By Candice Aiken.

If you have known me for a while, you will know there are a few things I most adore in this life of mine… 1. My beautiful hubby, 2. My two crazy dogs, 3. My uber supportive family & friends and 4. NEW YORK CITY, baby!

Though I’ve never actually been to the city that “never sleeps”, I have been ridiculously head over heels in love with the place for longer than I care to admit. Ok, if you must know, it all started when Macaulay Caulkin decided to get all muddled up at the airport in Home Alone 2 and landed himself on a flight to New York instead of Miami with his family. I can feel you laughing at me right now and though I’m laughing with you, I’m telling the complete and utter truth! And hold on a second… I was lead to believe we were in a circle of trust here and that I was able to share everything without judgement?! In all seriousness though, isn’t that a dream come true? Getting completely lost in such an incredible city with nothing but a wallet full of Dad’s cash, a completely free schedule and bathers 3 sizes too big that will inevitably fall off after you cannonball in the hotel swimming pool?! DREAM. COME. TRUE. Everything apart from being pantsless of course – that’s one dream of mine I’d be quite happy to never come true!

After the initial excitement of Home Alone 2 wore off, my unhealthy obsession to get to NYC waned slightly. That was until Seinfield, F.R.I.E.N.D.S, Sex in the City and Gossip Girl virtually entered my life and reignited this love of mine for a city I thought I’d never get to see.

Over time, my reasons for visiting the concrete jungle have evolved. Initially I DID want to get lost in the city with nothing but a wallet full of Dad’s cash and not a single thing planned ‘Home Alone’ style. Then, I was desperate to wade around in the fountain in Central Park, track down the soup Nazi, and attempt to eat a breakfast at Tiffany’s. And at some point Frank Sinatra sold me on the fact that if I could make it in New York, I could make it anywhere… so why WOULDN’T I want to go to NYC?!

Since then, I appear to have gone full circle again as now my reason to fly 35+ hours despite my icky and VERY REAL fear of flying, IS to get lost in the city with a wallet full of cash (albeit my own and not my Dad’s this time… though I am not opposed to donations if you are reading this fatherly figure ), and not a single plan but to enjoy the city in all it’s crazy and unique glory before my 28^th birthday!

So, a few weeks ago when Marie Forleo released tickets to her annual event ‘Rich Happy & Hot Live’ in October this year (which is on my vision board along with several pics of NYC – not to mention my entire house is plastered with all things NYC… you may notice the pics in this post ), it was never a question of ‘how?”… it was a question of “too late honey, I’ve already bought the tickets, when do we leave?”.

I am very blessed to not only have the opportunity to go to NYC and travel the US of A with the love of my life for a whole month (yippee), but also spend a full weekend with Marie (who has been an amazing mentor for me over the years), as well as Gabby Bernstein, Kris Carr, Danielle Laporte, Mastin Kipp at RHHLive…. FINALLY take a yoga class in person with my favourite teacher of all time, Elena Brower…. AND hear the biggest influence in my life speak at Hay House’s ‘I Can Do It’ event, the incredible Wayne Dyer.

I feel truly blessed that this dream of mine has finally become a reality and has confirmed my faith in that if you visualise your dreams and believe in yourself, you can make ANYTHING happen!

Have you been to New York City or do you live there?? If so, I’d love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below with all of your recommendations of where I should go first & where a healthy gal can get something to eat!!

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