I use blogging as an outlet. The majority of the time. Of course, I would love for this blog to eventually become a plethora of useful information and advice regarding the different locations I have traveled to around the world. And I am slowly in the process of shifting gears and focusing on this more frequently.
With that being said, I want to always leave room for the personal stuff. The stuff that half of my readers will mindlessly scroll past to get to the guides, travel tips, and other useful things. But the things that I will be able to reflect on years down the road. While I am still ‘en route’ and still very much so dedicated to writing.
This blog has become a diary of sorts for me. I spend countless hours reading my own posts from the past and reminisce on the feelings I encountered on any given day.
Recently, I was inspired by another New York based blogger, C’est Christine. Also a CSU Chico alum with a passion for travel, I find myself deep in her archives on a daily basis. And I don’t hate it. One thing that intrigues me most on her website are her weekly updates titled ‘Of the Moment’. They give a quick update on her life here in New York, as well as noteworthy things she has been loving as of recent. I have been on the hunt to replicate something similar for the purposes of my blog. To have a place with less pressure, to continually share the notable normalcies of my life.
And so, welcome to the first of many posts using this format!
I do not know how frequent these posts will become, but I would like to publish one each week to begin. I have been up to quite a bit since moving to New York and it would be hard to minimize the first notable normalcies to within the last week. I’ll attempt to stick with the stand outs.
Reads
Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson is a non-fiction about the injustices within our justice system. As a young lawyer he founded the Equal Justice Initiative in which his team represents the poor, the wrongly convicted, and juveniles facing unfair, and extended prison sentences. The true stories within the pages of this book are heartbreaking. It was one of those reads that inspired me to want to volunteer, attend law school, or do anything slightly helpful regarding those less fortunate within our justice system. It also made me cry in public, on the subway. So there’s a sure winner.
Beauty
Since moving to the east coast, my skin has been taking a hit. The freezing cold temperatures of winter have really dried out my skin, leaving my hands and face feeling raisin-like. Obviously, not the best. I started moisturizing more frequently {or at least attempting to} using my super basic Vaseline moisturizer {no fragrance, no frills, yasss} and also made a purchase at Sephora to give my face some extra love. The First Aid Beauty oatmeal face mask has been a God sent. I use it twice a week for 15 minutes {though they recommend 10} and my skin feels instantly baby-soft when I rinse it off. It basically gives your face deep hydration and renews it with each sitting. I could tell a clear difference in my skin within about a week. And FAB is great for sensitive and eczema prone skin. Cough, cough, ME. Oh, and it is affordable AF.
New York
I recently hosted two different visitors here in New York City, on two separate occasions. One of my friends, and fellow Chico State Alumni, recently moved to Washington, DC from the west coast. Literally within two weeks of my move to the big apple. We had spoken about our plans to do this years ago over drunken college banter, but both of our dreams of moving to the east coast actually became realities this year. It was cause for celebration so he made his way to New York City for a weekend of walking through central park, drinking in igloos with the empire state building at eye level, and sitting on my couch stuffing our faces with Thai food and wine in Brooklyn.
Shortly afterwards, my aunt flew out from sunny, warm California to endure the bitter east coast winter for herself. Having grown up in New York, this was manageable and I was barely a local in comparison. We brunched, as you do in Manhattan. And then caught the Broadway production of Kinky Boots. As many of you know, I am a musical junkie. I will do almost anything to catch a show. Standing room only, not a problem. Last row in the theater, fine by me. Kinky Boots was everything you would imagine a Broadway show in New York City to be. And saaah much more. I highly recommend!
It has been incredibly fun playing host in my new city, but my duties have only just begun. Over the next five to six weeks, I have someone visiting every weekend. Besides one, of which I will cherish and not leave my apartment for an entire 48 hours.
Tunes
Currently loving a few new tunes that were released in the last few weeks. Stay by Zedd feat. Alessia Cara starts my mornings off each day. Followed by Something Just Like That by The Chainsmokers as I wait in the elevator to make my way to the 10th floor of my office building. And finally, I end the afternoon with Want It by SoMo.
Bites
I have recently developed a love for brussel sprouts, and I wholeheartedly blame my roommate. She left for two weeks and donated her vegetables to the apartment. Within the glorious greens, I found an entire package of brussel sprouts just waiting to be tampered with. I chopped each in half and drizzled oil on top of them in a pan. Sprinkled some parmesan cheese and baked them in the oven. Let’s just say the result was glorious.
And there you have it. Some of the notable normalcies thus far in New York City. AND, I survived another east coast blizzard. I am officially turning into a snow bunny and I don’t hate it.