Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your loved ones! I know it's been a few months since I last posted. There's a whole trip to South East Asia that I need to update you on

I continuously say life is busy and that is never an excuse to take the time to express gratitude for those of you who've read and viewed my posts. I have ideas to change the direction of my blog and of course the frequency of my posts. Hope you look forward to it as much as I do.

Hope you're all doing well. Take this day to be grateful for all that you have. I'm most grateful for my family, friends, my health and living in NYC.

All the best readers!!

Summer in the Hamptons

Hello all! Again, its been months since my last post. I'm deeply sorry about the delay. My new year's resolution is always to be more consistent with my writing however it seems the hustle and bustle of day-to-day life catches up to me and I can't seem to post anything significant .

I've recently left my job in Manhattan. The team has had significant turnover since I started there in the fall and it just doesn't have the same energy as it used to. Plus, business has been much slower since summers in NYC tend to be more quiet with many residents heading East to the Hamptons on the weekends.

Ironically I started at a restaurant in the Hamptons in June. I'll be here for another month or so before I venture on an amazing vacation with my closest friend for her post-bar trip.

I've never been to the Hamptons before but I'm really enjoying my time out here. The house I'm staying at is slightly further from villages and the beach but with a bike my roommate so nicely let me borrow I've been able to ride and explore. There's a winery, corn fields, farm stands, a beach and cute cafes within riding distance. Plus, if I so desire I can ride to work.

This month I've been back and forth between NYC and here as I was still work in the city and since leaving that job I've been getting things together for my upcoming trip as well as my move. Since I no longer had to be in Manhattan for work it didn't make sense for me to pay rent next month. Therefore I'm moving my things into storage next week and will be looking for a new place with my friend from September.

This is all A LOT to do but there's nothing like staying busy and getting ready for exciting changes!

Below are some pictures of my time so far in the Hamptons. Have only made it to Montauk once but I'm hoping I'll be able to surf out there soon.

Winter Blues? Never

Where did January go?! How are you all? Surviving winter I hope (if you're in the Northern hemisphere that is). New York City has been getting a significant amount of snow lately. I find it beautiful and exciting until the temperature changes and the pretty snow becomes gross slush. It's been pretty cold as well but somehow I feel like the amount of snow is so much greater in Upstate NY that there's not much to "withstand" here other than wind and cold.

 Again a month has passed and I didn't update my blog. I have a lot of picture to add also. Winter days make for some lovely pictures!

 2014 continues to get more exciting by the week. I was just invited to another friend's wedding which will be held in November of this year. That makes two weddings I'll be attending two months in a row. My childhood best friend is getting married on New Year's Eve and she asked me to be bridesmaid. I'm looking forward to it as I've never been in a bridal party. It's crazy the number of close friends who got engaged over the holiday season. They don't call it the high season for engagements for no reason.

 In other news work has been busy for me. The restaurant is picking up again slowly and with fashion weeks starting tomorrow it's bound to be another crazy but fun week. As the PR person for a designer I'm particularly excited for his show on Sunday. The organization as well as the balance of chaos and calm of a fashion show is what has and still draws me to fashion PR. I actually get really giddy thinking about it. For me this time of year is almost better the holidays. It certainly treats me better!! Additionally my birthday falls right in the middle of New York fashion week. What better present than the attention of the fashion world on NYC with bloggers, editors, photographers, students etc... milling about this FABULOUS city??

 Really trying to get to bed at a reasonable hour on the nights I don't work. Bedtime for me. Good night beauties:)

 P.S. Happy Chinese New Year!! The Year of the Horse here we goooo!!!

Welcome 2014

Happy New Year everyone!! I'm very excited for this coming year. Last year was exciting and rewarding, but that came with times of struggle, frustration and testing. I'm not huge on New Year's resolutions, the ones I make about exercising never seem to stick, but this year I'm going to maintain this blog. I've severely neglected it and I no longer want to make excuses about "being busy" etc...

One significant factor that makes this easier to achieve will be that I bought a new laptop so I won't be limited to writing posts on my iPhone. I also want to brainstorm about the direction I want to take this blog. I have many ideas for the year related to my dreams and goals and intend to make writing a significant part of that.

 I've had a new job since October which I enjoy. I'm no longer hostessing at restaurants but serve now. My colleagues are fun, great people and I enjoy my time off by going to brunch/lunch, relaxing and occasionally shopping. I've also been working with a designer on his PR. This has been an extremely rewarding aspect to my life as it is the reason I chose to move to NYC. The work with him will finish at the end of the month so I'll consider whether I want to continue doing it longer or at all. The reason I'm hesitant is that working in the restaurant industry is that it allows me more freedom with my time and I'm passionate about food. Currently I'm working with food and fashion so I couldn't be happier!

 I'm truly grateful to be where I am, here in NYC with friends I love spending time with. An added plus for this holiday season has been that my mother is visiting me. I caught the flu on Christmas but she nursed me back to health and for that I couldn't be more humbled and appreciative. I truly enjoy her being here. She's here another week so I'm hoping to make the most by going out to eat and laughing a lot. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and great New Year. May 2014 bring you health, happiness and prosperity:)

London

Spent three weeks in London recently. London is another favorite city of mine but really it's hard to play favorites when each city has its own appeal, charm, energy and beauty

Nevertheless London was where I had intended to move to from Maui but it proved to be a difficult feat and everything was pointing to NYC. I don't regret for a single moment in my decision to move here to NYC. I absolutely love it here and there's always more to appreciate and admire. Okay back to London.

This trip wasn't for leisure but a trip to lay down the groundwork for a future project. I'm really excited about it. When the time comes I'll definately share! 

Now for some London pics:)

Note: Meant to post this a couple weeks ago and it remained as a draft. Oops!! 

Was there for July 4th and got this cupcake from Hummingbird Bakery!

Spring in NYC

Yikes! Months since I wrote last. Technically it was last year:( 

I've never been happier (except for when I'm traveling) than in the eight months I've  been living here in New York City. Often I pinch myself to make sure I'm not in a dream. And now with spring here the city is gorgeous and full of even more life!!

I won't write much but wanted to share a few pictures. I lost my phone and unfortunately a lot of pictures about a month ago so these are just what I've take since.

December

I apologize for significant lack of posts. I have the Blogger app on my iPhone and still can't seem to get it together. Maybe I feel more comfortable on my laptop? But then all the photos I take are on my iPhone... Anyhow, my laptop is now 7 years old and is still managing to provide whatever I need to use it for which is mostly for browsing the web lol. As soon as I'm able to I'm thinking of getting the Macbook Pro :)So..fall is almost finished. My favorite season but since the weather has been so erratic I was only able to have a few fall-like days in terms of outfits/clothes. This may also be because compared to the general populous of NYC I'm relatively underdressed when it comes to cooler temperatures. Winters in Japan were pretty cold. Mostly because of the humidity. And in Upstate NY there was the lake effect which makes things almost twice as cold. Like I've mentioned before I'm not as fond of humid and hot which makes me, born in Hawaii and all, more resilient to the cold. I just always figure it'll be colder so why dress so warm when it's still in the 30s? People will look like the boy from 'Christmas Story' by the time the temps dip below zero at the rate they're dressing. Now it's the holiday season. The tree at Rockefellar Center was lit up last week and stores and streets are decorated for the Christmas season. Since I haven't been in NYC during this time of year before I find it so pretty to see. But Japan made me a little Grinch-like because it's such an event there and Christmas seemed very artificial and materialistic (which it can be everywhere) but there wasn't any cozy, loving warmth like the holidays in the States. In high school I would start writing Xmas cards as soon as Thanksgiving finish and be so eager to send them out. I would decorate and get so excited for Christmas! I'm trying to change my mentality and get into the Christmas spirit (at least in terms of decorating, buying gifts etc...) but I guess I'm lazy. I want to keep baking cookies like I did at Thanksgiving but without a full time job yet I'm limited on a budget to buy gifts. Guess it's a good thing I have a small family lol! People keep asking me what my plans are for Christmas but I have no clue. I didn't know what I was doing for Thanksgiving till the day of. My family is far away so maybe it doesn't seem as important for me. I'll likely make fun plans with friends and enjoy that they're off work or something lol. I made Xmas dinner in Japan which was a bit of work and not sure I'll do that but I'm looking forward to making egg nog which I made for the first time ever two years ago. Yummm! Holiday parties will be fun to attend too.Other than this rambling I'm still in the process of looking for a job. Have a part-time job in retail and I volunteer at a school which has been incredibly meaningful and fun. I'm really enjoying my life here in NYC and can't believe that it's been almost three months since I moved here. Where'd the time go?!!Okay, that's all for now. Will post pictures from my iPhone asap.Hope you're all well!