NYC birthday surprise!!

I’m going to NYC this weekend!!!!  I’ve known about it for months now, but haven’t been able to say anything because it was a surprise.  Sean and I are going with our best friends David and Lisa.  It’s David’s big 25th birthday and Lisa wanted to surprise him with a weekend getaway in New York.  When she asked me and Sean to join the festivities, we shouted “OF COURSE!”

NY is my second home (I lived there for 4 years during college and go back several times a year for work and for fun to visit my roomies).  And Christmastime in NYC is absolutely magical.  The tree in Rockefeller Center is up and the entire city is decorated with lights.  One thing we’re doing, which I am TOTALLY pumped for, is ice skating in Rockefeller.  It’s always been a dream of mine, and I never did it when I lived there.  I suppose as a pseudo-New Yorker it was “too touristy and crowded,” especially to wait 3 hours. Lucky for us, one of my roommates knows someone who works there and got us VIP tickets – that means no lines!

One of my favorite things about New York is the restaurant scene.  I am a huge foodie and I love great food and wine.  We are beginning with Saturday brunch at Bobby Flay’s Bar Americain. I love Bobby Flay and I’m really looking forward to experiencing this restaurant. When Sean and I went to Mesa Grill (a Bobby Flay restaurant) over the summer, it was one of the best meals we had.  Then that evening for David’s birthday dinner, we’re going to the fabulous Bistro Moderne. Chef Daniel Boulud is one of my favorite chefs and I absolutely love his other restaurants.  This is going to be a real treat :)

On the running front, I have a 2 hour long run scheduled for Saturday.  It’s going to be cold with a 44/29 (high/low).  Since I’ve never run in this kind of weather before I was unsure what to wear.  I used my handy-dandy Runners Ally iPhone app cleverly called “What to Wear” and came up with running tights, a long sleeve, a jacket, gloves, and a beanie.  Lisa is going to join me on the long run, so we’re shooting on getting an early Central Park run in before brunch.  It’s going to be quite chilly, but at least we’ll be running together!

Speaking of traveling and working out, a while ago I came across a quick and easy routine to do in your hotel room.  It’s simple and requires no equipment making it ideal for doing on the road.  You should be able to do three to four rotations of this in no more than 15 minutes:
25 jumping jacks
25 sit-ups
25 body squats
25 push ups
25 lunges

Have a wonderful weekend!

xoxo