More Pictures.

What a treat! 

Two blog post in one day! 

I think i'm going to attempt to write things the day of so I can remember everything more clearly! 

If you read the post right before this I was talking about my trip to target this morning! 

This is how it began. 

I left my very small, undecorated, apartment. 

Now even though these qualities don't sound that great I think it has special character. 

I really like it. 

And honestly compared to things I've heard (like four people sleeping in a single bedroom) it is good for me. My room is pretty large for New York. (more pictures to come of the actual apartment) 

But here is my home: 

I live on the second floor! 

Two brothers live beside me. 

An entire family lives underneath. 

I began heading down 11th street (there it is again!)

I live in a mostly asian, jewish, italian area. 

Which works for me because I love chinese food, I can get a $6 manicure, and I had the best italian food today! (more on this later) 

This is my street... notice the signs not in english! 

I hoped on my N train and headed toward Atlantic Ave where Target is. 

Alright I'm a total creeper but this little boy was so freakin cute! 

He was going crazy on the subway so I had to take a picture. 

I got off at Atlantic Ave...

AND THEN IT HAPPENED. 

The Target experience you only dream about. 

This place was insanity. 

This two story Target not only had everything I needed... but it had things I've never seen before. 

So how do you get your cart up a two story escalator? 

Oh let me show you. 

WARNING: 

Do not look at picture if you don't want your MIND TO BE BLOWN! 

Notice the escalator that is flat for your carts.. so you can ride beside it to the second story. 

I packed up my goods into my little bag I brought and decided I was starving.

I then went to this fancy new york secret coffee shop called...

Dunkin Donuts! 

One thing I really like about New York is the fruit stands... I took a picture of this one while drinking my coffee and people watching.

When I got back to the apartment my roommate and I decided it was time to do a little grocery shopping. 

They don't have chain stores in our town... they are all locally owned. 

And if you want meats/cheeses/breads you go to the stores just for those things... although some of the grocery stores have select items. 

We went to one... they had no frozen dinners.. which was a big upset. 

Then we decided to go get some fruit so we found ourself here: 

All the fresh fruits and veggies you can imagine!

All lined up outside. 

It smells so delicious and so sweet. 

Shopping this way and actually having to carry what you buy for a couple of blocks teaches you to really see what you are purchasing... and ask yourself "do I want this enough I'm willing to carry it five blocks"... with this in mind I put back a bag of cookies... 

We walked back towards our apartment, groceries in hand, and there it was.

The most delicious smell a hungry person can imagine. 

Legit, authentic, italian food. 

Me and my roommate decided then and there it was lunch time. 

This place was so neat. 

The front was completely opened. 

Little italian old men were arguing about something. How Italy!

and then they brought the goods... delicious italian food! 

It was so great. 

I just feel like everything here is so real. 

The food, the people, the environment. 

And so traditional. 

I'm so excited to see what tomorrow is going to bring... because I have no idea what i'm going to do yet. I think tomorrow will be a day to really go explore! 

By the way. 

I went to extreme measures today for pictures... Like snapping them pretending like i'm texting while holding on for dear life on the subway. 

I think I'm getting better at this. 

First Day in the Big Apple.

I'm here! 

After an amazing flight yesterday (my mom let me ride first class all the way!) and being picked up at the airport in a town car I am officially in NYC! 

It was a really perfect first day. 

Although... 

I'll admit for the first couple of hours... okay all day...

I was really overwhelmed. 

There was a good hour where I was unpacking thinking in my head... Why am I doing this? 

I can't describe it. 

And everyone I've met said they felt the same way for a while. 

There is just so much here... the possibilities are endless and the subways are confusing. 

I did ride the subway to the city to meet up with Rebecca!... 

(my first train card!) 

(My subway stop to my apartment)

Rebecca is an older girl who I use to dance with growing up. 

She's now married, been in New York for five years, fabulous, and moving back to NC to raise a family Friday.

But I am so glad we met, she gave me some great advice and showed me around a bit. 

We met on 66 and columbus , right across from the Lincon Center (I don't know if saying streets like that will ever get old :)

We grabbed a Starbucks from the busiest Starbucks i've ever witnessed, went to the biggest Bed Bath and Beyond ever (it was three stories tall with hundred of people everywhere), then sat in this cute little area (where Broadway and Columbus meet.. still not old) 

It was a perfect little spot of people watching and talking! 

OH and it was right across the street from The Humprey's House from gossip girl (I'm so weird I know)

Look Familiar? 

Rebecca and I talked for at least and hour and she had to return home. 

I wanted to grab some dinner before I headed back. 

I was completely overwhelmed once again. 

I was walking on the streets alone and couldn't seem to find anything then I stumbled into... Paris. 

There was a line of places where everything was in French and the people were speaking french and the food was french. 

I walked into the first place and looked at the menu and decided... maybe I should save my money for a place like this when I'm not doing takeout!

But I found this little hole in the wall bistro called "Bread"and got a little sandwich and water. 

I sat outside at this little table and ate it surrounded by fabulous tall models talking french. 

By the way there are models everywhere... tall, beautiful, exotic looking creatures! 

I think the coolest thing is I ate by myself and I was okay with it. 

I wasn't the only person eating alone or anything but it was just nice to know I could do it. 

I feel like typically at home being alone = bad... but it was refreshing to be consumed with my own thoughts and consumed with my surrounding. 

I jumped back on the subway and headed home before it even could start to get dark. 

I want to feel out everything before I just roam around. I didn't get lost even once! Yet! 

My night included a skype sesh with Asa followed by chatting it up with my new roommate. (more details of my apartment, roommate, neighborhood, and subway experience to come!)

Well, the reason i'm up so early is because they are drilling in the ground outside my apartment and I need to get to target to buy some towels. 

Even that wont be an easy trip... I have to walk 5 blocks, ride a subway, get there, buy towels and drag it all back here. 

But I'm still in the excitement mode! 

So yesterday was a success, more pictures to come. I just have been trying to look not lost and not like a tourist at the moment. 

First day round up: 

Didn't get robbed 

Didn't get lost on the subway

Moved in

Met my roomie 

Had a great day

Success.. I think so! 

I've got to get moving on this beautiful memorial day! 

I'll leave you with a picture of the Brooklyn Bridge!

Oklahoma.

Originally I had thought my trip to Oklahoma, to my parents new home, was going to be a time to relax. 

I was excited to get everything together for NYC and enjoy a calm week with lots of blogging! 

But then this happened: 

What I don't think people know is that there was a tornado the day before as well. 

It was smaller but one person died and there were a handful of houses destroyed. 

Of course it takes something more dramatic to make the news.

My family lost power during the first tornado the day before although it didn't get close enough that we needed to go into the storm shelter. 

It was a F4 tornado though! 

Mom and I decided to go shopping in a place called Stillwater which is about 45 minutes away from our house. While shopping alarms started to go off.

This had also happened the day before so I wasn't to worried. 

What I have learned from this experience is that people in Oklahoma are used to these alarms. 

The radio people say "SERIOUSLY GET INTO A SHELTER. SERIOUSLY". 

While this is all going on Oklahomians are busy taping the tornado as it gets close.

I on the other hand began freaking out (so did my mom) and we began driving home quickly. 

Meet a storm cell (these pictures are not edited at all):

Storm clouds here are like no others I have ever seen. 

We listened to our battery operated radio (still no power) and it said we needed to seek shelter so we gathered some things of importance (lock box, medicine, my blanket) and headed into the shelter. 

We sat in the shelter for about an hour. 

We couldn't really tell what was going on around us. 

It was raining hard and the wind was blowing. 

When we got out of the shelter we went to the car to listen to news on the radio we heard about the devastation. 

Our house was perfectly fine. 

Our neighbor told us that his friend had a hay trailer outside of his house that had two buckets laying beside it. 

The tornado picked up his trailer and took it miles away... but the two buckets still stayed right where they were. 

Tornados are so weird like that. 

I've never been so involved in a tragic event. 

My family is so lucky that we just lost power for a couple of days but still have a house. 

I think the most powerful thing for me the texts, messages, and phone calls. 

People who I rarely speak to messaged me and wanted to make sure I was okay. 

I am going to forever be changed by this event. 

I cried my eyes out when I found out about the school.

It's hard to see people so close to you suffering. 

It is also uplifting to see how the Oklahoma community has come together. 

It is still hard for me to grasp having so little power over what happens (i'm a control freak). 

But some things no matter what are out of our control.

I am going to continue to pray for my neighbors and the families who have lost loved ones. 

Graduation.

It is 100% official! 

I have my degree in broadcasting and journalism! 

What a great experience graduation was! 

I am going to go on a limb and say that I had the most beautiful cap ever. 

Although I can't take credit for most of it. 

I did glue the pink paper and pearls onto the cap... 

My amazing sorority sister Tori cut out the paper lettering. 

here is the moment you've been waiting for! 

BAM! 

Beautiful Right? 

I'm so lucky to have such talented people to help me out! 

My journey to New York begins in a little over a week! 

I have been trying to do thing to prepare like: 

1. Getting business cards 

Everyone in New York will have one when I'm done

2. Getting perfect interview outfits together 

I am not interviewing with your average places. So my outfits need to be a little above average and very fashion forward. I'll admit going to school where I have makes it very easy to miss trends. So i'm trying to catch up! 

3. Printing out a million resumes 

duh! 

4. Getting together a little portfolio

from photography to writing 

So where am I interviewing in the Big Apple? 

I've decided to keep that a secret! 

Okay, less of a secret, more of a SURPRISE! 

Lets just say I have around 6 interviews with some amazing publications. 

I can't wait to share my experiences at each with you and I will try to sneak as many pictures as possible. 

Without being creepy!

I leave for New York the 26th from Oklahoma City. 

 My parents have lived in oklahoma since last year. 

My mother and I are currently driving my car from Roxboro, NC to Oklahoma (20 hour drive)

and we are in an adorable hotel in Jackson, TN for tonight. 

Only 10 more hours tomorrow and I will be on the ranch!

 Which I'm really excited about. 

Wish me safe travels tomorrow as I continue to head to Oklahoma tomorrow! 

The end of a very fabulous chapter.

I can not believe I will be graduating from Western Carolina in 3 days! 

I have had such a wonderful experience here and a great small town experience. 

Some things I am going to miss about Western Carolina/college: 

This view.
always being surround by mountains.

The reaction that everyone has at parties when this song comes on.

 Every time I hear it I think of Cullowhee and it bring back so many memories of shouting this to the top of my lungs with my friends. 

Some of the best nights I have had have included this: 

Being silly and sober

I am going to miss being completely sober and doing silly things with my sisters. Like napkin races in the kitchen or silly dancing. 

Spring break.

Apparently in the real word these are hard to have and I will miss it. I had the most amazing spring break this year. I'm so glad I got to spend it with some of the most amazing belles and beaus ever! 

Pictures.

Being able to take pictures like this and it being socially acceptable.

Boys

Having amazing guy friends that are always a phone call away. 

Changing the lyrics to this song. 

...a sweet, soft, Southern thrill.
Worked hard all week; got a little jingle on a Cullowhee Saturday night.
Couldn't feel better: I'm together with my Dee Zee girls tonight.

El Pac.
the food and the alcohol are not that great but we always leave feeling better than when we got there! 

Family.
My 3 beautiful little sisters and perfect big sister! 

My Neighbor. 

Living next to this girl was always very special. 

She was the best non-roomie ever! 

These two.
These are my real life sisters. I swear we were separated at birth. 

Delta Zeta. 

If you have never been a Delta Zeta at Western Carolina you will never understand. It has been such an amazing experience and had helped me grow. I have never had so many BEST friends in my entire life. I would be lying to say I am really close with EVERY sister but EVERY sister has been there for me at one point. Delta Zeta was my home away from home during my college years and it is going to be so difficult to leave. 

There is so many more people I want to mention like (Asa!),
but I don't have pictures and so many more memories.

Cullowhee and my sisters will alway have my heart.

A little nervous.

I am getting so excited about New York. 

But with all this excitement more fear is beginning to settle in. 

Not to mention how my friend have told me the past two days I'm going to get killed and mugged. 

What am I nervous about: 

Getting lost on the subway 

I am so confused. All I know is I get on a D train to get to the city and it takes an hour.

Getting Mugged 

Apparently looking lost is the best way to get mugged. Fabulous. 

Getting Groceries 

This totally sounds weird but how do you carry all your food home? And a friend told me today that food is so expensive so a lot of people go to Jersey to get it? 

What to wear in New York 

Apparently people don't wear sundresses? They were other thing in the summer. I don't think I fully grasp what New Yorkers wear. I want to seem like a New Yorker... So I don't get mugged. 

Now as I'm reading my initial worries I'm seeing a lot of these have to do with what people have told me today. Everyone has been really open with advice (especially my friends who are from above the Mason Dixie line)

I guess I need to just stay focused... and by stay focused I mean graduate and pack. 

Today is May 1st... I move in three weeks! ahhh!