Following Rabbits Blog

After procrastinating all week, I spent my entire day packing. I have no internet or cable at my apartment, and it's driving me bananas! I came up to Union Square to do a quick post and to ride the Q Train over the Manhattan Bridge one more time. I will definitely miss that... such gorgeous views of the Brooklyn Bridge and lower Manhattan. (Ray took a great photo of the sunset from the Q Train recently, you can see it on flickr.) It's kind of bittersweet, wrapping up my last night in Brooklyn. My new apartment in Astoria is amazing, so I am really excited to be moving. But Brooklyn is where I struggled and made it the past couple years, so it's always going to be extra special to me. And my apartment! 5G... my first apartment on my own. I was so proud to move in there... coming to NYC with $300 cash, no job, no friends in the city. It was really tough, but I've since gotten used to jumping into the deep end and learning how to swim. Aw, I'm getting all nostalgic. In the meantime, they keep coming over the loudspeaker at Barnes & Noble to countdown til closing. I better go get a good night's sleep... despite having 4 guys to help me tomorrow, I live on the 5th floor and the elevator's broken. Yikes! I'll be happy and very grateful once I'm all moved in tomorrow. Wish me luck!

Valentine's day is right around the corner! Time to order gifts to be shipped in time. Don't have a sweetheart to exchange gifts with? Buying a treat for yourself is warranted, for sure. Don't forget your girlfriends-- they're the ones who get you through the day, right?

For your girls:
1) Silver Love Letter by LOOKAjewelry - $75. Tiny silver envelope can be stamped with a little message. Thank your best girl for her hours of listening, giving advice, and dancing it up with you.
2) Best Wishes by somethingshidinghere - $12. What better gift to give than 3 wishes? (No wishing for more wishes!)
3) Cupcake Bath Bomb by sugarandspicesoapco - $4.50. Buy a bakery box at your local kitchen supply store and put 6 in there. She'll thank you. (And smell extra sweet!) 

For your boy:
4) String Series photo by BlissInteriorDesigns - $10. Five prints to choose from (or get him a set). Cause even though it's a bachelor pad, it can still have a bit of class.
5) Little Red and Black Notebook by moonbindery - $24. Sketches, song lyrics and a steady stream of business ideas his gig? Red leather cover that ties with a black strap, will fit in his back pocket.
6) Mad Hatter T-Shirt by theboldbanana - $12. Can your boyfriend ever have too many t-shirts for you to borrow? I think not.

For #1 (that's you!):
7) Lace and Ribbon Pouch by oktak - $32. This lil pouch is adorable. Perfect for your essentials on a sunny afternoon.
8) Gigantic Goldfish Dress by circularaccessories - $38. Because every girl needs a comfy cotton dress that fits well... and the seriously large goldfish is an added bonus.
9) Peacock Feater Tattoo Tights by post - $23. These are so much fun! I will definitely be buying myself a pair of these to add to my collection.

Megan Nielsen has debuted her Spring 2010 collection with some super cute pieces you gotta snag while they're available. Short hems and airy fits dominate, with a 60's and 70's inspiration. Jessica of What I Wore did up the lookbook (I'm jealous). My favorite item is the rie dress: vintage lace over crisp white... super cute for the park or lunch with the girls. I want!

In real-life time, I've been wandering, creating, dancing, cooking, exploring, eating, dating, and breathing in NYC for 717 days. In wonderland time, it's been 119 hours, 26 minutes and 14 seconds... but no matter. Either way, I'm smitten with this city and it's getting hotter all the time. I've discovered some amazing places off the beaten path, eaten incredible food at many a hole-in-the-wall, met some great people with even greater stories, and even sewed a few things here and there. 

I'm in the midst of moving from Brooklyn to Astoria, and feel like I'm starting over again. Third time's a charm, right? I came to NYC for six months in 2005 to intern at a celebrity weekly and fell head over heels for this place. I moved back here in 2008 feeling like I had unfinished business. I came with one goal: survive a year. I managed to survive and then some!

So now, on my 717th day, I find myself surrounded by boxes and stacks of books, dishes, fabric, and journals. I've collected so many little pieces of New York over the past two years... each concert ticket, admission bracelet, cupcake receipt, smiley photo, business card and journal page tells a story. Here I'll share my daily adventures, and we can explore and celebrate the city together. You never know what could happen when you're following rabbits.