Transportation in NYC

One thing I have come to love about NYC is how easy it is to travel within the city as well as how easy it is to travel to destinations outside of the city. 

Within the city, the app HopStop is essential. Plug in your destination, hit go and within seconds it will give you the walking distance, which subways to use or how much a cab would cost. It really is a great app and I want to personally thank the person who created it. It has saved me from walking miles and miles in parts of the city that were unfamiliar to me. 

While living in NYC I have traveled home, which is just an easy 3 hour bus ride, to Atlantic City, to Boston, Cape Cod and Long Island. All relatively easy to get to from New York. Having both Penn Station and Port Authority bus terminal within easy walking distance from my apartment has been both a blessing and a burden. While it has saved me from missing the bus/train numerous times, it has also caused my stress when walking to the subway in the mornings. In addition to this, two airports are just a subway ride away.

Overall, NYC is a great place for public transportations. In Manhattan, subway stops are everywhere and other destinations are within reach.

Fashion Week Preparations

With Fashion Week quickly approaching, it is interesting to see how differently Elle and LGC prepare. While Elle is responding to emails with RSVP's for editors, LGC is worrying about sending out invitations, keeping track of RSVP's and going through final seating plans. 

In the days leading up to fashion week, I am finding myself busier at LGC, assisting them with invitations while also helping them with other client work. It's busy weeks like the past few that make me realize how much I really do enjoy public relations.

It is hard to believe that I will be attending my first fashion week this year. I am so glad that my first experience will include all of the backstage hustle and bustle. I hope everyone has a great fashion week! 

One Goodbye and Another Hello

I start my day with my morning commute with my favorite stop along the way, Starbucks. I will start my day the same way when back in Philly, only my commute will be a five minute walk with my mocha in hand and headphones to accompany me. Driving to and from work has been something I thoroughly enjoy each morning and night. I share a car with my dad so some days we carpool however when I get the car to myself I automatically know it is going to be a good day. Listening to my music along the way to work is my definition of pure bliss, motivating me in the morning and letting me unwind in the evening. Two opposite feelings created by the same experience. 

When living in the city, I will not be able to drive however I will restore my love of walking. Being able to get to where you are going with your own two feet is an empowering feeling. Being able to transport yourself to where you need to be only using the vehicle that are your legs whilst not causing any harm to the earth in the process is something I look forward to. Something loved left behind, something loved to start up again.

When moving to Philly, I will leave my family however I will rekindle my friendships and connections at school. One thing lost and another gained, from one loved place to another. 

There's only one chance to experience your senior year of college, and my time is now. 

Prima Famiglia - "Family First"

Living back at my parents house these past six months have been pleasantly enjoyable. I have moved downstairs into our basement apartment and have my own bathroom, kitchen, and bedroom so it is almost as if I am living in my own apartment that is attached to my house. The one thing I do miss about living on my own would be the most obvious, the privacy, however the ability to see my family at my disclosure is my biggest treasure, it outweighs any downsides. Being at home these six months I have got to witness my nephew's birth and early stages of growth, an experience incomparable to any other. Watching a child grow is the most blessed experience, knowing that that child shares the same DNA as you creates an inexplainable connection, a connection so strong you can almost feel the energy vibrating in your body when proximal to one another. We are different yet the same!

Spending time with my niece has been my favorite thing to do while I have been home. Sophia is three and a half and is the light of my life. Being able to stop over after getting off work and give my Sophia a hug and a kiss is the best part of my day. I go into withdrawals when I haven't seen her in a couple days, that sweet little hug is all I need to recharge! We are alike in so many ways. My mom used to babysit her every day before she started going to pre-school (so grown up) so she must have instilled in her the same mannerisms as she did to me. I am young at heart, and she is wise beyond her years. My life completely changed when she came into this world, I am bonded with her in ways unlike any I have ever known. 

I will miss a lot of things when moving back to Philadelphia, all these things being centered around family. 

Good Morning

The office is buzzing with people. I thrive in this environment. The mumble of conversations can be heard mixed with phones ringing, coffee brewing, people rushing by spreading good morning greetings. Morning is in the air and everyone is awake, alive, and ready to get work done. It's hard to have a bad morning in this place, it's hard not to feel motivated and happy to start the day. 

The people here are so kind. The authenticity can be felt in their warm, inviting smile. I knew the first day that I walked into this place and received a tour of headquarters that this would be an environment that fosters creativity, learning, and expression. Little did I know how attached I would become to these people, this company. This office creates a harmonious balance between employee personal expression and company representation, advocating their employees to be themselves trusting in their judgment and professionalism in respect to the brand reputation. The short amount of time that I have worked here I have become acquainted with my surroundings and formed a bond with my fellow employees. I look forward to seeing them each day and will truly miss this place and my routine when I am gone.

On another note, the band is coming into town this Thursday and will be performing 3 shows while they're here. It's exciting to actually spend time with the people you devote you're day working for, you'd be surprised at how much you get to know someone just by being in their physical presence, that is something that our relationship lacks however we constantly communicate with one another daily to make up for it. When you are the online voice of someone, getting a good solid sense of who they are is key. At least to me it is. It's extremely important that I pick up on their mannerisms and quirks, the 'real' stuff that distinguishes one person from the next, the stuff you find out without them coming right out and saying it. This shall be an exciting weekend, and I am looking forward to it! I am excited to see them, as this will be the last hoorah before I go back to school. Be sure to visit Colour of London on Facebook to see what we're up to!

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NYC Finds

A few weeks ago I made the trek down to an area of NYC called Tribeca to visit a friend after work. I had never been to that part of the city but had always heard that it was a great area (lots of families live there). Getting down to that area included a lot of walking but didn't end up being as complicated as I thought it would be.

After making it down there, we decided to walk along the water to enjoy the beautiful afternoon. After walking for a while we ended up stumbling upon a pier with lots of outdoor activities, which is something you hardly ever find in NYC. This area had the only mini golf course in Manhattan, volleyball courts, a skate park and a mini soccer field. I felt like I had hit the jackpot and knew that I had to play a round of mini golf.

While I do love Manhattan, it was nice to be in the city but feel a thousand miles away for an hour or so. Here are some pictures of the golf course- you can see small images of the city high rises in the background. Also, here is a link to the mini golf course and the pier where all of this is located: http://www.hudsonriverpark.org/explore-the-park/activities/mini-golf. Being on co-op for six months it is easy to feel a tad homesick, especially since NYC is completely different than any other city in the US. Like I said in my first post, it is extremely important to find comforts from home or activities that allow you to mentally escape the city for a while. 

The Views From Brooklyn

This past weekend I ventured to Brooklyn for the second time since I've been living in NYC. Somehow I always find an excuse why I shouldn't make the trek to Brooklyn but I have since vowed to go a few more times before I move out.

Since I was attending a concert in Williamsburg Park on Saturday afternoon, my friend and I decided to go early to check out the Smorgasburg, aka "Brooklyn Flea Food Market". If you've got an appetite this is the place to go. The whole park is full of every food and drink vendor you can possibly imagine. It also is a very short and easy subway ride from Manhattan, trust me. There is plenty of seating in the area, both on picnic tables or on a very small beach on the water which actually offers a great view of Manhattan (see above). This is a great place to go for lunch or an early dinner with friends. I personally would love to be able to go around and try every vendor but unfortunately I don't think that would end well.

Staring across the river at Manhattan I couldn't help but think about how fast the past few months have gone by (cheesy, I know). It's hard to believe that there is only a little more than a month left of co-op. While NYC can be extremely overwhelming at times, I have really come to like it here. This city has such life and I am really going to miss it. I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to live here because I now know that this is where I want to be when I graduate. That's why the co-op system is so beneficial, it gives you the chance to try new things while there is still time to change your mind.