Oh hello! I’m finally coming up for air after working a full day despite having the day off. C and I were supposed to head up to Lake George yesterday to spend the long weekend with our college friends, per tradition. Sadly, we are both swamped and it just wasn’t feasible for us this year. C always works weekends and I’m playing catch up after taking some much needed time off while my parents were here. For the most part I unplugged (and went through my inbox every day to make sure I didn’t return to hundreds of emails and a full blown panic attack) but the end of the month always adds a few things to my to do list. ANYWAYS, my point is that instead of cruising around the lake with our best buds we’ll be here at home this weekend!
Truthfully, I don’t mind spending long weekends in the city – a lot of people leave and it ends up being much less crowded and much more fun for those of us who stick around! It looks like it’s going to be a rainy one here, so we’re planning some lazy days plus brunch and a trip to our fave museum, The Met. I also hope to finish a few books, write, and get back into meal planning.
And with that, a few faves from the week…
City Sights
I shared this on Instagram but while my parents were here we did a few really fun city adventures! The first was a trip to the New York Botanical Garden. The currenet exhibit Kusama: Cosmic Nature was unreal! We actually weren’t able to get indoor exhibit tickets (they are sold out thru August). So we snagged some tickets for the grounds and were still able to enjoy outdoor installs and the seasonal blooms! NYBG is an easy train ride from Mahattan and, at around $25, tickets are pretty reasonable. You can bring your own picnic and spend the day, too! While my parents were here we also did a halfday trip to Governors Island (more on that here) and a sunset cruise on the yacht Manhattan through Classic Harbor Line. Anna recommended the company and it was something none of us had ever done before. The boat was gorgeous and the views were phenomenal! I have to admit it was a bit windy and I got a touch queasy. Overall, we still recommend it!
Bath Update
Okay a bit ago on stories I mentioned that I planned to take my first bath since childhood. For a long time I had an aversion to baths because I was crazy paranoid about my sensitive skin. The idea of sitting in my own dirty water really skeeved me out. And, while that’s a fair concern, lately I’ve had the urge to relax in the bath. I cannot explain it. So I slowly stocked up on some bath essentials – mainly salts and soaks – and gave it a go. I have to say, it was very relaxing and definitely helped me sleep! I may write a post about my experience and a few things I’ve learned as a new bath devotee! In the meantime, here are a few things that have really helped the experience for me. Our tub is small and my first bath was a little lackluster (cause I didn’t have an overflow cover!). Once I snagged some accessories though, I’ve been much happier! I love this soak and this one (use PURELYNORA for 10% off!) and these candles that FLOAT IN DA TUB!
Plants
I wouldn’t say I have a green thumb. But I really love the idea of plants. I love that they are green and clean the air and grow. And while I can’t grow an epic garden like Claire, she def rubs off on me and makes me want to start a little community of plant friends here in the city. When we moved here I had one plant (that was a gift) and now I have five! Two were actually gifts from Claire, so maybe she wants me to get on the garden train too đŸ˜‰ My issue is always that I need the plants to be pet friendly and okay with light. Our apartment is quite sunny! Anywho, there is a new plant shop around the corner called Living With Green. It was opened by a local husband and wife opened during COVID and I cannot wait to go. My mom and I meant to go last week but time got away from us so alas, this weekend it is! I’m hoping to get a larger floor plant for our mirror and one for our bedroom, too!
Recent Finds
With the seaons shifting, I’ve been eyeing some lasting summer staples. When we moved I tried on all of my clothes and only brought what fit and what I loved. I’ve been sending BAGS of things to ThredUp and finally started using some of the funds. Now that I know my wardrobe holes, I have a lot saved on my “to buy” list. Come spring and summer, I always crave easy, breezy and comfortable dresses that I can wear and re-wear over and over again. Here a few of the dresses that I have or have in my cart:
Summer Skin
Spoiler alert: I’m writing a whole post on how I transition my skincare from fall/winter to spring/summer. I don’t know about you, but I have combo skin. For me that means it’s pretty dry in the winter but super inbetween in the summer. Come summer I run greasy – a little less so now than before I started working on my moisture barrier – but still inherently sweatier. I’m gonna give you a one product sneak peak though! I simply cannot wait to chat about this toner that Elsa introduced me to when she stayed with us earlier this month. Its so lovely on my combo/textured skin but never makes it feel dry or tight. I can already tell it’s helping me with my pores, acne and maskne! Seriously so good.
Okay, that’s all for now. Please don’t forget that while this is technically a holiday weekend, it is also a weekend of remembrance. This is a time for all of us to remember the service men and women who dedicated their lives to this country. Those who sacrificed their lives to protect and keep us safe. While C and I may not be attending any memorials like I did growing up, we’ll certainly be reflecting on all that we have and all that we are grateful for.
I hope you have a wonderful, restful weekend!