Big Girls Don't Cry!

I can’t believe my time in NYC is coming to an end. There is so much I still want to do and see so I’ve made a vow to do as much as I possibly can before I leave! I’m starting to make a dent in my NYC bucket list so sit back, relax, and happy reading!

Two weekends ago I left the City that Never Sleeps and headed to Sweet Home Alabama. I was so happy to see my whole family, even under the circumstances. I was just as excited to indulge in homemade food Paula Deen style and lounge around in rooms quadruple the size of my cubical dorm room! As nice as it was to have a taste of home, I was eager to get back into the swing of things in the Big Apple.

I’ve been working on a special project at work with one of the Senior Designers. She is graciously allowing me to help her create illustration/mood boards for the fall 2010 intimate’s collection. I’ve seen the drawings and I must say; everything is just darling!

I’ve been having such a fun time working every day that I almost forgot two of my best friends were coming to visit for several days. The smog must be getting to me because I NEVER let my social life fall to the wayside! Or maybe I’m becoming a true New Yorker…mean, inconsiderate, self absorbed, and rude! (If you haven’t caught on yet, this is sarcasm at its finest!) Anyway, back to my social life. Carrie and Christina arrived on Wednesday and spent Thursday having fun in the City while I was slaving away at work (insert sarcasm once again). After work, I met up with the girls for dinner in Times Square!

Me, Christina, and Carrie in Times Square!


Friday, I was a true tourist and participated in as many tourist activities I could, including the red double decker bus that takes you around all of Manhattan and drops you off at places like Times Square, Ground Zero, 5th Ave, etc, etc. We decided to take a ferry out to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. We got off at Ellis Island and toured the Immigration Museum. Barbie’s of the World was of course our favorite exhibit, or maybe it was just Christina’s…I can’t remember! After nearly melting from the heat wave we hopped back on the bus and made our way from Battery Park back to Times Square just in time to go to Magnolia’s Bakery from Sex and the City for a “Carrie” Cupcake and then to see Jersey Boys (the Broadway show based on the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons)! Let’s just say I’m still singing “Big Girl’s Don’t Cry”! If you’ve ever been to NYC you’ve seen the advertisements at each theater stating, “Must see Show!”, “Greatest Show of ALL Time!”, “The Crowd Goes Wild!” Well all this can be said of Jersey Boys! This show has quickly jumped to the top of my favorite Broadway Shows of all time list.

On top of the bus!


Lady Liberty!


Skyline!!


Statue of Liberty Barbie!






After the show we were in the mood for more singing so we headed to Ellen’s Stardust Diner where we were serenaded while enjoying All-American Diner food and fun! This next part could possibly be my highlight of the weekend with Carrie and Christina. As we left Ellen’s at approximately 12:50AM, Carrie and I decided that we felt perfectly safe riding the subway home. I mean why not? There were three of us, it was a busy Friday night and I mean it’s the City that NEVER Sleeps in case you forgot! Well, Miss Priss aka Christina didn’t see things through our eyes and was compelled to give a speech stating why we should NOT ride the subway at 1AM but I wasn’t budging and neither was Carrie! Now I know how this looks…three young girls riding the subway in the wee hours of the morning, one kicking and screaming because she’s terrified she may not live to see the next 15 minutes and her two best friends hysterically laughing at the dramatic moment could possibly attract a few unwanted creepers. After a few minutes of debating, Christina claimed that it was “ON ME” if she died and marched her little self down the stairs and got on the subway and was home within 20 minutes safe and sound without a scratch. Imagine that!

Saturday came early but we refrained from sleeping the day away! We ate at a local deli called Katzs and decided that we should see another show and then spend the rest of the afternoon in Central Park. After buying our tickets from a rando on the street (not the greatest idea in the world) we made our way to the nearest subway stop not realizing that we were heading for the top of the park instead of the Great Lawn. As we got off our subway stop I knew we weren’t in our "neck of the woods". Harlem! Yep, it’s true. This is my second accidental trip to Harlem. We decided not to linger too long so we headed for the park. For those of you who aren’t familiar with Central Park, it’s pretty big and our location wasn’t ideal. After walking for what seemed like hours we came to a fork in the road. It was almost like the Robert Frost poem, “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood…blah, blah, blah and I took the one less traveled by.” Well, we took the one most traveled by bikers, mother’s with strollers, and rollerbladers. Dodging the rollerbladers was a challenge not to mention the rolling hills! Next time I’m choosing the dirt trail less traveled by! We finally were typical Americans and took the easy way out. Our cab dropped us off at the Boathouse where we ate dinner and then took a nice little stroll around the park before heading to see Westside Story.

Central Park!


Alice & Wonderland statue from Remember Me.


My favorite part of Central Park (Boathouse is in the background).


Westside Story!


Sunday my roomies and I took advantage of the summer sales downtown and then had a girls night which included Sour Patch Kids, Chocolate, Famigilia’s Pizza, and of course Robert Pattinson!

4th of JULY!

It’s week five of my internship, and I must say this place is starting to feel like home. Of course I do miss the wide open spaces of the south and that charming “southern drawl”. However, I’ve brought a little bit of home to the big city and who knows, maybe I’m here to stay.

Last Sunday I received some upsetting news about my grandmother, “Gran”. She was put in the hospital for about a week but wasn’t able to hold on. She passed away July 3rd. I’m usually not one to share personal details such as this, but I can’t ignore the thoughts and feelings that have been running through my mind, and since the purpose of this blog is to keep everyone informed, I think it’s only right to share a few words about someone who has touched my life in such a deep way. It’s been bitter/sweet reminiscing on all of the cherished memories, knowing that new memories are a thing of the past. I’m so grateful to have known such a wonderful person. To those of you who have never had the opportunity to meet my Gran, just picture Lucille Ball, and there you have it! Looks, personality, the whole nine yards! I’m choosing to remember her with a laugh and a smile! I’m flying home on Thursday to be with my family for the funeral. On a lighter note, I’m keeping my sense of humor, which she would want. As I travel to the Deep South, I plan on satisfying my craving for fried chicken, collard greens, and HOMEMADE mashed potatoes!!!

This week was Ashton’s last week in the city, so of course we had a lot of bases to cover! On Saturday we shopped till we dropped which included trekking down to Little Italy for some authentic Italian cuisine. We went to a personal favorite, Florio’s!!! After lunch we walked around Little Italy and parts of SoHo then eventually came across Chinatown where we were bombarded by women and men trying to sell us Gucci, Prada, Fendi, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and Coach! Oh the joys of NYC. I think we even passed a man selling copies of the Twilight hit, Eclipse. And you know what that means, buying a copy of someone videotaping the actual movie. The things people do to make a buck! On Sunday, we decided that you can never shop too much, so we headed down to Times Square. On the way we ate at a very authentic Mexican Restaurant. Again let me remind all of my Statesboro readers that I am unfortunately not referring to Mexican food “El Sombrero” style! You can kiss free refills of Coca-Cola, chips, and salsa good bye. And if you start craving guacamole, DON’T! Unless you want to pay $15, which in my case is just fine because you can’t put a price on good guacamole. After chowing down, we made our way to Zara, H&M, and J.Crew, where some very cute purchases were made.

On the Subway!


Now, I don’t know if I’ve mentioned this but, each morning I wake up to screaming children playing in a park below my building and a very persistent Mr. Softee, AKA the ice cream truck that comes around every five minutes blaring the Mr. Softee jingle! For those of you who don’t know what I’m talking about, I’ve inserted the lovely jingle that wakes me up every morning! Needless to say, I have developed a love/hate relationship with Mr. Softee. The 4th was a particularly scorching hot day in NYC, so couldn’t help myself. I caved and gave in to Mr. Softee!

Mr. Softee jingle! It may sound sweet at first but it's NOT, don't be fooled!!!



Ashton, Meagan, and I enjoyed our ice cream in Bryant Park. For all you fashionistas out there, Bryant Park is known as the venue of the fashion shows during Fashion Week! After consuming those delicious calories, we headed back to Columbia to get ready for the Macy’s fireworks. We stopped at a local market to buy goods for our picnic. The fireworks were magnificent, the best I’ve ever seen! We watched them in a park that ran along the Hudson River.

Park along the Hudson...



Waiting on the fireworks!!



After the fireworks, we headed down to Greenwich to continue our July 4th celebration. We met a couple of UGA Alums and a Zeta. Small world! We spent the rest of the night hanging around in Greenwich Village.

Monday, was my day of rest! After Ashton got all packed up, we headed out for a quick lunch and reminisced on all the fun we packed into these past two weeks! She hit the road after lunch which was depressing because it’s always sad to see a little piece of home leave.


Work has been great! I’ve been working closely with one of the head designers at TH which is very exciting. He’s full of great advice and really utilizes the interns! He has been busy working on the Men’s 2011 fall collection. We got to talking about fashion shows and he mentioned something about me coming back to attend Fashion Week! I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

I hope everyone had a great 4th of July! Cheers!!!!

The Prince & Me

Sit back, relax, and enjoy because the events that occurred this weekend don’t come around very often. This weekend was significant because I rubbed elbows with Prince Harry, on more than one occasion! For those of you who know me well, I am intrigued by the Royal Family, partly because of my study abroad experience in London. This weekend was my second chance to see the Royal “Party Boy” face to face!


The majority of my Friday afternoon was spent with friends in Central Park, one of the greatest places in the city. I along with Ashton and roomie Meagan went to the Loeb Boathouse, a famous icon of Central Park. We purchased food and set off for a little R&R which included people watching, the best part! We were sure we saw Robert Pattinson but of course we were wrong. The poor guy we deemed to be our “vampire” HAD to feel awkward because at one point I was inching closer for a double take before snapping a quick shot! I think we caught him off guard!! Needless to say, this city has persuaded me to become my own version of the paparazzi! After lounging in the park, we visited a cute little pub called The Gatsby where we met friends for a fun night out on the town!

Picnic in Central Park!


Our view!


Saturday came early but was full of excitement. Meagan and I decided to go to a Mets game, partly to see Prince Harry throw the first pitch, but also for Meagan, who has never been to a professional baseball game! We were able to get great pictures of Harry and enjoyed the game!

Contemplating his pitch.



He's winding up...


STRIKE!


Me and Meagan. No, we didn't purchase these obnoxiously orange hats, they were given to us!


Aw, look!!! I found a GA boy! Jeff Francoeur, former Braves player.



Now this next part seems a little far-fetched but it’s all true, I promise. Sunday, was the second annual Vueve Clicquot Polo Classic on Governor’s Island. It was open to the public, so I got thinking…what better way to spend the day than going to a polo match? Not to mention I got to watch my favorite polo player prance around on a horse all day in the cutest uniform known to man! Ashton and Meagan came along as well as some other friends. We brought blankets and braved the scorching sun. I must say I have great friends! I can’t think of too many people that would sacrifice air conditioning for half a day just so I can see one guy, even if he is Royalty! We, or might I say my friends (I was too busy watching), got great pictures of the Prince himself, we even got him on camera mid sentence after he hit a ball into the crowd. Nacho Figueras, model for Ralph Lauren, was also among the polo players. Although the team I was rooting for did not win, I enjoyed the new experience.

We saw Lady Liberty on the way to Governor's Island.


Governor's Island.


Ashton and I at the Polo Classic!


Waiting for the match to start!


Prince Harry was number 1.


Go Harry!



Right before the ball was hit into the crowd.


After hitting the ball out of bounds he charmed us by saying, "That was for you!" Then gave us a big smile!



Nacho!



Oh hey Mr. Ralph Lauren model.


Until next time...


Work=so far so good! I’ve been busy working with designers, organizing, and running errands. I’m learning a lot and staying extremely busy! After work, on Tuesday, I met up with my roomies and Ashton outside of the Letterman Show. We saw Taylor Lautner, from Twilight and of course my paparazzi skills came out again! He was so cute BUT I’m still TEAM EDWARD!

Coming out of the Letterman Show.


The Warewolf up close and personal!


This weekend is Ashton’s last weekend in the city so we’re planning some exciting events for July 4th. Hopefully we’ll make it to the Hamptons!!! Stay tuned.

Promises, Promises!

This weekend I had a little taste of HOME! My Mom and a great family friend came to visit as well as one of my sorority sistas which made for a fun weekend in the City!

Quick recap:

My weekend started off with my very own version of "Night at the Museum". I went to the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA). I have to admit I'm not the biggest fan of modern art. Splatter paint just doesn't scream masterpiece to me! However, the works of Andy Warhol, Van Gogh, and Picasso do! I've included some of my favorites!








Early Saturday I decided to go on a mission to find Broadway tickets to Promises, Promises staring Sean Hayes (the feisty little guy from Will & Grace) AND my favorite, Kristin Chenoweth! On the way, my roomie Kate and I came across a street market with amazing jewelry and of course stopped to check everything out which resulted in an addition to my jewelry collection! Later that evening, after my friends and family arrived, we headed to see Promises, Promises. The cast was great, especially Sean Hayes!



Me and my Mom after the show!


Me, Kate, and Ashton.


Ellen's Stardust Diner was next on our list of places to go. Caution: make sure you love being serenaded before entering! Ellen's is a 1950's diner featuring a singing waitstaff which sure does make for a unique dinner.


On Sunday we visited Ground Zero, which is always a humbling experience, and went inside St. Peter's, the church that is located directly in front of where the Twin Towers once stood. The remarkable aspect of this church was its ability to withstand and remain untouched during the September 11th attacks. The church commemorates the lives that were lost and the hero's our nation gained. It was also a refuge for firefighters and victims during this painful time in history. I've included some pictures.


St. Peter's.


Since, 9/11 the church has been refurbished but the pews have remained untouched, bearing scratches and scars, as a reminder of the Sept. 11th attacks and those who came to this church to seek refuge.






A cross made from the debris of the Twin Towers.


Century 21, an upscale TJ Maxx, was our favorite shopping venue of the day! Here's what to expect upon arrival...SALES! And when I say SALES I mean Fendi swimsuits originally priced at $300 but on sale for $100. When does that ever happen?! My purchases= some stylish black gladiator flats and some precious Tory Burch flats!

I'm also including some pictures from Grand Central Station. Another place we visited while my Mom was in NYC!

Grand Central...


This week at work I was asked to run errands for a designer in the Garment District (P.S. You should probably be fluent in a second language to venture into the fabric stores, especially if you want to be helped)! I was glad to get out of the office and explore the area even if I felt like a foreigner.

Tuesday my roomie Meagan and I went to meet up with Ashton for dinner. We went to a Texas BBQ place which wasn't that bad considering we're in NYC! We are planning a fun weekend so I'll be sure to embark on some exciting adventures to tell you about. Hopefully Robert Pattinson will be included in my next blog. Ladies, keep your fingers crossed!!!

I'll leave you with this. I fell asleep on the subway after an exhausting day at work and woke up in Harlem...no biggie! And if you don't know what/where Harlem is...Google it!

Precious!

The title of this post has a fun story that also comes with pictures!

This weekend a few of us decided to go to a Broadway show on Saturday evening. After waiting for discounted tickets at TKTS we finally decided to branch out and see In The Heights! FABULOUS choice might I add ;)! I'm not a High School Musical fan, but Corbin Bleu was star of the show! He was beyond fabulous. After the show we decided it would be fun to wait around and meet the actors, hoping to see Corbin Bleu. We met Christopher Jackson who has made appearances on Gossip Girl and finally after much screaming from excited girls, Corbin ventured out! He was so just so sweet that I had to stop and talk to him and I wasn't going to let this opportunity pass me by! So, as I was leaving, I grabbed him by the arm and said in my sweet little southern accent, "By the way, you are just so precious!" (Insert smile)! Let's just say I definitely caught that boy's attention. He was extremely appreciative replying with a "Thank you sweetheart!" (Insert wink)! And that's my little story of how I met Corbin Bleu!


Christopher Jackson...


Precious little Corbin Bleu!


On Sunday I went shopping with Kate and Meagan before church. Kate's friend Megan, who is also in NYC interning this summer, introduced us to a really good church for college students/young adults. We like it because it starts at 7 PM! It's a great way to end the weekend. After church, we were all craving good mexican food, GA/TX style! The three of us ventured to an interesting little mexican joint. Let's just say mexican food Manhattan style charges $2.45 for a refill on chips! If you're expecting large bowls of salsa and queso you can just "forgetta bout it!" However, we came across a gracious waiter who never charged us for our guacamole or baskets of chips! He must have a soft spot for southern girls. :)

My roomie Meagan turned 21 on Tuesday!!! WOO HOO! All of my roomies went out for another night of mexican food. The restaurant was wonderful and we had a great time celebrating! Here are some of the pics!

21!!!


Meagan with her flowers from me and Kate!


Roomies! (Meagan, Michelle, Me, Kate, & Paulina)


This week at work, I've been busy organizing the Human Resources closet. The HR closet contains never ending racks of original Runway Collections AKA the good stuff! I wonder what they do with all the duplicates and left over samples!!! While making my final rounds before going home today, I came across a room full of models waiting on casting calls, but these particular models weren't the tall, skinny type...they were kids! Very cute, little kids might I add!

NYC is treating me well! Ciao!