Sunday, February 14, 2016

WHY YOU SHOULD EMBRACE BEING SINGLE ON VALENTINE'S DAY




Valentine's Day is all about LOVE right?! Wrong. It's mostly about the pressure of buying the right gift for your significant other along with planning the perfect night and the stress of what to wear for said perfect night. But not this year. Because you're SINGLE. Before you start to drown your feelings in that bottle of wine. Here is why you should embrace your singleness this Valentine's Day. 





You get to do whatever YOU want

You can stay home and binge watch chick flicks on Netflix all day while eating Ben & Jerry's in bed. You can meet up with your girlfriends for brunch and consume bottomless mimosas. Or you could have a Girl's Night Out in celebration of Galentine's Day. The point is that you can do anything your heart desires. 



Chocolate Wasted

All the chocolate you want. And nobody will judge you. So make sure to stock up on all those heart shaped chocolates. Or you could go all out and be like Miranda in that episode of 'Sex and The City' where she bakes a whole chocolate cake, grabs a fork and never looks back. 


 



Wine about it 

If all else fails. There is always wine. Go ahead and treat yourself to that expensive bottle of wine you've been saving for a special occasion. After all, you are celebrating your singleness. No shame in that game. CHEERS! 





Friends don't let friends be single alone

Because being single doesn't mean you're alone. You have amazing friends and an amazing life that a guy would only be lucky enough to be a part of. Call your girlfriends, let them know how much you love and appreciate them being in your life. Invite them to brunch or a day of shopping and celebrate yourself. Single can be fabulous. So, for now spend time with your girlfriends making memories to last a lifetime. 







To all my SINGLE LADIES. Embrace your SINGLENESS. And treat yo'self to the Valentine's Day you deserve. 



XO, Rae

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

8 GIFTS GIRLS REALLY WANT FOR VALENTINE'S DAY





Hey Ladies! 

We are just a few days away from Valentine's day and if you haven't hinted yet to the man in your life on what you really want. Well, here is a list of items you can share with him. And if your SINGLE, like me. Why not treat yourself to a gift along with that bag of chocolate and bottle of wine you plan to consume on Valentine's Day.
No judgement here. 



1. Professional Make-Up Session

Girls love getting dolled up! And having someone else do it for you is even better. Treat her to an experience of having her make-up done by a professional. Rouge NY is a great Beauty Bar here in the city. Not only will your girlfriend appreciate this awesome gift. But she will look extra fancy for you on your date. 


2. Spa Day

Every girl deserves some pampering from time to time.  A spa day is the ultimate gift. And if you send her along with her best friend well, you are bound to be rewarded. 


3. Hand Written Card

As women, we really appreciate when a guy gives us a gift that has a personal touch to it. Pouring your heart out to her in words on a card or a poem will be sure to make her feel loved. 


4. Weekend Getaway

Nothing says I love you more than a romantic getaway. And she will swoon over the fact that you planned it all by yourself. Think of places she has always wanted to travel to or places that are meaningful to you both. 


5. Flowers

I know it sounds clichè. The secret is getting her a bouquet of her favorite flowers. And if you have them delivered to her office with a sweet note attached, it will make her day! 


6. Sweet Treats

Cupcakes would make any girl happy. And you can pick out her favorite flavors (chocolate or double chocolate). Butter Lane Bakery even offers classes where you can decorate your own cupcakes and take them home at the end of the night. Hint: Date Night! 


7. Wine 

Cook her dinner and pick up a few of her favorite bottles of wine or new wines to try together. You can create your own wine tasting right from your living room. And if she really loves wine, you can get her a monthly wine subscription. What girl wouldn't love wine just showing up on her doorstep? 


8. Sentimental Items

If you really want to win her heart over. Create a gift she will love for years to come. A framed photo of you two, a playlist of love songs or a personalized gift with her name or significant date inscribed.  


Good Luck ladies! Hope you get some amazing gifts this Valentine's Day! 
And for us SINGLE gals, wine is the answer. 



XO, Rae 



Thursday, February 4, 2016

HOW TO EMBRACE A BIG LIFE CHANGE



When you're about to embark on a big life change it's important to consider a few things.


BE OPEN TO THE JOURNEY.

I'm a planner, naturally. I always have a 'To Do' list for everyday tasks, I plan my outfits ahead of time and when I travel it's even worse. I am always thinking about the next thing that I need to plan for whether personal or business related. However, when your facing a big life change, your plan may not go as perfectly as you hoped for. But that's okay. Sometimes the best moments in life are the unexpected ones. You have to be open to the ups and the downs that you may be up against. And just trust that in the end, it will all work out how it's supposed to.


NOT EVERYONE WILL SUPPORT YOUR DECISION.

When I decided to move to New York, I got lucky. All of my friends and family couldn't have been more supportive. But that isn't always the case for some. It's easier for people to tear you down than it is to build you up. Not everyone will see your vision and encourage you to chase your dreams. Be prepared to move forward with or without some of your friends and family's support. Don't let others influence you or make you feel less than excited about your decision. After all, it is YOUR life. 


CHANGE IS SCARY. BUT SO IS REGRET.

Easier said than done, I know. Change used to literally give me anxiety. I grew up with a lot of change in my childhood so as an adult it became harder for me to accept change. The key is embracing it, not hiding from it. And if all else fails, at least you can say you took the leap of faith and tried. In life, you have to take chances to see the reward. If you can one day look back on your life and say that you have no regrets, imagine how fulfilling that will be. Nothing worth having comes easy. 


DO IT FOR YOURSELF.

We often make decisions based on a mixture of emotions. Sometimes a combination of our own wants and needs as well as other's. It isn't always easy to make yourself a priority. However, when making a big change in your life, you have to do it for yourself above anything else. It's never selfish to want to follow your dreams or to take steps to having a more fulfilled life. Your happiness is the ultimate goal. 


So, no matter what big life change you may be considering or beginning to embark upon. Remember to be open to the possibilities, take the good with the bad, have no regrets and do what makes YOU happy. 



XO, Rae 

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

5 Reasons Why Living In New York City is AWESOME




It's no secret that New York City is the one of the greatest cities in the world. Many consider it a right of passage to live here. Besides walking among the bright lights and concrete jungle. Here are some more reasons why living in New York City is AWESOME. 




Active Lifestyle
























Even if you're like me and don't really love to work out. You really won't have a choice living in New York. Chances are high that you will live in a walk up building. Meaning, you could climb five to six flights of stairs every day. Thank you pre-war buildings. I've been doing this for over a year now and I have to say my legs and butt have never looked better. And if you do love working out well, your in luck. Stairs are everywhere, restaurants, subway stations, grocery stores etc... Plus, Walking everywhere does keep you active and encourages you to be more fit. And it's a great excuse to wear your yoga pants out in public. 





Delivery


drinking tv scandal abc olivia pope

When you're at home sick and can barely get out of bed or there is 3ft. of snow on the ground and you have to put on six layers of clothes just to go outside. Delivery comes to the rescue. Of course with Seamless you can order great food. There is also delivery for groceries. Have you ever had to carry groceries up 5 flights of stairs?! Yeah, this is why New Yorkers love delivery. And when you've had a bad day at work and only want to come home to a glass of wine and Scandal. But then discover your roommate drank the last of the bottle. You phone your favorite liquor store to order a bottle of wine STAT. YES! Wine delivers to your doorstep. I bet Olivia Pope couldn't make that happen. Okay, so she probably could. But you get my point. 




Public Transportation





Nothing is more exhausting and aggravating than spending hours in the car sitting in traffic. Trust me I know. I lived in Atlanta for 11 years, one of the worst cities to commute in. So living in New York now and having a Subway station every few blocks is amazing. Sure there is such a thing as "train traffic". No, seriously. And yes there are occasional train delays and trains re-routed. But after a long day all I have to do is grab a seat and enjoy the ride. You honestly have more down time in your day to read a book, catch up with a friend, prep for that upcoming interview or listen to music. It's nice to not have to worry about parking or which hwy to avoid during rush hour. Best of all, you never have to be the designated driver in your group of friends. So ultimately, you can have that last cocktail and no one will judge you. 




Endless Entertainment


Metropolitan Museum of Art
























There is endless amounts of things to do from Central Park, Concerts, Movies in the park, Festivals, Broadway shows, Rooftop happy hours, Art exhibits, Museums and tons more. And not to mention you have 5 boroughs you can visit and explore. So you won't have to worry about dying from boredom in New York City. 




The People




Everyday you get to be surrounded by millions of people in the city. Some may think that this just sounds crowded. But you never know who you may come in contact with on a daily basis. Whether it be a random stranger giving up their seat for you on the subway or an encounter with a celebrity. New Yorkers are known for being loyal to each other and to the city itself. And I have witnessed that first hand. It's always inspiring to see how people in the city never seem to meet a stranger and hustle harder than anyone.




New York City is no doubt one of the toughest places to live, however there is so many amazing reasons why it is one of the best places to live. So if you ever have the urge to move to New York City, DO IT! I promise you won't regret it. 



XO, Rae