so i guess it’s december.

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I am in shock at how quickly this year has gone by. I guess the saying is true…time really does fly when you’re having fun. I must say that I’m sort of sad to see 2012 come to a close…

BUT. We’re not there yet! December is one of my favorite months of the year, and I’m more than ready to take in every single moment of the great things the next 28 days have to offer.

I’m hoping that looks like…

Ice skating.

Dinner dates with friends.

Cozy Christmas movie marathons.

Flurries.

Christmas music.

Mistletoe.

Family.

The Rockettes.

Christmas-y treats (hopefully more homemade ones, ahem).

…among many other things.

What are you most looking forward to this month?

carnival des corbeaux.

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Last night, Jessi and I did something different than what we normally do on a Saturday night.

Or…ever.

We were kindly invited to go to Carnival Des Corbeaux at The MicKittrick Hotel a few days before Halloween, but this chick named Sandy decided to come by and created many more important things to worry about than parties. So, we costumed up and went to the first of two rescheduled December events.

Face tattoos and wigs…check and check.

I’ve still yet to go to Sleep No More (must ASAP), but Carnival Des Corbeaux definitely gave me an idea of what the famous interactive theatre experience is like. Carnival was one huge party taking place in a number of different rooms, with performances and surprised popping up around every corner.

Photos don’t even do the event justice because it wasn’t just a party, it was an entire experience unlike anything I even knew existed.

There’s one more Carnival Des Corbeaux taking place next week, and I believe tickets are still available! And even though I haven’t yet been to Sleep No More, I think I can pretty safely suggest it if you’re looking to do something fun and different in New York. There’s really nothing else like it…anywhere.

not normal.

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Although I rarely actually believe them, I’m slightly obsessed with conspiracy theories. Not normal.

Has anyone seem Savages? Great movie but…I just couldn’t get over how Blake Lively’s character was in love with two guys. Not normal either.

Wait - you’re telling me I can get this better-than-the-$30-ones-I’ve-tried bronzer for under $12? Maybe it’s just news to me but…not normal.

Maybe the better word to describe this is “unnatural,” but Christmas trees in the streets of the concrete jungle…doesn’t seem normal.

And my little Crumbs cupcake habit? Is enjoyed cold. In a bowl. Eaten upside-down. I don’t even have to say it.

Have you seen Savages? Thoughts?
And is anyone else into conspiracy theories (or know of a good blog/website about them that I can get lost in)?

every other day.

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My current work schedule has every other day of my life looking completely different from the last.

On the days that I work from home, I spend just about all of 9-5 sitting on the couch in front of my computer doing real estate admin work (and squeezing in some FreelyBe and blogging, of course). On the days that I don’t work from home, I’m literally all over the city, all day long.

Like yesterday, where Jessi, Monica and I went to a handful meetings for FreelyBe.

After the long day we stopped at home for a hot second to get ready for the night, which included a Movember shave-off party at Blind Barber (partly-hosted by FreelyBe).

After that we stopped at a friend’s concert in LES, followed by the White Room party hosted by Urban Daddy and Stoli. There was a great band there playing that I heard for the first time – Cherub. Loved them. The party was great – unlike anything I’ve been to before.

We stopped at one of my new favorite spots, The Leadbelly, before heading home for what turned out to be a quite early end to the night. It was a long day, but a great one! And I must say it works out to have a “lazy” day of just working from home right now :)

What does your work schedule look like? Is it the same every day or does it vary?

the thing about being yourself.

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The idea of “being yourself” is one that I’ve always thought I understood. In fact, it’s one that I generally pass off as being quite cliché. But, recently, the concept of being true to myself has taken on a whole new meaning.

For the most part, I’ve always been pretty confident in who I am. Thankfully it has never been difficult for me to embrace the good things about myself - the things I’m proud of, the things I like, and the things I’ve accomplished.

But then there are…the other things. The things about me that aren’t necessarily bad, but ones that I’m not exactly proud of either.

My (sometimes obsessive) organization.
My extreme awareness of time.
I’m not competitive enough.
My love and desire for the simplest things in life, and wanting a (what many may view as) simple future.
…Among other things.

I’ve definitely faced this more since moving to New York because sometimes it feels like every move I make is being judged by those around me for being either “too much” or “not enough.” What I guess I’m admitting to is that there are a handful aspects of my personality and who I am that I’ve tried to downplay or hide. Even though I try to embrace who I am as much as possible, there are still things that I’ve worried others won’t accept about me…that they won’t understand.

That’s where I think just being yourself is the most important. It’s not only getting past the point of caring what others think, but it’s also getting to the point where you begin to love what you once viewed as an idiosyncrasy or shortcoming.

I’m not saying that there isn’t always room for improvement because there absolutely is. As a follower of Christ, living like He did is my ultimate goal, so I can’t just take my shortcomings and brush them all off because “that’s who I am.” BUT – I’ve been learning how to take a closer look at what I think these so-called shortcomings are, and whether or not they’re so bad after all…

Do you feel like you’re fully true to being yourself? How would you define that?

home for the holidays, for now.

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Well, here we are again – smack dab in the middle of the holiday season. I’m still in Pennsylvania for my first of two holiday visits here, and it’s been quite lovely.

Our family tradition has always been to stay home the day after Thanksgiving to decorate the house for Christmas. I think it stemmed from my mom not wanting to go shopping on Black Friday. Luckily for her, it seems to have worked for over 25 years.

We’re a fake tree family, in case you were wondering…

…and a fake fire family too 😉

Our trip to the mall was reserved for yesterday, where mom, Katie and I enjoyed the last of the Twilight movies.

(I know, I cried because it’s the end too.)

And for a family post-post-post Thanksgiving dinner: sushi, naturally.

As usual, my fortune left me more confused than enlightened. But hey, maybe it could speak to someone…?

One of the things I’ve definitely loved the most about this visit home is getting to spend a ton of time with my sister, Katie. We’ve gotten so much closer as we get older, and it’s exciting to see where each of our lives are taking us. Isn’t she a beaut??

I’ll be here for another day before heading back to New York. I must say that my newly Christmas-spirited self is pretty excited to go back to the holiday-filled city..!

Do you go home at all for the holidays? How far do you live from your family?