incredibly impressive.

The Boston Marathon?

Please. I cry every single time.

But come on, you must cry too. The inspiration!!

I was super sad to miss Marathon Monday this year, but it was actually happening this very same weekend, so unfortunately I had to live vicariously through my Boston instagram friends. You can’t win ’em all, I guess.

After heading back to the apartment to shower and change for the day, I met up with my friend Katie again. This time, it was to do a little apartment hunting! She had an appointment with a relator, so I tagged along to take a look too!

Check out the rooftop view.

Killer.

Yeah, I wouldn’t mind hanging up there on the weekends. Wouldn’t mind one single bit.

I wonder what you’ll decide, KPrime! Can’t wait to come visit you in your new digs.

After that little treat of a view I was on my way to brunch.

BLOGGER BRUNCH! What UP.

The excitement was unreal. And it’s safe to say, I love these ladies.

Their blogs? Oh, I’m obsessed with them. They’re both two of my go-to reads. As soon as they post, I am there. It’s good stuff, people. Really good stuff.

Colleen’s over at Ordinary Tales, and Molly blogs at Mr. & Mrs. Rigoloso in Detail.

They’re good people and great writers. I know you’d like them.

We talked and laughed and drank mimosas. Quite a lot of mimosas actually. They went down so smooth. We had the company of Molly’s and Colleen’s men, and also Tina, their perfectly stylish red-headed friend. And so nice too. I love a fun lively group, and this was it.

And for brunch? We ate at Resto and I ate the most amazing eggs benedict over a waffle and with bacon. LUSCIOUS.

Colleen got the pancakes, which was my second choice. Love me some good buttermilks.

Basically, with the people and the food and the delicious drinks and crazy good fries, I was in a dream world.

Love that.

Oh hay, pretty friend. HAAAAY.

After brunch we had milkshakes. Because, really, why not?

I had chocolate malt— a forever favorite.

We spent over three hours together, my new friends and I. And I can’t wait til we do it again!

My gosh, are you still reading???? Because I’m not done yet.

There’s still the afternoon in the Park! After brunch I took the subway back uptown to meet up with my sister and her friends, who had been spending the day on a blanket in Central Park with snacks and cold beer. Just straight up livin’ the good life.

It was so nice sitting on that grass watching the world go by.

And as if the day wasn’t jam packed enough, a group of us made the last minute decision to eat at the Dinosaur BBQ in Harlem that night.

BOOM.

(If there was ever an opportunity for me to write a BOOM in a blog post that was it. The Dinosaur originated in Syracuse, NY so it’s obviously very near and dear to our hearts.)

And so it goes, it was, quite literally, the perfect ending to a perfect day.

Instagram much? You know I did:

What a vacation this was turning out to be. A glorious vacation indeed.

{and for those of you that missed it: new work city: day one.}

{also! nyc: day three}

new york city: day one

It’s here, guys. My first New York City post of the spring season, two thousand and twelve.

I was completely obsessed with this trip to New York. Maybe it was because of the weather. Maybe it was because of the much needed vacation. I KNOW it was because of the people. And also, I’ve decided it was because I was staying with a friend who gave me a key to her place, allowing me to flutter about the city on my own time and in my own way, which ended up being the best thing ever. It’s the reason I was able to do so much and see so many friends. Also, it gave me the feeling of being a New Yorker, something I’ve always loved the idea of, but likey something I will never actually be.

Sigh. A girl can dream.

So dream I did.

First stop?

Brooklyn.

Man, do I ever love Brooklyn. I first fell in love in 2009 when I walked across the Brooklyn Bridge, after not just one, but two of my high school friends moved out of Manhattan. It’s the cutest little place with so much character and quirkiness. This trip to BK brought me to the Brooklyn Flea, which was quite the treat in and of itself.

I only wish I could magically transport my amazing finds (some sweet wooden crates, an old vintage school desk, road bike, and typewriter) back to my place in Boston without having to lug them around the whole city, which would be INCREDIBLY awkward, not to mention a burden.

So with all my might, I just did a some booth shopping at the famous Flea, simply letting myself enjoy the day while taking it all in. Highly recommended if you ever get the chance to go, it’s certainly an experience, and a cool one at that.

Wanna take a look around?

Those are those wooden crates I was talking about.

I want one in my living room to store cozy blankets for movie nights.

I also want one in my bedroom to throw my shoe collection in.

LOVE.

And the bike I dream of every night?

There she is.

Sittin’ pretty.

We browsed through racks and racks of clothing filled with cool stuff and not so cool stuff.

White wash pedal pushers?

Vests with iron on badges and sweaters with cats?

You name it, it’s there.

(I spared you the pictures, but you can certainly use your imagination.)

There were jewelry tables too. With clip-ons and dangly earrings and everything in-between.

There are knick-knacks of all shapes and sizes.

Literally, things to look at for dayyys.

I loved all the vintage prints. I’d like to own a few like these someday.

Maybe next time.

It was here that I met up with my friend Beck from high school. She’s one of my favorite people ever so I was so happy she came over from her apartment in Park Slope to hang out for the day and enjoy the sunshine.

And can you tell that the sunshine was PERFECT?

Because it was. Oh, it was.

There is nothing better than a sunny Saturday, this I am sure.

After this, we did more browsing, like the true flea-goers that we (sort of) are…

And then, it was time for lunch.

LUNCH!!

The best meal of the day.

Welcome to the best grilled cheese of my life.

I got the Milktruck Classic and Beck got the Three Cheese.

HOLY HOLY it was iiiiinsane.

Like, for real forreal INSANE.

Oh, man, I wish I was eating one at this very moment.

Bread and cheese forever, baby.

HI, Beck! Love ya, girlfriend!

After lunch, we did a good amount of people watching and relaxing before moving along to eat some more of the goodies that were upon us.

And believe me, good food was everywhere.

I got myself a raspberry basil People’s Pop because I would have been crazy not to.

It was amazing and everything I needed on that perfectly hot day.

Sidenote: Most everybody I spotted at the Flea was so New York, and for that matter, SO BROOKLYN.

Total hipsters and I love it.

I even tried to fit in a little too.

(with no luck, mind you.)

And then our time at the Brooklyn Flea came to an end. But not before inhaling one of these doughnuts from Dough.

I CAN’T EVEN.

I just can’t.

Heaven.

Heaven in a piece of dough. With sugar and icing to boot.

DREEEEEAM!

After I died a little, I said goodbye to Beck and Brooklyn with the good feeling that I’ll be back soon, and headed back to Manhattan.

I rode the subway back to the Upper East Side, popped into a nail salon to get a trendy “mint green” manicure, and headed out to meet my friend Katie for dinner.

It was the perfect start to a perfect weekend.

And of course, I instagrammed all the while:

NY, I love you. And the weekend is only getting better…

{new york city: day two}

{new york city: day three}

my happy place.

When I came home yesterday, exhausted after an already long week, this little corner of my room put me in a happy place. I think the tulips are ultimately responsible, but also, I love how this space is filled with all things that are so very “me”.

I’m a knick-knack person at heart, but in my quest for simplicity I think I’ve done a pretty good job at keeping a balance in this new space. I stopped buying things for the apartment awhile ago and just simply started to enjoy each room and the pretty details I’ve added to them.

I have a hard time picking my favorite spot, but the bedroom just might be it.

{Have you been on my apartment tour yet? Take a look inside!}

forever orange.

Well, we were sorry to see it all end Saturday night.

We wore our colors and cheered on our boys all the way to the very end.

What a season. Thanks for the memories, CUSE.

FOREVER ORANGE.

Nothin’ but love.

P.S. That’s my sister and Lauren with the Syracuse Orangemen in Boston! They ran into them on Boylston Street last week before the Sweet 16.

Coolest ever, right?!