THE NEW & THE NEXT

WHO MISSED ME?

It's certainly been a minute and quite a lot of change has happened since we last "spoke." Let me bring you up to speed, SparkNotes version.

    

    

As we're aware, I moved to NYC as a fresh 22 year old. I'll never forget my first day in the city. Attempting small talk with the taxi driver and rolling up to my sublet apartment. I was excited, nervous, and wildly overwhelmed. This was also the moment I realized small talk wasn't necessarily going to be a thing here. Flash forward two years and I can honestly say I made that town my own. From meeting amazing humans, attending flashy events, and dancing those semi-wild, 5am nights away (with the best people), to having unique experiences I wouldn't have had elsewhere - it's been a ride. On my final Uber out, every building and every corner seemed to hold a special memory in my heart. Woo-wee, my time in that city was nothing less than unforgettable and full of growth.

    

   

Now, I'm a fresh 24 year old. Feeling less fresh than 22 and more Grandma Carol than ever.... gotta love a good weekend of wine and sleep, am I right? Being an adventurous soul and constantly excited for the new and the next, I've recently rolled up to my latest adventure: Charleston, SC. Back to those Southern roots I go! Unlike that first taxi ride into NYC, small talk is all the rage in this town... and I absolutely adore it. Not to mention, my new closet could probably fit my entire NYC studio in it. Probably. Although I've only been here a few weeks, I've managed to nail down my go-to coff spot, memorized driving directions to the nearest cycle studio and beach (less than 10 minutes away, people!!), and I continue to meet the sweetest people at every turn. This move has been the easiest transition to date and, honestly, it already feels like home -- only a version of home though, Mom.

XO

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I was scrolling through random health vlogs on YouTube the other day (I know, I'm fun), and got to thinking of this sweet, fit and fab-u-lous blog that I began quite a while ago. I started reading my posts from a few years back and couldn't help but smile. And giggle at what a little nerd I am. So, after spending hours trying to get logged back in, I figure I was due for an update.

On that note, hope you enjoyed this. And I look forward to enlightening y'all with another post sooner - or, potentially, two years later, like this one. 

Winter in the city

Ahh, Christmas time in the city. Does it get any better than this?

It's my very first winter in the Big Apple and, so far, it's off to a freezing start. What used to be those "ridiculous, long puffer jackets" that I'd refuse to buy, have quickly turned into my second half. A beautiful invention. With temps dipping into the 20s and quite a strong wind chill, this Virginia girl is constantly chilled (and bundled). You know what frightens me the most? When making small talk with my local deli/coffee man, he continues to say "oh, this is nothing." Great. Looks like I'll be investing in a mobile heater this season. 

Aside from the chill, NYC has been a complete dream. I feel like I'm living in a real-life snow globe. During this time of year, the city completely transforms into a winter wonderland. There are Christmas trees being sold on every block, decorative storefronts, ice skating rinks and festive villages — it's all so exciting. The other day, I even heard carolers passing by. Who would've thought New Yorkers could be so cheerful? I'll take it! Since there's so much to do/see in the city at this time of the year, I figured I'd share a few of my faves (so far). With a couple weeks left until Christmas, and New Years around the corner, I'm sure I'll run into plenty more activities. For now, this will have to do. 

1. SantaCon. I'd always heard about NYC SantaCon and it's always been on the top of my list. What is SantaCon? Basically, the city turns into a population of Santa Claus wannabes. From full-fledged Santa suites, to festive sweaters and accessories, you're constantly surrounded by holiday cheer. Although this year's SantaCon has come and gone, feel free to still throw on a hat or antlers. Nobody seems to judge here. 

2. Rockefeller Tree. Even if it tends to be extremely crowded, how could it not make it on my list? The Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center is remarkable. It's huge and decorated perfectly. While you're there, look toward Saks for a surprise show on the building. I promise, you're never too old for this light show!

3. Rolf's. Once you've checked out the tree, head on over to Rolf's for some real holiday cheer. Pictures won't do this gem justice, you'll just have to see it yourself. Decked in endless hanging ornaments and lights, your face will light up as soon as you walk through those cozy doors. If you're a super Christmas elf, its beauty may even bring a tear to your eye (cough, mom, cough).

4. Christmas Villages. One of my favorite parts of the city right now are the villages that pop-up everywhere. Two good ones: Bryant Park and Union Square. Both are filled with gift-able crafts and yummy noms. If you're at the Bryan Park village, be sure to hit up the fried pickle booth for a pickle stickle. And the ice skating rink. But mostly the fried pickles.

5. Hockey. Never have I ever been to an ice hockey game until this month. Now, I can say I've been to two — Go Rangers! If you get a chance to make it to a game, do. They're a blast to watch (near or far from the ice) and the fans are amazing. 

6. Macy's. Can't forget about Macy's! Each year, they always have the most amazing and festive windows that tell a story. If you can brave the crowd to see the "Believe" sign, check out the storefront and do some mean shopping, be sure to add Macy's to your NYC trip list. 

7. Any coffee or diner. I love spending my wintry weekend mornings tucked away in a coffee shop - I try to test out a new spot each week. With that being said, I can honestly say that they're all great. Type in "coffee shop" on your iPhone Maps and head that way. Though I have yet to give it a go, try out Ralph's (above Ralph Lauren). It's known for it's cozy and totally Instagram-able atmosphere. After, take a stroll through the park — I still can't wait to see it all beautified in a blanket of snow!

It's a quick list for sure, but it's a solid one. According to my deli man, the season hasn't even really started. That said, I'm looking forward to the adventures to come (even if that means freezing-er temps). There's always something to get into in this city and I know the wintry fun has just begun! 

Hip hop music + hot yoga

What do hip-hop music and hot yoga have in common? Absolutely nothing.

 

This past week I attended my first Y7 class — a workout class that combines the above polar opposites — and let me say, it was pretty darn fun. 

I've heard about this workout before, but was certainly unsure what to expect. Yes, I'm the first to bust a move to any dance music and I've always enjoyed hot yoga, still, the two together were hard to picture. Willing and excited (with an extra push from a trendy friend), I registered. 

After walking up about four flights of stairs, we arrived at the kingdom itself, Y7. The studio was outlined with lit candles and exposed brick walls. Immediately, I was obsessed. We claimed our spots with our mats and chatted about life until the instructor arrived. Soon, Drake was blasting through the candlelit, 90 degree studio. Ahh, here we go. 

The class consisted of three vinyasa flows. After we learned one flow, we went through it three times at different paces: slow, quick and to the music, and freestyle (at whatever pace we wanted). A few downward dogs in, I was drenched. Still, I managed to be that girl singing along to the music. Shockingly, I even laughed a few times — Drake songs are funny, y'all.

All in all, it was an awesome class. Even after a long day of work, when I didn't think I had anything energy left, the class was able to wake me up. 10 out of 10, highly recommend. 

Benefits of Hot Yoga + Music: 

1. Hot yoga & strength/flexibility. Holding challenging poses in a heated room increases your body's heart rate, making you work harder. This results in increased muscle strength. The heated class room temps also loosen muscle fascia, thin tissue encompassing the muscles, allowing the body to enter a deeper stretch and increase overall flexibility.

2. Hot yoga & detox. Something I learned from a previous instructor is that full-body twists not only increase blood flow (once you detangle), but allow your body to detox. What is "detoxing?" Detoxing means to cleanse the blood - expelling impurities from blood present in the liver, kidneys, intestines, lungs and even the skin.

3. Hot yoga & clear skin. A hot yoga class makes you sweat. A lot. But! As you sweat, you're getting rid of unwanted toxins from the pores of your face. This leaves your skin feeling refreshed and crystal clear. 

4. Music & dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that regulates your emotional responses. Also known as the "feel good" transmitter. As music starts to play, dopamine is triggered and released. The result? A happier you (who is ready to break it down).

5. Music & cortisol. While dopamine levels rise, cortisol levels lower — both are great results. Cortisol is commonly associated with stress. Boo. So, no, you don't want it increased. Luckily, it's been found that music helps to lower this hormone. Turn on some tunes and get ready to relax.

6. Music & workout endurance. I'm sure you and your iPhone have figured this one out already. Music boosts your overall workout endurance. Vibrations from sound waves flow through your ears and into your brain's nerves, turning pulses into movement. Because of this, your body naturally changes pace based on a song's BPM. To maximize your workout, pick songs with the appropriate BPM — check out this chart for reference. 

Rainy day reads

It's another dreary day here in NYC and, honestly, I don't mind it one bit.

I've been fairly productive this rainy weekend. Catching up on some overdue workout time, working on self-projects, and running errands to beautify my cozy apartment — all things I keep brushing aside. Yes, I've also made sure to schedule some extreme lounging/Netflix sessions (new New Girl episodes are up, guys). Sometimes you really need time to relax and regroup — this is one of those times. 

Other than completing those common weekend tasks, I made time to dive into a new book, "Power Your Happy." It's a wonderful read for us ambitious individuals and will certainly fuel your fire. Because I've always enjoyed researching/planning my next career steps (even if it's way far out on my timeline), stumbling across this book was perfect for me. I love learning about different career paths and how current CEO's, as well as my other "#GirlBoss idols," got to where they are now. It's inspiring.

"Power Your Happy" was written by Lisa Sugar, the founder of the super fun and well-known site called POPSUGAR. The tone of the book is very real and down-to-earth. It's as if Lisa and I are having a coffee-mentor-sesh every time I flip open that front cover. (Lisa, if you're reading this, I wouldn't be against a real life coffee meet up.) Lisa's words are very wise and promising — making me feel that with an undeniable passion and a strong work ethic, anything is possible. While she writes an overview about her life and her company's background, she also includes great career and life advice — "work hard, play nice" and "never be above learning and gaining experience" are just a couple. Bottom line, "Power Your Happy" is a great read. One that'll likely hit home, especially to my twenty-something readers. There's happiness all around us; learn what powers your own.

Enjoy your day!

Life + Adulting 2.0

Is it really October already?

It feels like just yesterday I was walking across that college graduation stage. Never would I have imagined I'd be where I am right now. A full-fledged New Yorker. Since my last life post, I've settled in a little bit more. My apartment is coming together quite lovely, my sense of city direction is getting better each day, and I've become a pro at the subway (don't quote me on that). 

The experiences I've had these past four months have been unlike anything else I've ever done or seen. From New York Fashion Week, the Hamptons, and my first Yankees game, to breathtaking rooftop views and just soaking up the city's bustling energy — It's been a crazy-cool few months. Not to mention, I've met some wonderful people along the way. Friendships that I'm extremely grateful to have and who make the transition 10 times easier.  

I still tend to be homesick often and always miss my loved ones. It's tough starting a new chapter, especially in a big city. Thank goodness for FaceTime. Luckily, my weeks keep me busy, leaving little time to focus on being away. The best part? Getting to show family and friends around my city when they come to visit.  

Like this weekend. My momma flew up and my brother took the train into NYC. It was a very fun-filled weekend. Together, we knocked off a few items from my bucket list, including trying local eats, running a half marathon in the city, and finding new shopping areas in SoHo. En route to our semi-pre-planned agenda, we stumbled upon plenty of unplanned gems too. It never fails to be a great trip when the family is in town!





I'm excited to see what the next four months will hold and where my adventures will take me. I'm up for anything and have a long NYC bucket list to complete. In the meantime, I'll continue to stay true to myself, while I reach a little bit closer to my dreams.

Thank you for reading!