Behind the Scenes at Maggy London Holiday Shoot

This is probably my favorite shot - all of these people are necessary for one great shot.

Our favorite photographer, Sergio, making it work with our model.

Retro holiday shopping bags! Thanks IKEA :).

Lots of love and labor went into this wall of frames! Again thanks IKEA!

When It Rains It Pours

When I first moved to New York back in August of 2010, I spent my first month here with no job.

Thank God for my unemployment checks from Mercent! And selling my car.

I went on countless interviews. I dropped by numerous bars dropping off resumes.

Nada.

Then I had two jobs in a day.

Started working at Coach in Soho and Affair on 8th in Greenwich Village.

Then there was a drought in January 2011. No hours at Coach. No more serving shifts at Affair.

Then I had 6 jobs. Raining again.

I stepped back from working at Coach and Soho Park. I decided to work full time at Soho Park (aka I became a So Ho - inside joke :)) with the lovely Leila, Albina, Zalina, Wendy and Joy (who I can't call lovely because he is a guy but is awesome nonetheless).

After interviewing over a month earlier, I got an offer letter to be an admin at Prudential Douglas Elliman. After numerous discussions with Rebecca and my mom and my first round of negotiations, I decided to take the job.

A day later, I received a phone call about an internship at Penguin (a dream job). Raining again. I turned down going to an interview because I had just accepted my job at PDE. Scared of not being financially independent, I backed out.

Not going to lie, I often think about what would have happened if I hadn't declined.

Especially since I decided at the beginning of Spring 2012 I would love to design book covers. Moving on . . .

After a miserable 8 months at PDE - I got a job that I thought would amazing. It was not.

I realized that I never want to be a f-cking admin assistant ever again.

Upon my epiphany, I applied for numerous internships and junior designer positions via LinkedIn. To my shock and utter happiness, I got one.

Up until today, I had been hanging by a thin financial thread. I mean like spending less than $6 a day.

Nada luck with finding a restaurant besides hitting the pavement HARD. I mean dropping off like 20 resumes and applying to multiple Craig's List postings. And pimping out any and all restaurant connections.

It's raining again.

I have a training shift at Arabesque tomorrow. An interview at Fab.com for a position I applied for almost two months ago.

And I still LOVE my internship. My boss is badass. My other teammate is funny, nice and takes the time to teach and talk to me. The photo shoots alone make me happy.

New York is a tough city. It is full of endless possibilities.

Why do you think I live here ;)?

Westside Highway Runner

Fluffy Cottony Clouds

Didn't know they could like that here in New York . . . photos from my rooftop last night.

New York Neighborhood: Nolita

In February, I posted pics of Soho.

Now, I bring you Nolita:

All in service of GD1 at the New School! 

Weekend Walk: Central Park on an Early Morning Saturday

I was walking through Central Park on Saturday morning and I completely fell in love with New York all over again.

It was quiet. No one was out yet except for a couple of joggers (because New Yorkers don't get it together until after 12 pm on the weekends). It was a misty, gray day and it suited me and my mood just perfectly.

The light that day made for beautiful photographs and I couldn't resist taking a few every time something struck me.

Links!

Secret Lives of Writers: Inside 15 Famous Writers Bedrooms. Emily Dickinson's is exactly how I would have imagined it. Am kind of obsessed with Faulkner's. (Apartment Therapy)

How the hottest bachelors for NYC? Please! Well, I can at least drool a little over a couple of the guys on this LA list. (Refinery 29)

I would actually like some of these jobs. Actually, almost all of them. Surprising Six Figure Salaries. (Forbes)

NYC 2012 Pillow Fight! (Pillow Fight)

I can feel your pain, Ms. Winslet. Admittedly, I used to love that song but I get where she's coming from. (Celebitchy)


I'd love to see Kristen Wiig cast.(Lainey Gossip)

Yay for High School Friends: The Brunch Edition

Basically it was dessert for breakfast, DE-LIC-IOUS!

I had a lovely brunch yesterday with my friend Matt and his friends. We ate at Bocca Lupo in BK and it was pure deliciousness. I definitely recommend it. Everyone enjoyed their meal. FYI - most options are egg-based meals.

I had a nutella and banana heated panini with homemade whip cream. It made me almost cream somewhere else (sorry - couldn't help myself! oops - that's another pun. I'm channeling Tawna right now).

It was a pretty great Sunday. Amazing meal, good company and some eye candy. An indisputably good looking guy walked in and we all stared.

Thanks for a lovely time hanging out on Sunday Matt.

Links!

Dude - I wish I had what she has but I have no idea if I could essentially give up my life. NYC nannies make BANK. It is a really fascinating read. (New York Times Mag)

Dolphin Rescue in Rio! If I had been there, I definitely would have helped. 

I really love this interview with Jennifer Lawrence. It makes me really like her. (NY Refinery 29)

Would you see a psychic? Turns out a whole lot of New Yorkers do.(NY Post)

Massive inflation could be coming. Do you Donald Trump is right? (Money News)

Sam Patrick's Day

I am REALLY excited about tomorrow.

I go all out on St. Patrick's Day because it is one of my favorite holidays; if not my #1.

Last year, I had a great time celebrating St. Patrick's Day with Jamie, Eamon and Ella. This year, I'll be heading to Katie and Sam's for a double whammy - St. Patty's Day AND Sam's birthday.

St. Patrick's Day + Sam's Birthday = Sam Patrick's Day

Gearing up for tomorrow, I searched high and low in Union Square (big score at Party City - of course, IT'S THE ONLY ONE IN MANHATTAN! and Staples) for all sorts of awesome, not cheesy St. Patrick's Day crafty materials.

Then I ventured to Greenpoint, BK.

Not after: getting on the G going the wrong way and then exiting at Greenpoint only to walk in the wrong direction. Oh yeah, and on the way home I got on the 7 going the wrong way, too. Not entirely my fault as the 7 was running in both directions on the same track and I managed to only go 1 stop before I realized it.

I'm special people, SPECIAL.

Anywho, after I arrived at Chateau Katie + Sam and was served with delicious broccoli and a Brooklyn Brewery beer, Katie, Tessa and myself spread out the crafty supplies and got to planning.

Obvs:
Lots of Shamrocks
Garlands

Clearly, this was going to be a very neat and tidy activity:

 I can't wait to see how everything looks when Chateau Katie + Sam is fully decorated!

It's supposed to be nice tomorrow (every St. Patrick's Day for the last 5 years, I've been on the East Coast and each year, it's been beautiful weather), fingers crossed!

It would such a great Sam Patrick's Day to be BBQ-ing, hanging out in the sun, chatting and relaxing all day. Then to celebrate, if we keep it together, will be to go to The Bell House's Saint Patrick's Day for Sinners.

It's an all redhead revue and party. Redheads get in for free! I love that since I am one.

Like I said, I am REALLY excited for tomorrow.

Cloudy Gray Soho Day

Reminds me of Seattle Days. In a good way.

I Heart Jersey City

This Saturday I adventured out to a new, mystical place called Jersey City.

I discovered I really liked this charming and quiet mini-city away from the city.

For these reasons:
1. TARGET!
2. Beautiful day time and night time view of the Manhattan skyline.
3. Legit Mexican food @ Taqueria.
4. It's so quiet.
5. Lots of families.
6. Cheaper sales tax.
7. TARGET!

 Yup, I'll be back. . .

I Think This Means . . .

New York considers me a New Yorker.

Cool New Blog: Ephemeral New York

While researching Coney Island photographs circa 1950 for my GD1 class, I found a pretty cool New York centric blog: Ephemeral New York .

It's all about current NYC and old NYC. It's subtitled, "Chronicling an ever-changing city through faded and forgotten artifacts."

It's subtitle is as beautiful as its name.

Definitely worth checking out if NYC, its history, landmarks and development is interesting to you.

Timing Can Suck It

I believe that timing is important; hell half the time it is key.

Whether it factors into moving, work, school, people. events, friends, so on and so forth, I've always believed that it matters and can make a difference.

But lately I think that Timing Can Suck It.

I search for meaning in my life. I don't think that is unusual.

Sometimes I search for meaning in the smallest of incidents.

Sometimes I search for meaning in the biggest of incidents.

Sometimes I believe that timing, however seemingly insignificant, means something. That maybe, this time, thinking of someone at the same time he texts you or running into him when you least expect it or missing him on the phone for months but suddenly being able to get a hold of him or having a great time with him as if it was yesterday instead of several months ago, means something. Just maybe the two of us are meant to be.

But lately, I'm starting not to believe in any of that.

Maybe nothing is a sign.

I have a hard time finding someone that I have a spark with. Let alone someone I find myself remotely attracted to.

There are plenty of decent looking guys in NYC but none that I think are actually cute. Or spark with.

Side note: a definite improvement over Seattle where I never found anyone whom I thought was decent looking.

So when I find someone I think about a lot and I find him attractive and we manage to see/run into each other and I become hopeful.

Maybe it is meant to be.

Then it becomes unarguably clear that the TIMING ISN'T RIGHT.

Pretty Badass

Happy Valentine's Day

If you love today:

If you want to punch today in the face: