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North America
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March 13, 2013

Favorite Asian Cuisine Spots in NYC

The few times I lived out of NYC, one of the things that I most missed was the Asian food selections here. Whether it was the corner Chinese carry-out place or the Indian eatery downtown, few places can be as good, or even as authentic, as the food served in this w[...]

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North America
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March 10, 2013

Winery Road Trips Beyond Napa

I love Napa, CA and am working on putting together photos and a little list of places to check out from my most recent visit there. However, there is an endless list of wineries to visit across the US (did you know that all 50 states produce wine?) and now is a gre[...]

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North America
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February 27, 2013

Best Brunch Spots in NYC

Brunch is my religion of choice on Sundays in New York City. It’s one of those things that is such a part of the culture of this city, that I tend to miss and want to replicate when traveling elsewhere. As New Yorkers we love to show off our brunch spots to frien[...]

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North America
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February 26, 2013

Best Cozy Spots for Cocktails in NYC

The chill in the air might be enough to encourage anyone to stay home and cozy up on the couch, drink in hand. But if you would rather enjoy your drinks and cushy warmth in the company of friends, finding the perfect place is key. Lucky for us, New York City has a[...]

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North America
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February 7, 2013

An Evening of Chocolates, Spirits, & Cheese at Fairway Market Café and Steakhouse

Most New Yorkers have a Fairway Market story. Ours is venturing into the Fairway Market on Broadway in the Upper West side on any and every occasion we were hosting a holiday or celebratory meal of some kind, in search of unique, hard to find products and then cab[...]

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North America
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October 2, 2012

Cupcake Corral Café & Bakery, Maplewood, NJ

Update: The Cupcake Corral is now The Cedar Ridge Cafe, with same wonderful cupcakes and a few extra treats on the menu. Rarely is there a pastry that brings more joy to the soul than the perfect cupcake. Even I, who often fails to enjoy in the delights of ba[...]

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North America
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September 17, 2012

Eating My Way Through Vail, CO

One of the reasons I kept waking up early in the mornings to go hiking while at Vail, CO was not only because of how incredibly inspiring and beautiful those walks were, but also because of all the food I was eating during my visit. Thing is that this mountain tow[...]

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North America, Travel
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September 7, 2012

Culinary Adventures Off The Beaten Path in Orlando, FL

September is Magical Dining Month in Orlando, FL. I have to say as a former resident of the city of Orlando, I think it fabulous every time great food, and the chefs behind them, is celebrated here. This is because so very few people ever venture into the differen[...]

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Europe, Travel
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June 17, 2012

Food Adventure in Parma, Italy

“Food is so important for us. Culturally, it represents family, celebration.” I was talking about food with a native Italian woman, Carmela, who sat down next to me on my plane ride to Milan, Italy.  She spoke only in Italian, having committed herself to the[...]

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North America
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April 26, 2012

Preview of Taste of Tribeca 2012

We are so excited! On May 19th, 2012, the Taste of Tribeca, one of my favorite foodie events the kicks off the food event season for me in New York City, is returning, this year bigger than ever. If you recall from the Delicious Taste of Tribeca last year, we ha[...]

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My recent post inspired many people who kindly rea My recent post inspired many people who kindly reached out to me for words of wisdom and guidance on how “they, too,” can get their lives more together.

Here’s what I will say: for more than a year now, I have experienced disappointment with work I was committed to and the overall devaluation of what so many of us creatives do, and it started impacting the passion I had for my work, which, as a creative, can be a massive death sentence. I found myself soft quitting, quitting-quitting, having contracts end that I was eager to let go of, and others that I didn’t think I wanted to let go - but that in the end resulted in an incredible boost to my emotional and mental health. 

For so many, our prof success has so long defined us. It defines how ppl receive us, esp as Black and brown ppl, especially as women, how society values us, and, to some extent, how we view ourselves. But that was breaking me. I was working harder, longer, and more intensely without significant reward or recognition. Not just in one job, but in so much.

To overcome this, I sought something completely disconnected from my current work but still requiring focus, commitment, and skill. 

And slowly, I started finding myself again. Being selective means fewer selections, which means less money. It is, in the end, a choice. One that comes with its struggles. 

I absolutely admire the people with whom I partner today. My family is figuring out the money thing; we found the loss of joy too great to ever sacrifice again. Today, I am proud to work with some real kick-ass people. It’s reinvigorated my creativity. And I absolutely LOVE owning a mobile cafe. Not because it’s a massive money maker (it’s not), but because of the people I meet every time we serve. Running two businesses is not for the faint of heart, but I am so incredibly fulfilled.

I don’t do sad well. But I have experienced it all. And very much so recently. And my recent post is me on the other side of it. And I wanted all of you inspired by it to know I have been going through it. So if you are still where I was, let the glimpse behind my curtain be what keeps you going. Even the night ends at sunrise.
Sunset glow in the nooks of our little home. I lov Sunset glow in the nooks of our little home. I love it here so much. 🥰

I’m embracing new life experiences and opportunities with excitement and anticipation. I was stuck for so long, convinced it’s where I needed to be, but change, it turns out, has been exactly what I have needed…though I will admit I have been nervous about it. 

All this to say, sometimes we get stuck in situations that have long stopped making us happy, maybe because it’s easier to stay, or you’ve convinced yourself it’s where you should be, and it can be hard to walk away, especially if you’ve invested so much of yourself in the process. Ugh. The shit we tolerate when we stop listening to the little voice yelling at us that it’s time to MOVE ON. And sometimes, we don’t. Sometimes we have to be pushed. 

But, if the opportunity to break free comes, even if inconvenient, TAKE IT.  RUN. Because, as a wise teenager once said, YOLO. 

Trust in the fact that you’re pretty f❤️cking awesome, and things have a way of working themselves out. Trust that life is more interesting with the bumps along the way and that your final destination isn’t at the bottom, even if you might find yourself there for a moment. 

It’s a fun ride not because it’s always easy, but because of how much cooler things are when you’ve overcome the hard bits.
My wildflower field is reminding me of an importan My wildflower field is reminding me of an important trait: patience. So much in my life right now feels out of my control. I am experiencing a massive shift and uneasiness, and things I want to happen are so slow and feel like they are not happening at all. It is very unsettling and frustrating. 

But this was also my garden. The blooms weren’t blooming. It felt like they were never going to come. Like it would skip us this year. And I was sad at the thought that for reasons outside of my control, regardless of everything we did to tend to this garden, we would just not get the results we’d hope for. 

But this morning, I woke up, and there they were. The first few flowers. Colorful and bright, with bumblebees dancing around them. And when I looked closer, I saw so many more buds waiting to burst open. 

It all needed time. Not the time I gave them, or expected, but what was necessary. 

And so things may not happen as we wish they would, when we wish they could, but they will. We just have to be patient and trust the process. Easier said than done, I know. But, at least I have a beautiful flowering garden to admire while I wait.
Today was about beautiful baby niece, family, and Today was about beautiful baby niece, family, and cute ducks all named “Ducky”. 👧🏻🐣🍨

📍The Spotted Duck, Penn Yan, NY
Life gets so busy and stressful sometimes that I f Life gets so busy and stressful sometimes that I forget I have so much to heal my soul and relax me right at my finger tips…

I get what it is to be from the big city and not being able to imagine a life so beautiful anywhere else. It certainly was me. 

And then, I came to the Finger Lakes…and the rest is history. 

#fingerlakesregion #newyork
Sometimes you just gotta walk it off. Lucky me, I Sometimes you just gotta walk it off. Lucky me, I get to do so here. 

#fingerlakes #newyork

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