• Tweet
• Email

• Tweet
• Email

One of the reasons why I blog is simply to have the space to write: getting things “on paper” helps me to process my feelings and organize my thoughts. I also love having a record of my life over the past few years: a place that holds all of my stories, my photos, the ups and downs of travel. But sometimes, I also just want to remember and share the little things that brought me day-to-day joy. Every Friday, I’ll give you a peek into the book I currently can’t put down, a great restaurant discovery, a fun new product or an inspiring quote: a few things that I think you might enjoy before we all take off into the glory that is the weekend!  The highlight of my week: riding the subway home one night and someone recognized me FROM MY BLOG. Hi, Morgan (!). You’re the greatest. I’d gone to Pilates that morning, and forgotten to pack a pair of jeans–so I spent all day at the office in workout capris and sneakers (aka feeling comfortable but not super competent). Bonus: I got my zipper stuck, so I couldn’t even take my jacket off! I swung by a friend’s book signing at this super fancy store in SoHo in my sneakers after work, and just felt so schlubby. I was completely beelining for my couch (and The Good Wife, duh) when Morgan so sweetly said hello to me getting off the train and made me feel about 100x cooler than I had felt the entire day. Lessons learned: always double check what’s in your gym bag, and don’t be afraid to say hello slash give someone a compliment (it always makes their day!).

Gym Vibes

Although I’m not doing resolutions this year, I do want to get in better shape. I fell out of a workout routine in 2015, mostly because I didn’t love the gym I belonged to in Williamsburg and then I couldn’t find a gym that I loved in Bed-Stuy. I hesitated because I thought I’d prefer having a gym close to home instead of close to work–but I ended up joining Chelsea Piers Sports Center, and I’m so glad I did! It’s a gorgeous facility (that pool looks out over the Hudson River!), and it’s so convenient since it’s right across the street from my office.

Streets

In things I do love about living in Bed-Stuy: there is no shortage of excellent and colorful street art, featuring legendary rappers.

Eats

The greatest thing to hit New York City streets: MAPLE. There’s a different menu every day, and all of the options are healthy, delicious and delivered to your door in a 20-minute window. I tried the roasted brussel sprouts and cauliflower sandwich: so good! One thing I loved is that there are a bunch of great vegetarian options: this is definitely going to be my go-to when I don’t have time to make lunch at home. Side note: it’s only in Manhattan right now, but they’re rapidly expanding across NYC and beyond–so stay tuned! 

Reads

What a week of BOOKS! I couldn’t put down Girls Who Travel, a romantic comedy-esque novel about a twenty-something who is struggling to balance a love of travel with growing up. I’m growing into a sales role at Vimeo, so my boss surprised me with a few reads to get me inspired. Although they’re technically for my “day job,” I’m actually stoked to read them because I think they’ll be really helpful in my blog life and just life in general: The Greatest Salesman in the World (which actually seems like an old world fairy tale so far), How to Win Friends and Influence People (a classic I still haven’t read) and Pitch Anything (reminds me of my favorite social psych class in college). And then on Monday, I went to the When Breath Becomes Air conversation with the author’s widow and her sister: it was a completely packed house with a line out the door and around the corner. Only in Brooklyn! On Tuesday, I celebrated the release of Simple Matters–a book by a lovely blogger-turned-friend. And then I hosted book club for Leaving Time: the surprise twist ending made for a fantastic discussion! So in short, all I did this week was read and/or add more (actual) books to my bookshelf and/or talk about books. Fingers crossed for a snowstorm soon so that I can guiltlessly curl up inside and do nothing but read all day!

Words

“It isn’t what we say or think that defines us, but what we do.” -Jane Austen

This weekend, we are doing a Midtown stay-cation at the Park Central Hotel: complete with FINALLY seeing Book of Mormon on Broadway and checking out this secret burger joint. Bonus three-day weekend adventure: girls day at Dia:Beacon!