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Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Seven Places I'm Going Once Quarantine is Over

If you read my last post, you'll know I am currently going through a breakup. There is never a good time to end a relationship, but during social distancing while there is a pandemic happening in the world takes the cake for the worse possible time. 

The feeling of being alone is that much more amplified. I can't just call a friend to meet me and sob to her while having a cocktail at a cute bar. I am stuck by myself in my apartment, alone with my meticulous thoughts about the end of my relationship and our new social climate of solitude. 

If it were a normal time in the world, I would have gone out to brunch and sipped on said cocktail with a friend to discuss my failed relationship and gotten her support (in person). I am already brainstorming places I would like to go once this all wraps up in the next few months. 

Here are seven places I'm hitting once quarantine is over.

The Crown and Public Hotel Rooftop
Both of these places have expansive views of New York City. You can grab a drink with some friends and just enjoy each other's company while taking the skyline. Much needed after being cooped up inside. 

While We Were Young 
This is one of those very girly and sceney places that serves pastel colored cocktails and attracts fashion and lifestyle bloggers. Most sceney places are just visually cute and the food is just so-so, but not here. I've sat at the tiny tables a few times and have always enjoyed their burger, which is always solid. When it's warm enough, they open the front of the restaurant so a summer breeze, (and probably the loud sounds of sirens) flow in.

My Fire Escape
Feeling a need to be outside while still following the social distancing guidelines, I moved Franklin (my aloe plant, whom I love very much) and climbed out of my window and onto the fire escape. The fresh air seemed even fresher from just outside of my window. Even when quarantine is over, you'll still be able to find me there with a glass of wine.

Employees Only
This narrow space is perfect for striking up a conversation with a stranger at 1am. You'll need a sharp eye if you want a seat at the bar, which is always packed. The drinks are shaken to perfection. 

Time Out Market
Live music, good vibes tons of food options and lots of outdoor seating? It's in Brooklyn (eh) but is a perfect place to spend an afternoon with some friends while taking in views of the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan skyline.

Fig 19
Artsy and inconspicuous. You'll enter through a confusing minimalistic gallery to then find a dimly lit speakeasy behind an unsuspecting door. 

Since the coronavirus has overcome the world, I am taking this time to be grateful for what I have and for the future experiences to come. It is a luxury to be able to plan what I would like to do once this difficult time in the world passes and I don't take that for granted. 






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Saturday, March 28, 2020

With Love and Hope

My boyfriend and I ended our relationship. I'm not good. I'm not good because I don't think I've ever experienced such feelings of love. A love that was so unexpected but was giving, kind, communicative, patient, passionate, vulnerable and honest. I was going to try to write a "how to get over a breakup" post, but that just doesn't feel right. Because I am so deeply tangled in all of my feelings and frankly, because I don't think there is any right way to cope with someone who you love leaving your life when you still want them to be a part of it. You just have to get though it. I only know that you will have to cope with the idea that it will hurt for a long time and there isn't a way around that. 

I am having a hard time talking to my friends and family about it. First, because I'm not ready and don't have the energy to speak at length about he and I and secondly, because talking about it will not bring him back to me, although I wish that it could. 

I miss him and I love him. I am devastated that what we had together is now over and there won't be any more memories to be made. I will cherish all the amazing times and I may always wish that there were more. I wanted to start a new chapter of my life with him. New places, more adventures, moving in together and if we made it through all of that, a family. I don't know what to do with the discomfort and anxiety of dealing with the idea that these things will probably not happen. 

One day, I hope he finds his way back to me and that we can exist together in a new, open place of love. I want that. I tried to soothe myself with this thought but I understand that what I want and what actually happens in life are two very different things and we may not have the opportunity to come back together again.

Although, I still hope. 

More thoughts pour in. Thoughts about when he feels he is ready to move on and does. The thought of someone else receiving his affection, attention and his love crushes me and I hate thinking about that. I want him to find his peace and happiness, but I want to be the person who receives his love and I don't want anyone else to have it. As immature and childish as that might sound. 

I think of who will be next in my life. There will most likely be another in time if I allow and if I am ready, but I can't help worry that they, in my mind, will not come close to being how he was. I know that isn't a fair thought, but it is an honest one. There are a handful of people in this world that "have a soul" and I was fortunate to find and enter into a relationship with one of them.

There isn't much else to do now but wait and allow time to pass. Laboriously and drawn out. As the weeks and months go on, I hope that I will be able to find some peace within myself about his need to end our relationship. But for now, restlessly, I write this and take in our departure from each other minute by minute, hour by hour and day by day. 

Even now, I feel that writing this is helpful, but not, because these words will not bring him back into my life like how he once was. 

Photo: a staircase in LA while on a trip together

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Tuesday, March 17, 2020

What I Spend in a Week in NYC

I wanted to share my spending habits in case anyone is curious about the costs of living in the big apple in 2020. I'll share my occupation and what I spend over a seven day period in New York City. 

What I do:

Occupation: Executive Assistant (and very proud) 
Industry: Healthcare Investment (aka finance) 

Let’s get the monthly basics out of the way, shall we?

Monthly Expenses

Wifi: $79.00
Phone: family plan but I pay it, $149.50
Rent: $ A very scary number!
Student Loan: $267.00 (yikes)
Electric: in the winter is usually around $30
Monthly unlimited metro card: $127
Tidal: $9.99
Guest of a Guest subscription - $14.99 (I just canceled this because I never used it)
Hulu: $5.99
Netflix: 9.99
401k Roth: about $400 from my pre-taxed paycheck (I don't count this as money spent since I don't see the cash and it goes into the retirement account)

Total for Monthly: $693.46 (not including rent and 401k)


Monday
Going to work: The bus ride to my job. I'm in the office from 7:45am-5ish, Monday-Friday. It's a little rough sitting in an office all day, but I'm happy to have a job that lets me live and enjoy life in Manhattan) - $2.75
Breakfast once I arrive at work: I ordered 2 eggs and some strawberries $12.87 but really $0
Lunch was tofu, broccoli, and mushroom Pho (I just discovered the joys and deliciousness of Pho! but I picked out the mushrooms because I don't like them) – $17.43 actually $0
(My job pays for breakfast and lunch for us, so I usually don’t have any food charges for the day unless I go out for happy hour, have dinner after work or take a cab to my boyfriend's apartment)
Subway home - a glamorous $2.75
Stopped in CVS (my favorite place!) for 2 packs of Mike’s mighty good ramen, nail glue because my nail broke, and extra polar ice gum - $13.21
When I got home, I decided to get some box lighting from Amazon so I can shoot content at any time without relying on natural light from my apartment windows - $65.31

Tuesday
Le bus ride yet again - $2.75
Breakfast, I had two Nutragrain waffles and a clementine from my job’s kitchen - $0
Lunch, I had tofu curry with white rice that made my stomach gurgle later. Probably won’t get that again - $15.30 but actually $0
Today was a normal workday with some perfunctory good mornings and how are yous. I try to do my job efficiently and get people what they need quickly to make sure I'm on top of stuff. Sometimes I check my gmail for any blogging collaborations or events that may be making my inbox good looking. 
6 train (subway) home - just takes a few stops – $2.75

Wednesday
A luxury ride in the Aston down 2nd avenue to get to the office (jk bus again) - $2.75
Breaky was an apple, banana, and some sort of yellow plum from my job’s kitchen. I know, don't cringe, it's healthy - $0
For lunch I ordered a California roll and some edamame that I didn't really like - $15.87 but free.99.
6 train home was $2.75

Thursday
No bus ride today because I worked from home due to the corona virus. My job tested work from home capabilities firm-wide and Thursday was my test day. I have to be honest, it was really nice not waking up at 6:40am to hustle out the door and to work. I actually had time to enjoy the morning and felt very refreshed when the day ended.
Laundry because I was running out of clean undies. $23 since I drop it off to have it washed and folded then I pick it up. (I know, I know) A luxury I've partaken in since I was broke and living in Astoria, Queens. 


Friday

Back to work and reluctantly back on the bus - $2.75
Breakfast - No breakfast because at this point COVID-19 in NYC was really starting to worsen and I didn't want to touch anything that would be delivered, to be honest.
Lunch - same as above!
Getting home: I left work around 2:45pm. I was hesitant to go in at all since WHO announced we are officially in a pandemic and I was among only a few in the office. I went in because I had to file some tax stuff that was being sent to us on Friday and due to be postmarked by the weekend. I took a cab to CVS after I left work to avoid being in a crowded subway car in light of social distancing - $13.80 Back on the upper east side, I decided to get food from CVS and Whole Foods. SUPER RARE for me to stock up on a bunch of groceries since my job pays for breakfast and lunch, but my job announced we will all be working from home for a week due to the corona virus and to help stop the spread. So, I needed to make sure to have enough food in my apartment to avoid having to go out to get more food throughout the week - $108.95

Saturday
Social distancing in full effect. No money spent on this day and for the first time, in a long time, my wallet smiled at me. I just recorded a few YouTube videos and a TikTok in my apartment. All in all, it was a productive day for my blogging business and just felt like a low-key day on the weekend.

Sunday
A problem: I ran out of toilet paper in the morning. After searching high and low for toilet paper (it's sold out everywhere because people bought it all in a panic), I finally found a few rolls in an obscure pharmacy. Crisis averted for $6.80. Money well spent.

This week wasn't a normal week for me since it included the cost of groceries and no social activity. I usually have at least one happy hour after work, go to my boyfriend's apartment at least once during the week, and have brunch with a friend on the weekend.

This week wasn't a normal week for most people due to COVID-19. Since we are engaging in social distancing to combat the spread of the virus, many of us have completely changed our normal day-to-day routine to adjust to this lifestyle. 

Even with all that is going on, I like sharing the experience of a "normal" start to the work week, then end on a completely different daily regimen due to our current social climate. I think a big takeaway is that we can adapt and adjust to anything. 

Total Spent for the week: $250.32



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Saturday, March 14, 2020

Transitioning to Spring in Pretty Little Thing

Despite the world temporarily pausing due to all the Corona business, I'd like to get back to regularly scheduled, programming and share my yearly obligatory Spring outfit post. 

Spring brings renewed energy and although the current climate may not see a shift right away, I am optimistic that things will get better and that the flowers will bloom in due time. 


And so, this year's obligatory Spring outfit post features a clothing line that I've never ordered from before: 

Pretty Little Thing. 

If you know me, you know that I love sales! Especially for trendy seasonal items that may go out of style in just a few months. To stay true to myself, I shopped the sale section only and found some really cute pieces. You can see everything I found here

I was pleasantly surprised to pull on pants that fit perfectly and paired them with a classic inspired blouse with a contemporary twist. I may need to go back to shop the sale sections for round two...













(This post is not sponsored) 




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Friday, March 13, 2020

Things to do While Social Distancing

Who knew our New Year's resolutions would be halted by a global pandemic in 2020? 

You guessed it, I'm talking about the notorious COVID-19. In just a few short months, the virus has taken over and it's all we hear about - whether it's real or fake news. 

In New York City, we have been urged to practice social distancing, AKA avoid people and public places. If you now find yourself at home when you would normally be at work or at school, what should you do with all that home time? 

It's easy to go stir crazy when trying to stay away from the outside world, so here are 7 things to do while practicing social distancing.

FaceTime Someone 
Since many of us may be stuck working from home or just avoiding public spaces, feelings of isolation can quickly swoop in. FaceTiming a friend, family member, or significant other can help bring feelings of connectedness during this period of keeping to ourselves. 

Catch up on that Book
You know, that one you've been meaning to read? Now is the perfect time to read or reread a few books that have been collecting dust.

Workout at Home
Hello YouTube. There are one million and one free workout videos that you can follow along to keep your body moving to stay well and release some anxious, pent-up energy. 

Create Some Content
Now is the perfect time to brainstorm content ideas and maybe even execute some of them while being indoors. Think of new concepts for your job, film a YouTube video, write a blog post and then plan out how materialize those goals.

Brush up on a New Language 
Oui, ya, yes, und si. Because why not! Just because we're discouraged from traveling doesn't mean that should hold up any feelings of wanting to be connected to other parts on the world. You can use free language apps to learn a few basics, then FaceTime a friend to show off your new skills. 

Do the Extended Version of your Skincare routine 
You know, self care a little bit more. Use your favorite cleansers, exfoliants and masks to help your skin glow during this less than glowy time. 

Clean out your Closet
Spring is just around the corner, after all. Grab a big bag, fill it up with clothes and shoes you haven't worn in years then donate it to a local thrift store. Now you can enjoy the extra space win your closet or fill it up with new pieces.


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