KEEPING IT REAL

I can’t believe I’ve been living in New York for six weeks! The time has truly flown by and yet it feels like so much has happened in a brief period of time. I’ve realized my friends and I keep having variations of the same conversation: how crazy it is to be 23, living in this incredible city, feeling like the world is your oyster, and yet having so many things up in the air. Apartments, careers, friendships, relationships… There are so many moving parts and so little real stability.

The past month has brought a lot of unexpected changes. Move in a week after Christmas? Why not! Head to Salt Lake for a few days? Let’s do it! Time for fashion week? RSVP yes! And for all the happy moments I’ve shared on Instagram and Twitter, truthfully I’ve been in a bit of a funk. As some of you noticed, my boyfriend and I decided to part ways after three years together. Trying to maintain a happy demeanor while nursing a broken heart is exhausting. Running my business out of my little apartment has been a huge adjustment. Heck, even raising a puppy in the city has been more challenging than I’d anticipated.

I don’t say any of this to complain but simply to keep it real. As someone who craves routine, I struggle with the feeling that nothing is really on solid ground right now. But there’s always a silver lining, especially in New York. Every walk around the block is reenergizing. For every sadness and stress, there’s a bright spot — a funny text message, a new favorite coffee shop, a night out with girlfriends, a tried-and-true T.Swift dance party. My friend Eddy has been helping me pack orders a few days a week, which has pretty much rocked my world. There have been bad days, yes, but on the good days I get the sense that something amazing could happen the very next moment. And I’ll be here, right where I’m supposed to be, when it does.

I know this hybrid of confusion and excitement isn’t unique to being 23 or to living in New York. I imagine lots of you are in the same boat – embracing adventure, making mistakes, realizing that maybe there’s no such thing as having it all figured out (or maybe that it’s more fun not to). As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts. And thank you all for being part of this crazy, exciting, weird time in my life. It wouldn’t be the same without you. 🙂

*Images 1 / 2 / 3 and more New York favorites here

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