SO MUCH CAN HAPPEN IN A YEAR

Finally, I had some time this evening to sit down and blog. Life has been non-stop with the holidays, traveling and working from home. But I could not let the year come to an end without reflecting back and sharing one last blog entry with you all before we embark on 2016!

This year by far has been one to remember. So many changes & so many things that all fell into perfect place.

I settled into a new city and still can't believe that I get to call New York home. I never imagined being so happy here and feeling so comfortable in such a short amount of time. It still feels exhilarating every day that I get to spend here.

I quit a job that I once dreamed of having. It in turn made me realize that you always have a choice to walk away from something if you are not happy. And it also made me take a chance on myself. I had no plan B and although it terrified me, I knew that my happiness was worth the risk. Even through other's doubts and questions of my next move, I realized that sometimes in life you are allowed to not have a plan. You do not owe anything to anyone. But you do owe yourself, everything!

I closed the door to my past for the last time. The classic story of too little to late. He would say "I'm sorry" and ask for me to come back and all I could do was say "I can't". Even though I know I will never love anyone as much as I loved him. I know I could never allow myself to go back. I used to not be that strong and would have done anything to let him back in my life but this time was different because well, I was different. 

I removed toxic people from my life, met new friends and even reconnected with old ones. I definitely believe everyone holds a purpose in your life no matter how long or short lived. However, life is so much better when you have the right people to share it with. And I am lucky to have such amazing family & friends in my life. I would not be the person I am without them. 

Most of all I learned to trust the journey. And by far the best lesson of 2015! You may not be exactly where you think you should be but trust me you are exactly where you are supposed to be. It's the moments that we often forget to enjoy because we are so focused on what comes next. So, as we welcome 2016 and a NEW YEAR ahead, my hope is for you to enjoy the moments along the way. The rest will fall into place. 

CHEERS to 2016! And thank you for following my journey!

XO,  Rae

I ❤️ NY: YEAR 1 OF LIVING IN NEW YORK CITY

I recently celebrated my 1 year anniversary of living in New York City. October 10th, 2014 at 3 am is when I officially became a resident of New York. As I drove over the George Washington Bridge into Manhattan, there were so many emotions. Mostly I remember feeling excited for what was to come with living in New York. There I was in a packed SUV with my best friend & my Mom. After 16+ hours of driving up the east coast, I was anxious to get to my new apartment. We pulled up shortly after 3 am and made the decision to go ahead and unload the SUV. 

My first dose of NYC apartment living was carrying boxes up five flights of stairs. I think I cursed most of the way up and down.

 After about an hour we finally had everything unloaded and into the apartment. I had seen the apartment in photos prior to moving but seeing my bedroom in person, it was even smaller than I remembered. I was unsure if any of my things would fit and wondered how could I live in such a small space. I mean here I was literally downsizing to a small bedroom barely big enough for a full size bed from my spacious 900+ sq. ft apartment in Atlanta. I started to break down. There it was, all the months of preparation of moving, leaving my job, leaving all of my friends & my life behind in Atlanta along with being cooped up in a car for 16+ hours all hit me at that exact moment. I remember I just slid down the wall as the tears ran down my face and I began to question everything. This went on for about an hour. Everyone was nice or maybe smart enough to just let me be alone for awhile. I finally pulled myself together and came out of my room, walked into my best friends bedroom where he, his boyfriend and my mom were all siting there drinking wine. My eyes all swollen from crying, I smiled and asked for a glass for myself. 

So there we sat until after 6am drinking wine and laughing at my meltdown. I knew in that moment, that everything would be okay. I just needed to release all of the emotions that had been building over the months prior to moving.

I look back on that day now and I think how happy I am that I embarked on this journey of moving to New York. 

Living in New York has been exhilarating. It hasn't been perfect by any means but pretty darn close. The energy you feel here never wears off. That's what I love most about this city. You always feel inspired here. Each day is something different and to be in awe of. I can't describe it in words, you have to feel it for yourself. I hope that feeling never goes away. This past year has also had many unexpected moments. I landed an amazing job when I first got here and then quit after 6 months, I started a blog about my life and have taken the time to rediscover myself. The Subway once terrified me, now I'm the one getting asked for directions. I can hail a cab even in the rain. And I have even learned how to dress like a New Yorker. So many changes have happened in just a year but in a strange way, I feel it was all meant to be. 

I could not have made it through the past year without the support of my amazing friends and family. 

To my Grandfather, who without him I would not have been strong enough to make the decision to move to NYC and make this life change. He inspired me to live a life with NO REGRETS. And to him, I will always be grateful for instilling that in me. I miss you everyday Granddaddy and I hope I’m making you proud. 

To my Mother, who is always by biggest supporter in life. She never tells me my dreams are too big or too crazy. I owe her everything for always being there for me. I love you MOM!

To my brother and my Dad, Thank you for believing in me and telling me how proud you are. It means more than you will ever know. I love you both!

To my best friend Lindsey, thank you for taking my calls on good days and bad days. Most of all, thank you for not letting distance change our friendship. I am so lucky to have you as my friend. 

To Danny, Thank you for taking a chance on living with your boyfriend's best friend after have only meeting me once in person. Thank you for being there on days I needed it most. I am so glad we have become friends over the past year.

To my best friend Will, it was YOU who convinced me over the course of 5 years to move to New York. You knew way before I did that I would love it here. Thank you for always pushing me in life and always being there. I can't imagine my life without you. In the end, its always you & I.

To all of my friends and family who have encouraged me on this journey, who have called, sent cards, letters or just been there for me. Thank you!! Nothing in life is worth having if you can't share it with the people you love most.  

I knew moving to New York would change my life. I just didn't know how. And I'm so glad it did. I am not the same person I was 12 months ago. I feel more confident, more open to change and more willing to let life take me where I am meant to be. My friends tell me how happy I sound on the phone, so I guess it shows. Anything is possible if you let it be. Don't be afraid to make a life change. It could just be exactly what you need. Thank you New York for an incredible first year. I can't wait to see what this next year has in store for me. 

XO, Rae

FALL BUCKET LIST 2015

It's finally starting to feel like FALL in New York City after being HOT and HUMID the past few days. I can't wait to FINALLY sip on a PSL and wear my favorite sweater and ankle booties. I also made a bucket list of things, I'm looking forward to doing this Autumn.  

1. Send out Holiday cards to friends & family.

2. Stock up on Fall scented candles.

3. Plan a day trip to a winery. I came across this one, that has a tasting room in a renovated barn. And I've been wanting to make a trip to upstate New York, so this is the perfect excuse to go.  

4. Host 'Friendsgiving' in the city. This will be the first year that I won't be going home to see my family, But I'm really excited to have Thanksgiving here with friends and see the parade.

5. Enjoy some of the best of things to do in New York during Autumn. Of course this includes seeing the Fall foliage in Central Park.

6. Find a new pair of snow boots for winter. A necessity for surviving Winter in the city.

7. Visit the New York Botanical Gardens. They have a FRIDA KAHLO exhibit that I’m dying to see.  

8. Spend a whole day baking.

9. See the Broadway Show WICKED. 

10. Go to the iconic Village Halloween Parade.  

What are you planning for your Fall Bucket List?

XO, Rae

HOW I BECAME COMFORTABLE IN MY OWN SKIN

I have always had body issues ever since I can remember. My weight has always fluctuated partially to bad habits, not enough exercise and skipping meals. I've never wanted to be super skinny, maybe just a healthier version of myself. It wasn't until I turned 27, that I really started to embrace my body. And for once in my life, I began to feel comfortable in my own skin. I don't remember what the pivotal moment was. I just remember I stopped being so hard on myself about trying to fit into a certain size jeans or achieve a certain weight. For a long time I struggled with my self confidence and only saw myself as how I compared to other women. 

Even at the age of 32, I still fluctuate with my weight and I will probably always be nagging over those 20lbs. But I don't let myself get down about it anymore. I just work a little harder and eat smarter if I don't like what I see in the mirror. I will never be skinny by any means. Personally, I just don't want to be that way. I like having curves. I ultimately just want to be healthy. I don't want to be defined by a number on a scale. 

I also had to stop focusing on the size of clothing. Sizing can be so misleading. And it's a known fact that not all brands are created equal when it comes to clothing sizes. I now just buy clothes that fit my body type and focus more on how I feel when wearing the clothing. 

Something else that has helped me to have a more positive outlook on my curvy body, is seeing how it is more accepted now days. It's refreshing to see more and more women embracing their real bodies. I mean for a plus size model like Ashley Graham to walk in New York Fashion Week, that is a GAME CHANGER. And it helps to shed light on the topic of what is considered to be a "normal body" in today's society. It also shows that women can be beautiful at any size.   

You are NOT your weight. You are beautiful no matter what size you are.  And only once you truly begin to realize that will you learn to love yourself even more. Don't let society, family, friends or even your own insecurities dictate how you perceive yourself. Be happy. Be healthy. And love your body, flaws and all!

XO, Rae

NYC RESTAURANTS: PRUNE IN THE EAST VILLAGE

New York is a food city, no doubt. With so many restaurants in the city, it is often hard to choose one. But there are some restaurants that are like none other. Living with a foodie, my best friend, Will has been dying to go to PRUNE.

So, this past Sunday, we went for dinner. Located in the East Village, PRUNE is popular restaurant known for it's infamous Chef Gabrielle Hamilton. She's also the author of the New York Times Best Seller book called: 

Blood, Bones and Butter: The Inadvertent Education of a Reluctant Chef'.

We got lucky and arrived in time for the first seating of dinner at 5:30pm. Typically there is a wait for Brunch and Dinner service. When we arrived I was able to capture a rare moment of the restaurant completely empty. And although small in size, the experience is anything but that. And to make the night even more complete, we actually spotted Chef Gabrielle Hamilton walking by the restaurant with boxes in tote.

Below are some of the amazing dishes we enjoyed during our meal. The cocktails were amazing as well. 

Featured Appetizer: Fried Oysters with house tarter sauce

Halibut with cherry tomatoes in a spicy tomato broth

Grilled Broccoli, chili butter, pecorino

Charred Beef Ribs with anchovy butter

'Straw and Hay' Pasta with green tomato-chicken liver sauce

Dessert: Summer Pudding

I definitely recommend dining at PRUNE if you're willing to spend a bit more on delicious good quality food. GO EAT!

XO, Rae

THINGS TO DO IN THE SUMMER IN NEW YORK

Summertime sadness is quickly approaching. We will soon have to say goodbye to those tan lines. But before you pack up your swimsuits and replace them with sweaters, there is still time to enjoy some amazing things in the city. Being that this is my first Summer in New York City, I wanted to take advantage of everything that the city has to offer. The good thing is that there is a ton to do. But it often makes it hard to choose, so I compiled a list of my most favorite. 

THE HIGH LINE

The High Line is an elevated public park that is actually built on an old freight rail line located in the Meat Packing district. It's kinda of like an adult playground with lots seating and luscious landscape. There is even a splash pad to cool off your feet that you can walk through along a section of the park. Great for reading a book or just relaxing and bathing in the sun. Often you can find events, public art and food and drink vendors along the High Line. Also, a plus is that Chelsea Market is near by. Chelsea Market is an indoor food hall including a mix of different restaurants, pop up shops and local artists. Perfect way to spend a Summer afternoon and cool off indoors.

JONES BEACH

Summer would not be complete without a trip to the beach. Jones Beach is located on the south shore of Long Island. The beach includes a boardwalk where you can grab a bite or shop at one of the local vendors.  I love this beach because it’s easy to get to (via train & uber), it’s clean and not crowded.

THE MET ROOFTOP BAR

On Friday and Saturday's from 5pm-8pm  The Met Museum rooftop turns into a social hour with signature cocktails, martinis and light snacks. Access is granted with a purchased Museum ticket. Luckily, The Met is pay as you wish. There is no other rooftop bar that will give you access to such breathtaking panoramic views of the NYC skyline. It’s the perfect spot to meet up with friends or bring out of guests. You can explore the art exhibits inside and then sip cocktails with a view afterwards on the rooftop.

BROADWAY IN THE PARK

Every Thursday from 12:30pm-1:30pm July-August you have a chance to see a sneak peak of on and off Broadway shows courtesy of Broadway In Bryant Park. There is often FREE Giveaways and if you arrive early you can catch the warm up performances. Seats fill up quickly and are first come first serve. 

ICE CREAM SPOTS

A favorite of mine is BIG GAY ICE CREAM, an ice cream shop all about unicorns and funky ice cream combinations. And Mister Softee,  is a local favorite ice cream truck that you can find driving all over Manhattan.

MoMA

Thanks to UNIQLO every FRIDAY, MoMA is FREE from 4pm-8pm. 

Free admission includes special exhibits also. Get there early because the line tends to wrap around the building. And be prepared to be in a crowd of art lovers. Great way to spend an evening with a friend or a date while you gaze away at art. 

What are your favorite things to do in the city during Summer?

XO, Rae

20 RANDOM FACTS ABOUT ME

You visit my blog, support me & share this journey with me here. So, I thought you may want to know a bit more about me on a personal level. Here are 20 Random Facts about myself.

1. Rae is actually my middle name. It wasn't until my twenties that I really started to embrace it.

2. I'm happiest when CREATING or PLANNING something. Especially party planning. 

3. I think handwritten 'Thank You' notes never go out of style. 

4. I'll admit, I'm a big Real Housewives fan. My favorite housewife is Bethenny Frankel. #RHONY

5. I am way more productive if I write out my to-do list. 

6. I'm a WINE kinda gal. Red, White, Rosé, Sparkling….I love it all.

7. I can recite all the words to 'JUICY' by The Notorious B.I.G.

8. Music is my love language. 

9. As a kid, my report cards always said “talkative in class”. Guess some things never change.

10. FALL is my favorite season. Pumpkin spice everything.

11. I’m an ONLY child. However, I also have a 1/2 brother and 1/2 sister (same Dad, different Mom’s) 

12. I've always wanted to get a tattoo, but I'm too scared to actually do it. 

13. I love accessories. Big gold hoops are my go-to. 

14. I own a ridiculous amount of lip glosses and lipsticks. I carry at least three with me at all times. Anyone else have this problem?!

15. My favorite movie of all time is 'Dirty Dancing'.

16. The word Y'all will always be in my vocabulary. Blame it on my Southern roots.

17. I'm naturally a Red head. (and yes, a hot temper comes with it)

18. Never thought I would actually move to NEW YORK. 

19. Turning 30 was a game changer for me.

20. Always on the hunt for the best Iced Coffee. Coffee is my VICE.

Tell me something about yourself!  Comment below. 

XO, dana Rae

WHY YOUR JOB SHOULDN'T DEFINE WHO YOU ARE

Lately, I dread the question "What do you do?"  It's often the first thing asked when meeting someone for the first time. And it's only natural to ask this question in effort to get to know someone, but it often comes with a reaction based on the answer given. I've never had hesitation of answering what my career is until now. I have always had a job and position in which I was excited to share and speak about. But now that I am not working, this question has made me almost cringe when asked. And I have yet to quite figure out how to answer this question given my current situation.

I made the sound decision to leave my corporate job. But I want people to know more about me and not just how I pay my bills. I don't want to just say, "Well, I quit my high paying job to stay home and write about my life". Doesn't sound so appealing, right? And honestly most people may not understand it. Especially new people that come into my life. I'm pretty sure my parents and friends are still trying to wrap their minds around it. I feel as if no matter how I answer the question, it sounds the same. And my career prior to now almost feels discredited because new people in my life don't know of my prior accomplishments and success.

Let's be honest, when you find out someone isn't working, usually the reaction is negative or envious. You might even make a comment like "Oh, must be nice." I'm sure I have been guilty of this myself. Regardless of the reason why, not having a defined job can have a negative connotation. Often we judge others based on what they do for a living. 

Especially living in New York, career is everything. Most people move here with the sole intention of taking their career to the next level. Don't get me wrong. I have zero regrets about quitting my job. Your job should be what you do, not who you are.

My job was my life. I barely allowed for anything else to take place because I was always putting work first. And most of the time I wasn't happy. 

There is more to me than what I do what for a living. I'm a creative, ambitious, loyal to a fault girl who will always want the most out of life. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't scared of failure but I want to know that I at least tried. And I am constantly evolving and growing into the person I want to become. Who I am today, is NOT who I was ten years ago or even 10 months ago for that matter. 

What are your thoughts on this topic? Do you feel like your career can sometimes define who you are?

XO, Dana Rae

TOPICS WOMEN HIDE FROM

As women, there are subjects that we tend to avoid being honest about. And sometimes try to avoid all together. Maybe it's for fear of being judged or looked at differently. However, I think often times it’s not until someone else is honest about their feelings, that we admit we feel the same way. Why are we so afraid of being honest with our selves and even more so with each other?

Getting pregnant is one of life's little miracles. Many women base their whole entire life on when they will become a mother. And when it does, they are overwhelmed with joy. Well maybe not for all women. Some women although very much wanting to carry a child do not feel it's the best experience. And not all women actually like being pregnant. YES, there I said it! I haven't been pregnant myself, but I have watched several friends go through two completely different experiences when it comes to pregnancy. And it's difficult to see the friends who did not have the greatest experience being pregnant feel shameful for feeling that way. Why can't a woman say that she dreads the part of gaining weight, feels like her body is disowning her, never had anything close to a "glow", admits to drinking more than the recommended coffee amounts, desperately wants to drink a glass of wine and has no urge to breastfeed PERIOD. Why is it so frowned upon for a women to speak her truth? You don't hear women who have great pregnancies shy away from telling everyone....and I mean everyone! But the moment a pregnant women even starts to say something that sounds like a negative remark about pregnancy, you can just see the looks of other women judging her. 

Getting married is something you often dream about since you were a little girl. You grow up playing house and even married off your Ken and Barbie dolls. Then as you get older, you date different guys and endure one too many heartbreaks. You see relationships for what they really are. Some great and some that you'd like to forget about. You begin to realize that maybe marriage is not what you want or believe in anymore. But your afraid to even say it out loud much less tell your closest friends and definitely not your Mother. If most of your friends are married or engaged, they would probably just tell you that you're going through a phase. Or tell you that you've just dated the wrong guys and not to worry, your future husband IS out there somewhere. But YOU know deep down that if marriage was somehow NOT in the cards for you, you would probably be okay with that. So, why do we feel this guilt for being brutally honest? And for fear of downplaying our friends marriages and relationships, we reluctantly agree that it's just a phase and tell yourself that you're probably just being a little bitter. 

Hold your head high and NEVER let them see you sweat. We are trained since an early age to have our life plan mapped out. College, Career, Marriage then Babies. But what about PLAN B? Or even better yet, PLAN C, D or even E?? Did anyone ever tell you what happens when plan A doesn't fall into place? I didn't think so. So why is that? It's almost as if plan A doesn't go accordingly, then somehow we must have failed in our life. And even worse we would have to admit that we failed if we tried to discuss it with someone else. Not everyone fits into plan A and that's OKAY. Life is often better lived off script. So what you didn't go to college or graduate. And maybe you're in your thirties just now figuring out what you want to do for a longterm career. And maybe being single is your plan for now, so you can travel first before getting married and having kids. What's SO wrong with that plan? Your life doesn't have to be like everyone else's or even in the same order. But we fear to admit to each other that we like our plan better and that life sometimes tastes better against the grain. 

You should never apologize for how you feel, who you are as a person or where you stand on certain topics. So often we seek approval from others. But being honest in how you feel may likely make others feel relieved. We also look to other women who are just like us. It's much more comforting and inspiring when you have those who are closest to you share in your same feelings. So, next time your faced with these topics, be true to YOU. Make no excuses and remember, you may not be alone. 

XO, Dana Rae

SUMMER COCKTAIL RECIPE: WATERMELON MINT AGUA FRESCA MARGARITA

Now that Summer is well under way, it's seems only fitting to be sipping on a refreshing cocktail. I have the perks of living with two friends who are in the restaurant industry and we are always mixing up new cocktail creations. And since the heat is definitely in full effect here in New York, we decided to come up with a delicious margarita using watermelon as the main ingredient.

And let's be honest, who doesn't LOVE a good margarita? And watermelon being a Summer favorite, we came up with the perfect recipe. A 'Watermelon Mint Agua Fresca Margarita'. I promise it tastes just as good as it sounds! 

RECIPE: {per serving}

• 2 oz silver tequila *choose tequila of your preference

• 4 oz watermelon agua fresca

• 1 oz agave syrup

• 2 oz of fresh lime juice

• 4-5 mint leaves

• 3-4 ice cubes

• 1 sliced watermelon wedge to garnish

*Salt or Sugar rim (optional) 

To prepare the agua fresca mixture you will need to begin by slicing a small watermelon into small cubes. Make sure to cut a few wedge slices and set aside to use as garnish later. Remove seeds and place cubes of watermelon into a large bowl. Set aside. In a separate bowl begin mixing equal parts of water and agave syrup to essentially make a sugar water. 

Then place watermelon cubes into a food processor slowly adding the sugar water mixture until you have a smooth consistency. In our recipe, we choose to strain the watermelon mixture and use only the juice with the pulp removed. Once you have completed this, place juice in separate container and chill until ready to use. 

Next, take a few limes, cut in half and squeeze the juice from the lime into a separate container. This will be your fresh lime juice. Set aside. Then wash the fresh mint and remove the leaves from the stems. 

Now for the final steps...

In a glass, take 4-5 mint leaves and muddle. 

Add 3-4 ice cubes 

Add 2 oz of your preferred tequila. (We used Peligroso Silver)

Add 4 oz of watermelon agua fresca

Add 2 oz  of fresh lime juice

Add 1oz of agave syrup  (for added sweetness)

Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker, give a few shakes and pour into your favorite glassware. 

Garnish with a watermelon wedge & you are now ready to sip away the Summer heat! 

Special Thanks to Will & Danny for their help in creating this fabulous cocktail & for being the best friends a girl could ask for!

 XO, Rae