I see Your face in every sunrise

Now that I am back home in NJ, I'm writing about the city from a new perspective. Although I no longer am a part of the hustle and bustle of the busy city life, I do get to work there each day.

Each morning, I cross the George Washington Bridge at about 6:45am. I have yet to get sick of looking out to my right to see the magnificent nyc skyline! I'm one of those crazy drivers who is taking picture while trying to avoid hitting the car in front of me. It is absolutely gorgeous to watch the sunrise over my favorite city in the world.

One morning in particular I was listening to Phil Wickham (like I always do on my way to work!) and the song called "You're Beautiful" came on. As I was watching the huge orange sun rise in front of me, he sang,

"I see your face in every sunrise

the colors of the morning are inside your eyes
the world awakens in the light of the day
i look up to the sky and say you're beautiful"

How wonderful it is to be able to see God's beauty on my way to work each morning, even when their is bumper to bumper traffic, I am thankful because I get to worship God in my car, while enjoying his creation!

(That being said I am much more frustrated on my way home from work, and this is when I need to work on my road rage (; )

how to get gym access, classes, and a personal trainer all for...FREE

I discovered something amazing! Free 1 week trials to expensive and high end gyms all over the city! This week on the list for me: Equinox. Tonight I took a upper body class, a core class, and then used their treadmills for a short run. Tomorrow I am going to do some kickboxing, and I'll finish up the week by going to a personal trainer, all for free!

Next week, I have a 5 day free trial to Crunch gym, where I'll be able to take classes and get a personal trainer to kick my butt.

My plan is to find a new gym each week until I graduate...now that's a good way to get ready for summer

!

Only downside...you will be bombarded with emails and phone calls asking you to apply for an actual membership, which someone will try to talk you into buying at the end of the week...don't fall for it!

Happy exercising!

rainBOOTS

Two things I’ve noticed in the city on rainy days are the wide variety of rainboots people wear, and how everyone seems to be in a little more of a hurry.

Rainboots come in all sorts of colors, shapes, designs, patterns, and textures, and I soon learned, they are a must have here! I must admit, there is something about being able to step IN a puddle instead of at

tempting to hop over it, it brings me back to my childhood, and it is fun!

Sometimes as I’m walking through the puddles, I like to stop, and watch the people around me. I like seeing everyone in a fluster with their umbrellas and trench coats, racing a little faster than usual to get out of the rain.

Enjoy jumping in the puddles that the April showers have brought us, May is almost here!

PS I almost forgot, I don’t leave my apartment on a rainy day without my bubble umbrella, another cute and very efficient way to stay dry!

**TIP** I've gone through 3 pairs of rainboots over the past 3 years, none of them lasting for more then a year. The first 2 were no more then $20, and the last were around $50. If you're going for comfort, the more expensive ones are definitely worth it (and I think they look better), but if you don't care so much about comfort, quality wise they are the same!

Tourist for a day

Over winter break one of my closest friends from WI came to visit as she always does for New Years. Since she has been coming for five years, we haven't had a "tousisty" NYC day since the first year. So, this year, she told me she would love to venture out to NYC during her visit.

My first thought was, "ok, but I've seen all these tourist attractions like 100 times!" But I soon realized that even as a "city dweller" there are always new places waiting to be found! We went into the NHL store, got free cookies at Double Tree, tried on rings at Tiffany's, ate at the Hard Rock Cafe, and took pictures in the Coca Cola Factory Museum. All things I've never done before.

So, even within the typical tourist attractions like Times Square, you can always find new and exciting places to go and see!

NYC never ceases to surprise and entertain me!

View from the top...finally

For the past 21 years, my view of the Empire State Building has been from a distance. I lived the first 15 years of my life in New York City, and not once had I gone to the top. My love (and minor obsession) for the this building began about a year and a half ago, when I moved into an apartment with a spectacular view. Little did I know the colors of the ESB change quite frequently! I made it a little hobby of mine to take a picture each night the colors changed (right now it’s green and white for the Jets!)My favorite color is yellow because it lights up the sky. Purple is also a favorite! Check out my ESB album on FB to see all the colors (I told you I was obsessed).

I finally went to the top of the ESB this past semester! It was a spur of the moment idea. Jack met me at Penn station, and I told him we were going on a late night adventure (he had never gone to the top either!) So we finally got there, and entered the lobby, I was so excited! There was no one on line, and after a few escalator and elevator rides that made our ears pop, we finally made it to the top! There were hardly any people, which made it quite peaceful. The view was a little foggy, but still breathtaking. I was able to look down at the city that I love, without being in the midst of the chaos or noise. After trying to unsuccessfully spot my apartment and taking a few pictures, I had finally experienced the top of the Empire State Building! Now when I peer out my window from the 22nd floor, I have a new memory with that tall building that I’ve been gazing at since I was a little girl.

Pumpkin Lattes and Colorful Changes

Autumn brings about so many fun memories for me...apple picking, pumpkin carving, dressing up for halloween, Mom decorating the house with fall decor, and of course my favorite- all the foliage...but my latest and tastiest find is the Pumpkin Latte from Dunkin Donuts. It is absolutely perfect and completes my "autumn experience"!

I know in a previous post I mentioned how much I don't like D&D, but I take it back! All summer I got iced coffees from D&D, and realized it's only in NY that I for some reason become a coffee snob and go elsewhere. Back in NJ, Starbucks is more of a luxury that I treat myself to once in awhile, D&D is the usual.

Don't let autumn pass you by without taking the time to sit and watch the leaves turn, with a Pumpkin Latte of course!

"Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns".
- George Eliot

(this post has nothing to do with nyc, oops...except that I was in nyc when I drank my latte so that counts)

Come sail away with me

It was a warm, windy night, perfect for having wine and cheese on a sailboat along the Hudson, right?! Well, that is exactly what a few friends and I did on this particular night. The owner of the sailboat picked us up in this tiny motorboat along pier 40, and brought us to his sail boat where there was a spread of cheese, crackers, grapes, and wine waiting for us.
This was one of the most relaxing and enjoyable nights I've had in awhile. There was something so peaceful about lounging on a sailboat, talking and laughing the night away with good friends. I never thought something like this would be a part of all my other NYC experiences!