Thursday

..turned into being a WONDERFUL last day alone in the big apple. My mom came in today and we leave Tuesday afternoon. There was no better way to spend the day than....

sleeping in

waking up to this!!!

having my (possibly) last Brooklyn Bagle of the trip

stopping at Magnolia Bakery for some Banana Pudding

finishing my book in Central Park

dancing with my FIT girls in our first of 3 shows

=fashion design and menswear students...

getting ready-HAIR

finished product

Alyssa and make-up

my lovelies-Alyssa, Taylor, Brittney

plus Hannah

and ending the night at Shake Shack

Max and Taylor

Alyssa, Brittney, and Monika

Today I got to have breakfast at one of my favorite restaurants-La Grainne Cafe-with this beautiful lady. 

Not sure what my internet connection will be like for the next couple days so.. It may or may not be a while until the rest of the trip is posted. We'll see... oh how I love NYC, especially with my mommy! Today after breakfast we went to Mood to get Bain material for her solo costume I am going to make, we are now currently in Queens picking up my suitcase from Ashley's, then we are eating in Union Square at Rosa Mexicano before my 2nd show. This weekend is full of good food, activities, and company. I am excited!

Wednesday May 11, 2011

Tuesday was tech rehearsal and run-through 

AKA being in the FIT auditorium dancing from 11am-11pm

I did have lunch with Carrie on the High Line during my break, it is the last time I will see her in... I don't know how long. She is moving back to Hong Kong tomorrow. She hasn't lived at home with her family in 10 years! Maybe I'll be able to visit her... maybe she can come visit me. I am sad. But I think it is exactly what she needs. I love miss Carrie Chau, and wish her so much luck! 

best BUTTER PECAN ice cream EVER!

Sitting at the High Line

Rehearsal was painful to say the least! My toes split more open despite my super glue, my stomach wasn't feeling well, too many bruises on my feet and knees to kneel, and my Osgood Slaughter knee hurt for the first time in a year. BUT I remembered almost every single step in all my dances which is good! I only had 2.5 hours of rehearsals to learn the dances and I was stressing out a bit. But I think I'll be okay! Hopefully I will be feeling a little better today and have more energy so I can thoroughly enjoy tonight and this weekend!

Dress rehearsal tonight.

SHOW: Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. 

Today is a very special day!

Elder Taylor Bruce Wilkins gets to be reunited with his family TODAY!

SO EXCITING! 

Congratulations Elder on a successful mission. 

I hope the Wilkins' family has a wonderful day and week with their one and only Taylor!

Elder Taylor Wilkins-NY NY North Mission May 6, 2009-May 11, 2011

union square and battery park

I am SO sore today. To the point where walking around is a challenge. So I didn't get out into the city  until later in the afternoon. I spent the afternoon in Union Square and Battery Park. In Union Square I ate at Vanessa's Dumplings (so cheap, so good), stopped in Nordstrom Rack and DSW, and debated getting Crumbs but my tummy wasn't feeling exceptional so I decided against it. I then went downtown by the lovely statue of liberty, to my favorite place (Katie and I used to hang out down there). I read and enjoyed the nice weather while eating the one and only mango licorice! Heaven sent. On the way back I had dinner at Pita Pan with Ashley and her boyfriend Denis. 

Here are some pictures in Battery Park.

The Hudson River

the weekend-FIT NYC style

FRIDAY

 I've already been here a week!! It doesn't feel like it-the time has flown by. I had to buy my second unlimited weekly metro card. I spent the day in Rockefeller plaza browsing, shopping, and reading. 

I bought myself a NY Yankee's hat... my father and brother won't approve but I like the colors and logo of the Yankees better than the Mets and I figure... I am a new yorker and should represent. I lost my other baseball cap and needed one way too many times this past semester at BYU so I figured it was time. I got a kids size so the bill is smaller and it is kind of vintage looking. I love it.  

The J.Crew at Rock Center holds some dear memories. It is the one that Katie Emily and I also went to.

Antrhopologie always has the most AMAZING window displays. This time they used corks to decorate. 

I read in the plaza until Taylor and her friend Matt met me for dinner. We ate at 'witchcraft and then I had Mr. Softee ice cream for dessert. I watched the Office with Taylor, Brittney, and Matt at the dorms and we also watched parts of our FIT dance performance from last year. FYI today marks the 2 year mark since Elder Wilkins departed for his mission... it also marks the 2 week mark until I get to see my BEST FRIEND ELDER WILKINS AGAIN!

SATURDAY

Today FIT had a block party and the dance team performed at it and we handed out fliers promoting the show. At this block party my life changed forever.... I experienced FRIED OREOS!!!!! OH MY, HEAVENLY GOODNESS!!!!!! It was amazing.

I had rehearsal for my dance... maybe I'll give you a preview of it next week. I think it is going well! I am excited about it. We only have 6 hours of rehearsal and we perform it on Thursday!! The girls in it are amazing though and we will pull it off. After dance we went to Brooklyn Bagels-a new york classic! LOVE THIS PLACE. Miss Katie Agle introduced me to it and I am FOREVER grateful.

I went to Union Square with Taylor and her friends from 'So You Think You Can Dance'-who all made it to Vegas. We think there was a bomb threat-the police came and were trying to kick us all out... it was strange-I don't think anything happened. Trying to clear a few hundred people from the street is nearly impossible. Then back at the dorms we ordered diner take-out (sweet potato fries and milkshakes)-we sewed a little and then watched the Office (my dorm friends are obsessed. haha such a funny show)

SUNDAY

Bright and early we had dance... 8am. Since I am only in 4 dances I had 6 hours of actual rehearsal and 6 hours of breaks where I cut and sewed some dance costumes and practiced the dances that I am in. Oh how I miss dancing!!!! My body is physically in shape but out of dancing shape meaning... I got 3 split toes and about 20 new bruises today. I haven't had to roll on the ground or dance barefoot in about a year. That is SO depressing to me! I am so grateful for my ability and dancing talent that I have been given. Somehow I hope to be able to use this talent forever. I never want to stop. I love it SO much! There is nothing like the FIT dance team in Utah. Which is precisely why I am here in NYC right now! 

From 8:30-11pm we had a show run through with costumes-last time rehearsing with mirrors... last time really rehearsing at all. We will run through the dances on stage maybe 5 times before the shows start. It was a really late night, a really long day and I am so grateful for the life I've been given. 

On the cab ride back to Queens I talked with Debbie-SHE LEAVES TODAY-MONDAY- to fly to NYC with her family to pick up Taylor. It is surreal that this day has finally come. Taylor will be with his loving family this Wednesday! It feels like it's been FOREVER since I've seen him but it also feels like he just left. It doesn't feel like two years has past since I've seen his smile or heard his voice and laugh IN PERSON. He is still my best friend and two years hasn't changed that.

P.S. Happy Mothers Day to my beautiful, amazing, wonderful, loving, caring, supportive, exceptional, one of a kind mommy!!! We will celebrate in 4 days when you come to NYC!! I love you! (last year she spent Mother's Day in NYC with me to come see my FIT dance concert)

Mother's Day 2010

P.P.S. sorry for the lack of pictures...

Chelsea Market and the High Line

Today I ended up deciding to go to Chelsea Market/Highline. Two of my favorite places in the city. I first went to Anthropologie (which is located in Chelsea Market)... took some pictures in the dressing room for inspiration-ideas (it's a fashion design thing-take pictures so you can re-create it someday or be inspired later on)

my dressing room-look at how my color palate goes so well together! I didn't even mean to

bold flower prints are very in-they were all over

LOVE this cozy shirt (wish it was on sale)

chiffon sleeve detail-definitely making me a shirt like this!

 Chelsea Market is ADORABLE. It is full of little shops (mostly local food restaurants and bakeries)

the outside. 15th and 9th ave.

inside. great design-architecture

some of the shops

 I chose Ronnybrook Dairy for lunch (I get the same amazing sandwich every time I go-avocado mozzarella and tomato), I wanted a frozen lemonade but they didn't have any... but the nice guy behind the counter gave me a sample of their chocolate chip milkshake. SO YUMMY! I never get a full one though because they are $6 and I am annoyingly money conscious. (It may not seem so on this blog because i post only about the meals and things I do purchase but just ask my mom... it's an inner battle that is ongoing... spend the money or starve... I almost feel guilty at every purchase) This is the conversation that plays in my head on a constant basis... 

"IT'S VACATION BREE! LIVE A LITTLE!-See your friends, eat your favorite foods, do a little shopping, you deserve it and you aren't broke, you can afford to!" 

"But I can't... $10 for lunch is ridiculous, I wonder how long I could go without getting too hungry..."

"Would you rather starve? That is STUPID. Pay the money! You don't have anywhere to prepare food there is nothing else you can do PLUS you aren't paying for a hotel... 18 days in NYC and you'll probably spend less than what everyone else pays for a cheap NYC hotel for 2-3 nights. It's OKAY!"

I am still not convinced so I call my mom and the conversation continues.. 

now if only I didn't LOVE clothes and fashion and comfy perfect soft anthropologie 50% off pants....

I did talk myself into (with a little help from mom) getting the most amazing jeans-they aren't anything special but they fit like a glove and where simply perfect, and SO ME! I am all about comfortable. I will not STAND to be uncomfortable due to clothing... I hate it. These pants were pure perfection. (I still feel super guilty but they were on major sale and I know I'll wear them ALL the time.....(that's me still trying to rationalize my spending...)) They are a mauve color and perfect for spring and summer.....and fall and winter! 

I then go to the high line to eat and read.. it was LOVELY (minus the wind and cooler temperature). It is a walkway that is raised above the street along an old train track-with benches and plants/flowers over looking the Hudson. I LOVE IT! 

my view

fat witch (Chelsea Market) brownie. YUM! one of my fav's!

looking towards the Hudson

I had dance rehearsal at FIT for the acro dance I am in and then I went with Alyssa to Starbucks, called Talyn (sat next to creepy guys who kept spitting and smoking in the park (I sat next to them BEFORE they started doing these things)-GROSS, and met up with Carrie! (remember her.. we were in the same program at FIT together-we were all nighter and sewing buddies, she was my best friend in the program and we definitely helped keep each other sane during the hard times!) 

Carrie and me after an all-nighter. FIT 2009

We went into the East Village and tried to eat at The Meatball Shop (apparently it's a big deal...there was an hour and a half wait) so we went to another famous restaurant that I had never heard of that Carrie wanted to go to before she moved backed to her home in Hong Kong... On the walk back to Ashley's I chatted with my dear Katie.

pastrami sandwich-what they're famous for. DELICIOUS.

pickles and cucumbers for the appetizer

It was a good day. I love wandering alone and being in the city! There are lots of things I love about both of these things (being alone, and the city) but they have their downfalls too. Being alone means no pictures that are exciting because no one meaningful is in them because... it's just me and I can't easily take pictures of myself without looking like a goober. The city is AMAZING. Living here has taught  me SO much, I've grown so much (even though I was already a mature teenager-which I am assuming is why my parents let me come at 19 in the first place). It has brought new perspectives and has opened my mind to so much. But I was talking to Carrie about the city and it truly is SO stressful. It sucks you in deep and it is so hard to remember what is important in life. People here work to live... it is so expensive and I feel like it is so easy to be consumed with ideas of money, pride, bitterness, etc. I understand it's like that everywhere-and I can't really explain it too well in writing but living in the city is hard. It is hard to remember family, relationships, and fun when you have to work just to barely afford rent. I love the city, the experience I've had here has been the greatest of my life and I wouldn't change it for anything.. but I think I will stick to only visiting (hopefully  often... once a year will do!!) but never living here again (not unless J.Crew wants me to be their Bridal Expert! ha then I'd come in a flash). Life is too short to be consumed with such worldly things, it is meant to be enjoyed and spent with loved ones... I can't wait to show my kids some day all the places I love here in NYC-and send them on their adventures! This city changes lives but it is SO easy for it to change lives for the worse.. luckily it changed mine for the better.

Thanks mom and dad! For giving me this opportunity. Thank you for believing in me-for letting me follow my dreams of FIT-NYC and now BYU. You guys are always so supportive and loving and never question my desires. You guys are the reason I am where I am today! I love you.