NYC Days

This photo doesn't pertain to the post, but I snapped it on the way to school today. I threw a cool filter on it and thought it came out super beautiful. The sky was the bluest blue today with sunshine that was so warm and bright. I couldn't help but soak it all in.
Spring, please let this mean you're coming soon!

Before I moved across Manhattan to the Gramercy Park neighborhood, I was a Chelsea girl. I moved to Chelsea two years ago when I started school. Technically I lived in my school's dorms, but hey, they were in Chelsea! Chelsea is a fun neighborhood-- it has tons of cute restaurants and is literally a few blocks from some really great parts of Manhattan like shopping on Fifth Ave, Union Square, the West Village/Greenwich Village, Times Square (if you're a tourist), and the Hudson. I do miss the energy over there some days, so on Tuesday I took a trip over. To Chelsea Market I went! 

Of course Chelsea Market has an Anthropologie. Any place that is any place in this world has an Anthropologie. Since it's the first store after the main entrance you can bet J and I started there. I love their clothes, but I always save the best section for last -- the home goods. I bought a cookbook I've been lusting over for a while, it's called Vintage Cakes. If you know me, that's me to a T. Are you swooning over the weathered wood drawers and worn flooring? *sighhhhh* 

Next, we unfortunately found ourselves standing outside of the Doughnuttery. And by unfortunately, I mean unfortunately for my jeans... but so freaking lucky for my taste buds! I looked at Justin and said, "Should we? Even before lunch?" He calmly replied, "Molly, he is making all of those doughnuts fresh and to order... yes, we are getting doughnuts." He seriously is the smartest man on this Earth. Can I tell you what kind we ordered? I chose the Paris Time (lavendar, pistachio, and vanilla). That is where I die during this blog post. J-Man chose the Cacaoboy (cacao nibs, crushed chocolate cookies, and mesquite). My choice was better, but that Cacaoboy was still pretty heavenly. Also, can we talk about how I just spelled doughnut (donut) d-o-u-g-h-n-u-t? I don't know about you but I think spelling it that way takes the classy level up about 60 notches. Just saying. If you ever write to me about doughnuts (donuts), don't ever spell it the way I wrote it out in the parentheses, unless you are including a sampling of doughnuts along with the letter... in which case any spelling is fine. Glad that's cleared up. 

Only 14 more shopping days until Christmas!!! How is your shopping going? Are you done yet? .......

More sweets (NO, we didn't eat those too!), but how cute are those cupcake cookies!? And sweet cards . I find cards wherever I go. 

Finally it was time for some real food. I chose Cull & Pistol, an oyster bar. Half because I really wanted some seafood and half because of the interior of the space. I mean come on... white subway tile and dark grout, industrial lighting, cement flooring, and beautiful, beautiful wood accents on the oyster bar and ceiling. They could be serving hot dogs and three day old french fries and I probably still would've chosen to eat there (maybe not, but my exaggeration really hits the point of the story home right? It was so pretty). We ordered the shrimp tacos (pictured below) and shared because I knew my heart was set on taking home one more treat from Chelsea Market. 

Since Justin was going to be staying for dinner too, he insisted on cooking me a belated birthday meal. We stopped in the fresh fish market next door to the restaurant and picked up some shrimp to make big, yummy shrimp salads later. Besides all of the dead fish staring at you from their frozen beds of ice chips, it really was a neat place (if you can get passed the whole dead fish eye thing...).

And here she is. The last treat I had way in advance planned to bring home with me from the market. Amy's Bread cakes are to. die. for. So since this day was sort of a birthday celebration since Justin had to miss out on my actual birthday, I chose a pretty slice of the yellow cake with pink buttercream icing for us to share at home... before dinner (which the timing of when to eat this cake may or may not have sparked a heated debate... let's just say I won and we ate the cake before dinner). And lastly, how else do you celebrate a 21st birthday other than with sparkler candles spelling out YAY?! Hint, there is no other way. 

All in all it was a fantastic day at Chelsea Market and a fantastic day with a very special guy. Please promise me next time you're in New York City you'll visit Chelsea Market (and try a doughnut, shrimp taco, and piece of birthday cake... or really whatever strikes your fancy)!

-- xoxo

P.S. Don't think I forgot the second part to the URBN post. I am planning on sharing terrain pics galore with you soon!