Happy Fall, Y'all!

Fall has official taken over here in New York City. And no, it wasn’t the festive autumn Starbucks cups or the pumpkin spice-everything on the store shelves that gave it away. There’s a light chill in the air and the New Yorkers have officially broken out their boots, sweaters and scarves. Coming from Texas, I’m not quite used to having these cool temps in early October. It’s the kind of weather where you could comfortably wear that adorable Fall outfit you pinned on your Pinterest board and not have to fear that you’d be sweating by the end of the day.

               

However, there are days when the temperature is a little higher and a jacket and scarf combo just seems like too much. Especially when your morning commute consists of a packed subway ride and 20 minute walk outside. New York is a much more humid place than you might imagine. Once you go underground and get a little overheated, stepping outside into the sticky air causes that light sweat that had begun to accumulate on your brow to multiply.

I’ve learned to just carry my blazers and cardigans, rather than wear them, in order to try and make sure I make it to work without looking like I just ran a marathon. I’m serious here, the sweat is real. Like, why did I even bother with make-up or blow drying my hair, real. Yesterday morning it was in the low 60’s and I was rocking a short-sleeved shirt. I swear I got so many weird looks, because everyone else was all bundled up. I thought it felt great! And when I got to work, no sweat. Make-up intact, hair still looking pretty good. It was magical. Adapting is key.

Did I also mention a couple of weeks ago we were told to stay alert regarding a particular hurricane named Joaquin? Yeah. Never did I think I would move away from the Gulf Coast to the Northeast and still have to monitor a hurricane. Luckily, we just had some rain that weekend as a result of Joaquin’s close proximity, but nothing too extreme. Our friends in South Carolina weren’t so lucky. Prayers to all of those affected by the horrible flooding there.

Seasons changing not only mean a shift in the weather, but also the passing of time. And speaking of time, it has officially been a little over a month since I moved into my new apartment! It’s been nearly two months since I left Texas for my new life in the city. I’ve also just had my one-monthiversary at work. It’s all very exciting.

While my apartment still isn’t quite as decorated as I would like for it to be, it is definitely starting to feel like my place. My mom shipped me five boxes full of some of my things I’d left in Texas, like kitchenware, pictures, wall hangings, décor, and my winter clothes. Now that I’ve got photos of family and friends all around, the place really feels like my home, rather than just a place where I live.

Photos make a place feel like home

The same day all of my stuff arrived, I finally secured some pots and pans, which means I’m now able to do a bit of cooking. It is expensive eating out all of the time, so for the past two weeks I’ve meal-prepped my lunches and dinners. It’s not only a money saver, but also a healthier alternative to eating out. On the weekends, I treat myself to something good, which I usually stretch out into several meals that I eat all weekend long.

I’ve already met some pretty amazing people through work. We try to all get together once a week to do something fun and hang out. One week it was a rooftop happy hour followed by dinner at a Korean restaurant (a type of cuisine I’d never had before but it was quite delicious!). The next week was a movie (The Martian for those curious…it was really good and much funnier than you’d expect) proceeded by hours of conversation on the steps of the New York Public Library.

Our group is very diverse, which is one of the things I love most about us. Growing up in a small town in Texas, I was surrounded by people who were all very similar to me, in background, upbringing, religion, etc. When I went off to college, there was a more diverse population, but it was nothing compared to the diversity here in New York. I’ve always been interested in getting to know people of different cultures and religions. I’m fortunate that my parents taught me to be open-minded, respectful, and tolerant of those who were different from me. It’s humbling really. Our world is such a large place and rarely do we get to see what life is like for the other people who share it with us. This group of people that I’ve met have come from all over the world, from different upbringings and backgrounds, have different religions than me, and different life experiences. It’s been so incredible getting to know them, and I’m looking forward to continuing our friendship.

Even though I’ve only been here in New York for a short amount of time, it feels like I’ve been here ages. It’s amazing what getting into a daily routine does to your brain. Another thing I’ve learned as I’ve gotten older is that time seems to start moving faster. The weekends these days seem to go by in the blink of an eye! Or maybe that’s just what happens when you’re a working adult. I’m not sure, I’m kind of new at this.

I’m looking forward to the holidays, seeing the city change along with the times. The ice skating rink has been erected in front of Rockefeller Center and the flowerbeds have been filled with pumpkins and gourds. Window displays have adapted to have a much more autumnal feel. And Saks Fifth Avenue has an incredible Christian Louboutin window-display going right now…but I digress. I know it won’t be long before the Christmas season hits and I can’t wait! But for now, I’m going to enjoy each holiday as it comes.

Ice Skating Rink construction at Rock Center

This past Sunday, I threw on some comfy clothes, grabbed a blanket and a book, and headed to my favorite area of Central Park. I found a spot close by where I spent several hours just reading and enjoying the amazing weather. Sometimes I still feel like I’m living in a dream, but then Monday rolls around and I have to go to work and I remember that if this were a dream, I probably wouldn’t be working.

Lazy Sunday in the Park

Those feelings of anxiety and that questioning mind I had when I first arrived, have all gone out the window. I keep Texas always close to my heart, but for right now, I’m embracing New York and seeing what life has to offer. Just enjoying this experience one day at a time.

Happy Fall, Y’all!

Alex

Moving To New York: As Told By An Overthinking, Type-A Princess: Part 4

Hey Everybody!

Sorry I’ve been silent for the past week and a half-ish. I was doing so well with the consecutive posting, but I had training for work this past week and things got really busy. Never fear, I’ve got a new post for you guys detailing the move-in and the days that followed.

As I said in the last post, if you can remember back that far J, September 8^th finally arrived. Mom and I loaded up the hotel cart with all of our things, laughing the whole time because we knew we looked SO ridiculous. Standing on the curb with our trolley, we waited for our Uber driver to arrive. His eyes literally BUGGED OUT when he saw how much crap we had! And the poor guy wouldn’t let us help him load the stuff up! Once we got it all in, we headed off for my apartment.

After I signed my lease the week before, the real estate office gave me a key to my building, but told me I’d have to get in touch with the building superintendent in order to get the key to my actual apartment. I called him that afternoon, but only reached his voicemail where I left a message. The next day he called me back and we had a brief chat. My apartment had been undergoing renovations and he informed me that installing the kitchen countertop was the only thing left. He followed that up by saying it wouldn’t be finished until September 9th because of the holiday weekend. (If you remember, move-in on September 8^th…hmmm) I said I didn’t care if it wasn’t there when I moved in and he said okay. We decided I would let him know an hour before Mom and I planned to arrive at my building so he could meet us there on move-in day.

Now over the course of that weekend, after our initial conversation, I tried to reach him several times with no luck. When I was ordering my bed at Macy’s, they asked if I knew whether my building allowed weekend deliveries….because apparently that’s a thing…buildings don’t want their tenants being disturbed by furniture being moved on the weekends so they sometimes restrict it. I tried to reach the super to ask about this, but received no response…not even the next day…or the next. Needless to say, I was extremely frustrated.

So, when Tuesday morning rolled around, an hour and a half before we’d decided we would arrive at my building, I gave the super a call. Not surprisingly, I reached his voicemail where I left a message. After an hour went by without hearing a confirmation from him that he would be there to meet us, we called him from my mom’s phone and what do you know, he answered! He said he didn’t get my message and he couldn’t be there to let us in until 1:00 PM…it was currently 10:00 AM. Annoyed.

Now let’s get to the good stuff. Our Uber driver dumped us outside of my building with our wares around 12:45 that afternoon. My building has this small courtyard so we were able to chill in there while we waited for the super, rather than be right out on the sidewalk for all the world to see.

When 1:00 rolled around, there was no sign of the super. We gave him a few more minutes, and he finally showed up. They had to change the lock on my door, but then I’d be good to go. After meeting my super in person, he was very nice and I was a little less annoyed by the fact I couldn’t reach him all weekend. The super had some guys that work for him there that day, and they offered to help us carry my stuff up.

Have I mentioned that I’m on the fourth floor? But really it’s like the 5^th floor because there are no apartments on the ground level, so the second floor is technically considered the 1^st floor. This means, four flights of stairs to get up to my place. Steep stairs, might I add. (I just keep reminding myself that I’ll have a great butt thanks to all these stairs…it’s what gets me through!)

We were thankful for the help but felt SO BAD for the guys. They chose to carry up the two overweight suitcases. And we know it was a struggle for them! Mom and I made about two trips up and down ourselves, carrying up the remainder of my stuff.

Finally, after almost TWO weeks of living in New York, I was in my very own place!!!! The place I would be calling home for the next year, at least. It was so exciting!

Just Moved In!

But Mom was on a mission to get me the rest of the things I needed. Almost immediately after getting all of my stuff up, she was ready to set off! So, to K-Mart we went. We did some shopping there, then grabbed an Uber back to my place because there was no way we were going to be able to maneuver the rush hour subway with all of our stuff.

Once that load was done, and our stair climbing count was up to…ummm 4, Mom looked at me and said, “I think we should just go ahead and go to Bed, Bath, and Beyond and get the last few things…” I sighed heavily, because the day had just been seriously exhausting, but I agreed and off we went to get MORE things!

There is one big window in my apartment and there were no blinds, so it was just wide open. I wasn’t too bothered, but Mom was NOT a fan. She made me buy some paper shades to put up in the window. I was talking to my dad later that night and he laughed, saying my mom was a huge fan of paper shades and it didn’t surprise him at all. Whatever. I had to balance on the window sill to try and tape them up so that we could have the privacy my mom desired. (Sidenote: the paper shades are still up…but you can’t really tell because there are curtains covering them…hahaha)

That night, Mom and I slept on air mattresses. It’s a great memory and I’ll always remember sleeping on a blow-up mattress in my very first apartment with my mom!

The next morning, I got a call from IKEA notifying me that my furniture delivery window was set between 5:00 and 9:00 PM. Of course. I had requested some time before noon, if possible. Something I learned on this move was NEVER to expect things to go the way I wanted them to. Because they just wouldn’t!

So, we kind of took our time that morning getting ready and we ran a few more errands, like going to Pier One and getting my new dishes and some fabulous curtains! Everything was on-sale, which was a real treat. We followed that up with ANOTHER trip to Bed, Bath, and Beyond…like, seriously, I am so over this place. As I write this, I’m already thinking about the fact I need to go tomorrow to get a couple more things…ugh!!!!!

Once we got back to the apartment, we settled in to wait for the IKEA delivery. In order to make sure we were ready for a night spent assembling furniture, Mom and I ordered Patsy’s for dinner, having them deliver a pizza, some pasta, and a salad. We sat on the floor, with our dinner spread out in front of us, and ate it on paper plates. Another great memory.

Yummmm!!

While waiting on the delivery, I washed all of my new dishes and everything…in the bathtub. My kitchen countertop didn’t end up getting installed on the 9^th like I’d originally thought. Instead, it was the next day. I wanted to get all of my dishes put away…so I settled for the bathtub. You just have to make do sometimes!

I don’t think I mentioned the laundry. So, my apartment doesn’t have a washer and dryer in the unit, nor does it have a washer and dryer in the entire building. So, I’m going to have to drop my laundry off at places to have it washed, or go to a laundromat, whatever is most convenient. The day before I dropped off all of my new towels, sheets and two weeks worth of dirty clothes to have them washed at a little place down the street. Mom went and picked those up for me before the IKEA delivery. I will say, the whole drop your laundry off and have someone else wash and fold it for you is kind of nice. I picked up a load yesterday and it was just so easy!

So FINALLY at about 8:00 PM, the IKEA delivery showed up! There was only one guy delivering several HEAVY boxes. Mom and I couldn’t believe it. He also couldn’t get the whole box with the couch pieces in it up the stairs, and we had to convince him to take them out of the box in order to get it up the stairs.

Once everything was inside, we got started. First, came the loveseat, because it was the easiest thing to put together (it had the fewest pieces). While Mom ironed the loveseat cover, I began work on the 8-drawer dresser I’d purchased. I don’t even know how many pieces there were but just know that there were a LOT of parts. Slowly but surely, we built that dresser and by the next morning, it was complete!

Not too shabby!

The next day, sadly, it was time for Mom to go home. I’m so SO grateful for the time we spent getting things for my apartment and getting it all put together. My mom and dad have been so supportive through this entire process, even though I know it was hard for them to watch their little girl move across the country. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without their help. Love you, both!!

Mom and I managed to say goodbye with no tears this time! As she was leaving, the workers came to install my new kitchen countertop and sink. They also hooked up my stove, which I hadn’t even realized wasn’t hooked up.

My Kitchen

My Bathroom (It's bigger than it looks in the picture, I promise!)

That Saturday my bed was delivered. Of course, that didn’t go as planned either. The delivery guys couldn’t get the box spring up because the ceiling on the first floor is too low. So, I was left with a bed frame in a box and a mattress resting on the floor. The next day, I went to Macy’s to order a split box spring and of course, that delivery wasn’t going to be able to happen for almost two weeks!

On Monday, September 14^th, I started my first day at work. The first day of my career, as my dad put it. I spent the first week going through orientation and then a few days of training. The next week, I went back to Texas for more training. That’s where my firm’s training facility is located. It was like being on vacation, except I was working every day.

Of course, my room had an amazing view of the countryside and it made me miss Texas even more than I already did. Overall, the transition has been going well. If I’m being honest, I’ve definitely been more homesick than I thought I would be. I think that’s only natural though, as I continue settling in.

I’ve already made some great friends at work and I can’t wait to see what’s to come!

I’m hoping to try and post as much as I can, especially when something exciting happens.

Please keep me in your prayers as I continue getting used to life in New York City!!

XOXO,

Alex

P.S. This past Saturday my split box spring was delivered and I finally have a whole bed to sleep on! And oh, is it heavenly!!!

Moving To New York: As Told By An Overthinking, Type-A Princess: Part 3

Hello, hello, hello!

So glad you came back!

After signing my lease and finding out I couldn’t move in until the 8^th, my mom and I got a game plan together. We moved to a hotel on Friday evening and stayed there until my move-in day. She also decided to extend her trip a couple of days so she could be here to help once I ACTUALLY got moved in. Mommy, thank you SO SO MUCH!!!!

We decided it’d be best to start ordering furniture and scheduling delivery for the day of or day after my move-in date. Our hotel was in close proximity to a really good TJ Maxx, Century 21 (an incredible discount store), and a Bed, Bath & Beyond. Speaking of which, if I don’t see the inside of a Bed, Bath & Beyond for a month…it will be too soon. Anyways, we utilized those places to accumulate housewares like towels, sheets, a duvet cover, blankets, etc. Our tiny little hotel room was practically bursting with all of our stuff!!! It was ridiculous!

Another wonderful place we utilized was IKEA. Oh yes, you all know about the wonder of IKEA….or at least, I’m sure you all know. If not, you should go to your nearest IKEA and find out! I think I’ve been to the Houston IKEA maybe twice in my life and neither of those times was I searching for myself. Now it was my turn to make decisions about what kind of furniture was going to adorn my studio apartment and IT WAS SOOOOO OVERWHELMING. But I think maybe that’s just what happens when you go to IKEA….you get ridiculously overwhelmed.

It is an absolute fantasyland! A one stop shop for any and everything you could POSSIBLY need to furnish a place at extremely reasonable prices. After doing some research, we figured out that you could get to the IKEA in Brooklyn by taking the IKEA Express water taxi, which is free on the weekends. So, after stopping and getting some Broadway show tickets at the TKTS Booth at South Street Seaport, we headed to Pier 11 and got in the long line for our boat.

Once we boarded, it took maybe 15 minutes to get there and off we went! I felt like a very anxiety ridden kid in a candy store, feeling drawn to one candy thinking it was perfect but then questioning myself as to whether or not that candy was REALLY what I wanted or if I wanted the other candy that I really really love too…this was a theme that emerged throughout the course of the weekend. You’ll see what I mean.

Surprisingly, I decided on a loveseat and coffee table almost straight out of the gate! As we walked further and further through the showrooms, I got more and more overwhelmed. (I think I’ve used that word too much…but oh well! It’s the truth!) Then I picked out an 8-drawer dresser that can also double as an entertainment center if I decide to get a TV. It’s all about saving space in these New York apartments, you see.

Once we were done there, we arrived at the marketplace. Which is literally just chock full of home furnishings!!!! AND I JUST HAD ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA WHAT TO DO WITH MYSELF! I mean there was just so much to choose from! If I’d had unlimited funds, I would have gone hog wild!!! That is what dreams are made of, people! Alas, I settled for some glasses, silverware, and knives. Just to have a little something to start with.

Then came the picking room. For those who haven’t been to IKEA, this is basically a giant warehouse where you locate the heavy boxes that the furniture comes in, load them up on a trolley, and proceed to the check-out line. Did I mention these boxes are heavy…and they are sometimes several shelves up off the ground?! Given that it was just Mom and I, we opted to have the picking done for us. It was a small fee and VERY worth it. We talked to an employee who told us we would have to check-out with the items from the marketplace and then get in the HELLA LONG home delivery line in order to schedule the pick and delivery. Did I also mention the check-out lines were HELLA LONG?! It’s back to school and moving season, so whatever.

After checking out, our cashier told us that we actually didn’t have to get in the home delivery line, but instead go back to the showrooms where we would find a pick and delivery kiosk. We made our way there, scheduled the delivery, paid, and prepared for our exit. But wait, there is only one way out of the showrooms…and that’s to go BACK THROUGH THE ENTIRE STORE!

At this point, Mom and I could not WAIT to get the HELL out of there!!! I think it had been about 3 or 4 hours…WHICH IS ENTIRELY TOO LONG!! We were cutting and weaving our way through that store like we were being pursued by the police or something! But don’t worry, we made it out alive and back to the boat that brought us home! Or at least to our hotel.

The next few days were spent collecting other various items from the stores I mentioned earlier. Mom had to get real with me and tell me it was time to bite the bullet and start making some purchases.

I have this thing about visions. In my head, I can picture exactly how I want something to look. After I saw my apartment, and did some serious Pinterest browsing, I had a very clear vision of what I wanted my color scheme to be, how I wanted my furniture arranged, and what I wanted the general feel of the place to be. I’d been holding off pulling the trigger on purchases because I was worried it didn’t quite fit my “vision.” I’m weird that way. And I get extremely picky when it comes to bringing my visions to life.

Finally deciding Mom was right and I needed to start committing, as she put it, we racked up on things like towels, dishes, bedding, and other various household goods. We stockpiled everything in our hotel room like little chipmunks storing nuts for the winter.

Oh, I also ordered a bed from Macy’s during the Labor Day weekend sale. It’s perhaps the nicest mattress I have ever had and I am so so happy with it! It wouldn’t be delivered until a week after I ordered it, which meant about 4 nights in my new place with no bed, but the sale was just too good to pass up!

Before we knew it, it was Tuesday morning and we were cramming all of our belongings onto a hotel cart and making our way out of the hotel to the waiting Uber car. It was moving day, and we had quite an interesting few days ahead of us!

To hear about move-in day and the days that followed, tune in tomorrow for Part 4!

Obviously I have to talk about the two Broadway shows Mom and I attended while she was here. The first was Finding Neverland, based on the film of the same name about author J.M. Barrie and what led to him writing one of the greatest stories of all time, Peter Pan. The show stars Matthew Morrison, aka Mr. Scheuster from Glee, as Barrie and Laura Michelle Kelly as Sylvia, the single mother of four boys who inspires Barrie to write his masterpiece. It’s a story about growing up, but not growing up too soon. It’s a story about imagination and inspiration. A story about family and love.

I figured I would like the show, given that I’d heard so many good things about it, but I was not prepared to love it as much as I did. The last 15 minutes of the show I was basically sobbing and I have NEVER done that in a show before! Well…I cried quite a bit at the end of Once…but not this much! The story gets a bit sad at the end, but it was also because I witnessed some of the most beautiful scenes I’d ever seen on stage! One in particular was just so stunning, you’d have to see it to understand! The music was beautiful and the performances by the whole cast were incredible, including the kids.

I think it also got to me because there I was embarking on a great change in my life…growing up if you will…and I was watching a story about how the boy who never grew up was created. I strongly encourage seeing the show if you’re going to be in New York anytime soon! Bring some tissues!

Completely changing gears, the next evening we saw Something Rotten! A comedy musical about down on their luck playwrights, the Bottom brothers, who are struggling to write a play better than the Bard himself, William Shakespeare. Nigel Bottom, absolutely fed up with Shakespeare and all of his fame and glory, decides to consult a soothsayer, Nostradamus, to find out what the next big thing in theatre is. His answer: musicals. Cue an absolutely FANTASTIC musical number called ‘A Musical’ and you’ve got the whole audience giving one of the longest rounds of applause I have ever heard!

William D’Arcy James plays Nigel and Christian Borle plays the rockstar, Shakespeare. This was the third time Mom and I have seen Christian Borle onstage (we kind of love him) and he was just so fantastic, as was James. If you enjoy laughing out loud, having a fantastic time, and funny Shakespeare quips, this show is for you!

Have a great Friday night!

Moving To New York: As Told By An Overthinking, Type-A Princess: Part 2

Hello everyone, welcome back!

Where did I leave off…oh yes! The apartment search! Right! Okay, so I arrived in New York City and went straight to my friend’s place where I would be staying while I hunted the concrete jungle for a place to live.

Earlier in the summer, a friend of mine from grad school helped me get in touch with an Aggie who’s a real estate broker in NYC. During the months leading up to my move, I coordinated with her about various things like what my budget was, what kind of place I was looking for, what neighborhood I wanted to be in, etc. Thank goodness I had her! If I hadn’t, the whole thing would have been WAY MORE stressful.

When you apply for an apartment in New York, the process is very similar to applying for a mortgage. You must be approved, based on your credit, income, bank accounts, and such. In order to qualify for a place without having a guarantor, you must make about 40 times the monthly rent in annual salary. Due to the fact I wanted to live in neighborhoods closer to my job in midtown, and the fact I chose not to have a roommate, I wasn’t going to be able to swing it without a guarantor. Luckily, my grandfather agreed to help me out.

Before I arrived, my broker had me collect the documents that leasing agents would most likely require once I found a place I liked. The real estate market in New York is ridiculously fast-paced. You have to be ready to move quickly once you find something you like or else, it’ll be gone. I learned that the hard way!

Feeling quite optimistic and ready to find my new home, I looked at two places the afternoon of my arrival in the city. The first place was WAY bigger than I had imagined a NY apartment being. It was a one bedroom and had quite a large kitchen area and living room. As I was looking around I started thinking that it was pretty spacious and I liked it. Then came its quirky charm…the shower…was in…the kitchen. What looked like a very unassuming pantry door, turned out to be the door to an upright shower…right there…in the kitchen. Like a dum-dum, I did not get a photo of this kitchen shower…but oh my! I had never seen anything like it in my entire life!

Once we wrapped up there, we went and looked at another smaller studio apartment. And boy was it smaller than that first one. There was a decent-sized kitchen, a quite nice bathroom, and then the actual studio part. I honestly think I would have had to get a twin-size bed…and maybe just a little loveseat…and that would be all the furniture I could fit. TINY.

My broker and I ended the day talking about what I liked and didn’t like about those two places and where we were going to be looking the following day. The next morning, I went and walked around the neighborhood where the first two places were located and I realized I really liked the area the first place was in. Kitchen shower and all, I was ready to commit to that one. I figured it would make a good story one day. When I met up with my broker to see another place that afternoon, I told her about how I thought I might want to apply for the first place. We took a look at place number three, which was a really nice one bedroom, and then we parted ways so she could figure out how I could apply for apartment number 1 and number 3…in case one was a no go. You following?

Unfortunately, when we reconvened to look at the next two places that afternoon, Apartments 1 and 3 were gone. Applications were filed by strong candidates and there was very minimal chance I would be able to beat out those applicants. See what I mean about that fast-paced real estate market? So…onto numbers 4 and 5.

The second of these two places ended up being a really nice alcove studio. We decided, since I was in a bit of a time crunch and since it was the favorite of all the available ones I’d seen, I’d go ahead and put in an application.

Without going into too much detail, the alcove studio didn’t pan out. The leasing agent and management company kept requesting more and more personal documents regarding myself and my grandpa, mostly my grandpa, in order to approve me. They weren’t satisfied with bank statements and tax returns. They kept wanting more. It became pretty apparent that they really didn’t want to give me the apartment. Every time we sent them a new document, they asked for more. This lasted about four days before my grandpa pulled the plug and said no more. It was frustrating, but also a relief to just say okay we’re out.

While all this was happening, I looked at two more places and found another I really liked. But alas, it already had an application and security deposit. Another one bites the dust. Total apartment count as of now: 7

Finally on Tuesday afternoon, my broker and I looked at 5 more apartments and guess what….apartment number 12 ended up being THE ONE! (For all you Aggies, pretty cool it ended up being the 12^th apartment I looked at, am I right?) Finally after nearly a week of searching, trying to stay positive, and a tearful phone call with my dad, I found an apartment! And it’s pretty adorable, even if I have to climb up four flights of stairs to get there. We moved quickly and two days later, on September 3^rd, I was signing a lease.

The only problem was, I couldn’t move in until September 8^th….My mom had come in to town to help me get settled and had a flight home on the 7th…and we were going to be homeless when our friend left to visit Texas the next day…

As you can see….I may have found an apartment, but there was still much more adventure to be had….

Tune in for Part 3 tomorrow!

Moving To New York: As Told By An Overthinking, Type-A Princess: Part 1

Well everybody, I’ve done it. I’ve officially moved to New York. It took blood, sweat, and some tears…okay, a lot of tears…to do it, but it happened. I’m here and I’m eager to begin this new chapter in one of my favorite cities. I know many of you, mostly my lovely family, are eager to hear about what’s been going on for the past three weeks since I left Texas. Well, here goes nothing! For the next few days, I will be uploading blog posts about my big move and my thoughts on New York life thus far. So ready your popcorn, pop some bubbly, or whatever, and get ready for Moving To New York: As Told By An Overthinking, Type-A Princess.

All those years spent dreaming about moving to New York, living the city life and having so much culture and art at my fingertips, I never once thought about the logistics. What exactly does a cross-country move to New York look like? How do I get all of my stuff there? How does one get furniture up to their apartment if they live in a walk-up and don’t have any friends yet? Will I be able to get things delivered? What if I don’t have laundry in my apartment building?

Did I mention I flew to New York not even having a place to live?! Crazy, right. Especially for someone like me.

So here’s my version of what it was like to move to New York City. It may not be this way for everyone, and perhaps I could have done things differently, but this is the saga of a type-A, anxiety-ridden, overreacting, overemotional Princess…named Alex J

The night before my one-way trip to NYC, I was frantically packing. Definitely not my best move. Instead of relaxing and enjoying one final night with my family, I was cramming way too much stuff into two suitcases and a duffle, while lamenting about how I just didn’t understand why my personal belongings seemed to keep growing, rather than shrinking, in size. I managed to get all of my clothing (except the winter essentials), shoes, undergarments, accessories, toiletries, and other various must-haves into the bags that would be flying with me the next day.

That same night, as I was cleaning out some purses, the fact that I was moving states away and that my life was changing hit me like a brick wall and, while I’m not proud to say it, I spent most of that evening crying. Because once I manage to let one teardrop escape, the floodgates opened for business.

In my defense, I hadn’t had a proper cry since I graduated college back in May. And for a person who emotes as much as me, that’s a really long time to keep those feelings bottled up! I’ve never been a nostalgic person and I’ve never been sad about one chapter of my life closing and another one beginning. To me, these are exciting life events. The difference in graduating college and graduating high school is that, after high school, you know college is the likely next step. However, after college…the possibilities are endless. The world is at your fingertips and you get to make your life whatever you want it to be. And if I sit and think about that too hard…I get really freaked out!

I’m a planner, I like to have a rough agenda. I like to foresee where my life could potentially be. Of course I have goals and aspirations, but I can’t picture another upcoming milestone the way you can picture walking across a stage holding a diploma. The secretary of my life called and said she shredded all of my agendas and my schedule for the next who knows how many years is WIDE OPEN. Scary stuff. But also ridiculously exciting. Because now I get to make it whatever I want it to be.

So back to packing and crying. And when I say crying, I mean the ugly, heavy kind. I was crying about the fact that I was done with college, done attending the greatest university in the whole world, Texas A&M, done living in College Station, and done living in Texas. Tears were falling because I would no longer be seeing my best friends every single day and wouldn’t be able to just hop in the car and drive to see my family when I wanted. I was also crying out of fear…fear of the unknown and the enormous life-change that was heading my way. Fear I’d made the wrong choice.

But I don’t really believe in wrong choices. I’ve always wanted to live in New York and I had the perfect opportunity to make that happen. If it doesn’t end up being everything I thought it’d be or if I just don’t see myself being here anymore, then that’s okay. At least I tried. I would never regret taking the chance to live in New York City, but I would definitely regret NOT taking it. When you’ve wanted to do something your whole life, you owe it to yourself to give it a shot.

Once I finished packing and calmed down, I was able to sleep, somewhat soundly, before waking up and preparing for the long journey ahead. With two overweight suitcases, a large Vera Bradley duffle, and a tote bag, we headed to the airport with my parents driving as I sat quietly in the backseat of the car. Just like I was a little kid again. All of the “See You Soon’s” had been said, and one final goodbye to my trusty first car, Ella the Elantra. (At the time this post was written, Ella had found a new home. I don’t want to talk about it L)

Once arriving at the airport, I checked in for my Southwest flight and made my way to the security lines, where I had a tearful goodbye with my parents. I do NOT like crying in front of people. I put on my sunglasses as fast as I could but the tears were streaming down. I was quite angry with myself for being so emotional, but oh well. It happened. I’m sure people in the airport were thinking, this girl clearly has some issues because she’s sobbing all over the place. Thankfully, I was at Hobby, not IAH…less people, you know.

Once I was through security, I sat down at the gate, pulled myself together, and bought the Texas Monthly with JJ Watt on the cover. Because it made me happy to have a “Texas” magazine with me…not because JJ was on the cover…obviously. We boarded the plane and three and a half hours later I landed in my new home.

Getting two large suitcases, a duffle, and a tote out of an airport, all by yourself, while also trying to locate your Uber car as taxis and other vehicles are zooming by…is ridiculously difficult. Remember that anxiety I mentioned earlier, this is one of the things I was stressing over. My parents suggested getting one of those luggage carts, which ended up being the best $6 I’ve ever spent. Some nice people at baggage claim helped me get the trolley all situated before I headed out. Thank you, nice people! Once I made it to the car, I headed to my very generous family friend’s home, where I would be staying while I searched for an apartment.

The apartment search, which I naively and optimistically, thought would only last a couple of days, ended up being a weeklong extravaganza I had NO IDEA I was in for…

Tune in for Part 2 of Moving to New York: As Told By An Overthinking, Type-A Princess tomorrow!

Big Things, Small Towns

“Big things come in small packages.”

I guess you could say the same for small towns.

I’m not one to normally comment on hot topics, but the way this story is being perpetuated and the negative comments directed at my former high school have really made me stop and think. I’ve challenged my own views and thought through every aspect of the issue. I believe there are multiple conversations to be had here. So, I decided to organize my thoughts and opinions into this post. You don’t have to agree with me. You don’t have to like what I have to say. The internet is an open forum in which individuals get to express their views and opinions in whatever way they choose. It’s a beautiful thing and we should respect the fact we get to speak freely about these issues. So here goes…

If you aren’t familiar with the story, I’ll catch you up to speed. Last week, a young woman who currently attends my former high school was sent home for a dress code violation. After a post on Facebook from the student’s older sister about how this was discriminatory towards women, degrading, and sexist, the issue went viral. The high school has now come under fire for body shaming this young woman and for enforcing a dress code that they hold all students to. The story has been shared over 90,000 times on Facebook. Popular blog sites like Buzzfeed and HelloGiggles.com have picked it up. Seventeen magazine posted an article about it. And most recently, Today.com.

You didn’t believe me when I said big things, small towns, did you?

· · ·

When I wake up in the morning and go to my closet, I get to make a decision right there about how I want to represent myself for the day. As a confident woman, I take pride in my personal appearance. I’ve always loved fashion and find joy in expressing myself through clothes. I’ve never dressed for anyone but myself, because it makes me happy. As a marketing student, I spend a lot of time thinking about my personal brand. What do I want the world to see when they look at me? The answers to that question help guide me in choosing how I want to dress on any given day.

This morning, I woke up extra early because I wanted to do my hair and put on a full face of make-up. I put on one of my favorite outfits and strutted out the door.  I did all of this FOR ME. I did it because it makes me feel good! And that’s who every woman should dress for: THEMSELVES.

I knew that people would look at me. I knew people would judge my outfit. I don’t really care. Like I said before, I dress for me and no one else. When I decide to wear yoga pants to the grocery store, I accept the fact that men and women are going to look at me. Perhaps some of them will like what they see, while others won’t. Fine by me. Again, I’m dressing for me and not you.

If you take the way I’m dressed as an open invitation to comment on my appearance or to make physical contact, that’s where we have a problem. I shouldn’t have to worry about some guy walking up to me and trying to grope me because I wore tight fitting pants or a low-cut shirt. I shouldn’t have to listen to your comments about my body. Just because a woman is dressed in a way that may be appealing to a man doesn’t give that man the right to comment or touch.

However, this isn’t an issue that only affects women, but men too. By saying it’s only men who degrade women is sexist to men. It’s saying that it’s acceptable for a man to be turned on by a woman’s appearance but not for a woman to be turned on by a man. Women are allowed to be sexually attracted to someone just as much as men are. The same rules apply.

When I’m driving home from campus, I see guys running without their shirts on all the time. They make a conscious decision to run shirtless knowing that people are going to look. Men may choose to wear shirts that are tight across their chest and back or their biceps. You think there aren’t men and women who look and like what they see? Of course there are! However, this isn’t an open invitation for physical contact to be made.

Men and women should hold each other to the same standards. We may dress to be more appealing to the opposite sex, but that doesn’t mean we’re making an open offer. If I want you to respect my body, then I need to respect yours. If I don’t want you to objectify my body, then I don’t need to objectify yours. And I expect the same courtesy in return.

In our society, we discuss this issue more when it comes to women. But making the assumption that men don’t face the same issues is unfair. We SHOULD be having conversations about this. We SHOULD be discussing how it feels to be cat-called or inappropriately touched and have the way we’re dressed be blamed. We SHOULD be teaching our sons and brothers to respect women and our daughters and sisters to respect men.

We need to be fighting for each other.

· · ·

This brings me to the next topic: dress codes. There are plenty of reasons why dress codes are implemented in schools across the nation. Some choose stricter codes, like collared t-shirts and jeans only, while others are a bit more lax. In my opinion, the dress code at this high school isn’t that constricting. I would much prefer this dress code over a uniform or set articles of clothing ANY day. It at least allows for some sort of creative expression. As long as you stay within the guidelines, you’re free to wear whatever you choose.

If you have a problem with the guidelines or have questions about the process used to establish the dress code, then determine the proper channels to access in order to get the answers to those questions. If you think there needs to be a change in the rules, do some research, start a petition, and bring your case to the school board. Perhaps the dress code is a bit dated. As far as I know, the dress code is the same as it was when I started there as a freshmen nearly nine years ago. (Holy cow, nine years?!)

So maybe there should be a change. However, the current issue is that there is a dress code in place and students sign an agreement at the beginning of each school year to abide by that dress code. The school is responsible for enforcing that dress code and handling violations accordingly. Teachers and administrators can’t always catch every single violation. They’re human, after all. But when you do catch a student out of dress code, you can’t just let it slide. If you let one student go, then the next student is going to want a free pass. Rules are rules.

There were plenty of outfits I wanted to wear to school that I had to modify in order for them to be “in dress code.” It was more important to me to just hang the shirt back up on the coat hanger than risk potentially breaking the rules and being pulled from class. I knew that wearing something that the dress code explicitly stated I couldn’t wear would result in consequences. My education was more important to me than testing the dress code, so I made the necessary changes.

Certain violations could be handled without having to send students home. I remember lots of duct tape. If you wore a graphic tee that had an inappropriate phrase on it, you’d have to walk around with duct tape across your shirt all day to cover up the words. Holes in jeans that were above your fingertips were covered up with big pieces of duct tape. If your straps weren’t wide enough or your top somehow violated dress code, they would give you these hideous orange t-shirts to put on to cover up the problem. It had nothing to do with whether or not you looked good in the top you were wearing. It had nothing to do with your body. It had to do with the fact that you broke the rule.

The dress code at my current job is a maroon polo and jeans or another type of pant. Shorts are fine, if they are at least fingertip length. Workout pants of any kind are not allowed. If I were to show up to the office in a pair of yoga pants, my boss would send me home to change. There is a code set for us and my boss expects me to abide by that code. We have students and patrons coming up to the office on a daily basis and we need to look professional. It has nothing to do with the fact that I don’t look good in yoga pants. It’s just not the appropriate work attire.

Asking students to make decisions about their clothing while staying within certain parameters isn’t an outrageous request. It’s simply encouraging students to take a moment to consider what they’re going to wear each day. It’s preparing them for the real world. High school is a stepping stone to college and a job. Your future job is more than likely going to have some sort of dress code or standard for how they want their employees to present themselves each day. What’s wrong with a school trying to set some guidelines that reflect what students will be facing beyond high school?

Education is so important. We live in a world where there are people who don’t get the opportunity to go to school. We are fortunate to have access to public school systems. Dress codes are just one way school districts try to create the best possible learning environment for every student.

The argument that dress codes are only put into place for the benefit of hormonal teenage boys is unfair. Teenage girls have hormones too. If a guy came to school wearing a pair of spandex or super tight shorts, I would be distracted. I probably wouldn’t be attracted to that, mostly confused, but distracted nonetheless. It works both ways. Dress codes are merely asking students to respect their peers and their teachers by following the guidelines set forth so that everyone can have the best chance at succeeding.

If students were getting sent home wearing clothing that fit all of the dress code rules but a teacher deemed it inappropriate because it hugged the student’s body in the wrong way, then we have a HUGE problem. That is body shaming. Some of these comments on posts about how skinny girls look good in yoga pants and bigger girls don’t IS BODY SHAMING. It doesn’t matter if you’re tall, short, a size 0 or a size 16, if the dress code says no yoga pants, then you can’t wear them.

I know that the reason my boss asks that I don’t wear workout pants to work has nothing to do with my body. It has to do with the way we want visitors to perceive our organization. First impressions are SO important. We were just talking in class today about how much the way an organization’s employees are dressed can affect a customer’s opinion of the product the organization is selling or the service they are providing.

We underestimate the power of clothing. We underestimate what our clothing says about us. The person interviewing you for a position at their company is going to start judging you the moment you walk through the door. Those judgments are going to be based solely on your appearance. You are in control of your brand. You are in control of what other people see when they look at you.

As I said in the beginning, each day I wake up and get to make a decision about how I want to represent myself. What do I want people to think when they look at me today? I get to make that decision for ME. There may be some external factors contributing to my choice, such as work dress code, a guest speaker in class, or an interview, but I still get to choose whether or not I dress accordingly. If I choose not to, then I’m accepting the consequences of that decision. If getting the job is important to you, then you’ll rock the power suit. If your education is important to you, then you’ll follow the dress code. If you don’t like the dress code, figure out how to change it.

It takes a whole lot of guts to post your opinions in an open forum like Facebook. Even my hands were shaking as I finished writing up this post. There will ALWAYS be people who disagree with you. We have to accept that when we make the decision to voice our views on social media. Everyone gets to formulate their own opinion, just as she did and just as I have. When things go viral, you can’t control how the media is going to twist and turn the story.

The post did what I believe the author wanted it to do and that was to start a conversation. However, I think there are two different discussions to be had here: a dress code’s place in school systems and why dress codes are created as they are.

· · ·

If you made it all the way down here, I applaud you. This was lengthy! I had more to say once I started writing than I originally thought. I respect everyone involved in this matter: the young woman who was sent home, her sister who wrote the post, and the school district who upheld the dress code meant for all students. It’s been so interesting to watch all of this unfold and I look forward to seeing where the conversation is headed next.

With Love,

Alex

Disclaimer: I believe the student violated the dress code item listed in the student handbook as: "Tight fitting pants and tights are not allowed unless worn under other garments that meet dress code. The hem of the garment over the tights/leggings must be below fingertips when hands are held straight down at your side." 

One Year Later: Reflections on Frozen

A little over a week ago was the one year anniversary of the theatrical release of one of the most amazing movies of all time, Disney’s Frozen. In case you were unaware, I, just like millions of others around the world, am OBSESSED with all things Frozen. I sing “Let It Go” on a daily basis, dressed up like Elsa for Halloween, and basically cried the other day when I saw the Frozen-themed light show these people in Austin created this year. (Here’s a link if you want to see it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FX2d1LamXb0). Frozen has created something so special and one year later the mania is still off the charts! I decided to share some of the reasons I love Frozen and why I think it continues to inspire one year later.

1.      Anna is perfectly imperfect

Source: Tumblr

Let’s be honest, we all look like crap in the morning. It’s just a fact of life. So, the moment they showed Princess Anna wake up from what clearly must have been the world’s greatest sleep looking like an absolute hot mess, I knew she was going to be perfectly imperfect. When I was a kid, I used to watch Cinderella wake up from her restful slumber looking like she just wrapped a photo shoot. This isn’t a bad thing, but as I said before, nobody looks like that when they wake up. This scene of Anna with unkempt hair and DROOL on her face instantly made her more relatable, and I loved her for it.

Source: Tumblr

Another thing about Anna that I love is her awkwardness. She runs into a hot guy and she instantly has no idea how to behave. I know a lot of girls who that resonates with. While a three-year old may not understand that, they will when their older and they’ll appreciate that about Anna. She isn’t afraid to speak her mind, to do what she wants, and marches to her own drum. She’s confident and spunky, spirited and passionate.

All of this aside, perhaps one of my favorite things about Anna is the way she fiercely stands by her sister, her family. Family truly is one of the most important thing in the world. They’re the people who will always stand by you no matter what. Anna doesn’t give up on her sister, even though she’s been shut out for years. Even after she sees the power within her sister, she still goes after her. She sees the best in people and she does whatever it takes to make sure her sister knows she’s loved.

The scene at the end of the film, sorry for those who haven’t seen it but come on it’s been a year, where Anna sacrifices herself to save her sister is one of my favorite moments in any Disney Princess movie I have ever seen. Anna is selfless, brave, and a heroine for any little girl or boy to look up to.

2.      Olaf. Enough said.

Source: Google

Who doesn’t love this snowman? I mean, for real! He is the most quotable character in this movie. He is hilarious. He makes you happy just by looking at his goofy little snowman face. And even though he’s just a sidekick, he is such an important part of the movie. He’s a symbol of Elsa’s love for her sister. When Elsa creates him, it’s from the memories of her and Anna as a child. He guides Anna through the movie when Elsa can’t. He’s caring and has the biggest heart of them all. You just gotta love Olaf!

3.      The Men

Source: Google

There is not one, but two love interests in this movie. I must admit, when I first saw the movie I was absolutely blinded by Hans’s perfection that I audibly gasped when he turned on Anna in the end. I couldn’t believe that handsome prince would end up being the VILLIAN! This is a Disney movie! However, upon watching the movie about a hundred more times I absolutely love that they made Hans the villain. It shows that you can’t always judge a book by its cover. Just because he looks like a perfect prince, walks like a perfect prince, and talks like a perfect prince doesn’t mean he is a perfect prince.

Enough about Hans, let’s move on to the real man in this movie, Kristoff. 

Source: Google

Perhaps one of the funniest Disney men ever, Kristoff is honestly just a huge dork. He “talks” to his pet reindeer, was raised by rock trolls, and gets choked up at the sight of beautiful ice structures. With all this aside, the reason I love Kristoff so much is because he treats Anna as an equal and falls in love with her because of her strength and bravery, not just her pretty face. Kristoff doesn’t treat Anna like some weak girl, he speaks his mind regardless of her feelings and doesn’t care if he says something she doesn’t want to here.

One of my favorite Kristoff and Anna moments is when she lets go of the mountain she was trying to scale and just assumes he’s going to catch her. Kristoff is totally caught off-guard by this girl. He just sets her down and watches her walk away. He knows she’s different, that she’s strong and smart. Kristoff respects Anna and I think their relationship is so refreshing. It was built on something more than just love at first sight.

4.      “Let It Go” and the whole soundtrack, basically

This song is an anthem for anyone who has ever been afraid to be who they truly are. It’s empowering and just makes you feel good when you belt it at the top of your lungs. The sequence in the movie where Elsa sings “Let It Go” is perhaps my favorite sequence in any Disney movie I have ever seen. You see her slowly becoming more and more comfortable as she sheds off the layers and gives in to her true self. By the end of the song, she is strutting it in her ice palace rocking that daring blue ice dress. Elsa is so much happier after she’s let it go and become who she truly is after being so scared for so long. It’s just truly a beautiful scene and I could watch it over and over again. If you’ve never seen it, you can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moSFlvxnbgk

Source: Google

All of the other amazing songs the Lopezes wrote, as well as the instrumental score, make for such a wonderful soundtrack. “Do You Wanna Build A Snowman?” has caught on like wildfire and “In Summer” is such a catchy little song. The score is sweeping and grand. All of these elements just helped add to the amazing story that the writers created, which brings me to my next point.

5.      The Story

Did you know that Elsa actually started as a villain? It wasn’t until the Lopezes wrote “Let It Go” that the writers decided that Elsa wasn’t the villain, she was just misunderstood and lost. That’s when the story shifted to not just be a story about true love, but to be a story about acceptance and the power of family.

I could go on and on about how much I love this story but I’ll try to keep it short. Disney broke so many of their clichés with this one. First, Elsa scoffs at Anna’s admission that she and Hans are in love…after one day. Perfect! The handsome prince ends up being the villain. What a twist! Princess Anna’s sacrifice is the act of true love, not a kiss from a man. This is by far one of my favorite moments in the entire movie. Anna knows she’s close to completely freezing up, yet when she sees her sister in trouble without hesitation she runs to save her. After everything the two sisters have gone through, Anna still rushes to Elsa’s side and saves her life. In that moment, Elsa is absolutely overcome with emotion. How could Anna still care for her so much after everything she’d done? It’s such an emotionally heavy scene.

When Anna begins to unthaw, Elsa realizes that love is the answer to her powers. She can control them through love. Elsa never knew this because she was always so terrified of what she could do, terrified of hurting people. When she finally realizes she can control her powers, that she’s capable of being herself and doesn’t have to live in fear anymore, Elsa is able to FINALLY completely let it go.

6.      The Animation

Source: Google

Not only is the story of Frozen amazing, but visually it’s truly a work of art. The animators spent so much time researching snow and ice in order to make sure the film looked as believable as possible. They used special technology to generate all of the snowflakes that were in the film, which helped to make each snowflake unique. Elsa actually has more animated hairs on her head than Rapunzel had! Which is why Elsa’s hair is so amazing!! They researched traditional Norwegian dress in order to create the costumes worn by the characters. Oh, and let us not forget that amazing “Let It Go” sequence I mentioned earlier. I mean, wow! The winter landscapes, Olaf, Anna’s act of true love, everything was just so beautiful to look at.

7.      Queen Elsa

First of all, she’s a queen, not a princess. Don’t forget it. Moving on. I think the reason I love Elsa so much is because she’s a character almost anyone can identify with. We’ve all, at some point in our lives, been insecure about who we are. I know there have been plenty of times where I’ve thought to myself, would people like me if they really saw the whole me? Or maybe you have a talent that you’re afraid to show the world. You’re afraid of what people will think. Elsa is a symbol of hope for all those who have ever struggled with acceptance and self-doubt.

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After hurting her sister when she was a little girl, Elsa lived in isolation and fear of her powers. She learned to hide them, “conceal, don’t feel, don’t let it show.” When she finally reaches her limit and cracks that strong, cold façade she’d created for herself she immediately runs away. Once Elsa is far up in the mountains, she decides to embrace her powers. As I said earlier, during her transformation you can see how her body language changes, her confidence soars, and she begins to feel comfortable in her own skin.

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It isn’t until the very end, after Anna’s sacrifice, that she realizes she needs more than just herself to be happy. She needs to be surrounded by love and those who love her for who she is. Anna’s selfless act proves to Elsa that people can and will accept her for who she is. They’ll even love her for it. I’m never happier than when I’m being my true self and surrounded by people who love me. While I’m still scared to share my gift of singing with people, I hope that one day I can have the courage to get up and belt out “Let It Go” in front of a room full of people. Elsa shows that overcoming insecurity, having the confidence to be yourself and sharing your gifts with the world can be magical.

Source: Google

So there you have it, my, albeit, exhaustive list of reasons why I love Frozen. If you took the time to read all of that I applaud you! And I hope you now go and pop Frozen into your DVD or Blu-Ray player…like, right now.

May you have the best of luck finding all of the Frozen-themed toys your child most likely put on their Christmas List!

Happy Holidays,

Alex