Is there anything better than spending a Saturday night in NYC? Face it. The answer is, “no.” I had the opportunity to spend a Saturday night in a fantastic hotel opposite Madison Square Garden at the stylishly chic Stewart Hotel recently.
First off, you enter the lobby and feel like you’ve been transported to sunny South Beach. There is a cool updated, Art Deco vibe to the decor. It’s light, airy, large windows and luxe delails like guilded elevator doors provides a classic NYC vibe.
The rooms are spacious, impeccable and perfectly Instagrammable. The Stewart is a perfect 10.
The seating is a luxe green velvet. It’s Art Deco but modern at the same time.The business area is central in the lobby area.Additional seating but it gives me a cozy library feel.The room! There was an entire living room with a sofa, this small dining table and a separate bedroom away from this living area.The sofa which also dubbs as a sofa bed.There is a small kitchenette with a kettle, fridge and two stove burners.The comfy bed which is in a separate room which is like finding a unicorn in any hotel room in NYC. There is space here!The bathroom is small but feels updated and modern.Toiletries.I love these black and white tiles in bathrooms or kitchens. Classic.After a busy night, it’s only appropriate to have breakfast in bed. Room service can be had for breakfast, lunch and dinner from the restaurant downstairs at the hotel, Niles NYC.Morning face, stripped down and happy!
I’ve deemed 18th street and 5th Ave as the workout Mecca of New York City. On that city block or its’ proximity there are major athletic wear stores for women such as Tory Burch Sport, Athleta, and Lululemon. Athleta has a wonderful workout studio and offer FREE classes for customers. The classes are taught by certified yoga and dance instructors and offer a great burn in a great environment. They also have a great girls line and also offer workshops geared toward healthy body image for young girls. I love that!
The ladies in Lower Manhattan are decked out in workout wear for errands and the gym. They are still NYC chic even when decked in spandex. The outfits are normally topped by a cool jacket and killer shades. You are now ready to slay the streets or the gym.
Some of our favorite celebs who rock workout wear as everyday wear:
Nicole RichieKelly Rowland and Michelle WilliamsTaylor SwiftBeyonce in Ivy ParkGabrielle UnionHannah BronfmanKim KardashianGabrielle Post Workout
Celebrated my 40th birthday the only way I saw fit-with a NYC Night.
We spent my birthday in one of my favorite NYC neighborhoods-The Meatpacking District. It’s home to the Highline, cobblestone streets, amazing sunsets from the Hudson River and cool hotels/restaurants like the Standard Grill.
A delicious carrot and pecan birthday cake for dessert. It comes with the candle whether it’s your birthday or not. That is a divine idea. We should be celebrating everyday and making wishes every time we eat a slice of cake.On of my dearest friends gifted us these bracelets as Bridesmaid gifts. I love the versatility of the bracelet and it’s time less design.My favorite Anya Hindmarch cluch. She did a collection for Target and I wish I scooped up 10 of these when I had the chance.
My makeup was done by a great makeup artist here in NYC. Her name is Amaly. You can find her here: www.instagram.com/vivalaamz
Amaly did a subtle smoky eye and a deep red lip (Ruby Woo from MAC) which was a perfect nighttime look. (Photo Credit: Amaly)
I love macarons. Just wanted to start with that statement and get it out of the way. They are delicate little French cookies that are just the right amount of sweet and they have the most amazing texture. Not too crunchy and not too mushy(soft). No one makes the macaron better than Laduree. They are the purveyor of the French biscuits. A friend invited me to her birthday brunch at the flagship store in Soho, NYC. It is one of the fanciest tea salons in New York. Hands down. I was elated and could not miss the brunch experience. For the pre-fixe thirty five dollars, the brunch is a deal and the store is a “must visit” if you are in the neighborhood. The seating areas are ample and the decor is very Parisian a la Versailles. There is also a very Victorian feel to the rooms so you feel like you are transported to a fancy NYC or Parisian museum. It is a change of pace from all of the very modern and sleek architecture of newer restaurants in New York.
Swag bag was a gift from the birthday girl.The menu transports you to a Parisian Cafe. We even had a French speaking waitress who was so super sweet.But first, coffee.Perfectly scrambled eggs.While strolling through Soho, I came across the new Zara store. There was a garden trellis arching over the entrance of the store with the most amazing fresh flowers. Amazing! Hello Zara!
So you thought you would see perfect little yellow and pink blooms surrounded by lush green leaves and grass, right? Well, wrong! The snowflakes pelted my naked face and the cold breeze felt like the Arctic on the First Day of Spring in NYC. I must confess, however; that I think I might miss the snow covered tree branches and building structures. The snow leaves a pillowy, white surface everywhere and you cannot dispute it’s beauty. I will miss it but I can also live with seeing it only once, well maybe twice, per year.
Lets make a toast to the upcoming warmer temps please. Cheers!
We were expecting the mother of all blizzards, instead it was just a regular snow day in New York City. I am relieved because I am not prepared nor do I want to be bothered by the catastrophe that Juno, nickname for said blizzard, would have caused. The white powdery stuff is no friend of mine but is a beloved member of Winter for my 10-year-old. She loves laying in it, rolling around in it, making snow angels…you get the picture. I want no parts of it. The sand is more of a great friend of mine.
Our Snow Day Favorites:
The morning started off with a cup of coffee from my new favorite mug. Picked it up on the after Christmas sale from Target.The calm of a quiet snow day.The digging out of the cars as yet to begin.The cold weather calls for layers and this sweater from Old Navy is perfect for layering.
…and yes I am wearing kid’s snow boots. My daughter outgrew them but they fit me perfectly fine.The warmest trapper hat .She insisted on tasting the snow but I cautioned her against the yellow kind.
I am a huge fan of the Real Housewives of Atlanta franchise that airs on Bravo TV. Most of the time there is a lot of nonsense yelling and name calling from mature women and it may seem silly to watch but every now and then a serious topic is brought up by a cast member. Cynthia Bailey introduced her struggle with uterine fibroids this season and it spoke to me and countless other men and women. I recently had a total hysterectomy because of a large uterine fibroid that my body struggled with for over a year. Just like Cynthia Bailey, I had the stomach that was protruding and the heavy periods that resulted in me suffering from anemia. After a blood transfusion and months of struggling with little to no energy, my surgery was the only way to get my old self back. It was not an easy decision. I was afraid but it all worked out and I am now feeling better than ever.
Here is a list of some facts you should know about uterine fibroids:
Fibroids are tumors that grow in the uterus. They are almost always benign (not cancerous).
Fibroids can grow as a single tumor, or there can be many of them in the uterus. They can be as small as an apple seed or as big as a grapefruit.
African-American women are more likely to develop fibroids than white women.
Fibroids become more common as women age, especially during the 30s and 40s through menopause. After menopause, fibroids usually shrink.
Most fibroids do not cause any symptoms, but some women with fibroids can have heavy bleeding (which can be heavy enough to cause anemia) or painful periods, enlargement of the lower abdomen and frequent urination.
If you have fibroids with moderate or severe symptoms, surgery may be the best way to treat them.
This is Cynthia Bailey on the red carpet where it was speculated that she was pregnant but was actually living with fibroids.After her surgery, Cynthia posted this “After” picture on Instagram showing off a flatter tummy.
This is Cynthia recently in NYC. She now flaunts a more healthy body. She reports that she eats healthier meals and exercise more often.
