Not all who wander are lost

I am living vicariously through my nail polish.

Now I know that sounds crazy, but just hear me out.

Tableau on Big Apple Red.

I go to get my mani and pedi before leaving home for the city and spot a festive red that I know will make my toes pop in my 3-inch peep-toe heels. I grab the small OPI bottle, shake it to really see the color and turn it over to complete one of my new, favorite past-times…reading the clever names of polish colors. And then I see it. I have chosen Big Apple Red.

You know how you think that you pick your polish? Well I think that the polish picks you. Why else would the red I chose first be called Big Apple Red? I could have just as easily went for the Got The Blues for Red or the I’m Not Really a Waitress. No, no. I’m in a New York state of mind, so it only makes sense that, instinctually, I would spot a color with such a perfect name.

And it’s only apropos that Big Apple Red is on my toes. My toe nail polish lasts a long time, so Big Apple Red – completely bright and lively – will be with me as a common thread throughout my summer, just like NYC itself will be. What will be changing are my experiences…and my nail color…weekly.

Tableau on Italian Love Affair.

For my hands, I choose a mauvy-pink, light enough to look clean even if it chips, but still screaming “I am totally ready for summer.” So me and my Big Apple Red and my Italian Love Affair head to the city that never sleeps.

While it was fun for a few days, I had to nix my Italian stallion - he started to chip. So Jess replaced it with Calypso- my Barbie-pink bosom buddy bright enough to start a fire. The name and the summery color reminded me of Costa Rica, which reminded me of wild nights, which is probably why I had such a fabulous time last night going out on the town. Good ol’ Calypso didn’t let me down. How am I ever supposed to top it with next week’s color?

As for my toe nail polish, now that’s a different story. Big Apple Red…I am starting to think you got it all wrong. Seems more to me that this Big Apple is green.

Spotlight on Bleaker Street – where money is passed off as haphazardly as it is in Monopoly.

Jess and I perused Intermix and Juicy Couture and we met with some new friends – Marc Jacobs, James Perse and Olive and Betty’s.

But how did we get to this shopper’s paradise? We wandered. When we woke up this morning, we were aching for brunch, so I found a quaint restaurant with a name as unique as its food selection – Elephant & Castle. I sipped on iced coffee while savoring my egg white omelet with goat cheese, fresh tomato and basil (it’s OK…you should be jealous). Then, we wandered.

But not all who wander are lost. You see, that’s the great thing about life. You don’t have to know where you are going to get there. And Jess and I had no idea where we were going today. No particular destination. No plans. No time constraint. So we wandered.

We wandered past Jefferson Market Garden and Jackson Square, along streets that house million-dollar town homes with colorful doors and fresh flowers, and into vintage stores, including my newfound favorite, Zachary’s Smile…and let me tell you, his smile would make you smile. The vintage store sells clothing from the early 1900’s and each article of clothing is more exquisite than the next.

It was then that our travels brought us to Tea and Symphony. Feeling classy, we tantalized our taste buds with high tea at 3 in this charming tea room that only has room for 20 people at a time. With a beautiful porcelain tea pot of green tea all to myself, I couldn’t help but indulge in a warm scone with homemade strawberry jam.

So our “what do we do today” quickly turned into a “do anything and everything day.” I’ll no longer worry about what polish color will be next week’s fling. It seems that having no particular direction can be just the direction you need.