Spring Fling

images are mine and from my tumblr

I know I'm not the only one thinking this winter was too long! I'm already starting to get little glimpses of spring, which makes me want it to get here even faster! It was nice to see the sun stay out a little later yesterday. I can't wait for the nights to get longer and longer. I'm feeling inspired by baby pinks and blues and anything found in nature - mostly florals, but that's just every spring. Mostly I miss windows down, cruisin! You might recall several of these pictures from when I went to visit Ella for Spring Fling at Bard last year. Long days spent sunning ourselves in the grass, exposing our bare limbs, driving through the country roads with the windows down and the music turned all the way up. Most importantly spring means graduation and all the fun activities that surround it. Can't wait to officially strip my winter layers of sweaters, cowls, and coats - some much need catharsis!

Bringing Human Rights Home

*Note: Pictures are a combination of some I took and some from the internet

A couple weeks ago Chloe and I went to the Amnesty International's Bringing Human Rights Home Concert at the Barclay's Center. Talk about a star-studded event! Performances by Cake, Imagine Dragons, BLONDIE (let me tell you something, Debbie Harry can still shake it), and so many more not to mention speeches by Susan Sarandon, Madonna and Pussy Riot! Between the speeches, stories, and music there was passion everywhere! The crowd was fired up to shout for their favorite artists and just as loud yell about injustices all around our world. I had been feeling burnt out, probably a combination of the cold weather and being a senior without a plan. This was just the thing to light a fire under my bum. It opened my eyes and urged one important message, change. The next week I got an internship with Environment NY, where I'm excited to be part of something important, even if it is just behind the scenes. I've finally gotten the motivation I need to push me into spring and eventually accept some much needed change.

Smile, Baby

For the most part I try to keep this blog pretty neutral, but a lot of bloggers have been talking about the topic of sexual harassment, something that I feel I need to speak up about. This article talks about the horrors of sexual harassment.

"In San Francisco last year, a man stabbed a woman in the face and arm after she didn’t respond positively to his sexually harassing her on the street.  In Bradenton, Fla., a man shot a high school senior to death after she and her friends refused to perform oral sex at his request. In Chicago, a scared 15-year-old was hit by a car and died after she tried escaping from harassers on a bus."

I'm sure every woman, and some men, who are reading this have experienced unwanted sexual harassment at one point or another. I hate it when people, especially other girls, say that someone "deserved" to be cat-called or sexually harassed because of what they're wearing. Clothing is a form of self-expression, not an invitation for unwanted eyes. Though, I found that it doesn't matter what I'm wearing, I've gotten cat-called in sweats, going to the bodega to buy milk. I'm happy that people are finally speaking up about this issue and in some cases fighting back. There is an emerging art movement that is dedicated to women empower themselves against the men who objectify them on the street.

These pictures are from a cool street art project done by Tatyana Fazlalizadeh called Stop Telling Women to Smile

Hannah Price, a philly-based photographer, has started taking pictures of men who cat-call her. Here is an interview she did on NPR about it.

Some other cool websites to take a look at are:
I holla back, where women around the world can share their stories
Stop Street Harassment

Resolutions

These pictures were taken late-night on the subway home after a party. They make me laugh every time I look at them, it could have something to do with the poster in the background or the fact that no one can hold a straight face. Either way, I feel like these pics are giving up some serious 70s vibes.

When school started I decided I was going to make some goals - new year, new resolutions. Not like the New Years' resolutions that only last a month, but practical ones. I still haven't given up on my New Years' resolution from last year because it was realistic, I didn't set the bar so high that I will instantly fail and feel bad about it. I'm also hoping that writing them down will solidify them in my mind.

My goals are:

1. To eat healthier. I know that sounds like a big one, but it's more of a mindset than anything. I want to make sure that at least one meal a day is something I can be proud of. I'd mostly like to become more aware of what I'm putting in my body. I'm taking a nutrition class this semester and I'm hoping that the foods I eat will start to be more well-balanced.

2. Get back in to yoga! Last semester I was doing yoga just about everyday, then summer came and well...there it went. My goal is not a number of times a week (it's doomed to fail), but just reiterating my last New Years' resolution to get more flexible. This goal means that I'm not going to feel bad about myself if I don't hit a certain number, or guilty because I've had a long day and just want to go home. It's about being in tune with my body and realizing the every time I make it to a class, I'm doing something special for myself. 

3. And lastly - to get out and do things in New York! New Year means new New York - new restaurants, exhibitions and there are always special places waiting to be discovered. Hopefully this goal will mean that I manage my time well so that I'm able to take an afternoon off to stroll through a museum or lay in a park. New York has so much to offer and see. This is my last year here and I don't want to regret not going places because I was holed up studying.

Pay it forward

This morning, in a mad rush to leave the house on time, I left my wallet on the table. I got down to the bus stop and caught the bus, which was ten minutes early. I realized as I was frantically riffling through my purse that I had left my wallet at home. The bus driver was getting exasperated and told me to find a seat and get myself together. I sat down next to an older lady, whose two friends were sitting across the aisle. As I scrounged through the bottom of my purse to locate any lazy thrown in dollars and precious quarters, she mentioned she had overheard my conversation with the bus driver (I’m pretty sure most of the bus did) and offered to help. I had almost enough for the bus, but I was a dollar and twenty-five cents short. She gave it to me without hesitation.

            It was a strange moment for me because I was in the position where I was forced to take it. I was too far from home to go back, get my wallet and make it to work on time. I begrudgingly accepted her help, not because I didn’t want it, but because I felt ashamed that I needed it. I gave the money to the driver and returned to my seat. When I sat back down she asked me how I was going to get home later. I hadn’t thought that far…I didn’t know how I would get home. I told her I would figure it out, because in my moment of calm I knew it would work out. She offered my a couple dollars to get home, but I couldn’t accept it – she had done more than enough already.

            I thanked her profusely and she simply tapped my leg and said in a grandmotherly way, “it happens to everyone.” We sat the rest of the bus ride in silence. For once I didn’t read a book, text on my phone or listen to my iPod. I simply sat in the glow of kindness that the selfless woman next to me emanated. When we were leaving the bus I thanked her again, I needed her to know what a difference she made in my day. She sincerely said, “it’s ok, just pay it forward. You know what that is, don’t you?” I nodded. After we exited the bus one of her friends tried to hand me five dollars saying, “if you don’t use it someone else will.” I wouldn’t take it, but thanked them again and told them to have a nice day.

            On my way to work I was wide-eyed looking for ways I could help other people, to pass on the kindness I had received. I found that people were not willing to accept any amount of kindness because often times it seems to come at a cost. Hopefully I’ll be able to find a way to pay it forward and help someone else out in a moment when they really need it. Until then, I will settle on making eye contact whenever possible, staying off my phone in public, holding the door and smiling when people look at me. While I will be looking for a big way to spread kindness, I think the little things might start to add up.

Bedroom details

I feel like I’ve been running around nonstop lately. I’m constantly shuffling back and forth between Brooklyn and Manhattan for work. This past weekend I took a spontaneous trip with some friends to Vermont. We went up on Saturday and back on Sunday. It meant spending hours crammed in the backseat of a pickup truck cab, but I was as content as could be except for the occasional body part falling asleep. I felt like I was in a fit of giggles the entire time. Whenever I’m stagnant I feel the instinct to wander. Whenever I’m away from home I crave the peaceful hours spent doing relaxing. I try to find a balance of both, but it seems to be one or the other these days. Things have definitely settled down since I’ve gotten settled in my apartment. Here are some details of the decorations in my room. It’s become a place where I can truly relax and find solace. 

Bedroom Inspiration

Pictures from Moon to Moon

More inspirational photos for decorating my new apartment. Chloe and I got access to our apartment on Thursday night. There is no furniture so we bought patio chairs from Kmart that we set up in the living room. When we got there we realized we didn't have electricity, so we went to the bodega and bought a bunch of candles. We sat in our dark living room on our plastic chairs drinking the celebratory bottle of champagne we bought and eating pizza by candlelight (how romantic!) We realized it was exactly how we pictured our first night in the apartment and it couldn't have been more fitting. It was so nice spending some time in the empty space to realize all the potential it had. I'm anxious to move it, but finals is stopping me from thinking that far ahead. I can't wait to start decorating so I can settle in! Even without furniture or lights it feels like I place I can call home.

Apartment Inspiration

Sources: Onyx eye and tumblr

I signed my lease yesterday and I couldn't be more excited. I'm moving to Brooklyn! I can't wait to explore an entirely new area. Brooklyn seems like a really cool place to live. There is a community garden directly across the street! I'm so excited to have a place of my own to decorate with lots of plants, sunlight, candles and fairylights. The most exciting part is that we have a private patio, which means lots of barbecuing and suntanning. Does anyone have any recommendations for things to do in Park Slope?

P.s. This is my 100th post on my blog!