Crazy Eight

You thought I’d forgotten about you, didn’t you??? No?? Oh, okay. Well, for those who were a perturbed that a blog post didn’t go up yesterday, I apologize for your confused emotional state. It was another busy Sunday and I just didn’t have time to sit down and write up a post. Alas, now I do and here’s your Week Eight, yes EIGHT, update!!

This weekend was actually quite relaxed. As it was basically my last weekend to kind of be lazy before my parents arrive this weekend, I slept in on Saturday and then did some shopping. Living down in The Village, I’ve become accustomed to a more laid back Manhattan with fewer people roaming the sidewalks. This means that going into Times Square now seems like a chore. It legitimately gives me anxiety because I just can’t get where I want to go as fast as I would like to because there are SO MANY PEOPLE. In the past, I wouldn’t have thought anything of it, but now it just isn’t fun. The reason I am bringing this up is because there are only two things I brave Times Square for now: Broadway shows and the Disney Store. This weekend I made my probably tenth appearance at the Disney Store and I actually made some purchases (they were gifts, not for myself…but there’s still time). I just love being anywhere that has anything to do with Disney and the Times Square Disney Store is no exception. The store itself is really neat but mostly I just love the magical energy of the store. Every single kid who walks in there just lights up! I am a pretty emotional person, I get a bit weepy when I witness beautiful moments. It’s a problem and I really should get it together. My eyes dampened up at least five times while I was in there. There were just some really adorable children who got so excited. Little girls picking out princess costumes. One little birthday girl with her birthday dress and tiara getting an Elsa doll. And then…’Let It Go’ came on and that just did me in! In conclusion, the Disney Store was a raging success and one of my favorite parts of the weekend!

After I finally pulled myself away from Disney, I stumbled upon a street fair and did some browsing. Then, I found myself near Herald Square and the original Macy’s! I actually had never been inside it before so I figured I’d finally go in. HOLY CRAP! I have never been so overwhelmed in my entire life! It really is some sort of shopping paradise but there are just so many options! So many floors! So many products! I only explored two floors before I decided it probably best I leave (too many people and too many expensive pairs of shoes I wanted to buy). Afterwards, I walked to the Manhattan Mall and bought a cute dress at JCPenney. After I wrapped up my shopping excursion, I headed home to read and do some writing.

On Sunday morning I met up with a friend for Brunch at a little place in Gramercy called Friend of a Farmer. The little restaurant was so adorable on the inside. It really felt like you were over at your farmer friend’s house! Everything had a very rustic charm to it. My orange juice was even served in a mason jar! While this isn’t usually my style, being in a restaurant like that right smack dab in the middle of New York City is really really neat. The best part about Friend of a Farmer: Their absolutely heavenly, oh so delicious, super amazing Pumpkin Pancakes! Also, their bacon was delish! It was thick and crispy…in other words, perfection. But the pumpkin pancakes were just SO GOOD! And the syrup that came with them wasn’t just a traditional maple syrup but some sort of nectar from the gods! (I actually don’t know what the syrup was…all I know is when poured on top of the pumpkin pancakes, it was yum!)

Photo Credit: http://teamfenom.com/wp-content/uploads
/2013/01/Friend-of-a-Farmer.jpg

Inside Friend of a Farmer
Photo Credit: http://fritosandfoiegras.com/

After we wrapped up at Friend of a Farmer, we walked down to Gramercy Park. Now, for anyone who saw the recent romantic comedy That Awkward Moment, starring Zac Efron, Miles Teller, and Michael B. Jordan, this is the park that Zac’s character steals the key to for the girl he’s trying to woo. The park really is exclusive…you can’t get in without a special key. For this reason, the park seems even more beautiful than it probably is. Exclusivity always makes one believe something is better simply because few people can have it. Anyway, Gramercy Park was gorgeous and all of the buildings surrounding it just screamed ‘classy’. I would recommend taking a stroll by it. The area is very quiet and low-key.

Gateway to Gramercy Park

After we finished up in Gramercy, my friend and I went our separate ways. She went to go shopping and I went to try on bridesmaid dresses! My amazing college roommate/one of my best friends, Sarah, asked me to be her Maid of Honor for her upcoming nuptials. I tried on several dresses she’d sent me pictures of and she said yes to the bridesmaid dress! I love it, but more importantly she loves it! So I’d say it was a success!

Later in the day, I went to Mass at St. Joseph’s and the priest who was saying Mass was from the Diocese of London. In other words, he had a delightful British accent. He also gave an amazing homily about needing to discern what is most important in life from what isn’t.

After Mass, I met up with some familiar faces from home! We met up for drinks at a super classy bar near Little Italy and drank super classy drinks like the girls do on Sex and the City! Afterwards, we walked around Little Italy for a bit and it is so cute down there at night! It was so great getting to spend time with some great friends and catch up! It was so much fun!

Today was a long day of work and now I’m relaxing and watching The Bachelorette season finale! (Don’t judge me, I can’t help how addicted I am to this show!)

Hope everyone has a lovely week! The next time you hear from me, I will have finished up my internship (Friday is my last day!) and be reunited with my amazing family!

XOXO,

Alex