Week of Money: Where I prep for my NYC trip

DAY ONE

??:?? — Screaming.

??:?? — More screaming.

6:00 a.m. — I wake up still nauseous from that stupid bus driver yesterday morning and really not feeling good. I’m staying home today because Little Bun needs to see a doctor for his chronic nose bleeds.

6:10 a.m. — I log in and start working early so that I can still end my day at 5-ish and not have to work later to make up for the time at the doctor.

6:59 a.m. — I email three people, and start working on a document I have been leaving for a long time.

8:08 a.m. — I make a green tea, and pop an Advil extra strength, my head is killing me. The rain is not helping (the weather affects my nausea as well). I know in about 2 hours I have to feed Little Bun, and start getting prepped to leave for the doctor’s. It is RIGHT in the middle of his nap so I need him to nap in the car on the way there, and to not wake up grumpy so that the doctor can examine him (they may have to cauterize the inside of his nose to close off that blood vessel).

10:07 a.m. — Little Bun gets fed right on time and I start getting ready to go – washing my face, getting dressed, packing our bags…

11:23 a.m. — I start getting ready and prepped to leave. He will nap right in the car, and I brought my phone to make calls on the way and to hotspot my laptop to keep working if I need to. The work I do uses a lot of bandwidth so I may run out of external GB soon if I hotspot too often.

12:28 p.m. — We make it to the place early, so we hop off for a little bakery treat which he is very excited by. $5.06

1:28 p.m. — I am WAY on time for my appointment.. but… am sitting here, nauseous from being sick yesterday, and the weather not helping a bit.

2:12 p.m. — We finally see a doctor.

2:45 p.m. — Turns out, his nose bleeds may be due to the fact that his nose has to be super clean every day without any crusts in there (sorry, TMI) that will cut / tear the delicate skin inside when he rubs his nose. He has to have a saline solution dipped in a swab and pushed into his nose, then use to clean out every day, plus a humidifier in winter to stop the constant nose bleeding. All right! As long as he doesn’t need a vein cauterized.

3:25 p.m. — We finally get going, get caught in traffic, but I promised him pizza because he was SO GOOD for the doctor. Like amazing and calm and very poised.

4:15 p.m. — We take a Hawaiian pizza. I know people hate the mix but I love the sweet + savoury… and we devour it. $19.58

4:54 p.m. — At home, we get into the shower right away and wash off. He keeps repeating to me that Mommy will be gone this week and he has to be with Daddy. I repeat back that he will have stickers and my schedule as well. He nods and points out where I will be flying. He seems to be taking it well but we will see once I am actually gone.

5:25 p.m. — Shower over, I start cleaning the bathroom & spreading rosehip oil and this amazing lavender lotion on my body. My skin has never felt so soft and wonderful..

5:40 p.m. — I put away the dishes, and Little Bun goes off and happily plays by himself while singing B-I-N-G-O.

5:55 p.m. — I pack my credit card, some floss, grab a new notebook for the office…then keep working

6:25 p.m. — I log off from work and then play with Little Bun a little, and we take a nice shower together.

7:33 p.m. — Shower done, I get him dressed for bed with his little stuffed toy.

8:10 p.m. — I get ready to go to sleep, and we do a few math equations. I also repeat to him that Mommy is leaving this week.

Spent: $24.64

DAY TWO

7:00 a.m. — Little Bun sleeps in until 7 — WHY on a weekday and not a weekend?!?! I sigh and get ready for work, choosing to wear my $25 (!!) top that originally retailed for $425.. I belt it and it instantly elevated it. I love the folds and the draping complexity of the top so that it isn’t boring.

7:06 a.m. — I hear Little Bun snuffle in the bedroom and then I run and rub his back when I hear him squeal and cry out. Uh oh. It is going to be tough.

7:11 a.m. — I grab his milk and we manage to get ready for school without any tears.

7:20 a.m. — In the car and at preschool he is fine.

7:45 a.m. — Once we hit preschool he bursts into tears, uncontrollable, red, pink, wailing tears. I can’t even calm him down.

7:51 a.m. — I desperately offer him a treat and decide to go out and grab a croissant for him. I end up buying one croissant, pain au chocolate, a clafoutis of raspberry and a financier in green tea. $9.67

7:59 a.m. — I head back to the preschool and hand him the croissant and then I go into work.

8:30 a.m. — I do a meeting and don’t even get to my pain au chocolat until I’m in my next meeting, I don’t even care I just eat it in front of everyone.

11:14 a.m. — Non-stop meetings all day. If I am in meetings this means I can’t be working, amirite? How do we expect me to get anything done if I am not working?!?

11:23 a.m. — I cancel on yoga today — a wet ground AND it is wet? No thank you. I’ll go next week.

12:15 p.m. — I head to lunch forgetting completely about my buyer today for a lingerie set I bought online but didn’t realize that I have zero bust to fill out a Medium O_o….

12:45 p.m. — eat lunch — a vegan patty with two eggs on the side, and a cake.

12:49 p.m. — She messaged me and is so sweet to have waited I felt TERRIBLE. When I finally realize she was waiting I RAN and messaged her and she came back, OMG. She is so sweet that when I see her I hug her. LOL. I sell the item and bless her for her big chest to fit into it. +$120

1:26 p.m. — I head off to meeting # … I’ve lost count.

2:12 p.m. — I get back to work and leave my clafoutis for tomorrow morning. I have no appetite, my brain and body is spent.

4:09 p.m. — I grab Little Bun and go. They told me they were worried he was at home yesterday because he broke me in the car and screamed about not wanting to go to school. I told them no, it was a doctor thing and he did fine… ish. I need to clean his nose nightly.

4:35 p.m. — It is so nice that we head to the park. I have on my super huge hoodie that makes me look like a Star Wars Sith Lord but is a leather raincoat that is waterproof and very handy, as it also blocks the sun.

4:50 p.m. — I make a note to stock up on Paula’s Choice cleansers on for 50% off especially their oil remover!!

5:27 p.m. — I buy a huge stock of 8 bottles online because it is 50% off and the best deal you’re going to get for the cleansing oil. Even their best deals are 30% to 40% off. $131.32

6:00 p.m. — We finally head back home from the park and as we’re checking the mail (my partners’ shoes came in!), we run into my partner at the lobby who was also there eagerly waiting for his Tom Ford Edgar Chelsea boots as well. LOL…

6:07 p.m. — We head upstairs, and my partner starts marinating chicken wings for dinner with a salad and some bread. Little Bun runs around squealing and is in general very energetic but happy.

7:08 p.m. — We finish eating, and I clean up a little, and log in to do my bills, scheduling credit card payments.

7:50 p.m. — I get him ready to go to sleep.

8:14 p.m. — We are all in bed, and I pass out after 4 math equations.

Earned: $120

Spent: $140.99

DAY THREE

5:48 a.m. — I wake up and I am tired… I quietly go out and work on my emails a little to organize my trip and my life to make sure everything is done before I go.

6:00 a.m. — I quickly start a load of kitchen laundry, I want to pop them in the dryer before I leave for work

6:07 a.m. — Little Bun wakes up crying for me. I run and grab his milk.

6:11 a.m. — “MOMMEEEE!!!“..and I go put the milk away, and pat him back to sleep.

6:46 a.m. — Little Bun wakes up and I hug and kiss him. He needed that little nap to feel better.

6:55 a.m. — I get ready, and we share a banana while I drink my green tea and pack everything for work.

7:00 a.m. — He keeps saying to me happily: UH OH! MOMMY! It is getting late! Look! Already 7 o’clock! .. he is so cute sometimes.

7:19 a.m. — I am FINALLY OUT THE DOOR. Whoa this is late. I am not going to have time to stop for milk, which I had planned on doing. Instead, I will be at the post office after work returning items.

8:08 a.m. — At work, I grab a tea and start working. I’m beat.

9:33 a.m. — Meeting (#1 and #2 over), I get bothered by people in a revolving line, so I just grab my papers and leave to concentrate on my work.

10:33 a.m. — I continue working.

12:08 p.m. — I head to lunch. I’m not that hungry so I eat chips. Yeah, I’m not a poster child for good health this week.

12:28 p.m. — I get back from lunch and chatting with some new people who joined the company, and then back to work until it’s time to leave.

12:37 p.m. — I keep getting pestered with questions about things and I AM NOT GOING TO GET WORK DONE IF YOU KEEP ASKING ME STUFF. I think I need a bubble.

4:19 p.m. — Out of here, off to mail some things.

4:22 p.m. — I mail off packages and pick up more stamps. I choose dinosaurs this time because Little Bun likes them. $21.97

4:50 p.m. — At home, Little Bun greets me in his pyjamas (hmm guess no one changed today), and my partner finishes working. He was run ragged like I was today.

5:08 p.m. — A friend messages me to promise me homemade sushi.. Yeah. WHEN. LOL..

5:34 p.m. — My partner and Little Bun head off for their first soccer game. OMG. YES. PEACE AND QUIET.

6:11 p.m. — I pick up a few more of these Cosabella bralettes for cheap on eBay because they’re great when you want minimal coverage in the summer and still want to be comfy. $257.89

7:34 p.m. — Little Bun and my partner come in the door.

7:58 p.m. — I get ready for bed with Little Bun.

Spent: $279.86

DAY FOUR

6:02 a.m. — I wake up just after 6 and start getting ready so that I’m not rushing. This is the last day I’ll have the car at work so I bring my suitcase ahead of time to leave it at the office so I won’t have to lug it on the bus.

6:34 a.m. — Little Bun wakes up in a sweet spot just shortly after me which gives me time to make up and him to drink his milk and then get dressed.

6:40 a.m. — He very happily helps me roll out and pack my suitcase. Last minute I added yoga pants and a cashmere sweater just in case the weather gets unpredictable and I need a change of clothes. I will see if they come in handy and then I can tweak my packing again.

6:47 a.m. — I get him dressed, and then we head off to preschool.

7:19 a.m. — Just before school, we sit down and do all the LookBooks we have missed and bring it all up to date.

7:40 a.m. — At the office I make a tea and start working.

11:02 a.m. — I have 3 meetings and then back to my desk for work.

12:30 p.m. — I head out to lunch for a fancy seafood treat… $42.59

2:56 p.m. — Back at work, another long meeting to discuss work stuff. I’m dying to leave.

3:58 p.m. — I keep going until it is time to leave. I grab Little Bun and head to the park for a bit of playtime before going home to finalize my packing and laundry.

4:56 p.m. — I take a long shower (always do this before a flight to feel fresh), and recheck my packing list.

5:26 p.m. — I check the weather and it looks like no rain but I pack an umbrella anyway. I also pack an extra sweater and yoga pants — you never know. I might need a change of clothes or it will suddenly be a cold snap and I don’t want to freeze.

6:11 p.m. — I also plan (tomorrow) to list what I’ll do when I get there like hit a CVS pharmacy to pick up some Stateside-only items like that Maybelline Brow Tattoo Pen or any other items that look interesting.

6:26 p.m. — I won’t have much time before we have to meet for dinner so I don’t want to hit any shops or travel too far out of the way.

6:27 p.m. — I also need to figure out lunch so I decide on Shake Shack for when I land… but before that maybe just some Starbucks. I don’t like stuffing myself for the plane just in case I get sick.

6:51 p.m. — I tie up blog loose ends but as I plan on bringing my laptop I only preload images to post for later, so I can do it quickly and not waste time.

7:00 p.m. — My partner comes home and starts making a going away dinner for me. <3

8:56 p.m. — Bedtime.

Spent: $42.59

DAY FIVE

7:03 a.m. — Little Bun wakes up quite late around 7-ish but I don’t want to leave without saying goodbye so I wait patiently (impatiently?) by putting away the laundry, washing a bowl and putting away the dishes. I get dressed for work and check and recheck my list again for packing.

7:11 a.m. — I put the Transderm patch on to stop my motion sickness.

7:23 a.m. —I leave and get to the bus stop and hop on. I use the STM Airport pass which lets you ride on anything and costs as much as a full day pass. $10

7:45 a.m. —I have to end up switching buses because the one I’m on leaves in 10 minutes and the other is going right away.

7:51 a.m. — The bus arrives on time.

8:13 a.m. — My suitcase is already packed at the office so I grab my bag with my items and head into the office.

8:30 a.m. — At work I start working and try to tie up loose ends. It is pretty dead.

9:17 a.m. — I leave to catch my bus. At the stop, I’m reorganizing my items to make them all properly packed.

10:23 a.m. — I get on the bus. $0

10:30 a.m. — I walk to my stop for the airport bus and it arrives on time. $0

11:25 a.m. — We get to the airport early, and I breeze through security and customs. I have my laptop already out, my liquids in a separate pouch and my slip on and off shoes.

11:40 a.m. — I make it through the line but then I forget my laptop and the guards chase me down to give it back. OMG. I’m not used to traveling with a laptop at all, I was not thinking.

12:04 p.m. — I make it through U.S. customs easily and then I’m about an hour early.

1:20 p.m. — I am hungry and decide on sushi. $14.97

1:23 p.m. —I also buy a Starbucks White chocolate and a cake. $9.33

1:26 p.m. —I check my emails and my partner asks me to buy 5 belts for him online. $146.49 but my cost is $0 as he will pay me back.

1:30 p.m. —I check the gate and notice it changed, so I head to the other. I’m getting a little sleepy from the patch.

2:00 p.m. —I try to log in to work but the wifi is spotty. I keep trying until my flight arrives.

2:02 p.m. —The check in woman tries to scare us into checking in our bags to arrive at the carousel instead of putting it in the cabin but I decide to take a chance and put my suitcase up. In the end, there was A TON of space.

2:26 p.m. —I get on the plane and no one sits beside me. OMG awesome, I’m so happy…

2:36 p.m. —I start on: The truth about looking good from BBC .. and am interested in the truth versus science.

2:46 p.m. —I hate all the flight announcements, honestly.

3:24 p.m. — Back to skin – so far it sounds like in some environments like where we live (not the desert) moisturizer seems to be a load of hock. I did notice that once I STOPPED it and all the other hydrating things, my skin stopped breaking out on the chin and cheeks, I guess I’m very sensitive.. they can add moisture with glycerin but don’t do much else. So far it is all things I know — 75% of wrinkles come from the sun and it is sun screen and retinols that can help. Sunscreen to prevent wrinkles and retinols to reverse some of the damage. Dry brushing works the best for cellulite apparently! Going to need to brush more…

3:42 p.m. —I actually never take my seatbelt off even when seated. It doesn’t bother me and it can save your life if the plane is in major turbulence and you won’t be flung around like a rag doll…

3:50 p.m. —I apply sunscreen on my face, arms and tops of my feet before leaving the plane.

4:11 p.m. — This patch for motion sickness is making me feel sleepy but better sleepy than dizzy AND it is still better than Gravol that knocks me out completely — I’m truly drugged.

4:14 p.m. — The plane lands and I book it with my luggage to the bus to NYC. I could take the metro but apparently the bus is more comfortable which .. in the end it is because it brought me to Grand Central Terminal directly and I didn’t have to lug my suitcase. I buy a return trip too. $30 USD

5:28 p.m. — We finally get dropped off at Grand Central (the bus guy was trying to fill the bus as much as possible to not waste a trip).

5:46 p.m. — I walk to the Air BnB but I have no sense of direction and get lost twice.

6:00 p.m. — I finally make it to the apartment just as the girls are coming out of it. They bring me back up to the apartment and then I drop my stuff and we go out walking and make our way to the restaurant where we are all meeting.

6:33 p.m. — A great walk and chat later, we make it to the restaurant and STUFF ourselves. My share comes out to a reasonable amount. $20 USD

6:45 p.m. — We start walking and make it to a bar where they all order cool cocktails and a glass of wine but I take a Shirley Temple which the bartender doesn’t even put on the bill to charge me. Sweet! $0

6:56 p.m. — We take a small little cake to nosh on together because it is super fancy here. $12 USD

7:40 p.m. — We start walking and hit all the pharmacies looking for this Maybelline Tattoo Brow Pen. NONE. Not at Duane Reade, CVS … and when I get back, I google that it is only at Target or Walmart. LOL.

8:25 p.m. — We cab it back to the apartment. My share is $2.50 USD

9:03 p.m. — Back at the apartment there is NO hot water for a shower for anyone (oh no!!!) and the AC seems to be set permanently to “Siberia”.

9:35 p.m. — We fiddle with the thermostat until it is done. Then we all tiredly chat – my friend and I both have huge toiletry and makeup bags but the other two girls have nothing! Just soap and water apparently. I’m envious and horrified LOL.. my skin would never take that.

10:45 p.m. — We all get dressed for bed and collapse exhausted.

Spent: $34.30

USD Spent: $64.50

DAY SIX

6:34 a.m. — We grab a Starbucks and wander around. $5.36 USD

6:56 a.m. — We end up checking out the area around Rockefeller but the Japanese cake shop moved so I have to change up my plans.

7:15 a.m. — My back is in serious pain right now. I slept funny on the roll out couch last night.

7:23 a.m. — We head back to the apartment where we meet up with the other two girls and then get ready to head out.

8:25 a.m. — We go to eat lunch at this fantastic place and everyone is stuffed. $20 USD

9:40 a.m. — We drop by a downtown Target to try and find that brow mascara from Maybelline Brow Tattoo (no luck) and people buy a few things but I only pick up and ELF foundation brush. $13.97 USD

9:52 a.m. — As we are walking up to shop at MMLafleur, we stop by and find a bunch of pretty prints to buy with New Yorker covers.

10:00 a.m. — I end up resisting the temptation on these musical wooden carousels for $60 for Little Bun (they look amazing) and we make it to our appointment just in time.

10:30 a.m. — AT MM LAFLEUR!!!!!! I try on a whole bunch of stuff at the store and end up buying:

• Taylor dress in Viridian Green — it fits perfectly but the waist is a bit too fitted so I grab the 6 as usual..
• Deneuve Tops in Cream & Blackberry in XS (they are oversized)
• Fey Top in Forest Green (size Small) in Forest Green
• Soho Skirt (Size Medium) in Forest Green
• Two belts – Broadway and other in the perfect brownish olive green.
• Two ponchos – in charcoal grey and in a cream

11:45 a.m. — I almost also buy the Lenox skirt (like my Amaranth one) in a US 4 but want to try it on before so I say No.

11:48 a.m. — I also wanted the Casey dress but couldn’t even get it over my shoulders and would have needed the Medium to be comfortable but then the front part was too loose in my bust.

12:03 p.m. — Lastly, I really liked the Etsuko dress but the colours are all the ones I own in the Taylor style so it would be a waste to have so many dupes.

12:07 p.m. — I decide to stalk these pieces instead online and eye their inspiration board:

12:10 p.m. — The total damage ends up being $1675 USD

12:03 p.m. — Damn!!! But I love all the pieces so I’m not annoyed.

12:34 p.m. — I then head up with a friend (the other two got bored) to look at Pianos and decide on another brand that plays so beautifully. It would cost about $35,000 USD so I make a note. It would need to be fitted with the headphones for practicing.

1:45 p.m. — We stop by Fuku to eat and the meal was disappointing — the chicken burger was the best but this is not what I expected — I wanted FRIED chicken. $15 USD

2:09 p.m. — I take a milk bar with cereal topping to go – I managed to skip the line by ordering the dessert inside the seated eating place and didn’t wait 2 hours outside to get a taste. $8 USD

2:33 p.m. — We then head over to shop some more at another store but I’m starting to flag.

3:45 p.m. — I buy some Japanese cakes as souvenirs for Little Bun and my partner. $44 USD

4:51 p.m. — I pick up some Commando skirt slips, and a black lacy slip for underneath a specific dress. $155 USD

5:27 p.m. — We then book it downtown to eat at a fancy sushi place and it was AMAZING. $179 USD

6:23 p.m. — We go to the Strand after sushi and I pick up three cotton totes that are sturdy and zippered for the car. $86 USD

7:15 p.m. — We then head to Times Square to soak up the ambience, and I buy two little shirts for Little Bun he will love — an airplane flap shirt and a NYC cab shirt in bright yellow. $16 USD

8:47 p.m. — While in line, a real New Yorker snaps at a girl standing behind me and looks like she wants to start a fight.

9:40 p.m. — We then hang out in Times Square and then head to have a drink. I take a Shirley Temple. $3 USD

11:53 p.m. — Back at the apartment we collapse, I unpack everything but I’m tired.

USD Spent: $2065.33

DAY SEVEN

6:33 a.m. — Still no hot water. I wake up early, pack everything and then go over to another hotel that a girl checked into last night because she claims she saw a cockroach. At least there, there is hot water.

7:25 a.m. — I arrive and she informs me that she didn’t know I already left because she would have told me not to come because she wants to do her own thing today before leaving.

8:15 a.m. — I manage to get a hot shower in anyway, I walked 8 blocks for this!!! I wash all the dirt and crap off my legs and feet — I have no idea how they got so filthy but my feet were BLACK. I scrub myself down and then do my makeup.

8:25 a.m. — I then repack my stuff and say goodbye. She doesn’t come with me to say goodbye to anyone else but no worries.

9:03 a.m. — Back at the apartment, we pack up and then head off for breakfast. We decide on dim sum in Chinatown and then wander around for half an hour until we find a cheap $30 USD suitcase for a girl who bought too much.

9:45 a.m. — After we find her suitcase, we see Glossier and end up buying and trying on things. I snag their Boy Brow in black. $17.50 USD

11:34 a.m. — We then pick up some food to eat at the airport for dinner. $11.49 USD

12:37 p.m. — We wander up trying to find the guys selling prints and posters but it is drizzling outside so no one is around risking the papers getting wet.

1:20 p.m. — We stop by a Sephora and the brush I wanted is like the cheap one I ended up with so I save my $35 USD…..

2:05 p.m. — On a whim I decide to take the cab with the girls to the airport (our flights leave at the same time).. but the cab that picks us up is a Prius and the guy has no idea how to drive it. He is jerking the car the entire time by giving it energy and then taking his foot off, etc. No steady flow of foot pressure and this ends up making me sick.

2:46 p.m. — I regret the cab. I should have used my ticket for the bus back because at least that would have been less jerk-y (they can’t do stop and go gassing in such a huge vehicle).

3:45 p.m. — I stumble out of the cab nauseous. My friend pays because she can expense it to her company. $0 USD

3:49 p.m. — I do self check in and the girls are so nice, they help me get to the gate and move slowly as I am so sick.

4:11 p.m. — The agent is barking orders at us and I’m so nauseous I can’t even remember the laptop and the other items I brought like my Kobo Glo (useless, crossing that off my list next time),and I end up getting security checked twice.

4:15 p.m. — First, for the electronics…and second for the rice cakes. The beautiful peach mochi I paid $17 USD for, gets opened and checked because the little round rice balls look like explosives on the screen.

4:19 p.m. — They finally let me go and I stumble to the gate to sit with the girls.

4:30 p.m. — They watch my stuff and let me nap to regain some balance back.

4:54 p.m. — I eat half of my food but can’t continue. I pack it.

5:05 p.m. — I decide to sleep again and wake up from my mini cat naps and my nausea is pretty much gone. Thank goodness.

5:24 p.m. — I finish the rest of my food and share my strawberry KitKat with the others — spoiler alert it isn’t worth the trouble.

5:30 p.m. — I should have bought chocolate for the plane but didn’t think and end up paying $3.26 USD for a SINGLE BAR when I know in stores it is only a buck. Ugh. I should have planned better. $3.26 USD

5:47 p.m. — I get on the plane, and the ride is smooth until we go to land, and then my left side of my brain starts feeling like the eardrum is about to burst.. I feel like someone is shoving knitting needles in my brain and my ears, and I am literally crying from the pain.. it is unlike anything I have ever felt before.

7:22 p.m. — I get off the plane finally, the pain subsides, and customs was very quick, considering no one was around.

7:32 p.m. — I ponder taking the metro but decide on a cab. I cannot handle any more of this. I am feeling nauseous, and I am tired, and I miss Little Bun and my partner. $65

7:55 p.m. — At home, Little Bun squeals and runs into my arms hugging and kissing me. He tells me I was gone for these days on the calendar and then proceeds to tell me everything he did, while playing. Then he grabs my arm and my hand and starts saying: MOMMY MOMMY COME HERE. COME HERE MOMMY!

8:22 p.m. — I unpack everything, wash my face, change, and collapse into bed. I am feeling nauseous and my whole left ear and brain is still throbbing a little, plus my back is killing me.

9:46 p.m. — We chat excitedly, I give Little Bun his two shirts, and then we all go to sleep. Work tomorrow.

USD Spent: $32.25

Spent: $65

———-

Want more? Read all of my previous Week of Money Diaries.