Jillian is a Tranny Mess

First of all, if you don't watch the Bachelorette, you should. Second, I am in love with recent cast off Michael Stagliano. He lives in Astoria. It's fate. clearly. 

Champagne Tastes on a Beer Budget

Pic: Caitlin, Cindy and I at Coney Island, the trashiest place in the NYC zip code. We ate hot dogs and soft serve, drank beer all while enjoying the onslaught of tattoos, awkwardly explicit rap music, and janky, overpriced rides. Epic.

Saturday night was spent on the Brass Monkey rooftop, jamming to Whitney Houston and letting boys buy us drinks. There are too many funny things to recount here but lets just say it was one of my best nights here so far : ). 

Benny's Burritos supplied us with yummy Mexican brunch and unlimited mimosas today. Not planning on getting sloshy is usually a recipe for finding yourself a bit inebriated at 1:00 on a Sunday afternoon. We were lushes and totally ok with it.

Our brunch spot was right smack dab in the middle of the Pride Parade in Greenwich. Its always inspiring to see people who are so proud of being themselves, even if that means wearing chaps and a pink feather boa : ). 

Mal starts work at a + 0 tomorrow, can't wait! Miss you all like crazy, expect postcards soon!

XOXO

Me

Books, Cupcakes, and Cute Boys (eh, two out of three ain't bad)

So it was a crazy week at a + o but totally worth the labor as a I came out of it with more samples (my life is rough) and an internship for Mal! She's already at Redbook in the fashion closet but she'll be with me at a + o on Monday's and Friday's for the rest of the summer! 

Thursday we got tapas at this little Spanish bar that ended up having a flamenco dancer and band play all night long. It was super fun and I definitely had my fill of sangria. We ended up at Cheap Shots (as all good nights end there) and payed homage to MJ with a few rounds of PYT. Apparently the guys at the bar " liked our style" haha. 

I spent Friday morning Cythia (thank god she's here, needed a little taste of home) walking around Greenwich and NYU before her big day of interview at NYU and Hunter (such a smartie). Then I spent the rest of the afternoon getting lost in the Strand and reading in Union Square Park. It was so nice to get a break and a little sun!

We ate dinner at Sea restaurant on the Lower East Side and I have officially been converted to Thai food. It's like spicy Chinese food and super cheap...um yes please! Despite my lame-o attempts to go home to bed Afton dragged us to Crocodile Lounge where you get a free pizza with EVERY drink, I'm not kidding. They do this ALL the time. Harpos TAKE NOTE. 

Today is Coney Island with the girls and wherever else we feel like going. Hopefully it doesn't rain because girlfriend needs a tan.

XOXO 

Me

They Were $5 So I Bought Them : )

Today was the sample sale at a + o and although most things were still a little pricey I did make it out with these wedges. A little outrageous..sure...$5...absolutely. I die.

Alas it is still raining...forecast? MORE RAIN!

So the weekend got off to a wonderful start via Miss Ashley at Spice Market in Chelsea. We had a private room, yummy appetizers, and Thai beer (well the last part was a little weird, but alas I'll try most things once : ) 

Friday was a lazy day spent walking around uptown, Hale & Hearty, and alas eating the the DELICIOUS CONFECTIONS that are Crumb's cupcakes. They are enormous, they are filled with icing, and they are topped with goodies. I die. 

Friday night we all claimed fatigue and spent the evening watching Taken on Mal's computer, as we are not the lucky one's to own a TV (or a microwave, or a toaster, but hey who's keeping track?) Alas, I will never share a cab again. Not that I ever have, but still. 

Saturday we put our big girl pants on and braved the HORRIFIC NYC weather to explore the Met (quote of the day "Um, I've had enough of the Met, let's go to the GAP" -thank you Mallory) and the "Model as a Muse" exhibit which I must say was pretty inspiring. Thank you Marc Jacobs although none of us were sure what qualified you as a Met curator....hmmm

We then wandered over to Dylan's Candy Bar, home to every kind of candy known to man (with the exception of Mal's beloved Big Kat's...it was tragic) and we all indulged in a little chocolate therapy to cure our bad weather blues. We wanted to go to Serendipity3 for lunch but the hour and a half wait was a little much and we settled for CPK (potayto potahto right?). It was a nice reminder of home : )

We finished the day at Spice, a super fun and super cheap Thai restaurant in Chelsea that caters to the poor crowd (us). Drinks were around $7 and entrees about $10. Perfect for our "budgets". We also enjoyed a mix of Ne-yo, Justin Timberlake, and Britney Spears. We didn't want to leave. But leave we did and it was to the chorus of gay men screaming "girl's you look fine in yo heels but you in the wrong neighborhood to get hit on!" oh gotta love Chelsea, even duane reade is a gay club after 10 most nights : ).

Sunday we ventured to Brooklyn round 2 in search of the mythical 2nd Century 21 and Target. Yes, we went to Brooklyn for gummy bears...very much worth it : ). After target we had some ridiculously overpriced Chevy's Tex Mex and I am not cuddled in bed about to watch a movie...exhausted. Work tomorrow and the SAMPLE SALE, thank god for retail therapy : )

Miss you like crazy,

Me

The Future Mrs. Lil'Wayne

I finally got a picture of where I work. This is the alice + olivia showroom where I get samples for fittings from every day : ). More to come!

So, for those of you (probably all of you if you're reading this lol) who know me know that I have a strange obsession (it's gotten worse since being in NYC) with Lil'Wayne. So yesterday when rushing to my FIT class I was standing in Times Square blasting Mrs. Officer (I know, so embarrassing) and who do I lock eyes with but Wayne himself (yes, we are on a first name basis now). As much as I wanted to whip out my digital camera and document the moment I was running super late for class and had to mentally save the image. It was magical and we are in love. : )

Tomorrow we are all going to Spice Market with Ashley and some friends to celebrate...well I guess Thursday haha and I can't wait! It'll be super nice to relax after this week. I've been working a lot and a cocktail sounds wonderful (although I can't have one at the moment as I am in my DORM room in which I am not allowed to have alcohol, oh the sacrifices I make for being a glamorous intern ugh)

Finally, there is an alice + olivia sample sale next monday for friends and family and also one the rest of the week so please let me know if you are in the city and want to come! Miss you all 

: )

XOXO 

me

Home

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad! I miss you so much! Love you!

XOXO, 

Hannah

The New Yankee : )

I really need to get better at updating the blog (and making it cuter, alas these things take time)

Thursday= Josie's off of Washington Square Park. Let's just say the special was a bottle of Bud Light Lime and a tequila shot for $6. Um OK. Coming from the land of 75 cent triple wells, this is about as close as you get in Manhattan. We will definitely be going back. (Even though we may or may not have overstayed our welcome with jukebox, Diva anyone??)

So Friday I went to my first Yankee's game (against the Met's no less!) with Ashley, Valeria, and Sam. Let's just say that the $10 commemorative beer cup was totally worth it. Sitting in the bleachers watching New York's finest battle it out was a perfect way to spend a Friday night. Yankee's game...check....dating the New Yankee...still working on it : )

 Alas, all good things must come to an end as I live in Chelsea and my fellow baseball fans live in Stuytown, we had to take separate trains home...terrifying if you're me and have been to Brooklyn about five hundred times alone due to subway confusion (in ain't easy down there). To make a long story short, I ended up in Queen's (past the Bronx where the Stadium is) until about midnight until I finally found my way back to 406 W. 31st Street. Let's just say I'm more of a cab girl...

Saturday was spent checking another activity off of the Sex and the city list as Mallory, Carrie, Afton, Caitlin, Christy, and I (phew) put on our walking shoes (or terribly uncomfortable sandals potato-e pot-ah-to) and braved the Brooklyn Bridge. Although Steve was not waiting for us in the middle (tear) I must say the hike was definitely kinda worth it. We intended on going to the famous Grimaldi's Pizzeria under the bridge but when we arrived there was about a 100 person line outside (not kidding). Being the babies that we are we decided our hungry tummies needed instant gratification and found it in the form of 2.50 slices. MMMM After lunch we headed to Fulton Street in search of the quaint Brooklyn boutiques we had heard (I think) so much about. Alas, life is funny and apparently cute and quaint in Brooklyn = a Lane Bryant Super Store and a Lids outlet. To each their own : )

Saturday night was spent at some skeezy bars in Greenwich that turned out to be more expensive than they were fun..note to self, don't order white wine at a bar that has a waitress walking around in RUE 21 lingerie and serving jelly shots with Redi Whip....headaches will ensue...

Today, I worked all day and was sent on the oh so urgent errand of getting skim milk for the president of the company's coffee. Alas, she told me she had heard good things about me so hopefully that's a good sign! I am now going to make some popcorn (my main food group) and snuggle into bed and stare at the skyline....miss you all so so much. 

xoxo, 

me

Hello Lover...

My roomie Caitlin and I finally made the 2o block trip to Magnolia for a cupcake after work tonight and let me just say WTF Charlotte?!?! I mean I could eat the icing with a spoon for three meals a day but the cake was dry and not at all what I expected. I must say Baked by Melissa was far superior in cupcake terms. Phew, sorry, I was a little upset : (

Today was another long day of work at a + o but lets face it, they're all long. I must say, though, the hours are long but I am learning more in these first weeks than I every thought I would in the entire summer. They truly trust me and are teaching me so much!! 

So, as I was helping organize the sample closet I came across a few dresses that truly caught my eye. One was a one shoulder cotton bubble dress and the other a gauzy cocktail frock. As I stared longingly at the exorbitantly priced prizes my boss goes "oh, do you want to take anything home?" I gasped in order to keep myself from fainting and meekly replied, "well, there are so many great pieces, I just couldn't choose.." Upon hearing this she says that I should just look through the closet and let her know what I'm taking. UH OK. 

I made out with the two dresses and waited until I got home to look at the price tag...drum roll please...ALMOST 800 dollars of clothes! All those long hours are finally starting to pay off : ) 

Tomorrow is my last day for the week and then the weekend...who wants to play?? : )

XO love, 

Hannah

Rain Rain Go Away...

Hello!!

So sorry the updates have been scarce lately but I promise they will get better! The rain has been ever present these past few days and yet I still find myself wandering around the streets of Manhattan in the Monsoon. Thank god I purchased a decent umbrella this past weekend at Century 21 or I would have blown away!

To start the weekend off, Ashley, her roomie Valeria, and I decided to brave the early morning and catch Dave Matthews on the Today Show Concert Series. We arrived at Rockefellar Center bright and early at about 4:30 am (ugh thank god I have Friday's off, Ash and Val weren't so lucky!)

We got into the crowd but being the shorties that we are, it was difficult to see! So, we ended up forgoing the pot filled (yes people were ripping bowls in Rockefellar Center, near Al Roker, it was a sin!) crowd and snuck into nearby Dean and Deluca. We stuck it out for his warm up but then opted for Dean and Deluca for the rest of the show. This was a surprisingly good decision as we ended up being about 15 feet from the band! We got a ton of great pictures and it was super cool to see Dave up close! Even though I was tired, the experience was one I'll never forget.

Speaking of weekends, this last one was pretty epic. Friday we had extremely pricey yet delicious margaritas at a fab little SOHO Mexican Restaurant called Dos Caminos. We got a little lost but the made at your table guac was worth the effort (or so I'm told as I don't eat the aforementioned "guac", ah c'est la vie.

Saturday was spent lounging and wondering around the streets of Soho, Little Italy, Chinatown, and of course Century 21. Century 21 is located right next to Ground Zero and its super weird to see it, even today. It still looks the same as it did last time I was in NYC (um 3 years ago!) and was supposed to be completed in 2010 but apparently this has been pushed to 2013! You'd think such an important landmark would be a priority but I guess everyone has other things to worry about.

I think Soho might be one of my favorite parts of the city. So clean, so quaint, so filled with cupcakes it is quite possibly heaven on Earth. After our wandering had once again manhandled our precious tootsies Mal decided that the only thing to cure our woes were mini stuffed cupcakes from Baked By Melissa, a little walk up in SOHO that serves these tiny delectables for the mere price of $1 apiece. Being my first cupcake since being in the city (I know tragic), I wasn't expected much but as the cookie dough, cookies and cream, and peanut butter cup nuggets hit my mouth I was converted. Mini is the new Supersize for sure : ). 

Saturday night was Afton's (Mal's roomie) 21st birthday and we did it up right at a whole in the wall bar in the East Village called (I kid you not) Cheap Shots and Beer. Her birthday was officially at midnight so we 2 buck chucked it til then and headed out around 11:45. Let's just say after a night of beer pong, model teasing, Will (or is it Aaron?) kissing and Joe's 31st bday extravaganza ( complete with strawberry topped homemade cake), it was truly a night to remember. 

Sunday, well, seeing as we returned at the wee hour of 345ish, I slept til about 1, had breakfast at the Alphabet Cafe and proceeded to wander around Greenwich Village for the rest of the afternoon with Mal, Carrie, and Caitlin. It was incredible out (for once : ( )  and we were even privileged to witness a man jumping over 4 women and an Asian...quite a feat if you ask me : )

New York has been full of surprises and new adventures thus far but I have a feeling its only just getting started! More later about work (lots of fittings, samples, and oh yes FREE CLOTHES) and the rest of my week, LOVE AND MISS EVERYONE. EXPECT POSTCARDS SOON!

XO love, 

Me

Oh Dave...

Today was my first day off from a + o and instead of sleeping in like a sane person I decided to rise at the lovely hour of 3:45 AM to catch Dave Matthews on the Today Show! I must say the early morning was super worth it and I had a blast with Ashley and her roomie braving the rain and stalking the band : ). Today Show...check!

Tonight we're off to dinner at Dos Caminos on the Upper East Side for some much needed margs and girl time. Can't wait. I might have one or ten : ).

Since being in the city I have been fighting the urge to shop at every turn and I think today might just be my downfall. There is just too much temptation! I have also not indulged in a single slice of NYC pizza or delectable Magnolia Cupcake! Uh oh...things might get interesting!

Miss you all and am thinking about you all the time 

XO love, 

Me

P.S.

So, I completely forgot to include the reason for the title of my last post! So, last night as we were walking home from Cafeteria, we stopped at Duane Reed to pick up some headphones. The man in front of me in line seemed to be having a bit of a problem as he was trying to return a box of Benedryl that he had already opened and used. He thought that he could return it because there was a sign that said DR accepts returns in opened packages. It was incredibly dramatic and hysterical at the same time. Only in NYC haha

You Can't Return Used Benedryl!

Last night I went to this chic little restaurant called cafeteria in Chelsea and it was delicious. It was also apparently the meeting place for the um "gays" of Chelsea to meet up and gab over "wonderful" cocktails while wearing beaters and Converse All-Stars. Well at least now we know... : )

Today began another week of work at A + O (yes we're on an initial basis now, its moving quite quickly lol). My "supervisor" Melanie is in London for the week, so I have taken over her position. Hopefully I don't burn the place down :  P

I keep fighting the urge to blow my savings (not that I have any to speak of ..eek) on shopping in NYC. Around every corner there is a new gem of a boutique enticing me with its fabulous finds and one of a kind pieces with astronomical price tags. If only I had a Black AmEx card...

That's all for now as it is 9:48 here in NYC and I am officially exhausted. More tomorrow and hopefully I'll figure out pictures so you guys can see my room/work/life : ). Love and miss you all.

XO love, 

Me