a favorite.

you guys. New Year's is my favorite holiday. FAVORITE.
everyone seems to think this is strange so allow me to explain...

1) the entire world celebrates

    honestly it is probably the closest we will ever come to world peace! I remember watching the ball drop on television one year and "imagine" by J. Lennon was playing and I just sobbed-like full on wepttttt. The night sky was full of confetti and everyone was making out under the lights in times square and then the network flashed to fireworks booming in Japan and flags waving in Canada and dancing in Germany and I'll never ever forget it.

2)it was fun when I was young

   I would spend the night out in the country at Charlee's house (childhood best friend). We would dress up (wear a wedge we couldn't walk in and wear a little lip gloss) and go to dinner (Macaroni Grill) with her parents. After dinner we came home and drank out of goblets full of mountain dew. We ate chips with salsa and sour cream, and SO.MUCH. dessert (sometimes still hungry after our healthy feast we ate our leftover pasta from dinner). We would watch the ball drop beneath the glow of the Christmas tree while holding her dachshund Oscar, and talk about our big 7th grade goals, and finally end the night with a go to sleep movie (normally A Walk to Remember). this tradition lasted quite a while you guys-I was very cool in high school....

3)it is so freaking romantic

    kisses in evening gowns in the snow, babies being born, showing up at 12:00 to confess love, finally breaking up, proposing, champagne and chocolate...you get it.

4)the clothes

   helllooooo sparkle shoes! Hi tutu! how you doing red lipstick? what up glitter eye shadow?? what's happening tuxedo?

5)hope

   we all hope for good things together, and that is wonderful. I love how blank you feel the very next morning. I love the tv marathons and radio talks and gym memberships and being sleepy/hungover/happy/covered in glitter with your pals.


each year I seem to find words I go over and over and over-this year it was these:

2014 was hard and far and away  more wonderful than I could have dreamed up. I moved to New York City and pushed myself and freed myself and got my heartbroken and felt more joy than ever before and even got a dog! I'm truly excited for 2015.

I've even found my words: "Hope comes as a companion; she slips her arm around your shoulder and offers to help you stumble towards change."
(Patsy Clairmont-from Mammaw)

chirp chirp

sooo I've been away...
honestly things got really busy around here (which is a lame thing to say but very true)
anyway here we are
I'm back
 talking with you as much as you care to listen.

I just saw Reese Witherspoon interviewed about her new production company and movie "Wild."
just an f.y.i. if you haven't read Wild you should-it's one of THE most amazing books I've ever read. A few months later I'm still gaining insight because of it!
anyways she said something interesting-she said:
"I feel like my perspective matters, and I really didn't before."

it really got me thinking.
my words count-duh-I shouldn't feel weird sharing them from time to time. I think women are programmed to apologize for their opinions from a very young age.
"don't be too bossy" "don't make boys feel intimidated" "don't be too loud or emotional"
 "always be aware of the image you are presenting to others" "you aren't as smart as ..."

this is one reason acting is so special to me-your feelings and your words are always right.
so here I am with my perspective, ready to give this one more try before 2015 sweeps in and chaos ensues.

here are a few snapshots from my december.

I didn't think I would be able to travel to Mississippi for Christmas due to work which was pretty heartbreaking until.... dun dun dunnnn.... I found out I had the week of Christmas off!  I flew home one day after seeing the schedule with Elvis in tow :) He loves to fly apparently? like really-this dog was so happy in the airport and on the plane-super weird because y'all...he's very neurotic. I thought this might be a disaster, but we got there not only safely, but  in great moods! Merry Christmas

 I got in some much needed family and Tiger Lily time.

Here's the thing-no one in New York City is actually normal. 

It is the best and worst part of living here. Each day there is non stop stimulation as you walk around and extreme work pressure for everyone (I saw a guy get screamed at over fries once at dairy queen) and SO MUCH commuting-60% of my day is spent traveling to wherever I'm trying to go- alongside half a million strangers and 80 thousand street performers and 68 hundred hobos. It takes me six blocks and two trains just to go to work, and that is almost every day of the week. 

 I should mention that I love living here!! Please don't think of this as a whine entry, I just want to stress I'm tired! This wonderful, bursting city can wear you down quickly. 

I loved going home, let me be more specific...

I loved driving alone in my car with the radio up.

I loved that every meal was from somewhere I cherish and constantly miss eating. 

I loved having my conversations count because I'm never face to face with those I love.

I loved waking up in my bed each morning in my room in my big house, not a tiny apartment with three people and two dogs all in a rush.

I loved the look on Elvis' face when he saw how many trees there were in our neighborhood.

I loved the look on Elvis' face when he learned what a neighborhood was.

I loved staying up late and watching movies with Mama near the Christmas tree glow.

I loved giving everyone their presents from New York.

I loved laughing with my cousins who are somehow, all grown up?

It was a perfect holiday.

 I'm back in the city now post holiday wearing my tutu as a personal cheer me up.

 The city is still dressed in holiday cheer which makes being far away and cold so much easier.  I have met some amazing people through work-people that have come from everywhere to see New York at Christmas time. Just yesterday, I spoke with two Australian girls (aka beauties aka looked like supermodels aka can we be best friends because you guys are the coolest aka laughed with total strangers for two hours)  who are in New York for the entire month. They booked it spontaneously because they felt like they needed to invite in a major change. They said they felt like New York was going to bring in a dazzling 2015, a better year-all of their hopes were wrapped up in each corner and random experience here to be remembered for the rest of their lives.

I walked around my little brooklyn neighborhood tonight and saw such a big, beautiful sky.  I'm lucky to live here and to follow my dreams. I pray that 2015 is dazzling-passing all hopes I could strive for. I guess I stay here because I'm in love with that possibility-anything can happen here that's just the truth. It's true I'm missing everyone (always harder when I first get back), but Elvie and I went on a walk tonight under such a beautiful sky and I couldn't help but feel ok. I feel like this all matters-my perspective, my journey, my 2015 it matters.

December

 

OH hello December!

(want to have some fun? google "cat in christmas tree" &

if you are really brave google " cats destroy christmas tree")

what up Monday

soooooo it's Monday.
I'm ready for the week thanks to Beyonce's new music video-she's proving she can throw the best slumber party everrrr
(we at apartment 1r have it on allll the time)

cheers to the new week y'all xo

New York, New York the city so nice they named it twice!

my fortune cookie tonight everybody...

it sort of says it all....

so the thing is...
New York is spectacular on a good day, and ridiculously draining on a bad one. I have reached the stage where I'm officially  a resident of this city. I'm not on an endless vacation anymore.

 I'm more aware of money or the lack thereof  and what my next step is with acting and how hard it is to find a job here period and boring five year plans and who I let into my life and I know where to eat and not to eat and I have a dog and I have real friends not fake acquaintances and I don't get lost on the subway so much anymore.

 I feel like no matter who you ask they will say "you know if you can live here after about 1 month... you either love it or you hate it." New York is a lesson in extremes...so this month like every other one has been full of ups and downs. I'm realizing without my knowing it, Brooklyn has sort of become my home, or something? How did that happen? How did I meet my neighbors? How did I start cooking with my roommates, and develop a day to day routine? How do I not break down on my bad days? How do I go longer in between visits home?

This is the first holiday I will celebrate away from the south, but thankfully (ha) I have been invited several places for Thanksgiving this year. It is amazing how many good people I have found here. It is amazing how once you do, you cling to them with all of your might-I guess this month is as my cookie said a time of change. I'm going to try really hard to welcome change. I'm going to be really thankful for this crazy place and all of the people in it. It's so easy to become calloused here-to go so hard all day without looking up and asking how someone else is doing-I don't want to get sucked into that. I want to embrace these extremes and ride them out as they come. (easier said than done)
cause you know what? One day I'm going to be so bored, and I'm going to miss this time. I'm going to miss the endless frustration of this city.  I'm going to miss not knowing what happens next, and waiting for the next person around the corner.

long story short-I'm thankful for my little world today x

sorry to have been quiet you all

quite a while ago I did this post on taking stock, so since I've been away I thought it would be an excellent way to catch up with you dear reader!

Making: well I'm going to Friendsgiving this weekend and offered to bring dessert-what that will be who knows. so if you know of a good recipe let your girl know!

Cooking: taco soup

Drinking: coffee all day every day

Reading: "It was November-the month of crimson sunsets, parting birds, deep, sad hyms of the sea, passionate wind-songs in the pines. Anne roamed through the pineland alleys in the park and, as she said, let the great sweeping wind blow the fogs out of her soul." Anne of Green Gables

Wanting: a new coat from Zara

Looking: at gray New York sky

Playing: 

 

Wasting: time worrying about dumb sh*t

Wishing: for some warm days

Enjoying: evening walks with Elvis before bed

Waiting: for the day he is too big to carry

Liking: two new shows- Manhattan Love Story and Marry Me 

Wondering: what is Ryan doing right this second.

Loving: the mail

Hoping: for a very merry Christmas

Marveling: at how big Elvis has gotten already! look at those legs at just 4 months old

Needing: all of the candles

Smelling:  perfume on my scarf 

Wearing: new shoes!

Following: littlellama on instagram! her posts are the best.

Noticing: the bare trees on my street

Thinking: about how nice it will be when Elvis doesn't cry when I leave the room

Feeling: the coming of a new year

Bookmarking: Wild by Cheryl Strayed
"Uncertain as I was as I pushed forward, I felt right in my pushing, as if the effort itself meant something. That perhaps being amidst the undesecrated beauty of the wilderness meant I too could be undesecrated, regardless of the regrettable things I'd done to others or myself or the regrettable things that had been done to me. Of all the things I'd been skeptical about, I didn't feel skeptical about this: the wilderness had a clarity that included me.”

Opening: new packs of tights all the time, apparently puppies have sharp nails...

Giggling: at Jillian rapping Kanye West to Elvis (fyi HE LOVES IT)

November

"My heart is dancin' to a November tune and I hope that you hear it singin songs about you.."

"November Blue"
Avett Brothers




It's November...let's all be thankful. November gets so overlooked because everyone is on the Christmas train. I'm going to try my hardest to soak up these last fall days! I'm also attempting to share one thing I'm very thankful for each week in November :) let's get cheesy!

Tonight I'm thankful for my neighborhood.

I walk Elvis each morning on yellow leaf covered streets...my next door neighbors wave and say good morning from their stoops. I see the woman across the street sweeping her walkway as her husband has a cigarette with his morning coffee. We walk past the flower shop (where someone is always doing some sort of construction) and pass preschoolers wearing hats and bubble jackets walking with Mom or Dad to school. We head past the old church and into the park-we are greeted by lots of puppy friends big and small. After every squirrel has been chased,  I gather up a reluctant Elvis and drag him out of the park passing the 3rd and 4th graders who walk  to school with their friends and secretly practice cuss words. We take a stroll down Jefferson street and watch the birds hop along the fence posts, then round the corner and walk up four steps into a warm apartment.

 

a halloween in review

I love Halloween you guys! I mean, costumes, candy, weird movies, ghost stories, fall weather...how could you not love it? It's so theatrical! This year my darling Wendy bird came to visit for my first Halloween in the city. We went to Brooklyn Bowl to see Capital Cities perform- f.y.i. it was a great show. Everyone there was in an elaborate costume-the band even threw an impromptu dance party at the end of the show. They literally got out a giant stereo and played fun songs and danced-

 

This year I was pretty unprepared on the costume front-I found myself in a massive line at party city at 4 in the afternoon the day of...not a good plan. I did manage to find two amazing wigs! I wish this was my real hair. I love this wig so much, and I can not stress enough how much I now miss my bangs, and want to die my hair purple. 

 

Wendy made an amazing Taylor Swift-she also did awkward Taylor Swift dances throughout the night that continue to make me giggle to myself on the train. 

 This was also Elvis' very first Halloween of his whole life!

 

all in all it was a total success-I decided I'm not done being spooky so I've started watching American Horror Story :) did you do anything fun on Halloween? what are your thoughts on bangs and/or purple hair?

lazy days

it has been a good day spent laying in bed in apartment 1r
last week knocked me out...there was:
   a play
   a friend
   an interview
   a puppy
   a halloween night
  and a lot of cold rain
  -more on that stuff later
hope your Sunday was as slow moving as mine-cheers to Monday and high hopes for November!

around here lately

 

Last Friday night I went to see"This Is Our Youth"at The Cort Theatre! I still can't get over it you guys! I never go to see shows in the city, which is ridiculous and a waste, so when the opportunity to see some of my favorite actors arose I was thrilled. The play is very well written, combining humor with melancholy seamlessly in each scene. 

Also, totally had a pinch me moment with Michael Cera...

I refrained from screaming, "I love you Paulie Bleeker!" 

but I wanted to the entire time...He was dreamy.

I also met the amazing Kieran Culkin, one of the most talented performers I've ever seen, annnd 

a long time personal hero of mine... Tavi Gevinson! 

They were both the NICEST.

The play is amazing! (especially the final scene)  

if you have a chance to go you really should-I wouldn't mind going again!

In other news... someone took their very first subway ride all the way out to Central Park! 

I was worried he would panic because the subway is even scary for people-but he rode like a true city dog. He even fell asleep on the way home!

He couldn't have loved Central Park more! We walked alllll of itttt. 

He chased the birds, played with little, fancy dogs, and ran up every hill as fast as he could. 

There's an episode of I Love Lucy called "Nursery School" that I now totally relate too.

Lucy: After breakfast I put on his snowsuit. I pull on his galoshes. I slip on his mittens. I walk him to the park. He chases pigeons. I chase after him. He runs after the squirrels. I run after him. He gets on the swing. I push the swing. We go on the teeter totter. He teeters. I totter. Then we leave the park and we walk home. I pull off his galoshes. I pull off his mittens. I pull off his snowsuit. I fix his lunch. I put him down for his nap and he sleeps for a whole half hour.
 

Ricky: Well that sounds very...
 

Lucy: After his nap I put on his snowsuit. I pull on his galoshes. I put on his mittens. We walk back to the park. He chases the pigeons. I chase after him. He runs after the squirrels. I run after him. He gets on the swing. I push the swing. We get on the teeter totter. He teeters and by now I'm really tottering. We leave the park and walk home. I pull off his galoshes. I pull off his mittens. I pull off his snowsuit. I tell him to go in his room and play with his teddy bear. And that is why you find my sitting here with my coat and my boots on.
 

Ricky: Wow.
 

Lucy: What's the matter with you?
 

Ricky: I'm worn out from just listening.

Friday Favorites

October is  shaping up to be pretty dramatic for me! I have quite a few faves for you this week, let's dive right in shall we?

Jessica and Jeffrey, my best college pals are here for a visit! We have been doing all kinds of fun stuff-last night we went to breakfast for dinner. (YUP you read that right) 
 It was the perfect meal-ya see, we are having some dreadful cold rainy weather in Brooklyn. I'm still dreaming about my french toast with roasted bananas!

On the way back home we saw my favorite subway performer of all time to date.
This old man singing along to his karaoke machine with all his might! He played 1950s soul songs-kind of like James Brown kind of stuff. I've tried posting the video like 3x and keep hitting trouble so next week hopefully I can make it work because IT IS WORTH WATCHING.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              


Another favorite this week happened in Union Square....

I saw an older lady wearing full traditional African clothing-I started talking to her and discovered she runs an animal hospital all on her own. She brought cats out to the busy street for adoption. In the middle of the day, on a very hectic very loud street corner, EVERY.SINGLE.CAT. was fast asleep. I swear she does voodoo! They were all beautiful! They each slept on sweet little beds-It was magical. Did I mention I was snacking on a dinner roll? This is what dreams are made of. 

In keeping with the animal stories-my baby got a new red raincoat.
He looked smashing and stayed dry.Oooh Elvis!

okay now for my favorite...of a freaking lifetime....

 I finally went to the Empire State Building!! I've dreamed about it for years.  I'm determined this is where I will be proposed to... should anyone fall in love with me. (I'm looking at you Gosling!!) 

It was unbelievable. I wanted to stay there forever among the clouds.I wanted people in maroon suits and hats to keep greeting me! I heard love songs in my head, and almost started crying at the realization that I get to live in such a beautiful city. I was looking down at home. I was looking down at jobs and friends and a life.

         

                                                                                                        

you know what? we all gonna be okay girl.

who's that girlllllllll

It's Rebecca!

Rebecca writes the best fashion blog in the whole wide world y'all-the clothes horse.

I can't stress enough how much inspiration I gain from reading her blog! Check it out immediately! Did I mention she is the nicest? I'm elated to share her thoughts on a few things with you!! 

let's get to know her shall we?

1)why blog? 

 In the beginning I wanted to connect to others with similar interests and express myself creatively since I was a business major in college and my classes didn't fill my need to be creative. It's pretty much the same today--I love the way my photography skills have improved through the years and my sense of style has become more defined.

2) your last meal you choose... 

 My mom's brisket with kartoffelkloesse and cranberry-sprite mix; I might just be in the mood for this because it's such a fall dish!

3)phone, keys, wallet.... 

 candy? I love having gummies in my purse...

4)heels or flats? 

 Flats! I'm on too many unpaved roads/paths to qualify for the heels lifestyle most days.
 

5)favorite thing about where you live?

 I love how close I am to nature while having the convenience of living in a city. I can walk to a grocery store or post office and eat at an awesome 24hr diner, but with a short drive I have easy access to empty fields and beautiful woods. So: location, location, location all the way!

6)dogs or cats

 Dogs

7)a perfect day would be.... 

Waking up in a new city with nothing on my plate to do but explore. There's so much to see in the world--I wish it was more feasible to constantly be on the road!

8)your humans of New York quote would read: 

 Seven years ago I didn't think it was possible to be this happy.

9)what's the last movie you loved or what are you currently listening to?  

Guardians of the Galaxy was everything everyone said it was! So good.

10)can not live without...
 Skype at the moment because it keeps me connected to Thomas (my fiancé)! 

 

the new man in my life

A few thoughts on the new man in my life...Elvis Presley.

He is a quiet sort of fellow...he prefers:
cuddles over a walk outside
laying under the table over running down the hallway
watching a movie over hearing a song
mom over strangers
and
bath time over bed time.

Oh and I love him.

Wednesday

 

It is mid week. It is raining in Brooklyn tonight. It is the last night my family will be in town with me. I've been up since 6:30 today, and I've sat down exactly two times. My purse was stolen. I got two pretty rough emails tonight. The puppy had his first accident in the apartment. My room is a mess.

BUT you know what? 

I read this tonight right as I felt overwhelmed. I read these words, and decided to pause.

I also met three neighbors today-wonderful people who welcomed me to the neighborhood. I have a family that loves me. I have two friends coming in next week. My dog mastered "sit" today. There was a really nice stranger beside me on the subway today. I ate at my favorite restaurant for lunch today. I had a good talk with my roomie before bed.  I'm going to be okay, and tomorrow is another day Scarlet.

I'm choosing to walk by faith-even when I can't see two seconds ahead.

a little southern visit

My mother and aunt are here for a visit this week, and I'm over the moon about it! Help me convince them to stay won't you? My evil plan is to convince every person I care about to live with me- I mean, it's totally doable.

 Today we went to a local Williamsburg spot for lunch-it's called egg.  It is sooooo so soooo good. Have I mentioned they serve tea? They have real, southern approved sweet iced tea.

(these were emptied about three minutes after this photo was taken.)

I love the minimalism inside egg-it's all crisp white walls, and simple wooden chairs. Today, they played a lot of Marty Robbins, and we all had pretty classic American staples for lunch. My fries were to die for! I have a togo box full of fries in the fridge for midnight tonight....

The best thing about egg by far is they provide you with crayons...um HELLO.
I drew all over our table, and loved every minute of it.

 

My aunt Gigi won the artwork prize for her portrait of Elvis! Although, I did like my love note to Ryan Gosling...you never know if he will sit at the same table after I've gone....

 

so happy to have these women in town

Friday Favorites

congrats on another week finished friends! Happy Friday! let's chat favorites shall we?

first up this amazing article 
so good! this little girl and her cat are amazing-It is a beautiful story!

Halloween is coming up you which means it is time to put a pumpkin on the stoop. I'm stuck between a couple of designs...but definitely leaning towards a white pumpkin this year!

I have no idea what costume I'll attempt, but I really want a wig-
so if you have any suggestions let me know!

I can't stop watching Call The Midwife. 

I can't stop reading The Goldfinch.

another favorite is my sweet family will arrive on Sunday and stay the whole week to play in the city! there will be lots and lots of eating and walking around the autumnal streets :)

and now for my biggest favorite...maybe of the year...
my puppy  comes home on Sunday!  meet my new little nugget :) 
After giving pet adoption a lot of careful thought, I realized I was ready to take on a pup in the city! He is a border collie/ lab mix from North Carolina. His mom was rescued from a kill shelter, and shortly after she delivered six precious puppies! They have all been flown into the north-I can't wait to bring him home!

 cheers to the weekend xo