here’s what | Girl Meets Life | a lifestyle blog by Gracie Gordon

snapshots | 1.23.15.

23 January, 2015 by Gracie 13 Comments

Let’s catch up, shall we?

1) I’ve become obsessed with having flowers in the apartment as much as possible! They add so much…I dunno, happiness? Although I’ve learned that hydrangeas last all of about 2 days, boo.

2) Saturdays with my girl friends are pretty much the best ever. They’re a good reminder of how much I love living in NYC…you never know what to expect. Always an adventure.

3) That’s my goddaughter!!!!!! Her name is Nugget and she’s a Shiba Inu. Jessi and her husband Parker got her last week. I only met her once, but I’ve never loved a little creature more.

4) Oh ya know, just complaining about how cold it is. Give me 6 months and I’ll be complaining about how hot it is.

5) Just a little photo shoot prep. Whether I have a special someone or not, I always love Valentine’s Day.

6) So that sweater? I’ve had it for over a year, but apparently it got lost wayyyy in the back of one of my under-bed bins. Always fun digging up clothes you thought you lost, isn’t it? Oh, and I got a lot of questions about that lipstick - it’s Liv by Illamasqua.

7) Yep, I drank the SoulCycle Kool Aid. So fun, much sweat.

8) Early bird ticket sales end this month for She Is Free! If you’re a girl looking for an excuse to visit NYC, this is 100% it. Learn more about the conference at the She Is Free website.

9) Snapshot of my recent photo shoot with Samy Ruby. I love working with her. I also love being able to work from anywhere. In this case, Juice Press.

**********

I haven’t done a “what I’ve been eating” recap in a while, so here’s a little update.

As I mentioned last week, I’ve eating mostly Paleo-esque. By mostly I mean when I’m eating at home. When I’m out with friends I’m more flexible. Anyway, here are some of the meals I’ve had that I loved, in case you’re looking for some Paleo/Whole30 inspiration.

1) My version of Loaded Paleo Nachos, inspired by Lexi’s Clean Kitchen.

2) For something sweet - a combo of sliced banana, dates, almonds, coconut cream, and ground flax.

3) A veggie mix of roasted tomatoes, asparagus, and purple sweet potatoes (SO good) topped with fried eggs.

4) Bacon Wrapped Avocado Fries - a serious Pinterest WIN, you guys. Must try!

**********

Last but not least, some this’ and thats…

1) Check out my latest SheKnows Experts post! 4 Failproof Ways To Dress For Success.

2) If you’re a podcast listener like myself, here’s a great sermon - This May Take A While.

3) It’s that time of year where I start freaking out because I’ve seen barely any of the films nominated for the Oscars…and swear I’m going to see them…then never do. Thumbs down to me.

4) I’m on a gallery wall kick lately. First it was the living room, and now I’m finally making my shoebox sized bedroom a little more presentable.

(…and yes, I am a jewelry hoarder.)

5) Let’s hear it for the WEEKEND! I’ve got a fun one planned, and I’m going to remember to document it for a long overdue scenes from the weekend post.

**********

What are your plans for the weekend? Have you seen any of Oscar nominees for best film (if so, which should I definitely see?!)?

here’s what | 12.15.14.

15 December, 2014 by Gracie 26 Comments

Hiiiii you guyssss!

(Do you have any idea how many times autocorrect just changed that? My new Mac better start understanding my intentional extra letters soon :P)

What’s new? How’s life? I’m feeling rather blabbery right now, so a here’s what post seems just about right.

1. Completely unrelated to anything, how terrifying is this GIF of me?

Gracie Gordon

2. That’s one of about five million Martina and I took at last week’s Phhhoto #FutureSelfie party. Phhhoto is a sick app - definitely recommend downloading it! You can follow me there @alagracie.

3. Due to feeling inadequate for not being a part of the Serial craze, I decided to start listening to it. Almost 5 days later and I’m only halfway through the first episode so…it’s not going so well.

4. This article made me feel better about having multiple jobs. HOWEVER, narrowing down my many gigs is definitely a goal I have for 2015.

5. Christmastime in New York. Would ya look at that…

Christmas in NYC

6. BUT. I’m not in the Christmas spirit as much as I normally am by now, and it’s sort of pissing me off. I think the culprit is that I haven’t watched a single Christmas movie yet, so that will have to change ASAP (specifically Elf, Love Actually, The Holiday, I’m comin’ for ya).

7. I’m planning a little getaway (or three) for next year. One in particular is going to be more work-related, but I’m pretty excited about it.

8. I’ve been on a major sushi kick lately. It’s like, all I ever want to eat. I’m especially loving Beyond Sushi right now - it’s all vegan sushi, but somehow I don’t miss the fish at all. I think I’m all protein-ed out ever since doing Whole30, ha. They also have these killer rice wraps that are flavorful yet refreshing at the same time.

(Their Nutty Buddy wrap + Sweet Tree roll)

Beyond Sushi vegan Nutty Buddy wrap Beyond Sushi vegan Sweet Tree roll

9. Rachel and I renewed our apartment lease! It’s the first apartment I’ve stayed in for more than a year in NYC, and it feels soooo good to not have to pack up and move again. Not to mention it’s my first apartment that actually feels like home. We barely have it decorated, though, so that’s going to be a fun little project for January.

10. Last but not least, every once and a while I like to reevaluate what I(‘ve been) blogging about. What do you guys think? Do you like fashion related posts? What would you like to see more/less of? I’ve been feeling more domesticated lately, maybe I’ll start experimenting more with recipes again…

Would love to know your thoughts! xoxo

here’s what | 11.23.14.

23 November, 2014 by Gracie 12 Comments

Sheesh, I haven’t done a life lately post in forever! So here’s what are some little things going on in this life I’ve met…

1. Might as well start with these goodies – Magic Cookie Bars that I made for our girls’ night last week. I followed this recipe but made them gluten free by using gluten free graham crackers.

2. Speaking of gluten free, the other day when I was running around the city for errands/meetings, I treated myself to a nice sit down lunch at Le Pain Quotidien. I got the ricotta & prosciutto tartine on gluten free crisps, along with a macaroon for dessert. Since going off Whole30 I’ve been trying to at least stay gluten free (as well as sugar free), just because like every other person in the world it’s been engrained in my mind that gluten is the devil. Or whatever.

3. SPEAKING of Whole30 (like my segues so far?), as expected I’ve slowly but surely let my diet go back to (mostly) crap. I’m going easy on myself because HI I’m human and it’s basically the holiday season now, but I still want to clean things back up a bit again. I’ve failed miserably at keeping track of my meals on Tumblr, but I’m really going to do it this time. Hold me accountable, y’all!

4. Since Whole30 I HAVE been getting my booty back to the gym, though, and it’s felt great. I’m planning on getting a new routine from a trainer soon, which I’m really looking forward to. A girl can only climb 45 minutes worth of stairs leading nowhere for so long…

5. Lately I’ve been feeling a bit of a quarter-life crisis brewing. Is that normal? Please tell me it’s normal. Some days I wake up and I LOVE what I do. Love love love. But other days I feel discontent – like there’s something else/more that I should be doing. I don’t feel it strong enough to change anything (like I said – most of the time I’m very happy with what I do), but it’s still something I want pray about in keep in the back of my mind.

6. The only thing worse than falling down the stairs is falling up the stairs. And the only thing more embarrassing than falling up the stairs is doing so in front of your neighbor. Not that I’d know, or anything.

7. My love/hate relationship with Snapchat has been leaning toward lovin’ lately. It’s such a fun way to keep in touch with people without the pressure of responding to texts all day (no offense). Plus I like to use it to whine about really important things like being cold and not brushing my hair.

(Be my friend @alagracie! But keep it PG, por favor ;))

8. I’m that person who plays songs over and over and over again when I really love them. And thanks to Hype Machine (and Martina for introducing me to it), that has been happening a lot lately. I’m especially going loco over this Weekend remix. (p.s. I have a new playlist coming your way this week!)

9. I think I might be officially outgrowing my “party” days. Of course I’ll always love fun nights out with my friends, but the idea of spending a Friday/Saturday night doing dinner and a movie is 1000% more appealing these days.

10. IT’S ALMOST THANKSGIVING!! AND CHRISTMAS!!! Anyone else excited to eat too much food and spend too much money? I’m kicking it off my buying myself a new MacBook in a few days. I’m on my 5th PC in less than 5 years, and it’s time…

But seriously. I am that girl that is a wee bit holiday obsessed, and I couldn’t be more excited for this next month.

**********

Will you be buying yourself any (early) Christmas gifts? What about the holidays are you most excited for?

here’s what | 10.13.14.

13 October, 2014 by Gracie 7 Comments

Bonjour and happy (1:45am on) Monday, hotties. Here’s what have been a few things happening in this life I’ve met.

1. Thanks to the rain on Saturday I spent a good deal of time in bed with my hot dates Barney Stinson and Jake Johnson.

Netflix, people. Get your mind out of the gutter.

2. The rain/bed situation also resulted in THIS situation – hair full of secrets, and not the good kind.

3. I managed to pull myself together for a night out. Don’t let the jacket deceive you – I haven’t played a non-leisurely sport since 2003.

4. Pardon me for sounding like a crazy person…but I think I might be a crazy person. When I shook people’s hands over the weekend I found myself thinking EBOLA EBOLA EBOLA.

5. Sooo I’ve decided to do the famous (infamous?) Whole 30 challenge. I started it yesterday. My good friend Emily has been doing it and suggesting it to me, and over the course of the past week I went from being adamantly opposed, to considering it, to reading It Starts With Food. I realized that I’ve been complaining about feeling BLAH lately but not actually doing anything to change it. So not anymore. I need accountability so will be posting meals + updates over on my Tumblr (as to not inundate my Instagram or GML with ugly food pictures ;)). You can go ahead and follow along if you’d like!

Oh, and as much as I’m doing this to FEEL my best, I’m also doing it look as smokin’ hot as possible. Sorry I’m most certainly not sorry.

6. I have a crush on someone, and it might be you. (insert monkey covering its mouth emoji)

7. Probably the most productive part of my weekend was cleaning the whole apartment. It always starts by just wiping down the counter, then I find myself in full out Danny Tanner mode, on the brink of washing the cleaning products themselves.

8. The decision process for what I’m going to be for Halloween is getting REAL. So far I’ve narrowed it down to not wanting to look “cute.” Not to mention I refuse to wear the same costume two night in a row because I’m a brat like that.

9. This is a really interesting article about the downside of living in New York. I can definitely relate to this:

“The greatest thing about Manhattan is the worst thing about Manhattan: self-actualization. Here you will be free to stretch yourself to your limit, to find the beach that is yours alone. But sooner or later you will be sitting on that beach wondering what comes next.”

What the article doesn’t address, though, is how having friends, family, and a sense of community here in the city makes all the difference in the world. I definitely wouldn’t be able to continue living here without that.

10. To end things on a lighter note, here’s a bunch of cute animals wrapped up like burritos.

**********

Have you decided on a Halloween costume yet?

here’s what | 10.2.14.

2 October, 2014 by Gracie 7 Comments

Anyone familiar with here’s what, a la Andy Cohen on Watch What Happens Live? Well I thought that might be a fun way to compile this (slightly sporadic) post.

So here’s what…

1. First of all THANK YOU for all of your love for the new layout! Also for your support here and on social media for the new Speakable collection 🙂

2. I’m trying to start using Twitter again, mostly because it seems like a perfectly safe and appropriate place to whine/snark about whatever I want. You can follow me @alagracie, if you’d like.

3. One day I will own a gif-making photo booth. ONE DAY.

4. Until then I’ll just have to hope more fun events like #AbsolutWarhol happen. I attended the press preview + event for the launch of the new bottle last night, and it was so fun! Atrak performed and there were just a ton of cool activations + great food and drinks.

5. I think I’m going to do a little cleanse of sorts for the next 2 weeks (maybe longer…?). I’ve been feeling kind of crappy/lethargic lately, and I remember how amazing I felt when I did the Daniel Fast back in January. That was for spiritual reasons and this would be more health-related, but I’d like to do something similar.

6. In case you were wondering, the iPhone6 is freaking amazing. And no, it hasn’t bent.

7. For my fellow entrepreneurs – here’s a slew of articles you might like.

8. I must confess that I spell entrepreneur wrong 99% of the time. Yep, just did it again.

9. My TV-loving self is going bananas for some of the new shows this season. I’m especially loving Gotham and Manhattan Love Story.

10. What do you all think about having more outfits/style-related posts on GML? I’ve always enjoyed those but shied away because I don’t wear OMGDESIGNER clothes, but I think that’s actually better/more realistic, no? It’s all about the #TrendyNotSpendy!

**********

What new TV shows are you loving?
Are you on Twitter? Tell me your handle – I want to follow you!