THANKSGIVING AT BIVS

So if you haven't been following me on Instagram, I guess it's time I tell you that... I'VE MOVED! I most definitely plan to write a whole blog post about it and my process, but I am just not there yet at the feelings level. I really can't explain all the emotions inside of me from this move.

If you don't know me, then Hi, I'm Brittany. I'm originally from Brick, NJ and have ben working in New York City BEFORE I even graduated from college. The commute is brutal. It's two and a half hours one way (so total of above 5 hours commuting each day on a GOOD DAY). I'll talk more indepth about this later on in another blog post.

ANYWAY! I am extremely thrilled to say that I have finally moved and have been in this apartment for almost two months already. If we're honest, the time is flippin' flying. I cannot believe Thanksgiving is over already and we are moving on to Christmas already. WOW.

I am also excited to say that I have hosted my first Thanksgiving! Can you believe it? I moved into this apartment in October and I knew from that moment (even from August, when I knew I was moving) that I wanted to host like every single holiday in this apartment. I knew I wasn't going to get away with every single one, but I think I definitely at least wanted to start off with Thanksgiving.

There are a lot of things I have already learned about being a host. My dad had suggested that I keep an ongoing list of things throughout the day that I will need. As we started cooking and preparing, there was something that would pop up that I never thought I would need, but did. To be honest, I was pretty proud, there weren't many! It was good to have that list though, it will certainly help in the future.

I wanted to share a couple of photos from the day with you. They aren't the most professional photos because I really was focussed on having a great time and hosting in general. I don't care though, it was all worth it. Come along! >>

CHICAGO | TRAVEL

If you're from Chicago, you juuuuuust might be cringing your entire way through this post. Maybe you wont? I don't know.

Either way, YES! CHICAGO! I cannot believe I have finally gone. Earlier in September, I took a short trip, literally 12 hours long, for work purposes. I didn't have any time, at all, to spend in actual Chicago. The client I was there to visit was 2.5 hours south of Chicago. That being said, my schedule was: Fly there, rent car directly from airport, drive 2.5 hours to client, have 4 hour meeting, drive 2.5 hours back, fly back home.

This time around, it was another work trip. I was sad it wasn't for fun, but thankful to be traveling again. It's so weird that I haven't been on a plane in about 10 years and I had finally done it again and two times in one month. Being that it was for work, there was a ton of stuff that we had to get done and we BARELY had time to do anything fun, but we found a couple of things to do.

I'm so excited to share some photos from the trip with you. If you're following me on Instagram you may have seen some of these already, but there are a few I haven't posted. Like I said, if you live in the city or are from there, you may just be cringing because these things are so "touristy" I'm sure. Anyway! Let's get on to the photos.

LIFE CHANGES | #IMDOINGTHISAGAIN

As you may have read, I’m at it again. Yes folks, I’m on the healthy eating train again. Ironically enough, I’m also physically on a train at the current moment while I type this. Why was that important to include? I don’t know, I just felt it to be. Also, peep the motivational "skinny pics" above.

Anyway! I thought it important to talk about a couple of things OTHER THAN MY WEIGHT that I hope improve over the course of this journey. It’s been three days of under 1200 calorie intake and I know that some may say it’s not healthy to eat under 1500/day, but this has worked for me in the past and I know it to be a method that just works with my body. (So boo hoo to all the nay sayers - did I spell that right?)

IM DOING THIS AGAIN... | #IMDOINGTHISAGAIN

Welp, I’m doing it again. I approach it this way because I’ve done it so many times before. One of these times being extremely successful, more than the others. The other times? Not successful at all. I began once with a friend as a challenge and that’s where I got the most inspiration. I looked at it as a do or die situation because I held myself accountable against someone else.

I ended up being so happy with the results and looked at the process I created for myself as a scalable one. I of course am talking about losing weight. The weight began what seemed to “melt off” and I couldn’t believe it. I was shocked with the results and couldn’t believe I had created this beautiful process that I must admit, never became EASIER, for myself.

I went through so many phases during this weight loss process about five years ago (wow). I was scared, in denial, emotional, excited, hungry, thrilled, I could go on and on. For a while I honestly didn’t know if I was going to be able to make it through but for some reason, it clicked that time. I bought into the mantra of “When the pain of staying the same hurts more than the change” because it really spoke to me so much.

For now, on leg one of this journey again, let’s talk about some things that I know I’m good at. Because lets be honest, maybe what we need is a little more encouragement from ourselves to start. Maybe that’s what we’re all missing. Imagine if it were that easy? >>

SUN OF A GUN | TRUE CRIME PICKS

Al Capone's Beer Wars, John J. Binder

If you don't already know, I am 100% obsessed with true crime. If you follow me on Goodreads, you would probably be able to pick that up between some of the books I've read, and lots of the ones on my TBR pile. Getting specific, I have this deeper obsession with The Mob and all of the stories associated with it. I read about New York and New Jersey the most, but I've recently picked up some books about Vegas, Chicago and more and I cannot wait to hear stories about different locations as well.

For now, I wanted to share with you some of the upcoming True Crime books I am most looking forward to reading. Being the book obsessed person that I am, you can tell that some of the books pictured have specials deals. Because, you know, if you buy as many books as I do, you have to buy some of them on sale/on sites that give you them for discounts. Let's be honest with ourselves, more books inherently= more happiness. So however we can make that happen, we make that happen.

EATALY & ME | CHARCUTERIE, WINE

If you follow me on Instagram, you'll know that one of my most frequented places in the city is Flatiron. Mostly because that's where my office is, but also because I do love it! Most of our lunch outings are here, a lot of the cute little shops we love are here and just generally, I love this area.

There are some decent spots to eat around here, but the most touristy spot in what seems like ALL of NYC (food wise) is Eataly and it is located right here in Flatiron. I couldn't be happier about this because to be honest, I love it so much and for so many reasons.

BOOGIE BOOTS ON | COUNTRY I LOVE

So if you know me at all (when am I going to stop beginning my blog posts like this?), you’ll know that I have an undying obsession with country music. To be honest, compared to most country fans, it is a fairly new obsession. I haven’t always been as into the genre as I am now, but I can’t imagine not having country music in my life.

As sick and as corny as this all sounds, it’s incredibly true for so many reasons. Something to know about me is that I am really not an emotional person. For some reason, country music has been one of those things that has gotten me to be a little more emotional. If you listen to the words of these songs, you will quickly realize that they are so incredibly filled with meaning and not just sung for shits and gigs. Yes, some of the music can be pretty sappy, corny and over the top, but what genre/song isn’t sometimes, right?

There’s just something about the hometown, chilled out feel of pretty melodies that make you feel at ease. Driving around town with windows down and country albums blasting is a feeling you can’t quite explain. I feel like I’m in somewhat of a minority of loving country music when I’m in the city, as there aren’t really man fans, but for some reason it makes me feel that much better about it.

That being said! I wanted to share some of my recent favorite songs/albums/artists with you. As explained, I’ve become a huge, extremely dedicated fan of country only about five years or so ago, but that doesn’t really mean anything when it comes to country. I still love it the same.

SUBSCRIPTIONS & SERVICES | WORTH IT?

I’ve really never been much of a subscription/online services type of girl. I definitely get a total sense that it’s a city thing. I always think of things like Blue Apron and Birchbox as total city services that only people who live there use, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. I honestly can’t even tell you why I had this premonition.

Now I don’t know the analytics, demographics wise, of these companies and where they are most popular, but I just know that cities could only be the more popular area. While that might be true, don’t get it twisted, ‘burbs and beach girls use the services too.

Today, I wanted to talk about some of the services I’ve used in the past. I wanted to detail why I love them, what’s best about them, and some of them that just didn’t make the cut for me. Just incase you’re nervous about giving them a shot, come along on the journey of this blog post with me and let’s talk about it!

SHORE BETS | SUMMER 2017

It can be so easy to get caught up in all of the things there is to do at the Jersey Shore over the summer. I like to think there are so many options that some people feel overwhelmed and just don’t come so that there’s more room for us locals (lol). While that’s a little farfetched of a hope, I still like to make sure that I am making the most out of mine and my friends time, by visiting some of our favorite local spots that always provide us with a good time, no matter what.

I know it might be a sin to put them out there, but I wanted to share. Also, let it be known that some of these places are probably known by most locals. Honestly, if you don’t know them and you’re a local, I’d be shocked. I also have a lot of reservations about putting my beach out there in the open because, you know, it’s my beach and I don’t want anyone else there (also lol). It’s all about sharing the good though, right?

OBSESSION SESSION | RECENT FAVORITES

Life is never easy. I feel like I don't really need to explain myself. With all of the challenges that we face on a daily basis, it's always good to have something to fall back on that make us happy. I can't be the only one thinking this. Recently, life seems extra brutal and to counteract that, I figured I would share with you some of the things that have been making me pretty happy lately.

I realized I loved curating and writing this post. While it may seem simple and easy to say, I just loved gathering some of the things that have made me happy the past couple of weeks and sharing them with you. This has also gotten me to realize that some of these things change on a weekly basis and some of them stay the same. That being said, maybe I'll make it a weekly post? Ugh, god, I know I haven't posted since April. Consider this my apology, like I said, life is rough. (That's no excuse, B).

HOW I PREPARE FOR THE DAY

There’s never been one day something has gone completely according to plain, let’s be honest that’s just how life seems to be for me. I haven’t quite come to terms with this yet because I feel strongly that my perfect day is out there. For now though, while I continue on my quest, there are a couple of things that I make sure I do every single day, to keep myself feeling like there’s at least a LITTLE conduct in my life. Like I said, it may seem like things are all over the place, but it’s organized chaos and there is SOME method to my madness. Here’s what I like to do daily, regardless of most other things in life being completely hectic.

A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS

Yet another set of purchases have gone by and yet another set of favorites have entered my life. Being that we are now in the full swing of spring, I couldn't be happier that summer is just that much closer. There are so many things that I love about the summer: the weather, the beach, just to name a few. I also love the change in beauty looks, the scents in perfumes and candles.

Being that we're heading that way, here are a few things I have been obsessing over lately that I couldn't be happier are guiding me into the new season. READ MORE>

Skincare, DO ACTUALLY CARE

Regrettably so, skincare has not always been the most important thing to me. Now for most people out there, that is probably the scariest sentence you’ve ever read. If you’ve been with me for a while, you’d know that ever since I was younger, I have had eczema. Eczema, at some levels (mine), is an extremely painful skin condition that causes redness, swelling, irritation and more, that is basically completely out of your control. READ MORE>

MERMAID STATE OF MIND

If you know anything about me, you know that I am a mermaid at heart. I talk a lot about going to the beach, what I have in my beach bag, what my favorite products are for summer and I show you amazing summer photos of the sun, sand and marinas.

It just only seems right that I would have a few mermaid things in my arsenal, right? Well, yes you're right. I normally just spend a lot of time looking at pictures of mermaids online and liking a bunch of Little Mermaid themed posts on Instagram and obsessing over them. Now though, thanks to my friend Diana's amazing birthday gift giving skills and one trip to a bookstore, I have an even bigger collection of mermaid things that I thought I would share with you today.

Of course, I took it to my favorite place, the beach, for a cute little photoshoot with all of my beautiful mermaid things. I took these photos a week after a huge noreaster shot through the area, but aside from some of the photos that are more inland, you would never instantly realize it if you didn't know any better. The beach looks beautiful regardless.

EXPLORE MORE

There's always been so many things that I've been yearning to do in New York. I mean, there are so many things to do in general, but certain things just feel like they would mean more to me. A couple of these adventures have come up recently, others I have been seeking out for years.

Because of external circumstances, which I guess can be buttressed by internal circumstances, I haven't gotten to any of these things yet. That's all going to change this year. I promise myself that by the end of this year I want to have done all of the things on this list and hold no one accountable but myself for it.

WINTER WHITE

I love a good winter white. Of course by winter white I mean anything that has to do with wearing white in the winter. This year though, we've had at least two or three little mini snowstorms that have really brought out the winter white in New York City. As I said in my last post about Christmas, I always feel so much more thankful when I'm in the city because I don't have to worry about the woes that are NJ Transit, driving around, cleaning off my car, and shoveling off the steps around my house.

Snow without the worry is always so much more fun and enjoyable. I feel like I have spent a majority of my life defending myself and making the case as to why I HATE the snow. This year, it has been amazingly more enjoyable for the reasons above. There's a lot more to appreciate about snow and lazy weekends when you can just sit back and watch it fall without a worry. Then if you decide that you need something from the grocery store, you just walk outside of your apartment and get it. No tackling people for parking spots and yelling at raging drivers for driving too slow in icy roads.

The best part of all? How beautiful it actually is when you catch it looking just that good. Here are a few quick snaps I took a couple of weeks ago when I was out and about with some friends.

CHRISTMAS IN JANUARY

2016 has been one of the most interesting years of my entire life. It has nothing to do with politics, current events, or public figures. The year has tested and tried me more than I care to even mention and I don't know for sure if I'm up to sharing it here. For the time being, what I did want to share, is were some Christmas pictures.

If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen SOME of these. While that's true, there are a few sprinkled in that haven't made it to the internet until now. That's hard for me, because normally I'm snapping pictures of absolutely everything and uploading almost immediately. Let's get started!

NATURE REPUBLIC HAUL | SKIN CARE

I've always been so interested in K Beauty and there really has never been an easy way to try it here in New Jersey. Ever since I started working in New York, I have had endless opportunities to walk right through Koreatown on 32nd Street so that I could pick up absolutely anything I want and trust me, I have taken advantage of that.