Random Musings, Pt. 1

New York City is a lonely place. It seems odd to say that, because of the sheer density of people that live here, but it is. Maybe it's because I miss my family in Miami. Maybe it's because I miss living an arm's length away from my friends in Hanover. But I have never felt quite as lonely as I have here, surrounded (or suffocated) by 8 Million other human beings.

New York City is also a hard place to live in. The cost of living is exorbitant to a point of senselessness. Things (re: jobs) are far away and hard to get to. Seasons range from the oppressing humidity of the summer, accompanied by heat and a gross smell that sits like fog on the city during its hottest month, to the frigid months of the winter, when your radiator just isn't quite strong enough.

It's easy to become wrapped up in these things - I've slowly felt myself transforming into the unfriendly New Yorker that is so easy to associate with this city. I've come to realize, however, that it's not quite unfriendliness as it is a constant worry for your own affairs - and we all have a lot of affairs to worry about.

New York City is also a beautiful place. Amongst the difficulties that I've had in moving here, I've been lucky to experience moments so nice that it reminded me why I ever questioned living here in the first place.

- The time Smorgasburg moved to Brooklyn Bridge Park, and we ate our food next to the water with full views of Manhattan

- The time a boy who looked no older than 12 years old was selling chocolates on the 4 train, and no one was buying from him, and as soon as I bought one so many people on the train bought some as well.

- The time I took the J back to Brooklyn at sunset and got to watch the sun set over the Manhattan skyline

- The time I went to a random store in Chinatown with two of my best friends, and we got presents for each others spontaneously

- The time I went on a date where we spent all afternoon at the Met

- The time my boss gave me a candle and wine as a present for making it through August, September and October

- The time the leaves turned beautiful colors in the park next door

- The time my roommate and I finally organized our apartment

- The time I went hiking upstate at Bear Mountain with a group of 5th graders and had the most wonderful time, past anything I ever thought possible

And so so so many other moments. Lesson of the day: New York only sucks if you let it. 

Sweater Weather

Oh man I haven't posted in so so long. I've been working like a maniac, and the last post was from right before the craziness of school started. I hope to start posting more soon - starting with this questionnaire I found while browsing YouTube. 

I love these things (they remind me of surveys on MySpace way back when), and this one in particular caught my eye because it's also the title of my most recent song obsession by The Neighbourhood.

So, here it goes!

1. Favorite candle scent?

I don't know why, but anything that's not clean scented makes me kind of sick. My current favorite is clean linen from Bath and Body Works, also the current scent in my Bath and Body Wallflower. 

2. Coffee, tea or hot chocolate?

Coffee, obviously. I'm Colombian. 

3. What's the best fall memory you have? 

Homecoming at Dartmouth College. Both during freshman year and as an alum. 

4. Which makeup trend do you prefer: dark lips or winged liner? 

Neither, actually. I prefer natural eyeshadow and nude lips. 

5. What do you want to be for Halloween? 

Halloween already passed and I didn't dress up - but probably something punny.

6. Favorite Thanksgiving food? 

Mashed potatoes, gravy, turkey, stuffing, and cranberries. All together. 

7. Hats or scarves?

Scarves, but more the spring kind than the heavy sweater kind. 

8. Most worn sweater? 

All of my Gap Eversoft sweaters. Completely obsessed. I've been living in them.

9. Favorite nail polish? 

Devil's Advocate and Fishnet Stockings by Essie. Devil's Advocate is a deep purple that I like even better than Lincoln Park After Dark by OPI. Fishnet Stockings is a gorgeous blood red. It is truly the best red nail polish ever. 

10. Football games or jumping in leaf piles? 

Neither. Womp.

11. Skinny jeans or leggings?

I exclusively wear skinny jeans year-round.

12. Combat boots or uggs? 

I never got into combat boots, and although I'm obsessed with Uggs my friend (who is far more fashionable than I am) recently forbade me from buying another pair at DSW, reminding me that I am now too old to wear them. 

13. What's your #1 favorite thing about fall?

Coats! I am obsessed with coats. So happy it's coat weather again.