Stair Master

Day 4:

I almost didn't write tonight because I need to be doing work for my internship, which has devoured a large part of my day already. But if I don't do it now I'll forget stories or lose touch altogether so I've forced myself to type out a few lines.

Time is flying by. I've calculated that with rent I am paying about $40 a day to live in New York. The saying "Time is money" has never been so right. And I'm thrilled to have the whole city waiting for me at my doorstep.

I went to three different grocery markets last night before caving into the mainstream Whole Foods following. I get it now. It's much easier to pay the up charge instead of trying to read labels in a foreign language or double checking expiration dates. I DID however, find a Guava jelly in one of the spanish markets that I couldn't pass up and plan on giving the old school PB&J another try. The grilled cheese I made last night turned out delicious but I learned that the big knife I found to slice the cheddar was in fact my room mate's prize birthday gift: a $200.00 knife from Germany. I could only compare this mistake to him using one of my nicest heels to kill a cockroach, so I felt a little bad.

This morning I made my favorite breakfast. Eggs, spinach, salsa and avocados. I've also single handedly finished off the entire carton of orange juice. I'm hoping all of that Vitamin C puts my oncoming cold at bay. I received an email from Vlad to begin searching hotels for THIS weekend as in, today and Saturday for a certain price... after I send him a few options I am asked to look for a venue for the photo shoot Saturday in a particular area also, and THEN find a hotel close for the models. Sounds simple but it's taken up a majority of my day. Many people aren't willing to bargain when it's last minute, and the other 90% are already booked. I unpacked the two boxes of towels, pillows, and shoes that I had shipped up today. I am so psyched to toss my Uggs to the back of the closet. I'm sick of looking at them and ready for some new kicks.

I run into my UPS man everywhere around town and have begun to wonder if he's my soul mate.

Just kidding. Or I am....

The stairs are keeping me in check. If anyone in this city is out of shape they must be rich and afford taxis because all of the walking and climbing I've been doing is kicking my butt. The stairwell picture I posted with this is real and in no way exaggerated. Sixth floor people. I'm going to be the stair master come March...

InTheAbundenceOfWaterTheFoolisThirsty

Day 3:

I woke up to find snow on the ground and made it to Starbucks by 9:22 this morning when I was supposed to be meeting Dana's assistant Vladymir by 9:30. I was only capable of this because I arranged my subway trip online the night before (on the way home it was a different story taking an army of locals and two NYPD to steer me in the right direction). After realizing I didn't have his number or know what he looked like I texted my friend Courtney, knowing she'd be at work and able to check any emails from him. Of course, he had texted me at 2 A.M saying it'd be better to meet at 10 A.M. The funny thing about New York City is that these miscommunications or struggles throughout the day aren't frustrating. They allow an unexpected window to people watch, catch up with friends from back home, etc. I also discovered at that time that I can check email from my ghetto Go Phone. My good friend had written me an email and ended the normal catch up with...

"Please promise me you won't get too sucked into the celebrityism of fashion - like your worth or success is measured by whether Nicole Richie is considering wearing one of your ensembles to the post, post, post welcome home home party for Paris' lost Chihuaha."

It made me laugh and I'm glad I'm surrounded by people that will keep me grounded.

Luckily Vlad had saved my number from an email and gave me a ring when he got close. Against all odds, thinking he was of Russian decent, he was a svelte African American giant. It was a lot of fun running around to different fabric shops and picking out fabric samples for Dana's Fall line. I took pictures with my camera while Vlad held on to the swatches to give to her back the the office. All I had to do was get home, upload the pictures, and send them to her via email including the pricing and fabric content. This simple task became much more involved when my email service decided it was going to rebel against sending any pictures and I was eventually driven to an internet lunch cafe around the corner while I patiently waited to upload them on photobucket. It seemed like time was turning backwards and I felt inadequate. Two hours later, the task was complete and I'm so psyched to work with them again on Saturday for the photo shoot.

I'm attempting to make my room mate and I dinner tonight on a NYC budget. I gave him three choices and told him to pick two. I figured if it overlapped my top two we would have a decision made. Looks like cheddar grilled cheese on wheat with tomato bisque! It's going to be another lazy night of job searching...

The New York Diaries

DAY 1

Everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion. As far as the big city goes I suppose you either love it or hate it. There is one unanimous opinion, no matter who you are, where you come from, or how old you are that can be agreed upon. The city of New York has energy. It begins the moment you arrive and if you embrace it, it’s contagious. Boredom has immediately been lost from my language and is like a foreign dialect.

I arrived yesterday to meet Mike, my new roommate standing outside my new crash pad. He helped me haul my luggage up six narrow flights of stairs, and the older lady with the cane was more than happy to let us attempt this before she began the challenge. I made it half way up before Mike was back down to relieve me. My thighs were burning and I immediately think I’m going to have a great butt by the time swimsuit season rolls around. Current weather conditions: 28 degrees.

The apartment is perfect. Wood floors, a bohemian rug posing as a welcome mat, maps of yachting trips, and old records meet my gaze upon walking in the front door while the Rolling Stones are playing. My room has an antique chandelier. I have always claimed “when I grow up” I want a chandelier in every room (the Lighting District is my favorite block of New York City) needless to say- this place couldn’t suit me better. Mike left me a Not for Tourists Guide to NYC on my bed and helped me hang a curtain over one of my windows. We now both have one of our two windows covered, what a team player. As far as the NYC Guide, he’s probably saving himself from my phone calls of being dazed and confused, begging for directions in the city while he’s at work. I think this is a clever way to vanish this annoyance and disguise it as a nice gesture. Any doubts I had about this spontaneous trip have vanished. I am home.

Grabbed a quick bite to eat with my cousin a place called The China Star for dinner on Monday night. While we dined, a fluffy Maltese wearing a warm sweater labeled “Stud” sat at my feet. Typical. I convince myself this is a pet and not a menu item.

Day 2

I thought I was locked out of my place all day today because I, along with the UPS man who happened to catch me in the act, threw our bodies against the door while unlocking it and couldn't make it budge. Then the petite next door neighbor who is half my size opened it with ease. Apparently I was doing it wrong the entire time. At least I know now. My place has no television and I haggled a deal with one of our foreign neighbors for internet access to keep me connected to the outside world. He gained $20.00 and I gained his wi-fi password. Another piece of good news today is that the designer, Dana Maxx emailed me and wants me to work with her assistant tomorrow to get ready for Fashion Week. I can’t wait… Goodnight!

SweetLikeHoney

Josh Goot

Loving Josh Goot's 2010 Collection. The bright, vibrant colors make me want to hop on a yacht and sail my way to a summer tan. Those travel plans will have to wait till summer and will probably end up being less luxurious but just as satisfying.

Today is my last day in Florida until March. In an effort to expedite the packing process I looked up suggestions online. I only found out that February is one of the coldest months and the most likely for blizzards. Great news for a beach bum from Florida... I seriously wish I could box up my entire bedroom and relocate it for the month. I'm in desperate need of a Mary Poppins bag.

On coffee cup numero dos. Let the packing commence!

UnderTHEsea

Top 5 Submerged Hotels

Yes, I said “submerged” hotels-as in hotels with rooms that are actually beneath the surface of water! So without further ado, let’s dive right into the top 5 underwater hotels:

1. Jules Undersea Lodge, Key Largo, Florida
2. Utter Inn, Vasteras, Sweden
3. Hydropolis, Dubai
4. Poseidon Undersea Resort, Fiji
5. Underwater Hotel, Istanbul

I discovered this Top Five on Imaginelifestyles.com. It might've been the fact that it's snowing where I'm headed for the next month, but I think that an under water hotel would be an amazing and super-relaxing vacation. My only question is do divers swim by your room during the day? Eh, I'm 100% down to try out this living situation for a weekend.

But we all walk blindy when we stagger and we strut and we're all dealt the hands with the cards of our luck

Definition of T H E G O O D:

I always floated through my school courses leaving things off till the last minute. Typical case of You Don't Know What You've Got Till it's Gone. I miss the intellectual ideas and conversations that were produced in that limiting environment. So, in an effort to halt my mind from going to mush I grabbed book called A World of Ideas from Goodwill a few days ago. It's a 1980s collection of different philosophers and writers in history. Into the first couple pages it's already got my mind spinning again.

I miss that.

In Aristotle's The Aim of Man, he proposes that all things aim at the good. Whether it be developing products, ideas, or actions, the nature is to make the end worth the means.

That seems easy enough. But, what is the GOOD? It's got to be different for every human being and situation.

In career choice, it's natural to want to help others. I'm a little jealous of the people who have chosen professions in that field and could easily see it becoming an addiction. But if everyone abandoned their job to become a social worker or overseas philanthropist how would life continue? Who would make clothes, or deliver mail, invent remedies, or grow our food? I think goodwill endeavors should be intertwined into our every day lives, our work, and vacation time while we follow our passions.

Each person is hardwired from birth with certain traits and interests that allow them the ability to achieve tasks with natural ease and proficiency. This is what we enjoy doing. It is our passion; we should never feel guilty chasing that.

In relationships I am biased. I'm a total romantic and believe in fate most strongly here amongst the other aspects of my life. Though I still stay skeptical of love, marriage, and monogamy. I'd like to think that everyone enters a relationship (as you get older) with good intentions. Those intentions are arguable with each individual. It could be to get laid, to have companionship, to find a soul mate. What ever it is, you willingly volunteer your time, energy, and eventually your heart. When that ends, it's considered a failure. You failed to stay loyal, to stay in love (or lust), to effectively communicate, or to make things work despite the circumstances. If believe if anyone in a relationship has the repeated temptation to stray I don't think they should think of it as a failure, but a sign of being honest with your other half that it's time to move on. Is it the right thing to do to stay with your other half because you're in a committed relationship but think of somebody else while you're laying next to them? Because the truth hurts, but in the long run it hurts more to be humiliated and disrespected.

NYC Bound for February. It's about time. I'm so glad I've settled on a destination for next month because lately I feel claustrophobic in Jacksonville. Even if it's a bust I'll be there for Fashion Week and will be able to say I tried. By the way, my hot chocolate obsession has launched into a chocolate milk romance with the warmer weather. Is it weird I still feel the urge to sprinkle mini marshmellows across the top of it...

lately all of my brain activity seems to be leading to thoughts about who I am or who I want to be.

As much as I love the crazy haze of the night, filled with smoke and sounds, I've come to learn I am a real loner at times. I can smoothly spend a whole weekend by myself, a pile of books and floods of coffee, then dancing around the room with a glass of wine or getting lost in the idea of sewing a new dress.

This is all new to me and coming from the girl who used to line up numerous social plans in the same night so I could float around.

There is something amazing about backing out of the social scene a little.

Especially when traveling or strolling around the city sometimes I even pretend not seeing people. This might not be the most social behavior but I found out that these moments are pure serenity and a source of recreation to me;

it almost holds some sort of ruminant character-

just walking and seeing where it takes me- never are my senses as open and perceptive, never does my mind run freer, which is all I need to be refreshed sometimes.

Call it wrong but I can deal with a few repetitive recluse days as long as I have one every so often that's on fire...