°˖✧✝ Birthday Celebration in the City ✝✧˖°

No, I wasn't celebrating mine, but a friend's. Both of our birthdays are in the month of May, but because my birthday was always during my finals in college, I've conditioned myself not to really celebrate it. I know I have to get myself out of such a habit, but for now, it has stuck. So, I celebrated with my friend on hers a week or so later. 

Birthday girl, Nina

To celebrate, she wanted to spend her hard earned money on brand, and we obliged. So off we went to the BABY store in New York City. There were four of us that day, but all of us were coming from different locations. Two of our other friends were supposed to meet up with Nina in the city to go to the store together and I was supposed to meet them at the store. I really thought I was going to be the last one to show up, but it turned out that I arrived right on time. On the other hand, I was the only one there!    

Dramatic Dramatization

"They know my Goth-ness doesn't allow me to be in direct sunlight.
Where are they?"

Blouse: Juliette et Justine
Bustier: Alice and the Pirates
Skirt: BABY, the Stars Shine Bright
Accessories: Handmade or Offbrand 

Honestly, I didn't mind waiting, but the thought of me doing so in the heat (and with no protection from my coffin) made my friends giggle. I'll admit it was hot, but I knew I could always go to Vivi to cool down with some bubble tea. And I did exactly that. For aesthetic reasons (I'm such a loser Goth), I chose their Black Moo Milk. I mean, com on, it's black, I had to.

Thank goodness I went to Vivi, because if I didn't, I wouldn't have known I left my bank card at home! That's right, I was a Lolita in New York City about to go to the BABY store, without money. Can you believe it?! I was at the counter expecting to use my card, when I looked in my wallet and saw nothing in it. I tried really hard to put on a smile while rummaging through my purse looking for loose singles as the worker waited and I held up the line. As a testament to my silly luck and laziness, I found $40 tucked into a small pocket in my purse.  

I was saved from utter embarrassment in Vivi, but knew I wouldn't be able to escape looking like a loser with no money in the BABY store. When my friends finally showed up, I wanted to just hide my face when we walked in the store. I was there once again picking over their merchandise without buying anything substantial. In an effort to make up for it, I decided to spend at least half of what I had in the store. *laugh* But that's only socks- if I was lucky!

Source: Tokyo Rebel stock photo

Unfortunately, I didn't see any socks that I really liked. Or maybe, I should say "fortunately," since I didn't have much money to spend anyway! Instead, I bought an illustration book by Yoh. So it wasn't a complete lost after all.

Sorona and her mint ice tea.

When we were done in the store, we went to go eat at the Japanese restaurant we dined at the last time we visited the BABY store. I think it has become our "spot" now. But I can't even think of the restaurant's name! We just usually call it "that restaurant by BABY." We're terrible, I know.

We basically ordered the same lunch special from last time, because it's the best $11 you'll ever spend in New York City. But, to show our adventurous side, we tried the restaurant's specially drinks. Sorona choose their mint ice tea, while the rest of us tried their lychee one.
   
Both teas turned out to be really good! And the fresh mint leaves and lychee pieces turned out to be a nice touch. The best part was eating the lychee at the end.

I ended up paying $20 for lunch (taxes and tip included).
Can you guess how much money I have left?

While the lychee was sweet and served as a great topper to our meal, we wanted something else. We decided to find some "real dessert" in the area. We ended up finding a business that sold homemade ice cream with original flavors, and it was honestly the best ice cream I've ever had. Admittedly, I was on the fence when we finally found the highly recommended ice cream spot, Luca & Bosco. I was expecting a storefront of some sort, but, after walking into the doors of a marketplace, I saw that the business was just a cart at the entrance.

We were allowed to choose two free samples from their selection, and I wish I could have tasteed all of them! Each one sounded extremely tasty. I made the tough decision of getting a scoop of their Honey Lavender and another one with the word "molasses" in it (sorry, I forgot the name). I thought the flavors wouldn't taste right together, but the two were delicious and complemented each other nicely! And their Honey Lavender flavor is so heavenly! My friend described it as eating a bouquet of flowers.      

When I picked my flavors, I thought they looked a little like me (if ice cream can look like people), so I tried to take a picture with it. But you can't even see the color of the ice cream because of the light reflecting off of it! Oh well, at least my friends saw how much my ice cream and I looked like twins.

°˖✧ 'Till next time