New Yorker

{image from here}

I don't know what it is about this city, but it makes you busy.  There's a reason people are always in a hurry here - there's always somewhere to go, some place you were supposed to be 15 minutes ago, some train to catch, something.  Ironically, I've noticed it even more so this summer, a season traditionally associated with lazy days, no school and lots of pool time.  No more.  Suddenly I've become a person with so many work meetings, lunch appointments, apres-work "drinks", bridesmaid dress fittings (okay, I only have one of those, but still), 9:30 pm dinner reservations ON A WEEKDAY that I want to throw my filofax, iPhone and Blackberry in the freezer, take a train upstate and check into a cozy, quiet B&B.

I know it sounds like I'm complaining about a lot of "fun", and yes, some of it is fun, but it's also exhausting - I feel like I'm constantly trying to keep up.  And that, my friends, is why I can't wait for August 12 - a date on which I'll have been 28 (!! - more on this later) for twenty-four hours and I'll be on a plane to Florida for a real taste of summer - the tastes of sunscreen, saltwater and pina coladas.

Bon weekend!

Life Lately

Bonjour, mes amies!  I'm coming to you live from a very rainy NYC.  I made the executive decision to skip the gym tonight and instead picked up a fancy bottle of Sauvignon Blanc on the way home.  Also just ordered some delicious cold Vietnamese noodles from Republic which should be at my door in 30 minutes.  God I love New York sometimes!

Things are pretty lovely here in my world.  Despite the insufferable heat (which makes me very cranky indeed), I've managed to see the brighter side of things lately.  Some of that may have to do with the fact that I just came back from a whirlwind 2 day visit to D.C. where I partook in some art journaling (see photo above snapped by Kimberly herself), green juice-sipping and loads of chatting/catching up with some of my favorite ladies.  My dear friend, who was out of town himself, allowed me to crash at his pad in Dupont so I was only a hop, skip and a jump away from Tranquil Space. 

More importantly, however, I was able to indulge in some much-needed alone time.  With such a social work life, social social life and social home life (have 3 roomies - oh my!), I find myself craving solitude and quiet more than ever (nevermind the fact that I live in New York City - constant chaos).  It was exactly what I needed, and naturally, I am craving more.  ;)

Another reason I'm finding life a little sweeter is because I've somehow managed to not take my work stress home with me at the end of the day.  From mid-March to quite recently, I've been a complete stressball re: work, and it has affected me emotionally and physically.  I finally realized that I needed to just let it go.  That's not to say that work still isn't stressful (I firmly believe any job in the City is stressful), but it's manageable, AND I do my best not to let it affect every other part of my life.

Being in DC around like-minded, creative souls reminded me of just how much I miss blogging.  I hope to increase my online presence over the next few months, and I so hope you'll join me.  Gros bisous!

Happy 4th!

 {photo from here}

Bonjour, my dear friends!  I'm just finishing up my packing and soon I'll be on the train to JFK.  I'll get there a little early, I'll get a bottle of water and maybe a snack, I'll browse at Muji (the Jet Blue terminal at JFK is SWEET), and then I'll hop on the plane to beautiful, sunny (and HOT) California.  I can't wait!! 

I hope you have a delightful 4th of July weekend!  Stay safe, watch fireworks, hold hands, eat watermelon and stay cool.