Fashion's Night Out!

I think I have encountered just about every emotion over my last couple of days in NYC. I've been beyond happy, excited, treated like a princess, full of laughter and have had a lot of fun. I've also cried, screamed, fought with our broker, been taken advantage of (by said broker) and had such really rough times. But let's start with the fun times first!

Aside from Christmas in New York, which is my all time favorite time of the year to be in NYC, I would definitely have to say my close second favorite time to be in the city is during New York Fashion Week! For anyone interested in fashion, food, drinks, celebrities, giveaways, promotions and fashion festivities then Fashions Night Out is for you! I have always dreamed of being in the city during NYC Fashion Week and for the first time this year I was!

The best time to start hitting up the stores in the midtown area is around 3pm. I know most people aren't able to do this because they're working, but lucky me I hadn't started work yet! So I hit the ground running! My friend Kaitlin and I hit up Bendels first to get our make up done. (For free of course!) That's the great thing about Fashions Night out is everyone can enjoy being pampered by the most prestige stores in the world for one night only! Next, we headed to Bergdorf Goodman for hair, nails champagne and cupcakes! Sipping champagne while getting my hair done... I can get used to that!

Lucky for Kaitlin and I we were able to get to Bergdorf early since we both hadn't started work yet because around 5:30/6pm it started getting PACKED! It's also when it starts getting even more exciting because the celebrities start showing up to promote their stores, fragrances, beauty lines etc. Rachel Zoe showed up when we were at Bergdorf and want to know the best thing that happened? Kaitlin and I were wandering around (a little bit lost and trying to find our way to the shoe department) when we stumbled into the elevator with Rachel Zoe!! JUST Rachel Zoe, her agent, security guards and US! Of course we tried to snap a photo, but in the close quarters of an elevator its a little obvious when you're holding up your iphone in an elevator with a celebrity. While I'm thinking to myself "Try to act cool Kayla you're not THAT person" So, hence the no picture from the elevator, but I WAS able to snap the quick photo shown below! Aerin Lauder, Estee Lauder's granddaughter also showed up to Bergdorf to promote her new beauty line, which was cool to hear her speak about. 

After spending countless hours in Bergdorf we FINALLY decided that we should probably check out some other stores. Every store was giving out champagne upon entrance and the majority of stores were having promotions and sales. (Of course given the stores that I have been telling you I've been walking around in there is no discount made big enough to help me afford anything in any of them!) But it's always still cool to participate and hope that you're the lucky winner of that free trip to London right? We soon headed down to 34th street to check out their promotions and sneak a peek at Michael Korrs, one of Kaitlin and mines favorite designer. Of course it is now 8pm, prime FNO time, and the line to even get a glimpse of Michael Korrs is 20 deep. Oh well, next time right? This is the night that girls in NYC wait for all year and now I can say I've been a part of it and I see why it's the most anticipated event of the year! The only downside of the week was having the opportunity to go to a show, but the time was during my second day of work and that just wasn't happening. I got a quick glimpse of what fashion week is all about and hopefully next year I will have the opportunity to take attend a show and get the full fashion week experience!

Running around New York...Literally

East River bike path view

I can't get over how much has happened in the last week since moving here. I don't even know where to begin, but I guess I'll start with my run along the East River. I moved up to NYC a week early to adjust and familiarize myself with the city before actually starting work. Since I still don't have an apartment in the city yet, (which is an entire blog post in itself)

Anyway, I decided to go for a run along the East River and explore the East Side. The past few months I have been running in the North Carolina heat which has almost been unbearable, so when I had the chance to run along the East River on a cloudy New York day with the wind from the water it was absolutely perfect. And because it was so perfect I kept running farther and farther uptown. Before I know it I'm in Central Park on 95th street, which most New Yorkers know is about a 5-5 and a half mile run from 14th. (And that's usually the distance I've been running these days.) When I finally realize how far I ran I'm exhausted, without money to subway home and without any water. Good job Kayla. So I begin the 5 mile trek home since I'm way too tired to run even a little bit.

So remember I said I went for a run to go exploring? Well, while walking through central park with my workout clothes is completely normal, the genius I am decides to explore fifth avenue at this time. Boy was that a mistake walking down New York's (if not the nations) most fashionable street in my sneakers and workout clothes. I would have loved to see myself among the crowd of Chanel, Burberry, Gucci and Louis Vuitton that day. People are strutting down the street with beautiful custom made purses, shoes and dresses while I'm walking with my dirty sneakers and sweaty hair. Never making THAT mistake again. Plus I really didn't think it would be as crowded as it was, but man was I wrong.

Although I'm venting and complaining about it now, walking through Manhattan is really the only way to familiarize yourself with the city. I walked through the Upper East Side, Midtown East, Murray Hill, Gramercy Park, East Village and Union Square. And since I'm in the process of apartment searching in those general areas it really wasn't so bad after all.

As for the rest of the week apartment hunting here I come!

Adventures in the city, Take 1

So before I start this post I feel the need to mention that I'm writing it at Starbucks in Union Square sipping my pumpkin spice latte and people watching from my seat at the window. (I'm already becoming a true New Yorker! Ha)

I also feel the need to mention that my family thinks I won't be able to handle living in the city and the small living arrangements and high expenses it entails. Um... did you SEE the apartment I lived in Madrid? Becca and I slept in bunk beds for 6 months and we both couldn't stand in the room at the same time without hitting one another. I think I can handle a small NYC apartment. Actually the apartments are heaven compared to what I lived in at Penn State. Thanks for looking out though.

Anyway, since arriving in the big city things have actually gone pretty smoothly surprisingly. Aside from lugging 4 bags (2 huge ones and 2 small ones) across 42nd street and having them all fall down bringing me down with them and running along the East river in the pouring rain and having a taxi cab speed by splashing the biggest puddle of water into me and my mouth everything has gone great. Seriously it has!

Paddle boating in Central Park is something I have ALWAYS wanted to do, but I have never had that special someone to do it with! Boating in the lake with a girlfriend just doesn't give the same vibe as it does with a boyfriend or girlfriend. AND since we decided to partake on this rendezvous during labor day weekend in the city it really wasn't crowded and the line wasn't long at all! This is definitely something I recommend to anyone. It only cost $12 for an hour and let's be real that's almost free in terms of NYC money. Wait until I get to the drinks and dinner portion of the night. We went boating for about an hour and then explored the park as much as possible before getting hungry. It really has so many hidden gems, but takes multiple days to explore in its entirety. Thank god the rain held off too otherwise it really would have killed our plans.

After a great day spent in the park, Thomas and I went to The View for drinks. The View is an amazing restaurant and bar located inside the Marriott Marquis in Times Square. It's an absolutely amazing and truly romantic spot for anyone. The restaurant spins so you get a 360 degree view. (When we first sat down I actually went up to the host and asked to change seats because at that time we didn't have the best view. In response he goes oh you'll get there the restaurant spins and showed me that we were slowly moving. Now can you tell I'm not from here? Rookie mistake) 


Anyway, we knew the place was going to be pricy because you're really paying for the amazing view of the city you get but DAMN $35 and 2 drinks later we headed to dinner. (I do feel the need to mention I got a Long Island and Thomas got a bourbon and water, but if we were going to pay double digits for a drink anyway we planned to make it worth our while!) 

Loeb Boathouse, Central Park

Belvedere Castle, Central Park

For dinner we went to one of my favorite restaurants in the city, Becco's. I love this place because they have one of the best pasta deals in the entire city. (And if you know me you know I will always look for places with some great pasta dishes!) You get a caesar salad and 3 different types of homemade pasta that are refillable for only $22.95! The waiters come by and ask you if you want more of the certain type of pasta when they see your plate is clear. Yes, please!

While my first weekend in New York was truly everything I hoped it to be and more I'm sure I'm in for the monthly cry sessions when I have to pay my rent, going crazy in a 3 bedroom tiny apartment, and dreading that morning commute with hundreds of other people in the morning, but I'm finally in New York so it's okay right?