Happy Anniversary: One Whole Year in New York City

Exactly one year ago today, I arrived in New York. The night before, my mom and I packed all we could in her car in the middle of a rainstorm. I cried a lot that night. Partially for the belongings that I left behind. Partially out of fear. Partially out of excitement.

We came  to Brooklyn, from Chicago, by way of a 14-hour drive. Overnight. I seriously have never eaten that many gas station hot dogs in my whole life. But we made it without much of a hitch. We only managed to get lost once. Seriously Google Maps, you have to make directions to the Holland Tunnel a little clearer. This is the second time I’ve had to guess my way through it. Did I mention it was also raining here?

So here I am, a year later and I honestly can’t believe it’s been a year. And, I have to say that I am pretty darn happy. I’ve had some fun times and some not so fun times. But, Brooklyn feels like home. I feel like my life is here (that’s still really hard for me to say).

All in all, I think moving here was a lot like how I expected it to be. And, you’re stuck with me for another year Brooklyn (and I’m pretty sure I’ll be here a lot longer). So, with all that, let’s take a happy anniversary stroll down memory lane. Shall we?

• A few days after moving here, I met up with a guy from OkCupid. A few days after that, the guy came over to my apartment, touched my boobs, and then left. True story.  

• I discovered a tattoo place near my apartment that only has a $40 minimum -- that's a rare gem in NYC. Really lots of places for that matter. But I also discovered that I have no self-control when it comes to visiting said tattoo shop. 

• I dealt with a couple of crazies from OkCupid. One who, after I rejected him, said he was just taking one for the team anyway. And the other who said he'd like to have sex with me, but I might make his penis look too small.
  

• I dated a freegan who liked to dig things out of the trash who also ended up in the psych ward just after I ended things with him.  Though, I don't think being a freegan had anything to do with that and I am not sure if ending things with him did either. That's a story that I haven't had the courage to share yet. Another time, another place.

• I tried fried pickles. Then, went to Hoboken and had them again. And made a little trip to the Brooklyn Bridge.

• I went to The Strand where I found cheap copies of Are You There God? It's Me Margaret, Silence of the Lambs, and that book about men and women being from different planets -- whatever it's called. Something about Mars and Venus. It was $1.

• I discovered that Brooklyn is a pretty amazing place to live. In fact, I really love it here. And, no, it has nothing to do with that damn hologram Jesus. I am pretty sure they have those everywhere. 

• And let's not forget about the Badoo Project.

• I also realized that Mr. BST can suck it (am I allowed to say stuff like that when I'm almost 32?). I'm not technically sure if that has anything to do with being here, but I think it helped some.

• I've made trips to Central Park and Prospect Park. And, had more than my fair share of drunken nights (not in the park). One where I didn't get home until 7am after making out with some guy in the bar and being proposed to by the cab driver. Though he was the only one after three cabs who would actually take me to Brooklyn, so maybe I should have married him. Also, the guy at the bar wanted to take me home but Taylor wouldn't let him because she said (and I quote) "he's going to murder you."

• I met a guy who I actually considered seriously dating. It didn't work out, but we've managed a friendship. It's a good friendship and he's actually becoming one of my most favorite people to hang out with. And that's not because he has a car and took me to Ikea (and bought me two hot dogs). He's also super creative so we are working on a really cool project together. Stay tuned for all of that.

• I met the most amazing hairstylist named Rocio who works at a salon called Rare in Tribeca. Seriously, she does awesome things to my hair. And I'm not just saying that because she tells me how cool I am and how much she loves when I come in for a hair cut. She also did not pay me to say that.

• I met a guy off of OkCupid locals. He was a refugee from hurricane Katrina. He took me to all these crazy old man type of clubs (and was also a little offended when said old men kept checking me out). We ended up going back to his place and it was the scariest thing I have ever seen in my life. I didn't stay very long.

• I finally had the courage to rock red lipstick. And, figured out that it suits me pretty well.

• I've also met many amazing people and made lots of friends. There are too many of them to name in this post (especially since it's already 994 words long). But, they know who they are. And, they are largely responsible for all the awesome experiences I've listed on here.

My Mom Told Me to Take a Hiatus from Tattoos

And she’s probably right. In all my excitement in my last post with the fried pickles and trips to Hoboken and the Met, I totally forgot to mention that I also got (another) tattoo a few weeks ago. I know, I know. I went with a friend and I wasn’t planning on getting one. Everyone told me I would get another but I was pretty proud that I made it in and out of the place without any new ink.

But, then we were sitting at the bar having our celebratory beers when we had a genius idea. And, a new tattoo was born.

This one didn't hurt that bad though I had to sit really still which means that should totally go under my lists of things I do well on my OkCupid profile. And I kind of felt like someone had kicked me really hard in the head for a few days after. But it healed really fast.

You might think it looks familiar and if you've checked out my website it does. It's my logo that was designed by a friend. So he's pretty pleased with my decision too. I think this is at the top of my faves.

And now that makes eight.

Five Things I Want To Do This Month: July

I realized last month that I kind of slacked on my list of things to do. I really have no good excuse – I guess life just got in the way. Funny since that’s the whole reason I started the list in the first place.

Anyway, I am starting it back up again. I kind of went a little crazy last week since I was taking a little staycation. Normally around the 4^th of July I am with my family, but this year I decided to stay in New York. It was mostly because flights are expensive and I am planning on heading back to the Midwest in the fall, but also because I wanted a week where I could just wander the streets of New York.

I started the week off right…

Then, that weekend I finally had fried pickles. I love pickles and I love (mostly) anything fried, but I was a little nervous about trying them since I am a little weird about textures of food. But, they were beyond delicious and now I have decided I need to try fried pickles anytime that I find them.

I also wandered to Central Park for a few hours one day. And I’ve heard I need to go there when it’s dark to see all the lightning bugs.

Then, on the 4^th, I made my very first trip to Hoboken.  It was something I had planned on doing for some time, but Hoboken seems so far away – I think it’s that whole being in another state thing. But, I think I was being a whiney Brooklynite because it’s actually super close and easy to get to. In fact, there are places that are harder to get to in Manhattan.

I also had fried pickles there.

And, had the most amazing view of the fireworks.

The rest of the week I just spent bumming around Brooklyn.  I found some really fun random things along the street.

And a hologram picture of Jesus.

I ended my staycation with bottomless mimosas.

And then a trip to the Met where I found the furniture I want for my place someday.

I didn’t do as many touristy things as I wanted, but wandering was far more fun and relaxing – it was just what I needed. There are still a couple things left on my list that I plan to do later this month and I will pick back up with a whole new list next month.

Five Things I want To Do This Month: May

Alright, I have to be totally honest here, until this past Sunday I thought I was going to have to say that I completely failed with everything on my list from last month. But, I took a trip to Prospect Park so I was able to check that off. And, I have to say that it was really pretty. I also need to explore it far more. Seriously, New York City parks are huge.

I was also busy with a lot of other fun stuff. There was Chowbunga events and day drinking/working with Miss Taylor Cast. Though, to be technical, our day of fun was almost like bottomless mimosa brunch just instead we had sangria and then $2 PBRs (that's kind of bottomless alcohol, right?).

I also took about a week to visit my family back in the Midwest. And there was my visit to the gorgeous piers.

So, instead of making a new list, I am just going to repeat last months. Here’s to hoping I am a little better this month.

Here it goes…

Go up in the Empire State Building – I failed. I didn’t do it last month or the month before. <Gasp> I actually had plans to do it but I walked the bridge instead.

Visit the fried pickle place -- I love pickles and apparently fried pickles are the most amazing thing ever. Clearly I owe it to myself to try this.

Learn all the bridges in NYC – The only one I can spot without a doubt is the Brooklyn Bridge. I figure if you live in New York, you should know the bridges. It’s time to learn.

Have bottomless mimosa brunch – I’ve attempted this a few times but it hasn’t happened. Let me back up, I’ve done the bottomless mimosas thing but not since I moved here. I’ve also had brunch a handful of times since moving here but not with bottomless mimosas. Why does it matter? Because there aren’t many things better than sitting with your friends and having someone continue to fill your empty cup with more alcohol. Seriously it’s one of the best things about the weekend. So, it’s going on the list.

Go to Arthur Ave in the Bronx for Italian -- I've been all over New York City and its boroughs and restaurants. And with the recommendation of Miss Taylor Cast, I need to go here. So it's now on the list.

Five Things I Want To Do This Month: April

Side note: I decided to combine the recap of the previous month with the current month. Technically I should give myself the whole month to complete all five things? Right

Last month I…

Walked the Brooklyn Bridge. It wasn’t near as long of a walk as I remembered but the views were just as breathtaking. 

I did not buy a cookbook but I did join Pinterest and I made two new recipes from it. Some yummy chicken taco soup and the pepperoni pizza puffs. Good times.

I also did a few other fun things worth mentioning. There was The Badoo Project -- so much fun.  And, I bought myself flowers every single week which is actually something that’s on my list but I hadn’t included it yet. Kudos to me for being ahead of things.

Now for this month.

1. Go up in the Empire State Building – I failed. I didn’t do it last month. I actually had plans to do it but I walked the bridge instead.
2. Visit the fried pickle place -- @LifesARunway knows what I am talking about here. I love pickles and apparently fried pickles are the most amazing thing ever. Clearly I owe it to myself to try this.
3. Visit Prospect Park – I failed here too last month. There is no excuse so I am just going to do it this month.
4. Learn all the bridges in NYC – The only one I can spot without a doubt is the Brooklyn Bridge. I figure if you live in New York, you should know the bridges. It’s time to learn.
5. Have bottomless mimosa brunch – I’ve attempted this a few times but it hasn’t happened. Let me back up, I’ve done the bottomless mimosas thing but not since I moved here. I’ve also had brunch a  handful of times since moving here but not with bottomless mimosas. Why does it matter? Because there aren’t many things better than sitting with your friends and having someone continue to fill your empty cup with more alcohol. Seriously it’s one of the best things about the weekend. So, it’s going on the list.

Five Things I want to Do This Month: March

It’s a brand new month which means a new set of things I want to do this month. Now, here is the tricky part, since this is a new feature for me, I get to decide how I want to do it. Since we've established I didn't exactly complete everything on my list last month, part of me thought I would just add the leftovers to the things for this month, but then it kind of seems like an afterthought. And, then I could end up with eight or ten things to do. The point of this is to be fun and enjoy life, not drive myself crazy.

So, I decided that whatever I don’t do will become a part of the next month’s five things I want to do.

Here they are for this month:

1. Visit Prospect Park – I never really knew Prospect Park existed until I moved to Brooklyn and, from what I have heard there are some insanely awesome views of Manhattan. So, I think it’s time to go.
2. Buy a cookbook and cook at least three meals from it – I confess, I don’t own a single cookbook unless you count the kind that tell you how to make cocktails. And, honestly, I need to learn to cook some different stuff.  I know it’s not that big of a deal since you can find so many recipes online, but sometimes trying to find something that sounds good online is extremely tedious. I think a cookbook will inspire me. Anyone have suggestions??
3. Go up in the Empire State Building – I confess (again) because I’ve kind of been a building snob. When you’ve grown up a few hours from Chicago and lived there for five years, you’ve definitely made your share of trips to the Sears (now called Willis) Tower. Since it’s taller than the Empire State, part of me always figure why bother. And, honestly, when I was a tourist here there were just so many other things I wanted to do. But now that I love here it’s a little different and it’s something I want to do.
4. Walk the Brooklyn Bridge – I didn't do this last month so I am carrying it over. I’ve done this once before, as a tourist, but now that Brooklyn is my home I desperately want to do it again.
5. Meet the lovely @MissMegasaurus – since this one is technically half done, I am going to add something to it. Make a new friend.

So, there you have it. And, as always, if you have any suggestions for me, leave them in the comments or contact me.