I'm the girl, Gracie. Here at GML you can follow my journey of dreaming, working, eating, loving, and blogging my way through life in NYC.
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feast.
It’s no surprise that one of my favorite things about living in New York is the amazing restaurants here. At any given point there are whispers of the “best new restaurants,” and I’ve heard a ton about Feast in the East Village. Jessi, Erica, and I went there for dinner last night, and it. was. amazing.
Their greenmarket-driven American fare menu has multi-course and a la carte options. We opted for the Farmer’s Market Feast (which included nine dishes!).
Each dish was better than the last – all of them fresh, flavorful, and so delicious! My favorites were the Market Salad (1), Beet Frites, and Stuffed Eggplant (2).
this article by Jessi – the best dating advice I could ever give.
My best friend Jessi recently posted this article on her Tumblr, and I knew I just had to share it with you. I feel like this is a common issue that way too many girls face when it comes to dating (myself included), so…well, give it a read!
snapchat.
I may be a little late to the game on this one…and I may only have like 3 friends…but Snapchat is just so fun!
the voice.
…and not just because of Adam Levine and his tattoos. I’m loving this season with the new judges and the talent is great. And seriously, how adorable is Shakira??
tumbling.
AKA my new way to vicariously live through the internet. That came out wrong. But check out GML’s more creative little sister.
wordiness.
Because what easier way to make a statement with what you wear than by having it clearly written out?
What TV show(s) are you currently hooked on? What did you think about Jessi’s advice?
I always thought people were slightly delusional when they said “when you love what you do, it doesn’t feel like work.”
But now? With FreelyBe? I totally get it.
Obviously there are always times where work feels like work, but then there are events like the one on Friday.
You+2 is a (quasi) singles event we organized for the dating website HowAboutWe. I say quasi because the point of the party was that it wouldn’t be the typical awkward mixer that most people think of when they hear “singles event.” Instead, guests were allowed to bring two of their single friends (AKA wingmen) along with them. The result was quite the fun party of dancing, mingling, and competing over the 50 custom hats we were handing out.
The next You+2 event is coming up quickly, so email concierge(at)freelybe(dot)is if you’d like to be considered for an invitation!
Despite my work feeling like play, I was more than excited to spend my whole Saturday taking it easy. I also decided to spoil myself with a pedicure…complete with flower petals in the water. I guess now I can say my feet literally smell like roses 
Since I’ve been getting The Fresh Diet meals I haven’t had much food in the house, so once again Seamless came to my rescue. For dinner: a spinach, goat cheese, and avocado salad.
And for dessert, I whipped up a small batch of Dark Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies. You know…so I had something to snack on while I watched 4+ hours of TV.
Not the most eventful of Saturdays, but definitely exactly what I needed to recharge for the week ahead.
What has your weekend looked like so far?
Do you ever feel like your job isn’t really work?
1) January. This isn’t exactly life-changing, but…
…oh, who am I kidding? Yes it is. Pinterest totally changed my life.
2) February. The month I began experimenting with different varieties of Cake Batter Blondies.
Also noteworthy from February, some lessons in NYC dating.
3) March. My birthday month! I learned that I don’t hate celebrating my own birthday that much after all.
4) April. When I learned about one of my favorite Manhattan escapes – Smorgasburg.
Also, that true beauty has nothing to do with how you look.
5) May. Speaking of how you look, I learned how freeing it is to go sans makeup.
6) June. Always save up more than you think you’ll need before moving. Way more.
7) July. This month must always be spent in the Hamptons from now on. No exceptions.
8) August. Is it horrible that I have nothing great to say about August? The only thing this past August made me realize is how much I love and look forward to the fall.
9) September. Hard work really does pay off. Hello, FreelyBe.
10) October. Where to even begin? Hurricane Sandy changed everything and made me realize what’s truly important in life. People.
11) November. I learned how the concept of “being myself” isn’t as cliché as I once thought.
12) December. This past month I’ve been reflecting on the year, and – to be honest – 2012 wasn’t exactly my favorite year. It was, though, the year that I’ve learned more about life and myself than ever before. 2012 brought a ton of unexpected trials but also unexpected blessings, and I wouldn’t have had it be any other way.
Other favorite posts from the year:
the nyc girl workout
fall fashion favorites
7 tips for more flattering outfits
how to be an LOP
never before seen, via my iphone
reese’s pieces cookie bars
five beauty products every girl should own
so you want to live in NYC: the social life
cake batter fudge
What things did you learn in 2012?
My friends and I often use the acronym LOP.
ell-oh-pee.
Life Of Party.
People often misunderstand, though, what being an LOP is all about. When you first hear it you might think it’s about being obnoxious and/or getting attention, but it’s actually quite the opposite. It’s actually about not caring if you get an ounce of attention.
Being an LOP means having fun no matter where you are or who you’re with. It’s about knowing who you are and owning it. Being the life of the party is best learned by just doing it, but here are some of the ways you can practice finding your inner LOP.
be undignified.
In other words, practice the age-old trick of just not caring what other people think of you. If that means dancing the night away and getting all sorts of weird – do it! If it means you feel like just chilling and having good conversation with people – do that. There’s no prescription for what being undignified means other than simply doing and acting like YOU.
dress how you’re feeling.
…not how you think you’re supposed to. The people that are always having the most fun are the ones who feel the most comfortable in their own skin. If you feel like wearing ripped up jeans and a t-shirt but instead wear a tight black dress, chances are you’re not going to have the best time you possibly can. So whether you decide to rock combat boots or a girlie floral dress (or both) – always go with your gut when it comes to what you wear.
be nice.
Just about everyone is drawn to nice people. Sure, you can get attention by being a diva or a jerk, and some people go that route. But to be a true LOP, it takes someone who has the confidence to be nice to everyone and anyone. Being mean and rude might get you somewhere for a while, but the nice ones really do always finish last.
enjoy your company.
What’s your motive when you’re out or at a party? LOPs are the ones spending time getting to know other people and enjoying their company rather than wasting precious time trying to impress them. It’s when you stop worrying about yourself and instead focus on others that will lend to having the best time possible.
Sometimes I’m an LOP, and sometimes I’m not. But I’ll tell you one thing – what it all comes down to your attitude. Your confidence. Being comfortable in your own skin and who are naturally are. When you do that, you’ll automatically give off a magnetic vibe to others. The irony is, though, that if you’re truly walking the LOP walk, you won’t even care what sort of “vibes” you’re giving off anyway. And that’s quite freeing, if you ask me.
What does being an LOP mean to you? Agree/disagree with any of these?
It happens.
Let’s be real – trying to make new friends can always be a little bit awkward. When we were in kindergarten it was perfectly acceptable to tap someone on the shoulder and say “hi, wanna play?” As adults, that statement would probably weird most people out, to say the least.
And, unfortunately, living in one of the most-populated and most competitive cities in the world doesn’t make this task much easier. From personal experience, though, I can attest that it is in fact possible to move to New York without knowing a single person and still finding ways to have a significant circle of friends within less than a year. Here’s how.
making friends in nyc.
1. at work.
As someone who works from home, I personally don’t have the opportunity to make friends at my job, but I have met a ton of great people through my friends’ jobs. Take as many opportunities as you can to get to know your co-workers – get lunch with them, go to happy hour, etc. Even if you don’t become BFFs with Frank in the cubicle next to you, you never know if you could become friends (or maybe even date?) someone from his own social circle.
2. through your hobbies.
Are you into exercising? Join a gym.
Have a passion for helping people? Start volunteering somewhere.
A foodie? Take a cooking class.
…etc., etc., etc.
New York is one of the easiest places in the world to find people with the same interests as your own, and there always ways to get involved with them. The important thing is to search out these options rather than waiting for them to just come to you.
3. when you’re just…out.
I’ve found that some of the best places to meet people in NYC are the ones that you just naturally frequent – the grocery store, the subway, your favorite cafe, bars/clubs, and so on. The key to this, though, is you have to be open and available to meeting people. Take your headphones off, put a smile on, and be willing to strike up a conversation if it presents itself.
Side note: for those of you who like the nightlife, baby, consider getting in touch with promoters. Some of them can be kind of lame, but others are pretty legit and do their job right. It’s not always easy to jump into the nightlife world if you don’t know anyone, so going out with promoters can be a good place to start.
4. through social media.
Welcome to 2012, where there are more ways than ever to get in touch with people. I suggest hitting up Facebook or Twitter and seeing which of your friends or acquaintances now live in New York. And if they don’t, they probably know someone who does. Don’t be shy about it – most people are more than happy to help…and everyone loves a good ol’ Direct Message every once in a while anyway.
5. at church.
When I moved to New York and didn’t have any friends, church was the first place I turned to. Not only was the best place to find people who share the same faith as me, but I knew it was also my best chance at forming real, sincere relationships. It can be easy to get lost and feel very alone in New York, so I knew I needed friends who I could hang out and have fun with, but also ones that support and genuinely care about me. Now I consider the friends I’ve met through church as family…people that I’m in it with for the long haul.
Speaking of church, if you’re in New York and looking for somewhere to go this Easter Sunday, you should definitely visit Liberty Church. I’ll be at the 7pm service, so let me know if you’d like to come and I’ll save you a seat
I’d say these tips can be used for anywhere you live, actually. Which do you agree with most? Anything to add?
…who doesn’t really like chocolate all that much.
…who – despite having a deep and serious love for chick-flicks – has no desire to see The Vow.
…who refuses to listen to most dating/relationship “rules.”
…who still eats during NYFW.
…whose dad still asks her to be his Valentine. And says yes.
…who isn’t doing “Feb photo a day” on instagram.
…who buys makeup at the drugstore. Like, the 99 cent stuff.
…who lives in NYC after sincerely swearing for years that she would never be a “city girl.”
…are you with me on any of these?
Apparently I’ve formed a bad habit of losing important cards on the weekend.
If I continue with my aggressive pedestrian ways, odds are that I will in fact get hit by a car one day.
After watching two of his movies this weekend – there’s just something so adorable (and hilarious) about Jason Bateman.
Cell phone games these days give me anxiety. What ever happened to Snake??
Spring Street Natural is one of the reasons I’ll never say I don’t like healthy food.
I’m one of the few single people who actually loves and is excited for Valentines Day.
Wearing a beanie out ensures that at least 20 people will try to steal it and/or pull it down over your face.
Basic cable channels no longer offer a Grammy’s Red Carpet pre-show, which I think is ridiculous. We cheap-cableless people deserve to be able to judge celebrities based on their poor choices of attire too, okay?? (stay tuned for my full Grammys commentary later today. Ohyes.)
What did you learn this weekend? See any good movies?
I guess I do sorta have a type.
Beanie baby with a boxer.
See? I’m a simple gal…
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