The Big Apple

As I'm sitting here drinking my freshly brewed out-of-the-Keurig coffee, massaging my aching legs that hurt so good, I'm beginning to realize how much I could actually live in NYC.


We woke up at 4:45 in the morning, and left with huge cups of coffee in hand for the airport at about 5:15.

Our flight's departure was 8:40 am, and we made excelente time, after running through security checks and all that good stuff, we still had an hour left.

We met up with Grammy who had spent the night at a hotel, and then it was just time to wait to board!

Coffee, peanut butter+honey sandwich, plus a really beat up banana to fuel me through to New York!!

 

Flying over Atlanta.....

2 hours later, arriving in Queens....

We took a taxi to Manhattan - and from that point on I had a bit of culture shock, but I completely loved it! The traffic freaked me out, but let me tell you - taxi drivers are badass. For realz.

After checking into our hotel, we really couldn't get anything off of our mind but to get some lunch! Sandwiches at a local deli/grocery place, me and Grammy split a smoked turkey sub that was heavenly. Mainly because we were Starvin' Marvins.

When our tummies were finally full and grumpiness subsided, we took the subway to the MoMA! 

The real Van Gogh's Starry, Starry Night! Be still, my heart.

Henri Matisse

.......wat.....

.....wat......

Ahhh Monet's waterlily muraaaalllll

Creation of the modern scissors....

The first monochrome porcelain dinner set....

We made it through impressionism/postimpressionism, modernism, expressionism, futurism, cubism (I posted like a quarter of the pictures I took), and a few other that I can't really remember. :) We were exhausted by that point and checked into our room.

Glorious, glorious beds. 

After naps, our stomachs were rumbling again and we walked/subwayed to Rebekah's choice landmark: Ellen's Stardust Diner, in Times Square.

The servers sing to you. They run around and sing into microphones and perform. I kid you not. The food was meh, but the entertainment made up for that. There's actually a lot of history behind it, a lot of actors and actresses on Broadway start out by working there!

Speaking of Broadway, we were right across from where the Tony Awards were being held!

Literally 15 steps away from famous people. 

The last stop was Rockefeller Center - Top of the Rock! Nighttime in NYC is definitely magical! I was a little light-headed on the 63rd floor. 

We then trekked back to the hotel functioning purely on adrenaline, and crashed into bed. 

First thing tomorrow: Greenwich Village Food Tour!!

What I'm Loving

I woke up yesterday bright-eyed and bushy-tailed to join my school's summer practice run club, and was greeted by the lovely sight of dreary, wet, drizzle.

Although I already had an idea of the forecast (I might have a slight obsession with checking the weather), I couldn't help but be disappointed that I couldn't go. I woke up at 7:15, after all. Such is life.

So before I start *finally* packing for vacation, here's a few things that I've been loving lately.

1. Mango Sugar Body Scrub

Man, I love. this. stuff. It's so exfoliating and makes me smell like mangoes! Me like.

2. Urban Decay Naked Palette

I'm super picky about makeup because I don't like to wear or look like I'm wearing a lot, and I lean toward neutral eyeshadows, so the Naked palette is great for my preferences. I especially like the shimmery colors.

3. CamelBak water bottle

CamelBak is my new baby. It goes with me everywhere, and I get through probably 3 refills a day. Hydration for the win.

4. Sutra flat-iron 

 This qualifies as a "splurge but so worth it" purchase. It's definitely a high-quality straightener (thanks to the ceramic plates) and leaves my curly, fine, breakable hair silky smooth and completely straight!

5. Kindle 

I go through phases of different subjects and authors that I like to read, and you can definitely tell by my Kindle book list. They're mostly historical fiction - I love learning about different cultures. In the past (read: elementary school), I've read all of Gail Carson Levine and Ann Rinaldi's books, most of Michael Crichton's, and more recently I've fallen in love with Pearl S. Buck after reading The Good Earth, got into Asian history and read the 1000 page Shogun (which has like 5 sequels equally as long), and am currently in love with ancient Egypt. I read a couple of books about Nefertiti by Michelle Moran which were fabulous, and now I'm reading a series about Hapshepsut (the first female pharaoh).  So yeah - loving the Kindle.

6. Nectarines

Thank you LORD nectarine season is here. One of my favorite fruits.

7. I Love Lucy

I want to go back in time and be Lucille Ball's BFF.

8. Larabars

It took me a while to warm up to these lovelies, but now I can't stop eating them! The texture weirded me out at first, but then I tried the different flavors (that involved chocolate ;)), and started popping them in the freezer, and now I'm in love. I need to make some homemade ones!

9. New running outfit

I love running in this outfit; it's so me. So comfy and stylish!!

10. Sunglasses

Nothing says summah like workin' the shades. 

Oscar sez, "See ya!"