New York, I will always love you

Back in February, New York City started feeling different to me, like I was falling out of love with the city streets that once caught my eye.  As a girl, I was enamored with the flashing lights and the idea that this city never, under any circumstances slept.  Soon after pursuing a job in Manhattan, those city streets that once enamored me only made me sad.  Granted I was commuting during one of the coldest winters, but regardless, it was tough to find myself second guessing the place I thought I loved so much.

I think it had a lot to do with the people.  New York City is home to millions of diverse people, which for me, was what made it so appealing in the first place.  Yet, with all of those people comes a lot of sadness and struggle.  The more I frequented New York, the more I saw and the more I began resenting the city. My heart ached for those people...it still does. I've learned a lot since that internship ended and I've especially learned to love New York again for both its pluses and minuses.  The people are what make New York and their experiences are what keeps it going.

I recently stumbled upon a truly beautiful project called Humans of New York where Brandon (no last name given) photographs people on the streets of New York and gives their picture a home on his increasingly popular blog.  The photo's are accompanied with quotes from those pictured usually prompted by Brandon, but if not, he adds his own commentary.  It's truly a beautiful blog, please check him out.  Here are my favorites:

"I like that she is super strong and tough, but that sometimes she just likes being 'a girl'."

"The Australian Consulate asked me to give advice to an incoming group of Australian immigrants, so I'll tell you what I told them."
"What's that."
"It doesn't matter how good you are, or how hard you work.  There will always be someone in this city who's better at your job than you are."

"I'll give you the same advice that I give everyone."
"What's that?"
"Have a short memory for offenses, and a long memory for kindnesses."

Reading, Living and Loving Relish

I'm pretty certain after reading Daphne Oz's new book, Relish, that her and I should be best friends.  I bought the book simply because I love Daphne Oz and anticipated it to be just a cookbook but friends, it's so much more.

Relish is a book to live by.

From cover to cover, Relish contains practical tips to eating well, loving well, and living well.  From healthy recipes for all three meals to beautiful cocktails and deserts, Daphne Oz gives you a taste of her world.  You can tell how much love when into writing this book and boy do I love it back.

As women, I feel like we often need a few good words to live by and now it seems we have a book.  Every woman should own Relish and not just because it's filled with phenomenal recipe's that are also good for you but because it's filled with advice from hosting a dinner party to navigating a food store.  There's no shortage of incredible, wholesome advice in Relish and as a girl in her young twenties, I needed that!  It's not often you pick up a book and think, "Gee!  This woman read my mind!"  I like to think that in the near future I will need to crack this book open to recall what Daphne said about applying bronzer or when I need to host a dinner party.  Guys, I'm glad I own this book and if you don't already have it, go get it...

To be it simply, Relish is beautifully written.  There's nothing complex about her writing, which, I think is the best part.  To open Relish is to read a conversation with an old friend, it's that good. 


*This is not a sponsored post, I just needed to share this all with you!

Poll of the week!

What should we eat this weekend?!

Tim and I are looking for delicious smoothie recipes to make this weekend.  Does anyone have any suggestions?!

Comment below or let me know at hairbowsandsmiles@gmail.com!