NYC: Post-Power Summit

*Note: this is a catch-up post from earlier this spring. More coming your way soon!*

Back in April, we held our first Power Summit conference of the year in NYC. I stayed a day and a half extra post-Power Summit and had myself some lovely little adventures.

Sunday started out with Church in Manhattan, where I joined Jasmine, one of my mission companions. It was Stake Conference, and while I didn't see any of my favorite bloggers, I did see an old high school friend, Allison and her sweet baby girl, Scout! (Awkward (me, at least) photo below.)



After church, I took a moment to enjoy this concert at Lincoln Square:



And then I met up with my friend Rachel! We enjoyed the most expensive Whole Foods picnic of all time while lounging in the sunshine (along with the rest of NYC) in Central Park. Unfortunately, I don't have any photos of this part. :( I took a sweet 360 video, buuut I deleted it from my phone. :( :( :(

Post-picnic, I made my way over to Jamsine's apartment and joined her and her friends for a little Mormon YSA BBQ. :) It was fun to get to know some of her friends in such a relaxed setting and with such a great view.



Post-BBQ, we went back to Jas's place, where we only managed to take terrible photos that shan't be posted, painted our nails, and watched "Dancing With the Stars." We girl talked and hung out, and it was so, so fun! We haven't spent this much time together in a few years, and it was awesome to see that our conversation flowed as if no time had passed at all. (And aren't those the very best kinds of friendships?) You know, I think I've realized about myself that, unlike, many people, I don't have a solid group of core friends who are friends with each other. I have dear friends from many phases of my life, and they are each dear and unique to me in their own ways, but there isn't this one solid group, where we've all been friends forever and ever and are all equally friends with each other. I suppose the exception would be my OCVC sisters, but that's a special group and bond unlike any other. :)

Anyway, here's a photo of Jas before she left on her bike commute the next morning:



And then I took myself on a walk in the UWS.

 

First up? Levain Bakery, of course! I wanted to spend the morning in Central Park, and obviously, I needed New York's best chocolate-chip cookie to make the journey with me. :) I bought two cookies -- one for Jimmy (aka partner-in-crime) and one for myself to enjoy back in DC.





I call the above my "collection of NYC clichés" gallery. Hot dog? Check. Central Park check? Picture of my feet while I lounge? Check.

Being raised by an avid Beatles fan, of course I had to stop by "Strawberry Fields," the Central Park memorial to John Lennon, near the site of his death.



On my way back to Jas's apartment to get my luggage, I passed a taco truck AND Gray's Papaya, so of course, I had to stop at both. (Don't judge! I needed something for dinner on the train back to DC!)

I got dizzy as I passed the Trump Tower.



And then I underestimated NYC traffic and missed my train. :( The worst part was that in my rush, I spilled my Gray's piña colada all over my hot dogs. :( The second worst part was I had to pay $80 to change my train ticket. :(



On the bright side, I still had my Levain cookie! And it was still a fun, super relaxing excursion. As stressful as work can be sometimes, I feel really blessed to have so many opportunities to travel because of my job, and I look forward to exploring more cities in 2014. :)