Monthly Archives: May 2014
16 Mile Manhattan Tour
The goal this morning when we awoke in our rented Manhattan apartment: squeeze as many sights in to the day as possible. NYC is saturated with such diverse neighborhoods, each hiding their own famed restaurants and attractions. Plus there were some highlights from our 2012 trip I wanted to revisit like the Highland Park, Chelsea Piers, and Bryant Park.
So where to start? We walked to Columbus Circle, hopped on a Subway & rode to Brooklyn. (My dad tried to convince me that the subway operated like a submarine when we travelled under the Hudson River, where you see water and fish out the windows. NICE TRY. )
We weren’t in Brooklyn long because we walked straight across the Brooklyn Bridge, over the cars and the water for about a mile. Which is only the start of the distance we covered by foot today. We used the Map My Walk app today to measure our trek and after 8 hours we have travelled an amazing 16 miles.
We stopped for coffee, fruit & a bagel to share at the Long Island Bagel Shop. We found the bronze Charging Bull sculpture and walked down Wall Street. Circled Battery Park and dodged children and bicycles. However the most amazing site was easily the 9/11 memorial. If you have the opportunity, please go see. It’s free and it’s beautiful. On the exact plots where the twin towers stood are now vast deep fountains, encased in marble that carries the names of each victim.
We stopped for a 2 o’ clock brunch at a hipster vegan restaurant ‘The Butcher’s Daughter.’ On the way in, my dad asked “this isn’t one of those vegetarian restaurants, right?”
He enjoyed his “tempeh” and dairy-less cheese ;)
Next we strolled through Little Italy. Smells So GOOD. A mile later we were in Chelsea, on the piers looking across at New Jersey. It was a gorgeous day!
One of my favorite places in Manhattan is the Highline Park, an old elevated railroad that has been transformed into a garden and walkway a couple stories above the city. It reminds of a fairy tale :) When we were ready to head home, we still had a good 40 blocks uptown to go. The best way to see the city is by foot! You get to see so much, and smell way too much.
We were walking up 9th Ave when we happened upon the biggest street fair. For 10 blocks we passed food vendors, street performers, and what seemed like millions of people. It smelled like grease and cigarette smoke.
16 miles later we were back at our apartment to relax & have our own little happy hour. Tomorrow brings another day of adventure! This is an incredible place to be.
Start Fresh Summer!
Hello from HOME!
The big crazy semester finally ended.
Can I get a hallelujah?!
Too many group projects, if you ask me. Now it’s time to unpack & start my job for the summer with a couple of trips to New York City to finish up the medical procedures on my face that we started 2 years ago.
Before I packed up my apartment and left school for the summer, I was able to have a fantastic last week with my friends :)
In between the big scary finals, we snuck away to my favorite peaceful place to watch the sunset behind the lake. Great way to spend time together before spending a summer apart! Huddled together sharing blankets and jackets because we slightly underestimated the wind. :)
All semester long I was counting down til the summer. I had some awesome memories including hikes, trips to Phoenix, the Grand Canyon, and Omaha, plus a dream-come-true internship opportunity, my 21st birthday and my first marathon. But I also have a big summer to look forward too!
First, I’m so grateful to be working at my mom’s office again. My job is perfectly-suited for the classes that I just finished taking. And my bank account is in serious need of some funds after all of my sprees this semester…I easily spent over $100 on Quest Bars. Whoops!
My family will also be traveling to Manhattan to continue the next phase of procedures on my venous malformation. I’d postponed these treatments due to my cross country and track seasons. The recovery process wouldn’t allow me to train as hard as I needed to compete collegiately. But now I’m at a time where I’m prioritizing the treatments.
I also have some health goals for myself this summer. (When do I not. haha) I love taking advantage of being home to have a running buddy (aka my dad), a gym buddy (aka my mom), and home-cooked meals with tons of veggies. I plan to get back onto the clean-eating wagon and increase my weekly running mileage.
Speaking of which, I have an hour run on my agenda now.
It’s good to be home!
You Get What You Work For
By now, you know of my my affinity for Pinterest. I pin recipes, workouts, adorable puppies, sarcastic e-cards, and inspirational quotes. I’m all about those inspirational quotes.
What you might not know is my eagerness to jump start a career in sports marketing. Over the summer, I spent my lunch hours in the office researching Sports Marketing Masters programs in universities throughout the country. Over spring break, I bought myself a copy of The Dream Job by Melvin Helitzer. The first chapter proved that I’m in the right place. Sports marketing has elements of the entertainment industry, competition and athletics, business and strategy. Yet it’s very open for creativity.
My next step: look for internships.
Small problem…I’m a full-time college student in a small mountain town with no major (or minor) sports teams. My university doesn’t currently offer any sort of internship program for sports marketing.
…….Yet.
After my enlightening trip to see Warren Buffet last month, I was inspired by the resumes of my peers. So inspired, in fact, I did some proactive work to kick start my career.
What better place for a sports marketing internship than my own university’s athletics program?! I’m already very familiar with the department, being a student-athlete myself for three years. I already had contacts.
I just needed a killer resume and persuasive proposal to send for their consideration in “creating” an internship for me.
After sending off my resume and a proposal to create an “Undergraduate Sports Marketing Internship,” the athletic director helped set up a meeting between the external relations director and myself.
I watched Sports Center while curling my hair to prepare ;) When the interview started, I was asked what exactly I hoped to get out of this internship. This position didn’t exist yet so I explained my expectations to learn about the “behind-the-scenes” aspect of the sports industry.
We talked about my qualifications and skills.
We talked about the different functions in the department that I could assist with.
We talked about ideas to improve student attendance at home games, and building more support from the local community.
Not to keep you in suspense, I think you can predict the outcome.
I’m so grateful to the university athletic department for considering my request and giving me this amazing opportunity. I am now the Undergraduate Sports Marketing Intern for an NCAA Division I athletic program. If I hadn’t have approached the athletic director, it never would have happened.
Next to my bed, I have more inspirational quotes framed on the wall. One reads: All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them. -Walt Disney.
I think it’s important not to settle for ordinary. I wanted an internship that didn’t exist. With a little effort, now it does exist. That’s something I can be proud of. :)
I’m thrilled to begin working in the athletic department next semester!
If this is finals week for you….GOOD LUCK FRIENDS. We can do it.
My best friend and I were feeling a little dramatic about finals week and declared this it’s theme song:
;)
