ashleyd /

Paying the Consequences…

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I’m not really a fan of consequences but unfortunately we always have to pay them. Right now, I’m facing the consequences of an amazing weekend!

I enjoyed a redeeming 9 miler run to kick the weekend off on the right foot!

Brunch Critic helped us start the party early on Saturday.

I checked another item off my NYC bucket list.

I stayed horizontal almost all day on Sunday, recovering from a 4am bedtime, hours of dancing, unlimited champagne, and a 3am McDonalds run.

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This weekend was definitely one for the record books, but I think the amount of activity left my body drained!

Even though I slept for eight hours last night, dragging my body out of bed at 5:45 was not very easy. My throat was sore, my nose was running, and I was sporting the sexy man voice. But, regardless of how I felt, I’m proud to say that I washed my face, brushed my teeth, and tweeted my false excitement before I could go back to bed.

By 8am Sara and I had enjoyed our first Bikram Spin class and I’d wished her best of luck on the first day of this new, amazing chapter in her life! You should wish her congrats too as she started a great, very deserved new job!

What is a bikram spin class? Well, it’s nothing more than an awesome Dave M spin class (which I’ve raved about here and here) that is taught in sweltering temperatures due to the lack of air movement in the corner. Needless to say, we now know why those bikes were still available yesterday when we signed up. Unlike Sara, I was thankful for the extra sweat today as it left me feeling a bit lighter and as if the residual alcohol had finally left my body!

The rest of the day was focused on getting back to basics that leave me feeling refreshed, satiated, and fueled to combat the aggravating cold that has come back with a vengeance.

Banana+Oat Bran+Cinnamon

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Romaine+Green Beans+Red Peppers+ Feta+Edamame+ Lemon Juice+ Salt & Pepper+ Red Onion+Tomato+Celery+Red Wine Vinegar

Now, even though it’s only 7:45, I’m curling up in bed to get some much needed sleep.

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Until tomorrow, I leave you with this awesome video featuring Caitlin’s awesome movement, Operation Beautiful! I’m so proud of everything she has done over the past two years and even had the opportunity to cheer her on when she was on the Today Show this summer with Tina and some of my favorite blogger friends!

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQGNEUs4KLQ

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ashleyd /

2011 New York Junior League Winter Ball

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I can now cross another item off my New York City bucket list!

  • Attend a black tie event at a swanky NYC location

Last night’s NYJL Winter Ball took place at the Plaza Hotel. While I’ve dreamt of staying there and waking up to a view of Central Park; I never thought I’d have the chance to enjoy a black tie event on the premises.   IMG_1702IMG_1704

Bo and I saved money by purchasing the Dessert & Dancing tickets which worked out perfectly. The vast majority of young members arrived at the same time we did! There were crowds of amazing dresses, swanky hair styles, and sparkling jewelry everywhere we looked. The only downside to coming late was missing a few of the celebrity sightings which took place last night!

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The ballroom left me in awe. The room was exactly as I’d always envisioned it; adorned with detailed crown moldings, sparkling chandeliers, and gilded walls.

IMG_0779 IMG_0776The hours that followed were filled with unlimited champagne, dancing, and laughing! I’m so grateful for amazing friends, both new and old, in New York City! IMG_0777IMG_1721

IMG_1710IMG_1706 IMG_1719The silent auction items were unbelievable; ranging from $15,000 cocktail rings to an autographed Justin Bieber cd. IMG_0782 Theodora and I even enjoyed a quick photo session in between dancing.

IMG_0793 WeLovePhotobooths_1_0014027Needless to say, the open bar and 4am bedtime has left both of us dragging today. Luckily, the pouring rain in New York City has been a perfect excuse to enjoy delicious homemade Challah bread French toast, the first few episodes of Cougar Town and Jersey Shore, and fend off this developing cold.

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A Day of Brunch and Primping!

Winter Ball day is finally here and we’ve spent all day prepping, primping, and toasting in perfect fashion!

I enjoyed the sunshine for thirty minutes while walking to meet Theodora and some of her good friends for brunch.

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Today’s brunch spot was Park Avenue Tavern, compliments of Brunch Critic. IMG_0759Brunch Critic is a new website which is New York’s only brunch only resource. Here’s a quick description from their website:

“After being frustrated by the lack of information easily available on the web to find that perfect brunch venue, we decided to create BrunchCritic.com. There are plenty of food related websites, blogs and directories available to New Yorkers, but none that truly identify details about brunch. We realized that we were not alone in wanting quick, accessible and specific information on Brunching in New York, and there was a demand not being met.”

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While the menu we were offered today was quite small versus Park Avenue Tavern’s regular brunch menu, the food and cocktails left me wanting to try more. I was pleasantly surprised with their chef salad and their Bloody Mary. As I told Theodora and the rest of our group, if a restaurant can cook a plain chicken breast well that says a lot.

IMG_0763  IMG_0760 IMG_0761I definitely want to come back to Park Avenue Tavern for dinner or happy hour to check out their downstairs booths with private taps!

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After brunch we headed downtown for an afternoon of primping. I felt like we were back in college, getting ready for a sorority formal this afternoon. We were able to get our hair and makeup done on a budget by choosing a local NYC chain for the updos and blowouts and then going to Sephora for our makeup.

If you call ahead to make a reservation and then spend $50, Sephora’s beauty stylists will do your makeup for a special event. Each stylist took over an hour on each of us, while sharing us tricks and tips along the way. The best part about it is that you can spend $50 on a gift card versus having to buy product.

 IMG_0767 IMG_0768IMG_0769IMG_0772 I’m ready to dance the night away at the Winter Ball! Don’t stay up as I think it’s going to be a late one! 😉

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