Mom & Dad are here! Mom & Dad are here! - NYC Diaries

I don't just love my parents, I like them as people.

I remember when I was a teen and the thought of going anywhere cool with my parents was mortifying. I love how things have changed. My parents are pretty fantastic. They are young in spirit and always up to try new things. We are never stuffy with each other and over the years I've come to really appreciate our relationship. I couldn't imagine being formal or awkward with them.

Though we've gone many weeks without seeing each other in the past, this time it felt a bit longer than usual. We spent the weekend walking (a lot), eating (a lot), inquiring about future life plans, commenting on every single dog that walked by and missing the other addition to our core-four (my sister who will be visiting at the end of the month).

I also showed them around my hood in Brooklyn and they actually enjoyed their introduction into hipster culture. My Dad kept referring to himself and my mother as just plain, "hip." They met my roommates for lunch (and loved them) and we ended the trip by watching Rent and strolling around Times Square for 15 minutes as it is my least favourite place to be, ever.

I took advantage of their foodie personalities and booked some restaurants that I've been dying to go to  I knew they would enjoy. Though I'm no food critic, below are some recommendations if you find yourself in this big city looking for some good eats and atmosphere:

• Locanda Verde - Chef Andrew Carmellini and Robert Deniro's Italian restaurant in TriBeCa. The beet and goat cheese stuffed Raviolini was the perfect mix of savoury and sweet; but I'd order more of the crostini if I could. 

• Eataly Rooftop Birreria - The perfect after-work drinks spot (if I actually worked in Manhattan) on the roof of Mario Batalli's Eataly mecca. Without pizza or pasta on the menu, their local meat, fish, cheese and mushroom selections are perfect for sharing. The view of the city is pretty great too. 

• Big Gay Ice Cream - The best ice cream you will ever have. Ever. With ingredients like sea salt, dulce de leche and Nutella, and creations called "Salty Pimp" you know you're in for a good time. Order: The Monday Sundae. It was the only thing my mother could talk about for the next 2 days.

• Momofuku Noodle Bar - My parents couldn't believe their eyes when I, a former vegetarian (who still doesn't eat much meat) sunk my teeth into a pork belly steamed bun. (It's chef David Chang's specialty! I had to). Fan of ramen? You'll get the freshest noodles here. 

• Fornino - This pizzeria in Williamsburg creates authentic, thin-crust wood oven pizza. The kind that made four Italians give their salivary stamp of approval.

All in all, I'm grateful to have these two wonderful and supportive people in my life. Thanks for visiting Mom & Dad. (Yes, they read my blog).

Below are some photos from their trip! Enjoy xx

Be Grateful - Not A Model Mantra

Lately, I can't help but become unbearably sad when I read the newspaper. Lately, I can't help but question the world that I live in. 

Today, be grateful.

Today, there is no lack in your life and if there is, put it away for one second. Instead, think of everything (little and large) that you are thankful for.

For me it's:

Shoulders that like to kiss the sunlight, a good friend to call on the phone, the sound of laughter that travels to my toes, a fresh vegetable salad, a frigid glass of beer, the morning sunshine, the afternoon storm, a roommate who lets me nap in her bed because hers is more comfortable, the way that I can read this sentence right now, comprehend it, walk away from it, and remember it; a body with working limbs to carry me from place to place, a fridge with food in it, discovering a new album that ignites my elbows, a firm pillow, a place to take a warm shower, a desire to be better, the fact that I'm only gone for eight weeks and my parents are flying over to visit me this weekend. 

The way that the moment you start listing all the things you have to be thankful for, you realize there is not one extra thing you could need.

This week's mantra is as follows: 

"A good life is when you assume nothing, do more, need less, smile often, dream big, laugh a lot and realize how blessed you are for what you have."- anonymous 

21 days - NYC Diaries

I've heard it takes 21 days to form a habit.

It's almost been a month here and I've been building a new routine that feels like my very own. I've been referring to this apartment as my "home" and sometimes I forget to tell people that I'm only here for the summer...

And I discovered a new cafe that felt like the moment you realize a first date is no longer awkward, and you want to stay a bit longer. And I sat in it for hours, watching people and writing in my notebook and creating and scribbling like I used to do.

And I can't seem to pass by any sort of book stand without picking one up. They stare at me like orphaned puppies just waiting for a new home. And I don't know where my e-reader is because these days I want real books that once sat in someone else's lap or hid underneath lost pillow cases.

And it finally rained, so I picked up and went to the Met for the first time and browsed the Schiaparelli and Prada exhibit and bought pretty postcards and thought about the type of woman I want to become. But I couldn't stay for too long, because I don't like the feeling of being lost, especially indoors. 

And on the weekend I had my first (of too many) sake bombs and I sat on rooftop patios with tiny lights sprinkled in the trees and I danced on darkened dance floors like that eighteen-year-old girl who just moved away from home with girls who I feel like I've known forever. And I ate can't-fit-in-your-mouth hamburgers on patio furniture that looked like something my grandmother would own in the seventies. And someone brought up me leaving and it was probably me, because I'm too practical to indulge sometimes.

And I finally called my grandmother because I promised I would and she told me she misses me and to watch out for the "bad people" and then asked me if I met anyone but then not to meet anyone here, because she doesn't want me to stay. I told her that I haven't been gone that long, and she said it just feels like it.

And I understand. 

The Social Caterpillar - The NYC Diaries

Don't move to New York, or even visit, if you don't like humans.

I can't tell you the amount of times I almost end up holding hands with a complete stranger, or how many hairy, scary, sweaty limbs brush up against mine on subway platforms or crowded flights of stairs. In this city, I am never alone and yet, I don't know anyone around me. (Okay, I know about 6 people, and three of them I live with). 

I was chatting with my favourite woman in the world, (my mom) about how I didn't appreciate my nice little social circle until I left. Back home, I can call up a long list of people and will be able to find someone to tolerate me for a day of relaxation or trouble. But here it's different, and I have to force myself to be a bit more social, a bit more open. 

And so, on the list of "Social-Out-Of-My-Comfort-Zone-Activities-With-People-I-Don't-Live-With" I: 

• Attended my first beauty event for Lush cosmetics in Manhattan!! (yes, two exclamation marks) 
• Joined a Central Park running group and then subsequently vowed never to go back to aforementioned running group, but tried to smuggle some nice people from it to create my own group
• Went on a casual dinner date at a hip Italian restaurant in Brooklyn. (Note: the pizza received my stamp of cultural approval)
  
  

And while being anonymous can be a bit daunting, there is a lot to be said for solo-exploring in a city where I never have to worry about running into that person. (You know the person who will stop you on the street to tell you all about their summer plans, and new promotion and ask if you're dating anyone and oh where did you buy that dress?!!)

You see, there is a slow arduous process when a caterpillar goes through stages before reaching its final adult stage as a butterfly. For some reason, I've decided to leave my wings in Canada and spend the summer crawling around and trying to form into some better, friendlier, more out-going version of myself.

And whether I gain these wings or not, here's to being a caterpillar.

xx

Not A Model Mantra - Jane & Audrey

Of all the things I love about New York and summertime - it's the greenery.

The shade from a tree can be the only refuge from the heat. I've never been exposed to this much constant warmth in a city. The slow, bubbling humidity that slides up my back like a masseuse's hands; the permanent oil slick that has become my own brand of blush.

But more than parks, I love old-timey things. The type of activities that brought people the smallest bit of happiness before we had every other type of stimulation. When watching a movie was a treat and not something you downloaded in your bed, while tweeting on your phone. (Although that can be pretty great too.)

Last night, I scratched one of the items on my NYC bucket list and watched a movie (Roman Holiday) in Bryant Park. I sat in the grass, munched on snacks, drank white wine and giggled at nonsense with my roommates and new friends despite the sweaty scenery. When the movie credits started to roll, people (including myself) stood up to dance and clap and cheer. And just like that, I was part of something. 

This week's Not A Model mantra is from a wise woman and it is all about finding a little bit of joy in the greens, not the blues of a computer screen:

"To sit in the shade on a fine day and look upon verdure is most perfect refreshment. - Jane Austen

Also, if you're looking for a beauty beat for the heat - check out my latest post for The Kit that features ways to combat the oil sludge. Below are some photos from movie night. Enjoy! xx

The Neighbourhood Run - NYC Diaries

The best way to learn about a neighbourhood is to go for a run. This week, I've been trying to get back into some sort of fitness routine so I went on a search around my area for a place to start. I found a pavement park path that wraps around a playground and various courts where tons of people hangout together; the "gatherers" as I've dubbed them. 

On my runs, I circle around sweaty babies in plastic swings, old gossiping dames, gents playing chess, skinny adolescent boys playing basketball, loners feeding pigeons, Asian senior citizens walking backwards and patting their torsos and dogs frolicking in a sand pit. 

Yesterday, there were these two tween girls sitting on a bench across from the basketball court pretending to be interested in their phones. Over and over, I ran by them and we stared at each other. 

"Oh man, they must think I'm such a loser," I thought.

There I was in my embarrassing getup that included a baggy t-shirt, a florescent pink hat and inside-out running tights (that I noticed were inside out when I left the house). Over and over I passed them and I thought, "Why do I care if these girls think I'm cool?!" 

Yet, it's summer and what I would give to be twelve again and sit on a park bench with my best friend giddy at the anticipation, at the brief possibility that the ball would roll over. We would have to decide who would go grab it and for a brief moment interact with them. The moment that would lead us to giggle uncontrollably and walk back to our parents' house and eat ice cream and talk about it, until the next day when we would run into them again while everyone pretended it didn't happen.

And then I miss my childhood. And my best friend. 
And maybe, just maybe I want these girls to think I'm cool, so one day they are dorky enough to put on their florescent hats and run around the boys playing basketball instead of just staring at them.
 

The First Week - A New Place - NYC Diaries

While New York isn't the most exotic places I could have chosen to spend my summer, it's still a pretty big change. I think it was around the sixth day that I realized, "Alright, this is no longer a vacation." I mean, who goes grocery shopping or does the dishes or makes their bed on vacation? 

There is a hustle here that's busier than almost any other city I've been to. I still look both ways before I cross the street and follow traffic lights like a tourist. I also find people really chatty. Random people will strike up conversations - on the subways, on the streets, on my way to the convenience store. I try my best not to look so taken aback even though my face is probably saying, Why are you speaking to me? In Toronto, I find people to be friendly but distant. Rarely do people start chatting you up about your key chain or outfit in broad, sober daylight. It's definitely been taking some getting used to.

So far it's been a lot of trial and error exploring, Brooklyn bar hopping, solo shopping, cafe crawling, rooftop hanging and subway memorizing.

The only way I can describe my current state is light. I had no idea the effect my old environment was having on my spirit, as hokey as that sounds.  Lately, I just feel bubbly and try my best to bring positivity into my new household. While moving to a new place has its challenges - it can be daunting to build a new routine and get used to a new environment, this is what I signed up for.

I've already made a list of things I want to do this summer and stuck it up on my fridge to start crossing items off. Below are some photos from my first week. Enjoy! xx