It couldn't have happened anywhere but little old New York...

This little picture was hanging in my very first NYC apartment.  It will hang in every home I have in the future...

At the start of the 2013 Summer, I made a big move from New York City to New Jersey as I mentioned a few posts ago.  This move was much needed, but very emotional at the same time- as most moves are.  While I was saying goodbye to life in NYC (something that was a huge priority at one time), I was opening up a brand new chapter of my life- moving in with my boyfriend, into suburbia, and away from the shoebox apartment life I called home for 7 years.

At age 22, NYC was so full of energy, magic, and places just waiting for me to explore! I would visit friends and have the most amazing nights out.  Whether is was just pizza and shopping around Christmas time, a rooftop party on a summer night, or a night club on New Year's Eve, nothing and nowhere in my life compared to the happiness I had when I spent time in NYC.  Cab rides through Tribeca with my best friends felt magical.  Walking home from a bar at 2am with the snow falling was breathtaking.  And the unique closet-sized restaurants we went to only made us want more!  I knew that I had to live in that city.

The very next year, I was making plans to do just that.  I packed up my life in a little suburb of Washington, DC, into my Jeep, and I headed North to New York.  I remember not having even an ounce of hesitation.  I was beyond ready. Beyond excited.  And I was headed in the exact direction I should have been going in.

For the first year living in the Big Apple, everything was so new and I had this undeniable appreciation for every little thing.  Finding a new market for food shopping, a morning run up the East River or through the hills of Central Park, or a late night/early morning diner meal are all memories I will hold onto for the rest of my life- and crack a smile, with just a thought.  I loved everything I was doing.

As life goes on, I found love (from NJ), but held on to New York City life as long as I could.  Having love in New York is amazing and romantic.  There are so many things to do together, and even if you know the city inside and out, there is always something else to explore.  And there is nothing like experiencing new places together OR showing off your own go-to Mexican restaurant that no other place could ever beat!

I ended up spending most weekends in New Jersey and weekdays in NYC.  Packing up a weekend duffle bag EVERY Thursday did take its toll, but I was in LOVE!  New Jersey had fresh air, space, and trees.  It gave me a break from the constant urgency in NYC that loomed over everyone.  New Jersey became my second home and I looked forward trying new yoga studios and food shopping in big grocery stores again...and having a kitchen big enough to make homemade pizzas;-)  It made my NYC life seem a little stuffy and restricting almost.  I knew I was slowly reaching the end of my love affair with the Big Apple.  For good reason, of course.

In the months leading up to this year's big move, I couldn't wait to get out of my crammed apartment, away from the fumes of 3rd avenue and the uncleanly subways.  I was in full-on New Jersey mode by then and I could not be happier that I was moving in with my love.  I was looking forward to spending our very first summer living together and decorating our new home together.  The day we rented the U-haul and pulled through the streets of Manhattan at 5am to pack up my NYC life, was the only day it hit me.  My dream city...my NYC life...all I had wanted at one point- was all about to be left behind for a new chapter.  It was easy to say goodbye to the small apartment, the traffic, and the noise...but it wasn't so easy to say bye to the reasons I moved to the city in the first place.

But I can now say that I actually LIVED all of those perfect reasons-  the magic, the energy, the uniqueness...

As I headed out of New York that morning, sitting shotgun, I looked out the window with my Starbucks cup comforting me, realizing just how much my priorities had changed, and the most genuine smile came over me...

What I have left of the NYC-Me are the very best memories of my 20s years that a girl could ever ask for.  And THAT makes me feel pretty darn lucky!

November's Intentions

Now that we're into day 4 of November, I have come up with my goals/intentions for the month!  I wanted to share them all with you and a little bit about why these are important to me this month:-)

Intention #1- Remain Positive- I have gone through a lot of change in over the past few months. Moving out of the city into suburbia.  Moving in with my boyfriend.  Getting a car. Starting a new job.  These changes aren't little things for me and I very easily over-think them at times.  Sometimes I just need to remind myself to relax, breath it all in, and be thankful for what has come to me.  Positivity can really go a long way for you AND the people around you.  Last week, I found myself sitting at my desk and randomly smiling thinking of these amazing changes and how far I've gone in just a few months.  I just wanted to sit in the moment all day:-)  This month, I promise myself to have more of those moments.

Intention #2- Enjoy Thanksgiving (EVERY BIT)- Because of my Type A personality, I tend to focus on making all details of the holidays perfect.  Everything from the schedule, to food, to when I will workout, etc.  This year, I'm going to find the joy in planning the meals and spending time with my family.  It's so fun to be with my parents and my sisters.  It's time to grab the wine and sit around chatting OR bundle up and go for a walk along the water on the deserted wintertime New England beaches OR go to my high school's annual football game which I used to cheer at every frigid Thanksgiving morning!  There is no need for me to fuss about what I'm eating, when I will workout, what will people think of my pumpkin pie...everything always rolls out just fine:-)

Intention #3- Early Christmas Shopping- Most of my holiday gift shopping gets wrapped up the day after Thanksgiving.  YES, I'm one of THOSE people.  I wake up at 5:30 the day after Thanksgiving and hit the stores.  I'm not looking for those door buster sales- I just like the idea of starting early and getting it all done!  Sometimes I even wrap the gifts the same day! So, this year is no different.  I plan to stick with my yearly goal of getting most, if not all, of that shopping done on the deadliest of days for my bank account- BLACK FRIDAY!

Intention #4- Focus on Arms- I have a wedding on December 14th and I will be wearing a strapless dress!  Just because it's winter, I can't hide behind a jacket or sweater.  I need to stay trimmed and toned for this dress.  I want my shoulders, arms, and back to look gorgeous in this dress and that means starting NOW with the focus on my Arm toning.  With the help of my Tone it up trainers, this should not be too difficult to incorporate at least 3 arm routines per week.  There is also something so satisfying about having sore triceps;-)  Anyone with me on that?

Intention #5- Up the Cardio- During the winter months, it's hard for me to get up and WANT to do cardio first thing in the morning.  I usually want to take time and wake my body up with light toning and yoga or very low impact interval training.  I plan to overcome that this month and set the bar high for the winter months to follow.  This will probably be the most challenging on of my 5 goals, but I just need to bundle up and do it!  I know this will help me, especially with all of the extra treats lurking on every counter top this time of year!

So there are my five intentions for November!  It's important to set and write out your intentions so they don't just get lost in your head.  Now that they're out there, I feel a better sense of accountability.

Set YOUR intentions...GO!

Soften Up! (with Olive Oil)

Cold and dry weather is upon us!  And It can definitely do a number on your skin...

I spend most of my weekdays inside an office, so I try to do as many outdoor activities as possible at night and on the weekends.  Since I was an NYC gal for several years of my life, my 30 minute walk home from work every night was one of my favorite times of day.  Plugging in my iPod, getting some air, people watching, and heading home for the night.  Since moving to Jersey, I've tried to continue my "walking after work" by going to local parks and high school tracks after work (yeah...totally different vibe...but still refreshing!).  It's nice to unwind and move around a little before heading in for the night and getting dinner prepped. 

After a few years of walking home and just walking EVERYWHERE in general in NYC, I noticed my skin was suffering from the dry and not-so-clean NYC air.  About 2 years ago, I started turning to Olive Oil for my dry skin relief during the winter months.  I'm not just talking about my hands...I'm talking face, knees, elbows- anything!  We all know how good olive oil is for your body's cholesterol and immune system, but what about the outside?!? My grandmother actually suggested it to me a few years prior and I thought that putting "oil" on my skin would make me breakout, so I didn't want to try it.  

But I finally did! And so should you! Because you'll never know that your skin could feel so soft.  It may feel over-oily at first, but you'll love the results.  Do this for your face before bed:  

1) Wash your face the way you normally do.

2) Pat dry your face completely with a clean towel.

3) With a cotton ball, rub organic, extra virgin olive oil to your face (as you would if you were using a toner or astringent).  You want to go around your eyes because it's so amazing for those fine lines around your eyes, but don't get to close.  I cover my face with a thin layer and focus on my forehead, laugh lines, and around my eyes.  It's awesome for cracked lips too!

You shouldn't be dripping with olive oil, it should just feel like you have a thick moisturizer on.  

After I thinly cover my face, I pour a drop of olive oil on my hands and rub it in like lotion.  Again, you're not covered in oil so much that you can't touch anything.  It's on there as a moisturizer.

Leave everything on and go to bed.  In the morning, take note of how soft your skin feels!  The softness is something that no other moisturizer can quite live up to, in my opinion.  It pretty much locks in the moisture.  This is great for irritated skin, stretch marks, and just overall sensitive skin because of the antioxidants and good fats. Your skin will just look and feel stronger and healthier!

So when you're making dinner tonight, don't put your bottle of Olive Oil away in the pantry.  Keep it out and use it before bed.  Treat your face and massage it into your elbows and knees.  You won't regret it!