NYC Staycation with Catherine's Plus Sizes
I envy those that remember to take care of themselves. Unfortunately, I am not one of those people. I'm all work, work, work, work, work which makes me a dull (and very tired) girl. So when Catherine's invited me on a NYC Staycation, I couldn't refuse. Trust me, I needed it.
What's a boss NYC Staycation like? Allow me to walk you through our 36 hours in the Big Apple:
To start the day, we showed up to a beautiful, pinterest-worthy picnic in Central Park. Cocktails were flowing and there was food aplenty. A friend of Kellie's (hey Nick!) set up this mid-day fest, replete with apple cider donuts, fruit pies, lobster rolls, fried chicken, quinoa - the works! - all from his farm upstate. Being a native New Yorker, I rarely step into Central Park because it's a major tourist trap, but I forgot how vast it was. There was a cooling breeze and we found the right spot in the shade, it was divine.
White Shirt | Denim Capris | Sandals | Earrings | Sunglasses
There's something so classic about a crisp white shirt, a pair of denim capris, and brown sandals in the summer. I always feel very Hamptons/Martha's Vineyard when I wear the combo. I imagine I'm sitting by a beach house sipping vino. These two particular items are ridiculously comfortable. The denim capris have a little bit of elastic in the back, saving me from the inevitable waist-gap I usually get when I wear jeans. The lace sleeves on the shirt were lightweight and breathable, as is the cotton. I won't brag and say I have a knack for picking the perfect outfit buuuuuuut thisonewasTHEBOMB.
Naturally, during a picnic you have relay races right? We hopped in some potato sacks and raced across the park. My slightly competitive edge got the best of me, but ultimately I won after a sharp nose-dive to the finish line, haha.
Next up was a helicopter ride! Ever since I were a little girl, I've always wanted to do this. Again, as a native New Yorker there are things we say we are always going to do, but we get so caught up in our day-to-day that sometimes we forget we live in the greatest city in the world and have access to some pretty cool things. I will never forget hovering over Central Park and the Freedom Tower.
Before stepping into our hotel, we made a pit stop to the world famous Katz's Deli. I'm embarrassed to say I've never been there before! LORD, was that food good. I had a pastrami sandwich that I would slap my mama to have again. At this point I was starving from all of our excitement, so I savored every morsel of this meal.
After a crazy morning, we made our way to The Ludlow New York City. This hotel is sick. Located in the heart of the Lower East Side, The Ludlow is a mix of old New York and modern sensibilities. Quaint rooms with tiny balconies overlook LES in its glory. White bathrooms decked in subway tiles and gold fixtures were the perfect balance to thoughtful sitting areas (which I did plenty of work at!) and floor-to-ceiling curtains. That night, I just laid in the bed and fell asleep to the sight of twinkling lights and a midnight blue sky. I fell in love with my city all over again.
Around 6 PM, after catching up on some work (did you think I would take an actual vacation?!), we headed out to an amazing dinner at STK. Such a Sex in the City moment. We stopped to take some pictures in the area before we hopped in the car to chow down. This dress is a STUNNER. I'm obsessed with the fringe, and it's so soft and comfortable. Definitely a contender for all-white parties this summer. I will be wearing this again!
Fringe Top | Purple Skirt | Sandals | Sunglasses
The next day, we went out for brunch at Lafayette Grand Café (get the maple bacon, you will not be disappointed!) and took a stroll through SoHo. I am forever a fan of the cobblestone streets downtown, they also make for the best photos, haha. 
One of our last forays that night was a walk along the Highline, which has a special place in my heart. I used to work in a bakery at Chelsea Market and was around when they first decided to open the Highline. I was one of the first people to walk on it when it opened! Now that I live in Jersey and work in Long Island City, I don't get around to walking there as much as I used to so it's always a treat.
To round out our trip, we winded down at Aire Ancient Baths, which we didn't get photos of because we just wanted to relax. The pool circuit (body temp pool -> hot pool -> cold pool -> sauna -> salt pool) was immaculate. I've been to plenty of spas but never a circuit, which is set up intentionally to open your pores and relax your muscles. We ended with incredible massages and then it was back to my real life. A huge thank you to Catherine's for this NYC Staycation adventure, I had an AMAZING time!
*this post is sponsored by Catherine's but trust me, all opinions are my own!