Stress (Relief)

I had a lot more I wanted to say this morning, before the internet stole the past two days of my work. 

I find it ironic that I had written and edited this post about the relaxing and stress-relieving properties of lavender essential oil, and have ended up very stressed out in the process. Ah, technology. You never cease to fail me. 

I love lavender. I have a lavender plant on my bedroom windowsill that I have somehow managed to keep alive for about two years. It looks a bit depressed, but I'm proud of my wilted green thumb nonetheless. There is a vial of essential oil next to my bed, and every night before bed I like to dab a few drops on my pulse points to help me unwind.

Lately, though, I've found an even greater use for my favorite oil: bug bites! I'm a magnet for mosquitos in the summer months, and dabbing the lavender oil eliminates itching and swelling (and has natural antiseptic properties, to boot!). I personally think it works better than any over-the-counter allergy cream I've bought before, and I feel a lot better about putting something natural on my skin. 

With the increased use of my little bottle, the need for a refill arose. There is a really interesting shop down the street from my apartment, but I've always avoided it because of the strong hippie incense vibe I got when I walked by. I couldn't have been more wrong! I'm really glad I stopped in yesterday, because it was stunning just to look around.

 All of the walls were lined with shelves filled with colorful glass bottles containing a variety of oils and perfume base scents. Everything from dark brown bottles containing the light-sensitive essential oils, to brightly colored essences of bubblegum and chocolate mint stood in neat rows around the entire interior of the store. It reminded me of an ancient apothecary, and I loved wandering around while the owner measured out a new vial of lavender oil for me. I'm just sad that I only just discovered this magical shop right before we're about to leave!

Now, time to unwind from my technological difficulties this morning and prepare for another hectic day of packing.

What is your favorite essential oil? How do you use it? Comment below and let me know!

Diner Daze

Saturday left us with 6 hours to wander aimlessly around Bay Ridge and Bensonhurst. After dropping Doopy off at the vet, we did a little window shopping and a LOT of eating, ending up eventually in this diner. Stepping inside the door, we stepped back in time, to wood paneled and mirrored walls surrounding a retro coffee counter. About ten cups of coffee and a pile of curly fries later, the serenade of the D train running overhead almost disappeared under the orange lightbulbs in the diner that time forgot. 

My Kind of Paradise

I think my new goal when I own a home someday is to build a conservatory. Stepping into the tropical climate of each of the conservatory's rooms at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden rescued me from the cold and snow and brought so much life and vibrance back into a dreary time of year. Such a stark contrast to the frosted and monochromatic outdoors in winter, this place still teems with life and vitality. Though I can't escape on a tropical vacation any time soon, this surely satisfied my craving for warmer weather, if only for a short while. 

Walking in a Winter Wonderland

Who says you can't have fun in this weather? 

Instead of drowning in 8 cups of coffee and hibernating under a quilt all day, I answered the call of an much needed outing with a much missed friend from my beloved Philly.

The Brooklyn Botanic Gardens were ready for us bright and early this past Saturday morning,

and Numie Abbot and I headed out to enjoy the beauty that was literally frozen in time.

Let it Snow

With another fluff shower on the forecast for tomorrow, I thought I'd share some snaps of the fun we had this past week when snow dusted the city. As soon as those clouds open up, I'm a kid again. And my husband? Well, apparently they don't get much snow in England, because he was like a toddler on Christmas eve. Despite the anatomically correct snowmen he constructed, I'd say our first frolic in the snow was a success :)

Off the Beaten Path

Unexpected treasures in unexpected places... one of the things I love about living in this city. A foggy, damp Sunday afternoon proved to be the perfect time to explore some woodland trails, without even leaving Brooklyn. The foliage seemed even more brilliant against the gray sky backdrop, and smelled like memories of wandering and playing in the woods back home as a child. For a moment, we forgot that we were surrounded by tall buildings and busy streets. 

I love November. 

Colorful Trees Grow in Brooklyn

This time of year is difficult for me, because it's when I miss my country home of Pennsylvania the most. I miss the foliage, the crisp air, campfires, apple cider, and the sights and smells of autumn that are so hard to come by in a place like NYC. Taking just a short walk to the grocery store yesterday, I stopped to stare at the bold colors on a few trees. My husband thought I was nuts; I just stood there staring up at them and smiling. 

The changing of the leaves means so much more to me than seasons changing. It brings back childhood memories of the first days of school, countless Halloween trick-or-treating adventures, hay rides, and the need for really warm socks. Just a glimpse of some colorful leaves takes me back to the most beautiful place in the world, if only for a moment.

Sunshiney Saturday

I embraced the perfect September weather on Saturday and dragged my hungover honey out of the apartment for a nice long walk. We stopped at the farmer's market in Park Slope to pick up some yummy stuff for our week's meals, and then sat on a park bench enjoying the afternoon light while some kids played baseball and a dog romped around with its family nearby. It smelled, looked, felt, and was, the most quintessential autumn afternoon. Few things make me happier than people watching in a park, with a scarf around my neck and a pumpkin spice latte in my hand. 

Seasons Change

I love the changing leaves. Every year, I wait like a kid on Christmas Eve to see the first shades of orange peeking through the foliage. Even here in NYC, though the trees aren't as plentiful as the hills of my hometown, it feels like autumn. The crisp air this past weekend, the clear sky, the way the sunlight makes everything seem gilded in the late afternoon... I could sit on a park bench taking it in, all day. All day. 

Colors of the Weekend

I barely got any sleep this past weekend, but for a pretty good reason. My neighborhood is predominantly West Indian in heritage, many residents being first- and second-generation immigrants, and Labor Day weekend coincides with the West Indian Parade (and neighborhood-wide festivities). So many brilliant flags, wonderful people, music at all hours of the day & night, and delicious food - this basically sums up an exciting and colorful weekend that I have always looked forward to since I moved to Brooklyn 3 summers ago. 

                             

So Long Summer

Labor Day weekend swooped in and whisked  the summer days away. I didn't even see it coming. 

These past few weeks have just flown by... so many changes, all of them wonderful, and I'm so grateful for the 3000 mile gap that has finally been closed. 

So, yesterday, my honey, my ex-roommate, and I took a quick train ride down to Brighton Beach to soak up some of the last rays of late-afternoon summer sun. 

Botanical Bliss

Saturday morning dawned crisp, bright, and quiet. Spending the first half of the day on my own, I decided to go on a little adventure. A cup of coffee, a loaded camera bag, and a short 10-minute train ride from my apartment later, and I was standing at the gates of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. For other New Yorkers or Brooklynites who were unaware (as I was myself): the Gardens are open to the public for free on Saturday mornings until noon. So, you should probably go too. You might even see me there, because I plan to return quite frequently. Even after spending 3 hours wandering its winding path until my feet begged me to stop, I don't think I even explored half as much as I would like to. 

The rose gardens were beautiful. Under that white gazebo, far back on the right, someone was either getting married, or taking wedding photos. Either way, I was completely captivated by this place, and it is now the front runner for my wedding or engagement photo location.

Buzzzzzzzzz buzz buzz buzzzzzzzzz mister bee.

This guy serenaded me as I walked through the gigantic sunflowers in the produce garden. It was just me and the birds, and the bees, and the butterflies. I almost felt home again, temporarily removed from the reminders of city life. This little bit of alone time, this little release from my hectic everyday, was magical and much needed. And I can't wait to return.

Bonjour Bonsai

My Saturday morning was spent at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden... and I believe I have found my new "happy place." Acres upon acres of sprawling yet compartmentalized natural habitats, in breathtaking arrangement. Highlighting my day was a room in the Conservancy building - a winding, small exhibit with only a dozen or so plants in it... but it still grasped my attention instantly. The Bonsai Museum is so striking to me;  I have such a respect for the Japanese art of focusing such meticulous and thoughtful arrangement into both placing a plant in a pot or garden, and actually directing it how to grow. The ability to focus so intently to finding a beautiful balance between the nature of a living thing, and a precise man-made art, is incredible. I have a new found love of bonsai, and I cannot wait to get my hands on a few books to further my understanding and appreciation of it. 

My original (limited) understanding of this craft had led me to believe that only a special kind of evergreen-like tree was used for bonsai. That is all I had ever really seen, so it was all that I knew. But, as you can see in my photos of some of the trees from the exhibit, almost and plant that develops a woody stem can be grown, tended to, and manipulated into bonsai. Below are a lemon tree and a fairly common houseplant, and both have been transformed into their present twisting, cascading, and graceful shapes.