Yesterday, I blogged about “living the dream” – my version of “living the dream” consists of working out, chasing my career goals, living in a big city, traveling, all while being surrounded by the best of friends. Today I happened to stumble upon this AMAZING video that got me thinking… Outside of my everyday life, what do I dream of doing? Alan Watts commentary really resonated with me, especially the part where he asked, “So what if you could dream a 75 year dream, what would you do? Where would you go?”
I have thought a lot about what I would do if time and money weren’t limitations, and it’s tough to pinpoint exactly what I would do. I love traveling, meeting new people, trying new things… you get the gist, but determining exactly what my dreams is another story in itself.
I have had this infinite connection to the water – I can never seem to get away from it. Maybe it’s in part to me being an Aquarius (if you believe in that sort of thing), but I think my affinity for the water stems from my childhood by the ocean. With all of this in mind, I began to think what my dreams are outside of my career aspirations; that being said, some of my dreams include:
Scuba diving in the GBR in Australia
Traveling to all seven continents
Completing a Full Triathlon
I’m sure I’ll think of more things I dream of doing, but in the meantime I’m challenging you to go after your dreams – to live out that 75 year dream!
I was once told that you know you’re living the dream when you find yourself wearing six inch heels, rocking an all-black outfit and with a venti latte glued to your hand. According to that definition, it looks like I’m living the dream. My days are usually filled with back to back activities – rushing around lower Manhattan to get it all done. My mantra is currently, “up by seven, back home by eleven.”
Today was different.
I usually wake up, grab a cup of tea, and usually stuff all of my belongings for the day into a bag of some kind before heading out the door. Twelve + hours later, I’m back to the small, overpriced, but cute apartment, ready to crash into my bed, however usually find myself staying up to complete an assignment, finish some work, or just decompress from it all. Yes, I enjoy working more than anything, but my down days are the vitamins of my life that keep me going.
Today was different. An interview was rescheduled, work was canceled, and class was not held. IT WAS GLORIOUS. I had nothing to do all day. Being the early bird that I am, I awoke and just sat in complete utter silence. I didn’t know what to do with myself. I was at a loss for things to do, people to see, and places to go. I have never felt lazier in my life, but it was much-needed. I didn’t do homework, or my taxes, or even my laundry (like I promised myself I would do). Instead, I went to Trader Joes to get ingredients for my favorite Paleo Chocolate Zucchini Bread. I ended up not being able to find a grater to shred my zucchini, so I made brownies instead but that’s okay. Today was stress-free and beautiful. I lounged around and whimsically decided to get my nails done.
Today I woke up from living the dream. Today, I learned that I am one of those people that thrives under a busy schedule. A rest day, though needed, was hard for me. I didn’t know what to do myself.
Today I realized how incredibly lucky I am to be going to NYU, living in the greatest city, all while chasing my career aspirations. Though the days are long, the work monotonous, and the sleep limited, I am so incredibly thankful I can say I am living the dream. I would have it no other way.
Remember back in January when I promised to do a bunch of things like “Be a Tourist”, “Write twice a week” and “Go on a trip”… Well, I’ve only completed one so far (traveled back to San Diego), but hey, that’s okay – I’ve done tons of other fun things in the meanwhile. I just can’t believe it’s already APRIL! Where has the time gone?
JANUARY – BE A TOURIST! Visit at least 2 museums and blog about them. I have failed to be a good New Yorker and see some of the sights and sounds that make NYC so amazing. It’s time for me to go out and explore. This week I am off from work so I might go out and explore the city. Recommendations anybody?
FEBRUARY – BE A WRITER! Write at least twice a week, three times for good measure. Technically speaking, I did write everyday (for school, of course), but in order to improve my writing/photography/exploring skills, I really do need to get out more. This sort of links into January’s goal.
MARCH – BE A TRAVELER! Go on a trip; it doesn’t have to be international or require a plane. Just get out of the city to fulfill your Wunderlust. COMPLETE – Spring Break in San Diego
APRIL – BE BOLD! Try one new activity and stick to it this month, whether its hot yoga or spin or even kayaking – just go out and do it.
April’s goal is something definitely attainable… Phebe and I were actually talking about how we wanted to try one new restaurant/bar a week for a month, so I might try to incorporate that into this month. I also just recently joined a fantasy baseball team – that might work as well. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.
As some of you may or may not know, my younger sister, Twist, just spent the past five days exploring the city (and Syracuse) and is now off on her first foreign adventure to Germany. I could not be happier/nervous/jealous, but more importantly I am extremely excited for her to catch the travel bug! After helping her prep and pack for this trip, I was inspired to write a blog on my top ten travel tips because international travel is anything but stress-free.
Check in 24 hours before hand! While in Europe, some (budget) airlines required us to print out boarding passes before hand, but more often than not I opt to go for the eTicket to save time and the environment. This also enables you to change your seat before getting to the airport and check for upgrades. Who doesn’t love a free upgrade? I also recommend purchasing your airline’s app (usually free) on your iPhone and signing up for gate changes and updates. After I get to the airport all I have to do is show my boarding pass on my phone and everything’s a go. If your gate changes or there are delays, updates are sent directly to your phone – super convenient, right?
Set aside enough time to get to the airport and make sure to set enough alarms if you have an early flight. This is an important tip and one lesson that I’ve had to learn the hard way. I’ve unfortunately missed my fair share of flights but have learned to give myself adequate time to get to the airport – especially around the holidays in New York!
Have necessary information (card numbers, passport number, flight information) in a safe place. Sh*t happens and you’ll never know when you will need this information. I usually keep a copy of my passport on my email and phone and send it to my parents. It’s also critical to make sure someone you trust has access to your flight information in case anything happens.
Travel light! I know this sounds ironic coming from the “packing Princess” (see below), but trust me on this one. Weigh your bags before hand to make sure they aren’t over the weight limit, otherwise you’ll find yourself either repacking at the airport or paying an extravagant baggage fee (no thank you!). If you want to save yourself some time and money just pack carry-on’s – I usually opt for the functional back pack and duffle bag.
They call me the packing princess
What (not) to wear? Everyone has varying opinions on how you should dress while traveling, and my answer of course is, “it depends”. I travel a lot for soccer and often times we are required to wear the same thing. It’s comfortable and I thoroughly enjoy being able to wear sweatsuits on the plane. On the other hand, when I travel alone I enjoy dressing up a bit. A blazer, jeans, cute top, scarf and flats is cute and functional. You never know who you’ll meet at the airport!
Traveling in matching gear is comfortable and easy!
Looking professional also has it’s perks
After you decide what to wear, make sure your choice is easy to get through TSA. I often times avoid putting on a belt until after security (or not at all) and make sure I empty my pockets before getting to the airport. Nothing annoys me (and other travelers) more than somebody who stalls the TSA line because they didn’t “know” they had to take off their belt.
Maybe it’s just the soccer player in me and the bottomless stomach I possess, but I always pack some snacks and an empty reusable water bottle when I travel, whether it’s just a quick trip uptown or a longer international excursion. When you travel internationally, you run the risk of not having food you’re used to or like. My go-to’s are pre-packaged trail mix from Trader Joe’s and Chocolate Chip Cliff Bars for Kids. Just keep in mind some countries don’t allow certain foods to enter into their country so check before hand!
Choose your carry-on wisely. If you decide to pack just a single bag for your carry on, I urge you to pack it in the most ergonomically way possible. I usually keep my laptop closest to my back and have my camera on top so I can pull them both out quickly as I go through security. The front pocket of my backpack usually has gum, headphones, lip balm, and my business card in case I ever accidentally leave it. The middle pocket contains the valuables: passport, boarding pass, wallet, snacks, and a few toiletries. I reserve the pocket closet to my back for my laptop, camera, chargers and a good book.
Planning what to pack makes traveling so much easier
Have a positive attitude while traveling. Planes get delayed, luggage gets lost, and sometimes you just flat out miss your flight. Everything is going to be okay! If you stay positive, your travels will be! Relish in the adventure.
Document your travels! As an avid shutter bug and self proclaimed traveling photo journalist (I wish!), I thoroughly enjoy looking back on my adventures and reminiscing of the “good ole days”. One of my goals when I went abroad was to snap photos of everything in sight – the namesake for this blog.
I hope these tips help you out and you enjoy your next adventure wherever in the world you are!
I awoke this morning at 5:30 to bring my sister to Penn Station for her visit up to Syracuse. Lest I remind you that this is the morning after my 21st birthday. What I woke up to was white stuff once again falling from the sky. I digress.
I was aware that we had another “storm” heading our way, but I wasn’t expecting this much bad weather. School was delayed by a few hours, but seeing as my classes are all later at night that doesn’t really help much. It snowed Monday after an unseasonably and luckily warm Super Bowl (47 degrees – really?), was cold on my birthday (yesterday), and this morning I wake up to another 4 inches of slush on my sidewalk. WHEN IS THIS GOING TO STOP?
Talking with friends about the white fluff, we have come to the agreement that before Christmas the snow is magical and beautiful, however in the days following the New Year, snow is gross, annoying, and quite honestly a big pain.
With 4.0″ of snow overnight, Central Park has officially eclipsed 40″ of snow on the season (40.3″).
Though the snow is pretty at first sight, I can’t help but say that I’m missing home (and the beautiful weather) more than ever. Twist on the other hand is loving it – she is knee deep in snow in Syracuse and sending me the heart emoticons with pictures of the snow. If only she understood.
It’s hard to believe that it’s been a little over one year since I began my semester abroad in Spain. The memories, the people, the food, the adventures… I could go on and on about how amazing my time in Madrid was the best of my life, but I’m sure you get the picture. I’ll make this post short and sweet, but just wanted to give a huge shout out to all of those who made the time abroad so special! Besos!
We may or may not be slightly dysfunctional – going delusional on the last day in Granada
So I may or may not be two weeks late on this whole “New Years Resolution” thing, but better late than never right? 2014 is going to be an exciting year, I just know it. I turn 21 in exactly three weeks (woo!), I graduate college in less than eleven months (say what?!) and am finally spending one complete year in New York. What else could I possibly dream of? That is why 2014 is about making dreams a reality… Now I know that sounds cheesy, but hear me out. I’m about to enter into the workforce, and that is why this next year is all about achieving everything I’ve dreamt of before becoming “a real person”. I also happen to think that “New Years Resolutions” tend to get discarded by Super Bowl Sunday, so I have decided to make 12 goals, one for each month. That way, I don’t get bored and I get to work on something new every month. Here’s a breakdown of my goals – if you have any suggestions, please comment 🙂
JANUARY – BE A TOURIST! Visit at least 2 museums and blog about them. I have failed to be a good New Yorker and see some of the sights and sounds that make NYC so amazing. It’s time for me to go out and explore.
FEBRUARY – BE A WRITER! Write at least twice a week, three times for good measure.
MARCH – BE A TRAVELER! Go on a trip; it doesn’t have to be international or require a plane. Just get out of the city to fulfill your Wunderlust. COMPLETE March 16, 2014
APRIL – BE BOLD! Try one new activity and stick to it this month, whether its hot yoga or spin or even kayaking – just go out and do it.
MAY – BE SMART! 4.0 GPA. ‘Nuff said.
JUNE – BE EDUCATED! Read one book a week and keep the knowledge coming! Any and all recommendations are welcome.
JULY – BE HEALTHY! Aim to go out only once a week and cook all meals at home!
AUGUST – BE FIT! Pass all my fitness tests. For those of you who have been a part of any college team in preseason, you understand why this is important to me.
SEPTEMBER – BE A SAVER! Save up $1000 this month and stay away from shopping! You can do it Megs!
OCTOBER – BE A VOLUNTEER! Volunteer your time, donate blood, be a better person. You are blessed enough.
NOVEMBER – BE A CHAMPION! Win the UAA and make the NCAA tournament. It’s my senior year, yo, it’s time to shine!
DECEMBER – BE A GROWN UP! Graduate from NYU and find a job!
A day after Molly and Kate left, one of my good friends from San Diego came to visit. Kayla and I have known each other since we were babies – our moms were in the same playgroup in Scripps Ranch before our family moved away for the next ten or so years. In middle school we “re-connected” but weren’t really close friends until senior year. Kayla and her family are some of the coolest people I know, and I am so blessed to have the Hayes family present in my life. Kayla, also known by her “river name” and alter ego, Parker, flew out to New York to come see the city and her family who resides in TriBeCa.
Central Park
Kayla safely arrived in the city within reasonable time, just after a delay and the longest shuttle ever. We then ventured out into the frigid cold to grab some sushi at my favorite Sushi joint on 3rd and 11th, Kotobuki. Both of us are die-hard sushi fans, so you really can’t go wrong with a meal like that. We didn’t have much to do that night so we ventured to Dempsey’s for a drink (typical) and then returned to the humble abode to rest for the long day that awaited us.
First on the list, was get a NY bagel and some Starbucks to wake ourselves up. We then made our way up to Grand Central, strolled around and then walked to Bryant Park and up 6th Ave before cutting into Rockefeller Plaza. Unfortunately the tree had just been taken down, but both of us made our first radio appearance on Sirius XM. Turns out we don’t know much about Pop Culture, but hey who does ?
Friends at Rockefeller
We continued our path up 5th avenue, strolling by the numerous stores I had walked through just days before with my cousins. Before we knew it, we were in Central Park, but much to our surprise, the water was FROZEN! I was stunned that it was that cold outside, but it was beautiful. We waddled westward in our heavy coats to Columbus Circle and snapped a few photos there with these gigantic snails. I know it sounds strange, but they were really large and slippery and we couldn’t quite get on them, much to our disappointment. We left the snails behind and continued to walk back down the westside into times square for a brief second. Both of us wanted to avoid the tourist trap but we agreed to make a quick pit stop and grab the typical tourist photo.
Typical Touristy Times Square Photo
After Times Square, I wanted to show her the West Village and NYU’s campus so we hopped on the subway to Christopher and Gay St. my new favorite Coffee Shop, “Why Not Coffee”. It’s a uniquely decorated, exposed brick, coffee shop with large floor to ceiling windows and a cool jazz bar underneath. The coffee isn’t bad either! Kayla had already seen NYU from the first time she visited me in New York, but we decided to walk home through WSP – what’s not to love about the village?
WSP/NYU
Our legs were exhausted by the time we returned to my apartment, so we just rested before heading to dinner at ElevenB – the family owned pizzeria on the corner of my block. It’s a wonderful Italian restaurant that has the coolest management team and it’s BYOW (Bring Your Own Wine). We both ordered pizza and wine, saving a slice for later that night, knowing we would want a midnight (or 4am) snack. We still had a few hours before we were going to leave my apartment, so we called our parents, then began to get ready for our night in Meatpacking. Long story short, we danced the night away at two places, Catch, and Griffin, before retiring around 4am. Suffice to say that Parker and Stacy (my alter ego) had a GREAT TIME!
Stacy and Parker
It was a dreary rainy morning when we woke up, so motivation to leave the apartment was fleeting. Once we equipped ourselves with some Starbucks, we were good to go. Kayla really wanted to go to the Brooklyn Bridge, and seeing as I had never been before, I was game! Unfortunately, it was extremely foggy and misty outside, which was unfortunate for my camera, but we survived. Later that afternoon, we met up with Kayla’s cousin, Alex, at none other, than Sweet Revenge. We enjoyed some coffee and cocktails before venturing outside again until we made our way to Rosa Mexicano. We had a fun night together venturing down Second Ave before we ended up with two full pizzas from Artichoke and saying our goodbyes.
Brooklyn Bridge Exploring
Saturday morning we decided to go to Meatpacking and walk the High Line – one of my favorite places in all of New York. It’s my “quiet” spot when I need to just get away from the world. We strolled up the path and then back around before going into Chelsea Market (amazing!) and the Anthropologie. Being the tourists that we are, we decided that we needed to see Central Park once more, except this time, the lake and famous fountain. We walked up to the fountain in the middle of a gigantic marriage proposal which was exciting! I can only hope that my future husband is thoughtful enough to propose with all my friends and family around. A trip to the Upper East Side would not have been complete without a trip to Dylan’s Candy Bar, where we indulged on some sweet treats before retreating back to my apartment.
Central Park Round Two
Parker – I had so much fun exploring the city with you! Can’t wait for you to move back here after nursing school! Much love – Stacy!
The past two weeks have been CRAZY, but that good sort of crazy that makes you want to smile from ear to ear, despite the lack of sleep and blisters on the bottom of your feet. I’ve been so lucky to have spent some time exploring my city with my cousins, Molly and Kate, and good friend, Kayla. It’s amazing how much I truly don’t know about the neighborhood that I reside in – so much history surrounds me. This post is a quick recap of my weekend spent with my cousins.
Cousins in Time Square
Molly and Kate trekked out from Seattle to see the city for a few days, what ensued was a reunion after years of not seeing each other. Arriving just after New Years, the three of us set out to grab dinner with their Uncle Tim and Aunt Freddi down at Morton’s by the WTC (Thanks Uncle Tim!). I hadn’t seen Tim or Freddi since the 2nd grade, so it was great to finally reconnect and listen to old family stories. I absolutely adore both of them and feel so lucky that I was able to spend a lot of quality time with them over the course of the weekend. All five of us spent the next day shopping down 5th Avenue and in SoHo, making several stops at Barney’s, Bloomingdales, Bendel’s, and Massimo Dutti. Freddi is a shopping queen and has the cutest style – it was so great to go shopping with her and learn from a pro. That afternoon we walked through the slush to a cute little bakery, Sweet Revenge on Carmine Street. It’s an adorable Cupcake Shop that pairs the sweet treats with wines and beers – how cool is that!? We all were pretty shopped out so we decided to head back home for a nap and then meet up again for dinner at Vic and Anthony’s (on 19th and Park). We once again had a fantastic dinner and after hours of chatting (that’s the way dinner should be!), we parted ways. Molly, Kate and I ventured down back to Dempsey’s where we encountered a BudLight party – who would’ve thought? The next morning we grabbed Brunch at Philip Marie’s in the West Village. It was more than I could ask for – great Eggs Benedict and a cozy place to escape from the less than pleasant weather outside. Unfortunately we had to say our goodbyes to both Tim and Freddi that morning, as they needed to return to D.C. for work.
The rest of the weekend the cousins explored New York via Times Square, Central Park, the East and West Village. I don’t think I have ever walked so much in my life – we were averaging 20,000 steps a day according to my brand new Nike Fuelband SE.
Kate and I finding our Irish roots at McSorleys
One Sunday evening, we ventured over to Brooklyn to meet up with one of Molly’s friends from UW and found Momofuku Milk Bar on the way; crossing off an item on Kate’s “To See” list. On our last day we also were lucky enough to get tickets (Thanks Tim!) to see the WTC memorial. Talk about a thought-provoking and inspiring place to visit.
It was so sad to see both Molly and Kate leave for Boston, but I’m so glad I got to hang with them. Hopefully they’ll be back sooner than later.
A plethora of emotions swirl through my bloodstream and a series of thoughts swarm the forefront of my brain when I think of home. A straightforward yet very convoluted concept leaves me dazed and confused as I sit in yet another airport terminal. “Where is home? San Diego or New York?” inquires a chatty middle age woman. An almost quixotic vision of my home envelops my mind: the palm trees swaying in the breeze, our two border collies running out the front door, a sunny San Diego day with no sign of clouds for miles – perfect weather for a day at the beach. However, as soon as the pieces come together in a romantic landscape, they fall apart and are replaced by the harsh grey of steel skyscrapers, dark skies, throngs of strangers in crowded intersections, whaling sounds of sirens and the smell of sewage. Two very different images play out in my mind, yet images of my two homes nonetheless.
“I’m going back to school right now” is all I can mutter as the early morning fog clears from my head. I want to scream, “I don’t know!”
I have sprinkled the seeds of my heart over four continents and have yet to claim a single place as my stomping grounds. It’s the typical military child’s dilemma. Is the place where I spent the most time a home, or is it where I feel most at “home”? Is “home” wherever we are or is it where our family is? Is it where I went to high school or where I have the most friends? A number of questions need addressing and I don’t even know where to begin; Australia? England? Spain? San Diego? New York? Japan? I’m starting to think I’m entering into my quarter life crisis.
As I set the anxiety aside, a trait I’ve perfected over the years, through the fifteen houses I’ve called home, I begin to realize the source of the problem, an identity crisis maybe? No. A severe case of “growing up”? Perhaps. The fact of the matter is that the past nine days in San Diego was brief, however it made me realize how lucky I am to have this “home” to visit as begin the next chapter of my life, which includes LSATs, job hunts, more apartment searching, and a thorough examination of both heart and soul. As I propel forward into the next stage with my peers, I have to acknowledge that with this exciting and nerve-racking transformation into a “real person” complete with a “real” job and responsibilities, is that there are other changes to adapt to as well which include less frequent and shorter visits to our family’s house and transitioning into making my new “home”.
I’m well prepared. I can tell just by looking at my two parents who have graced numerous residences with their presence. They have equipped me with the tools to succeed both professionally and socially as I transition this last year of college into an adult. It’s a looming and distressing process but I welcome the challenge, just as I’ve welcomed every new home into my heart.
Going home makes for difficult, long-winded, pathetic goodbyes when it’s time to return to your other “home”. It doesn’t take rocket science to understand that goodbyes are nearly as challenging as the first “hello”, but the promises of another visit comfort the five-year-old inner self. I however, have no return ticket, no promise of another visit to my teenage decorated room, the sandy beaches, and the glorious Mexican food. It’s an inevitable feeling not knowing what’s coming, but it brings forth the more important question, “Who do you dare become as you leave your house and create your new “home”?”
