Lifestyle Archives

Weekend Reading for the Soul, at the farmers market

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My company, ZAMARTZ, sponsors the local farmer’s market in Upper Merion Township, Pennsylvania—or King of Prussia, as it’s known to the locals. As part of this sponsorship, I have a booth at the farmer’s market. Recently, my long-time best friend, Hannah Biddle, came to visit me at my booth.

Hannah’s about to make a big life change and move to another state. In the meantime, we’re trying to find time to spend together amidst our respective busy schedules and the state of the world. Anyway, she came that day to give me a book she’d found: Water, Woods & Wild Things, a memoir by American writer Hannah Kirshner that recounts her excursion to a Japanese mountain town and her introduction to its culture, craftsmanship and community.

Angel and I are both Japanophiles, as I’ve attested to before, and Hannah knows our interests well. This book was a great way for us to get into the spirit of our balcony and its verdant garden. Hannah didn’t even know I’d just gotten my green Japanese maple when she gave me the book! And my garden, Japanese maple and all, is just the right, serene setting for me to sit down, do some weekend reading, and get into the mindset of the Japanese and their slower way of life.

In Austin, Texan Stars & Lips Abound

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When Angel and I flew to Austin, Texas for Ken and Joey’s wedding, we also took the opportunity to take a short vacation of sorts. We flew to Austin a day before the wedding festivities and celebrations commenced. While in Austin, we took the time to explore, peruse the city, and as self-professed “foodies” are wont to do—try restaurants and Texan delicacies.

(As a disclaimer: while on the trip, we didn’t live recklessly. Necessary precautions were taken and mask mandates were followed. We conscientiously adhered to any and all rules regulated by the CDC in restaurants, public places, and of course at the wedding. Upon arrival, we took a rapid COVID-19 test and continued to receive negative results throughout the entire week.)

After checking in, Angel and I explored the Austin Motel. A gay-friendly hotel, its signage took the shape of a penis set in bright neon lights. (I can’t say that we didn’t immediately buy a matching magnet of its likeness to put on our refrigerator.) The Austin Motel had an old-school motel feeling—a throwback modernized for its 21st-century guests. Full of novel architectural details, it followed the practice of pairing old historical bones with new modern minutiae. To speak to this, I slept in a room replete with lip print-patterned wallpaper, a big leather-bound bed, and a rotary phone.

Now, for food. While in Texas, it was almost an obligation to eat breakfast tacos at least once! Not too far from our hotel was a little roadside taco stand, where we bought and consumed our breakfast tacos on a couple of mornings. And when not eating tacos, we also went to a few restaurants with James Beard award-winning chefs. The first, called the Odd Duck, served several cocktails that were distilled in barrels on tap. With our drinks, we enjoyed a plate of seared scallops and a Wagyu beef burger in addition to some vegetarian turkey bacon. A couple of restaurants were also recommended to us—one being La Condesa Austin, which served huitlacoche quesadillas from fermented corn. A delicacy I couldn’t pass up!

While perusing the town, being New Yorkers, Angel and I wanted to walk everywhere. Turns out, Austin isn’t a “walking” city. There were periods where we walked amongst other pedestrians and other times when we felt like the last two people on earth. While walking around, we visited the state capitol, an interesting yet imposing building in and of itself. We noticed then, as we had been noticing for days—the Texas star is never far from sight. On our way to and from the Capitol, I took the opportunity to snap a few pictures of the various stars around town.

All in all, it was a great trip—a chance to celebrate close friends and travel!

Ken & Joey, Welcome to Married Life

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My good friends Joey and Ken got married this year around the same time vaccinations rolled out. It was a scary time to be flying, but after doing our part to stay safe, Angel and I flew to Austin, Texas to celebrate our friends’ union.

We had planned out the trip months ago, and while traveling, we made sure to exercise caution and be fastidious with our hand sanitizer. At the airport and on the plane, we wore our face shields, masks, and gloves. In Texas, we rented our own car to keep and maintain that all-important six feet of social distancing.

Though wary, I ended up really liking Austin. During our stay, the weather was perfect each day. We spent a lot of our time dining outside or choosing restaurants still in accordance with mass mandates and six-foot-apart safety measures, though at that time Texas had dropped their restrictions. We still felt pretty safe.

Joey and Ken’s wedding was held at the Austin Motel, a gay-friendly hotel decked out in neon lights. Each room was themed; ours was decorated with lip-print motifs and a bright red leather headboard on the bed. We had rented a red Mustang for the trip, so we definitely fit in at the hotel!

There was a courtyard next to the main building. On our first day, we gathered there for a meet-and-greet cocktail hour. That’s also where the on-site clinic was, where all wedding guests were required to receive a COVID-19 test. The entire wedding party was vaccinated, but since the vaccines had just been rolled out, not everyone in attendance had been able to receive their second or even first dose. Everyone was then required to participate in an on-site test. Without the test results, you weren’t allowed to remove your mask.

Everything was very well thought-out. No surprise for Ken and Joey! The courtyard during that first happy hour was beautiful; cocktails and finger foods were served

The next day, a brunch was held for all wedding guests. Later that afternoon was the wedding. The event was entirely outdoors, at The Contemporary Austin. The ceremony took place under a tree-covered amphitheater overlooking a lake. At the end of the wedding, Ken and Joey ran through a sparkler runway to where a pickup truck driven by a drag queen was waiting. As they stood on the bed of the truck, giant fireworks shot up into the air while monster trucks drove by in a cloud of billowing red smoke.

At the after-party, the Austin Motel lit up their swimming pool with neon lights for a late dip. There was fast food to eat, and time for Ken and Joey’s close family and friends to wind down after the excitement of the day.

It was a great wedding, full of great people. I’m so happy for Ken and Joey and wish them lots of luck and love. Welcome to married life!

Blue Is a State of Mind, all day – every day

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Having a job in fashion myself, I suppose clothes do make the man. It is my job for fashion to be top-of-mind and for my closet to demonstrate this accordingly, after all. There is, however, a lot to consider in fashion. Styles, cuts, and colors are just a few examples that don’t even begin to delineate the many options one must choose between. In an effort to simplify my life and lessen my own daily decision fatigue, I decided long ago to strip down my closet to just one shade: blues.

Here you’ll see a photo of me at Ken and Joey’s wedding reception in Austin, Texas almost eight years ago. My outfit that day was no exception to my uniform blue color. A beautiful day and an even more beautiful wedding, it was held on the campus of a small art college and sculpture garden. I was at the reception, in an Italian-style villa, when I noticed that at the back of the home there was this profuse, lush greenery. Everything was so striking, I felt compelled to, using the greenery as a backdrop, take a moment and pose for a photo to commemorate the happy day, my chosen wedding outfit, and my blue state of mind.

4 Years of Nintendo Switch and I’m still loving it!

Just found this old selfie of myself from four years ago—the day I got my hands on my original Nintendo Switch. I look excited, right? Well, I might seem a tad underwhelmed in the photo, but trust me, I was beyond thrilled!

Gaming has always been my go-to escape when life piles on the responsibilities. There’s something special about diving into another world, tackling challenges, and hitting those rewarding milestones. Sometimes it’s not even about the deeper stuff; it’s purely for fun. After all, a little gaming downtime never hurt anyone—balance, right?

I might not dive into The Legend of Zelda as often as I used to, but every time I pick it up, I’m transported back to that day I first powered on my Switch. The excitement, the adventure, and how quickly I got lost in the world—it’s all still fresh.

Now with the Nintendo Switch 2 on the horizon, I can’t wait for what’s next. Here’s to more gaming adventures ahead!

Winter Wonderland on the Hudson River

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My apartment window was the perfect place to witness how frosty weather transforms the Hudson River. It’s easy to appreciate the beauty of winter when you’re indoors, and far away from the cold. This is a portrait of one of the snowiest days this year, and I saw it for more than what it was.

As the snow fell, the barge that was floating in the distance became barely visible. I was reminded that once I move, memories of this apartment will become obscure and distant, much like the barge. This time next year, I will no longer have this view. But with a change of scenery, comes a change of perspective.

Reflecting on the Week

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There is always a point in the day where the Hudson River is calm and still. And in those moments, a reflection of the sky is painted in the water. This body of water is constantly moving, flowing, going, yet takes a pause every now and then.

Taking the time to witness this put things into perspective. Out of all the busy days in this busy life of mine, I deserve a moment to just…be. That way, whenever the tide begins to turn, I will be ready to ride the wave.

Tropical Twilight Sunset Inside my Bedroom

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When my Philips Hue bulb’s Tropical Twilight setting turned on, I was transported to the vacation that I didn’t know I needed. The contrast between the deep blue, sunset sky outside and the sweet, sherbet-colored lighting in my room looked like a scene from an A24 film, one that won multiple awards in the “Best Cinematography” category. Who knew that a simple light setting could completely transform a space?

It was a dark, cold, and dreary winter night in New York. Nowhere near the tropics, or any sort of warmth for that matter. From the months of November through February, most days are that way in the “Yonks.” In control of my own environment (my bedroom), I had it reflect what I need — in this case it was warmth, beauty, and brightness.

Happy New Year to all 2021

No one expected the pandemic to be over once the clock struck midnight on December 31, 2020.
So, my husband and I did not have anyone over, and neither of us went out to party. One of my New Year’s traditions is to hang out with one of my good friends. Since we both wanted to stay safe, we had to find another way to celebrate.

If 2020 taught me anything, it was to start improvising. My friend and I could not party in person, but nothing was stopping us from bringing the NYE celebration to Animal Crossing New Horizons! We dressed our villagers up in party attire, watched the countdown, and enjoyed the virtual fireworks. Sure, it was not the same as hanging out in real life but it was fun and different, most importantly we did it together.

Sweet weekend snoozes

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Most people use the weekends to unwind and pamper themselves. Well, I am the same way, but with my pup. As a dog parent, I always want the best for my little Dyson. Sometimes a nice bath and nap on my Brooklinen sheets is all he needs to feel good.

Whether you are a dog or cat person, furry friends bring so much joy to our lives! Even when Dyson sleeps, just noticing how sweet he looks makes me smile. I think my dog deserves his own Instagram. I am always tempted to fill up my feed with cute pictures like this one.

Between work calls & filters

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I was scrolling through my Instagram page and saw that I share about the world around me a lot, but what has been missing on my page is…me. Since the pandemic hit, I have not gone out much so that has led to a decrease in photo-ops. And then there is the “selfie” option, what is it about the front camera that makes getting a good picture so hard?

I have been on a lot of conference calls lately, but when I got some down time I created my own photo opportunity. The first step to taking any great picture is lighting, and the window in my apartment was perfect. Now for a great selfie, you need a great filter. I landed on the Cherry Blossom one from Instagram, found my angle, and got my shot. #WFH

Weekend Selfie mode

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I think every home has a good “selfie spot.” I finally discovered mine while I was packing up my things, and getting ready to move to a new place. The sun always seems to shine brighter on the weekends. On this day, it beamed through the blinds on our kitchen window. So, I stood there and got my sun-kissed selfie.

When a picture is in black and white, it makes subtle details stand out more. The contrast between my eyes was prominent, even without color. One of my eyes was lit up by the sun, making my iris shimmer like a gemstone.