James Franco & The Trunchbull

Saturday morning Susanna and I headed to NoHo, a new place on the map to us, and we brunched at The Smile. This was my favorite place so far! I had seen the ManRepeller eat there and about every blogger I find on Instagram had Insta'd from the restaurant. Brunch is definitely my favorite meal and that's because of two reasons. One is because you can always order a cup of coffee. The second reason is that it counts as two meals aka I don't have to pay for two meals, just one. Bless brunch. We love you.

After eating at The Smile we ventured to Times Square, which we decided we hate. We also decided that hating Times Square gives us more street cred and we are on our way to being a local. Times Square is packed way too tightly with way too many people and they move at the pace of a turtle. Possibly even slower. We ventured there though for a purpose: to meet Leighton Meester aka Blair Waldorf from Gossip Girl. She is in Of Mice & Men on Broadway so we went to their stage door. Sadly (Susanna may have shed some tears), Leighton didn't come out for the stage door but we got to see James Franco and Chris O'Dowd. At first I couldn't think of who Chris O'Dowd was, but he is the cop from Bridesmaids and I think I fell a little in love with him. We got so many selifes with James Franco because he kept telling everyone it was easier to "turn your camera around so I can come up behind you." I mean okay Franco, if you tell me to take a selfie with you I'm not going to complain.

Our hearts were broken by Leighton Meester so as a little pick-me-up we bought tickets to see Matilda on Broadway. I cannot tell you how excited I was and in my inner child was freaking out. As many of you probably know because I always tell people, I had the same wallpaper that Matilda did when I was a child. You know the scene at the end of the movie when she lives with Miss Honey? The wallpaper is pink bows; yeah, I had that wallpaper too.

 

Told you.

Matila was incredible and everything I could have ever have hoped for in a musical. The children were adorable & so talented. The little girl who played Matilda was only 9 years old. Miss Trunchbull was played by a man which was hilarious, especially in the Olympics scenes and he/she wore a skirt with an Olympic blouse. Everyone in the audience was literally LOLing. My favorite song was "When I Grow Up." From Bruce eating the cake, to Amanda's pig tails that the Trunchbull hates, to Matilda's powers, I loved every second of the musical. 

Today Frances, Jamie, Susanna and I went to brunch at Rosemary's where we once again fell in love with brunch spots. There is something about ordering a mimosa and salad for brunch in New York wearing a dress & converse that I don't know if I'll ever get over. It's just so real that I am here and this is home for eleven (well, now nine) weeks. Roomies that brunch together stay together, that's our motto. Once we finished wandering after brunch and of course to the roof top garden of Rosemary's we went shopping a little. Now we are all back at the apartment doing laundry as I type this. Glam? Maybe not. But this weekend was incredible! New York, you're the bees knees. 

Biking to Brooklyn

New York really is the city that never sleeps. I always thought that was just a saying, but after two weeks of living here I totally understand. At home it's okay if you have a chill day. Here in New York, there is always something happening, something to be seen, something to be bought, or something new to be eaten. FOMO (fear of missing out, duh) is real in the city. Eleven weeks sounds like a long time but I'm already two weeks into this journey!

As far as an update on work goes, I still am in love with Dannijo. Every morning I get so excited to go to work and it's probably annoying to my roommates because work is all I talk about. I really am so thankful to be spending a summer with these insanely awesome people. Monday Danielle and Jodie got ready for the CFDA awards all day and made a really cool video with Sophia Bush & Hilary Rhoda that will be out soon. Surprise of Wednesday at the office: Sophia Bush came to get some new Dannijo jewels. I was like, "remain calm, remain calm." She was so sweet!

Tuesday was our day off and I even though I have FOMO of what I am missing at the office, I tell ya people it's so real, I do love having a weekday open to make plans and see more of the city. We rented bikes from an NYU dorm in SoHo & headed to bike across the Brooklyn Bridge which was on our bucket list. I pictured casually biking, taking my time, enjoying the scenery and breeze... It was the complete opposite. SO many people had the same idea to walk and bike across the bridge, people yelled left and right at us, I stopped biking and looked down to find a spot where a hobo pooped and it was literally the complete opposite of what I imagined. I'm glad I got to see the city from the bridge, but I will most likely never venture across it on a bike again.

After biking we got salads around Union Square and went to explore the Columbia campus. We had never been that far uptown and it was a cool area. Naturally we went there because Blair and Nate from Gossip Girl attended Columbia. Susanna bought out the entire Columbia bookstore; I got a white & gold coffee mug. Sophisticated, right?

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.

BNA to LGA

The day has almost come -- tomorrow afternoon I will be boarding my plane with a one-way ticket in my hand to New York City. My bags are packed and I'm ready to go. I'll be landing in New York tomorrow night & meeting up with Susanna at the airport to catch a cab to our hotel. Tears of joy & tears of fear might explode as I see her tomorrow!

On Sunday we will be practicing taking the subway to both of our internships, looking around Union Square & finding what is close to us, and also meeting up with Frances, our 3rd roommate, once her flight lands. There are some things I am sure of, and that is that there is a Whole Foods, Forever21 and Barnes and Noble a few steps away. My three favorite stores, that is all I need! Monday is move-in day at Carlyle Court and then Tuesday is the big day - day 1 of my internship at Dannijo. I am arriving at 10 am with the two other interns and we will be greeted with breakfast; coffee + new friends, right up my alley, right?

I am so anxious to board that flight. I don't think I will be able to sit still on the plane ride. I know that the Lord has placed me in New York for the summer and I can't wait to see all of the unknown things and events that are to come out of this 11 week adventure. To the city that never sleeps, here I come! I am going to blog as much as I can, including photos & details of what I do, wear, eat, see, and experience. Follow me on Instagram and Twitter for more frequent updates!

New York, here I come!

XOXO,
Chandler in the City

Ali, my roomie & the stationery-whiz of Bushel & a Peck Stationery, made these new graphics for my weekly blog posts. I will update the blog using each of these titles for: What Chandler Eats, What Chandler Sees, What Chandler Wears and Where Chandler Works.

My Touristy New York City Bucket List

1. eat at Central Park Boathouse
2. go to the Top of the Rock
3. run in Central Park
4. visit MoMa 
5. take a photo by the LOVE statue on 6th & W. 55th
6. go to the Chelsea Market
7. venture to Brooklyn for the flea market 
8. go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art
9. play in the Washington Square Park fountains
10. see a play on Broadway -- I'm looking at you, Wicked.
11. go to movie night in Bryant Park
12. visit the New York Public Library
13. on a Saturday go to Smorgasburg in Brooklyn
14. watch a performance live from The Today Show
15. go to an outdoor concert or play; Bryant Park
16. walk the Brooklyn Bridge
17. go to a Yankee's game -- can't leave without getting ice cream in a baseball helmet
18. see the Statue of Liberty
19. eat at Shake Shack -- hold the meat, extra fries
20. visit the High Line
21. find Carrie Bradshaw's apartment
22. buy something from a sample sale

The list is ever-growing and changing & I have many different titled lists. (Lists are my life). If you have any suggestions or top places to see that are iconic to the Big Apple, please comment below! Other list titles that I will soon share are "The Real New Yorker Bucket List" which consists of local coffee shops and things that maybe I won't be too touristy to do. During the summer I'm also going to compile my own list of my favorite things I did and can't wait to share that too!

Comment below with your favorite places and spaces, restaurants too! It's almost one month until I board my plane with my one way ticket. Don't worry, I'm coming back eventually. 

xoxo,
Chandler (almost in the City)

Every blessing You pour out I'll turn back to praise

From elementary education to journalism, my life in this past year has been quite the journey. One year ago I was enrolled in elementary education classes at Ole Miss. I was making lessons plans for Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs for my second grade class. I had no idea what was about to come.

At the end of May 2013 I realized I wasn't going to allow myself anymore to think about my "second life." Why only dream when I could make these dreams my reality?

I switched all my classes to meet the journalism school requirements and planned to visit Oxford to meet with an advisor. I went from learning about early literacy to journalism 101. After I made that jump and trusted in the Lord that this is exactly where I was supposed to be, the blessings kept pouring out.

I applied for and accepted an internship with Hello Perfect and began my journey with them as a contributing writer. I loved all of my fall semester classes in the journalism building and then reached out on a limb to apply for the Teen Vogue Fashion University weekend in October in New York, which I found out about through the founder of Hello Perfect.

Patience. One word I am not good with. Teen Vogue Fashion U was one of the only events I applied for and never thought about again. I didn't over analyze every step or already plan out my trip in my mind. That's why when my acceptance email came I was incredible overjoyed. Through prayers and not planning, the Lord provided for me to attend TVFU along with five of my best friends.

"And so it was, that [she], having waited long and endured patiently, realized and obtained what God had promised" Hebrews 6:15 

It was there that I had no idea how much my life would change. When signing up for my seminars for TVFU I had no idea who DANNIJO was, but they sounded cool. I liked the idea that they were two sisters working together and I like jewelry, so I thought, "Sure I'll sign up for your seminar."

Immediately I was drawn to Danielle and Jodie & I loved everything they said during the seminar. I knew I would fit in with them. Who would have thought that three/four months later I would be accepting an internship with them. How cool is this series of events?! Everything is linked together!

Last week was incredible & I received a "God wink" almost every day. I got offered other internships and interview opportunities, I am a new campus ambassador for Intern Queen, received a few cool emails from people in New York that I'm going to be able to meet, and to top it off, I was published in the Daily Mississippian this morning. Needless to say, I was on cloud nine. I found my head growing a little bigger.

What I needed to be reminded of is that without Jesus, none of these things would have been possible.

The Lord has humbled me through all of these experiences & they have taught me a lot. It is in my nature to want to run around saying, "Hey look who just emailed me back!" or send a tweet broadcasting my internship offers. My life would not be woven together like this without my daily strive (and struggle) to follow Jesus and believe that He has control of my life, not myself.

"...My cups overflows with your blessings" Psalm 23:5

In high school when I thought I was actively pursuing the Lord I thought I made all the decisions. Obviously you can see how wrong that was because I was settling with the idea that I was supposed to be a teacher for the rest of my life. Once I actively began pursuing the Lord and seeing where He led me, I have been overwhelmed with incredible opportunities. Don't get me wrong, every day I stumble and fail, but the Lord is always so faithful.

The glory does not go to me though. The glory goes to God. Without Him, I would never have gotten this far. I would still be student teaching and sulking to my classes. I have to remind myself every day that it is enough that I know these things about myself and to thank God every single second of the day for providing for me and putting these desires in my heart.

This morning, with the Daily Mississippian in my hand and the sun shining on my face, I was remind of the song lyrics, "Every blessing You pour out I'll turn back to praise" from Blessed Be Your Name. Everything clicked and I had to share this experience with all of you. Also, I can't wait to see that Jesus has in store for all of you! It makes me giddy and excited.

Without Jesus none of these things would be possible. I've learned that there is no way I can control my life. I can't make plans because the plans have already been made. Through this I challenge myself to turn every blessing into praise. (see how we came full circle there?)

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us" Ephesians 3:20

New York bound!

Well, the day has come when I can say these words, "I am moving to New York City for the entire summer to intern" and boy does that feel good. After two Skype interviews with the Dannijo team, I was offered a 10 week summer internship on Tuesday night (February 18th). I told them I had to talk to my parents and make sure everything would work out. This morning in my photojournalism class my dad told me the great news! I'm allowed to go to New York and live my dream.

My love for New York began about a year ago and once the desire to visit the city was on my heart, I was going to do anything to make it happen. I firmly believe that the Lord places these desires on your heart for a reason. I've visited other cities, Chicago and Los Angeles, but never have I felt the way about them as I do New York City. I'm thankful that the Lord's purpose always prevails and for the plans he has made for me.

After my first trip to NYC in October to attend the Teen Vogue Fashion University weekend, I knew I was supposed to be there. One night we went to the top of the Empire State Building and I remember praying that if I was supposed to be in New York for the summer that it would happen.

I found out about Dannijo at the Teen Vogue Fashion University weekend. The seminar was called "The Statement Sisters" and from then on I knew I loved Dannijo. The two sisters who began the company are witty and creative. One of them even attended Vanderbilt, so that gives her enough street cred in itself. In my head I thought about how cool it would be if one day I interned for them.

To think that this is all happening is unreal to me. I'm getting to live my dream; dreams really do come true! With the help of my supportive parents I am able to have an unforgettable summer in New York City.

I'll be living in the NYU dorms (hopefully) with Susanna (without a doubt) and we will experience the city together! Tennessee and Mississippi in the city.   

Thank you to everyone who has been praying for me and supporting me. Your friendship means the world to me and I couldn't have gone through this process without your kind words. An even bigger thank you to my family, to whom I could not take this adventure without.

Come the end of May I'll be packing my bags, taking a trip from BNA to LGA. I'm so excited to keep up this blog, and especially make it even more exciting when I am blogging from a new city with stories and adventures I take. Now, everyone check your calendars and plan when you are going to come visit me!

xoxo

50 things & places I love:

1. coffee at all times of the day
2. traveling
3. sitting in the window seat of a plane
4. macarons & champagne
5. the university of mississippi
6. updating iPhone apps
7. the color black
8. celine dion
9. handwritten notes
10. magazines - attn: Vogue
11. tri delta - especially the chi chapter 
12. surprises
13. new york city
14. water - oceans, pools, lakes
15. breakfast dates
16. sunsets
17. one direction
18. shrimp po' boys
19. quoting gilmore girls and watching reruns
20. social media
21. journaling 
22. franklin, tennessee
23. greek salads
24. candid photos
25. beyonce
26. grilled cheeses // paninis
27. watercolors
28. country cookin'
29. phases of the moon
30. maxi dresses & skirts
31. chicago, illinois 
32. harry potter and the sorcerer's stone
33. taking pictures
34. las vegas, nevada
35. gossip girl
36. street style
37. los angeles, california
38. underwater pictures
39. leather leggings
40. music festivals - lollapalooza 
41. falling asleep on a float in the pool
42. graphic tees
43. musicals and broadway plays
44. dark blue nail polish 
45. rompers
46. pizza
47. romance movies
48. blogs
49. morning time with Jesus
50. valentine's day

Happy Valentine's Day to you all! Hope your day was full of love!

xoxo

Why I Love New York

Before I visited New York I only knew what this city was like through the movies and television. I watched Carrie Bradshaw walk down Fifth Avenue in her Prada shoes with many shoppings bags. I watched Sally drop off Harry at Washington Square Park, then watched them kiss on New Year's Eve at a party. I watched Andy work for Miranda Priestley before realizing who it was depicting.

Most importantly, I watched Blair and Serena sit on the steps of the Met every morning before school.

New York is a fantasy world for me, yet I know it is not like these movies or television shows. I know I can't go everyday to Bergdorf's and blow a paycheck or eat macarons while drinking champagne every night.

"I bought Vogue instead of dinner. I felt it just fed me more," Carrie Bradshaw once said. If I end up in New York for the summer, I know this is the sort of life I would live. The average college kid budget, where sometimes it's $1 pizza so you can buy this month's issue of Vogue. Now, I would hope I would be better with money than that and get more bang for my buck, but what I know is that if this happened, I would be okay with it.

New York is glamorous but what I love is the people on the streets. The street style, the best $1 pizza on the corner and the best unknown coffee shop from the tourists, that is what I would like to find.

My dad said, "You won't be able to venture on top of the Empire State Building every night," and I know this. I want to work so hard. I want to run for the subway to show up for an incredible interning experience.

I love New York because of the fast paced environment. I love how you can wear what you want. I love the glow of the yellow taxis at night. And I love that if you close your eyes for too long or stare down at your phone while walking, you miss way too much. The best thing you can do in New York is keep your eyes open.

So, cheers to you New York City! You have won my heart and my daily rambles. I think of you so often.

Maybe one day soon our paths will cross again.. 

To all my friends and family reading this post,

You could help make my dreams come true! 

Word of mouth, your friends, networking.

Feel free to spread my love for this city near and far and maybe one day 

I'll end up in the Big Apple.