N is for Nest

Finding a place that isn't the size of a shoebox in New York can be difficult & finding one that you actually like while on a budget is nearly impossible. Since my decision to stay kind of materialized at the end of the summer, I basically had a week to find something. So it was some kind of amazing miracle that I stumbled upon this little Brooklyn gem because I'm head over heels in love with it.

While I was back in Tampa, I gathered some of my favorite records, books & movies to help make my new nest a little bit nestier. It's crazy how much these simple things helped turn this new place into a home for me. Some of my newest additions are an amazing Tahla quilt from Anthropologie, Crosley record player & sweet little flags from Austen of Keep Calm and Chiffon. And my room wouldn't be complete without art from the incomparable, Gabbie Amontree. Eventually, I'd like to get some vintage pieces in here & more art on the walls but for now, it's perfect. 

It's been such a whirlwind couple of weeks & now that I'm finally settled, the pressure is on to find my dream job. In between editing my resume, I've been popping out of the apartment to explore Brooklyn a little bit. I learned that there's a Target here...it's in a mall & easily the most hectic place I've ever been to in my life. But I love the architecture, all of the trees & the weather has been absolutely spectacular. 

Here's to new nests.

Love,

A

 

The End Pt. 2

August seems to be jam-packed with an awful lot of "the ends". It's the end of summer, my time at Marie Claire & CollegeFashionista, living in Tampa and being 21. It's a very surreal & bittersweet time in my life but I cannot wait for what's to come.

I finally feel like things are starting to fall into place, though. I'm going back home for a few days, I found an apartment in Brooklyn, I'm getting called back for interviews & everyone is shockingly supportive of my decision to completely uproot my existence in Tampa to create a new life for myself in NYC. It feels good to be backed by all the people that I care most about but it feels even better to just trust myself for a second & realize that as long as I work hard, everything is going to be just fine.

But seriously, let's forget about New York for a second & talk about how excited I am to be going back to TAMPA BAY. There are so many things that I've been missing for the past 3 months. Namely: Pei Wei, Target, MOM, PDQ, the Thai Temple, driving, Bentley, International Mall, Gabbie Amontree, oh and ya know, the rest of my brilliant family. I'm going to be home from the 9th-14th & my 22nd birthday happens to fall perfectly in the middle on the 12th. So, GET AT ME. Let's hang out, grab a drink & be all nostalgic.

 Here's to the start of something new.

Love,

A

 

Details: t-shirt: Brandy Melville // pants: AEO

sunnies: H&M // clogs: Aldo // bag: Anthropologie

bracelet: Madewell & Brandy Melville 

***PS: shout out to that extremely photogenic pigeon who so badly wanted in on the photo shoot. good looks, homie.

We'll Cross That Bridge When We Get There

For some reason, I thought that this summer was going to last forever. But as time does, it flew by in the blink of an eye. Whenever anyone asks me what my next move is, I simply say, "oh, we'll cross that bridge when we get there." Well, here we are, quite literally, at the Brooklyn Bridge & I still have no idea what the hell I'm doing.

I've been applying for a million jobs, going to interviews, looking at apartments...the whole shebang. Trying to be an adult is the weirdest transition in the whole world. I keep thinking that I'll be going back to school in a couple weeks & I'm honestly absolutely hating the uncertainty of not knowing what's coming next for me. As much as I desperately miss Florida (believe me I'm so torn between staying & going), I know that I'll regret it if I don't take a chance at trying to make this whole NYC thing work for at least a year.

Meanwhile, I'm basically waking up in cold sweat, panic attack mode every morning because I don't want to make the wrong decision & end up sleeping in the subway. I'm constantly questioning if trying to stay here is even the right move. But I love it here though, I'm young & any career that I want to have is going to be in industries that are thriving here. 

So, what have I got to lose...except my sanity.

 Love,

A 

Details: top: Zara // jeans: American Eagle

sunnies: H&M // shoes: Urban Outfitters // 

bracelet: Madewell // bag: Anthropologie //