My TBD Fund

I don't know about you, but all this New York talk has me thinking about life after graduation from graduate school and what the future holds. More often than not, I find myself throwing around the idea of one day beginning an adventure in a completely new place. With that comes the feeling of giving up everything I have now. Is anyone else freaked out by this idea?

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Though I have nearly ten months until graduation, I can't help but wonder what's next. In the meantime, I figure the least I can do is start saving a little money. As we all know, you can dream all day long, but you can't take action without the funds to back these decisions. 

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Just last week, I took a small step toward my future by opening up a new savings account. I've decided that every month between now and whenever I make a life change, I'm going to put in $75.00. It doesn't seem like much, but when graduation comes, I'll have $750.00. In just one year, I'll have $900.00 to put toward whatever I please. 

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I'll be the first to admit that saving money has never been my strong suit. If I see something I love while shopping, I'll find a way to make it happen. By opening this new savings account that I've coined "My TBD Fund," this money is kept completely separate from everything else. When I am ready to make a life change, whether it's ten months or ten years from now, the money that I've saved will be waiting to help pave the way. For a girl that never stops dreaming, that sounds pretty darn good!

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Summer in the City: Day 3!

Our third and final day in the city was absolute perfection! We started on the Upper East Side at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, commonly known as the MET.

While most spend hours admiring the beautiful art, Katy and I spent our time outside of the museum. I was determined to get a Blair Waldorf-esque photo on the MET steps!

Add in a brightly-colored pea coat and a yogurt parfait...I would have been set!

We then traveled down Madison Avenue to a few of our favorite shops. Lilly Pulitzer on Madison was to die for!

Though we didn't make any purchases during our visit it was oh so tempting!

We also made sure to stop by the Sprinkles Cupcakes ATM!

Next stop, and possibly the most anticipated one for me was Laduree! I'd been dreaming of French macarons for weeks, knowing that we would be visiting during our trip. I chose raspberry and chocolate flavored macarons, and they were fabulous.

Later that afternoon, Katy and I grabbed a quick lunch at The Barking Dog in Murray Hill, then walked a few blocks to the DryBar for our blowout appointment. What better way to prepare for a Broadway show than drinking champagne and having our hair done?! 

If you haven't heard of the DryBar, you must look it up! With a tagline like "No cuts. No color. Just Blowouts." it's got to be something worth exploring!

 

We made our appointments prior to the trip, so there was no waiting around for us. Right after arriving, we were whisked into the salon, shampooed, and having our hair styled before we knew it (all with champagne in hand!)

Katy went with the Cosmo style featuring lots of fun, loose curls.

For my style, I chose the Cosmo-Tai, a mix of beachy and curly.

That night we had dinner at Don't Tell Mama Restaurant and Piano Bar on West 46th Street.

After our tasty dinner on Restaurant Row, it was off to see Chicago from the front row! Katy and I were lucky enough to scoop up two front row tickets about three weeks before we left for the city! It was awesome being so close!

Here we are, blowouts and all, before finding our seats at the theatre!

When the show was over, Katy and I hopped right over to the heart of Times Square for cheesecake at Juniors! It was the absolute perfect way to end a great trip to New York City!

Interested in hearing about the rest of our trip? Don't miss my posts on day one and two!



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As always, Have a Sweet Day!

Summer in the City: Day 2!

Day two and three of the trip were definitely my favorite! I think it was a mix between actually having slept those two days, and the fabulous activities we had planned!

On Monday, our morning started downtown! I love the Greenwich Village area of the city, so it felt amazing to be back by NYU and Washington Square Park! It was cloudy, so the crowd normally around the fountain was minimal, allowing us to snap some great photos that morning. 

After spending some time in the park, we took a quick subway ride to Chelsea, where we had lunch at Tipsy Parson! This gem, located at 156th 9th Avenue, is known for its weekend brunch. Since we were there on Monday around 12:30, we had the place basically to ourselves! We also enjoyed the best seat in the house, right in the front window.

Katy and I both ordered the larger portion Mac & Cheese, made with raffetto’s fresh cavatelli, grafton cheddar, grans padano and cornbread crumbs! It was delicious, and came with a small salad. Next time, we'll definitely split it though! It was so much food!

Afterward, we were off to shop in Soho, around Spring and Broome Street. The shopping there is amazing! With everything from Kate Spade and Topshop to Victoria's Secret and H&M, they have something for everyone! 

Later that evening, after freshening up at the Loft, we jumped on the uptown 6 train to 68th Street. That night, we had dinner reservations at The Loeb Boathouse at Central Park. Upon making our reservation, we had requested a table close to the water, and were just delighted when we actually got one! The views from the Boathouse are absolutely beautiful, and worth every penny that we paid for the food! I would go back in a heart beat!

The view from our table!

From the front of the restaurant!

We couldn't leave the park without hitting two more Central Park hot spots, the Bethesda Fountain and my personal favorite, the Bow Bridge! This area of the city is so surreal! After spending time in the park, you would never guess you're in one of the busiest cities in the world.

On our way to the bridge, I noticed this plaque on a nearby bench! How neat would it be to name your favorite bench?! After looking up the program, I found out that I can have my own bench for a mere $7,500. A girl can dream, right?

The Bow Bridge was absolutely magical! My favorite part of the trip by far!

After our beautiful Central Park stroll, we made our way down Lexington Avenue to the Cupcake ATM for some delicious dessert! Talk about a perfect day!

Interested in hearing about the rest of our trip? Don't miss my posts on day one and three!

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Summer in the City: Day 1!

It's still hard for me to believe that one week ago today, I was boarding a plane on less than two hours sleep headed to New York City! During my last visit in November of 2013, I fell in love with the city. Not just the tall buildings, fabulous stores and pretty lights, but the people and the stories behind each of their faces. I was hooked, and made it one of my goals for 2014 to go back before the year was up!

November 2013

Though we had so much fun a year ago (read about that here, here and here,) this time, I wanted to do things a bit differently. First off, last year we spent SO much money taking taxis from the airport to the Loft and again from the Loft back to LaGuardia on check out day…approx. $100 round trip. Outrageous, right? I was determined not to let that happen again. It was also last year that we spent a lot of time planning activities, but didn't put any thought into food. For those of you that have experienced New York, you know that once you get there the selection (and price range) of restaurants can be a bit overwhelming. Due to frustration and simply not knowing our surroundings, we ate at places like Sbarro and Olive Garden in Times Square. Believe me, I'm still cringing! This trip, I was adamant about eating at quality, local places, instead of wasting money at tourist stops.

I also vowed that between visits I would learn everything I could about the city…and that is exactly what I did! During the past eight months, I have read everything that I could get my hands on about New York. I've studied maps, bus schedules, real estate and neighborhoods. The difference it made was unreal! I felt so much more knowledgeable this time around, and had my friend Katy by my side!

Katy and I arrived at LaGuardia around lunchtime on Sunday. Determined not to spend money on a cab, we grabbed our carry-on bags and headed straight for the bus stop (a quick walk from baggage claim.) After purchasing a Metro card and paying bus fare (a very affordable $2.50,) we boarded the M60 Select Service bus bound for Manhattan. It was so easy, and there were tons of other travelers also headed to the city from the airport. At 125th Street and Lexington Avenue, we got off the bus and jumped on the subway. With our destination near 23rd street, we got on the downtown local 6 train, at no cost. The subway is free when transferring from a local bus within a certain number of hours on the same day! One hour and 15 minutes later, with only $2.50 spent, we arrived at our destination! I have never been so proud! After studying NYC bus routes for hours from North Carolina, I conquered the bus system! 

Since we were running on very little sleep and had been flying all morning, we made this day of the trip a bit more relaxing. Our first stop, Shake Shack in Madison Square Park! We couldn't help but indulge in Shack Burgers and their famous cheese fries! So good!

After a late lunch, we showered and changed, then headed for Times Square. This was Katy's first trip to NYC, and though I hate the crowds in this area, it is a must-see! Afterward, we made our way to Pier 38 for our Twilight Tour on the New York Harbor. It was super relaxing, and filled with breathtaking views of the Brooklyn Bridge, Statue of Liberty and the New York skyline!

 

 

After the cruise, we made our way back to the Flatiron District for some late night Chinese food before going back to the Loft! It was a successful first day in the city to say the least!

Interested in hearing about the rest of our trip? Don't miss my posts on day two and three!

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As always, Have a Sweet Day!