3 Things You Need Now

1. Netflix, Hulu Plus, and HBO Go

Remember Blockbuster? Yeah me either. Brick and mortar locations for movie and game rentals are no more, and honestly, it's much more convenient for us as consumers. Now I certainly do want to knock Redbox, because sometimes you actually want to watch a recent movie, rather than just TV shows or movies filmed circa 2000--plus the convenience of the kiosks and the price can't be beat. If you don’t have a provider of on-demand Internet streaming media, I hate to tell you, you are not with the times. You need to get with them. Here’s why: 

+ Everyone else has them, and can watch Scandal, Girls, Game of Thrones, or even Runaway Bride whenever they want.

+ They aren't that expensive for the ROI. If you enjoy TV shows, movies, and documentaries,  this is where you get your bang for your buck.

+ There is at least 3 different providers, all three mentioned above would be nice to have at once, but lets be honest, living on a budget doesn't mean we can frivolously subscribe to everything, so pick one with content that interests you.

+ Free Trials - Hulu-Plus’ free trial saved me during my obsession with Scandal, and it lasts a week, so I was able to watch the whole second season free of charge. Turned out I liked the benefits the service provided so much, I ended up signing up full time.

+ You are automatically more popular if you can host Game of Thrones marathons via HBO Go.

+ Orange is the New Black - Enough said. Disclaimer: Available on Netflix only

2. A Duane Reade/Walgreens Rewards Card or CVS Customer Care Card:

This sounds silly, but I have gotten $10 off my next purchase more often than not because I use these things religiously. They don’t let you use them on prescriptions, but lets be honest, you never really only buy meds when you walk into one of these establishments. The magazine and gum is right next to the register, so save a couple bucks and just say yes when they offer you the damn card this time.

3. Cloth Grocery Bags

If you don’t have these yet, then it’s just embarrassing. Especially living in New York. Carrying groceries any distance already is too much for my lazy, millennial - aged self, but carrying groceries in New York City is quite the pain in the ass. The cloth bags, which are sold pretty much everywhere including the lovely stores I mentioned above,  retail for around a dollar, so its worth it . Also, its a great way to  reduce your carbon footprint with minimal effort and cost, so just buy one already. The key is remembering to bring it with you, that's the kicker. 

Four-Day Weekends DO Exist

My four-day weekend was absolutely lovely. Last Independence Day I was living in Italy and celebrated with the small group of students I was with, so this year, being in New York of all places, was quite different. I started out my Thursday holiday with a breakfast sandwich from a nearby deli. I am always hesitant to try things from small places that may or may not clean their utensils, but I was starving and needed to eat something before spending the day in the sun. It did not disappoint and I will be returning when I need something to soak up the wine from nights before.  I met a few friends in Central Park at Sheeps Meadow. It is basically a 15-acre field where you can find people doing just about anything from sunbathing, Frisbee, drinking, and enjoying the shade. We had wine and fruit and enjoyed a $5 mojito in a bottle from none other than Mr.Mojito J, a nice man who sells mixed drinks in the park. 

 

Later in the weekend, my boyfriend and I decided that we were going to find "somewhere new" to try for dinner. Because I haven't lived here long, and he lives in far up on the West Side, neither of us knew too many places to try. On top of that, we are both extremely indecisive and would settle for Chipotle for any and every meal. We ended up going to The Meatball Shop in Chelsea, which I cannot say I am upset about.

We had been before but it was so good and relatively inexpensive that when a friend mentioned it, we decided that it wouldn't be awful to eat there twice. The restaurant features a "special" ball and "special" sauce each day, which is nice to mix it up from their regular menu (not that it needs mixing up). The special was buffalo chicken meatballs with blue cheese and hot sauce. It was hands down my favorite meal since moving here I think and I would go back a third and a fourth time. They also have ice cream sandwiches where you can get a different cookie on top and bottom, so we tried chocolate chip and ginger snap with brown sugar ice cream, and once again, totally worth it. 
























I turn 21 on Wednesday so be prepared for another post following the weekend. It should be quite the time. 

The First of Many

When I started college, I remember anyone and everyone's words like they were yesterday, "It flies by." I remember thinking to myself, I have four years here, how could it possibly "fly" by. Little did I know, those four years would dwindle to only three and I would be taking on a whole different world at the age of 20.  Growing up I was never afraid to try new things. I was always open to new foods, obviously new friends, and even new schools. Trying new things seems to be a habit of mine lately, as I just moved to a very new environment (Florida to NYC), on a whim I suppose (An educated whim), and I am currently interning in a
new profession.

So I thought, why not try blogging, it's something new. A somewhat southern girl at heart, this is the start of my blog chronicling my life in the Big Apple. I'll be trying a bit of everything, advice, DIY projects, attempting to cook, and much more. I'll be posting weekly and need all the help I can get, so all feedback and comments are appreciated.