Farewell and Updates!

I write this entry with great sadness and excitement because I have moved on to other blogging endeavors. I remember when I started this blog - I was a senior in college and it was going to be a place where I could rant about things I cared about without being one of those annoying people on Facebook.

Eventually, it turned into a blog where I shared the many DIY projects I did the summer after college graduation when I was stressing because of unemployment - trying to find something to occupy my restless mind.

I grew a lot from the time this blog began and it will always be dear to my heart. I have some readers, not many, but enough to say I am grateful you've joined me on this short, but powerful journey.

That being said, I am not done blogging. I have actually just moved over to anewyorkchapter.com. It's a professional blogging endeavor started by Sarah (an NYU friend) and myself a month ago. We have already published quite a few posts and have been sponsored by a brand for a blog post idea we had.

It's incredible how much has happened in such a short time and we are beside ourselves with excitement about what is to come. I hope you'll join me on that channel as I continue to grow as a writer and person.

I will miss my "let's talk" series and sharing DIYs with you, but I will be taking small elements of this blog over to A New York Chapter.

But for now, I bid you all adieu.

PS - can you believe I am days from being finished with my first semester of graduate school? I still have "wow, I live in New York City" moments and I don't those will go away anytime soon.

Let's Talk: A New Season

I have a funny story to share. It's not embarrassing or anything, but I honestly don't think I have shared with anyone other than my sister and best friend, Jessica.

Think of a time when I was little. A time when I was actually under 5-feet tall (there was once a time) and I wore my air-dried hair down below my waist. During this time, I believed everything in New York City was free. There was a time when words like freedom and liberty meant I could shop without money. I know, it's funny. Because New York City had a statue of a green lady that symbolized freedom, I thought everyone loved that city because it was not just affordable, but free.

Fast-forward nearly fifteen years or so later and I know first-hand that this is not the case. I sometimes laugh because I feel like a part of me knew my destiny involved New York City even though I never let Holly Golightly or Serena van der Woodsen make me wish I lived in Manhattan. I was not one of those people. I honestly thought, even before I moved to North Carolina, that I would live and die in Miami. My whole world was that sunny city and why wouldn't it be? I was young and the rest of the world felt so faraway.

It's amazing how much has changed. I cannot see myself staying in one place for too long. I have visited too many cities, seen too much of the world (and yet, barely any of it) to feel like my destiny belongs in one destination. But I will say, like I have said before, I do feel like NYC is where I'm meant to be right now and probably for a few (many?) years to come. Of course, it's in God's hands. That's what I believe, anyway.

But I will say, did my destiny have to lead me to one of those most expensive cities in the country? My savings and salary would go a long way in a small town, but then again, my money would be in the bank but my sanity would be God knows where. I feel so alive here. The city and I are on the same wavelength and no amount of money can satisfy me the way that does.

Savings and money are obviously important and necessary. How could I pay my rent, metro card, phone bill, utilities, food, NYU, etc. without it? But I also have this reassuring feeling like life isn't actually all about money. While I budget and don't shop (which is hard, but I'm surviving... one day at a time) and I remain sane and frugal, I have learned that some of the best things in life are, in fact, free.

It costs me nothing to walk from work on the Upper East Side to my apartment in Midtown and see the sights. It costs me nothing to sit on one of those huge rocks in Central Park with a friend and talk about hopes and dreams. It costs me literally nothing to check out a book from the New York Public Library and read it anywhere I want in the city--my room, the subway, a park bench. I am finding joys in life that no amount of money in the world can give me or take away.

As I wrap up my first season in NYC--both literally and figuratively--I must say, I am so incredibly satisfied. For some reason, the word satisfaction means so much more to me than happiness. I am probably alone in this, but I don't know, it works. Happiness can be fleeting. I can be happy in the morning and then have a crappy encounter with someone on the subway and that happiness disappears until I can find it again in a puppy on the street. But satisfaction? Satisfaction is something that is around even if you're happy, angry, lonely, in love or stressed. Don't you agree? I feel like even though I miss my family and I hate missing moments with them, I have a purpose and a goal here, alone in this city. I am satisfied and yeah, I am happy too.

On My Windowsill, part II

It has been quite some time since the last time I posted some photos from my infamous windowsill. I say infamous because I have had a few friends see my room since then and actually say: "Oh, there's the famous windowsill." My room is small, so that window is the main focus of my room and as I am sure I said in my previous post, it is my favorite part of the apartment. I have not taken nearly as many photos because the best lighting is in the morning and I am getting ready for work before the sun has fully risen. Therefore, these pictures were taken either before I started working a month ago or on the weekends. 

Anyway, the theme this time is a representation of some of my favorite things. I'll explain in detail under each photo.

This photo is the picture representation of why I moved to New York City. I moved to this big, busy and expensive city for graduate school at NYU. The book displayed is actually for my favorite course titled: Theory, History and Practice of Public Relations and was written by the gentleman who teaches the course, Fraiser Seitel. The book is not only insightful, but being in the industry for years, Seitel has a lot of first-hand experience and is eager to share it with us. I can already tell, if he will let me, that he will be a mentor of mine once I am officially launched into the industry.

This photo, like part I, is about my breakfast. I titled it "a balanced breakfast" because I am someone who has the tendency to skip breakfast even though I know its importance. This combination right here was my favorite for some time. It's oatmeal with brown sugar and peanut butter, a banana (sometimes sliced and mixed in with the oatmeal) and a mug of Earl Grey with coconut milk.

Sigh. This one is much more recent and an obsession I have been having lately. I have read 4 books in 2 weekends and I cannot be stopped. I have always been quite the bookworm, but since getting a degree in history, I found myself reading strictly non-fiction. The summer after college, my best friend and I started a Jane Austen book club to read all six of her novels. I got through all, but one: Sense and Sensibility. I still need to read that one, but since that summer (2014) I hadn't read nearly as much and I missed it. Thankfully, I am back and I am loving it. If you have book suggestions, PLEASE let me know!

Like the first photo, this has to do with my PR degree. I love this photo because it both shows my love of journaling and studying. Oh yeah, and my love of vintage Dooney & Bourke.

I hope this photo represents the chaos I sometimes feel in the mornings. My breakfast is frantically placed over my day planner to show the importance of taking some time for myself to relax during breakfast before the madness of the day begins. I work full-time and then go to grad school classes after work in the evenings. Four days out of the week, I am active from 8am-9pm. It is chaotic, but I love it. That's what NYC is all about, isn't it? I am paying my dues and someday, it'll all be worth it.

I took this photo to show a quintessential New York moment: laundry day. I do not have my own washer and dryer in my apartment OR in my building. Thankfully, I only have to cross the street for an excellent laundromat, but I've never had to do that before. It's like when I was in college... but somehow not. For one, I suddenly really care about quarters.

Finally, this beauty. I love Sunday brunch and it was something my family did every Sunday after church. It usually involved an arepa instead of some sprouted bread, but this meal is everything. It's pretty basic, but it's basically so nutritious for you: sprouted avocado toast with scrambled eggs. It's delicious and now I am craving it. Also, Whole Foods was having a sale on Izze beverages, so I spoiled myself that weekend.

I really hope you all enjoy seeing these photos as much as I enjoy putting them together. I miss it, I will say. It definitely did not become an every day thing, but it has meant that I think more about the story I want each photo to tell. It used to just be about aesthetics because my oatmeal breakfast looked good on my windowsill, but now it's a deeper, I think.

I am looking forward to seeing what more I can come up with. Ciao for now!

Let's Talk: 3 Things You NEED in Your Pantry

I'm no expert on nutrition, but I do happen to care a lot about it. I wholeheartedly believe that food is the body's best defense and offense against disease and there are some natural remedies you can buy in your local supermarket and always have on-hand to combat just about anything.

This post is not being written to bash the progressive and impressive advancements of modern Western medicine. I just believe having these in y0ur pantry means you won't have to visit the doctor nearly as often. Honestly, I cannot remember the last time I went to the doctor for something that wasn't related to getting checked out for school or going abroad.

Take me back to the days when doctors used herbal remedies. Sigh.

1. APPLE CIDER VINEGAR
• Apple cider vinegar, as you can see from extensive research online, can be used for combatting body odor from the inside-out, help heal the scalp from dandruff, can help with weight loss, digestion and even diabetes, but this isn't how I use it. The day I feel a slight itch in my throat, THE FEAR OF A COLD OR SORE THROAT EMERGES. That's when I put a spoonful of apple cider vinegar into a glass of water (more water the better to dilute it because no, it's not appetizing) and then--boom!--I do not get sick.
• Believe it or not, apple cider vinegar fights infection. Some holistic doctors even say regular intake can prevent urinary tract infections (heard that, ladies?).
• True story: My dog had an ear infection and giving her some apple cider vinegar (in water) helped her, as well. 
• Fun fact: My sister swears by the stuff and my dad drinks some every morning. Actually, I think I might start if it'll help my digestive woes.
  
2. TURMERIC
• Turmeric is a really fun one because anything that is bright yellow is a friend of mine. Though I am someone who has an incredibly monochrome wardrobe, I used to be a huge fan of everything yellow and I still am--to a degree. I still love the sun (I wish I was Kryptonian because that love would have benefits) and sunflowers are my favorite of all of the flowers. But most of all, I love how turmeric not only makes my rice yellow (which makes me feel SO Latin, I can't explain why), but it has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial functions. That means using turmeric in your rice, eggs or even making golden milk (which I will make, try and blog about next!) will help prevent so many ailments down the road. Lots of our everyday illnesses are caused by inflammation in the body.
3. MINT TEA
• Speaking of my digestive woes, I have to talk about my undying love and passion for mint tea. Maybe it's because I know I must have ancestry in the Middle East. Maybe it's because before I knew about my wheat and dairy intolerances, mint tea was the only thing that could settle my stomach after a meal. Whatever it may be, mint tea is my true love.
• Tea, in general, is so good for you. It prevents cancer by not only actively reducing stress (which is a main cause for many diseases, including cardiovascular), but it also has these powerful antioxidants. But it's not limited to cancer. These antioxidants actively prevent and treat a number of ailments, including: reduced risk strokes and neurological disorders (think Alzheimer's and Parkinson's), help with weight loss, treat clogged arteries, etc.
• Mint tea is special because it actively helps with digestion. Think you need that TUMS, get heartburn a lot? Well, aside from maybe making better nutritional choices, you should really consider putting those colorful pills back in your bag and steeping some mint tea in a boiling mug of water. Likewise, just infusing your water with some fresh mint leaves will curb your appetite throughout the day. ALSO, apparently just steeping some tea and sniffing it periodically throughout the day can help prevent you from satisfying your cravings. Does it get any better than that?
• Pro tip: don't let a cup of mint tea sit out for too long (by this I mean more than a day) because it's herbal and it starts to smell like a more illegal herb after a while. I kid you not. I was horrified.

There are a number of other things that are great for you, like coconut oil, as well as many other coconut-based products (think water, sugar, milk, etc.), Himalayan salt and cayenne pepper. Of course, I can always talk about them in another post. For now, you must know about these above.

For now, let me know if you have any questions and I'll be more than happy to help! Stay healthy, friends.

PS--it goes without saying, but you should buy these products certified organic. It may seem silly, but steeping leaves infested with pesticides is only going to make you sicker. It's as counterproductive as it can get, really.

Sources:
http://www.livestrong.com/article/535407-will-apple-cider-vinegar-cure-a-bacterial-infection/
http://www.webmd.com/diet/tea-types-and-their-health-benefits
& my brain.

NYC Room Tour

February 12th has always been a significant date in my family. It's my parents' wedding anniversary. Love is in the air this month thanks to Valentine's Day, but I feel it because it's my parents' big day. Because my immediate family is pretty much alone on this side of the Caribbean Sea (everyone else is living in Venezuela), we really value days like these. My parents' anniversary is a celebration for all five of us. 

Ma & Daddy, have the most beautiful 29th anniversary and here's to so many more (God willing) years together.

That being said, this particular February 12th is extra noteworthy because it marks one month since I moved to New York City. I don't think I will be celebrating each month mark, but this one felt special. It's probably because of the day in which it fell.

To celebrate this occasion, I thought I'd give you a peek inside my room. It took me and my sister one really long day (January 12th) to set it all up, but it could not be more perfect. After a long and expensive trip to IKEA, we made an empty room in a tiny Midtown apartment feel like home. Ok, let's be honest: there is nothing expensive at IKEA! 

I envisioned parts of the room before I moved in, like the clothing rack you'll see, but I had no idea how the finished product would look. Honestly, I am in love. I could not be more pleased with the color scheme and each carefully selected piece in its perfect spot in the space.

I find this is the most fun and effective way to access my winter pieces. I feel like I have very own boutique.

As you can see, I really love using storage pieces as decoration. These boxes contain workout gear, winter scarves, tights, socks, etc. and all of my intimates. Not only are they easily accessible, but it gives this vintage trunk feel that I absolutely love while tying into the blue accents notable through the entire room. (Disregard the navy blue suitcase there, it literally fit nowhere else!)

In summation, I am in love with tiny, over-priced space. Actually, God blessed me with a great price for this area, but goodness, New York City is NOT cheap and that is putting it lightly. Trust me, people, it's not fun! But, at the end of the day, I get to live in one of the best cities in the world to pursue my dreams and I could not be more elated.

Here's to many more months in this space (again, God willing) and getting to witness seasons changing outside that beautiful window. 

Xx.

Happy Half-Birthday To Me!

Today I am officially half-way between 23 and 24. I have always loved celebrating my half-birthday because my birthday lies in the heart of summer (August 6) and my friends were always away on family vacations during that time.

Now that I am older and have missed plenty of birthdays with family, I find that celebrating is simply an acknowledgment that another year has passed. I like to personally treat birthdays like a new year. My birthday is what January 1st is for everyone else. It marks the first day of a brand new year and anticipation for what will be this year's milestone.

Since I turned 20, I have been paying attention to what major moment defines each age. Some of them are extremely personal, so I won't share them all, but I will say that 22 and 23 have been significant for my growing up process and moving into my mid-20s.

At 22, I had a nightmarish internship in Milan, which still gives me small panic attacks when I think about it. Today TriBeCa reminded me a little too much of Milan and I felt extremely uncomfortable. But the point is, this internship seriously made me grow up. It strengthened my spiritual faith, but my heart broke, my dreams shattered and I felt like I needed to start all over again. I turned 23 a week after I returned home from that internship and at 23 I applied to and started at NYU.

Self-portrait on February 6, 2016 in NYC

23 marks the age I moved to NYC and I think that takes the cake for this age's milestone. Can anything really top that major life-changing move? Probably not.

So now, one week from celebrating one month in New York City and six months into my 23rd year, I have to say I feel like I am exactly where I am meant to be. I still don't have a job (but interviews are lining up) and I have started racking up unwanted student loan debt, but I have this incredible feeling that the divine plan for my life is unveiling. Whatever God has been cooking up for me is starting to be served in courses and though I am only at the appetizer, it tastes unbelievable. I cannot wait for the main course.

So, here's to six more months of 23 and whatever lies before me.

To quote the Mad Hatter: "a very merry unbirthday to me!"

On My Windowsill, part I

Since moving into my new apartment in New York City, I have been nothing short of infatuated with my windowsill. Be it the view the window itself provides, the incredible sunlight in my tiny space or how photogenic cracked paint can be, I have wanted to continuously take photos of my meals and favorite things on this sill. It all started with the evolution of the oatmeal breakfast, but it has made its way to lunches and even school-related themes.

On the windowsill, you can always find my emptied jar of Talenti ice cream filled with a third of my lipstick collection, a small green plant from IKEA, a fake white flower in a vase, a tiny plate (purchased at a thrift store) holding my everyday rings and a small collection of reading materials.

At the moment, I have no plans to change was lies permanently on the windowsill, but I am playing with the subjects of these photographs. The middle of the windowsill is often empty, since I am not one for clutter, and it remains this way until I need a place to set down my coffee, tea, meal or lit candle. This series began because I noticed how lovely my breakfast looked between my well-thought-out sill decorations.

The photographing of my breakfast began to inspire me immensely. After prop placement came the angles. Being such a small window and the subject not being so different in the beginning, I had to get creative. 

A friend suggested I take a photograph a day so that I could look back at my first year in NYC through the evolution of themes on my windowsill. This made me pretty excited to start saving the photos I've already taken and wondering what subject might inspire me next. For now, my first library book (checked out with my NYPL card) photographs quite well. Alexandre Dumas is one of my favorite authors and this novel based during Marie Antoinette's reign in France is making for a great prop next to my meals.

Since I just finished my first week of graduate school at NYU, I have already started photographing my textbooks and notes. This could quite possibly be the next series of photographs I post on this blog. Stay tuned, Xx.

P.S.: All photography was done with an iPhone 6S and no photographs have been edited.