New York State of Mind - Part I

Flying to New York City!

As I sit on my couch with my hot tea in hand... bundled in a cozy pair of leggings, baggy t-shirt and fluffy socks I can't quite get my right footing on where to start. How do I process that the week we so diligently looked forward too, has passed? If this were last week I would be sitting on my couch checking my list over and over to make sure that I had packed everything. Thinking about the fact that I would be flying to New York City in less than 24 hours. I would be boarding a plane, going through security and praying that my bag was under the 30 lb. limit.

Editors note:
Let me start by saying that awhile ago, when I had first started blogging, I had a bucket list, one that had grown so large I had to move it to a Pinterest board. But... on this list was the great #8, a trip to New York City to eat at the one and only Gray's Papaya. Now, if you know me... it is the little things and if you don't... just know it's the little things.

So long before my beloved 24 birthday would arrive, my mom came over for dinner and decided to let me in on the secret that we were going to New York City, we did not have a full agenda, but we did have an idea. I could not have been more excited.

Top of The Rock (Rockefeller Center)

So as my mom arrived, with my hat, bag and overly large purse in hand... we left for the Big Apple and MY FIRST REAL PLANE! It was an incredible feeling, especially after the first big... mini, bottle of wine. We watched Maury, chewed gum that had since lost it's taste and listened to the $3.00 headphones that were pink and blue (brought to you by Virgin Airlines). Who knew that the mile high club could be something different, this plane was a literal club, with the fancy lights, musical performances and booze. What could be better?

That's right... the destination, the 1,370 miles that were just traveled and the whole reason we packed our bags and joined the plane ride in the first place. It was beautiful. Though we could only see the lights of the city beaming up at us from a far, we knew it was going to be magical.

We stepped off the plane and away we went to hail our first, and what would turn out to be our only (until we returned to the airport), cab. Thick accents, unique? fashion statements and cigarette smoke... but I was in heaven.

It was a whirlwind getting to the hotel, checking in and freshening up; but before we knew it... we were in a booth off 55th Street at McGee's Irish Pub (the How I Met your Mother bar)! We ate, we drank and we discussed. We then found our way around Times Square, stopping in to Hershey's store and looking at the many places that filled Time's Sqaure and finally stumbled upon Top of The Rock, though it was beautiful and a once of a lifetime experience, YOU SHOULD ALWAYS BE PREPARED, this was about a 60-ish degree night with lots of walking but at the tippity top of a building, you will be much, much colder... take my word for it!

Needless to say, the first night... WAS A SUCCESS! With the whole view of our week mapped out via plane and rooftop we were on a mission. Stay tuned to see where we went next!

Have you been to New York? What was your favorite part?

Sincerely, Shelbi