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Happy Valentine's Day, lovers!

I went home this weekend to visit my mum who recently had knee-replacement surgery. She summoned the energy to help me do an emergency rescue on my poor over-bleached hair... we did some red, and she gave me a shorter cut, to try to get rid of the super damaged bits. I was a little traumatized (I hate change) but after playing with it a bit in preparation for a Yelp party, I gave it a bit of curl and had some pouty fun:

My mum also got me a dress from Modcloth (best mum of the year award?!) for Tuesday night's party at the Empire Room. I was feeling a little extra festive because Tuesday also marked 3 years in NYC for me! Can't believe it's been that long. Was fun to have a night on the town, especially inside the Empire State Building-- pretty fitting. 

Yelp hosted Tuesday night's party, and I did feel a little bit overdressed... apparently Yelpers weren't much for the theme (boo). Fun night though, with free drinks and a photo corner where they were instantly printing photos for everyone. And of course, it helped restore my faith in my hair (here's to hoping it grows fast and quells my fears of soon being bald, ha). To 3 years in the Big Apple!

I grew up ice skating on frozen ponds and cranberry bogs, and still love it. I work near Bryant Park, and have been itching to lace up my skates since they opened Citi Pond for the season. Admission is free, and skate rentals are $13. If you have your own skates and lock for a locker, you're in like Flynn! I finally went for a spin with friends this afternoon, and the Pond managed to win me back over after my skate sharpening debacle earlier this month.

photo via @SMYLIFE

The lounge, Celsius, is an awesome way to end an evening on the ice. Try a snowcap- a hot chocolate with splashes of kahlua mocha and absolut vanilla, topped with whipped cream. (Yes, it's as delicious as it sounds.) They also have a full restaurant menu and amazing desserts. I'm in love with the decor, and am even more impressed since it's a temporary structure that is set up and taken down each year.

They've also got a winter film festival going on through February. Upcoming movies include Ice Age, Blades of Glory, and The Cutting Edge. They close for the season Sunday, February 27, so hurry over!

I finally got to try out my new ice skates! After getting shut down twice trying to get my skates sharpened at Citi Pond in Bryant Park, I went to Wollman Rink after work today. Getting my skates sharpened there was the same price as Citi Pond ($20... which is ludicrous considering it's $3 back in my hometown) but I had to pay $10.50 to skate at Wollman (Citi Pond has no admission fee). Wollman wasn't busy at all though, so I got to skate at a good speed without people falling in front of me or chains of 7 shaky tourists holding hands getting in the way. I'll probably still drop by Bryant Park before it closes next month since it'll be free, but I think Wollman will be my go-to rink from now on.

Tip: bring your own lock for the lockers- renting them costs $10.50 and they won't let you bring any bags or purses on the ice. Bring cash (it's Trump's place after all... cash only). Oh- and the hot chocolate with marshmallows was goood (even at $4.50).

Katie and I played tourist this weekend, and made a romp through Times Square. We made a stop at Toys R Us and proceeded to act like 5 year olds at the Wonka factory. 

Bins of Spree, SweeTarts, Nerds, Bottle Caps, Runts, Gobstoppers... oh my! All the best candy from when we were growing up.

We couldn't help but stock up on our favorites (even at a ridiculous $11.98/lb)... and the rest of the afternoon was spent on a serious sugar high.