Never A Right Time To Say Goodbye

Governors Island 

When you can't decide what you want, order one of each 

Movie night and picnic at Chelsea Pier 

On Thursday night I took Stacey to visit Columbia's campus. It isn't too far away from my apartment. Afterwards, we walked home, stopped at a cute coffee shop and ordered yummy almond croissants (my favorite) 

Stacey wanted to spend her last weekend at the beach. I don't blame her! The beaches in Long Island are gorgeous. I am hoping to make it back one more time before the summer ends! 

This week's blog post is in tribute to my sister Stacey. The title of my post is actually very fitting because "Say Goodbye" is our favorite Chris Brown song and we have had it on repeat all summer long. 

Unfortunately I had to send Stacey off in an Uber this morning and it was the saddest thing. This summer is flying by! It honestly feels like Stacey just got here and now she has already gone home. We both didn't think this day would come so quickly. We have had the best summer exploring the city and spending our weekends at the beach. I am really going to miss meeting up with her after work, having sleepovers every night and our weekly Sunday brunch dates. The two of us get along so well and even though we are very different we have so much in common. 

It's so funny, because when Stacey first arrived in NY a couple of months ago she did not like living here. She felt overwhelmed and disoriented. Stacey thought the big city life was way too crazy, but it didn't take her long to totally fall in love with New York. She has already called me three times tonight crying about how much she misses it here!! New York has that affect on people. It takes time to adjust to this crazy life but once you do, it is difficult to imagine yourself anywhere else. 

I am sure gonna miss ya Stace :) thanks for a great summer!!

Live for The Weekends

This summer I have made sure to have plans every single weekend. I plan way in advance. I make sure that on Monday I know exactly what I am doing Friday when I get off work. I need to have plans to look forward to during the week, otherwise I die. Going to work can not be the only thing that happens in my life. 

 It is great having friends on the East Coast. They visit me and I visit them.  I periodically take weekend trips to visit my married friends, Jared and Lauren in DC. If you follow my blog I am sure you have seen my DC trip pics I post every few months. 

Usually when I travel, I take a bus but this past weekend I was not feelin the bus idea. I hate riding a buses. I stress about making it to the station on time, plus there is always a risk of complications and delays. My sister Stacey and I decided to rent a car and road trip it instead! We had sooooo much fun, but it wasn't cheap. Sometimes you trade in cash for comfort. We had the best time blasting music, singing along and taking pit stops whenever we felt like it. 

Stacey's days in NY are coming to an end :( so we are trying to fit in all our last minute summer activities. We can't possibly fit in everything in this summer's bucket list, but we are doing the best we can. 

DC was great. Seeing my friend Lauren was great. We went shopping, ate good food and on Saturday night we went to a polo match. I love summer! I am trying to make every minute of it count and believe me, it is Tuesday night and I know exactly what we are doin this weekend! Only 3 more work days!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Beach Day

Yesterday we rented a car and drove to Long Island for a beach day. It was amazing and we all had the best time. Seriously, wasting your day away on a beach, listening to music and sleeping is THE best way to spend a Saturday. We clocked in a good seven hours but those seven hours flew by. We already can't wait to go back.  

Living in the Moment

I wish there was more time in a day. I love blogging but lately I haven't been able to do it as often as I'd like. My new job has kept me super busy, in addition to having my sister here! Now that I have  someone to hang out with all of the time there is never a reason to sit at home. There is also so much to do in New York in the summer, it's insane! I was hibernating all winter and now I am breaking free!!!

My sister and I had a really fun 4th of July weekend. We slept in, went to brunch, rode bikes in central park and watched fireworks from our friend's rooftop. It was the best 4th of July I have ever had. 

Dumbo, Brooklyn 

Egg Shop

SOHO

The Egg Shop is the place to go for breakfast! It is so great.

Stacey and I love sitting on my fire escape. I live right across the street from Central Park. In the evenings, after I get off work, we eat dinner, chat and people watch.  It's the best. 

Ritas

Upper West Side 

Mermaid Inn
$1 Oysters 

Stacey and I were craving Oysters last Thursday night. We found a place on the Upper West Side that has $1 oysters! They hit the spot! 

Life can be stressful sometimes. We all know this. I am not saying life isn't great because it is! There is A LOT to be thankful for and I consider myself a pretty optimistic person.  But, life has its challenges, plain and simple. No matter how great life can be, we all have to go through difficult times. 

 I came across a couple of quotes the other day that changed my perspective on life. I love quotes in general, but these two quotes were gospel to me. 

"If you are depressed you are living in the past. If you are anxious you are living in the future. If you are at peace you are living in the present"

I am making it a goal of mine to LIVE IN THE MOMENT and it is truly making me a happier person. I remind myself that if I am sad, it is because I am thinking about the past. If I have anxiety it's because I am worried about something that hasn't happened yet. If I am at peace it is because I am accepting life, exactly how it is, in the present moment. I have cut back on how much I use social media because sometimes I wish I lived in the days when it didn't exist. I kind of love that people only had what was right in front of them. They didn't know what was going on with everybody else all of the time. I love social media, but.... in small doses these days. The only thing that is real, is what is right in front of me. Everything else just doesn't matter that much. 

"Do not look back and grieve over the past, for it is gone: and be not troubled by the future because it has yet to come. Live in the present and make it so beautiful that it will be worth remembering."

Sometimes we can't change our situation. Sometimes we are just sad or we are just discouraged, and that's okay. We accept it, and remember that nothing last forever. I think the best thing we can do is make the most wonderful memories possible so one day, we can look back and be happy we experienced it!