It’s been a few weeks since I last posted and since I’m
having a bit of a lazy Sunday, I thought I’d write a post to catch you guys up
on what’s been happening up here in the Big Apple.
I’ve fallen into quite a daily routine now, which looks a
little something like: wake up, get dressed, go to work, come home, eat dinner,
read or watch Netflix, go to bed, and repeat. On Friday nights, I meet up with
some friends who are also new hires at my company for drinks. Every other week
we do dinner somewhere fun. Our last Friday night dinner was at a BBQ
restaurant called Brother Jimmy’s. They also happen to be famous for their
Swamp Water, an alcoholic beverage served in a fish bowl, complete with a
plastic gator. It was actually quite tasty! The weekends are a little less
structured. I generally sleep in a bit and then try to do something fun…but I
always make sure I’m home to watch the Aggies play on Saturdays! Obviously!
Sundays are church, grocery shopping, cleaning, and meal prepping days (more on
this later). It’s starting to feel like real life, rather than just going
through the motions until I’m off the hook…if that makes any sense AT ALL
hahaha
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| The Swamp Water |
Today also marks 2 months since moving into my apartment! It’s
still coming together, but hopefully in a few more months I’ll have it where I
want it. I have learned one thing though: I like to keep a clean home. WHO
KNEW?! I know there will be several people shocked by this, mainly my mother. I
sweep at least once a week and every other week I deep clean, meaning dusting,
cleaning the bathroom and kitchen, etc. But seriously, it’s like clockwork!
This, coming from someone who used to maybe vacuum their room once every three
months and change their sheets once every couple of months. (Yeah I know that’s
gross but it was annoying taking them off the bed!) Now I change my sheets much
more frequently. And I actually love it! I LOVE when everything is clean and
there’s no dust or grime on the floor. Looks like I’m growing up after all!
Another new thing I just experience, grocery delivery! Living
on a budget is much more challenging than I expected. I did some calculations
and the amount of money I was spending on groceries and eating out last month
was RIDICULOUS. I decided this month I really needed to be mindful about what I
was spending on food. There’s a grocery store down the street I go to on
Sundays and purchase food for the week. Then I prepare my meals and have them
in the fridge for easy access. This particular store is a bit small and, well,
pricey. There are so many things I look at the price and think, this is at
least $2 cheaper in Texas.
I’ve been reading articles about grocery shopping on a
budget in NYC and several articles suggested the grocery delivery services. So,
I decided to try one. Sure enough, I did end up being able to get about 2 weeks’
worth of food to make for about $10-$15 more than I was getting one week’s
worth at the store down the street. I was able to compare prices right there on
my screen and take advantage of some sale items. There was also a coupon I
found to get the delivery fee waved, so that also saved me. The absolute best
part about it, I DIDN’T HAVE TO GO TO THE GROCERY STORE! I didn’t have to walk
down the crowded aisles trying to find the items I was looking for and bumping
into strangers. All of the things I needed were delivered right to my door. IT
WAS BEAUTIFUL. (I know I sound like a diva, but seriously I hate the grocery
store and this was like winning the lottery!)
For the past few weeks, I was working on a client out of
White Plains, New York, which is north of the city. This required me to wake up
an extra hour to allow for travel time. Not fun the first few days as I
adjusted. Each morning I would leave around 7, take the subway to Grand Central
Station, and then take the train out to White Plains. From the train station, I
walked to my client’s office. All in all, it took me about an hour and a half,
which, compared to other people’s commutes, really isn’t that bad. The train
ride was nice, as we went through some gorgeous tree-lined areas. White Plains
itself was also a really cute place. The other neat thing was just getting to go
to Grand Central every day. There’s such a bustling atmosphere and so many
people going to so many different places. It’s such an old building and yet it’s
still very much a vital part of travel in the city. I’m actually going to miss
being there. This week I start on a new client, who I’ll be working on for
about the next 6 months. They’re in Manhattan, so the commute will be much more
manageable.
Now onto the fun part of this blog post, the holiday season
is OFFICIALLY underway here in the city. First up was Halloween last weekend.
This year I didn’t dress up and it hurt my soul. I LOVE getting all dressed up
for Halloween and take great pride in making my costumes (i.e., my Elsa costume
last year). However, I just didn’t have the time, or inspiration for that
matter, to come up with something. So, I threw on a Gryffindor shirt and told
myself I was Ginny Weasley because of my red hair. It made me feel a little bit
better about not having put in the effort for a full-blown costume.
I met up with a friend of mine down in Greenwich Village
where we watched the NY Halloween Parade. There were LOADS of people out to
watch and the vast majority of them were dressed up themselves! I saw so many
incredible costumes on people who weren’t even in the parade! Once the parade
did start, tons of costumed New Yorkers made their way down the street, jamming
out to music and having a great time. There were some floats and bands, as well
as dance groups. My favorite, the New York Thriller group who moved down the
street doing Michael Jackson’s Thriller and it was amazing. It wasn’t half-ass
either, they were going after it.
After about two hours, my friend and I decided we’d seen
enough and left. This had a little to do with the fact we’d been out there
about 3 and a half hours, since we went early to get decent viewing spots, and
a LOT to do with the fact people started cramming in closer together. We weren’t
fans of the people behind us being practically on top of us. Not a fun
situation! I went home, grabbed some McDonald’s because it was the only thing
open that late and close to my apartment, and watched The Prince and Me…because
I couldn’t bring myself to watch a scary movie…alone…in my apartment…alone.
Bottom line: It was a nice Halloween spent with a good friend J
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| Rubi and Me at the Parade! |
Now I want to first say, I love Thanksgiving. I respect it
as a holiday and I love everything it represents. A day for us to think about
all of the many blessings we’ve been given and to stuff our faces with
delicious turkey and pumpkin pie. However, I’m one of those people who
sometimes let’s their love of Christmas overpower their love of Thanksgiving….okay
not sometimes, try all the time. Which is why I started listening to Christmas
music on November 5th. Before you get irate, I started listening to Christmas
music on, like, November 1st last year so I’m doing better, okay!!! I’m
sorry but if I wait for the day after Thanksgiving to start listening to
Christmas music, I’m left with 29 days to indulge in the beautiful crooning of
Michael Buble, Andy Williams, and Nat King Cole. THAT’S NOT ENOUGH! Christmas
music makes me ridiculously happy, so don’t mind me as I walk down the street
listening to it in my earbuds and smiling like an idiot.
This city is not helping either. They’ve started decorating
for the holidays already!! If you didn’t see it on the news or whatever, the
big Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center arrived on Friday and is in the
process of being installed. It was actually quite incredible to see that take
shape. It’s a real construction zone now too and they make sure it’s secure. I’ve
NEVER seen the tree in Rock Center so I am ECSTATIC. Saks Fifth Avenue across
the street already has their Christmas décor up outside, as well as Tiffany
& Co. and Harry Winston. A lot of other storefronts on Fifth Avenue are
preparing their windows for the holidays and I can’t wait to see what they look
like.
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| The Tree arrives! |
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| And it's up!!! |
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| And now a construction zone! |
Yesterday I was doing a bit of shopping and went my Macy’s
in Herald Square. They already have up some of their Christmas décor outside,
but I decided to go inside to their Christmas floor. SON OF A NUTCRACKER, IT
WAS ABSOLUTELY STUNNING!!! I can’t even begin to tell you how many Christmas trees
were up in there and they were COVERED in a gazillion ornaments! There were Santa
figurines and tree skirts and stuffed Christmas toys and anything and
everything you could possibly need to decorate your house for Christmas. I was
in heaven. After roaming around there for a while, I decided it was probably
unhealthy and I should leave. So, reluctantly, I did.
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| Macy's!! |
As my mother put it in a text message, “You are going to be
in heaven this holiday season.” Yes, yes I am. I know that a lot of this is due
to consumerism. I’m not naïve! But I choose not to look at it that way. The
spirit of Christmas is what I’ve always loved. The giving and the love, that’s
what it’s about for me. So I’m going to keep believing in the magic, all the
way until December 25th!
As more and more decorations go up around the city, I’ll be
sure to post pictures!
Hope everyone has a wonderful week!
XOXO,
Alex
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