The 9th Avenue International Food Festival

Get ready NYC! It's time to indulge at one of NYC's most popular street fairs. The 42nd annual Ninth Avenue International Food Festival takes place this year on Saturday, May 16th and Sunday, May 17th 2015 from Noon to 5PM on 9th Avenue in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan.

The annual food fest stretches out from 42nd to 57th Streets and brings in over a million people a year for fun and grub! Expect cuisine that is Greek, Spanish, Polish and Italian foods - to Chinese, South Korean and Indian specialties. 

Getting to the 9th Avenue food festival by subway:

From the East Side: Take 4, 5 or 6 train to Grand Central and transfer to the 7 train and exit at the Times Square station. Walk two blocks west to 9th Avenue.

From the West Side: Take the A, E or C train to 42nd Street-Port Authority and walk one block west to 9th Avenue; OR take the 1, 2 or 3 train to Times Square station and walk two blocks west to 9th Avenue

MRS

D.I.Y Homemade Facial Masks

Forget about spending money at your local spa, when you can get great skin with the ingredients from your kitchen! Treat yourself with these easy, homemade facial masks. 

Banana Facial Masks

You can use a banana as an all-natural, homemade facial mask that moisturizes your skin and leaves it looking and feeling softer. Mash up a medium-sized ripe banana into a smooth paste, then gently apply it to your face and neck. Let it set for 10 to 20 minutes, then rinse it off with cold water. Another popular mask recipe calls for 1/4 cup plain yogurt, 2 tablespoons honey, and 1 medium banana.

Vinegar Facial Masks

Vinegar can be used as a skin toner. After you wash your face, mix 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar with 2 cups water as a finishing rinse to cleanse and tighten your skin. You can also create a homemade facial mask by mixing 1/4 cup cider vinegar with 1/4 cup water. Gently apply the solution to your face and let it dry.

Milk Facial Masks

Make a mask by mixing 1/4 cup powdered milk with enough water to form a thick paste. Thoroughly coat your face with the mixture, let dry completely, then rinse with warm water. Your face will feel fresh and revitalized.

Oatmeal facial Masks

Combine 1/2 cup hot—not boiling—water and 1/3 cup oatmeal. After the water and oatmeal have settled for two or three minutes, mix in 2 tablespoons plain yogurt, 2 tablespoons honey, and 1 small egg white. Apply a thin layer of the mask to your face, and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes. Then rinse with warm water. 

MRS

Free Concerts in NYC – The Today Show

The best things in life are definitely free!  There are tons of free concerts happening in NYC this spring/summer, why not take advantage!?

*The Good Morning America concert series schedule has not yet come out… once that does will post for sure!

 The Today Show has been leading off concert series for nearly 20 years, and this year they are bringing the hit makers to Rockefeller Plaza. The series kicks off Friday, May 22. Here is the lineup:

May 22: Meghan Trainor

May 29: Pitbull (*In Orlando)

June 5: Charli XCX

June 12: Fall Out Boy

June 15 (*Monday): James Taylor

June 19: Nate Ruess

June 23: Janelle Monae and Wondaland

June 26: Imagine Dragons

July 3: Flo Rida

July 10: Carly Rae Jepsen

July 17: Alan Jackson

July 31: Jason Aldean

August TBD: Jennifer Lopez

August 12: Lunch Money Lewis

September 4: Brad Paisley

Fans and visitors are encouraged to come to the plaza for the live performances. Viewing is on a first-come, first-served basis outside TODAY's window-on-the-world studio, located at 49th Street and Rockefeller Plaza in New York City. Fans should arrive by 6 a.m. for best viewing. All concerts are Friday performances unless otherwise noted. Additional performances may be announced throughout the season.

MRS

Run For Your Life!

As I am getting older, I am becoming more aware of what I put into my body and my daily activity. It is so important for us to be healthy, and living in NYC we sometimes get caught up in our fast paced lifestyle and don’t make time for healthy living. There are so many activities and races, in particular, in the Tri-State area.

Here are some 5k races to look out for:

5k Foam Fest Brooklyn, NY- 2015

Saturday, June 13, 2015

Aviator Sports •Hangar 5 Floyd Bennett Field Brooklyn, NY 11234

The 5k Foam Fest is the newest and craziest race to hit the nation! Smiling and running don't usually go hand in hand but the 5K Foam Fest is an amazing mix of foam, mud and obstacles thus making fitness fun. Whether you like it dirty or clean the 5k Foam Fest has something for everyone. Imagine the excitement of a mud run combined with foam, ginormous inflatable obstacles, army crawls, foam, colossal walls, mud pits, cargo net climbs, foam, body washer, moon walk, foam, slip'n slides and water obstacles (did we mention foam). The 5k Foam Fest is a fun and exciting challenge for the experienced and beginner runners alike. The 5k Foam Fest makes exercising an absolute party for you and your friends.

BUBBLE PALOOZA NY/NJ Metro Area

Saturday, June 27, 2015

Middlesex County Fairgrounds• 655 Crandury Rd East  Brunswick, NJ 08816

The Bubble Palooza is the combination of a Spanish Tomato Toss, Big Bird’s Bath Tub and a box of Lucky Charms! The Palooza is a three mile course where an intense cornucopia of colorful bubbles will rain down on you and your friends.  Whether you walk, run, cartwheel or bunny hop through the epic walls of bubbles, you will end up looking like you got in a fight with a rainbow…and lost!

At the end of your journey you will be given a packet of colored corn starch to toss in the air that will transform you into a work of art at the music rock’in Bubblebash. Prepare to get lost in cloud of color and an enormous sea of colorful bubbles!

THE COLOR RUN NIGHT BROOKLYN 7/11/2015

Saturday, July 11, 2015

Aviator Sports and Events Center • 3159 Flatbush Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11234

The Happiest 5k is staying up late! With amazing new participant gear and the brightest race attractions you’ve ever seen, thousands of runners will light up the night sky! The Participant Kit includes a glowing special edition tee, black light headlamp, glow sticks and one of a kind glow color packet to help you glow with the flow!

LoziLu Women's Mud Run - New York 2015

Saturday, July 11, 2015

TBD New York Area• TBD New York, NY 11234

This fabulous 5k obstacle course is perfect for beginners and fitness divas alike. Laced with challenge, beauty, and feminine SWAG, LoziLu exists to help young patients with cancer live happier lives. Warm-up with professional trainers before you scale obstacles, climb nets, conquer walls, descend towering slides, and exfoliate in three mud baths. Dancing burns calories and there’s plenty of dancing at LoziLu’s three on-course Party Oases and the After Party. Accessorize at the finish with a sparkling medal to complete your muddy makeover then rock the Red Carpet where paparazzi capture your hot new look.

Brew Mile New York 2015

Saturday, July 18, 2015

AVIATOR Sports & Events Center• 3159 Flatbush Ave Floyd Bennett Field Brooklyn, NY 11234

The Brew Mile is your chance to combine your love of running with the finest beverage on the face of this good green earth – BEER. Finally an event that tests your liver as much as it tests your lungs, and is followed by one of the best parties of the year, with everything you and your friends are looking for on a Friday night. There’s everything you need to have a one of a kind experience – an amazing running event, a 3 hour open bar of delicious beer, live music, tons of drinking games, and all the good times you can handle.

The Chardonnay Run

Saturday, Aug 1, 2015

Hudson River Park Pier 26• New York City, NY 10013

The Chardonnay Run is a national 5K wine racing series! They focus on serving up fun - not to mention wine and cheese - to participants looking to grab their friends, put on their running shoes & enjoy a glass of wine!

Here is a list of Races in the Tri-State Area w/ more details.

MRS

Mother's Day Deals

DO NOT FORGET that Mother’s Day is THIS Sunday, May 10^th!

Here are some last minute deals for you last minute peeps:

Proflowers-  I actually order from this site frequently and they never let me down! I can always find a promo code to help save a few bucks and the product is always lovely. On their website just click where it says save 15% off now. Bouquets are starting at 16.99!! You cannot go wrong! Check it out

Shari’s Berries – A sister site of Proflowers, Shari’s Berris has all sorts of tasty treats like cookies, chocolate covered strawberries, and sweets for mom, auntie or grandma! They also have the 15% off discount going on! Check it out now.

Groupon  - I am obsessed with Groupon. I am constantly checking the site to see what new deals are available. They even have a mother’s day section with deals on perfumes, jewelry, spa treatments, restaurants, and cool home goods. The perfect place to find a great deal for mom! Here are the deals

Edible Arrangements  -  Is mom on a health kick? Well instead of chocolate, get her an edible fruit arrangement. Edible arrangements have a few arrangements put together just in time for Mother’s Day starting at $49. There are a few arrangements ( not made for mother’s day but still cute) that are cheaper on the site starting at $29. Order them now!

MRS

What’s Happening!? May in NYC

So after a long break, NYCmiss is back and refreshed. Thanks to all who have supported us! We are going to come up on our year anniversary soon- I can’t believe how fast a year has passed by!

Spring is FINALLY here in NYC and I couldn't be more excited for – fashion, food and events in this lovely city of mine.

Here are a few events that are happening this month in NYC:

Zombie Escape

May 6 - June 5, 2015

You and 11 others are Trapped in a Room with a Zombie on a chain and have one hour to solve clues and escape, at 355 7th Avenue. Buy Tickets here

Free Movies at the Park!

May 8 - Aug. 25, 2015

All over NYC parks there will be free movies showing in various parks. Here is a list of parks, dates and movies shown.

NYC Wine Festival

May 9^th

Taste 200 wines with hors d’oeuvres and live jazz at NYC Spring Wine Festival at Broad Street Ballroom. Coupon code “events12” saves 10%.

Yankees Game and Picnic

May 10 - July 5, 2015

Choose from two New York Yankees package deals with a seat and picnic meal at Yankee Stadium.

•May 10 - June 18: Field-level seat and unlimited picnic until 30 min. into game. Deal is $75+.

•May 23 - July 5: Center-field seat and unlimited picnic until 30 min. before game. Deal is $65+.

Bacon Festival

May 16 - 17, 2015

The Great Big Bacon Picnic is an indoor/outdoor gourmet bacon festival with 100 chefs, brew masters, and distillers offering bite-sized samples, spirits, and local craft beer in Williamsburg. Discount tickets $90+.

Summer Beer Festival

May 28 - 30, 2015

Sample 150 craft beers with local restaurant food at the NYC Craft Beer Festival at Pier 15 East River Esplanade.

MRS

Shopping High –End Designers for the Holidays

When people mention Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdales, Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom most people would think of high end designers that only these department stores will sell at a retail price. Over the past year and with the advantages of online shopping, these retailers opened an outlet version for online shopping. Sometimes with a little bit of luck and patience you can score a great pair of shoes or a handbag.

My personal favorite is Saksoff5th.com because of their high end designers that include: Gucci, Saint Laurent, Burberry and others. In the past I have gotten a Burberry Quilted Coat for a fraction of the retail price. Currently, Livingsocial has a promotion that you can buy a gift card of a $50 value for $35. This is perfect since you can save even more by buying the gift cards and then using them to purchase the item of your choice.

This item is on top of my list:

Saint Laurent

52mm Wayfarer Sunglasses

$149.99 (use Gobble to get an extra 40% off)

Other Outlet Department Stores:

 Nordstromrack

Neiman Marcus Last Call

Barneys Warehouse

NS