Our second night in New York tops the list of my favorites. Ever since high school, I have wanted to see Phantom of the Opera on Broadway and I finally did! After many years of dance recitals filled with the beautiful songs, I knew I had to go see the play while we were in the Big Apple and since my husband was a music major and band director previously, it wasn’t hard to convince him to go. It definitely lived up to all those years of waiting and we got lucky and got great discount seats from the TKTS booth:
After our wonderful show, we strolled down the street humming Phantom songs and looking for a late dinner. We found a little Italian place called Carmine’s that fit the bill. Since it was family style we ordered a big ‘ole platter of pasta to share and barely finished half! We really wanted some Calamari too, but when the waiter told us it was 2 1/2 lbs. of Calamari, we decided to pass. A walk was much needed to digest all that pasta, so hubby and I went to the Empire State Building. Since it was late in the evening, we headed right up and didn’t have to wait at all. The city was mesmerizing at night, I found myself just staring out into all the bright lights and seeing how people dream of ‘making it’ in the big city.
On our way back to the hotel, we happened to stumble upon Bryant Park, where all the festivities were being set up for Fashion Week and of course I had to have a photo op:
It’s too bad I didn’t get to stay a little longer to enjoy the real festivities of Fashion Week, but maybe next year 
It was a wonderful day in an amazing city, so who could complain.
I must say I am disappointed to hear around the beauty world that cosmetic company Estee Lauder will discontinue the manufaturing of the Precriptives beauty line. As one of my first and favorite cosmetics lines since middle school, this news didn’t bode well with me. AS of January 21, 2010, Prescriptives will be closing its ‘doors’ and will sell items online until inventory is sold out. I must say I always looked forward to their Christmas packages and my mom would pick one out for me every year for Christmas. Oh and their makeup brushes are(were) amazing! I need to replace a few of mine that Cooper got a hold of before they are gone. Is it weird that I almost want to cry that they are going out of business? Probably so. Anyways, here are some of my most loved products that I am tempted to snap up before they are long gone forever:
Anywhere Compact – comparable to the coverage you get with MAC Studio Fix without the risk of breakouts. Also can be used dry or with a wet foundation brush for a dewy finish.
Photochrome Foundation – I actually have used this as a concealer for daytime, it masks redness like nothing else without the cakiness.
Moonbeam Reflective Lipgloss – also comparable to MAC lipglass, but I always liked the sampler pack of colors around the holidays.
Longwear Kohl Liner in Slate – anyone who makes a nice looking deep grey liner is a winner in my book
Foundation Brush – I have GOTTA get another one of these before they are gone. Cooper managed to knaw the entire end of my handle and I have been ‘making do’ since the brush still works.
Powder Brush – I have had this same powder brush since the sixth grade and despite a little evil dog, it has held up almost like new with regular washings. Another must purchase for me. The best thing about these brushes is their durability and prior to going out of business they were guaranteed for life. I actually had two different brushes replaced by the company because some of the bristles started falling out.
All You Need Moisturizer – If I had the money I would buy every bottle of this moisturizer I could get my hands on. It is that amazing. I have used it off and on since middle school and have never found anything better for my oily skin. The only deterrent for me was the price once I started buying my own beauty products in college.
It is a sad, sad day in my beauty world. Anyone else love Prescriptives like I do (did)?
PS. Mom, you need some early Christmas ideas? There ya go 
When:
September 21st, 2009
Where:
Work after being sick all week (hence the lack of posts over the past few days). Feeling better now and hoping to stay healthy for a while!
What:
Houndstooth Cape – F21
Pencil Skirt – Old Navy (kind of thinking I might get this one hemmed up a bit, even though I have had it for a while. It is hard to figure out appropriate links in my conservative work environment)
Shoes – Nine West
Red Satin Top – Express
Why is it when you are lacking in shopping funds you can find a million things you want to buy, but when you actually have some spending money, you can’t find anything?!? What would you buy if you had some shopping funds available?
Lots of interesting looks on the Emmy’s red carpet last night, some good, some not-so good. Lots of red on the red carpet along with other jewel tones like purple and royal blue and of course tons of sparkle and shine. Wouldn’t be an awards show without the glitz and glamour, right? Just like every other fashion maven in the country, I am going to give a little recap of my likes and dislikes:
Likey
January Jones in Atelier Versace
Yes, I know this dress is a little crazy, but the architect in me loves the lines and January Jones pulls it off effortlessly.
Joely Fisher
The dress is incredible, not feeling the same about the hair.
Dana Delaney
The fit and the color are amazing, and perfectly age appropriate.
Ginnifer Goodwin
There is a reason purple is associated with royalty, because she looks royally gorgeous in this purple number.
Sandra Oh in Marchesa
She rocked it, the hair, the dress, amazing.
Blake Lively in Versace
Hawt. Not falling head over heels for the hair, but the gown was amazing and she has the body to rock it.
Lindsay Price in J.Mendel
I fawn over purple dresses, and Lindsay Price looks stunning in this one. Too bad Lipstick Jungle got cancelled.
Alyson Hannigan (my twin!)
Everyone has always told me I look like her, so of course she had to be on the likey list She really does look amazing though, especially for just having had a baby.
Rose Byrne
Love the dress, although it might have been more stunning on someone a little ‘curvier’ that could fill out the shape.
Debra Messing in Michael Kors
STUNNING, my ultimate favorite of the awards.
Straddling the Fence
Jennifer Love Hewitt
Pretty dress, but this shade of yeallow seems more appropriate for Spring. I really want JLH to grow up and lose the little girl getup.
Shohreh Aghdashloo in Lorena Sarbu
The navy and the dress are nice, but not fascinating.
Kristen Chenoweth in Zuhair Murad
I love the dress, but I would say it was a little under-dressed for the Emmy’s…it would have been perfection if it was floor length.
Kate Walsh in J. Mendel
I am undecided on those saddlebag like additions, but I want her hair!
No Likey
Sarah Silverman
Prom circa 1998. Enough said.
Kyra Sedgwick
Don’t know the designer and don’t want to, yikes.
Tina Fey in Gucci
I just wish Tina Fey would step it up a little bit, this black is just boring.
Christina Applegate in Basil Soda
Never heard of this designer, not sure I ever want to again. At least Christina still looks gorgeous despite the awful navy number.
Amy Poehler in Reem Acra
Not so bad, but not so fabulous either.
Olivia Wilde in Marchesa
If it weren’t for that funky cutout down the center, I think this gown would be gorgeous.
Jennifer Morrison in Calvin Klein
Looks a little bridesmaid-esque, no?
Leighton Meister in Bottega Vaneta
Can someone please remove the powder puffs from her shoulders please? Although the color, hair and makeup all look stunning, those ‘things’ sitting a top her shoulders are throwing me off.
Drew Barrymore in Monique Lhuillier
Not so pretty, pretty princess anyone? I think the color is what did this one in…same design in black? Yes, please.
Mila Kunis in Monique Lhuillier
It is hard for me to get past the closed toe Louboutins, perhaps some strappy black heels would have worked better? It also kind of looks like my cat used the bottom of her dress as a scratching pad:
Hayden Panetierre in J. Mendel
Somebody please save this cheerleader!
Day 2 in the Big Apple started off a little shaky, but it ended with a bang, the bang of a chandelier that is Our itinerary originally included a trip to see the Today Show like any good tourist would, until I found out Rachel Zoe was a guest on the Regis & Kelly show. Then I made it my mission to get to R&K and stand in line for tickets, so we got up at the crack of dawn and endured an EXTREMELY hot subway ride only to find out the Regis & Kelly was taping without a live audience (assuming because of Labor Day). So no Rachel Zoe for me and no Today Show because it was already too late. So we trekked across the street to Starbucks and I sulked while we figured out what else to do with our morning. After a quick stop to see the Lincoln Center we headed down to Battery Park via subway to see the Statue of Liberty:
Between the ferry ride and waiting in line to go through security, our little exploration of Lady Liberty took the better part of our first day.
The view of Manhattan from the ferry was breathtaking:
Even if the ferry ride was a little chilly:
Just call me the Statue of Fashion-y:
(Wearing: Old Navy Scarf, F21 Jacket, Coach Sunnies, HUE Tights, NY&Co. Jersey Dress, Nine West Boots)
After waiting in line for what seemed like forever, we finally got to go inside the Statue of Liberty. it was well worth the wait for this first time New Yorker:
After our date with Lady Liberty, we headed back on the ferry to Manhattan to get our Broadway tickets and see the World Trade Center site. We also walked through Battery Park to see the sculpture that was saved from the 9/11 attacks at the World Trade Center. This was probably more sobering and emotional than seeing the site itself:
We decided to try out the TKTS booth for discount Broadway tickets down at the South Seaport, so we also checked out the pier while we were in the area.
From the Pier there was a great view of the Financial District, which reminded me a lot of the Queen City:
After scoring tickets to the show we wanted, we trotted up Wall Street to the WTC site:
Construction was well underway on the new memorial building, but it was still quite emotional to walk around (just days before the anniversary) just trying to imagine what people felt on that day. I remember even thousands of miles away in my Intro to Business class being scared and sad and leaving class and talking to my mom all day while watching the news footage:
Since Century 21 was right across the street, we decided to pop in and see what all the hype was about. Honestly every person on the streets seemed to have bags and bags of clothes from there! I must say, it wasn’t my kind of place. Too many people, too much disarray and my lack of patience took us right out the door very quickly:
By this point we were pretty worn out and starving since it was way past lunch so we headed back to the hotel with a stop in Greenwich Village for lunch. Several people had raved about John’s Pizza in Greenwich, so we thought we would give it a try. I was also told the I would just LOVE Greenwich Village, but I can’t say the area I saw around NYU and Bleeker Street was up my alley. It reminded me a lot of Asheville and a little bit of Charleston, but we saw lots of interesting people and shops! Perhaps I missed the ‘good’ parts? After chowing down, we were back to the Millenium Broadway for a nap and to get ready for our show on Broadway!
Stay tuned for Bright Lights, Big City: Day 2.2 ON BROADWAY
