February :: five things to do

It just keeps getting colder and colder here. And this weekend we are supposed to get almost a foot of snow in the city because of some massive snow storm heading our way from all directions. Not fun for this warm weathered baby! So in this case, all my suggestions this month revolve around mostly staying in your house. Sometimes that's just the best thing to do. 

1 :: D.I.Y. something from pinterest 

Make it happen! I'm sure we all have at least 25 things we've been wanting to do. Now is the time to check one or  three off the list. I decided to organize my necklaces. Not so much a D.I.Y by definition but it helped me see all that I have and it's so fun adding jewels to my outfit each day now. What I did :: I took old shower curtain hooks {I recommend ones with double hooks, i.e. separate for the liner and the curtain} and used the extra towel bar that I had in my bathroom and tah-dah! I love it.

2 :: host an oscar party

I love watching the Oscars and award season in general. All the dresses, up-dos and shoes? Yes, please. Yet somehow every year I always just end up in my sweats on the couch with a bottle glass of wine. What about dressing it up a little? Make a fancy cheese plate, bake some mini cupcakes with edible glitter and throw on some pearls with a faux fur shawl. Sounds fun to me! 

3 :: perfect your favorite recipe

I'm sure we all have that one recipe that's a go to when you need something easy to make, but what about that favorite recipe? It could be your grandmother's manicotti or something from your favorite restaurant. Why not try to find that recipe and make it delicious. My favorite? Vegetarian Southern Fried Chicken from Red Bamboo. Oh it's so my favorite. 

4 :: have a play day indoors

I'm suggesting Chelsea Market and I just wrote about it here. There are restaurants, shops {even an Anthropologie!}, art stores, book stores, coffee shops and more. Outside of NYC though I'm thinking this would be like spending the day at the mall. Sometimes you just want lots of indoor space to browse the day away. 

5 :: make a winter playlist

Picking the vibe and playing into that mood can do wonders for your spirits. If you want to be happy, make a pick me up playlist. If you are sad, make a sad playlist. The thing about sadness :: if you don't let it play through in your emotions, it doesn't really leave you and I've found making a playlist and letting it sink it, helps immensely. I'm part of a CD club {sounds cheesy, I know} and I love it. We pick a theme each month and I'm realizing even more how much the music sticks to my soul. Life really would be a mistake without music. 

"I think music in itself is healing. 

It's an explosive expression of humanity. 

It's something we are all touched by. 

No matter what culture we're from, everyone loves music."

{billy joel}

January :: five things to do

People have commented that I often know what to do or where to be and I really am almost always doing something even when I'm doing nothing so I figure that's why! I love discovering new things everyday. It keeps me inspired and in a city that has an abundance of things to do, you just have to get out there and explore. So with that said, I am going to start sharing each month the little things that I put on my to do list that help me get out there to just do it, see it and know it. Some things are New York specific but most you can do anywhere or adapt to the city you call home so get out there {or sometimes stay inside} and enjoy!

1 :: visit the Met

It is so cold outside, so why not be inside - you can spend hours in this museum and not even see half of all the amazing artwork. It is the perfect indoor, getting cultured, feeling like your learning something kind of day. 

2 :: try a new Italian restaurant

I'm suggesting specifically Italian because it is so cold in NYC right now. And with pasta, cream sauces, warm bread and wine to warm your belly… well I can't think of many things much better than that on a winter day. I recently ate at Barbaresco for the first time and it was delicious. 

3 :: make it a double feature

With award season being upon us - I love seeing as many movies as I can and again with the freezing temps outside, why not spend 4 or 5 hours at a movie theater? I'm excited to say I've been able to see a lot of nominated movies this year {and even more that were not} :: Silver Linings Playbook, Lincoln, Argo, Amour, Beasts of the Southern Wild, Django Unchained, Les Miserables, ParaNorman, Snow White and the Huntsman, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Ted, Marvel's The Avengers and Moonrise Kingdom :: Hoping to add a few more to the list before the Oscars… did I mention I'm a movie junkie? 

4 :: go see a comedy show

This is something I still want to check off my list for this month. Spending a couple hours filled with laughter sounds pretty spirit lifting and I'm totally into that. 

5 :: stay in bed

Sometimes not much sounds better than staying cozy under the covers. Make mimosas, put on your favorite cashmere sweater and knee socks, pull out a book and cuddle up with nothing else to do and leave nothing else in your mind. My book of the month is White Girl Problems by Babe Walker. If you haven't read it yet, read it. It's awesome. 

"I may have lit the match, but it was karma that kept the fire blazing."

  

{babe walker}