It's Been a While, No?

Hello luvs,

Sigh. I know. I know. No need to mention it. My OVER abundance of posts lately has left y'all feeling flooded and overwhelmed. It's ok… I promise to slow down from now on.

In all seriousness, I AM SORRY. My sincerest apologies. Life has been crazy busy with work, and school, and visitors, and random shenanigans recently that I just don't know where to start. Therefore, I shall simply slowly bombard you with bits and pieces of my life as of late. Take it or leave it. (But it has been a while, so you may wanna stay for a bit. You never know when the next post will emerge.)

WEATHER

Current status: In a relationship. LOVE. NYC you should be kept under a tent during the winter and revealed come June, so as not to scare away your visiting population. Seriously. A friend and I visited Prospect Park in February and walked away disgusted with life. It was too much. Too much of nothing. A wasteland of withered trees and dead foliage. I wish I had taken a picture of the ugly barrenness that is Prospect during winter months, but on the other hand, I’m glad I didn’t. Things of such nature cannot be unseen, and I would never burden you with such horrific images. Yes, I realize I am discussing a park, but you should have seen it. Or shouldn’t have. Idk. It was a mess. A cold mess. See? There was absolutely NOTHING right about the situation.

Think something along these lines… You’re all happy go lucky, “Yay, I’m visiting NY,” yada yada, and then all of a sudden…

BAM. 

WTF%\*&)ADsf7@%$? Nope. Send me back home. Wherever. Doesn’t matter. Anywhere but here. Yep. As we were scurrying away from the horrendous scene that is winter in NYC, we contemplated going straight to JFK. BUT, something made us wait. Something told us to hold out for a few months…

 

And I’m sure glad we did!

 

 I mean it is still CLEARLY no Laurel Canyon or Malibu State Park, my go to hiking spots in LA, BUT Prospect is getting its act together. Well done. A for effort.

HELLO Prospect and welcome back! It was a close call, and for a second, we didn’t think you’d make it, but here you are! Sure it only took 6 months for you to get here, but you do know how to make an entrance! SO. Now, instead of cowering away from the park and averting my eyes, I run the park every morning without feeling as though I’m a part of the Hunger Games. It’s quite nice really. Nice change of scenery. Badum bum tshh. (Hey, I’m out of practice. It’s the best I got right now. Leave me be.)

 AND, how adorable are these two?

Their father was coaching them and honestly, they gave me a run for my money. Literally. (I know the jokes are a bit cheesy this post, but bear with me... I just need some time to ease back into things. Don't judge.) 

Moving on…

SCHOOL

Done. Over with. Yay!

VISITORS

ALRIGHT. It seems as though with the arrival of summer in the city, comes the arrival of guests. And to that I say… Bring them on! I have been so lucky to have people visit the last few months and therefore FORCE me to explore the city. I know it sounds lame, but I really don’t make as much use of the city as I should. While I’m here, I should be out and about exploring and venturing into strange corners etc…, but aside from the week my sister was here, when we ventured a bit TOO much if you ask me, I tend to keep a low profile and hover around the home. A friend and I have actually had the discussion as to how we don’t seem to possess the “FOMO” gene. Oh, you don’t know what that is? Neither did I till it was mentioned in a NY Times article.

“FOMO, or “fear of missing out,” refers to the blend of anxiety, inadequacy and irritation that can flare up while skimming social media... When we scroll through pictures and status updates, the worry that tugs at the corners of our minds is set off by the fear of regret, according to Dan Ariely, a professor of psychology and behavioral economics at Duke University. He says we become afraid that we’ve made the wrong decision about how to spend our time.”

OK. AGREED. I definitely seem to lack this FOMO business. I have a LACK of "fear of missing out," evidently. No issue staying home on a Friday night, drinking my cup of tea and dancing around my apartment, solo. Sure, sometimes I’m in the mood to dance with others and thus a night out is called for, but in general, I am quite content hanging out at la casa with a few friends, making dinner and dessert. I do enjoy exploring the city, and don’t get me wrong, I LOVE, absolutely LOVE, spending time with my friends, it just doesn’t always have to be OUT and about. This, however, in a city like NY, where people visit you for that SOLE reason, to go out and about, can potentially become an issue. “Let’s go to NYC and spend a weekend holed up in Emily’s apartment!,” said no one ever. Ok. Fine. Have it your way. SO. On that note, with the arrival of summer and the arrival of guests, I have made the effort to explore and adventure. And so far, it has been well worth the effort! No complaints. And upon future medical examination, I hope to soon report increased levels of FOMO (just to the point that they border on normal of course.)

 

Tea Festival

Dorian and I ventured to the Coffee and Tea Festival in March. (Yeah, I know, a bit delayed. You'll get over it.) We MAY have been among the youngest people there, but it was a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon! AND I am still drinking their tea and using my "agave nectar" samples to this day. I'm gonna go ahead and say that I think we DEFINITELY got our $10 worth in tea/coffee/sweetener samples.

 

  YAY for cute paper "tea cups!" 

(It's always the little things that get me.)

 Cold AND hot tea. WHAT? There was something for everyone!

 

 When to drink and when not to drink. Good to know. 

(I'm sure the consequences of confusing the season to tea "harmonic relationship" here aren't THAT dire. Just my opinion, though the nice people at this booth begged to differ.)

They had tea ICE CREAM and the line was hella long... BUT it was SO good! So next time you feel like spending $8 on a pint of ice cream, I've got some GREAT recommendations.

SEXY door. 

I know, I feel like I'm cheating on my hallways, but this door was the shiz. Look at it! It's huge and solid and Game of Thrones looking! What can I say. I want one.  

Rony in NY

Rony came to visit! Yay! Now just to get the rest of the gang to come out ;) Twas a blast. Food and drink, my friends. Food and drink!

BEST pizza I have yet to have in NY! Lives up to the name and is superb! Only drawback is they only take cash. Which can cause an issue if SOME people happen to make a big deal about paying and therefore trek around Brooklyn in search of an ATM, while you sit at a table with cash in your purse, UNallowed (it's a word, I promise) to pay. Sigh. Men. 

 

 BEST croissants in NYC: Almondine Bakery

Everyone should try their almond croissants, chocolate croissants, and espresso. SO delish!

Can't get a pic of the Freedom Tower? It's ok. Take a picture of us.

Tell me more about the Great Gatsby ;) 

Sans Rony. Financial district at midnight? Sure, why not? Now I know what a "bull" market is.

Clarissa from LA
My friend Clarissa, an AMAZING dancer, was in town touring with a K-Pop star, and let me tell you it was one of the best concerts I have ever been too. Ok. POSSIBLE slight exageration since I had no idea what he was singing about, since it was in Korean, BUT it was VERY entertaining nonetheless!

 Dancin' the night away!

 

 

Love you and can't wait to see you again!!! xoxo

Lebanese Food Festival
Oh my goodness. What started as a total miss turned into a total hit... Such great music and food! The Baklava was to die for. A good DJ, check. A good "Tabl-er," check. (A Tabl is the big drum that is commonly used in middle eastern music) A good DABKE!?!? (Think along the lines of a middle eastern line dance) CHECK. Dripping sweat by the end of the night? Check. So much fun!
 

  YUM. 

Sadly, I didn't get any pics of the Baklava. I ate it too quickly.

Random otherness

 Gardens are in bloom! 

Yes, these were the first RESEMBLANCES of "gardens" I have seen in the city!

 And if the sight of so much greenery takes you by surprise, because you just aren't sure what grass is doing outside of a park and in front of a home, the kind people of Brooklyn have put up signs to clarify things...

"Welcome to my Garden"

(For you poor city folk who have grown up without front or back yards and are disturbed by the excess amount of grass.)
Although these people seem a bit garden hoarder-y to me, I don't care. I am craving land and space and anything suburbia right now, so bring on the garden gnomes!

Well, I hope this post has SOMEWHAT given you insight into why I have been MIA. Now you know, it's been in efforts to increase my FOMO... Doctor's orders. In all seriousness though, now that school is done, I will hopefully have many more fun outings to enlighten you about, especially with the arrival of future guests! All in all, NY (in the summer) is quite amazing. And friends and fam always make it that much more of a great time! 

On that note, speaking of FRIENDS and FAM… I CANNOT wait for le Haggar sisters to visit in two weeks! That will be a post worth waiting for, my friends. Let me tell you. They are not even here yet and the fun has already begun. I look forward to good food (second breakfasts will be a must), good friends and fam (depending on the scenario, we will claim either and/or both), and good FUN! Till then my dears...

See you next time,

<3 

A southern, west-coaster, in the northeast

Songs of the week:

Tamer Hosny: Bahebak Enta

 I'm in the mood for middle eastern music. When the mood hits, it hits.

BUT

My summer jams are still on!

Danza Kuduro Remix Live @ Puerto rico

Oldie but with a twist!

 Don Omar... Take me anywhere they speak Spanish... and there's a beach.