Life Post-Graduation: Breaking Up the Monotony.

Not being employed five months post-graduation had me in a mood of sorts (hello blogging hiatus…) My professors and parents prior to graduation warned that finding a job would be hard and take time and I knew it would given the current economy, but I didn’t think it would take this much time! I was pretty optimistic in the beginning, but come mid-September into October, I just couldn’t bear it anymore. I was truly feeling depressed.  All I could think was “Why am I still unemployed?!” and have a pity party of sorts.  

I finally came to my senses and to a realization: I am not alone in this situation and this period of unemployment is only temporary. I know I am a qualified candidate and I know the right job will come along eventually. It took a few days to believe it, but I finally did. It’s truly amazing how just a little bit of positive affirmation can turn things around. With a brighter and more positive outlook, I began to see how I could make my situation less miserable and, well, more fun!

After my realizations, it was time to take a close look at my schedule. Having a schedule not just keeps me organized, but gives me a sense of purpose. However, I realized that it was probably causing me more stress than was necessary, as it was a just a little bit too structured. I still (more or less) wake up the same time I did when I was in school and start my day the same way with prayer/meditation and a workout, with the time typically spent at school now replaced with job hunting/research/sending out resumes. While those are all things I need to do daily, what I needed was some more flexibility and spontaneity. Whether it be a trip to the mall, a mani/pedi, or just pinning for fifteen minutes, allowing these things into my daily routine makes me feel more balanced, and even more productive, with the rigidity of my prior schedule gone.

Ultimately, I had to look at my situation in a different light. Sure my main focus and task of each day is job hunting, but one thing I have right now is time. For all those things I’ve been meaning to do, DIYs to try, museums I’ve wanted to visit, books I’ve wanted to read, I can do them now! Who knows when I will have time like this again, so why not make the most of it, right? Since I’ve been meaning to pick back up learning Italian, I finally enrolled in a beginner course at the local community college. The past few weeks have been nothing short of rewarding and fun!

[Clockwise] Keeping Busy:

Practicing Italian.
A beautiful day for a stroll down Fifth Avenue.
Finally got around to this DIY bulletin board! 
When all else fails, a little bit of chocolate never hurts.

For the time being, all I can do is put in the work and effort and continue to be patient and hope for the best. But in the mean time, who says this time can’t be a fun one? Plus, I'll much prefer to save being stressed out for when I actually have a job. I’m hoping I can maintain this outlook going forward and I wish the same for my fellow post-grads!!!

Thanksgiving

it never fails I forget to take a full outfit picture. le sigh...

TOP H&M,  PONTE KNIT PANTS Mossimo, SHOES Marc Fisher, BRACELET David Yurman

How was everyone's Thanksgiving? Cooking last year was fun, but I was happy to let my Dad do it this year. I did still contribute to dinner by helping prep and making green beans, cranberry sauce, and gelato. That was enough for me. 

This year was the first Thanksgiving where I actually got dressed up as we had family friends over for dinner. Thanksgiving isn't Thanksgiving without a pair of stretchy, comfortable pants, so I was really happy when I came across these ponte knit pants at Target on Wednesday. They are the perfect combination of comfortable but presentable. OK, so they are kind of glorified leggings, not pants, but with a long enough top, they look like pants. Simply put, I love them, and I want to go to Target and buy another pair. 

Speaking of shopping, are you scoping out any deals this weekend? I am not one for Black Friday, but  I may browse online later on. (JCP has some amazing deals right now!) Whether you are shopping or spending time with your family, I hope you are enjoying a relaxing weekend! 

Fashion Documentaries

While I am not much of a movie person, I absolutely love to watch documentaries, especially fashion related ones. I love that rare glimpse inside of the fashion industry and those moments one may not get to see otherwise. I have a huge list of fashion docs I hope to watch soon, but here are a few of my absolute favorites that I can't help but watch over and over again. (I promise, I will only give brief insight. No spoilers here if you haven't watched!)

The September Issue

A professor in one of my Fashion Buying and Merchandising classes required us to see this movie when it was first released in theaters. Best assignment ever. As much as I wanted to see Anna Wintour give a lecture on cerulean, I left the theater with a new found respect for her, as well as Grace Coddington and Andre Leon Talley. To see all that goes into the making of the September issue, and the months, weeks, days, and even hours leading up to the closing of the issue, is truly phenomenal. 

Valentino: The Last Emperor

Whether in print or picture, I always find a designer profile to be so fascinating. To learn where they from, or where they live, and where they get their inspiration from, can make an admirer and consumer feel so much more connected to the designer and the brand. Watching The Last Emperor will leave you with that feeling. Valentino was truly a master at his craft and every piece he designed was a masterpiece. Be forewarned: you will probably want a red Valentino dress and a pug after watching. 

Bill Cunningham, New York

Bill Cunningham is the creator of street style as we know it. While street style is often worthy of air quotes nowadays, Bill Cunningham has this amazing gift of being able to capture what is truly authentic. When I was younger, I loved nothing more than browsing the Sunday Styles section for every image he had captured that week on the streets and at the various society galas. Needless to say, I was truly awestruck when I caught a glimpse of him back in 2011 at FNO. I know I sound like a total fan girl, but he is truly remarkable, and this doc enforces that. 

The Tents

Even though they were temporary, the tents in Bryant Park were as iconic to me as the Empire State Building. Seeing them go up used to bring such delight to my little fashion loving heart. This documentary chronicles not just the history and start of NYFW, but the last season in Bryant Park leading up to the move to Lincoln Center. If you are a lover of New York and Fashion Week, this one is a must watch.

Do you have a favorite fashion documentary? If you could pick an aspect of the industry or a designer, what would your ideal fashion documentary be about?

Wishes to Wander...

"We must go beyond textbooks, go out into the bypaths and untrodden depths of the wilderness and travel and explore and tell the world the glories of our journey.” 

print via

Lately, my need for travel has been at a considerable high. Whenever I see a plane, I can't help but wish that I too were on my way somewhere, as I watch it disappear over the horizon. There's nowhere in particular I want to go at the moment; I just have a great need to be and see somewhere else, somewhere new. Since travel is completely impractical for me at the moment, reading, dreaming, and pinning, will just have to suffice for now. Here are some of my favorite travel posts from around the web:

• How to pack two weeks in a carry on. As a serial over packer, I am determined to try this.
• A sweet read from this Sunday's Times: A Chocolate Tour of the Caribbean.
• Six ways to get free Wi-Fi when you travel.
• With all this talk of an impending coffee shortage, a trip to the worlds best cities for coffee may be mandatory. Immediately. 
• How to Escape the Grid and Unplug on Vacation.
• As a loyal Royal, I am very happy to see that Royal Caribbean will be rolling out new menus including lactose and gluten free offerings. 
• Truly inspiring indeed: "wanderlust-inspiring travel photography." 

Hibernation Season.

The Nor'easter that hit yesterday was supposed to bring rain and high winds. Instead, it brought snow. Half a foot of it. Totally unexpected, but I will always welcome a snowfall (granted I don't have to trek in it,) especially when it is the first one of the season. Since I am always cold (currently using a heating pad as a foot warmer...) I love nothing more than chunky knits and fleece blankets to keep warm during the colder months. 

(clockwise) High/low knit sweater: Target (Mossimo), Fleece lined leggings (the warmth!): Armani Exchange, Cozy critter socks (an essential novelty for this time of year.): Old Navy, Monogram blanket (a cozy, personal touch.): Pottery Barn, Slippers: Minnetonka

The items on this list I am most excited about? Everything. I play no favorites.

A few thoughts post Sandy...

I don't even know where to begin. I can't even compare this storm to Irene. I think it was worse than anticipated. Snowstorms I can deal with, even a severe thunderstorm. But hurricanes. Hurricanes are just a whole other beast.

And Sandy proved that.

The majority of the day (Monday) was spent on edge, doing whatever I could to keep busy. Fortunately I don't live in an area that floods, so my biggest concern was the wind and the massive tree in front of my house. It's huge. Or I should say was, as it fell, clean across the street (Thank God!) Everyone let out a huge sigh of relief as our biggest fear was eliminated. The rest of the night was spent listening to to the TV/radio (when we lost power for a bit.) I was finally able to calm down around 2 AM as the winds sort of died down, and soon fell asleep.

Waking up Tuesday morning, all I could do was be extremely grateful. We got through this storm unscathed. Putting on the news soon after, my heart just broke. The devastation. Seeing the images of neighborhoods not too far away, burned down. Others flooded. The Jersey Shore and Fire Island where I spent so many summers growing up, submerged underwater. It's really so hard to believe that all of this is happening literally in my own backyard, and not some far away place.

I'm sorry that my first post in weeks is a somewhat somber one. But it's hard to see all of this happening so close to home and not have feelings about it.

I hope you are all safe, wherever you may be, and I promise, happier posts will be coming! 

Pumpkin, Four Ways.

In October, I'm all about apples. Whether it be pie, in a main dish, or just as they are, I gorge myself on them. When November rolls around, pumpkin gets the same treatment. I usually start picking up cans of pumpkin puree at Trader Joe's in the end of October, in anticipation of whatever pumpkin recipes I may come across and want to try. Pumpkin soup is always a given, so here are a few other ways I have been enjoying pumpkin this fall. 

Pumpkin Spice Syrup

This syrup just gets better and better. I used the same recipe from my post last year but replaced regular sugar with low glycemic coconut sugar. I have been using this syrup to make a pumpkin spice hot chocolate that is too good for words to fully describe.

Pumpkin Spice Syrup (paleo, refined sugar free)
1 1/2 cups water
1 1/2 cups coconut sugar
4 cinnamon sticks
1 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp ground cloves or 3 to 4 cloves
3 tbsp pumpkin puree

NOTE: I usually add more puree because I love the pumpkin flavor. This, and the spices, are completely adjustable according to taste.

Over medium heat, combine the water and the coconut sugar until the sugar has completely dissolved. Add in all of the spices (except the cinnamon sticks) and the pumpkin puree, and whisk until the pumpkin puree is combined. Add in the cinnamon sticks and continue to stir the mixture over medium heat (you do not want it to boil,) for 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool.

Once the mixture has cooled, strain the syrup into a container and store in the refrigerator. 

Pumpkin Spice Smoothie

My new favorite smoothie for breakfast/post workout. I just blend together 1/2 cup pumpkin, 1/2 cup Greek yogurt (I love Fage), 3/4 almond milk, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice and ice! 

Paleo Pumpkin Granola

I adapted this one a bit from a recipe I found via Google search. Great over yogurt or by the handful. It even makes a yummy "cereal" when added with almond milk.

Grain Free Pumpkin Spice Muffins

I am so happy I came across this recipe from the Detoxinista. It's incredibly hard to believe that there is no flour of any kind in this recipe and that the main ingredient is almond butter! They come out so fluffy and moist! (I hate the word moist, but I needed to describe these muffins.) They are great plain and even better with a few added chocolate chips. 

FUN FACT: I've never had pumpkin pie. I just realized that writing this post. 

What are your favorite ways to eat pumpkin?