Tagged: Travel

On giving thanks

It’s 9:30am on Thanksgiving morning, 2012. I sit in the kitchen while my father is getting much need rest and my mother is getting much needed circulars detailing Black Friday deals. I have just finished a bowl of Cream of Wheat (a childhood favorite and such a holiday treat), and I sip coffee out of an Allen Farm Sheep & Wool Company mug. The mug is green, my favorite of the colors the mug is offered in. My boyfriend is at his mother’s house, where he spent all of Wednesday prepping a meal for a queen. My friends are celebrating with their loved ones as well, and even those with complications, are comfortable with a roof over there head.

We are blessed. So on this day, I am thankful. Here is a small list of things (I often take for granted) that I am thankful for today:

Warmth, lodging, security, safety & sunsets
My company offers up to 5 paid days off for us to volunteer at any non-profit agency of our choice. All equally impactful, the memory that still haunts me is that of a homeless woman breaking down in tears after I presented her with a comforter. “Warmth” was the one word that escaped through her tears. Oh, the things we take for granted. I am behind lucky to have a roof, heat, and a gorgeous view of the Manhattan skyline, offering some of the most beautiful sunsets this side of the east river.

Sunset in Long Island City

The ability to travel
Trips to Martha’s Vineyard are a highlight of this year. Having summered there through my childhood, rekindling friendships and re-familiarizing myself with a place I used to call home is priceless. And the fact that I’ve been able to experience it with this guy makes my heart swell.

Edgartown Lighthouse & my chef

My forever forgiving family
I don’t call enough, I’m horrible at returning emails, my brow is often furrowed, and it can be hard for me to forgive. How lucky am I to have the family I do, who love me for me, even the wonky bits. (In fact, my father just burped and I burped in response. Family.)

Mom & Dad in Chilmark, Martha's Vineyard

Food, food, food
Between my chef beau, my foodie colleague, and my dinner dates with friends, I eat. Not only am I thankful for good food, but I’m thankful for how it brings people together. To break bread and share a toast means a lot to me.

The best meal I ever ate

I’m a lucky girl. What are you thankful for?

For more info on traveling to Martha’s Vineyard, check out Dwellable

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Sometimes, my job doesn’t actually make sense

As you know, during the day I am an event producer. I throw together a million elements to create one awesome event. The type of event varies… While I focus mostly on beauty, fashion, and lifestyle brands, the events themselves include Fashion Week, Fashion Presentations, Runway shows, editor events, parties, and the always exciting kabuki reveal.

My most recent assignment involved traveling across the country for a 3 hour “layover” in LA during which we had a site vist, and then traveling back across the country to my home in NYC. However, our 3 hour “layover” turned into a 9.5 hour purgatory. Here is my story, told in photos.

11/17/11 4:30am EST

Wake up, attempt to put on clothing acceptable for clients. Settle on leather, heather grey, black, and leopard and leopard. Struggle to stay awake for car service to bring me to JKF. Decide to take mirror photos.

1:30pm EST

Arrive in LA. Immediately get whisked away for an airport tour. Explore an airplane repair hanger, which is essentially a big square room. Inquire about standing at the top of the tail repair ladder (seen in the back of the photo). Receive side eyes. Inquire about taking a photo with the airplane tires (bottom left). Receive side eyes.

4:30pm EST

Arrive at gate for return flight to JFK, putting us home at 10:30pm EST. Very excited. Gate attendant announces there is an issue with the air conditioning and airplane is “very hot”. Less excited. Air conditioning issue turns into what is actually a missing fuel line. Not excited at all. Decide to refuse to board plane. Gate attendant announces we will need a new plane, and this one will not leave until 10:25pm EST. Really un-excited. Watch line form at gate and wonder if we should get in it. Decide to go to Sky Club instead. Excitement grows.

6:30pm EST

Find great seating and an open bar in Sky Club. Rejoice. Decide to do more work until we can’t see straight, then we close all computers and indulge in wine, and then wine, and then some more wine. But not before having a bit more wine. They announce our flight is leaving “on time” at 10:25 and we bolt to the gate, get the most fantastic seats, and enjoy complimentary in-flight television and more wine. Notice women wearing fur and think, “I could live in LA.” Call home before take off. Employ a mom recommended buddy system do to excessive wine.

 11/18/11 4:30am EST

Back where I started a full 24 hours later. Unclear of what just happened, likely due to the wine. But after 5000 miles and a brutal red eye, I am home.

Eat, Learn, Move

People have gone viral crazy for the series of videos created by three dudes commissioned by STA Travel Australia. Rick Mereki, Tim White, and Andrew Lees traveled for 44 days, visiting 11 countries on 18 separate flights spanning the distance of 38,000 miles. Their travels were done in an effort to “turn 3 ambitious linear concepts based on movement, learning and food into 3 beautiful and hopefully compelling short films.”

I am obsessed with them all.

A little bit of saturday afternoon viewing for all of you, as you explore the films by the 3 dudes who travelled the world. Hopefully it inspires you. At the very least, enjoy the very handsom Andrew Lees get his walk, dance, and eat on.

(1) EAT

(2) LEARN

(3) MOVE

How To Travel With Your Boo

I like to credit a lot of my wisdom to my Mother, who is the wisest mother anyone could ask for. She’s full of little tidbits, whether you ask for them or not. Some of my favorites have turned into posts in the past and this one is no different.

Over dinner at one of my favorite soul food spots in Harlem with my Mom and my girl, Larissa, Mom indulged in a few rules on how to stay sane in relationships. My favorites had to do with travel. Now, she’s on a cruise with my Father, and in the weeks leading up to it, she divulged in a few more tips.

So here they are, Mom’s Top Five Tips on How to Travel with Your Boo:

1. Just Do It
Yes, just like the Nike commercials, when it comes to travel, my mother’s rules are simple – just do it. She and her girlfriends have often found themselves proposing a travel idea to their husbands, only to receive answers like “I’m not sure I can take off work” or “I don’t want to go away for that long.” *side eye* The solution? Buy their ticket anyway. They’ll come around. This is how my parents took a romantic trip to Ireland, a couples trip to South Africa, a week visiting me when I was abroad in London, and it’s how they found themselves on a cruise right now. Works like a charm every time.

2. What You Packing?
In preparing for their cruise, Mom told Dad to lay his outfits on the guest bed for the trip. After weeks of peeking in on his progress, she found he’d only planned on bringing 4 t-shirts and some shorts. When asked to pick up a few items from the dry cleaner on the way home, Mom oblidged, and then packed the items in his suitcase under his 4-shorts and shorts. Instantly well packed!

3. We Dont Have To Fight
Eager to get everything started right – Mom noted that you never fight before you leave. It’s just bad manners. If you’ve got something to say, say it once your plane has taken off. Swiftly. Then order a glass of wine and settle in for the flight. Everyone will be all smiles by the time you land.

4. Keep it Freestylin’
Upon landing in New Orleans just before their cruise, my parents realized their airline (American) had lost their luggage. Given only two tuxedo t-shirts, Mom and Dad enjoyed their cruise in matching outfits for almost a full week. When asked how it was going, her only answer was “We’re cool. We’re freestyling.”

[via]

Suburban Girl Reads: Eat Pray Love


I know, I know, I know, I know. Really? JUST reading this now? I know. But I have been totally sucked in by the incredible trailers featuring the lovely Julia Robers so I really can’t help myself, now can I? Jeesh.

I tried to read this years ago when I had just graduated college and didn’t understand the real life trials and tribulations she was discussing in this piece of literature. Now, with a few more years under my belt, I’m 50 pages in and totally in LOVE with Elizabeth Gilbert. Everything she says is heartbreaking, funny, sad, and eye-opening (oof, big words, huh?). Anyway, I am once again trying to breeze through a book before the movie comes out – seems to be a theme.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1bSFT60sXI]
Obsessed with this trailer. I’m like a child watching something sparkly every time it comes on the television!

Side note: On the train this morning I looked up to see a woman sitting across from me, wearing a matching coral dress, matching RayBan sunglasses, and reading Eat Pray Love. It was bizarre (and yet, I felt like a member of a secret book club – creep).