A Letter To New York City

A Letter To New York City

Dear New York, 

This summer has flown by, it wasn't until about last weekend when I escaped home for a bit of a detox that I realized how fleeting my time here is. A lot is scheduled to change in my life soon, I'm starting my senior year of college and then entering the "real world" shortly there after. 

I was unsure about you, New York. In the beginning I was go, go, go, and constantly trying new things, going to new places, and being little Miss Explorer everyday. But then things got busy, I got so caught up in my work, I got stressed and soon the hustle and bustle became less inspiring and a bit more daunting. 

Waking up in a windowless room after barely getting four to five hours of sleep each day I was constantly exhausted. Overwhelmed by the amount of work I had to do for myself, and "had" is a strong word. Should I rephrase it and say that I was overwhelmed by the amount of work I wanted to do for myself. The videos I wanted to make, the photos I wanted to take, I wanted to do it all, and yet there never felt like there was enough time in the world to do it.

Bogged down by stress and time, I was feeling at a loss so I ran home! I thought that going home for some time with family, friends and real nature, not city planned greenery, would make me come back feeling recharged, renewed, and refreshed.

The entire train ride back to the city I was feeling good, granted I was watching Stranger Things and eating fresh baked cookies, feeling good was inevitable. But the second, the SECOND I walked off of the train and on to the Penn Station platform I was bombarded with humidity, people shoulder to shoulder, and immediate frustration. I did not want to be back, I wanted to be floating on the river, ears full of water, skin dappled by a mild sunburn from a setting sun like I was the day prior.

For about a day or so this feeling persisted. It wasn't until I was talking to my friend who reminded me that, "tomorrow is a new day." It was Wednesday and something just clicked. All of a sudden, seemingly out of nowhere, I had a great burst of inspiration. I realized that I'm only here for 19 more days, I have to really fill each of those days, and begin them with set intentions and a purpose without being too hard on myself if I don't get things done.

I want to give New York another chance. I had been saying, "maybe it's not for me, maybe I should try San Fransisco or LA after college," but at the same time I don't want to give up. I'm not someone who just gives up. Yes it can be frustrating feeling as though I work, work, work, and see little progress or growth, but that's what sets me apart, and what can set anyone apart too. Working hard. 

New York, you are a place that has made me realize my potential. You are a place where I am eager to return to and get my gears moving and grooving. Although there may never feel as though there is enough time to do all that I want to do, I am feeling positive about doing the most for myself. I do what I do because I love it. Even when I take breaks I cant stay away from creating, because it's what I love to do!

New York, maybe you and I are simply meant to be. Perhaps this high strung, humid summer is just what I needed from you to motivate me, that's what a change of scenery should do after all, right? 

New York, I'd label our relationship as complicated, something that drives me crazy, but I just can't stay away, sounds a whole lot like love, or at least how it is in the movies. 

New York, I hate to leave you so soon, but don't worry, I'll be back. 

Yours,

Olivia 

COME WITH ME TO THE COLOR FACTORY

COME WITH ME TO THE COLOR FACTORY

Dress- Flagpole

HELLO! I've been busy, busy, BUSY lately!! But no use in making excuses, I'm here blogging now and that's all that matters! SO HI! How are you, how's your dog? How's your grandma? How's your pinky toe? Mine? I've got a blister from walking so gosh darn much in this city, but other than that it's all good!

Today I got the AWESOME opportunity to go to The Color Factory with Flagpole (where I'm interning this summer) with the other interns and we had the ABSOLUTE BEST TIME! It was SO much fun, and me being the color queen that I am, I was having a total field day in there. I didn't realize it would be as guided as it was but it was surprisingly very organized and for how many people were there, it wasn't terribly congested, we even got some rooms to ourselves!

The experience started off with rainbow macaroons, which of course I could NOT resist! I had a BLUE vanilla one! They were so delicious, I'm an absolute sucker for macaroons, I can never get them to rise correctly when I bake them though, any tips?

Each room was either sponsored by a company or inspired by an artist, this room had to do with the study of sound and I want to say synesthesia? Correct me if I'm wrong Color Factory goers, but I'm pretty sure that was the deal. Very cool! The cacophony of sound was somewhat overwhelming but somehow sounded good together, regardless if it was a reckless child banging on the little chimes, or someone actually jamming out a beat. It was fun!

This room was COOL! It was basically a color personality quiz that you can see in my video once I publish that, didn't get any photos, and then you were led into a dark room where then a flash took your photo and your color personality was revealed! No surprise I got this pinky purple :-) As you can see from the photo I was SHOCKED by the flash! haha!! My reaction is in the photo, I literally screeched!

THE DANCING QUEEN ROOM! We had SO much fun in here, we were basically alone, except for when Emily accidentally got in the back of someones photo and she got yelled at in Russian... yikes, just tryna have fun here... Dancing around on this floor was amazing, where are the clubs like this? I need to live out my Lorde, Green Light fantasy for reals!!

Love this!

Something else cool that they do, we each got little QR Code cards where we could scan, take group photos, and then they would be emailed to us! They really thought of everything here!

RIP my stollen bike, I hope this is what bike heaven looks like and she's there thriving, being her best little bike angel self. Love you buddy

THE BALL PIT! What the Color Factory is pretty much known for I'd say, it was GIANT and SO fun! There were moments where we literally could not stand up just because you know, balls, but it was such a blast, we were in there for so long just jumping around, having a BALL! :-) Also apparently they clean it ball by ball with a fancy ball vacuum so germaphobes calm yourselves, it was clean (ish)

The intern crew! Dana and Emily :-)

This installation was right at the entrance, SO pretty, SO many colors and made out of paper too! I would love something like this in my house or at my wedding one day! TOO cool!

We love a blurry photo almost as much as we love Dana and Emily! I seriously lucked out with having these gals on my team, they're the sweetest ever! Dana actually also went to SCAD and just graduated, we have a lot of mutual friends, what a small world!!

And that's it! There were many more rooms not pictured here, you've just got to go to see them for yourself! Overall, today was SUCH a blast! I'm so grateful for this job and all the fun opportunities it has brought me like this! Thank you Flagpole and THANK YOU Color Factory for such a spectacular day!

I will do my best to post on here more, I have been work work working so much since being here it feels like time is just flying by! I am only in New York for about three weeks more, not even! Where has the summer gone? Anyway, thanks for hanging out! I'll see y'all soon I promise ;-)

xo, O