Never let anyone dull your shine.

I haven't written in over a week and mainly it's because I haven't found the time or by the time I get home I'm super worn out from working all day. But I figured that now is the best time for an update on everything that's been going on...

The past two weeks has been a roller coaster of ups and downs in the city. I work 10-6/6:30 and I walk to work every morning and home every night if it's not raining. I'm finally starting to get to know my co-workers and realize that I'm just a different breed than the rest of them. At 21 (almost 22) I'm one of the youngest and the rest are settled down into relationships and marriage. It seems like no matter what I'm surrounded by people that have found the so-called "one." I met this guy last week and went out for drinks on Saturday. He was nice and worked down in the Financial District for a bank. He just wasn't my type at all but I decided to give him a chance on Wednesday night to take me on a date out for dinner. That night was the night from hell. I've always been told to never trust men and never ever leave my drink alone, which I usually never do. But I stupidly did, and trust me I learned my lesson. I can handle my liquor and even at my worst moments I can remember parts of the night, I never fully black out. (Even on the Everclear nights and nights of partial blurriness.) Wednesday night by 10:30 (at the latest) I can't remember anything after then. At dinner I had 2 glasses of Sangria and 2 glasses of white wine with dessert. I left to go to the bathroom and after I finished my 2nd glass of wine, I truly don't remember the rest of the night. I know I threw up but mainly because of the taste I had in my mouth the next morning. I know nothing happened because Mother Nature decided to bless me with a visit, for the first time I'm thankful that she did. What it comes down to was that I drugged, and yes Momma and Daddy do know. Thankfully they were persistent in their nightly calls and when I didn't answer they got worried and continued to call. When I finally answered Madre said that I could hardly talk and was not making much sense at all, I couldn't even tell them the right name of my date. The outcome of the night being that I was drugged, by my date or another I'm still not sure. And after talking to girls up here it seems to be a normal occurrence by Yankee boys and that almost every girl has been at one point. It's a scary thought and knowing that anything could have happened, I thank God every moment for watching over for me.

Thursday I spent the day over thinking everything and trying to make sense of the night before. I was in the City for less than 2 weeks and something bad had already happened. I can't deny the fact that I thought about coming back to the South. New York has always been my dream and so has fashion. I've waited for this opportunity my entire life and now that I have it, I question if it's what I really want. I'm a Southern girl and there will never be anything better to me than the South. I've always fought that I hated how small it was and that there was nothing there for me. That what I wanted to do was in New York and that it was the place I had to be. Although I'm learning so much and making great contacts, I would rather be back in home. Things there are much sweeter, slower and overall happier. I miss being able to see the stars and smell what clean air smells like. I miss Southern Boys that hold open the door, that believe in Brooks Brothers, Southern Tide and all things preppy. New York is completely different than what I thought it was. Everything is so fast paced and black is the color of choice. The men have no manners and the girls are either trash or sluts. It's dirty and loud and yes, this city never sleeps. But with all of my experiences and everything I'm learning, I'm becoming a stronger person and figuring out what I do want out of life.

I went out with a good friend from Pensacola last night that I haven't seen in years to a bar in Hoboken, New Jersey. It was so good to catch up with her and I'm thankful we're such great friends. She's one of the only ones that will tell me like it is and that I just need to grow up. Trust me I had my melt down at about 2 am and it wasn't pretty. But as usual she gave me the best advice that I needed to hear. Today I've been in a better perspective about things and am just taking each day as it comes.

Anyways I have a date with a new guy tomorrow. He's a science teacher at an all boys private school in the Upper East Side and he's from Wales. Yes he even has the accent! haha. It's a blind date so we'll see how it goes. We're going to the Met to explore the new exhibit on the rooftop and to the gardens. I'll keep you updated more often for now on.

Loves, Nikki

Dear New York, 

Why must all the cute and preppy men be gay?! An answer would be fantastic.

Love,

Nikki

Welcome to the Big Apple

Today was my very first day of my internship and the first full day I've spent in the City. After having to be at work at 10 am and not getting off till 6:30, I can now say that going to class is SO much easier than working full time. Although I spent the majority of my day unpacking jewelry boxes and then filling orders for Fall/Winter sales on Gilt. Yes, I said Gilt Groupe. Six hours of checking jewelry for defects, tagging boxes, filling individual boxes, rubber banding them, and then saran wrapping two orders of 25, one 50, 75, and 100. Yes, it is very time consuming. But, I can't complain because I got to see one of the new designs for Anne Taylor and got to see Pallo (asst. stylist for Ugly Betty and other shows) pick out items for up and coming movies! And the girls I work with are all amazing and KR herself is so different than I would have expected (in a good way.) As for the other interns I've only met one so far, Freddie Prince Jr, or that's at least who he looks like. He's cute, around 6 ft, dark hair and pretty trendy. He's a senior jewelry design major at FIT but major bummer ladies...he's gay like I'm talkin B.Spears dancing type. But he's absolutely precious to say the least.

Asides from working,  Me and Madre spent yesterday shopping and attempting to get settled in. Key word, ATTEMPT, why do I say that? Well the fridge doesn't really cool, the cable doesn't work, I have no internet, and my AC blows out hot air. Fabulous right? Hopefully it'll all be fixed by Friday at the latest. Although aside from the bad I finally got my Christian Louboutins that I've always wanted. They should really come with a warning label that they're not meant to be worn for long periods of time. I've decided that for now on I'm wearing flats to work and then changing when I get on the elevator and make the trek up to the 15th floor. Today we ventured down to Chelsea Piers Sports Club and oh my is that place absolutely ah-freaking-mazing!! Basketball Courts, Rock Climbing Wall, Boxing, Swimming Pools, Beach Volleyball Court, Indoor Track, 100's of classes and the list just goes on. After a successful tour and eyeing the hotties Madre decided to let me join! Yay! So excited, I think I'll start going after work starting Monday!

I've learned a few things the past 36 hours: 

-The majority of men in Hell's Kitchen are gay. 

-On the flip side there are some amazingly good looking men here too. 

-I now understand why New Yorkers are grumpy in the winter. Cold weather & rain is the worst!

-I'm in a shoppers paradise, except hardly anything is in a size 0.

-I miss supermarkets more than ever. Corner grocery stores kinda always lack.

-With all the walking I'm about to be doing I'm going to have some killer calves! haha. 

It's now 11:15 PM and definitely past my bed time. Sweet dreams until tomorrow! (Pics to come soon!)

The beginning of a beautiful friendship

Meet Your Author

I'm an aspiring fashion guru and new production & design intern in New York City. I'm 21 years young and living life to the fullest! I go to the best school in the SEC and couldn't ever imagine ever having gone else where. I'm a Southern pageant queen, ex-sorority girl and the most vivacious person you will ever meet. SEC football is my second religion and I believe in always wearing a dress and pearls to every game. Sporting the face tattoo and shaker is also a necessity and I'd rather have a game date than sit with the girls. (Only because Liquor Town is closer to the 50 yd line.) No matter where I am I always have my sparkly coozie with me, life wouldn't be complete without it. I believe in monograming everything and that I'd be lost without J.Crew and Lilly Pulitzer in my life. I have BIG dreams. I'm my Momma's pride & joy and my Daddy's little girl. My family and friends are truly my rock and keep me grounded when I tend to be flighty. I'm 100% girly girl but I'm still a tomboy at heart. I rock the Costas with blue & pink monogramed croakies. And live in pocket tees and Nike running shorts while I'm at school. I'm a Big City Girl living in a Small Town. I'm also one of the only ones from my hometown not getting married in the next year and that's still single.

I  believe that it's possible to have roots and still have wings. My roots have made me the person I am today. I grew up off the gulf coast of Florida, 20 minutes away from the Florida-Alabama state line (it's basically L.A. (Lower Alabama.))  I've been lucky enough to have the best of both worlds: the beach and the country. Two completely different lifestyles that I've luckily managed to intertwine. The beach has always been my saving grace and the place I could escape to. And it's also been one of my biggest inspirations for my designs and photography. It's where I spent my high school years and making memories that I hope to never forget. But the country, it's where I spent the majority of my time growing up these past almost 22 years. I come from a blue collar family where everything we have my Daddy has worked his tail off for. I've been hunting and fishing since I was only a year old and I can shoot a gun better than most boys can. I know how to drive a tractor and a backhoe and I can wire break lights on a semi. I was 5 when I started riding 4-wheelers and learned how to drive a Jeep in our hayfield. I grew up in a Southern Baptist church and every Sunday after we had lunch at my Grandparents. My family has taught me that if you want something bad enough you'll never let anything stand in your way. And my Momma has always said that there's always going to be people out there's jealous of you and you just gotta give 'em hell and kill 'em with kindness.

So you ask, "What's this blog going to be about?"

This blog is basically going to be my diary, open and standing there naked for all to read. It's a tale-all of the next few months of my life experiences and shenanigans as I venture through the next 3 months as a fashion intern in New York City. It's my hopes, my dreams and my desires of what I want to achieve in the Fashion Industry. It's my attempt at recounting for the events of my 22nd birthday. It's the entertainment of my dating life in the City. (Which yes will more than likely be very entertaining to many.) It's my list of goals, my rants and my thoughts for the next 3 months. It's my life in a nutshell through entries and photos. It's something that I hope in some ways will inspire some to dream big. So please fasten your seatbelt and hold on tight because it's about to be a wild ride.