I’ve been making all sorts of lists to get myself ready for my upcoming trip.

I’m a huge proponent of lists. Mostly because I have a terrible memory and if I don’t write things down I will most likely forget. Even though I don’t normally start packing until the night before (sometimes even the day of) I always start making lists of what I need to pack/buy very early on. I find that if I start packing too early that’s usually when I tend to over pack.

Packing is always a struggle for me because I tend to want to pack everything. I use this little trick to make sure I don’t over pack. Usually I try to do this when I have limited luggage space, especially when I’m planning a backpacking trip and staying at hostels.

Basically, each number from 1-5 represents a category and also the number of items I’m allowed to pack per category.

Here’s an example of what I would normally pack:

5 - tops (including a cardigan/jacket)

4 - bottoms (jeans, shorts, leggings and skirt)

3 - dresses

2 - footwear (depends on where I’m going but usually 1 pair of sandals and 1 pair of flats)

if I’m going somewhere warm I’ll also pack 2 sets of swimsuits

1 - pjs

I also like to pack a small (empty) carry-on size bag so I can have a little extra room to bring back goodies.

This system has been working for me and I always manage to fit everything in one bag with room to bring back goodies.

Wu tip: Hostels don’t usually supply towels and toiletries so I always travel with this PackTowel (https://www.mec.ca/en/product/5024-431/Personal-Towel) I got from MEC. It’s a super lightweight towel that folds up nice and small in the little carrier bag that comes with it. This PackTowel is a bit pricey but I think it’s totally worth it. I’m still amazed at how much water it soaks up and how quickly it dries. The only thing is I like to wait till it dries completely before I pack it back in the little carrier or else it gets that wet towel smell.

I was in New York City for the long weekend and quickly realized that 5 days is simply not enough time to see all that the city has to offer. I managed to explore a good chunk of Manhattan on foot and put together this list of my favorite places.

Brooklyn Bridge

The Brooklyn Bridge is a nice short walk with a good view of the World Trade Center, Statue of Liberty, Manhattan Bridge and the Empire State Building. The best time to go is early mornings before it gets too crowded. It took me about 15 minutes to walk to the other side of the bridge.

Fun fact: Doubts about the stability of the Brooklyn Bridge was put to rest when 21 elephants marched across the bridge in 1884. Such brave and helpful elephants!

I love Central Park

Central Park is the perfect escape from the busy streets and I love everything about it. It's amazing how this beautiful park in the middle of the city is able to block out the traffic sounds.

Still buzzing from the magnolia cupcakes (4 to be exact), I explored Central Park while replaying the Sex and the City theme song in my head. New York may be known as the city that never sleeps but I feel like it's also such a romantic city. The plaques on the park benches in Central Park each had a story to tell. Some were declarations of love, some were reminders of happy memories, and some revealed their hopes for the future. I found a romantic proposal bench where a person engraved the question "will you marry me?" on the plaque. I don't know who this Michael is, but well done sir!

I went to New York to visit family but a vacation wouldn't be complete without some food adventures! Besides, families that eat together stay together! Here are a couple of the dessert places that really stood out.

Favorite dessert place: Spot Dessert Bar

The Big Orange is only a seasonal item on the menu and I highly recommend it! It tasted like an orange creamsicle!

The matcha lava cake was amazing. The dark chocolate cake was rich and chocolatey and it went so well with the green tea ganache filling and the green tea ice cream.

A+ presentation: Sweet Moment

The cold brew is a must try! It was the most adorable coffee art I've ever seen and so yummy too! The drink is actually a cold brew with milk and dark chocolate. The artwork part is done on a thick layer of whipped cream at the top.

The watermelon bingsu was also a piece of art. The staff here put so much care into their beautifully crafted food.

The most fun experience: Sprinkles Cupcakes

This is not your average ATM machine. It's a cupcake ATM! This adorable ATM is attached to the actual storefront. It is stocked with freshly made cupcakes from the store. There's limited seating in the bakery but you can grab your cupcake from the ATM machine and enjoy it inside.

Amazing cakes: Lady M

The green tea mille crepe was delicious but the strawberry shortcake was the winner for me. The actual cake part was so light and fluffy. The cream wasn't too sweet or greasy and the strawberries in the cake were fresh. My only regret is not getting a second slice!

Favorite matcha dessert: Dominique Ansel Bakery

Dominique Ansel's matcha and passion fruit cake combo truly was a matcha made in heaven.

Coolest ice cream: Milk & Cream Cereal Bar

I tried many ice cream places during my stay in New York thanks to the unseasonably hot autumn weather (not that the cold ever stopped me from eating ice cream before). The vanilla ice cream mixed so well with my cereal choice, Trix. I wanted to bring a tub (or two) home with me! For the toppings I got sprinkles, teddy grahams and chocolate sauce. I don't know how I'll ever go back to eating regular ice cream again.

The New York food scene did not disappoint!

Traveling always reminds me of the kindness and generosity that still exist in the world. I always manage to meet helpful strangers and New York was no exception. This time, however, these kind strangers I met on the train to Penn Station offered to take me to the Rangers game! I now know that Rangers is the hockey team in New York.

It's easy to see why people fall in love with New York. From all the beautiful shops and hotels to the amazing food scene, there is no shortage of things to do! I can't wait to come back and soak up all the glam that New York has to offer. Maybe I can even catch a Broadway show next time!