the city that never sleeps: where we went

before going to NYC i let me OCD tendencies take over & made us a detailed map of the places we wanted to visit and places we wanted to eat at ... these were broken down by quadrants and accompanied with their addresses, it worked like a charm, but also became the bud of many jokes.... "we can't cross in to quadrant 4B today... it's a 4A kind of day....", etc.

here we are on the subway.  and that's all we did.

okay... that's not true, please continue. 

DAY 1: 

we were seriously exhausted this day... me having flown on the red eye flight and joe & cami having slept in the JFK airport the night before.  sooooo.....

here we are entertaining the inner kid in ourselves --- on the Toys "R" Us ferris wheel in time square.

we passed this 1 million times --- and i couldn't get over how lovely it looked all gussied up in christmas decorations.  we actually went inside on a later day.     

this afternoon we had the best hamburger of my life at 5 Napkin Burger ... you guys.  this was a recommendation of a friend of ours and did not disappoint... i mean we went back again we liked it so much.  (get the original 5 napkin burger: 10 ounces of fresh ground beef, gruyere cheese, caramelized onions, rosemary aioli on a soft white roll... i'm drooling over here *sigh*) 

alright... onto the MoMA (the museum of modern art).  it ended up this evening was free admission, which was a lovely surprise.  the MoMA was packed with awesome art.  there are lots of video rooms and maybe i took at 25 minute nap in the dark theater... on the floor. 

then that night we went to Evita!  so fun.

also... need i mention one more time we.were.exhausted. 

 DAY 2: 

we started off in brooklyn getting some cheap broadway tickets at a tkts booth and then wandering BKLYN.  this was one of my fave little adventures of the trip.  wandering, and enjoying the beauty of the brooklyn bridge & manhattan bridge.

lunchtime at Grimaldi's.   it was good.  not perfect or amazing, but good.  and they played awesome music in there... it was like a party.  and they only take cash, FYI if you go there. 

wander time..... 

  

(i like cuddling.) 

this was the longest bathroom line in the history of the world in a burger king near the 9/11 memorial.  we made best friends with some women from... i can't even remember but they made it bearable waiting for 20+ minutes.  i'm sure we annoyed everyone around us with our laughing and dancing... 

shopping in SoHo, because we can, of course, afford everything there . . . (not) 

but we did enjoy some time at the Kate Spade flagship store.  so fun! 

then we traveled back up to the time square area had some dinner at Joe Allen's ... it's this little hole in the wall tiny restaurant and it.was.AMAZING.  amazing!  go if you have the chance.  

DAY 3: 

we started off at church... in a 5 story building.  we took the elevator to the top floor for sacrament (something i've never done before!).  

we ran and by ran i mean rode the subway up to the upper east side and got the most unbelievable cookies from Levain Bakery.  you guys... i still dream about this place.  the cookies are the size of a fist and fullllllll of choco chips + walnuts.  i brought some home and they lasted 2+ weeks! 

sooooooo.... then we headed of for a matinee of Newsies! which i loved.  afterward we grabbed some dinner, went to Columbus square and did some shopping in the christmas market there... then we went back to time square area for Mamma Mia! 

we went to Macy's on 34th street after and rode the famous wooden escalators.

DAY 4: 

started off with the backstage tour of Radio City Musical Hall... which was so much fun!  do it if you can!  then after we saw the Christmas Spectacular with the Rockette's.  maybe i cried.... maybe.  especially when they had the religious section of the show... they had an entire manger scene complete with camel's and donkey's.  it was amazing... 

we spent the rest of the day shopping and doing tourist-y things like rockefeller center and seeing the lovely christmas tree!  it was so much fun.  

DAY 5: 

began in chelsea market, wandering, shopping and eating breakfast. 

we went to Highline Park, one of my now favorite places in NYC.  it's a 1-mile park built on the former NY central railroad.  its beautiful.  i can't imagine what it would look like in the spring... the views were absolutely amazing. 

after this we went to little italy, had a delicious and much to fattening/filling lunch and to china town.  

then we got our suitcases, parted ways in penn station and i was off.... all by myself to find my way back to the JFK airport.  that was truly an experience, especially for someone who lives in a state where public transportation is rarely used.  luckily i made it there... and made it home... but the JFK airport is.a.nightmare! 

and that concludes the NYC 2012 vaycay. 

(please, won't ya?) 

the city that never sleeps: Musical Time.

have you met my group of friends?  this pretty much sums us up: 

we love musicals!  we love show tunes!  most of us perform... so broadway was an absolute must.  we made a list of what we wanted to see and only had 4 days to see them.  we totally rocked broadway, seeing 5 shows for less that $200!  

Show 1: Evita

not my absolute fave.  It didn't help that I only got 2.5 hrs of sleep on that red eye flight... it also didn't help that the woman playing Evita was no bueno.  highlight: Ricki Martin and we got super cheap student rush tickets the same day at the ticket booth, thankfully.  it was, however, the most expensive nap i've ever taken. 

Show 2: Newsies

you guys...  i have been waiting since i was a kid to see this on broadway!  this was the musical i was the most excited about seeing and it did not disappoint!  word to the wise: they changed some of the lyrics & some of the storyline so if you're a traditionalist you may be upset about these changes!  this is a hot broadway ticket right now... and our most expensive tickets purchased.  we got them the day before at a tkts booth in brooklyn for $80.  

Show 3: Mamma Mia! 

the most fun i've had on broadway... ever!  there's really not much to say about this.  we got tickets at a tkts booth for not kidding, $25!  if you're in NYC, go!  it's abba-solutely fabulous.  

Show 4: Christmas Spectacular w/ the Rockettes and Radio City Musical Hall (ahhhh!)

if you are in NYC during the holiday's do.not.miss.this.show!!  it was a dream come true to see the Rockettes perform and the show was incredibly entertaining.  maybe i cried ... just maybe.  we bought these tickets the day before... i can't remember for how much, but it was less than $40.  but worth way more than that.

Show 5: Phantom of the Opera

this was not my first time seeing this performed professionally but i enjoy it so much we thought we'd go.  plus tickets were cheap! ($30... ish)  if you're a broadway lover, or just enjoy live theater you absolutely have to find a way to see this professionally done!  that organ moment in a theater, performed with a live orchestra... just stop it.  it resonates through your soul and gives you chills.  love it.  

and that concludes the end of our broadway adventure.

until next time, NYC. 

the city that never sleeps: how we got there

wanderlust = emily.  

and because of my wanderlust i have this weirdo confession: i plan fake vacations for myself.  i get e-mails almost daily from vaycay websites and occasionally to pass time when i used to work i'd fiddle around with the cheapest ways to get from here to there. sooooooooooooo.... 

enter Oct. 16th: i requested a travel buddy to NYC via facebook status and 2 hrs later flights were booked and i was headed to NYC dec. 6th with my friends Joe and Cami.  i feel so blessed to have friends that have the same desire to travel the world (and can at the trop of a hat!)  

i'm also super blessed to have friends in all parts of the country who have opened their homes to me as a place to rest my head at night when i've been running around a city partying all day!  (so... shout out to my sister in law's parents!  they were so gracious to let us spend a few days with them in NJ.) 

what are some of your favorite traveling tips??

and do you have any trips you've planned spur of the moment??

And the Oscar goes to ...

round here we take our Oscars seriously.  

we had been prepping for Feb. 24 since, i don't know,  Argo came the theaters! (and it was totally deserving of best picture. amaze.) 

to begin with my incredibly talented friend Craig made me these fantastic invites: 

with this invite, each of my friends were sent a ballot to complete, prior to Oscar evening.  each was instructed to fill it out in sharpie, as i would have NO cheaters at the party.  mark even had me verify, with my initials, a change prior to the start of the Oscars beginning. (hilarious)  

so... party time!

treats are an absolute MUST. 

and folks, it pays to have a friend that owns a movie theater!

the 100+ inch big screen was obviously made for viewing parties such as this one. 

and now for some honorable (or dishonorable mentions)

the worst dressed goes to........

MELISSA McCARTHY. 

why Melissa, why?! are you wearing jersey knit to the Oscars?! did someone (who should get their fashion designer card taken away) make this for you? TRAGEDY.  also, no one understood your's and Paul Rudd's banter. no one.

the worst song goes to........

THIS LADY. 

i don't know who you are.  i know you have something to do with 007, but we'll just stick to Adele.

#shutupalready

the most ironic award goes to........

YOU GUYS. 

why is this ironic?  you won for BEST HAIR & MAKEUP.  i can't even handle this. 

the most gyspy-like award goes to...........

BAB'S.

okay, i know you have a bazillllion dollars.  you should use it to hire a stylist.  i really felt like she cast a spell on all of us.  i can't forgive the crazy rings, middle part (you're TOO old for a kardashian hairdo) and the kitten fingernails.  no, Bab's, NO.

the best dressed goes to............

NAOMI WATTS.

perfection.  hair, makeup, minimal jewels, sparkley-sparkle dress with the most perfect cut outs and one sleeve.  this was perfect.  just like her performance in The Impossible. (even if i did break my car after seeing this movie all alone, i'm still obsessed and audibly sobbed. it's fine.)

honorary mention (best dressed):

ADELE.

girl, your shoes don't work, but earth to Melissa McCarthy.... this is how you dress a plus size body.  i want to wear this dress sooooo bad.  and her makeup + hair are always flawless.  and she sings like a lark. loves. 

 J.LAW (we're obviously on a nickname basis)

you guys, trip or no trip... she made what-could-be-mistaken-for-a-wedding-dress look like the prettiest, fluffiest, loveliest gown.  and her oscar?  totally deserved. go see SLP.
(don't you dare fight me on this one, Shipley!)

worst dressed goes to............. (other than melissa)

ANNE HATHAWAY.

honey! HUN-AY!  why?! this was your moment to shine, and instead you made it so i had to blur out your bust... it just, while not actually being see-through, seemed vulgar! i know you are forced to prostitution in les miz, but how could you, you are the Princess of Genovia! 

also, p to the s.  can Seth McFarlane host again?!  he was great.  and i'm hoping he can re-write his boobs song (hilarious, btw) to make mention of anne's dress pick seen above.

and last but not least.
the winner of the evening............

McKELL!

she won a little movie themed prize + movie tickets. 

oh and one last thing........

who invited K.Stew to the Oscars?  and presenting with Harry Potter, himself?  she looked like she had been rolling around in the hay with a gentlemen married man prior to presenting...if the shoe fits wear it.

pshhhh.  i can think of 10 people who would've been a better presenter with him.

10. Emma Watson

9. Suri Cruise

8. Mark Kate and Ashley Olsen

7. Lizzie McGuire

6. Amanda Bynes 

5. Lindsay Lohan

4. Marissa Cooper 

3. Kim Kardashian 

2. Michelle Obama .... oh wait..... 

AND 

1. Helen Keller

Until next year!

P.S. Did you watch the Oscars?  What were your favorite moments?  Favorite fashionistas?

hairy scary.

guys.  i've had a reallllll productive day.

here's the evidence:

i'm really leaning toward the ^ Dora the Explorer inspired Gaga hair.

okay, in all serious i kind of  love the Cameron cut on me... brunette AND blonde.  (WHAT?!)

i wouldn't mind my life changing ...  so i might have to see if coco's correct  . . .