New York, I love you...

WARNING-this post comes with an insane amount of pictures. I realize that I could easily sum up my amazing trip to New York in a few short words and pictures, but that wouldn't make you green with envy, now would it?

Like so much in my life I've been entirely too busy (or lazy) to create a post on my fantastic trip to my beloved, New York. My love for this little slice of heaven on earth grows deeper and deeper by the second, and my absence from the blog world can only be excused by fantasy's of living in my city of love. A mere week and half ago, a small group of my gal friends and I road tripped it up to the blistering cold and snow to have an utter blast in any way possible. Our time in the city can be best explained as a non stop food fest, where a majority of our time was spent either eating, in search of food, or planning our day around food. Throw in some excellent theater, window gazing, stirring clear of tourist traps, and discovering what snow in NYC really looks like (I got many a strange look for squealing with my southern drawl, "Eww y'all! I just stepped all in the yelleer snow!"

Here our some of my favorite highlights from my unforgettable trip:

Our time in the city began with a stroll down Fifth Avenue where we gawked and oohed and awed at the splendor of the season, including the dancing snowflakes outside Saks...
...my friend and travel buddy Joanie and I looked at each other wide-eyed, jaws dropped, screaming, "It's Christmas!" when we saw and heard the snowflakes dancing to a great version of carol of the bells. We also enjoyed seeing all the cool window displays...
...and other novelties the city had to remind us of the splendor of the season...

...including, yep, you guessed, good old 30 Rock and the Rockafeller Plaza Christmas Tree.

...how stinkin cool is that? It's size is surpisingly smaller than I had imagined, but it didn't take away from the awe factor and the magical effect it had on me. Almost similiar to this tree that we happened upon as we strolled back from Serendepity in search of yet another place to eat (I told you we ate a lot)...

One of my favorite days in the city can be described by my dear friend and favorite former New Yorker Cameron, as the day we got cold, searched for food, ate, warmed up, and repeated, oh about four or five times during that day. Look at this picture, could you not sense how cold we were?

This was also the day that New York got its first "blizzard" of the year, as it snowed inches and inches to our pure and udder delight. Look at how beautiful New York is when it snows..

...isn't that cool? I was a bit afraid of the snow (I loathe winter weather like many loathe a certain Vampire series) as my cute but unpractical boots had me slipping and sliding like the best of them. However I quickly fell in love...

..see? Who couldn't love a nice snowfall in NYC? I even paid my friend Joanie a whole dollar to get down on the filthy streets of the West Village and make a snow angel...

...she gladly accepted that dollar with pride. One of the best parts of visiting New York is checking out all the wonderful plays, including Chicago, The Understudy, and In The Heights (I won front row lottery, yay!). I even got a picture with Justin Kirk of The Understudy (Uncle Andy of Weeds)...

Meet one of my beloved travel buddies and former New Yorker Miss Cameron...
...I visited Cameron a handful of times while she lived in the City for nearly three years, sharing a multitude of memories with her, and having the pleasure of adding more and more to the pile. Cameron served as our tour guide for the week, refusing to give into my tourist ways (she did however enjoy the colorful M&M's from the touristy M&M store I bought). I did protest and to much avail she finally gave in and let me capture this wonderful shot of the two of us in Times Square...

...which I'm glad I did my arm twisting because I was able to capture this wonderful picture...
...and of course I was able to give my true love a kiss..

...don't worry Mark-Paul, you are loved equally as much. One of my favorite parts of visiting New York is stopping by Alice's Tea Cup
...a small, little tea room modeled after my beloved Alice In Wonderland and her infamous tea date with the mad hatter. Cameron and I shared the Christmas Tea and scones, but felt rushed beyond measure because we had just won lottery tickets to sit in the front row for the awesomeness that was In The Heights.

Sadly this was the last photo taken during our amazing time in the city. So much was left uncaputured from simple rides on the train, our visit to Philly and Milford, Connetict both, and time we just got lost relishing in the awe and wonder that truly is New York. I cannot wait for the day when I can pack up my bags and take on the city full force as a resident, but that is another story for another day.