One thing that NYC definitely gets right is Christmas. Okay, okay there are a few other things, but Christmas is definitely one of them. The towering tree in Rockefeller Center, the sparkling lights, and shop windows decked top to bottom. What’s really worth doing when you come to visit though? Well, this is my 4th holiday season here and while I’m not technically a real New Yorker I’ve had quite a bit of experience playing tour guide throughout the years! So, I thought I’d give you my advice on what I think is worth doing and what you’re better off skipping.

Oh Christmas tree, Oh Christmas tree!: Rockefeller Center. Let’s talk about it. The one thing that everyone always wants to see when they’re in the city during the holidays is the tree. And I say GO! It’s iconic, it’s massive, and there is something a little magical about being in the center of Rockefeller center surrounded by lit up angels, ice skating, and snowflake projections on the near-by buildings. 

What I would suggest could be considered obvious advice, but if you can avoid the area on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, by all means avoid it. Go a few days after when some of the crowds start to die down. It’s up through the first week of January and if you’re in town it’s worth going when it’s a little less crowded. A little less — Still plan on a lot of people, but it will be a little more manageable. Trust me, I’ve been on Christmas Day and that warm fuzzy feeling you get when you arrive, dies in about 2.5 seconds when you find yourself crammed between wall-to-wall people and you’re just trying to keep all of your party semi-together. If you can plan your trip accordingly, do. 

Twirling on the ice: What’s more festive than ice skating in NYC? You see it in just about every movie, right?! My advice - Skip Rockefeller Center and try Wollman Rink in Central Park instead. I know, I just told you to go to Rockefeller Center, and do, go for the tree, but skip ice skating there. The Rockefeller Center ice skating rink is TINY (They totally have you fooled on film) and not only that but it’s pretty pricy and the ice isn’t as well maintained. 

There is much more room to skate in Central Park and you will still be surrounded by a serene backdrop in the park. The prices are much better too. There are also several other ice skating rinks throughout the city but my favorite is Central Park.

Sipping on frozen hot chocolates: Don’t get me wrong, I love the frozen hot chocolates at Serendipity 3, but I’m going to say skip it during the holidays. That is, if you have the opportunity to go at another time of the year. They’re wonderful and the decor is cute, but the waits can get a little horrendous and it’s not worth waiting hours for. 

Strolling up 5th Avenue: It’s going to get a little crowded, but it’s free, cheerful and worth seeing. Go! Some of my personal favorites to see on the avenue are Henri Bendel, Bergdorf Goodman, Harry Winston, The Peninsula Hotel, and inside the Plaza Hotel. Tiffany & Co has some cool decals up this year too!

Joining the Crowds at Macys: The Macys! You’ve seen it during the Macy’s Thanksgiving parade and in just about every Christmas movie. And it’s a cool place! It’s not cool enough to make it onto my Christmas must-see list though. Skip it! If you have a chance, it’s definitely fun to see the outside and maybe pop inside for a few, but I don’t personally think it’s worth a stop. Especially if you’re going to the 8th floor in hopes of seeing a winter wonderland similar to Gimbels in the movie Elf. Hate to be the bearer of bad news.. but unless you’re standing in line to see Santa (which is a VERY long line), the winter wonderland is blocked off. And considering if you don’t want to wait for a crowded elevator and decide to take the escalators instead.. it’s a long trip up. 

Oh and, another tip. Bundle up. It’s cold here and while I’m sure you’ve been in the cold before, when you’re in the cold here, you’re really out in it, not jumping in and out of your car. You will be a much warmer and happier person with a warm scarf, hat and gloves. You’re going to be outside a lot and the wind will get you!

Well, that’s all that I have for you. Get out there and enjoy the holidays in the city!

Happy Friday everyone! Only two more work days until I am FLYING HOME!!! Really looking forward to this trip :)

Dose of my “Subway Mixing” Playlist

Today’s preview, Sara Evans- “Slow Me Down”

I mailed out my Christmas cards earlier this week and if you were one of the twenty people I mailed them to then you either picked yours up in the mail or it should be there soon! I will probably need to up that number to more than twenty next year.. I had so many more I wanted to send!

This is the second year I designed an infographic and I really like the format because it really makes me sit down and think about how to summarize my year into short categories. Plus, I kind of have a thing for typography and layout — which will hopefully be something I’ll be pursing further in 2014. Something I also included on my card was my website — so, if you’re here for the first time welcome! Or welcome back to all of you who already follow along.

I thought I’d do a little expanded version of my card for all of you who got a card and actually came to my site, so here you go! And if I couldn’t send a card to you this year then here is everything that is on it!

On the front:

• On the top you have Mama Duck and I standing in front of the Rockefeller Christmas tree on last Christmas. Technically it was 2012 in the photo, but close enough!
• To the left is my Dad, sister and I at Emerald Downs on Mother’s Day. It was the first Mother’s Day I’ve been home for in 3 years so I was so happy to be able to spend the day with family. Slightly ironic that, that photo doesn’t have my mom in it since it was Mother’s Day, but I wanted to make sure both of my parents made it on the front!
• To the right there is a picture of Chris and I on Long Island apple picking! After 4 falls together I finally got him to agree to go with me!

Highlights:

• Moving into my own apartment! I moved out of my 2 bedroom  with a roommate and got my very own 1 bedroom on the Upper East Side in New York! The apartment process was nightmarish, but I survived and ending up getting a much bigger apartment (for New York standards) than I thought I was going to get. Scooter and I have been settled in since August and are absolutely loving our space and all of our fabulous decor. I’ve changed a couple of things around but you can get a feel for my new space in this blog post: http://bit.ly/18SJ9Bx
• Wine Tasting in McMinnville: My mom and I ventured down to Oregon in May while I was visiting to go on Little Duck’s first college tour! It was such a wonderful trip, the college was beautiful and I was so happy and proud to be able to join her on her first tour. The city the college was in also just so happens to be in the middle of Oregon wine country! So after enjoying the afternoon together, all of us girls hit a couple of wineries. Such a great time! For more on that trip check out this blog post: http://bit.ly/JEsc7w
• Taste of the South in Savannah: My best friend from college moved to Savannah last summer and I made a trip down to visit her on my birthday weekend! It was my first experience in the South and the first time I’d seen her in over a year, so we were much overdue for some bestie time! I also got to meet her {then} boyfriend {now} fiance for the first time. We adventured through old town, headed to the beach and even got a fishing session in. Such a refreshing trip away from the city in the dead of the winter! For more on my trip to Savannah catch up on this blog post: http://bit.ly/1cBHlOj
• Emerald Downs for Mother’s Day: I touched on this a little on the earlier highlight, but I was so happy to be able to spend Mother’s Day with the whole family! I miss out on so many family gatherings living so far away and was so thrilled to actually be there for one of our traditions. This is the same blog post as the McMinnville trip, but in case you didn’t click from above, here’s your second chance: http://bit.ly/JEsc7w
• Apple Picking on Long Island: I’ve always wanted to go apple picking and this was the first year that I made it happen! We took a trip out to Long Island to visit with Chris’ family and then headed to the orchard the next day! We had SO much fun! Picked some delicious apples that made a great apple pie and some applesauce too! For more info on that trip check out this blog post: http://bit.ly/1dQ3NFm

Trips Home:

• May 9-13: I came home to celebrate Mother’s Day weekend.
• July 4-8: This trip, I came home to celebrate one of my good friends, Mel’s wedding in Spokane.
• August 24-September 2: This trip was just for vacation! A little R&R.
• December 23-January 1: Technically I haven’t boarded this plane yet, but I’ll be home soon enough and wanted to include it since my card is a review of my whole year! Chris will be joining me from the 27th-1st as well to celebrate New Year’s in Washington. Can’t wait!

Trips:

• Spokane, WA: My friend Mel and her {now} husband John’s beautiful wedding. So happy I got to go! And shout-out to my friends Lindsey and her lovely boyfriend Matt for letting me road trip east with them!
• Portland, OR: On our way to McMinnville, my mom and I stopped in Portland for a night to catch up with some of both of our friends. It was so nice to be in my old city and appreciate all of its beauty.
• Savannah, GA: My first trip to the South to visit my best friend Danielle! The South left a great first impression on me!
• Mattituck, NY: This is where we went apple picking. I’m craving apple cider donuts just thinking about it.
• McMinnville, OR: College tour, wine tasting, beautiful scenery and great company. What more could you need?
• Vernon Township, NJ: My Christmas present to Chris last year was a snow tubing trip. I got us bus tickets and passes for a tubing park a few hours away in New Jersey and we had a blast! 

Temperatures:

• Let’s just say, NYC has a high variety of weather. Extreme highs and lows.

Weirdest Food I Tried:

• Candied Fried Chicken and Caramel Ice Cream. Sounds a little strange right? I tried this at my favorite food festival of the year — The 9th Avenue food festival. It was surprisingly good and you tasted a lot more of the caramel and then the small bites of chicken. 

Scooter turned 10:

• My best little partner in crime or snuggles turned 10 this year. He’s a young 10 but is enjoying being extra spoiled in the new apartment. Sleeping on the bed every night and people watching on his chair are two of his favorite new things to do. That and sleeping. He sleeps a lot. He also got his own Instagram account to document some of his adventures, whether that be to Long Island or simply out to the couch!

And there you have it! the expanded version of my holiday card. Hope you all enjoyed and I wish you all the most wonderful holidays! Some of you I’ll be giving you my wishes in person soon! :)