This post is super old but I didn’t have internet for the looooongest time…let’s back track a few days:
Kyle and I were up at 6 am to do some last minute prep work before the movers arrived.
Naturally a run to the ‘bucks was in order.
Once 9 am rolled around, the movers arrived and we sat back and watched the magic happen (wow!!). Talk about perfecting their craft (I’m taking the liberty of describing moving as an art form – if you’ve ever done a big one, you will agree with me on this)…this experience seriously spoiled me; I am never moving without hired help again.
Soon enough our tummies were rumbling so I ran to Le Pain Quotidien for some breakfast goodies.
Hello lovers.
Glorious carbage.
Then I ran to Starbucks for a (free) refill for moi. While the refill was free, the cashier used a new cup and handed me back both my old one AND a new one. WTF? Totally defeats the purpose of the refill idea…sigh. Did I lecture her on being green and wasting paper? No. I’m not that extreme. Did I want to? You betcha.
Sitting around watching them pack can really get boring. I started to go a bit stir crazy…so since the rain had stopped, I decided to go for a walk.
Making progress…
For lunch, I went to our local health foods store (Gary Null’s Whole Foods Uptown), and grabbed a sammie & apple which I ate on the roof top. After much debate I decided on the eggless “chicken” salad sandwich, which is just a vegan spread using veganaise and vegan bread.
Ellie, I thought of you while eating this 🙂
I ate on the rooftop, so I could say goodbye to our beautiful views of the Jerz.
After lunch we wrapped things up and shipped on out.
I know my bags look like regurgitated creamed spinach and I happen to find it quite amusing thankyouverymuch. I bought them a few months ago because I thought they looked delightfully hideous and I was sick of not knowing which bags were mine coming out of the carousel. Not only has that problem been eliminated, but I crack up every time I see them…as do my fellow passengers. It’s a win win!
Worse than my baggage, however, is the fact that for the next THREE MONTHS I will be living out of these bags and these bags alone (Kyle managed to fit all his stuff in 2 suitcases…being a male must be so rough [sarcasm alert]). Please note, if you see me on What Not To Wear in the near future, now you will understand why. Suffice it to say, packing non-stop for three days, often until 4 am, will undoubtedly lead to some odd choices in what you deem “necessary.” And apparently the same goes for the unnecessary as I already realized I didn’t pack my Soni-Care toothbrush. Whoops!
Since our apartment was stripped bare and our flights weren’t until the next day, we stayed at Kyle’s boss’ midtown apartment (ahem, the CEO of the company). And yes, I did just specify which of the CEO’s apartments we were at…baller much?
You. Have. No. Idea.
This place is INSANE. And it’s smack dab in the middle of Manhattan.
The elevator opens to a single door, so the apartment mansion is the entire floor of the building.
Get ready for a seriously disgusting montage…
Part of the library.
The dining room (with quite the view I might add).
A few of the bedrooms.
Seriously, how much more of a bedroom view could you ask for?
Oh, hello Times Square. Oh, hey there, Carnegie Hall.
And don’t even get me started on the kitchen…
Two ovens? Sub-zero fridge? Temperature gauged wine rack? I mean, I couldn’t even get the full kitchen of this place in one picture! (For reference sake, our entire apartment can fit in one frame).
Basically, this kitchen ALONE is the size of our apartment (sadly, that’s not a joke OR an exaggeration).
And the fact that this place is only for the CEO’s business trip accommodations (while traveling in the US) makes me a little sick…and by sick I mean jealous.
I know I’ve never mentioned who Kyle works for, but here’s a bit of a hint.
Did you catch that?
After we picked our jaws up off the floor, we went out to enjoy our last few hours in NYC. Which means another Starbucks run (iced coffee with soymilk) and an obnoxious trek through Times Square to get to a movie theater (it was a true New York summer day yesterday – humidity and all – so the chilly theatre was exactly what the MD RN ordered).
In case anyone was wondering, Hot Tub Time Machine = worst movie ever. It took all self control to not walk out.
As for my last meal? I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Why mess with perfection? Especially after the macro disaster the other night.
I had three tofu balls covered in sesame seeds, and a box full of assorted yummies (most of the buried treasures are not visible to the camera).
I also tried Honest Kombucha for the first time and I have nothing but good things to report! I went with the Apple Jasmine flavor, but all the other options sounded delicious too. It wasn’t nearly as vinegar tasting as other Kombucha, and not really as fizzy either (aka it didn’t blow up in my face upon opening). Plus, it was on sale (2 for $6). Definitely my new fave. Well done Honest.
After dinner we walked around more…and then called it a night.
Now I’m at JFK and I won’t even go into the drama it took to get 7.5 pieces of luggage here with just the 2 of us.
I’m now in LA and getting my wine-face on. I’ll be in and out for the next few days…
Hey there!! Super jealous of the fabulous diggz! 🙂
In defense of that Starbucks Barista…they were trained to do that. Something about a health code violation, cross contamination, blah blah blah. But know that it’s not out of a lack of Green interest or concern.
P.S. If you bring in your own to go mug, they will take 10 cents off your drink purchase. That adds up!
Ah, I see…I guess that does make sense. I never knew since I usually have my own mug. Thanks for the info!
That’s a great place to stay at!
I love your blog, do you think I could add you to my blogroll?
Of course!! Thanks for the nice comment 🙂
Ummm hi fancy chairman/ceo of penguin’s vacay apartment! Good god. That is out of control and makes me fiercely jealous!
Also: you’re back in CA!! How good does it feel?!
As much as I love humble, still-not-up-to-code abode, sometimes staying in a really nice place is, well, really nice. The last time I got put up in a hotel for work, the fact that I had a) a working shower with water pressure b) heat in winter and c) a full bed that wasn’t trying to taco down the middle made my month.
California love. I’m missing it a bit right now.
welcome to SOCAL!!
1) You guys are ballers.
2) No lie, those suitcases freaking rock. ( I like unique stuff, were they expensive?)
3) I found Delicata on my trip, tried it, and feel as though i should pay you royalties for introducing…
4) Since your back back in Cali Cali, ENJOY! 🙂
I love your luggage! It’s very Peas and Thank You, no?
Penguin books?! Crazy! I may have “met” a few of Kyle’s colleagues (though they aren’t my publisher).
i got them for SUCH a good deal on luggage.com – i guess nobody else wants sh!teous green suitcases? (aside from us) kyle is mortified by them, hahaha.
sooo glad you found (and loved) the delicata.
LOOOOOOOOOOOVE it!!!!! so so so happy 🙂
omg….so exciting no words can even express it!!!!!!!! love love love CA 🙂
Nice. Apartment. I love that you had Baller Status for a few days 🙂
And that you’re getting your wine on in LA. I will be too. In 3 weeks 🙂 A little south of LA 🙂
Okay, I am officially jealous of that apartment. I can only imagine what it looks like in person. Enjoy California, you deserve it! 🙂
YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Welcome to the West! From one NYer turned SoCaler to another. 🙂
Loveeeee Honest’s kombucha! It may be the cute pretty label, but it’s good stuff.
crazy about the mug! but i guess it does make sense…
Are you from LA? I was living there for college and I miss it SO much!
So jealous that you had movers, I recently had to move out of my apartment on my own w/ my roommates and it was a pain in my behind. I’ve been looking for some obnoxious luggage myself, mine is so non de script that no matter how hard try to remember what it looks like I usually forget by the time I’ve landed.
Haha love those suitcases!
I want to cry out of jealousy when I see that apartment. SO BEAUTIFUL, but at the same time you know it was probably several mil. To think I could be living in a palace in Kansas for what my NYC rent costs…
Hope you have a safe trip to CA!!
The movers actually PACKED for you?!? Score! That is awesome 🙂
Have a fab time in sunny CA! I know you are happy to be home 🙂
Courtney
I never knew you could get free refills at Starbucks! Is that just the regular iced coffee ones or does it even include the fancier creations?
Either way, gotta try that in good old Ohio. SO jealous of your CA life! 🙂
That apartment is amazing. It’s just so white. White bedding, white couch, I mean wow. New York at its finest!
Safe travels!
what a faaaancy place to enjoy your last night in nyc! i love staying at my friends apartments, and then staying at their parents apartments and seeing jus thow much more magnificent they are….oh, the irony.
wooo you are a california girl once again!!
Wow that CEO’s apartment is insane!! I don’t even wanna know how many millions….jealous! Enjoy being back home! Very exciting!
Good luck with the move, Elise! So exciting!!!
And yes, that apt is amazing. Maybe Kyle will get there one day 🙂 Wouldn’t that be nice!
how funny, that sandwich made me think of ellie before reading what you said 🙂 good luck with everything, youve got your hands full!!
yay! I have a signature food 😀
if I had to pick between living in that apartment and eating that sandwich, I would go with the sandwich…no disrespect to the CEO (amazing place) but POWER-FU! I am so happy you had that for one of your last NYC meals. You did me proud!
YAY!!!!!!!!!
I’ve never paid for moving, but have ALWAYS wanted to. It would be 100% worth the cost in my opinion.
Also…that apartment…holy frekin’ cow. I cannot even believe how nice that is – it’s insanity that you got to stay there.
And, I love your luggage.
WOW – at least you went out BIG! My jaw is still on the floor. HOLE-Y Cryminy!
I, for one, LOVE your luggage but my husband would probably pretend not to know me if I bought it. PS. The ONLY time I ever lost my luggage was moving from LA to NYC – but they delivered it the next morning. Glad you made it the other way around safely!
yayyyyyyyyyy LA! and that NYC apartment…i can’t even express my jealousy. and kyle worked for penguin books? shoo…what else are you keeping from me?
happy travels lady 🙂
um does kyle’s boss have any sons? brothers? long lost nephews? i mean a dad? wtf ANYONE who will shack me up in a place that baller stat.
won’t you miss the durty jerz?! we’ll miss you 🙁
wine-o it up girlfran.
Oh my gosh, what an incredible pad! Sweet that you guys get to stay there!
Love Honest Kombucha–I think my favorite so far that I’ve tried.
Glad the move is moving along! 😉
whoa that apartment is AMAZING. I want that.
funny kombucha story: I had never had one before and the boyfriend and I stopped at a health food place while we were on a road trip and I picked one up. It was dark out and so I couldn’t read the label and I asked my boyfriend (who has had kombucha before and knew people that made it since he’s from hippie town USA) if I had to shake it. You know where this is going. He told me I did. I shook my little heart out and then opened my delicious beverage only to have some vinegary fizz spray all over me. Good times.
i absolutely love your blog, the reason i got into sweet potatoes with hummus and lots of vegetables for sure! i have also been wanting to try kombocha…soon! anyways, just wanted to drop in and say hello (:
Grr it’s so frustrating that she gave you a new cup for your refill- go green! (I would have wanted to say something, but I would have refrained too!) lol
&wowww that apartment is LEGIT and so is that view- holy cow!
I’m in LA too, man that place is pretty sweet looking!
What a swanky pad! Moving can be so stressful, but when you’ve got a sweet penthouse to stay in and a WF around the corner things could be a lot worse! Glad you made it back to LA safe and sound.
Um, holy crap!! That apartment is amazing, and I am SO jealous of that amazing kitchen. I can’t even imagine how much it must cost though, what with being so nice AND in the middle of New York, wowzers!!
I am also in love with your suitcases! Definitely a good pick for standing out on the carousel. Though I am curious how you like the hard shells. (at least I am assuming thats what they are) I have always figured they must be kind of a pain since they aren’t really flexible in terms of putting a bit more stuff in than the suitcase is really meant to hold (not that I ever overpack or anything…)
Glad to see you made it to California safe and sound and I am excited to read about your adventures in the next little while. 🙂
-K
I love my suitcases…I had never had a set of hard shelled ones before but then Kyle got a set and I always preferred his. I feel like my stuff is safer when it has that extra protection…I have a feeling thats not really the case but whatever eases my own mind right? I don’t think its much different in terms of stuffing it to the brim though…it still gives a bit when I overpack.
hello rachael! thanks for saying hi 🙂 glad you like the SP & hummus combo…and yes, you MUST try kombucha (but be careful because its an addiction thats likely to cost a pretty penny!)
hahaha. im so sorry! at first i def thought that those floaters SHOULD be mixed in, but then i realized (with my first explosion) that there was no way mixing it up before opening it was the way to go.
thats weird because LAX is notoriously the WORST for luggage ever. i have no doubt it was lost on that end of the trip. i need to establish a home base soon – this whole schlepping 3 suitcases across the country thing is getting old.
dude, it was CHEAPER to hire people to move us than to do it ourselves!!!! even with three months of storage included on the CA end, it was still less $$ than packing and driving ourselves across the country. and 1 million times less stress. shocking right? dont ever move yourself again!!!
i can only hope!!! haha. for the next 2 years though im gonna be the bread winner though…so maybe itll be me! haha 😉
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