Current Candle Crave: SPRING.

I know it's still only January but basically as soon as my birthday passes when January rolls around, I always just wish that we could skip to May.  Because that cannot happen, I decide to make it seem like it does by surrounding myself with colorful, spring/beachy smelling candles.  Recently I popped into Target for some things and I decided to take a visit to the candle aisle and I picked up a few.

I have definitely written about this candle on my blog before because this is the second one that I have purchased.  I was so happy to see this one on super sale when I walked down the aisle.  This is probably one of the candles that actually smells most true to coconut.  When I first saw it I was drawn in by the design of the packaging, it's gorgeous and my favorite color!  Check out your local Target and see if you can still pick one up.  I'm hoping they'll still be on shelves and that they weren't putting them on sale because they're discontinued.  

I really don't think I have to say much about this scent.  I think these are new this year at Target as I haven't seen them before.  I know they come out with their own scents and change the packaging but I definitely haven't seen this one before and it measures up to the 'Coconut Grove' scent that they had I think about two years ago.  I cannot wait to burn these when I'm done with my current 'Lavender Lemon'

Sorry to be annoying about comparing things to Bath and Body Works candles but this one reminds me of 'Spring' from last season and I just LOVE everything about it!  It makes me so excited for the warmer weather.  On the label you can see that I guess it's supposed to be reminiscent of elements in a green smoothie?  I don't know about that.  I just love this and if you love a fresh, herb-y scent you will probably enjoy it as well.

Which candles have you been burning lately?  I cannot wait to burn these and just tell myself that it actually IS spring even though it isn't yet.  Send me a tweet and let me know what you're loving.  Thank you for reading as always.  -Brit.

What I've Been Eating

I believe it's fair to say that I have been eating like some kind of queen lately.  There have been a couple of things that I've been noshing on that I just can't get enough of and I want to share them with you!  Please excuse some of the photos as they have 'Snapchat jargon' on them.

Koa - 12 West 21st Street, New York, NY 10010

This was my FIRST EVER real ramen experience.  I'll be the first to tell you that I have always been afraid of trying ramen for the sole fact that I didn't like the whole egg thing being half cooked.  I am just NOT into that at all.  When someone told me that Koa ramen isn't like that I knew I had to try it.  When I looked at the menu the Spicy Dan Dan looked liked something I definitely wanted because I love the spiciest of foods.  When I got it I was expecting sooooo much and I have to admit, it wasn't the most amazing thing ever but I don't have much to compare it to.  I think the broth was soy and that's something I'm not used to.  Maybe I should give it another shot, I woudn't be opposed to that.  Mine had noodles, ground beef and spicy soy broth.  Although it wasn't my favorite, I would definitely recommend at least trying it!  Do you have a favorite ramen place?

Juice Generation - 109 East 23rd Street, New York, NY 10010

Juice Generation is pretty much everywhere I think, but this is the one that I have been to recently.  I picked up a Citrus Super C on a day where I was really craving it and it was just absolutely delicious.   I also felt a cold coming on when I had one of these and I honestly think it helped with making the cold brief in my system.  Happiness in a cup but the only bad thing is the price, it was like $7, eeeek!   

Sophies Cuban - 28 E. 23rd Street New York, NY 10010 (L)

Republic - 37 Union Sq. West, New York City, NY 10003 (R)

These two meals are a little interesting for a couple of reasons.  Number one being I have never had Cuban before and the other being that I have never had ramen before (before the above ramen and this one).  I was nervous to try Sophie's because I never had Cuban before and I didn't know if there was going to be anything there that I liked but when I saw the pork and Spanish rice I was like omg this looks delicious.  The onions on top had such a different taste that was distinctive.  The flavor of the pork was subtle and plain but when paired with the yellow rice and those onions that were both packed with flavor it made it taste uber delicious.  

This RAMEN THOUGH.  I cannot even.  It was coconut lime flavored and just made me so happy it's not even funny.  The chicken was very plain but the broth was lime broth and the coconut infusion was absolutely everything.  I also really love the rice noodles that came with this ramen!  it was so delicious and fresh tasting.  I think I have some more ramen and Cuban food tasting to do but I would say that I started off really well.  Happy girl :). 

Crumbs - 124 University Plaza, New York, NY 10003

I cannot even tell you how sad I was when I heard that Crumbs was closed.  Thank god it was only for a short while as I love almost every single cupcake that they put out.  I hope one year for my birthday that I can have one of their oversized cake-cupcakes.  Okay, enough dreaming.  I don't think I have to explain how good this cupcake was because you can just tell by looking at it.  Every Crumbs I ever eat is so delicious so I definitely recommend that you get it when you can.

Hill Country Chicken - 1123 Broadway (Corner of 25th) New York, NY 10010 (L) 

Sunac - 765 6th Avenue, New York, NY 10010 (R)

Three words: Hill Country Chicken.  I cannot even explain.  I'm sure there are some other really awesome places and I cannot wait to try them but this place is baller.  I was recommended to get something else when we were ordering but I decided to go with chicken and waffles because I had never had it before.  Boy was I happy with my decision.  The seasoning on the chicken was so good and in combination with the butter and syrup it was everything you could possibly dream of, lol.  Honestly though my healthy eating clearly went out the window on this day and I was not mad about it at all.  

Sunac has classically been one of my favorite lunch places in New York for the longest times.  I have always, every single time I've been there, found something delicious.  Not to mention sometimes I make the things at home that I find there!  They have an amazing hot and cold foods bar, a sandwich station, a juice station, a coffee station, assorted soups and so much more.  Not to mention they also have assorted baked goods and a grocery section.  I love these coconut mango natural fruit snacks they have omgggg it's delicious!

Mangia - 22 W 23rd St. New York, NY 10010

Mangia was an interesting place.  They had a ton of really delicious looking food and it's definitely a place that you could go for a nice business lunch.  There was a ton to choose from including a bakery section, a place for paninis, a pizza section and a ton more.  I was most excited for my Arianciata Rossa San Pellegrino.  The food was delicious but I definitely would not recommend going back there for a lunch because not only was it underwhelming but it was also super expensive!

Committed Pig - 168 Main Street, Manasquan, NJ 08736 (L) 

Lo's Garden - 2132 New Jersey 88, Brick, NJ 08724 (R)

If you don't follow me on Twitter or Instagram then you don't know about my love for the Committed Pig and you really should know.  Now I know the meal that I got this time doesn't really look like it's anything special but let me tell you something.. IT IS.  Every single thing on the menu is so different and delicious, it's definitely a place you just HAVE to visit if you're every at the Jersey Shore.  I had the 'Mr. Beautiful' which is a turkey burger with jalapenos, gruyere cheese, a fried egg and avocado.  Mmmmmm, so delicious and look at those waffle fries.  AHHH I cannot.  I want it right now.

I was feeling a little ill this week and one of the days that I came home my dad had an egg drop soup waiting from Los Garden and could not have been more happy and excited about it.  Sometimes you just need a little wanton soup or egg drop soup and it makes you feel so much better.  Everyone is passing something around where it's like this awful cough, stuffy nose and sore throat.  I'm not happy about it but this was a beautiful solution to my former ailments.  :O

The Hummus & Pita Co. - 585 6th Avenue, New York, NY 10011

Probably my second favorite lunch place in New York City.  I don't know why but it is just freaking so delicious.  You can basically get whatever kind of pita (vegetarian or not) that you want, there are so many options.  Also, if you are randomly in the mood, you can get sweet potato fries.  :O  Doesn't that just make you so happy!?  I had a Shwarma chicken or something like that and Harissa sauce omgggg, it was delicious!

Wow guys, this post took me forever to write.  I have been so busy and haven't had a chance to write about anything and then I decided that I wanted to write this one and it took me like three weeks to do.  Ignore the annoying Snapchat graphics and writing on the pics because you know I had to post them there too.  Where are your favorite places to eat?  Tweet them to me.  -Brit.

My 25th Birthday!

I literally cannot believe that I am 25 years old.  It is insane to think that I am going to experience the proverbial 'quarter life crisis' soon.  As if I haven't had enough crisis already, LOL.  As far as I'm concerned though, this year is starting out pretty great.  Ever since I made some of the decisions that I briefly talked about in my blog post about New Year goals, I have started feeling the best that I possibly can.  Emotions-wise, health-wise, etc.  

To be honest, it always kind of sucked having a birthday a week after Christmas.  The only thing I can think about now though, as an older person and as I have been getting older, is how awesome it really is.  I don't look at it as, 'Oh this sucks, presents are the same, celebrations are combined, etc.' I look at it as a new beginning, a full calendar year to start another year long journey of my life.  Awesomeness.

Every year on my birthday I always put on the same nail polish: Deborah Lippmann's Happy Birthday!  You need multiple coats if it's the only thing you want on the nail but I chose to just throw on Pink Pineapple from Revlon which is one of their Parfumiere polishes.  They are adorable and smell so good!  At least some of them do, lol.  Please excuse the random cut I have on my pointer.

The day started with some adorable messages of love from my Aunt on Instagram.  She gets aggressive on Instagram, so this is a big deal.  Gotta love her and that obnoxious as fuck picture she chose of me to include.  Thanks Aunt Kar, lol.  Also, this banana that we found on the walkway to our house when we were getting in the car.  Apparently my brother dropped it in the dark in the morning on his way to work?

There are no edits on this photo but it just looks perfect for some reason.  We started the day by driving up to Ikea.  The closest location to me and where my family is up north is the one in Elizabeth.  I wanted to look at a couple of things for storage in my room.

We started off at the cafe because we were starving.  Look at all the food on my tray.  I honestly promise you that I didn't eat all of this.  I hated the cinnamon roll.  Everyone always says Ikea cinnamon rolls are the best things ever but there was nothing special about it and it was gross to me lol.  I had one half of my wrap and all of the French fries.  It was my birthday, so even if I did end up eating everything, I wouldn't have cared.  Thank you very much.  #NoJustificationREALLYNeeded

Heres my dad just loving his life.

After fielding all of my birthday texts while we drove all the way to my uncles house, we finally got there.  We had some coffee and then I grabbed my cousin and we headed down Route 4 to Garden State Plaza for some shopping.  There was definitely an accident so it took us like 8 years to get there.  So annoying but we eventually made it and then I shopped my face off for my birthday.

Here are a few glamour shots of the drive up to my uncles house.  We pass Newark Airport and New York City to the East.  Can you see the plane and the skyline?

You know I was Snapchatting the day away.  Here are a few of the ones I included in my story.  

Here are a few eXcEpTiOnAlLy* flattering photos of my family at dinner.  We missed my brother as he was working but it was a nice meal altogether.  It was funny, we were sitting there waiting for our food and all of a sudden we saw JaRule enter the restaurant.  My cousin Pat spotted him and now all I have been singing for the past two days is 'Always On Time.'  Oddly, I can't say I'm mad at it.  We ate at Grand Lux Cafe in Paramus at the GSP.  They are owned by the same people that do Cheesecake Factory so you know it was delicious!    

I had a great day and I can't wait to celebrate with my friends soon!  How do you all celebrate your birthdays?  I will be continuing the celebration for the rest of the month :).  I also did a cute vlog of the day that I plan to maybe upload tomorrow or Monday.  Tweet me!  -Brit.