NYC Recap || Part One

Wow- what a week! My brother and I got back home from our exhilarating/exhausting road-trip to the gleaming city of New York late Saturday night and I've been in recovery mode ever since. After four straight days of walking miles upon miles my feet have definitely seen better days #thankgoodnessforbandaids.

Our trip went something like this: 9 hour drive from South Carolina to DC, 5 hour Megabus ride to New York then the same thing (in reverse) three days later. I love love love to travel and experience new things and places, but whew I am exhausted!

We really had a phenomenal week and I'm so full of gratitude for everything we were able to do and the time we got to spend together. We packed so much into our six day jaunt that I've decided to break it down into a few different posts so it's easier to digest!

We arrived in the city around 10am Tuesday morning and after dropping the bags at our hotel we hit the ground running. Our hotel was a block from Central Park and an equal distance between Columbus Circle and The Plaza which is where we headed first. After a stroll through the park we grabbed a quick lunch while waiting on my friend Emily to arrive then the three of us headed downtown.

One of the absolute highlights of the afternoon spent downtown was getting to explore the gorgeous Club Monaco store on 5th Avenue. The white marble, plush furniture, pastel colors, and pops of lush greenery everywhere made me weak in the knees. The decor combined with the store's in-house Toby's Flatiron Coffee shop and Strand bookstore made me seriously giddy- I'm pretty sure I could live there for the rest of my life and be perfectly happy. Clothes, books & good coffee- what more could a girl ask for?

We continued further downtown toward Washington Square Park and walked past some picture perfect townhouses in the village that looked straight out of a fairy tale. It felt like a different world than the crazy, bustling energy of midtown. If I ever moved to New York I could definitely see myself living there! 

We went back uptown near the hotel for dinner and stumbled upon a fabulous place called The Little Beet. Everything was so fresh and the branding was seriously adorable. If I lived in the city I would easily eat there at least twice a week. Anywhere with quinoa, kale, and sweet potatoes on the menu has my heart.  After eating we rounded out the day with a visit to one of my favorite NYC landmarks, Rockefeller Center.

It was a long, wonderful, crazy day, but I have a feeling that every day in the city is that way. Check back Wednesday for a recap of the Smart Girls Conference! xoxo

-Lanie W.

Vacay

Hey y'all- hope your holiday weekend was fun and relaxing! Brandon and I had a great time beaching it in Tybee and hanging out with our families. I'm just stopping in today to let y'all know I won't be posting this week for a couple of reasons- 1. I accidentally left my computer charger at my apartment (4 hours away) last week, and 2. I'll be traveling to Washington DC and New York City until next Sunday! 

My brother and I are heading north today and making the 8(ish) hour drive up I-95 to DC then heading to the city bright and early (as in 5am - woof) on Tuesday! The word excited seems insufficient to really explain how much I'm looking forward to re-exploring one of my favorite cities and attending the Smart Girls Conference! Fun, learning, and adventure all in one trip = a very happy Lanie!

Be sure to follow along with my travels on Twitter & Instagram (links in the bar above!) I know I'll have oodles to share once I return! Don't miss me too much - you know you love me.. xoxo (I'm going to nyc, I had to throw in a Gossip Girl reference somewhere!) :) 

-Lanie W.

All American

Happy Fourth y'all! I'm loving that the holiday falls on a Friday this year. I'm looking forward to spending the weekend exploring Tybee Island, a sleepy little beach town near Savannah Georgia, with my boyfriend. I haven't been in a couple years and am excited to go back!

To kick off the weekend I thought I'd share a quintessentially American look. I found this striped tee last week (for $5!) and never want to take it off. It's the perfect weight, size, and pairs perfectly with jeans or shorts. (sidenote: can you believe his is the first red item of clothing I've ever owned??)

I styled the tee with light wash jeans, a pendant necklace, and my trusty platinum Jacks for a simple, classic look that would be perfect for any low-key gathering.

Hope your holiday weekend is full of barbecues, fireworks, fun, and an excess of American pride!  

-Lanie W.

NY State of Mind

I can't contain my excitement any longer y'all... I'm happy to announce that I'm going to New York next week to attend the first ever Smart Girls Conference on July 9th and 10th! After  going back and forth I finally bought my ticket last week and I'm still in disbelief that I'm actually going back to my favorite city!

The two day conference schedule is packed with fabulous sessions like "How to achieve your dreams by 30" and inspiring guest speakers from  Jill Abramson and Lauren Bush Lauren to my favorite bloggers Carly Heitlinger and Mackenzie Horan, and so many more!

I'm already feeling inspired and I haven't even left South Carolina yet. I know I'm going to learn so much and have an amazing time networking and getting to know the other attendees and speakers! This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I feel so lucky to have the chance to have this experience. 

Oh, and one of the best parts? My blog friend turned real-life friend Emily of Cooper & Thames is also going! I can't wait to experience NYC and the Smart Girls Conference with her by my side - we're going to have way too much fun I can already tell. #carolinagirlstakemanhattan

In preparation for the conference I finally bit the bullet and ordered blog business cards. I designed mine on Moo.com on Tuesday and by Saturday they had already arrived! I'm so pleased with their customer service and the thick, sturdy quality of the cards themselves. The colors and rounded edges are just adorable.

Let me know if there's anything we absolutely must do while in the city! I've been before (read about my previous trips here) but there are always new things to do and explore in NYC.

Can't wait to share everything with y'all when I get back! xoxo

-Lanie W.