The Great Trip Part III - Day 3 in NYC (Wedding Day)

Friday morning we awoke bright and early to the sound of music and laughter. Everyone was excited and getting ready for the big wedding!

Once we were ready, we snuck out of the house to let the rest of the bridal party get ready in peace. We wanted to get to Central Park early to catch a glimpse of Strawberry Fields before show time!

It was beautiful. I was so taken in, that I forgot to snap a picture! So you will just have to make due with one from the net!

The wedding was set at the Ladies Pavilion in Central Park (very fitting – I see what you did there Krystal). The Ladies Pavilion is one of the most popular places for weddings in Central Park – and I can understand why! The view was to die for!

If you want to know some history on the Ladies Pavilion look here!

The wedding was beautiful and the brides were stunning! 

Krystal’s dress and bouquet fit in perfectly with the setting of the wedding and I was beyond thrilled that Dana wore a bow-tie!

With tears in our eyes, we watched as Krystal’s father announced Krystal and Dana legally married. 

It was a beautiful ceremony that I will never forget.

In the blink of an eye, we had gone from happy crying to words of congratulations, hugs, and laughter!

After taking pictures, we headed up to the road where our cars were awaiting to take us to the reception lunch. 

The reception lunch was at River Park. It was open bar!!

Ricky and I both had the filet and veggies. All the food was fantastic and our wine
glasses were never empty.

The view from the restaurant was magnificent and many of the guests went outside
for pictures, but it was wayyyy too cold out on the water for me to
go outside!

Sobered up by a cup of coffee and desert, we headed back to the apartment for a nap before
the big Yankee game :)

Sadly, that night the Yankees lost- but we had fun none the less!

The Great Trip Part III - Day 2 in NYC

Thursday morning Ricky and I woke up early and decided to walk around the city before I needed to meet Daniella for my first Soul Cycle class at noon. 

My goal was to try to be healthy on this trip, so we went in search of healthy breakfast. My healthy breakfast was in the form of a green smoothie. Ricky's healthy breakfast was in the form of a hotdog... 

Oh, this face is terrible...

After washing our breakfast down with iced coffee (it was 50 degrees!), we set out for Central Park.

In need of a selfie stick

After walking around Central park for about an hour, it was time for me

to meet up with Daniella for Soul Cycle!

This was the best spinning class I have ever taken! The instructor

was motivating, the music was kickin, and the spinners were dancing while

peddling! I had so much fun working out! Who would have thought that would be 

possible? Thanks Daniella for introducing me to Soul Cycle. Hopefully

one will pop up in Orlando!

After getting my butt kicked in spin class, Ricky and I decided it would be best to walk home for a shower! 

But on the way, I made a few stops!

I couldn't help myself!

After grabbing a bite to eat from the street carts, we decided

to take our meals and picnic on the stairs of the Library.

After lunch, we headed back to the apartment for a quick shower and a teensy bit

of rest before heading out towards China Town and Little Italy.

The plan was to walk through Little Italy and then when we

arrived in China town we would look for a 

spot for dinner.

The only problem with that plan was that China Town smelled HORRIBLE.

We walked through it as quickly as we could - there was no WAY we were going

to eat dinner here.

For dinner we ended up at a restaurant in Little Italy called Amici's. 

The service was great and the noodles were homemade!

I had the Chicken Rollatine Valdostana and Ricky had the

Homemade Lasagna. 

After dinner, we stopped by a cart for gelato and headed back to the

apartment for some much needed rest.

The Great Trip Part III - Salem to NYC

On Wednesday morning, we woke up and headed towards Newport Rhode Island. The plan was to find some lobster, do the Cliff Walk, and invade Taylor Swift’s house!

We arrived in Newport by lunch time and decided to stop for a bite to eat before doing the Cliff Walk. We ate at a restaurant called BrickAlley Pub. Ricky and I really wanted to try lobster, but all they had was lobster rolls so I ended up getting the Cajun chicken sandwich and he ordered the cheeseburger with bacon. 

It was a great meal but we really wished we could have tried lobster!!!

Once we were done with lunch we drove around until we found the Cliff Walk. The houses were insane! I’ve decided one day I would like to have a baby mansion as a summer home in Rhode Island or Maine.

After walking for about an hour we decided it was time to head back to the car so we could make our way towards our FINAL DESTINATION in NYC.

Driving through NYC for the most part was pleasant, 

except for a small patch in Manhattan where I thought we were going to die ;)

We were the last to get to the apartment, but thankfully we still got a good room! 

Here are a few pictures of where we stayed! It was actually pretty damn nice!

We were only two blocks from the Empire State Building!

After chatting with family and unpacking our bags, Ricky and I headed out into the city to meet an old friend from high school.

Ricky and I met up with my friend Gaby and 

her boyfriend for Vietnamese food (my favorite!!).

It was just like old times for Gaby and me, and thankfully the boys hit it off!

Halfway through the meal, I feel a tap on my shoulder. 

I turn around to see that another one of my friends (Daniella – Gaby’s sister) had come to visit!!!

After dinner we headed out for drinks and desert. 

Gaby offered up the idea of cupcakes and wine, and I held on to that plan for dear life!

We ended up going to a little place called Sweet Revenge.

Here they had a list of cupcakes, cookies, and cakes that they would pair with beer, wine, or champagne.

This was one of my favorite stops in NYC.

I had the Cranberry Oatmeal Pecan cake which was paired with the Petalo Moscato. 

Ricky had a cupcake paired with a beer 

(I can’t remember what he or anyone else had – but I tried everything and it was all very good).

After hours of stories, gossip, and laughter, we bid farewell to Gaby, Daniella, and Grant and headed in the direction of home. 

We decided to take the long way home so that we could take in more of the city at night.

Everything was beautiful and I honestly felt extremely safe. 

Once we got back to the apartment we said goodnight and hit the hay.