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 

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 

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




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

So Much Can Change In a Year...

Finally, I had some time this evening to sit down and blog. Sorry I have been MIA the past month. Life has been non-stop with the holidays, traveling and working from home. But I could not let the year come to an end without reflecting back and sharing one last blog entry with you all before we embark on 2016!


This year by far has been one to remember. So many changes & so many things that all fell into perfect place...

I settled into a new city and still can't believe that I get to call New York home. I never imagined being so happy here and feeling so comfortable in such a short amount of time. It still feels exhilarating every day that I get to spend here.

I quit a job that I once dreamed of having. It in turn made me realize that you always have a choice to walk away from something if you are not happy. And it also made me take a chance on myself. I had no plan B and although it terrified me, I knew that my happiness was worth the risk. Even through other's doubts and questions of my next move, I realized that sometimes in life you are allowed to not have a plan. You do not owe anything to anyone. But you do owe yourself, everything!

I closed the door to my past for the last time. The classic story of too little to late. He would say "I'm sorry" and ask for me to come back and all I could do was say "I can't". Even though I know I will never love anyone as much as I loved him. I know I could never allow myself to go back. I used to not be that strong and would have done anything to let him back in my life but this time was different because well, I was different. 

I removed toxic people from my life, met new friends and even reconnected with old ones. I definitely believe everyone holds a purpose in your life no matter how long or short lived. However, life is so much better when you have the right people to share it with. And I am lucky to have such amazing family & friends in my life. I would not be the person I am without them. 

Most of all I learned to trust the journey. And by far the best lesson of 2015! You may not be exactly where you think you should be but trust me you are exactly where you are supposed to be. It's the moments that we often forget to enjoy because we are so focused on what comes next. So, as we welcome 2016 and a NEW YEAR ahead, my hope is for you to enjoy the moments along the way. The rest will fall into place. 


CHEERS to 2016! And thank you for following my journey!


XO,  Rae

Thursday Things: What I am Loving Right Now

HAPPY FRIDAY! I'm a day late on posting 'Thursday Things' but better late than never right?!  Tell me what you are LOVING right now below in the comments. 

1. MUSIC- If you are like me, you probably have the new Adele song 'HELLO' on REPEAT. Who else has the urge to call their ex and tell them everything you ever wanted to? Can't wait for her new album to drop on November 20th!

2. BEAUTY- I have recently rediscovered my love for CLINIQUE products. One of my new favorites is the Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm. It applies similar to a lipstick giving a tint to your lips but with the benefits of a lip balm. A MUST have for Winter! Also makes a great stocking stuffer. 

3. WEBSITE- theSkimm is my new friend in the mornings. It's a daily newsletter with all the top stories sent to you all bundled up in a morning friendly email. Check it out for yourself! 

Have a great weekend!

XO, Rae