empire state of mind

here's a few pics i took my first two days here. i don't have a camera. my old one's clasp that held the battery in broke so i had to take it to the geek squad at best buy and they are sending me a new one but it won't be here til next week, which really bums me out. so i won't be uploading any more pics for awhile. unless i can figure out how to do it from my new blackberry! that thing is still a puzzle to me, i went from a phone that ONLY calls/texts to one that does pretty much anything.

the famous arch at washington square park (in my backyard!!)

5th ave. the lovely street i get to work on.

being a tourist. don't make fun.

my little nook in my quaint little dorm room

I AM HERE.

I'm here. All settled into my little dorm room in NYC. It feels weird. It totally hasn't sunk in that I'm living here for two months yet, it just feels like a vacation right now. I'm sure in a week or so it will really hit me that I'm HERE. Since the second we landed here it was go, go, go. I am exhausted, besides last night I haven't gotten more than 5 or 6 hours of sleep since I can't even remember when. I don't even know when the tiredness will wear off because this city is so busy and I feel like all my days here will be jam-packed, either with work or exploring. Which I'm fine with. I only have two months here and I am determined to make the most of them. Which means spending as little time as manageable in my dorm room. There is so much to do and see in this city I have no excuse to be sitting, cooped up inside.

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This morning my mom and I did a little test run on the subway to make sure I knew which one to take and where to go. It went well and I think I should be able to get to work just fine come Tuesday! But unfortunately, my mom just left and I am feeling pretty sad right now. I wish she could just stay at her hotel, which was only a block away from me, all summer. But that's selfish, so I guess skype will have to suffice instead.

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Right now I am just waiting for Jenna to be done working at her second part-time job so we can go check out a market that is going on right outside our window and then maybe go to soho, or something. Maybe just wander! I wandered around for a good 3 hours by myself today, I walked up 5th ave and stopped into some stores. Of course I couldn't buy anything because OF COURSE I was overwhelmed by all the people and merchandise and was about to have an anxiety attack. Those who know me well know I hate shopping. I love buying and I love new things but I loathe the shopping part, I think it's the crowds and the inundation of so much STUFF that I just can't handle. I usually do most of my shopping either online or at Bop. I think I'll stick to online from now on. However, I did notice that I can shop at stores like Intermix very well (I stopped in there today and wanted everything, literally everything, I now know where my birthday presents are coming from!). I think it's because there is not much merchandise, and the things they do have are displayed very simply, so as not to overwhelm me and not many people were in there so I wasn't being bumped every which way and I didn't have to wait 20 minutes to try things on, and the sales people were very interested in helping me (one of their whole 5 customers).

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Well I am going to explore this city some more. I'll write again soon, probably after my first day of work at Saks on Tuesday!!!

en route

TO NYC! After a huge, major, awful fiasco yesterday that required a lot of money my mom and I are about to leave for O'Hare. Let's just cross our fingers that nothing else dramatic has to happen.

BYEBYE WISCONSIN. SEE YOU IN TWO MONTHS!!!

eye candy

I hate the term "shoe porn". ewewewewewwwww. So I am just going to simply call it what it is: eye candy.

Yves Saint Laurent

Frye

Prada

Gareth Pugh

John Galliano

Givenchy

Proenza Schouler

discoveries

I love discovering new brands. Or brands that have been out there forever and I just haven't taken the time to truly appreciate them and learn that aha! I love them. That's what happened to me the other day. I was talking with one of my co-workers at Bop about good websites to shop on and she introduced me to La Garconne. And so began my love affair with 3.1 Phillip Lim. I noticed that when I was looking through the tops and dresses everything that I said "oh I like that!" about was made by Phillip Lim. So then I investigated the line some more at other sites and found even more things by him that I loved. I can't wait til September to see what he rolls out next!

ubiquitous

u-biq-ui-tous (yoo-bik-wi-tuhs) adj: existing or being everywhere, esp. at the same time; omnipresent

pretty much sums up the miu mius and jessica simpson platforms

images via stylesightings and stockholm streetstyle

be prepared

You can never be too prepared. That's my philosophy on pretty much everything in life. So that's why I stocked up on new york maps and these little guide book things. Actually, I bought them for previous trips to NYC (lame tourist, I know) but they are gonna come in handy this summer I think. I've already scoped out where I'm living, which is an NYU dorm, Goddard Hall which is right on Washington Square Park so I am very excited about that! I've already been to the building I'm working at because I interviewed there, and it's alllll the way up on 49th street, so I think most days I will have to take the subway to work, wah wahhh. Unless I'm feeling adventurous and want to walk 40 some blocks.

I'm kiiiinda nervous about this whole dorm living thing again because in all honesty I thought I would never have to deal with those things after freshman year. Good thing I'm living with someone I know.. at least I think.. Jenna: Fill me in!!! But it also means I get a food account that has campus cash things that work at starbucks :)

Oh and I made a list of things I HAVE to do before leaving the city. I'm sure the list will only grow...

ONE WEEK.

I officially have no more Saturdays left in Wisconsin for two whole months. Wow, that is so weird to say. Thursday was my last day of work at Bop until August, I had to give my key back, I gave it back reluctantly :( And I am trying to cram a million billion things into the two weeks I have off in between school and leaving for New York. Last night I went to a dinner with all the Bop girls for Brittany's birthday and took way too many pictures (which I will post later) because it's going to be awhile until I see them again. I mean, I hope they can all visit me! But if they can't then I want pictures to develop and put somewhere in my dorm. I'm so gonna feel like a frosh again. Today my mom and I went to the Madison Farmer's Market, which is one of my favorite things about Madison and is something I'm going to miss when I'm gone. We got spicy cheesebread and cheesecurds and other Wisconsin-y things. Tomorrow I am going to visit Dan's home for a few days to spend some more time with him before I leave. And after that I will only have two full days left here. AH!

I know the time in New York is going to FLY by. I mean... my time in Madison flies by and NYC is much busier and crazier, which means the time will go even faster. I bet when the time comes for me to leave it feels like I just stepped off the plane. But I still can't help but feel apprehensive about leaving.

But for now, I need to get off this comp and go spend some time with my family. I think my mom and I are going to play a game of scrabble!

farmer's market

One of my favorite things about Madison is it's amazing Farmer's Market. I only get to go a handful of times each year and this was the first time I've been there this season.. and the last time I get to go until August. But lucky for me, today was the perfect day to go, 70's and sunny! I love all the colors that are everywhere on capital square, from the flowers to the vegetables to the booths with beautifully printed garments.

I went with my mom and we had a great time, we picked up some spicy cheesebread (you can't go to the Farmer's Market and not get that), some cheesecurds, scones, and flowers. She got a new hasta to plant in our yard and I got a single tulip to put in a vase!

zooey

"Morning Beauty" Zooey Deschanel by Ellen von Unwerth.

Zooey Deschanel and her vintage style and cute quirkiness never cease to inspire me.

images via fashiongonerogue

tribal

Last night I saw the Lion King (the broadway one, not the cartoon) with my family and I was majorly inspired. Which is something I haven't felt in awhile. The costumes were incredible. They are indescribeable, there was so much color, and vibrance, and... just life in everything! I really wish pictures were allowed so I could just post those instead of futilely trying to do them justice. So I will stop and just post some pics of things that are tribal, aka lion king inspired.

suzanna dai

Suzie Gallehugh is the creative mind behind the Suzanna Dai jewelry line. She makes pieces that are inspired from the cultures of cities all over the world. Each piece is hand-crafted and has it's own unique personality, much like the cities they are inspired by. For example, the black one is from the St. Petersburg collection, and yep, is inspired by St. Petersburg, Russia. I really love all the pieces in all of the collections. They are the perfect statement necklace, and would instantly make any outfit chic and sophisticated.

St. Petersburg Necklace

Paris Necklace

Pewter and Crystal Bib Necklace

Toyko Necklace

If you're interested, you can learn more about the line at suzannadai.com and you can buy pieces from boticca.com

let's continue this whole not studying thing...

a beautifully constructed garment.

Liu Wen by Li Qi for Vogue China June 2010. via fashion gone rogue. typical.