Escapades and the City

This past weekend was an exciting one! Despite living in the shadow of one of the greatest cities in the world, I rarely make my way into New York City (with the exception of follow-ups with my surgeon, of course!). But I was delighted when Elana, whom I became acquainted with through blogging, invited me to have coffee with her and meet in person. Elana writes the career advice and lifestyle blog, Elana Lyn, and like me, she attended college in D.C. Her blog is a great resource for both millennials and seasoned professionals, as she offers valuable advice for any career stage, and she keeps her content fresh with her weekly career profile series (which I live for!).

Elana and I met at Macaron Cafe near Penn Station. It’s a cozy place filled with vibrant colored macaroons (notice the variation in spelling!) and other light breakfast offerings. Since it’s in NYC, space is a premium, but it was a great place for a first introduction. From Elana’s blog I knew we had a lot in common, and I enjoyed meeting her in person.

Next up on my NYC adventure was some shopping (unintended, naturally). I made a bee line when I saw the bright red lights welcoming me to H&M. What started out as a “quick” browse through three levels of clothing, turned into a full-on shopping escapade. It was hard to resist spending the entire weekend in that H&M, and made me seriously question why the two H&M’s on Long Island don’t look anything like those in NYC. After a workout just to make it to the dressing room, and numerous trips up and around the three-levels, I decided that I had enough. The line to pay pushed me over the edge, and I was suddenly grateful that the H&M’s on Long Island looked nothing like this. Two dresses, one peplum top, and three necklaces later, I had turned a five minute shopping pit stop into a lengthy endeavor. Not to fear, all of my purchases will make their way onto the blog sooner or later!

After some more walking, I found myself at Rockefeller Plaza. I’ve always wanted to skate there, but I was not quite dressed warm enough for outdoor ice skating with the wind chill. It was, however, a great place to take photos of the rink and admire those braving the cold.

Nearby was the Lego store, which had a small replica of Atlas holding up the world — just a few feet from the actual statue.

Continuing on, I took another slight detour, and was at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. This church is simply majestic. The high ceilings and stained glass windows were exquisite.

And while I was in the area, taking a peek at the store windows was a must. Saks Fifth Avenue had the most stunning window display — and the Valentino heels weren’t bad either!

{Gucci Window Display}

{Saks Fifth Avenue Window}

My last bit of excitement for the day was spotting an actual Topshop store. I was beginning to think they were an urban myth, and that I would have to buy online or through Nordstrom. Walking into the palatial store and seeing all of the perfectly curated clothes made my eyes light up. The highlight was finding their makeup display and purchasing a red lipstick that I have been eyeing for months at a great price. Too bad I also saw two swoon-worthy one-piece suits that I didn’t buy and haven’t been able to get off my mind since. Another trip to NYC, perhaps?

It was a beautiful but cool night to walk around the City. But no trip would be complete without a stop at the Magnolia Bakery. They have the best cupcakes…and are worth the wait on line! Try the red velvet–you won’t be disappointed.

On the way back to Penn Station I stopped at Bryant Park. The fountain was frozen and made for a great shot against the dimly lit buildings behind it.