Cheers.

Tomorrow is a continuation of yesterday. 

Happy 2011. 

Risks

Take a leap of faith, why don't ya?

Truth:

"I'm walking on a broken roof while I'm looking at the sky."

Au Revoir Pour L'instant

Farewell for now Island. 

I'm listening to Dave Matthews Band's, Crash Into Me.

Into your heart I'll beat again, Sweet like candy to my soul 

Oh I watch you there, through the window,

And I stare at you, You wear nothing but you

wear it so well.

Granted it's a sexual song, but I'm using part of the lyrics to express my goodbye. 

The last time I left NY it rained, and here I am again, departing on a rainy day. 

My November/December: 

11.30.10 - Kate Spade's P.S. I Made It Event

Nami and Leandra Medine in the back, because she was too frightened to ask for a picture!!!

12.2.10 - On the way to Gingerman's on 35th and 5th.

Only in New York

12.4.10 - Last night in my own NYC apartment. 

12.5.10 - Brunch at Pies and Thighs

OMG! The best Chicken and Waffles! Sorry Gladys :/

12.6.10 -Snow Flurries at the office

12.10.10 - Last day at STARWORKS. Baked by Melissa Treats - YUM!

12.11.10 - Eating across from Nami while she attempts to write her papers.

3 Starbucks coffee and a millions of books. 

It Snows on the 17th Floor

First, I'm convinced it's snowing - ON THANKSGIVING!!! 'Tis perfection.

Second, I'd like to share the view I get from my apartment to visually show you how tiny Manhattan is!!

Here's a view from out of my window. 

LEFT: East Manhattan - You can see the East River

RIGHT: West Manhattan - You can see Hudson River. 

Voila! All from my window :)

I got to bed late last night and I owe it to the Macy's Day Parade Rehearsal at 3am. I wasn't quite sure when the parade actually began, because it was difficult to distinguish where the rehearsal actually ended and the actual event began. 

Macy's Christmas Tree Light

I'm not too thrilled with tourists filling up the streets in front of where I live, but I got to thinking that I should ditch that idea. I decided to put aside my newly acquired resentment for tourists and realized what my favorite part of Thanksgiving is: Besides spending time with family and and relaxing, it's been a tradition of mine to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade on television every Thanksgiving morning before helping my mom cook our mini Thanksgiving brunch. The parade has been a favorite of mine for years and puts the icing on the cake, kicking off the holidays. 

So I figured, what's better than watching the parade on television? Watching it in person with family! It was such a great sight to see this morning while making hot chocolate (thanks to mom surprising me with little packets of hot chocolate in my box full of coats). It was like watching t.v, but even better because I'd peep my head out occasionally and see a new balloon come around the corner. I'd wait anxiously to see what character was coming up next, only because I could see the strings holding down the balloon, but wasn't sure who it was. So  I'd be pleasantly surprise and squeal EVERY TIME :) 

People were propped outside their widely open windows - all holding a cup of coffee along with sweaters and gloves, anxiously watching the parade. I did the same and had A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving playing in the background. I'm just upset I didn't wake up in time to see Snoopy outside my window and Big Bird!!!

Granted, I wish I were home with my mom but I don't mind being here at all. Here are some photos from my iPhone. I apologize in advance that most of the photos are shots of the balloon's rear end. 

:) Before I opened my window

Smurf

Spiderman

Horton!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING FRIENDS 

- ps. Let's keep South and North Korea in our thoughts and prayer. 

Lunch Break

Construction Man: "Oh! La la. Nice shoes."

Me: "Thank You"

Man: "Too big? No?"

Me: "No." (Smiles)

Man: "They hot? Make you hot?"

Me: "Oh no. They're great for for keeping me warm" (Is this man still following me?)

Man: "Oh! They nice in windy time. Ho ho ho (laughing like Santa)."

"Nice shoes!!I like it."

Herald Square

I live across the 'World's Largest Store'.

The World's Largest Macy's. 

They put a very large Christmas tree up.

Holiday is around the corner - literally.

I hope my mom comes up for Thanksgiving. 

That is all I'm thinking. 

Timing is Beautiful

Timing is beautiful.

It really is.

Taking that one extra moment before walking out your door - perhaps to make sure your keys are not under your pillow, throwing something out of your purse you may not need, remembering you forgot something so you run back into your apartment. 

These moments literally set you up for what might happen to you on a particular day, or who you'll run into. 

It's all about timing. 

What are the odds?

44.

Hello Friends :)

Soho-Crosby St.

I walk by this everyday and it's only today I took notice- so I took a photo via iPhone. 

It's been 44 days in New York. 

STILL can't believe it. 

Hello Home.

It's still so surreal. 

It's surreal that I am living in New York City.

It's also surreal the view I get every morning thanks to my friend who's been lending me her bed for the past month.

I can't believe I've been here for over a month. Now that's crazy. 

I'm lovin' it though. 

I love the style, the fashion, the lifestyle although it's still taking a lot of time for me to adjust. 

I'm lovin' it despite the many many hours of running around the city, sweating, just to get to my next job in time. 

I love the shopping, the walking and dollar pizzas. 

I wish I had time to go into detail about all that I've been experiencing here, but here's a quick update:

I found an apartment in Williamsburg.

It fell through.

 I found an apartment in SoHo.

 It fell through.

I found another apartment in Herald Square.

I'm moving in tomorrow. 

3x's a Charm.

I transferred a job.

I quit.

I got another job.

I want to quit.

I got another job.

I think I'll love it.

3x's a Charm.

My experiences here have made me appreciate the things I hated about my suburban life at home. I can't wait to go back and wake up to birds chirping and the morning fog. I can't wait to wake up sneezing because there are trees and grass everywhere. I can't wait to dig my feet into my carpet and use a large bathroom. I can't wait to sit down and just watch hours of television on my blue couch. I can't wait to have good PHO! 

Without cable, Netflix has been by bestfriend next to Hulu. My shows are back on, Glee and Grey's.

Glee has me laughing and Grey's got me crying EVERY episode.

The weather here's been crazy. I'll be sweating one day, and wearing sweaters the next. 

It's always raining, and of course I sold my Burberry wellies just before I arrived.

So with my employee discount, I finally bought the Boa Hunter wellies, which are way to tall for my short legs, but still a keeper.

oh ny.

I can officially say I'm not a tourist in New York. 

I can't say I'm a resident.

It's been exactly 19 days since I flew up to NYC in hopes to live here.

I moved up here knowing that the only job I'd have for a couple weeks would be an unpaid, nevertheless I was so thrilled. Just a week before I left Atlanta, I was packing up my belongings from my Buckhead apartment to move back home when I got the news that I'd be interning here in the city. I had no solid plans, didn't have any money saved up, and no apartment. 

I've had the most stressful time, but when I walk around the New York, I feel like it's home. What stresses me is that I have no control over which apartments I can live in or how fast I can make money when it's only been 2.5 weeks. I'm totally out of my comfort zone because I can't get control of things with factors like income and housing. These things take time.... I realized. 

So I make the most of the situation simply by enjoying everything else about New York. Stress is such a potent thing, causing me to get sick and have constant headaches. The food here is ridiculously expensive compared to what I'm used to. I never thought twice about buying meals for $5-6 dollars, but doing that 2-3xs a day plus a cup of coffee, really adds up. So I've managed to scope out cheap pizza or Chinese food... horrible I know. I've never eaten so unhealthy and so much fast food. I didn't even bring my running shoes, so working out hasn't been an option for me. 

I've had thoughts about how much easier things would be if I could just go home and drive my car everywhere. Rent would be so much cheaper and I'd be able to eat and workout but it's not worth it to me. There's so many opportunities here and I'm here for one thing, my future. It seems stupid to think that I'm going through all this for an internship, but it's so worth it. I look forward to the three days I get to go in, and I never hesitate to wake up so I can take the QNR to Canal St. and get to working.

I never really knew what I wanted to focus my future in, but I know that fashion will be a  huge part of it. My internship is something I enjoy, and I don't ever dread going into work, like I would my retail jobs. It's a lot of hands on work, rather than sitting at a computer all day. The day goes by so quickly, I never feel like I've been there all day. The best part is that I got here right before NY Fashion Week.

Not only did I get to work and attend fashion shows, but I got an awesome front row seat at the Monique Lhuillier show. I got to see notable people in the industry like Andre Leon Talley and Brad from the Rachel Zoe Project. I usually don't get star struck because I see celebs often (like the other day I saw Tracy Morgan walk into Duane Reade and I glared at him and strutted off :) but when I saw Brad... I thought to myself "OMG!!! Shut the front door," just as Rachel would say, and I managed to get a pic of him on my iPhone. 

Emma Roberts was interviewed on E! at the show and when I saw clips of the Monique show, I recognized my arm in the background. It was nearly perfect.

Here are a few pics via my iPhone.

Find Brad! So close, so far away. 

Right before the start of the show!

Note the red arrow point at Brad :)

Loved this dress.

Yes, the models are super tall and thin. I felt like a hobbit next to one. 

It's been pretty surreal. My first show I worked was Costello Tagliapietra, and I had the biggest smile the whole time (inside smile) because I couldn't believe I was really at a show. Even during the run-through I was so excited. Having an internship I enjoy seems to be my only incentive to keep on going. These next few months are going to be hard but it's so worth it. 

This has been the perfect end to my crazy summer. I finally know what I want my life to be like and instead of feeling nostalgic, I'm looking forward. 

valentino perfection.

I cried.

 

It's perfect. $885 worth's perfect.

Thank you Valentino. 

I'd be invincible with these. 

Photo: www.saksfifthavenue.com

therapeutic writing

I never thought writing could be so therapeutic?

You don't have to be ashamed to tell your journal the truth and it's relieves all the pressures and anxiety pent up inside. I've found myself writing down what I'm feeling and it's been helping me get through the days. 

I spill.

I don't censor anything, even my darkest thoughts.

Then I re-read it and realize how insignificant my feelings were. 

thank you adele

So little to say but so much time

Despite my empty mouth the words are in my mind

Please wear the face, the one where you smile

Because you lighten up my heart when I start to cry

Forgive me first love, but I'm tired

I need to get away to feel again

Try to understand why

Don't get so close to change my mind

Please wipe that look out of your eyes

It's bribing me to doubt myself

Simply it's tiring

This love has dried up and stayed behind

and if I stay I'll be alive

Then choke on words I'd always hide

Excuse me first love, but we're through

I need to taste the kiss from someone new

Forgive me first love, but I'm too tired

I'm bored to say the least and I, I lack desire.

Forgive me first love.

First Love - Adele

She read my mind and wrote it down better than I'd ever be able to verbalize it.

reflection: the real world.

Life's been kicking my ass. 

I haven't broken down to tears yet. 

The realities of reality is really overwhelming. I have to work to pay rent, work to pay off debt, work to eat, work to drive and drive to work, work to have fun, work because I've been cursed with an addiction of shopping. I have to work just to be able to work. All this hard work and I have nothing to show at the end of the month.

I've hardly been emerged into what most people consider the "real world". It's still kicking my ass. 

I'm so glad I cut things out of my life. 

Otherwise, I'd be broken. 

It's liberating. 

 

valentine's day

I understand this is being written days after Valentines. 

Is Valentine's Day overrated?

We spend so much money buying gifts and going out to eat on this one day, when it can be done any other day.

Love should be spontaneous. 

 

But Valentine's Day is sweet. I admire the people who go all out on this day.  Anyways even though the official celebration of love is over, here are a few ways you can keep it alive every other day of the year. 

Movies

These movies are similar in that they tell several love stories amongst people who are connected to one another. It's very cute and just fun to watch when you need a dose of love :)

1.Love Actually

 

2. Valentine's Day

 

 

Songs

1. Today Was a Fairy Tale - Taylor Swift

It's off the Valentine's Day Soundtrack.

 

2. Valentine - Kina Grannis

 

 

As for me, I celebrated Valentine's day with simplicity and it was perfect. 

100 More Days?!?!

OMG!

100 is a big number. However, being a senior in college and not having any solid plans for the next year is hard the fathom. Especially now that my education career will permanently be over. All my mom asked of me was to graduate college. OH! and get a job in order to be successful. I feel like I'll be letting her down. 

Reality is finalizing its way into my life. 

I don't know how to handle it.

I'm scared.

I've spend a lot of time this week with myself (I was sick with the stomach virus too). I realized I spent 10% of that time wondering when I would be able to eat again and 90% of that time thinking about the future. I wonder if I'm the only one in the entire Senior Class of Emory who is in denial. The past 22 years of my life, I completed each new journey knowing where and what I would do next. Now, I'm completely lost. 

Okay...

So I do have ideas of what I want to do, but I feel like I'm not qualified enough. Although, I've lost my religiosity in the midst of being a religious scholar, I'm going to have to keep this problem in my prayers. 

I should be happy that I'm able to eat today and look forward to my Spring Break cruise to the Caribbean in March :)