Lately.

It’s been so wonderful being home these past few days… Florida is hot and muggy, but I’m finding myself falling into old habits, old schedules, that are surprisingly comforting. I stayed in Jacksonville about a week visiting with family before making my way to Orlando, where Chris and I have spent an (almost) embarrassing amount of time stopping in at all of my favorite local restaurants, (Dexter’s, Briarpatch and La Nop, to name a few.) We’ve also been spending our evenings cooking together, or rather, me watching him cook and enjoying the end result. The pool has been frequented, and we finally squeezed in a beach trip last weekend. Now if I could only bring myself to care about this one summer class that’s standing in between me and my bachelor’s degree… summertime, it’s good to see you.

(^hi handsome;)^)

See You Soon Teen Vogue: Exciting News.

I was looking at everyone’s recent graduation pictures the other day, thinking about the past four years and my college life. I recognize that I have been at UCF since 2009, and yet it feels like I’ve been out of it for some time now.  Perhaps it’s the fact that I’ve been in NY 8 out of the past 12 months of the year, but I look at pictures of girls in their caps and gowns, with friends smiling in pure excitement over what is no doubt a landmark of an accomplishment, and yet I can’t find the same feeling. I try and picture myself on August 3, in my cap and gown, thinking back on the past four years, and all I feel is the urge to move forward.

It’s been a long 4 years, moments of the most fun I’ve had in my entire life, and moments where I felt entirely alone. I’ve laughed and bawled in the past 4 years more than I ever have. The times in between these events were hard… I managed the stress of these situations poorly, and I hurt some people in the process. It was not intentional, but as most mistakes do not go without repercussions, I’ve had to deal with the backlash of how people responded to these errors. It’s been a mix of grace and judgment, forgiveness and punishment. At the end of the day, at the end of these 4 years, I’m not sorry for them. I’m grateful. But I am ready for the next chapter in my life, more ready than I’ve ever been, and as today is my last day as an intern at Teen Vogue, I have some exciting news to share.

I will be moving back to New York permanently the first week in July as my wonderful bosses have created some freelance work for me for the summer! The thought of having to say goodbye to a company and team I have truly fallen head over heels for was almost too heartbreaking, so I obviously couldn’t have accepted faster. My beach days will be cut a little short, and I will be missing walking at graduation, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Work, my career, my future with the number one magazine publishing company in the world – these are things that move me, these are things I feel excited about. No, I’m not the prom queen or the sorority girl, but I’m good at what I do, I love what I do, and now I’m finally getting a real shot at it.

For now I’m going to enjoy my next two months in Florida – savor the little things and people I’ve had close to me my entire life – if I want a hug from my mother I just have to walk to the kitchen, if I want dinner with my grandparents it’s just 10 minutes down the road, if I want advice from my father I just have to turn down the volume on the TV, if I want to borrow lipstick from my sister I just have to sneak into her purse, if I want a kiss from Chris I just have to roll over in bed and steal one.

I’m coming for you Florida. New York – I’ll see you soon. ♥

Lately.

The flowers are fading and the color green is everywhere I look, making the fact that I will be in Florida next week a welcomed knowledge in my heart. First on the list is giving my mother a hug, who I have not seen since the first week in January, followed by every other face I’ve been missing these past 4 months. What I’m most looking forward to? Seeing this boy when he comes to pick me up at the airport Wednesday night. Have a great weekend everyone. xo

On the Way to Work.

Snapped a few pics on my way to work this morning. I love that when I get on the subway at 60th and get off at 42nd, my world and surroundings have completely changed in the time in between. My 5 block walk to 60th is filled with elegant brownstones and town-homes, corner flower shops and bakeries, with a glimpse of Bloomingdales right before heading underground. When I emerge on 42nd, I have but one block until I arrive at Conde, with a glimpse of the infamous, glowing Times Square in the distant. The walk to the sub calms me, gets me ready for the day; by the time I’m getting off, I’m ready to head straight into that building I’ve been so proud to call work the past 4 months. I don’t think many people enjoy their commutes to work every morning – mine, I look forward to.

East 65th.

I began packing up my apartment last night, and felt a little heartbroken over leaving a room I’ve had a love/hate relationship with the past 4 months. I’d never realized it before, but I might be a slight claustrophobic, and this teeny tiny room drove me absolutely nuts at times. But other times, after a long day at work, the Upper East side felt like home.

I remember last fall, upon returning home from my summer with Marie Claire, feeling like I was in a daze for a few weeks. I was driving, not walking everywhere. I could see where the sky touched the ground, not being blocked by a skyscraper or building. I was sitting behind a cash register at my part-time job, not behind a computer answering a swarm of emails. It’s a weird transition… a little sad not to be in the heart of constant excitement and inspiration, a little relieving to be able to sleep at night minus the humming of nearby honking taxis.

The past 4 months have been some of the best in my life professionally, and leaving that feels scary.  Leaving anything here feels scary, even in this teeny tiny apartment. But I’m praying things will just get better from here, and bigger for my claustrophobic’s nerve’s sake.

Changes.

Currently loving the fact that I can enjoy New York in the spring simply by looking out my window. Which is convenient on Sundays you’re stuck in bed for the better part of the morning with a terrible cold, because of said changes in season. New York isn’t the only thing changing these days though… I just hope these things, along with my cold, aren’t too long-lived, or I at least adjust to them quickly.

NY Flowers.

A shameless flower-holic, I cannot stop snapping pictures on my way to work every morning of the constant beauty around me as I watch New York transition into spring. As I mentioned yesterday, it’s still a little cooler than I’d prefer, but at least if I’m going to be cold I have quite the display of color before me. As homesick as I am for Florida, I can tell already I will be anxious for NY in the spring every year from now on.