To Do: Magnum Ice Cream Bar Pop Up Shop

I LOVE ice cream! Yes, more than you... for an after dinner treat, reward for a job well done, or Saturday morning breakfast a snack at the beach/park/pool there is nothing better than ice cream. Recently, when I was in SoHo for dinner with a friend I passed by a store front with Magnum Ice Cream logos outside. You know, the wonderfully decadent ice cream bars at the grocery store that come encased in the most luscious chocolate. I was intrigued but, sadly, I couldn't stop in because I didn't want us to miss out on our reservation. Of course, I needed to know more; enter internet research! I was pleased to learn that what I had passed by was actually a make your own Magnum Ice Cream bar pop-up shop for the summer! Yes, let's all freak out about it together. Apparently, Magnum Ice Cream has been rolling out temporary make your own pop up pop shops like this around the world but, this is the first in the United States. When Hubby and I were heading out for date night, last Friday, this experience had to be dinner part of the equation. Yummy (non ice cream) dinner? Check. Wandering around SoHo looking at interesting street art? Check, (hello, #lovewall.) Delicious make your own ice cream concoctions? You bet!

When we went in I was surprised by the lack of a line or crowds in general. Don't get me wrong, there were people there but, not throngs of crazed ice cream lovers like me. Before they burst out from wherever they were hiding I approached the counter tentatively. I, honestly, wasn't sure where to start my Magnum pop up shop experience (at the cash register on the left so you can pay first) but, the staff was very helpful and ushered us forward. You start with a choice of chocolate or vanilla (no added hormone) ice cream, then comes the fun part. You pick three toppings from the assortment of over twenty different choices like chopped nuts, Himalayan sea salt, espresso sugar, or rose petals. Lastly your ice cream bar assistant will dip your bar in white, milk, or dark Belgian chocolate. While it cools they shake up your topping choices and then methodically sprinkle them over your waiting ice cream bar. They then finish it with another drizzle of chocolate and little chocolate M token.

Despite the overwhelming amount of choices we managed to make important ice cream decisions. Hubby got chocolate ice cream with espresso sugar, cookie crumble, hazelnut crunch, and a white chocolate drizzle. I got vanilla ice cream with chocolate covered sunflowers seeds, Himalayan pink salt, white chocolate covered rice crisp, and a white chocolate drizzle. Since there weren't hoards of people we were even able to take a seat and to enjoy our creations. Yum!  

So, make time and run, don't walk, to the Magnum Ice Cream bar pop-up shop in SoHo at 134 Prince Street, between Wooster Street and West Broadway. Their hours of operation are 12pm-8pm Sunday-Wednesday and 12pm-9pm Thudsay-Saturday from now until mid-August.  I will be heading back soon, as well, and we might bump into each other. Why? Because I need to try every permutation of deliciousness possible before the season ends and they close.

I was NOT compensated for this post the opinions are all my own.

re-fashioNYC

You guys know how big I am about thrifting partly because of the great deals but, also because of the benefits for the environment! The City of New York is thinking the same thing and has started the re-fashioNYC program in response.

 

Annually NYC residents throw away approximately 200,000 tons of clothes, towels, blankets, curtains, shoes, handbags, belts, and other textiles and apparel. Frankly I think that can be attributed to laziness on their part but, the city of New York is going to make it ridiculously convenient for people who don't donate due to the lack of convenience.

re-fashioNYC is a partnership between the City of New York and Housing Works  to make clothing donation through convenient in-building drop-off service at no cost to the building or taxpayers. The program is expected to grow slowly in response to participation requests and Housing Works ability to expand its services. 

If you're interested in participating in this new and convienient clothing reuse program, fill out the form here!

Weekend Wear: Wandering Around NYC

This past weekend I met up with a friend to hit one of the many holiday street fairs that are happening in NYC. It was a pretty cold day but, we had tons of fun anyway. The Holiday Shops at Bryant Park have lots of unique and fantastic handmade goodies to give to your loved ones this season! I recommend stopping by if you are in the city.

This outfit was all about warmth! I know that jegging tucked into UGGS with a sweatshirt on top is so not acceptable in terms of high any fashion but, no one saw what I was wearing except the interior of my car as I drove into the city. Either way that is not what I want to focus on... I really want to pay homage to this amazing coat!

I call it my 30° coat since I only pull it out of the closet when the temps dip that low or lower. It is the warmest thing and has proven itself winter after winter as one of the best shopping choices that I have ever made! Why? Well, because I spent a whopping $8.00 on this heavy duty wool, fully lined coat at one of Steve and Barry's crazy sales! I think that evens out to something like .22  and dropping per wear if you count only the days in winter for the past three years that I have been utilizing it! I've had to refasten a button or two but, that's no big deal...

• Top: black and gray tank tops, Old Navy; white zip front hoodie, compliments of Cougar Boots; navy coat, Bitten via Steve and Barry's
• Bottom: denim jeggings, LOFT/birthday gift from Mom
• Shoes & Accessories: black boots, UGG via Nordstrom; black and silver scarf, Old Navy/gift from BF's family; gray Le-Dix/motorcycle bag, Balenciaga