A couple of weeks ago I got to go to NYC, and it was awesome!! I only wish that I had a couple more days to explore more of the city. I was invited up for an interview with Refinery 29.
I got to spend a day on set with hair, makeup, and best of all - my mom! My mom came up from Arkansas and we overindulged in Italian food and broadway shows.
If you didn't know, I've been doing theatre professionally for years. I majored in musical theatre, and even met my husband at a gig in PA.
I've been performing since I was three, and I was "discovered" singing and dancing to Aladdin in the electronics section of target. A director of a local theatre in Florida approached my mom about upcoming auditions. I auditioned and was cast in my debut performance - Little Miss Muppet.
It's funny, I never once questioned what I was going to be when I grew up. I always new I wanted to be an actor.
For my sixteenth birthday, my parents surprised me with a trip to NYC to go see my first broadway show Phantom of the Opera.
I screamed. I cried. It's one of those memories when you think back and you can't help but feel unending joy.
I remember everything about that moment. It was like an out of body experience. We flew out of the Little Rock airport into LaGuardia, and let me tell you...
The skyscrapers, the concrete jungle, the lights, the hustle and bustle - it's everything they talk about in the songs. It was magical, and I had never seen anything like it.
Just look how cute I was 10 years ago!
I have to say, my fashion sense has improved... but really not much has changed.
We stayed in the theatre district, ate amazing Italian food, and saw shows. Sound familiar? What can I say, I'm a creature of habit.
I landed in NYC on Thursday night and met up with my mom at the Gotham hotel near Times Square.
Now that I'm working freelance for Pela, I don't get out the house much. Which is perfectly fine by me! I am a homebody. But, it means that I'm not used to being surrounded by others - especially their germs in such a confined space.
I immediately wasn't feeling super great. I knew that I need some kale stat.
I don't know about you, but when every I eat nutrient rich foods I instantly feel better. On Friday morning I headed over to the warehouse for the photo shoot. It was absolutely amazing. I spent most of my day in a bathrobe and getting pampered with hair, makeup, and it was catered with the most AMAZING food.
It was exactly what I needed. It was a huge kale salad with quinoa, roasted beets, oranges, croutons, and a delicious peanut dressing.It was exactly what my body was craving.
I'm really thankful that I brought a tiffin* with me for lunch. This way I could avoid disposable plates. I also had my water bottle* on me which I could fill up from the water cooler.
I did not bring a fork with me, and used one of the compostable ones they had on the lunch table. IDK if it will actually be composted, but I'm not going to sweat it.
After the shoot, we met up with my childhood best friend who's an artist living in Brooklyn. When I lived in San Antonio, we would have sleepovers EVERY Saturday night where we played a lot of playstation games like Donald Duck Going Quackers and Puppies to the Rescue.
She took us to Roberta's and we shared some delicious pastas and catching up from over the years.
The next morning, mom and I slept in and leisurely got breakfast at 1 in the afternoon. We went to Gotan and it was so good!!
I got a matcha latte and shakshuka. My mom got the farmhouse breakfast with coffee, and we both got a cup of fresh squeezed OJ. I'm not terribly crazy about orange juice, but my body appreciated the vitamin C boost.
Then we walked all through central park, window shopped on fifth ave, and hit up a swanky NYC Goodwill.
Then we went out to a Brasserie Athénée before getting to see Anastasia. I was honestly, a little underwhelmed by the thought of seeing Anastasia.
It had been my favorite animated movie growing up, but I was pleasantly surprised. The show was so adorable! They did an absolute amazing job. 10/10 would recommend.
The next morning we grabbed lunch at Sardi's. We wanted to go to the Waldorf, but it was closed for renovations.
My grandmother, the one who passed away last year, moved to NYC on a whim. She went to visit one of her friends and decided not to leave.
She wound up getting a job as a party planner at the Waldorf Astoria, and I remember her telling me all about the parties she planned and the famous people she got to rub elbows with like Elizabeth Taylor.
She talked about going to Sardi's often, and we decided we'd go there in her honor.
We had a champagne toast before heading to Hammilton.
Then we pretty much headed back to the hotel and packed. We both left the next morning.
We didn't have time to do a lot, but it was a really lovely trip! I definitely have a list of places I want to visit when I go back, and I would also love to meet up with some fellow zero wasters too.
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