& I've never been so sure

being home is good. familiar scents, familiar faces. home cooked meals of spinach ravioli. and lots of time to clear my mind. it feels good to be getting back to basics. sometimes, things are a mess. actually, most times they are. but finding myself amongst the craziness has been a really great experience.

Time

'Time makes you bolder, children get older, I'm getting older too...'-Fleetwood Mac

 I was listening to Stevie Nicks sing those all too familiar lyrics of 'Landslide' and I got to thinking about where I am in my life. The highs & lows. The accomplishments and failures. The painful heartaches and the strength of love. All of this in only 25 years. Isn't it a funny thing to realize all that you've gone through in only a quarter of a century? Only certain of one thing - and that's the unknown. Not being able to predict where the road is going to take you.

And here I am. I've been brought to this point by a series of lows. I've been kicked when I was down. I've watched my family hurt in ways that some won't ever know. I've doubted and cried and succumbed to all sorts of weaknesses. And here I am - here we are. We're still here. I'm mere months from the graduation of law school, I'm in a relationship with a man who loves me for all that I am and all that I'm not, and I'm the sister to a beautiful, strong woman who amazes me each and every day. 

I may have lost friends, I may have made mistakes, and I may have lost sight of what was important. But the passage of days, of this man-made notion of time, brought me here. So while I'm here, in this moment, I'm learning to appreciate what I've been given. 

And I'm making the most adult decision I've made all my life, and that's to let go of the anger. There's too much beautiful to surround with anger's dark clouds.

Saturday in the City.

I'm a lucky girl. I've been lucky enough to know my wonderful boyfriend for five years. We may have gone through some ups & downs, but the important thing is that we are stronger than ever. I've realized that hitting lows in our relationship truly helped us see each other for who we really are. And it's a testament to our strength as a couple that we made it to where we are today. Together. So while we're stuck doing the 'long distance' thing until I graduate law school in May, we spend as many of our weekends together between NY & PA. This Saturday, the boy visited me in NYC. We started our day with some shopping in J.Crew (when do we not?!) and then headed downtown to L'asso (192 Mott St.) for lunch. L'asso is one of those amazing little gems with delicious food in the city.

The boyfriend intently checking out the menu.

We started our meal with some cinnamon bread. It had hints of orange and was all sorts of delicious.

 We then split a Bufalina pizza - lots of fresh mozzarella and basil. The thin crust makes these pies easy to eat!

Check out L'asso here!

We then headed over to the San Gennaro Festival in Little Italy. While it was packed with people, I appreciated its church-picnic/Jersey shore boardwalk atmosphere.

I even wore my red pants in honor of the feast!

The day ended with a little more shopping, Magnolia devil's food cake cupcakes, & a whole lot of sneaky kisses, hand holding, and I love you's. I tend to whine at the end of our day together, always complaining "do you really have to leave?" "Can't we just get a place together already?" "Is it May yet?" I am trying really hard to make the most out of the life I live now, but I can't help but long for the future sometimes. Especially when it's lookin' so bright. So on the train ride home, the sun was setting, Frank Sinatra came on my iPod, and I realized just how darn lucky I am to have such a beautiful life, both in the now & likely in the future. 25 is looking up.

Scheduling Time for Yourself

In between an overbooked schedule of classes, research, and work, I sometimes feel like I hardly have time to breathe. And when I do, most of my free moments are spent daydreaming about the weekend. So when two of my close friends asked me to go on a pumpkin spice latte run with them this afternoon, my response was "sure let me check my calendar, I'll pencil you in." I thought nothing of it until I opened up my Google Calendar to reserve a mere hour of friend time. Then I thought, since when have I gotten too busy to take time for myself, for a cup of coffee, for a nap? Okay, maybe the days of naps are long gone, but I could surely squeeze in a latte here and there. Maybe even a trip to the mall. Instead of always "working for the weekend," I could work and sneak some free time in here and there. 

At first, I was mortified at the fact that 25 year old Liz had to pencil in time for Starbucks. It just felt all so adult to me...all so...boring. But after enjoying some laughter with my friends & catching up on all of the great endeavors they're taking on, I realized that while I would have cringed at the thought when I was 18, maybe having to schedule in some 'me' time isn't so bad. Maybe it means I'm doing the right thing - trying to balance some time for friends and myself in between all of the havoc.

And it doesn't hurt to have great friends to remind you that all of your craziness is going to get you somewhere in life. Sometimes, a reminder to stay focused and remain grounded is as simple as scheduling in a pumpkin spice latte.

 

The Monday Blues

We've all had those days. It doesn't matter how beautiful the weather, how much work you've accomplished, or how great of a weekend you have. Some days, you just aren't feelin' it. You hit snooze (which we all know is a bad way to start the day), you don't have time for morning coffee, and everything else goes downhill from there. Usually, it's not just one thing that happens, it's a series of mini-meltdowns that lead to a cry for the day to end. Sometimes it's a Monday, sometimes it's a Wednesday. No matter what the day of the week, it's just not right.

Today's one of those days for me. I had the Sunday-night-into-Monday-blues, and I'm trying not to let today set the tone for the rest of the week. So I'm trying to change my mood with a few small tricks (apple cinnamon tea in my Life is Good mug, touching up my manicure, and pumpkin lotion just to name a few.) So far, I may not feel 100% on my game, but I feel better knowing that I'm fighting my Monday blues. And hey, tomorrow's Tuesday, and it's true, my life is good.

Is it cold out yet?

I am a child of the Northeast, and the more that my clothing reflects the colors of the fall leaves in the Pocono Mountain day trips of my youth, the better. I need the weather to be just a little cooler before I break out some new tops. All fairly casual, meant for those skinny jeans & moccasins days. 

 A dusty rose chiffon top. This may get worn sooner rather than later with the new black riding pants I purchased from H&M. 

I'm a sucker for anything in "mustard" yellow. Not only are J.Crew Painter tees the best, they're even better paired with a slouchy hunter green J.Crew sweater. Add in my faux fur vest, & I'm pretty sure this is my pumpkin picking outfit.

The orangey red & navy combination won me over immediately. And on J.Crew's clearance rack for only $25 - had to be mine! It'll go perfect with my J.Crew wedge boots (luckily, I have the best boyfriend who got them for me as a birthday gift!) 


I hope you're all enjoying the start of fall, its colors, and its fashion!

Fragility vs. Resilience

Since September 11th is only a few days away, I feel like I have to address the topic in some sense. Since I've been a New York resident for nearly three years now, I can't ignore the impact that day ten years ago had on this area. Day to day reminders exist, whether it is by driving past a memorial on Long Island or walking alongside Ground Zero itself. I have never been an overly patriotic individual, but living in New York has instilled a certain level of pride in the strength a city can have. Ten years ago, I could not have imagined that I would be living in New York. I could not have imagined spending large parts of my week in and out of Manhattan. I could not have imagined that my younger sister would be living in the Financial District, the sun glaring off of the metal structure of the new 1 World Trade Center outside her window. Yet, here we are. We are living, working, and growing up in this fast-paced world of the metropolitan area.

Through all of this, I thought what I had learned is that humans are fragile. That we are too caught up in the routine to see the beauty. Merriam-Webster defines fragility as "the quality or state of being easily broken or destroyed." After pondering on this, I realized that while we may have fragile states or qualities, what we are most is resilient. Resilience, defined as "an ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change," is far more accurate. The beauty of our lives is that we are ever-changing. Living in New York has taught me that the most. A response to change is one of the wonders of being alive. We are far more adaptable than we give ourselves credit for. 

We live a beautiful life, even amidst its chaos. And part of what makes it so beautiful is our ability to remember, to memorialize, and our will to continue. While I am unsure of what the future has in store, I am certain that New York will always be one of the places I call "home." And the strength of New York is something that is admirable. For making me realize this, I will always be grateful that I have the chance to grow here. 

& we'll see what September brings.

I'm a girl of cool nights and dark skies, & there's no better time of year for me than Fall. Since my birthday always falls somewhere around Labor Day Weekend, the "unofficial end of summer" is marked by birthday celebrations & a call to the cooler nights of Autumn. So, since today is chilly and rainy here in New York, I thought I'd post a few of my favorite fall items at the moment. Enjoy!

1. Black Coach flats. They were a gift from my mom, and they are perfect for early Fall weather. They can get me through the days of denim, as well as go with a blouse and cranberry colored skirt. They're my favorite basic shoes right now.

2. Wraps & capelets. This plaid Jessica Simpson capelet is my go-to for a cool day when I don't want to wear a jacket. Throw it over a long sleeve t-shirt and a pair of leggings, and you're good to go. I'm also obsessed with animal print wraps. One will be circulating in my wardrobe this season.

3. Philosophy 3-in-1 Harvest Spice. This pumpkin orange scent wakes me up in the morning and reminds me of Fall nights at home-serving a double duty!

4. Halloween decorations. I know it's only September, but Halloween decorations have made their way out of the boxes and onto my shelves! It's never too early to celebrate the harvest season, and I've spotted a ton of cute decorations this year for reasonable prices (think Marshalls, TJ Maxx, The Christmas Tree Shop, & Target. Also visit Etsy.com for some handmade goodies!)

Hope you're all enjoying this preview of Fall just as much as I am!

25.

It's the big day - I just turned 25! Here are some serious (and not so serious) lessons I've learned over the years! 

25 Things I’ve Learned in my 25 Years:

1. Embrace bedtime. Sleep in your best friend. Close your eyes and enjoy every second before you fall asleep just ‘being.’
2. Bloody Mary’s aren’t a universal hangover cure. In fact, they might just make your hangover worse.
3. The music your parents listened to in the car when you were a kid (you know, those songs you always rolled your eyes at), well, they’re pretty cool. And they even make it onto your iPod.
4. It’s okay that you don’t have the courage to get a tattoo. The fact that you have one in your mind makes you just as badass.
5. Acne just doesn’t go away. Clean & Clear is always your best friend.
6. Always iron your clothes (even if it is done a little obsessively.)
7. Fad diets really don’t work. But counting calories does.
8. Forget counting calories. It’s okay to indulge sometimes.
9. If you’re in a bad mood, don’t put on sweatpants. They only make you feel worse.
10. $4 hair dye still does wonders (terrible, frizzy wonders).
11. One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor – truer words have not been spoken.
12. QVC is not just for your mother (Isaac Mizrahi, Rachel Zoe, & Bare Escentuals, oh my!)
13. You might not look like Avril Lavigne anymore, but at least you didn’t have to tattoo your signature onto your boyfriend’s arm.
14. Chuck Taylor’s never go out of style.
15. You’re not too old for a crazy night out with friends (okay, maybe it ends at midnight and not 4am, but it’s still a good time!)
16. Your family might drive you crazy, but you drive them crazy too. No matter what, they don’t leave your side during tough times, so don’t leave theirs.
17. Christmas music is always allowed. Even in the summer.
18. Bad decisions are inevitable. You’re allowed to make them as long as you learn from them.
19. A lot of people like to call you their friend. Be careful-they define the word loosely.
20. You can be frustrated. You can cry. Just don’t whine. Whining leads to inaction and that never solved a problem.
21. It’s not always the end of the world.
22. What was a fight with your boyfriend this morning is often not a fight with your boyfriend this evening. A few hours to clear your head can do wonders.
23. Treat yourself to a luxury once in awhile. C’mon, you know you work too hard not to get those shoes in Nordstrom!
24. There’s no greater bond than that of sisters.
25. Sometimes, you just have to say “it is what it is.”

it's my party...

Well, the moment is upon me – my 25^th birthday is tomorrow. While it’s not quite a ‘milestone’ birthday, it has long been a secretly dreaded age for me. Most of you are wondering why, & my parents would certainly look at me like I was crazy and mutter “but you’re so young!” While I’d grimace at them, I know that they’re right. While 18 year old Liz couldn’t imagine what being 25 would be like, I’m comfortable in saying that it has brought me to a good place. Maybe not a perfect place, but a place that I’m comfortable growing into. No, I’m not sure where I’ll be next year, what graduating from law school will bring, or what kind of job I’ll have (in my mind, it’s with some amazing real estate law firm with a desk that has a view). And while I may not be engaged like most of the girls I went to college with, and my hips may have gotten just a little bit wider, I’m learning to find the good in my mid-twenties. Graduation from law school? At least I’ll have a law degree! No job yet? Consider it an adventure! Not engaged? I’m lucky I have a boyfriend! Wider hips? Curves!

I have to admit, it’s an interesting place to be. It sounds so cliché to say I’ve grown wiser, and I’m not even sure it’s true. But I do think I’ve grown. And I do think I’m going in the right direction (let’s just pretend that direction is 5 years away from 30-I’m still getting used to 25!).

I hope you’ll join me for my days studying on Long Island, my weekends in New York City, and my traveling to my family in Pennsylvania (with some added adventures along the way). And no matter what your age, I hope you find a little part of yourself in my day-to-day doings. Mostly, I’m looking forward to learning more about all of you, and this thing that never goes away: growing up.