Suburban Girl's Top 5 :: Pampering

The script is the same, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, or fierce-hood: We are all young, therefore we are all overworked and underpaid. To be clear, I'm not entirely bitter or angry at this idea. It's just the nature of the beast as young and eager people living in New York City.

Aside from living in "The City That Never Sleeps", I strongly believe New Yorkers as a whole are possibly the most overworked population in the world. They thrive off of busyness and sacrifice vacations (even STAYcations!) for fear of not knowing what to do when they aren't in the work place.

I can't even understand this concept and I feel fine about that. Instead of trying to adjust myself to that mentality, I felt it necessary to come up with a number of "sanity savers" (yes, that is an official medical term). As I've had to practice some of them since moving to NYC, I figured what better time than now to bring you the second installment of The Suburban Girl's Guide to Getting By in the City :: Pampering.

1. Shobha
After a long day at Fashion Week, I decided to treat myself. I usually get my eyebrows threaded at this little hole in the wall place in Astoria. It's half a block from my train, the women are surly, and a good eyebrow threading costs $8 with tip. However this day, I needed to be coddled. I found myself drifting into Shobah Columbus Circle for the most incredible and relaxing eyebrow threading of my entire life. Between the lotions, the temple massage, and the surprisingly gentle motions of the threading, I nearly passed out. Well worth the $20 price tag for a much deserved treat after a hard day's work.

2. The Townhouse Spa
I found myself at the Townhouse Spa for an event my company was producing. One of the amazing perks of being a favored intern at the time was that my supervisor allowed me to treat myself to the same amenities as the guests coming to my event. After a spa manicure, I went into the spa area for a facial that literally changed my life. It had been my first, and certainly would never be my last. Now, whenever anyone asks for spa recommendations, the Townhouse Spa is always the first one out of my mouth.

3. My Hair Salon
Let me preface this with noting that my hair salon is NOT NEARLY the most relaxing of places. However, there is nothing like having someone else shampoo your hair.

4. My Nail Salon
Spa manicure and pedicure please with a side of trashy magazines and headphones in both ears. Thank you and goodnight. Also, nothing makes me feel more like a loved customer with the chorus of women singing "hello!!" and "thank you, goodbye!" with my entrance and exit.

5. My Bedroom
Get your mind out the gutter, kids. My bedroom is my thing. It's my safe haven, it's my security blanket, it's where I go to feel like I'm home (like, Boston home). After a particularly trying day, I love to rush home, close myself up in my room, turn on some Sade or Erykah Badu, light a candle, and paint my nails. I don't know. It's just my thing.

What about you? Do you have any special "sanity savers"?

Tweet

Suburban Girl's Top 5 :: Relaxation

[via]

"I will never, EVER be able to live in New York City," she tells her mom as they hop on an M-something bus with fingers crossed and hopes that they're going the right way. She was visiting NYC with her mother - their tri-annual trip to the city where they ate, shopped, and saw theatre.

The routine was always the same, Boston South Station to New York Port Authority. Cab to Amy Ruth's for waffles and chicken (or fish), and bus downtown passing by all the potential graduate schools her mother thought would be best.

"Are you sure, Maiah? How can you really block off an entire city?" her mother inquired, slightly fed up but mostly entertained.

"Because New York is not a place you go to for peace of mind. New York is a place you go to for shaking things up. Then, you go home and say 'phew, glad that's over'."

Fast forward and here I am in 2010, a New York City resident of 2 years and 3 months... Oops. I still haven't perfected the art of life in a city like New York, especially having grown up in Weston, Massachusetts (the smallest, cutest, quietest, most relaxing suburb ever). It definitely hasn't been all smooth sailing either. After an incredible first 6 months, I lost my amazing job to the economy, I lost my then gentleman-friend to a horrible disease called Man Child Disorder, and I lived in a vermin infested apartment with a stripper and a nanny.

I was spiraling. It was around this time that I realized I needed to regroup and recoup. And this is when I began compiling the Suburban Girl's Guide to Getting By in the City. It's much too long for one post, so we'll go subject by subject. Let's start with one of the most important - the top 5 places I go to relax:

1. Bookstores

There is nothing better than going to The Strand or Borders (the one on 57th & Park) after work and letting the day's foolishness just wash off my shoulders as I browse books. Of course, when shopping The Strand, it's best to go with a few things in mind. That said, when it's quiet and you have a whole section of books to yourself, what could be better than slowly perusing the book titles and cover art.

2. Hookah Bars

I love smoking a hookah with a cold beer and a good friend or four. My favorites are Horus on 10th & A and in Astoria: Cherry Cafe on Broadway & 34th and Soho Cafe on Broadway & 44th.

3. The Movies

There is nothing better than taking yourself out to an afternoon film. I personally prefer the Kaufman Astoria Theatre to some of those bed bug infested ones in the city (eek). I also feel very strongly about Kaufman Astoria for date night - there's nothing better than taking in a late night double feature, especially when it involves a bottle of red snuck inside in my always oversized purses.

4. Early Morning Shopping

My saturday morning routine always involves waking up early, coffee and eggs, and early morning shopping (also referred to as "Field Work" by my mother). Sometimes, shopping in the city is UNBEARABLE with the crowds of tourists and pushy locals, but shopping anywhere before the hour of 10am is always a joy. Plus, there is nothing better than grabbing a hot coffee from your favorite morning street cart on a crisp and cool fall morning, and walking through your favorite neighborhood(s) as you pop in and out of your favorite stores.

5. Queens

Since I moved to New York, I have always gone home at the end of the night to Astoria. I like to maintain that I was forced to this sleepy little borough by Larissa, Mihal, and Dushane. Despite that fact, I love living here. To be able to come home at the end of a long day and retire to my cozy bedroom and take in the Manhattan skyline from my window makes living in New York worth every up and down.

What about you? What are your favorite places for regrouping in the busy city?

Tweet