oh new york, you're such a tease.

today was a rare day in new york city. it broke sixty degrees. yes, you heard me. sixty! and it's march eleventh. blue skies, warm air, and no down coat necessary. a little slice of heaven if you ask me.

but, don't be fooled, my friends, it's back to the usual freezing antics tomorrow. oh, new york, you're such a tease. but thank you, nonetheless.

so today, on this rare occurrence of the parting of the clouds, i did something i never do and left the office for lunch. bold, i know. i sat, took in the moment, and didn't check my email for a whole thirty minutes. i know what you're thinking, so rebellious! but it felt like i was downright breaking the rules. oh, new york, you have such a way of luring us into your demanding work ethic and your addictive ways.

the old version of me came to visit today. the one who takes a breather and notices the late afternoon light and listens to the songs playing on the radio {'oops i did it again,' thanks britney, and 'don't stop til you get enough,' thanks mj}. the one who watches the group of people walk by the window to pause for a selfie, observes the girl in the corner sipping her coffee looking as if she is waiting on a friend, and feels inspired to write. simple things, really. but the things that remind us that we are human and there is more to life than just a job.

i was recently in la - venice actually - and it was an early sunday morning. i was hopping out of the car with one of my bests heading into a yoga class, and it occurred to me that i missed this version of myself. the same one that came to say hi today. the one who carries little to no stress, soaks up the moment, and really lives life.

i think this is my biggest takeaway from my one year, one month, and ten days in new york city. i love it and would not trade one second of it for the world, but it promotes a different way of being. one that causes you to put your head down, to work hard, and to not ask questions because everyone else is working even harder. all of a sudden, certain parts of yourself get a little bit buried under the pile of chaos and no matter how hard you try to hang on to your old way of being, it's difficult to maintain in it's full capacity. so instead, you find yourself getting glimpses of the old version of you on an uncharacteristically warm tuesday afternoon in march at a cafe in soho.

oh, new york, you're such a tease. but thank you, nonetheless.

*photo from december via my iphone - the bryant part merry-go-round, an nyc bucket list item.

**just a disclaimer that this post is in no way meant to sound negative {because i am immensely happy and have so much to be grateful for}, but i did want to capture some of the raw parts of this experience and hope that someone finds comfort in relating to it. 

entranced.

so last night i attended a cooking class and i swear the instructor could have been involved with the kinfolk crew. naturally, i mentioned kinfolk magazine and she knew just the one!

i realized i've been meaning to post about kinfolk for years and have yet to find the chance. well, darlings, with a little cooking class inspiration, today is the day.

i remember stumbling upon this video one slow afternoon a couple years ago and being completely captivated.



kinfolk magazine is an inspirational space for small gatherings and their belief is that eating together is a sacred act meant to be enjoyed.

get entranced by their promo videos for their magazine. breakfast for two is a favorite of mine... lovers, scones, coffee, sunrise, airplanes. i am completely entranced and want to be in that moment.

imagination.

alright, dolls. i'm going to be a complete blog thief. i stole this post from my good pal, pom pom {oh, i've mentioned her a time or two}. don't mind if i do. 

anyhow, i watched this video friday afternoon and proceeded to bawl my eyes out for a good twenty minutes. it's not only inspiring and heartwarming, but it will remind you that a child's imagination is one of life's greatest gifts.

caine is nine years old and has crafted an entire arcade out of cardboard boxes. but it's not just any arcade, it's a magical place with details so amazing you won't believe your eyes.


Caine's Arcade from Nirvan Mullick on Vimeo.

his innocence is infectious. may caine's story remind you to never be afraid to think outside the box. to believe in yourself. to be proud. and that human beings have the capacity to engage in random acts of kindness to bring joy to those who deserve it.

enjoy!

*to read more about caine check out here and here. and, $164k has been raised to send him to college. proof of the power of social media, and again, the goodness of others.

the arena.

about a year ago, i shared one of my favorite ted talks of all time by brené brown. she discusses the importance of vulnerability in our lives and what it means to live whole-heartedly, with courage. in moments of fear, i often reflect on her talk and become rooted in the thought that while feeling vulnerable is scary, it's a necessity for personal growth, positive change, and discovering our own self-worth.

as she states, in her follow up ted talk, "vulnerability is not weakness, it's the birthplace of innovation, creativity, and change."



if you have twenty minutes, i'd recommend watching. it may just be the psych major in me, but i can attest that it has some incredibly valuable lessons on shame, and how feelings of not being good enough can get in the way of who we want to be.

as brené says, "may we enter the arena that is our lives, and dare greatly."


it's all happening has truly taught me we must risk feeling vulnerable by speaking our minds to create something beautiful that is true to ourselves. bring on the vulnerability. we need more of it in this world.

makers.

i'm a proud aol-er today, loves. we announced our new program called makers, and let me tell you, it's a must-watch. 

aol and pbs are pairing to create a television and digital series on makers - essentially, the women who make america. it's inspiring, it's real, and as a female, it's important.

the video initiative to be aired online and on pbs {in early 2013 as a documentary series} showcases hundreds of compelling stories from the trailblazing women of today and tomorrow.

most importantly, it embodies one of my most favorite life phenomenons... 

we all have a story.

may this aol produced show inspire you to tell yours. go ahead, find someone you want to learn about...

shine.

are you ever afraid to shine? like, really shine?

i learned that i am, but i don't want to be anymore.

i think there are many things that hold us back...

fear. doubt. vulnerability. to name just three.

but, see, in the end we all just want to be shining. and buzzing. and exist as nothing but utter lightness. sometimes we just can't take that high, but i want to take it. let's.

*found here.