101 in 1001

In 20 years, you will be more disappointed by what you didn't do than by what you did. -Mark Twain

When I first saw Mackenzie's list of 101 in 1001, I thought it interesting but not for me. You see, I don't do well with making plans (like moving to NYC on a whim) and I can find setting a time restraint on things to be more stressful than motivating-which is why you'll never hear me set a goal age for marriage, kids or any of those other "milestones". I have, however, come to think that vocalizing your goals can be productive, like telling myself I was finally going to finish this list I started 6 months ago and share it with you all. Whether you follow along with me over the next 1,001 days is entirely up to you!

1. Write my 101 things
2. Join a master’s swim team
3. Be active at least 3 times a week for one month
4. Get my second tattoo (December 2013) 
5. Run a mile without getting winded (or having hip problems)
6. Run a 5k
7. Stay up all night & watch the sun rise over the city from a rooftop
8. Be in a parade in NYC
9. Upgrade to a newer dSLR camera
10. Start shooting black and white film again (September 2013)
11. Develop and print in a darkroom
12. Sell a photographic print (digital or film)
13. Pay off my credit card debt
14. Go to Paris before I turn 26
15. Learn how to meditate
16. Read 5 books in French
17. (Re) learn Spanish
18. Go hiking in the Appalachians
19. Regain my flexibility
20. Learn how to sail (or at least go sailing!)
21. Do five different DYI projects for the home (1/5, spice racks)
22. Volunteer at an animal shelter
23. Take an advanced photoshop class
24. Learn Adobe Illustrator 
25. Go to 10 different art exhibits (2/10, JP Gaultier in Brooklyn, Charles James at the Met)
26. Get up earlier than the latest possible time I have to for at least 1 week
27. Be at least 5 minutes early to work for at least 1 week (January 2014)
28. Do yoga in the morning for at least 1 week
29. Get back on pointe
30. Take classes in: hip-hop, jazz, contemporary, broadway, ballroom (1/5, hip-hop)
31. Learn to make cinnamon rolls (March 2014)
32. Get a photography image published by a magazine or major website
33. See 10 broadway plays (1/15, A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder)
34. Participate in a dance performance
35. Go to five different ballets (2/5, JR performance, Young NYCB performance)
36. See a concert in Central Park
37. Go to all the major art museums in NYC (MoMA, Met, Guggenheim, Whitney, New Museum) twice a year
38. Get a membership to the NY Botanical Gardens
39. Visit the Cloisters
40. Go hiking in upstate New York
41. Spend a weekend on Fire Island/the Hamptons (October 2014)
42. Go to the beach 10 different times between during the warmer months
43. Do a boudoir photo shoot
44. Send Christmas cards to friends
45. Get a blowout (April 2014)
46. Spend a whole day pampering myself (sleeping in, massage, mani/pedi, etc.)
47. Get business cards (September 2013)
48. Take an art class
49. Wear something other than jeans for an entire week
50. Learn how to make a button down shirt work on me (Winter 2013)
51. Go to the NYC transit museum
52. Post on my blog every day for a week
53. Read at least five “classic” books (0/5)
54. Rent a car for a roadtrip (10/19/13-trip to Storm King)
55. Spend a weekend hitting up the best antique & flea markets
56. Redesign my blog to better reflect my style
57. Invest in a designer/everyday bag (Spring 2013, Botkier bag/resort 2015 Pashli)
58. Attend a NYFW show outside of work (September 2013)
59. Visit five new cities (0/5)
60. Maintain a comfortable emergency fund (at least 3 months of expenses + a little padding!)
61. Send snail mail to friends for birthdays, holidays and other events each month
62. Go for a bike ride in Central Park
63. Take lunch to work every day for a week at least 10 times a year
64. Visit 10 jazz & blues clubs for live music (1/10, Little Branch)
65. Invest in at least five designer-level, classic wardrobe pieces (5/5) (Alexander Wang Vest, Theory Sweater, Mary Katrantzou heels, Acne sweater, Suno Dress)
66. Clean out my wardrobe at least 3 times a year
67. See a Cubs game in Chicago
68. Have a picnic in the park (Summer 2014)
69. Have guests over for a meal on our (overly spacious) back porch
70. See 10 new classic films à la Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly etc. (0/10)
71. Get a facial
72. See a comedy show (Summer 2014)
73. Buy a pair of designer shoes (Choos, Louboutins or Blahniks, etc.) just because
74. In one week: go to a dance class, spin class, for a run and for a swim
75. Cut out sweets for one week
76. Continue my education with French classes (December 2013, Duolingo App!)
77. Re: #76, continue my education with photography courses
78. Purchase coffee for the person in line behind me
79. Go to yoga every week for two months
80. Make five vintage clothing purchases...bonus points if they’re under $50 each! (1/5) (Vintage blue dress)
81. Put up a gallery wall in my apartment
82. Invest in 2 new high-quality & original pieces of art for the wall (1/2) (Van Holmgren Original)
83. Go an entire month (eek!) without shopping for clothing/accessories etc.
84. Make a truly killer playlist (March 2014)
85. Take a day (or weekend) trip once a month for 6 months
86. Spend an entire day away from technology (phone calls with family not included)
87. Celebrate two years in NYC (10/12/13)
88. Make a noticeable change to my hair (December 2013, turquoise hair, May 2014, lavender hair)
89. Purchase something from Tiffany’s for myself, just because
90. Go to a multi-day music fest
91. Take someone’s portraits in film
92. Set and/or adjust my career goals each month
93. Smile for no reason every day
94. Learn to be nicer to strangers on the street (also known as don’t intentionally run into people in your way, even if they’re being an idiot stopped in the middle of the sidewalk on their cell phone)
95. Play a musical instrument again
96. Re-learn how to play the piano
97. Drink tea instead of coffee for one month
98. Swim before work three days a week for two weeks
99. Learn how to make sushi
100. Surprise my best friend for a weekend trip (Visited Phoenix, January 2014)
101. Let go of inhibitions and conventions

...and if we want to make this a nice, even number of 102, let's make that goal to run into Ryan Gosling on the street :)

*image via

Blogging is Therapy

This post is going to get a little more personal than I normally do with all of you, but I feel like it's kind of necessary. Blogging is my creative outlet, and sometimes your creative outlet turns into a little bit of therapy.

When we're browsing our favorite blogs with page after page of pretty photos, jaw-dropping style and whimsical typeface, we forget that blogging is work. Planning content, shooting, pulling and editing images, sourcing and uploading, and then thinking of something witty to go along with it? It can be exhausting, and at times feels much more like work (which I already get enough of at my 50-hour-a-week first job) than play.

It's tough to find time between long work days, all kinds of events each week, seeing friends, running errands and somehow getting some relaxation & sleep in there to truly devote the time I need to for blogging. Even when I'm not distracted, writing a well-researched post can take upwards of an hour. I should probably tell you now that this isn't a whiney, complaint-filled post, though. After a rougher than expected start to the year, the days have started to feel a little brighter (also contributed to the fact that I hate winter and I'm pretty sure I have SAD each year). I want to go out and enjoy all these awesome events and crazy experiences, especially while I'm young & living in NYC, but sometimes the reason I get to go to these events is because I have this blog. Vicious circle, ya know?

Victoria shared a really great post earlier this week on blogging & time management (which, if you blog yourself, I highly encourage you to go read!) & I found myself talking about it over drinks with Jessica last night (evidence of talking, here). She also mentioned another article she'd come across on The Middle Finger Project-a concept I completely adore because it sums up my attitude about everything-about why working for yourself is hard. You only get out what you put in, which means procrastinating less and pushing myself more. I need to be happy with what I have and work harder for what I want. I'm learning to block out times for this second "job" and to work with an editorial calendar, with plans to add another cork board to my wall to keep track of due dates, projects and inspirational images and quotes (also because my first cork board is covered in jewelry).

Thanks for suffering through my growing pains with me, and to those that continue to visit my blog each week-from the bottom of my heart, thank you!! You have no idea how much it means to me, and I hope I can inspire some of you with each post I share.

*image via

Words to Live By

Things have been a little crazy & hectic in my life lately, so this morning I would just like to share a quote with you. Don't worry, I'll be back with normal posts later this week.

xx

"Life is short. Live your dream and share your passion."

A few months ago, I was on one of my favorite flash sale sites, Fab, when I stumbled across a poster for sale. It looked familiar, as it's circled the web on many a tumblr page before. It comes from a company called Holstee, founded by three men who weren't satisfied with their careers, quit their jobs, and put all of their energy into Holstee. They wrote their manifesto on the steps of Union Square, putting hopes and dreams and inspiration into words. You can read more about the company and their beginnings here.

 

The Holstee Manifesto

If those words don't inspire you, I don't know what could. I bought my poster from that first sale several months ago, and have a very set vision for how I want to mount, frame and hang it in my apartment that I just haven't had time to complete. In the meantime, though, I purchased another copy for my best friend who still lives back in Iowa-post college life can be rough as we try to figure out what we want to do and where we want to go, and sometimes we get lost. I found an amazing, one of a kind frame (that made me rethink my vision for my own!!) when I was at home and had glass, a matte and a back cut and surprised her with it last time I saw her. 

We immediately hung it in her apartment above her bed, where she sees it every morning when she gets up. It inspires me every time I read it and it feels amazing to share that inspiration with someone else. We spoke a few weeks ago (and pretty much every day since) and she told me about some changes she was looking to make in her life and the motivation she got to just go for it when she reads the poster. 

The best part is, today I can share that inspiration with all of you! Fab has the poster on sale again, and I ordered another one this morning for my mom. If you're already a member, you can view the sale here, and if you aren't yet, join first via this link! You save about $10 compared to ordering it regular price via Holstee.

*Top image via Holstee, bottom image my own