Vittoria Coffee | Fashion Series

Fashion Series Cups, Vittoria Coffee

For those of you who have read my "I Eat | Flinders Lane" post, you'll remember that I mentioned having brunch with someone who works in the coffee industry, that being Vittoria Coffee. She was so sweet, it kind of felt like reconnecting with a friend, and at the end of our meeting she gave me these paper cups, that Vittoria designed for fashion week, to take home. I knew that I had to make a post about them as soon as I could.

So, Vittoria is an Australian based, coffee product manufacturing company, founded in Sydney in 1947. Having over fifty years of experience in this industry, they're currently "Australia's #1 pure coffee brand." They actually distribute to quite a few places here in NYC, including Flinders Lane, and they definitely don't disappoint.

If you'd like to read more about them, and what they do, you can go visit they're very nicely designed website here: http://www.vittoriacoffee.com/

See more photos, and read more about these paper cups, after the jump!

I Eat | Narita Airport (成田国際空港)

So, last month, my mother went away for a week on a trip to Indonesia. On her way back home, she had a layover in Japan, stopping at Narita Airport. And, knowing my love for all things Japanese, she brought over several snacks that were in the little shops in the airport. My goodness, they were all so adorable, it almost felt like a waste to eat any of them, but we just had to.

Anyone who knows me, knows that my heart has always had this pull and connection to Japan, its culture, food, and everything else about them. So, seeing all of these snacks, it felt like seeing little parts of a home I have yet to discover. Something I definitely noticed right away, was that the attention to detail with packaging was amazing. The Japanese don't play around, and their efforts show.

I'm so excited to show you all the few snacks I had the honour of trying out!

See more photos, and read more about my experience, after the jump!

Cafes | Bee's Knees Baking Co.

Bee's Knees Baking Co., Kips Bay, NYC.

I actually stumbled upon this place, because some of my friends from Baruch College visit here often, seeing as it's nearby, and there's also free wifi. I was waiting for one of them to get out of school, just to hang out for a little while, and ended up here as I was walking around.

Although majority of the customers in this location are students working (or trying to work) on their laptops, I found that it was still possible for someone like me, who's casually walking in just to sit down and relax, to find a space to fit in. It's a cute little place to visit, student or not, and it's sort of like a hideaway from the fast-paced sidewalk that, sometimes, gets a little overwhelming.

See more photos and read more about my experience, after the jump!

VLOG: Incredibly Tired - May 16, 2015

Allergies

Home, Queens, NYC.

Today's post is going to be a bit rampant, because I've been so frustrated and annoyed with my body, and the way Spring has been affecting it.

Although I'm glad it's finally gotten warmer, what I'm not okay with are these allergies. It's inevitable, and it comes every year, but they seriously need to stop. The sunlight feels great sometimes, and I love all of these flowers that are blooming, but I can't enjoy them because I'm too busy trying to breathe while both nostrils are not cooperating with me.

If you saw my video in my last post, you heard how terrible my sniffling has become. Sometimes, I wake up with slightly red eyes, because I end up rubbing them as soon as I wake up. Springtime and its impending allergies, are like your relationship with your family. Majority of the time it's a love-hate one, and you have your good days, and your terrible days when you just hate everybody on this planet. But at the end of the season, you still get your beautiful springtime flowers.

These past few days, I've had to battle headaches and migraines, while already trying to cope with my stupid allergies. But, I still had important things I needed to do, so I had to rough it out and get all my errands done. In the last 30 hours, I've taken many a Tylenol (it says to take two every 6 hours while symptoms are still there), and a 24-hour allergy pill. I need to get it together, and Spring needs to leave and take all of its allergies along with it.

Bye, Felicia.

Photo by Kyle.

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Vlog: Sniff, sniff - May 4, 2015

Filmed & Edited by Kyle.

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I Eat | Flinders Lane

Flinders Lane, East Village, NYC.

Last week, I had the great opportunity to meet up, and have brunch with, someone who works in the coffee industry. We came here and spent some nice quality time connecting, getting to know eachother, and hearing more about what we do. I had never been here before, so it was great experiencing new things all at once, in a tame environment; new people, and a new place that I'll definitely be coming back to again.

Flinders Lane is a modern Australian restaurant, and has a very comfortable atmosphere, that's both refined and relaxed all at the same time, much like its staff. Getting there just as it opened, we generally had the place all to ourselves, and I loved it. I had time to take in the place without interruptions, and the next time I come I'll hopefully get to experience what it's like during a busier time.

See more photos, and read more about my experience after the jump!

Spring Cleaning - Part II

Home, Queens, NYC.

I've finally moved all of my things into the living room, and opened the blinds to let all of the natural light come through. It was a lot of work moving furniture around, and getting it to where it is right now, but it's coming together. Currently, I'm in the process of sorting through my things, cleaning up, and deciding what to keep, what to throw, and what to give away. It was kind of a reminder of how my style has progressed throughout the years, and remembering why I bought all of the things I did at the time.

It's a challenge, trying to clear up as much as possible up to the bare minimum. I'm trying to ease into minimalism, and realize that we actually don't need an over-abundance of things to live. We gradually accumulate all of these things because we feel like we have to have them, or that we need them, and finally, we're left with this weird build-up of stuff that we now have to sort through. Every time I look at what I have now, it's another opportunity to break it down even more.

Sometimes we need to be satisfied with having less, because then we can appreciate whenever we're blessed with more. It actually feels nice, and oddly peaceful being in this state. Working hard for something is great, but don't do it for a petty reason.

Photo by Kyle.
Product details on Instagram (@cafechild).

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I Eat | Tim Tams

Home, Queens, NYC.

I've been so excited to write this post, mainly because my love for Tim Tams are strong, and I make it known to my friends and family. So, last week my mother recently came back from her trip to Indonesia, and while she was there, she bought four different flavours of these beautiful things (they originally are based in Australia though). Around where I live, the local target only carries two flavours, original and chewy caramel, so you can imagine my face when she brought these home.

I knew right away that I had to write something about them, and tell you all about each flavour, especially for those of you who live in my area and only have access to original, and chewy caramel. I encourage you to vicariously experience these goodies through this post, and I'll do the best I can at describing how each individual flavour was.

Also, I just realized that some of the packaging has some Indonesian on it, which is pretty funny to me.

See more photos and vicariously live, after the jump!

Riding the Wave

Sanctuary T, Lower Manhattan, NYC.

My goodness, what a past few days it has been, and I really have no idea where to start. For those of you who follow me on Instagram (@cafechild), I posted a very "feels" type caption under this exact same photo talking about how I was "crying so much, but out of joy."

So, this past weekend, I got a chance to have brunch with some amazing people, and have a casual hangout to just talk and get to know eachother, for those of us who were meeting for the first time. Later on, we all parted different ways, and I was able to have a more intimate time with one or two of them. From there my emotions started to get the best of me, because in that intimate time, it felt like I was spending time with family, being fully transparent, and not being judged for the person that I am, in all my brokenness and my quirks.

Recently, I've been coming to terms with this new season of life that I'm entering into, and I'm no longer in that cocoon anymore. It may be uncomfortable, but it's been time to get out of the comfort of that shell. It all sounds a bit vague right now, but it'll be clearer later on when things are more fleshed out. And until then, I hope you all can continue to support me, and keep me in your prayers. Riding the wave of life, and trying to figure things out at the same time, is not always so easy. But here's to an interesting ride ahead.

Photo by Kyle.

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Spring Cleaning - Part I

Home, Queens, NYC.

The weather has been fluctuating a lot lately, and my goodness, I'm sure we're all really tired of it. Mother nature needs to stop being so indecisive. But, in lieu of this changing season, and in hopes of it getting warmer, I've started doing some ritual spring cleaning.

I normally am a pretty organized person, so I don't find that I actually need to clean any of my things that much, but I've decided that it's time for me to create my own space and let my younger sister have her own room. That means, moving out of our shared bedroom, and taking up majority of the living room area. We don't have a working television, so if anyone is ever in the living room, it's just to use a computer.

It's an exciting change that I'm looking forward to, because I really want to be able to invite more people over, and have conversations over coffee or tea, in my own space. I usually never invite people over, because I didn't ever have my own personal space to let people be at here. So, being able to move things around and create my own area will really make a difference for me.

Soon, I'll be able to invite some of you over for brunch, or just to talk over drinks, and it'll be great. I'll keep you guys updated during this process!

Photo by Kyle.

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Cafes | Nourish Kitchen + Table

Nourish Kitchen + Table, West Village, NYC.

I actually found this place while leaving Press Tea one day, and as I was walking around with a friend, I was writing down a few places that caught my eye to visit one day; this was one of them. The more you explore the West Village, the more you find these lovely little places everywhere to experience and see what they offer.

I noticed that this place had more customer turnover as a take-away service, But, I wanted to see what it would be like sitting in and taking in the place on my first visit.

See more photos and read more about my experience, after the jump!

Vulnerable

Greecologies, Little Italy, NYC.

I've been home for the past few days, left to my own devices and thoughts, and I thought that I'd try to be a little vulnerable with you all. It's nice having time away from people, but sometimes it's hard to shake this small sense of loneliness. There's this love-hate relationship with social media, especially when modern society loves being constantly connected and "plugged-in," but at the same time, you can't help but feel like you're missing out on so many things.

A lot of my close friends know that I really like being alone, but it doesn't mean that I want to be alone all of the time. The reality is that everyone has their own schedules and responsibilities they need to tend to, and it's difficult sometimes when you try your hardest to make time for others, when it doesn't seem like they do the same. But, I have to remind myself that it's alright. Life is a thing, and it happens, to all of us. As painful as it is sometimes, to just sit at home while you watch your friends have fun together, moments spent by yourself should be cherished.

On a day like this, the rain and the clouds will be with me, conversing with me through every droplet. The birds will sing songs that cut through the silence. And the natural light will let me know that springtime always comes in the end.

Photo by Vincent Crabeo (@alohacrabs).

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Cafes | Greecologies

Greecologies, Little Italy, NYC.

In my last post, I mentioned how I love when a cafe has nice open windows to let in the natural light, and this place has that, amongst other things.This cafe is in an area that houses a whole bunch of nice places, and although they don't have a huge, colourful sign that tells you where it is, it does not disappoint once you walk inside.

I think it's a place worth looking for.

See more photos and read more about my experience, after the jump!

Afternoons

Cafe la Cerra, Murray Hill, NYC.

It's finally starting to get warmer, which means a lot more afternoon light, iced drinks, and outdoor seating areas. Also, those are not my sunglasses, but I should get a pair real soon.

I absolutely love when a cafe has really open spaced windows, like this place, to let all the natural light in. It's not only great for photos, but also to just naturally take in the warmth of life that the sun gives off. As someone who prefers being indoors, these open spaced windows are great because the sunlight is not as intense as it would be if I were to stand outside. It's already mid-April, and summer is just around the corner, so I'm going to treasure this nice breezy weather while I can, and pray for cool summer nights.

I've been seeing flowers budding and blooming all over the place as I casually walk around the city, and I love it so much. Even the trees near my house are producing colour.

If you ever feel the weight of life coming back down again, step outside and get some fresh air. There's a lot out there, and new experiences to be had.

Photo by Kyle.

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Explore | The MET

The Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET), New York, NYC.

Recently I got a chance to revisit the MET, and I'm really glad I did. Although, the walk there was terrible (walking half of Central Park in heels is not so fun), the exhibits made up for it. The area where this photo was taken was really open and had nice spots to sit and recuperate, which is what my feet definitely needed.

Sometimes we're so focused on doing so many things, we don't get the chance to appreciate everything that's around us, and everything we have access to. Walking around an art museum not only helps me unwind, but it also reminds me that so many things have already happened on this earth, and so many things are going to happen in the future. It's kind of like we're all waiting in anticipation for what's to come; it's exciting, and frightening all at the same time.

Don't lose yourself in the process, lose yourself in the creative journey of finding yourself.

See more photos that I took while I was there, after the jump!

Insecurity

Brooklyn Waterfront, Williamsburg, NYC.

Hey everyone, it's been such a while, and I'm so sorry for that. But I've gotten a chance to settle myself, sit down, and write a new post.

Today I just want to put some of my current thoughts out there. I've gotten a chance to meet even more people this passed week, and I'm so grateful for them. These people are teaching me what it means to venture out, even if it's just simple conversations over coffee. There's life outside the walls of my own insecurity, and I feel myself climbing over that wall more and more as I put myself out there and simply talk to people.

This journey is always about the never-ending process of learning more about yourself, and about the people who are with you, and I'm definitely feeling that in this season.

I love you all so much, and appreciate you. Don't let anything bring you down, because it's all just a part of the process.

Photo by Kyle.
Model - @yngdew.

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I Eat | WILD Brooklyn

WILD Brooklyn, Williamsburg, NYC.

As some of you may know from my last post, I went to another Instameet where we ended up walking to Williamsburg, via the Williamsburg Bridge.

After exiting the bridge, a lot of us were really hungry and wanted to find a place to eat. We all walked around, until we stumbled upon this darling place. And my goodness, how beautiful it was on the inside. The doors were a bit odd and small, but once you get around that, everything else makes you forget about the not-so-spacious entryway.

They had an inner and outer dining area, and of course we sat where the lighting was best, at the outer greenhouse area. The whole environment of the place was so nice and the outer back area was so spacious and beautiful. It definitely looks like a place to hold a party or a nice gathering.

In addition to the nice view we were having, the staff were very hospitable as well. They took great care of us, even as the semi-big group we were. I shared the "Traditional Gnocchi" and a plate of fries with one of my friends and, as simple as the meal was, it did our stomachs well.

Overall, I'll definitely be coming back once the weather gets warmer, and I'll bring some friends with me.

See another photo of the back greenhouse area, after the jump!

#TheMeetupSpot

Spot Dessert Bar, St. Marks / East Village, NYC.

This past Sunday, there was another Instameet happening, and as much as I wanted to sit this one out, I couldn't pass up another chance to connect and network with other creatives. I was a tad late, but that didn't stop me.

We started our meetup at Spot Dessert Bar in St. Marks and spent around 2-3 hours there, just hanging out, taking photos, and talking. I knew just several people there from the previous meetups, so I didn't feel as on edge this time around, thank goodness.

When it came time for us to leave, we were on our way to walk towards the Williamsburg Bridge, and my goodness. From there, I did not prepare myself for what was to come.

See more photos and read more about my experience, after the jump!

Cafes | Press Tea - Food Ver.

Press Tea, West Village, NYC.

It took a bit of time for me to have this up, but here it is. When I visited Press Tea they let me sample some of the things they offer there, and they really didn't disappoint!

Like I wrote in my last post about this place, they make everything in house, and all of their pastries/baked goods are "mostly organic" as it says on the labels.

See more photos and read about what I had after the jump!

Connecting

Third Rail Coffee, East Village, NYC.

Sometimes you need to sit down and just collect yourself.

It's been awhile, and I've missed posting my "photo diary" entries. The passed few days after the Instameets, I've been meeting other Instagrammers and have been continuing the networking and such. People are so interesting and intriguing, how they all have their own stories, own habits, and even their own styles of taking photos. Socializing, and actively trying to meet with people, is not usually what I do, but I've been trying to do it more often, while balancing having my alone time at home.

Connecting with individuals, as an introvert, is such an important thing that a lot of people usually look passed. But we know when there's something there, and for myself, the desire to go deeper into that, rises.

As much as I am tired, I'm excited to meet other people and creatives who resonate with me. There's this mild adrenaline rush when things click between people, and that's what keeps me going and helps motivate me. Don't settle for people who just bring you and your creativity down.

Photo by Kyle.

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#WWIM11 - #BushwickMeet

Bushwick, Brooklyn, NYC.

Words cannot describe yesterday's emotional rollercoaster of a day. If you follow me on Instagram (@cafechild), you'll know what I'm talking about. I got to experience things I never thought I'd experience, and was thrust into situations where I had to get out of my comfort zone in order to grow as a person. Unlike the meetup on Saturday, I came to this one alone, and it was seriously so terrifying. But as the day progressed, it got immensely better and getting to Bushwick was worth all of the anxiety and fear from earlier on in the day.

Thank you so so much to @acupofkeen, @emptyreyes, and @canahtam for hosting such a wonderful meet with this community of creatives! If you're not already, follow them on Instagram because they're all wonderful people.

Hear more about my experience, and see more photos after the jump!

#WWIM11 - West Village

Chalait, West Village, NYC.

Today I woke up at an absurd time, for an app. But not just any app, the app that's been a major influence in social media, and the app that we're always on, majority of the day. And I woke up to meet and hang out with some people that are a part of this app's community.

Overtime, Instagram has become more than just a social media app to me. It's become this beautiful place where you get to grow as a person, not just by yourself, but with other people as well, as a community. It's become this personal space for me to go back to, to relive the great moments I've had whenever I'm feeling down, or to relearn things I've forgotten about within my captions. I've been meeting more people, and making valuable friendships I never thought I'd make, all because of this wonderful app.

The majority of this meetup consisted of walking around a bit of the West Village, exploring, taking photos, and sometimes pretending to be tourists, all while networking and just talking casually with eachother. It was almost as if distant relatives all gathered together, and got the opportunity to spend time together and reconnect. I also realized that this type of setting was a lot more intimate than usual InstaMeets. But it was a great preparation, especially since I'm going to another InstaMeet tomorrow as well, where I'm anticipating it to be full of people. Everywhere. As someone who has serious social anxiety, just the idea of it is scaring the living hell out of me. But at the end of the day, I have to remind myself that everyone has gathered for one sole reason: to connect, and to experience what this community is like.

If you aren't following me already, you can head over to @cafechild on Instagram and do so! And to see some more photos of the meetup, search the hashtag #WWIM11WestVillage! I hope to see some of you guys at tomorrow's meetup in Bushwick; come along if you can!

(WWIM11 - World Wide InstaMeet 11).

Photo by Kyle.

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Cafes | Press Tea

Press Tea, West Village, NYC.

Earlier in the week, I stopped by Press Tea to visit, and was able to sample a lot of what they had to offer. In an area that has many a cafe, this place doesn't fade into the background once you walk inside. From the comfortable seating, to the unique products they have to offer, this will be a place that I come back to time and again.

I had heard of this place before from friends, but never got a chance to check it out until now.

See more photos and read more about my experience, after the jump!

Tired

Home, NYC.

It's been several days, but I'm still here. Just a bit tired is all.

I've started to realize more and more now, how easily fatigued I get. I'm so unfit, I can't even run one block without having to catch my breath. I always try to tell people to take care of themselves, but I think it's time that I start trying to take care of myself too.

Because I live in a city where you need to hustle all the time in order to survive, it gets overwhelming really easily. Sometimes I feel this heaviness of the pressure of wanting to make it, and wanting to get through and not be left behind. But in the end, you need to remember that life's not all about that. If you can't take care of yourself, how are you going to go out there and try to take on life, let alone trying to care for other people. It all starts with these realizations that you can't do it alone, and as much as you can try to take care of yourself, you need that community, whether it be small or big, to be there with you, taking on life together.

With that said, I'm going to have to re-hydrate, relax, and re-evaluate some things. If you're in this same season as me, join me and breathe in, and out. Everything's going to be fine.

Photo by Kyle.

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Anxiety

Cafe de Cupping, Flushing, NYC.

Thinking about your life and your future puts you in a really vulnerable place. But it's a place we have to go to sooner or later. Often when I'm just at home with nothing to do for the day, I end up thinking a lot, sometimes too much. I get anxious about my life decisions, or what I'm going to be doing later on. It makes me unnecessarily nervous, and frankly just freaks me out. Because at the end of the day, I don't really worry too much about things, but in the moment I start having an existential crisis.

Many people don't know, but I struggle with social and general anxiety, quite a lot. In this particular situation, I've been comparing how my life is going to that of others who are fairly successful, or look like they "have it all together." I know as well as anyone that everybody has their own struggles, and not everyone's life is going to look or go the same. But, it's a human, natural response to look at your own life and wonder what you're doing.

I've been coming to the realization that this life I'm trying to pursue is really unconventional for someone my age, and this is just the beginning of the struggle. But it'll all be worth it in the end, because it gets better. Remember guys, don't let the pressure of life and society bring you down. If you don't love what you're doing, stop digging your own grave and start living.

Photo by Kyle.

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Siblings

Home, NYC.

Siblings are often a reflection of some part of you.

Being home often allows me to spend a lot more time with my younger sister, and although I don't show it too much, I really love that. When it comes to siblings, there are tons of pros and cons, and some outweigh the other. But no matter what, you both are somewhat a reflection of each other. There's some part of you that's in the other, and some part of the other that's in you. As much as I fight with her, I'll always unconditionally love her, and I'm learning to get to know the things that make up who she is, apart from being my sibling.

If you follow me on Instagram (@cafechild), you'll know that my sister made these oatmeal raisin cookies because we had the ingredients lying around. Little things like this, I've learned to appreciate and be proud of.

Never downplay what your relationship could be like with your siblings. If you see an opportunity to really get closer, or to start a nice conversation, go for it, because our siblings are often the ones that we spend most of our time around. Don't neglect your step/half-siblings either. You may have a lot more in common than you think. If you're related to me and you're reading this, I love you, and never forget that.

Photo by Kyle.

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Stay Hydrated

Home, NYC.

I've been going out consistently for a good amount of days, and today I finally got my time of rest. I love getting to stay home and be in my comfy, cozy space. I ordered some clothes online, and a few of them came in, which I was really excited about. For those of you who don't read Japanese, the shirt says "Stay Hydrated," with a water bottle next to it. It's very fitting for the warmer days, hopefully, to come. It's a simple reminder to be healthy and drink a lot of water everyday, because, as my mother always says, beauty is skin deep.

I hope you guys don't mind this really short post, because I'm going to use the rest of this day to relax and be my typical cat self. Have a great rest of the day, wherever you are right now, reader.

For more information about my outfit, check my Instagram @cafechild.

Photo by My Sister.

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Warmth

Iconic Cafe, Nolita, NYC

The warmth of the sun brings comfort that there's life.

I caught up with an old coworker and we discussed our dreams, future life goals, and such. Catch-ups like that remind me that everyone is in their own season, and in their own stage in life. Whatever any of us are going through, we can always remember that we're not alone, and that, just as the night comes, so will a new day.

The sun came out today, and it actually felt really nice to step out of my always dim house (I don't like really bright lights) and take in the vitamin d. Although it's sometimes too bright for me, sunlight re-instills in me that everyday is a new day, and it can either be full of life, or full of dullness; it's for us to decide.

At the same time, living in a culture where we hope that the next day is exciting, we also need our times of rest. Admittedly, I always catch myself having too long of a rest, but it makes it just that much more revitalizing when I actually do go out and have some quality time, whether by myself, or with one or two people.

Photo by Kyle. Poured by Keen Malasarte (@acupofkeen).

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Tedious

Home, NYC.

Sometimes, it's a tedious thing, but still very much therapeutic.

It's been awhile, but I've started to regularly clean my brushes again. I know that it's really disgusting, but I used to not clean them for months at at time. Evidently, a whole lot of bacteria build-up happens, so I'm trying to pull it together now.

The way that I think about cleaning my brushes is the same way I think about a lot of different things in life. Sometimes there are things that I just don't want to do, but when I actually go about it, I end up enjoying myself. It challenges us to take on the little things in life that we think won't really make a difference, but actually will in the long run.

Such is life and beauty, they go hand-in-hand.

Photo by Kyle.

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Venture

NYPPC, Port Washington, NYC.

It was an eventful, and also very tiring, day, seeing as how I came home around midnight.

Today's adventure kept me thinking about how much I'm starting to venture out of my comfortable zone, physically. The me a few years ago would think that leaving my borough so often is just crazy, but look at what's happened now. I've become more accustomed to having this desire of wanting to step out of my home and into places where the afternoon light hits like a halo. As much as I love sleep, there are some days when I want to actually leave my house, although not many.

It's a funny thing when I think about my wanderlust, and my love of beds and sleeping. Two polar opposites, yet still both are parts of me that I can't deny. Balance is always key.

On another note, Daylight Savings is today, and I'm not excited in the slightest. I don't even know why it's still a thing anymore, ugh.

(12:40 AM)

Photo by Kyle.

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Society

Flushing, NYC

When you blur the societal lines, the stakes get higher.

Today I was reminded that majority of the things I do, the way I act, and how I look outwardly, directly challenge many of societies norms. As a creative person, it dawns on you that it's hard to be wholly, and fully who you are a lot of the time. But it makes it just as sweet whenever you meet another person and can be unashamedly yourself.

The stakes get higher because all eyes are on you, and people are looking to see what you'll do next. Will it be controversial? Will it challenge beliefs? Or will it just be insanely crazy?
At the end of the day, you can't satisfy everyone. We're not here to pursue the approval of every person we meet. Be yourself as comfortably as you can, but remember that, in the end, its not about us, because there's a bigger picture to look at.

"Remember, if you can't love yourself, how in the hell are you going to love somebody else?"
- RuPaul

Photo by Kyle.

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Perception

Home, NYC.

This passed weekend I went on a trip to my local Marshall's to see if they had any new and interesting things. You know what they say, "One man's trash is another man's treasure."

I love stepping into the home and furniture section, because I'm always able to find something, whether I end up buying it or not. I saw this plate and instantly fell in love. I'm someone that loves looking at form over function, but I still make sure that it'll be of some use. This plate is just feeding into my obsession with flowers.

When I look at this plate, it reminds me that there is beauty in everything, young and old, new and abandoned. It doesn't matter if it's antique, or if it's modern. As a human being, being "beautiful" doesn't go away with age. You're never "too old;" if anything your perception of what beauty is becomes more mature and you realize it's an unconditional thing. It's inside every single person and creation.

More photos after the jump.

Progress

Cafe de Cupping, Flushing, NYC.

A true work in progress is a labour of love.

Soaking in all of the afternoon light, before the snow hit yet again, really makes me appreciate having alone time. It's liberating, and helps you find solace after sorting through everything that's been on your mind. As much as I hoped to bump into someone, at the same time I had to remind myself that before you worry about meeting other people, worry about yourself and your own well-being first. Go back into the secret place that only you know about, and find rest there.

As much as this blog is a "work in progress," so are we as people. The process never ends; we'll always have something to learn, but it's a fulfilling and exciting journey. We have to keep moving on, even if it means taking one step back, and two steps forward.

More photos after the jump.

Growing

Two Hands NYC, Little Italy, NYC.

Real friendship is like wine; it gets better with age.

The nicest feeling is catching up with someone, and feeling like you picked up right where you left off. A lot of things happened during your time apart, and now that you're together again, you can finally share the current events of your life.

Time passes. Some friends grow up and move forward in life, and some are comfortable where they are right now. And as a real friend, it should be part of our nature to either walk with them, or pause and meet them where they're at.

'Till next time.

Photo by Kyle.

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