City That Never Sleeps

First, let me apologize for my long absence from updating. People can say it a million times, but this city really does never sleep. My schedule is pretty demanding with working 9+ hours a day, 5 days a week. More and more is being expected of me and I am getting bigger responsibilities which is very exciting (sorry thats all the details I can share. I thought that would be hard, but I'm learning that having my own little secret world that I tell no one about is quite refreshing). I absolutely love my position and though I never pictured myself working with the fashion world, it has begun to spark my interest as I continue to learn more. (Don't worry though, sports is still my passion and first love).

Any second I have off work, I am constantly out exploring the wonderful world that is NYC. And when I call it world, its on purpose. The more I learn about New York the more I realize why its inhabitants never leave or want to, anyways. Anything I could ever want is situated on a 5 x 13 mile plot of land:

Ability to see the skyline in one of the tallest buildings in the world? Check
Several beaches to escape to and soak up sun? Check
Incredible parks with mesmerizing scenery? Check
The greatest shopping in the world from luxury designers to little boutiques? Check
Authentic, delicious food from every region you could imagine? Check
Celebrity sightings a normal occurence? Check
Nightlife that could keep even Paris Hilton entertained? Check
Access to the best performing arts shows, just a few blocks away? Check
Sports that could put several other cities combined to shame? Check
Within an hour of tons of other fun cities to explore (philly. jersey shore, boston, D.C.)? Check
A block or two from almost everything else you could think of? Probably, check

But all those fabulous things aside, the absolute best part of the city for me is the feeling it gives me. I feel home. This is the one time in my life where I feel like I am exactly where I am supposed to be. Missouri is fun but I need a place that moves at the same speed that I do. Cornfields, cowboys, and Fieldhouse Wednesdays just don't quite compare to flashing lights, beautiful people, and endless big name events.

Sure, not every part of living here is glamorous but the pros easily outweigh the cons. I tweeted today that the Jay-Z and Alicia Keys song 'Empire State of Mind' plays constantly in my mind. I walk the streets and constantly hear the lyrics in my head, in awe that I am really here. There is one line that perfectly sums up my thoughts about this city:


"These streets will make you feel brand new, big lights will inspire you. Lets hear it for New York." 

Well said, you two. Being here this summer is the biggest inspiration to keep working hard to achieve my dreams. Dreams of living in the city upon graduation with a fabulous job and making it big. Until then, I will be soaking up as much as I can of NY this summer to hold me over for the next year.

- Allie

Big Apple, Big Fun

Today is day 4 of my life in NYC. I cannot believe it's only been that long. I feel like I am already a native New Yorker and have done so much in so little time. But my body reminded me of how busy I've been the past few days, I didn't wake up until 11:30 this morning! Last night was our first time actually 'going out' in the city. We all gathered in my apartment first before heading out on the town. We all went down to the southside seaport and had some drinks outside on the pier. We were surprised to learn that happy hour in manhattan at the place we went lasted until 1 am (bars are open until 5 am here) and got $5 margaritas and strawberry dacquiris (thats really cheap here).  Zaire, Kim, and Keith made a trip to Manhattan from Staten Island to come hang with us and it was so fun to have a big Mizzou crew to do the M-I-Z   Z-O-U chant with as we walked the streets of the city. After they left we were on a mission to find some of the military men in town because it is Fleet Week, meaning all the ships are docked here until next Wednesday. We found a little hole in the wall bar where we found sailors dancing on the bar. It was quite the experience and all of us found ourselves up on the bar with them for a good story to tell. All in all it was great first night. 

Today a bunch of us went out exploring again and ventured into Greenwich Village, then Morgan and I went to Central Park, Grand Central Station, Bloomingdale's, Lexington St through all the street vendors and then back to the apartment. The subway system is really easy to use, once you know which subway stations have which tracks, its a piece of cake. Hopefully tonight we will get to see Staten Island from the view of Zaire, the native Staten Islander.

Tomorrow I am hoping to make a trip to Philly to see some of my fav. Mizzou guys that are in town. If that doesn't happen then we are going to try to work on the apartment because its pretty empty still. We made a trip to Brooklyn yesterday to visit the nearest Target (the prices are the same as in St. Chuck, thank goodness!) and we picked up all the essentials we needed: plates, silverware, cups, soap, dish towel, bread, meat, and a few other snacks. There are so many random things you need that I would never think of. We have a makeshift table that we all stand around that is actually a dresser. We all joke that when we have a dinner party we will push two together and stick a table cloth over it. I have been living off peanut butter sandwiches so there is no need for anything fancy.

Tonight I made myself some chicken nuggets and easy mac for dinner (yes I know I eat like a 5 year old) . I treated myself though with my other cupcake that I bought from the famous Magnolias Bakery yesterday. I ate the Carrie cupcake yesterday (named after Carrie Bradshaw who was a frequent visitor of Magnolia Bakery on SATC) and enjoyed a chocolate with pink icing cupcake tonight. I am now laying in bed stalling getting ready for tonight. I should get up and shower so I will leave you with some pictures to enjoy. They should better explain what I've been talking about.

This is my building where I live. Its pretty and located just across the street from some important federal building. 

down at the seaport with Jess, and Morgan. Behind us is the Brooklyn Bridge

Inside Magnolia's Bakery showing off my cupcakes. The purple one is the 'Carrie'

There is a constant line out the door

In the apartment with my Mizzou boys before heading out: Zaire, L.B., Zaire, and Kimmie.  I am a midget compared to them but in my defense, yes they do play basketball for Mizzou

The whole crew 

And the naval men on the bar

Thats all for now. Thanks for reading.

-Allie 

Day One Wrap Up

I'm finally here! I am currently laying in my bed of our adorable little apartment gazing out onto the beautiful city landscape. This is surreal. I'm not sure my first day here could have been more perfect. Just like I knew I would, I have fallen in love with this city.  This is my 3rd time here and many of the girls in the program are first timers. It's weird but I already feel like a New Yorker. This city has the same attitude as I do: move fast, and sleep when you're dead. I think the girls learned today that this city can chew you up and spit you out if you're not strong willed because it's a whole different ball game here. Everyone is constantly on the move and the are not lying when they say it is the city that never sleeps.

Here is some fun things I have discovered:

1. The rules to driving here is that there are no rules.

2. Tourists are annoying. I've got places to go people, if you're going to stop and take pictures get out of my way

3. Taxi drivers have amazing stories to tell, just ask them to tell you a few and you might make their day

4. Taking a taxi is rediculously expensive, they add fees for almost anything. ($45 ride from the airport made me learn my lesson quickly)

5. People walk everywhere, making it almost impossible to not lose weight here (score!)

6. This city is incredible and all of you need to come visit :)

I will continue to share my learned knowledge of the city as I become a better New Yorker throughout the summer, so stay posted.

For those of you wondering here is a basic rundown of my first day.

Got up around 5 am to head to the airport, ughh

Mom started crying as I left to go through security, heartbreaking

Got the window seat on both my layover to Chicago and to New York, score!

Almost had a 'Taken' experience when some man approached me to share a cab with him. Umm sir, I'm not stupid.

Easily found my apartments and actually unpacked everything right away, mom would be so proud.

Went out exploring and walked on Broadway, went to the southside seaport, saw ground zero and got a Jamba Juice

Got ready and went to the Marriot Marquis and then to Junior's in Times Square with our fabulous program coordinator. The food was delicious, it is a must- do in New York because they are voted best cheesecake every year. Conversation was also quite entertaining, all I'm going to say is 'what's that clicking sound?' haha if you want details ask

Showed the girls around Times Square, Rockefeller Center, and Fifth Avenue

Then to end the perfect day we went to the midnight showing of Sex and the City 2 at midnight. It's so good, go see it.

Now here I am about to have my first day at Gucci, and I could not be more excited! My bosses seem so sweet and I couldn't ask for a cooler job. I will update as soon as I return, but for now I've got to go get ready so I can look fabulous for my first big day!!

XoXo-

Allie

to so here is a run down of my first day

Enjoy some of my pics!

NYC skyline from the southside seaport

apartment pics

    me and one of my roomies Morgan at the Sex and the City premiere!

Final Day In Missouri

In 24 hours I will be unpacking my life into my new apartment/dorm in NYC. I cannot believe the day has finally come. I can finally say I am ready to go. It's been fun St. Chuck, but I am so ready to move on to bigger and better things. This summer will be such a growing experience for me, and much needed. I had to say goodbye to my very best friends tonight (which made me cry my eyes out) but I have a feeling these 3 months will go by quicker than I want them to, and hopefully all my girls will come visit me in the city :)

It was so great to get to enjoy my final day here. Thanks to the constant pushing of my mom I got all my packing done prior to the night before and had all day to enjoy myself. I got to to the gym, lay out with my best friend, get lunch with my mom, have sushi with the fam, and then go out with everyone from high school. It was a perfect day and I couldn't think of a better way to end my time here. My flight is at 7:20 a.m. so I have to be up around 4:30 to shower and put my finishing touches on packing so I have to get to bed. So long Missouri, Hello Manhattan! Many pictures and fun updates coming soon! I will miss you all! 

xoxo

-Allie 

Can't Wait to Get Going But Not Quite Ready to Leave

I am quickly approaching the 3 days left in Missouri mark, and to be honest I'm getting a little nervous. Lady Antebellum's song "American Honey" describes almost perfectly how I am feeling at the moment.  

"Steady as a preacher 
Free as a weed
Couldn't wait to get goin'
But wasn't quite ready to leave
So innocent, pure and sweet
American honey"
Yup, that pretty much sums it up. I am so ready to be in New York and start this new chapter in my life, but I am also feeling like there are so many people I still want to see and things I want to do here before I leave, but simply wont have the time. My STL bucket list will be almost completely accomplished before departure time. That doesn't mean that I will have done everything I really wanted to do though. I have tried to suck up every little second of mommy time I can but I know I will still feel that void when in New York. I am so looking forward to her having Monday and Tuesday off before I leave so we can spend every minute of the day together before I leave. She also has a flight out of STL around the same time as me so she will get to bring me to my gate which will be very comforting. Just thinking about it makes me cry my eyes out as I type this, but hopefully the whole fam will make a trip to NY/ Hamptons to visit me :)

In other news, I have started the packing process and putting my life into 2 huge suitcases hasn't been as painful as I thought it would be (well so far, granted I only have work attire packed). Thanks to the help Miss Aleigh McKay I have some great outfits planned for the office, and can't wait to meet my bosses, they seem SO sweet.

I already have plans the first night I arrive to New York! I am so not a planner, so big props to my J-schoolers for thinking in advance. All of us girls in the program are going to see the midnight premiere of Sex and the City 2, how perfect! Only bad news is I have to work the next day, but Olympia only wants me for a half day so I will survive. That's all for now, got to get to bed so I'm ready for the Cards game tomorrow with my daddy, my sister, and Morgan. YAY!

I linked the video of American Honey by Lady Antebellum if you've never heard it. Enjoy!

-Allie

American Honey

STL Bucket List

Okay so I'm down to 10 days left in Missouri. I am amazed at how fast time goes these days, it feels like yesterday I was saying NY was 6 months away. I have a lot I want to do here in very little time. Here's the list:

1. Go to a minimum of 1 Cardinals game

2. Have a girls night with all my favs

3. Go to Fairmount Park to see the horse races

4. Make a trip to the lake (if it's sunny)

5. Shop for fabulous NY clothes with Ms. McKay

6. Have a going away get together so I can spend time with everyone I will be away from for so long

7. See Jake's adorable little brothers

8. SnoBiz trip with T.J. and my sis

9. Visit the best teachers at Howell

10. Go to Gold's Gym and spend time w/ my role models the Cissell's 

11. Have lots of fam time, with a game night

12. Visit my incredible pledge mom, Katie 

That's probably not it but that's the important stuff at least. Overall I've been pretty bored since I've been home so I can't say I'm going to miss Missouri too much. It will however be very weird to not be able to go to the lake, hopefully the Hampton's can fill that void for me.

My favorite thing I've done since being home was go to Pujols 5 today to support my absolutely incredible pledge mom in Gamma Phi. She is my inspiration because she is everything I want to be:  full of life, courageous, and she has an absolutely beautiful heart despite the many obstacles she has had to face. Today she shaved her head for St. Baldrick's to raise money for cancer. I've never seen a bald girl look so pretty! She pulled it off perfectly, all for a great cause. She was diagnosed with cancer and has started chemo-therapy so she knew she would lose her hair eventually, so she decided why not lose it for a good cause before it comes out on it's own. I wish I could be closer to her this summer while she is going through this hard time but I know she will get through it perfectly,  just like she does with everything. 

That's all I have to report for now. Still working on my NYC bucket list so leave a comment if you have anything great I need to do while I'm there! Thanks for reading. 

-Allie     

Isn't she beautiful?! Love you Katie!

It's The Final Countdown...

FINALS ARE OVER!!! Can you tell I'm excited? Finals usually aren't bad for me because I'm always done on the first day or earlier,  but not this semester. I was blessed with having 3 finals (2 of which were cumulative) that lasted until the last day of finals. Of course, this is the one year that I actually had a lot of things to do once school was out for the summer. I am now down to the wire and have 13 days to soak up all of STL/Missouri summer that I can, while at the same time trying to prepare myself for the adventures that await me in NY. I wish I had started this blog sooner to be able to look back at the process of how I got where I am now but here is a basic rundown:

I decided a long time ago I wanted to work in the celebrity world or be one myself. The way I would get there I was never quite sure, but at least I knew what I wanted. Freshman year I came in to Mizzou as  Broadcast major determined to be the next Katie Couric. Then I took J1010 and realized I actually had no interest working in the middle of nowhere for little money. At the conclusion of the first semester a boy almost had me moving back home to go to Lindenwood University to be a teacher.  Dumb I know, but I came to my senses and decided to stay put. Advice from friends got me back into the Journalism School after switching to Communications, when I came to the conclusion that PR/ becoming a publicist is what I wanted to do.

Last summer I was set to move to L.A. to intern at a fashion pr firm. I had my living situation picked out (a frat house on USC's campus), approval from my parents, the whole deal. As summer plans were being finalized, I again let a boy stand in my way. Wow, I'm seeing a trend here. He told me if I moved to L.A. it was over, so with a week or two left of school I changed all plans and decided to stay in Columbia for summer school. I took News Reporting (probably the most dreaded class of j-majors) and absolutely loved it. There I was back at square one, thinking maybe I do want to be in broadcast. This time though it was in a different context, because during the class my passion for sports and reporting about them was discovered. I still dream of taking over for my idol, Erin Andrews, one day but in the mean time I have a more realistic plan, which takes me to where I am now.

 I decided last fall I wanted to do the New York Program and started searching for internships all the way back in October. I seriously cannot count the number of hours I spent applying for obnoxious amounts of internship programs, but in the end it paid off. I had interviews with 6 different companies and had the luxury of choosing which one I wanted. It came down to a run-off between The Rosen Group, New York Mets, Gucci, and Fleishman Hillard. As most of you know, I picked Gucci- because I know I will get experience there that no other place can provide. And hanging around celebs isn't such a bad gig, right? So in just under 2 weeks I will be heading there to live out my dreams. How I will pack 3 months of living into 2 checked bags, I will never know. (blog post on packing is soon to come, I'm sure)

Speaking of packing, before I jet set to NY I also must pack for Columbia for next fall. I am set to return from NY on August 7th, which coincidentally is the day I must be back in Columbia for recruitment. So it will be a whirlwind few days I'm sure, but the point being that I will literally be gone the WHOLE summer. The concept of being gone for the entire summer really hit me as I was lying awake from the fabulous hail storm last night. I will come out and say it, I'm really freakin scared. I can play it cool all I want but at the end of the day I have no idea how I'm going to handle not seeing all the people I care about most for 3 straight months. Being only an hour and a half away from school, I come home a lot. Partly because I miss my puppy & fam,  partly because I have laundry that needs to be done ;)  (jk mom...but seriously, I have no idea how to do it, which is a whole other issue in and of itself) Not being able to come home just to get away from things for a few hours is going to be weird. Word on the street is that every New Yorker finds their own special 'spot' in the city that they feel perfectly comforted at though, so hopefully I find mine quickly.

Speaking of spots, for those of you who don't know I get to intern on 5th Avenue at Gucci. This couldn't be a more perfect location for me because there is so many incredible things just steps away from me. The office is pretty high up so we overlook both 5th avenue shopping and Central Park, giving me the best of both worlds. If I could define serenity, it would be Central Park so I absolutely can not wait to spend a lot of quality time there after work. And what's not to love about 5th Ave, well besides the crazy prices? Along the way to Gucci is also Times Square which to me is the perfect visual representation of NYC living: bright lights, fast pace, and non-stop action. I have no doubt that these three places alone will help make my transition easier, hopefully even making it really hard for me to want to come back. Our program advisor told us that while we may experience a little culture shock at first in NY, the real culture shock occurs for most students when they get back and realize there is absolutely nothing in Columbia, Mo. It's funny, but I have a feeling its true. I haven't slept in a while, due to finals, so that's all for now. Thanks for reading! :)

- Allie