Samples sales, SoHo and Musical Chairs

Saturday morning we woke up and went to 5th Avenue to look at the DVF sample sale. I had never been to a sample sale before and it is funny how nice a store can make clothes look, but then when you see them in a warehouse building all bunched together, they don't look the same. I didn't find anything but Susanna got a new purse and a hot pink blazer, naturally.

After the sample sale we ventured to SoHo, aka where we always end up because how could you not?! We brunched at Jack's Wife Freda and even though most of the food options have either eggs or avocados in them, yuck, I loved the place. It's owned by a husband and wife, who you can read about on Man Repeller's site here. I first found out about Jack's Wife Freda from The Man Repeller's Instagram and it's open seating with windows open, everything about the place is so cute. Vegetarian probs - I got couscous and french fries to eat though. What in the world? Susanna and Frances got a hamburger, meat people.

Of course we stumbled upon Georgetown Cupcakes and Laduree SoHo; there are desserts on every corner of this city. The three of us shopped a little in Zara and Bloomingdale's then headed home. Saturday night we went to Le Bain, which is actually insane. It's a rooftop bar with glass as walls that overlooks Manhattan and the Hudson River. There was a pool on the lower floor inside and people were just casually in their swimsuits. Let me tell you, this was not Oxford's Library. We met some new friends who went with us and it was fun to see the city at night. A few lessons learned later, we headed back and crashed. Who knew work made people so tired and we have quickly become grandmas in bed by 9 pm normally.

Sunday was a lazy day. We slept late, got the $5 pizza deal, made lists of more things we want to do in the city and sat outside at Union Square for a while. I didn't think I was going to waste a day in NYC like I did on Sunday but it felt good to catch up on sleep.

Monday back to the workin' world. I really do just love work. When I am on the subway I get excited to go in and see what we are doing that day and I am so thankful that I have found a place that I enjoy so much. I did some press pulls, ran a few errands and then, as always, the day was over so quickly. Last  night we went to a HUGE musical chairs game at Bryant Park. The sun was setting and it was so funny to see everyone dancing in the park around the chairs.

The game lasted forever that we had time to go eat dinner and come back to watch the final people competing. The four of us, Jamie, Frances, Susanna and I, ate dinner at Le Pain Quotiden. Their corn chowder was delicious and we have no idea what possessed us to order it in the first place but it was totally worth it. Next on our list was to find Magnolia Bakery in Grand Central Station. Of course we copied Gossip Girl photo's of when Serena arrives at Grand Central and looked like 14-year-old fangirl's, but we could never have let the opportunity pass by!

Week 1 at DANNIJO

I don't know how to type all my expressions at work but I can sum it up with: I LOVE IT!!

Tuesday at 10 we arrived at the office, well, everyone arrived at about 9:45 (early bird gets the worm?), and we were served breakfast and met the Dannijo team, which is only about 10 people. The showroom is amazing and it is decorated just how I imagined it would be. I love how close knit they all are and it is like one family.

I am doing marketing and sales, working one-on-one with two Dannijo girls. Every intern was assigned to one specific aspect of Dannijo, but we all work together a lot so we overlap. Danielle and Jodie, aka Dannijo, are awesome. They come in the office every day and we all work in the same room. I really am just on cloud nine about this whole experience and it is only week 1.

During the day I do things like press pulls and send them to magazines, organize the showroom, assist with marketing and sales, learn the line sheets of all of the jewelry and more. I have learned a valuable lesson and that is to not wear heels to work -- I learned it the hard way. Day 1 I thought I would be so cute and wear brand new heels and I left the day with bloody feet, Susanna thought I needed stitches that's how gross it was.

On Fridays we get off work at 3 which is nice. Summer Fridays are definitely a bonus and give me more time to explore. Yesterday after work I met up with Susanna & Jamie and we went to get macarons at Laudree. We took them to the Central Park Sailing Pond to eat. I got: (2) pistachio, chocolate, vanilla, coffee and orange blossom. My macaron money was coming in handy for those of you who know I called it that.

First Weekend in the City

Day one in New York City? Check. Yesterday around 7:25 p.m. I landed at LaGuardia, got my bags and got into my cab alone to head to our hotel where I was meeting Susanna. On the way into LaGuardia in the plane I saw the Statue of Liberty and the World Trade Center Building, which I had never seen before. The Empire State Building was lit up red, white and blue at the top for Memorial Day Weekend.

Once I got to the hotel Susanna and I got ready and walked a few blocks to find dinner where we stumbled upon Angelo's Pizza. We split the onion and pepper pizza which was HUGE but delicious! After dinner the two of us came back to the hotel and made our NYC Bucket Lists; it made us think of the fun aspects to New York instead of get nervous and anxious in the hotel room, which we were doing.

It's weird to just hop off of a plane and land in a somewhat foreign city and know that this will be your home for 11 weeks. It hit me when I got to hotel that this whole experience was real and that this was no four day vacation.

This morning I woke up at 6:50 a.m. central time. What in the world was I thinking? I couldn't sleep though when I knew the city was a few steps away. Susanna and I got ready and walked to the subway to buy our first MetroCard. We definitely felt like real New Yorkers! The two of us headed to Union Square to drink our Starbucks and figure out where our building is that we were living in. We looked around Union Square which is one of my favorite areas that I have visited. Thankfully I get to call this place my home for 11 weeks.

After coffee we got on the subway to head to Susanna's internship on Broadway at Tarte. From there we walked to Bryant Park and ate lunch at the Southwest Porch. Accidentally we stumbled upon a wedding and it was such a hidden gem. From Bryant Park we walked to the subway and rode to Central Park. It's so touristy (yes, I said touristy after only living here 4 days) but it still is so beautiful. I waved hello to Eloise at the Plaza then quickly waved goodbye as we headed to meet Frances at the hotel.

Frances got lost on the subway. Oh Franz.. We met up at Washington Square Park where we got our student IDs and then ventured to Meatpacking where Frances & I work. We saw the Alice + Olivia headquarters and the DANNIJO showroom. It was so unreal standing there knowing I would be ringing the bell to go up in just a few days.

For dinner the four of us, Fran's friend Ren is the 4th, went to Ellen's Stardust Diner on Times Square. It is 100% a tourist trap but how could someone pass up your waiters and waitresses singing to you?! I was in broadway heaven. The waitresses sang songs from Frozen and Les Mis, and all that was missing with Wicked! Our waitress' name was Zerby and basically we were just laughing out loud the whole time.

Monday was a boring day, we moved into our apartment which is nice after we added some good TLC and a massive trip to Bed, Bath & Beyond. I celebrated with a huge ice cream cone. Let me tell you, there is food on every corner and it is so hard to pass up the $2 pretzel every day.