Tag

new york city

Browsing

New York City Travel Guide

New York, New York: Definitely one of the most overwhelming cities to visit because there is just so much to do and so much to see while you’re there. I’ve visited three times, and during each trip, we packed in a ton of fun activities and delicious restaurants. My nine days in the Concrete Jungle feel like at least three months, as I’ve covered miles and miles of the city by foot (lesson learned the first time: pack comfortable shoes!).

“The glamour of it all! New York! America!”

-Charlie Chaplin

NYC5Instead of creating a City Guide like I have in the past, where I outline my favorite restaurants, activities and sites, I’ve created a three day itinerary which includes all of my ‘must do’s’ for NYC. I’ve also made a Google map of these locations, which you can access here. I find the city can be challenging to navigate, so I hope this helps!

Also, if you’re up for church on Sunday, you should definitely go to Hillsong NYC and C3 Brooklyn. I’ve been to the former (it’s incredible), and the latter was started a few years ago by a sweet couple I traveled to Manila with three years ago.

NYC1

Three perfect days in New York City

Day 1

Rifle Paper Co. City Prints

Rifle_Paper_City_Prints

I love, love, love Rifle Paper Co. and am anxiously awaiting the debut of their wallpaper line with Hygge & West – I cannot wait to see what prints they sell! I have about 8 Rifle Paper Co. prints throughout the house – one in Isla’s nursery (the Paris print above). I dream of having a house filled with their travel prints – the collection above touches on all the places I’ve been, and I’d quite like to add Rio de Janeiro, Moscow, and Rome to the list of places I’ve seen soon. I would also love to see Anna paint ones for Buenos Aires, Edinburgh, Athens, and Cape Town – cities with pretty iconic sites. Have you been to many of these places? Which are on your bucket list? Can you tell I’m feeling lots of wanderlust today?

Featured image via

Shapshots of 2013

For the past four years, I’ve made an annual Shutterfly book that covered all travel and adventures for the year. I just finished my 2013 book yesterday, and it was extremely tough to keep it at 111 pages! I literally had to delete 6 pages in order to complete it. What an amazing year! We went to SF/Napa three times (more pictures here), Durango, Dunton Hot Springs, Boston, New York City, Miami, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, Minneapolis, and Bali. We remodeled a house that became our home, got married and are now expecting a baby girl in 2014. I’m almost sure that fits the definition for ‘whirlwind.’

How was your 2013? What are you most looking forward to next year?

Click here to view our 2013 in snapshots (pictures below by Ryan Ray).
Sasha_Ailee_Wedding_479

Sasha_Ailee_Engagements_162

Click here to view my 2012 book. Click here to view my 2011 book.

Whirlwind Trip to NYC

I love, love, love New York City. It has so much energy. I adore walking around all day long, eating far too much (delicious) food, acting like a total tourist with my big Nikon DSLR, getting excited about things I’ve now seen numerous times, like Central Park and the Empire State Building. I spent a very brief 36-ish hours in NYC this weekend with a good friend of mine – play-by-play itinerary below. What are your favorite things to do in the city? We’re thinking about making this an annual trip, so I welcome suggestions!

Friday

  • Landed around 2:30 and took an Uber cab to the Ace Hotel
  • Walked to Eataly and roamed around, then went to nearby Mangia for a quick salad
  • Walked to the observatory level of the Empire State Building (totally worth doing once)
  • Returned to the hotel and drank at their very hipster bar
  • Walked to Almond for an early pre-show dinner (I highly recommend this Flatiron spot)
  • Cabbed to the Al Hirschfield Theater for Kinky Boots (a must see)
  • Walked through Times Square and then back to the hotel
  • Step count: 7.5 miles
Saturday
  • Breakfast at Pastis (we ran into one of my best friends and her boyfriend while walking, so they joined us!)
  • Sat awkwardly at Pastis while they filmed a movie right beside our table for 30 minutes
  • Popped into Kate Spade Saturday’s Pop Up Shop
  • Got a drink at Revel Garden Bar (gorgeous, gorgeous spot)
  • Strolled through Chelsea Market enjoying the aromas and sample sales!
  • Walked along the High Line
  • Left the Meat Packing district and walked to the Gramery Park Hotel bar
  • Walked to Barbounia for lunch – amazing hummus and falafel and the busiest restaurant I’ve ever been to
  • Returned to the hotel to freshen up and drop shopping bags, then cabbed it to Barneys (sigh)
  • Stolled through Central Park as the sun was setting
  • Went to Kate Spade Madison AvenueI want it all
  • Walked to Bloomingdales and spent ages lusting at Equipment blouses
  • Took a taxi to Market Table, which is a perfect West Village restaurant (try the Brussels sprouts!)
  • Crossed the street for some froyo at 16 Handles
  • Walked back to the hotel for an early-ish bed (due to a 5am wakeup)
  • Step count: 12.5 miles

DSC_0829

DSC_0831

IMG_3934

Processed with VSCOcam with t1 preset

IMG_3961

DSC_0842

DSC_0844

Processed with VSCOcam with m3 preset

IMG_3998_2

IMG_3991

IMG_4010_2

IMG_3999

DSC_0855

DSC_0853

Processed with VSCOcam

IMG_4018 Processed with VSCOcam with f2 preset

IMG_4032

IMG_4034

Kate Spade Madison Avenue changing rooms… I need this wallpaper!